“Judge Who Jesus Is”
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on March 24, 2023 in John 8:46-59
The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Judica March 26, 2023
Text: John 8:46-59 Historic Series 23:2377
Theme: “Judge Who Jesus Is”
Throughout much of the history of the Christian Church the name of this Sunday has been Judica, “judge.” What is the place of judging in our lives? Are we to judge? How and what are we to judge?
On the one hand our Lord Jesus said, “Judge not lest you be judged” (Mt.7:1). On the other hand, He said, “Make right judgments” (7:24). So, there is judging that is wrong and should not be done. But there is also judging that is right and should be done. How do we know what is right and how do we know what is wrong?
Well, the only one who knows that perfectly is the holy God. So, when you are called upon to make a judgment, do it according to the way God’s Word tells you and not on the basis of human thoughts and feelings which arise out of the sinful heart. Make right judgments based on God’s Word.
One judgment that is most critical and which the Lord expects you to make is in regard to Jesus. Who Is He? It is crucial for you to know and to make a right judgment on it for then “you will certainly never see death” Jesus told the people in our text. But to judge Him wrongly will bring you the opposite. For your eternal welfare you must Judge Who Jesus Is and judge rightly, which means you are dependent upon what the Word of God says of Him – nothing more, but also nothing less.
I. He is the sinless Son of God.
This account places us right in the middle of the most violent clash that came to Jesus outside of His crucifixion. He was in the temple teaching about Himself as the Light of the World. Whoever followed Him would never walk in darkness but would have the light of life (v.12). He assured the people that through faith in Him they would never need to see eternal death because He was sent by His Father above to die for sin. But He also warned the Jewish leaders of their rejection of Him. By it they had aligned themselves with the devil and did not belong to God.
Oh, you can imagine how angry that made the Pharisees. But they couldn’t contradict what He said so they resorted to name calling and insults: “You are a devil! You are a Samaritan!”
Now that’s wrong judging, not based on the Word of God. How often don’t some people resort to the same type of name-calling when they can’t find a way to meet an argument. It’s the easiest way out; it’s a means of trying to get even. It doesn’t have to make sense. So often the worse name, the better. Such a practice shows a lack of love, good judgment, and understanding of God’s Word. It’s uncharitable, un-Christian, and cheap. So don’t get involved with name-calling. But the Pharisees were masters of that for they knew not the Word of God, only their own thoughts and sinful feelings.
But since they resorted to this, here would be a good place to stop and Judge Jesus or judge what they said about Him. Make a right judgment because your entire life and salvation rests on this.
First, consider Jesus’ response to these men, “Who of you can convict me of sin? For a moment there was silence, not a peep. No one could raise a charge of sin against Him, whether in something He did, said, felt, or thought. No one could show Jesus guilty of sin. How unnatural is that! Could the same be said of you or anyone else that they never did anything wrong? No! But it was true of Jesus. Even God the Father could not convict Him of wrong. Oh, that people would carefully weigh that evidence about Jesus and make a right judgment of Him, because the Word of God is clear: no man is perfect and does not sin, not even one (Ro.3:9f).
Peter writes, “He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1:2:22). John says, “He appeared in order to take away our sins and in Him there is no sin” (1:3:5). Pontius Pilate said, “I find no fault in Him.” Judas said, “I have betrayed innocent blood.” The man on the cross next to Jesus said, “This man has done nothing wrong.” The centurion at the foot of the cross said, “Surely, this was a righteous man” (Lk.23:47). No one then, now, or in the future can convict Jesus of sin. He is sinless.
Besides that, look at the moral grandeur of His life. He never returned evil for evil. He always went about doing good. Oh, He could show flashes of holy anger, but only when the honor and truth of God and His Word were attacked. His love of the truth demanded His hatred of error. Yet, He stooped in compassion to free from the bonds of sin all who approached Him in repentant faith.
In the Garden of Gethsemane treacherous Judas heard words of tenderness: “Friend, why do you come?”, inviting his return to Jesus. Denying Peter saw His look of loving rebuke. The murderous multitude at the cross heard Him pray, “Father, forgive them.”
Judge Him for yourself. Who Is He? Flawless in His motives, sinless in all His doings, revered in the Word of God, He showed men what God was like, for He was truly of God. There is only one right judgment you can make of Jesus: He is the sinless Son of God.
Ah, but you say, “Preacher, we already know that.” Yes, I pray you do for this is the one thing that gives you the assurance you need.
You can’t afford to build life of faith on a foundation that will crumble under the storm and stress of sin, death, and the devil You must build on the solid rock of truth. “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
In less than two weeks you will watch again the death of the sinless One for you. Only He could atone for your sin as “God made Him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Co.5:21). “Jesus Christ, the Righteous One is the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1Jn.2:2).
Oh, the horror when people will not make a right judgement of Him, in rejection of such abundant truth, for they plunge themselves into eternal condemnation. But as for you, judge Jesus aright. Weigh the evidence, form an opinion based on God’s Word, and do not prevent the Holy Spirit from leading you to a correct understanding. Then you will receive the best gift the Savior offers….life.
II. He is the Savior who offers the best gift – life.
In the midst of this violent attack which would lead to them trying to throw stones at Jesus, He said, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never see death.” If such a person will never see death, than he will have life.
Understand of what kind of life Jesus is speaking. He’s never promised that your body will never lie cold in the grave. In fact the Bible states, “Unto the dust we must return.” Yet, though the body will taste death, the believer will never see it. How can this be?
The Christian life is lived in 2 spheres: one is life in the flesh, the other is life in the spirit. One is outward, of skin and bones and blood; the other is inward enjoying the fruits of Christ’s forgiveness and salvation in the heart and soul. One is like the bark and branches and leaves on the tree; the other is like the sap within and the roots which are hidden deep below the ground. If you would say that the real life of a tree is in the leaves, the bark, and the branches, I would say you’ve judged incorrectly and have been misled by appearances.
Right now the trees are beginning to show life again with buds and leaves beginning to pop. But a month or two ago, in the midst of winter, if you judged a tree’s life according to these outward things then you would have made a false assumption that it was dead when it was truly alive. The real life of a tree is not on the outside, but it is within, in things that cannot be seen. And so it is with the Christian.
You have this appearance of life on the outside, in your flesh and blood. But your true life is within. It resides in your faith in the Savior’s words and promises of the life which the sinless Son of God has won for you. And even though there will come a day when the outer body tastes of death, the spirit shall never see death as, in faith, it rises to God who gives life (Ec.12:7. But only, only as the Christian holds to the word of Christ, treasures it, and will not let it go. Jesus said, “If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never see death.” He is the Savior who offers the best gift – life through Him.
So, Judge Him, dear friends, Who Is Jesus? He is the sinless Son of God. He is the eternal one who existed before Abraham or any of the prophets were born. Although they lived long before Jesus walked on this earth, they “saw” Him with the eyes of faith that believed God’s promises to them that the Savior would come. He is that Savior who offers the best gift – life. Judge Him aright.
It is the kind of judging that the Savior expects you to make as Holy Week and His Passion lie before us. Judge Him. But do it, based on the Word. Do it, based on His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death in your place. Do it in humble, contrite, and confident faith. God grant it in our lives for Jesus’ sake. Amen
The Fifth Sunday in Lent – Judica March 26, 2023
Welcome in the Savior’s name, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. May your hope be found in His atoning work.
With this Sunday the Savior’s Passion comes more directly into view. The elements of sacrifice and pardon take on the greatest meaning. There can be no forgiveness and no salvation without Christ taking on Himself both elements for us. As Victim and Priest, He atones for our sin and vindicates us before God, even as He was judged and condemned by many.
In order to receive the blessings of His redeeming work, a judgment about Him must be made. That is part of the emphasis behind the name for this Sunday, “Judica” It means “judge,” but mostly in the sense of vindication for doing that which is right. Through carefully weighing the evidence to Jesus’ Person and work, one must form an opinion. Receiving Him in faith will bring blessing; rejecting Him in unbelief will bring condemnation from God. One cannot “ride a fence” regarding their opinion of or response in life to Jesus. May God preserve us from the folly of many in His day who rejected Him.
As Jesus’ Passion now comes fully into view, thank God we have the holy One who provides the sacrifice and pardon before God we needed.
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Judge What A Great Savior Is Yours
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: “Savior, When in Dust to You” #393
The Order of Service: Morning Prayer (Matins) Hymnal pg.207
Prayer of the Day
The Ministry of the Word
(The Lessons for the Day are taken from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)
Psalm of the Day: #130 “Out of the Depths”
Numbers 21:4-9 When Israel grew impatient and sinned against god and Moses in the desert, the Lord sent fieryt serpents among them to punish them. But in mercy, He provided a means of pardon. As they looked to the Bronze Serpent on the pole in repentance, they were saved from death. That Bronze Serpent was a type of Christ.
Hebrews 9:11-15 The blood of Christ is greater than the blood of the sacrificial animals of the Old Testament times. Without connection to Christ, their blood alone could do nothing for the cleansing of sin. It was an outward sign of the inner reality that only Jesus’ blood would have the power to save. The writer to the Hebrews plumbs the depths of the meaning behind Christ’s Highly Priestly office and His atoning sacrifice.
Hymn Response: “Not All the Blood of Beasts” #398
John 8:46-59 The hostility of the unbelieving Jews to Jesus rises to its highest pitch. The refuse to believe the truth about Jesus as God’s Son. They judge Him and His word unfit and are ready to stone Him to death. As ever His way, Jesus presents Himself in His true, divine glory as God’s holy Son, the incarnate Savior.
The Sermon Hymn: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” #563
The Sermon: “Judge Who Jesus Is” John 8:46-59
Our Response to the Word
The Te Deum Laudamus pg. 210
The Offering
The Closing Order of Morning Praise: Hymnal pg.213-214
The Kyrie (“Lord, Have Mercy”)
Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord Blesses Us
The Benediction; Hymnal pg.214
Closing Hymn: “The Lamb” #525
Silent Prayer
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The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Point to Ponder: “Here the word of our Lord Jesus Christ comforts us: ‘If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death’ (Jn.8:51). This word must be apprehended by faith so that we never doubt that what Christ promises us is true….We must say: ‘I see that I shall and must die, but I have the assurance and the Word of my Lord Christ that through Him I shall live again. For Christ has abolished and made atonement for the sin for which I ought to suffer death eternally. God will be gracious to me for the sake of His death and resurrection and will give me eternal life.’ This is keeping Christ’s Word aright…. But flesh and blood refuse to be persuaded…. Against their mischief we must fight and pray God for His Holy Spirit, that He may strengthen our hearts through the Word and keep us in this faith.” — Martin Luther on “In Death Simply Look to Christ’s Word.”
Lent 5 – Judica (“Judge Me Justly, O God”) – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: Numbers 21:4-9 – The Bronze Snake
4 They set out from Mount Hor along the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom, but the people became very impatient along the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? Look, there is no food! There is no water! And we are disgusted by this worthless food!”
6 The Lord sent venomous snakes among the people, and the snakes bit the people. As a result, many people from Israel died. 7 The people went to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord to take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed on behalf of the people. 8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake and put it on a pole. If anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” 9 Moses made a bronze snake and put it on the pole. If a snake had bitten anyone, if that person looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 9:11-15 – Jesus’ Blood, The Payment Needed
11 But when Christ appeared as the high priest of the good things that were coming, he went through the greater and more complete tent, which was not made by human hands (that is, it is not part of this creation). 12 He entered once into the Most Holy Place and obtained eternal redemption, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood. 13 Now if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkled on those who were unclean, sanctifies them so that their flesh is clean, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works, so that we worship the living God? 15 For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant. A death took place as payment for the trespasses committed under the first covenant, so that those who are called would receive the promised eternal inheritance.
Gospel Lesson: John 8:46-59 – Jesus Rejected as God’s Son
46 Who of you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says. The reason you don’t listen is that you do not belong to God.”
48 The Jews responded, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Amen, Amen, I tell you: If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never see death.”
52 So the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, so did the prophets. Yet you say, ‘If anyone holds on to my word, he will certainly never taste death.’ 53 You are not greater than our father, Abraham, are you? He died. And the prophets died. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, about whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Yet you do not really know him, but I do know him. If I said, ‘I do not know him,’ I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I hold on to his word. 56 Your father Abraham was glad that he would see my day. He saw it and rejoiced.”
57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t even fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and left the temple area.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019
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4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue), Springfield, MO 65810
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A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
A drowning man will not complain of the size of the boat that rescues him. Yet, in today’s O.T. lesson we hear of complaining of God when He rescued His people from Egypt. God shows mercy and grace in rescuing undeserving sinners.
The Old Testament Lesson: Numbers 21:4-9 (answers are found on the back side)
- Which flaws of human nature led to the painful, in some cases deadly, lesson of venomous snakes?
- God could have saved the people without having them look at something. What did He want to teach them by having them look at the snake on a pole?
- How is Jesus similar to the bronze snake?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (the Long’s son-in-law); Libya, Jodi Milam’s granddaughter; Lucille Huston; Barbara Long; Lois Wiese; Barbara Breidel.
Forward in Christ’s next issue for April has arrived and is in the narthex. There are plenty of copies for family and friends.
Easter Things If you would like to help us decorate the chancel with Easter lilies in memory of loved ones whom the Lord has already taken to Himself, a sign-up sheet is in the narthex. Please sign up by April 6th. It is our custom to join together in fellowship with an Easter Brunch following the service on Easter Sunday. We hope that you will be able to join us. There is a meal sign-up list in the fellowship hall.
Last Mid-Week Lenten Service With one week left in the Lenten Season, we close out our mid-week gatherings this coming Thursday. The theme of our Lenten meditations is “We Preach Christ Crucified” (1 Cor. 1:23). This week’s focus is No Longer Dead, but Alive – Colossians 2:13-15. The supper theme is American.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, March 30 – Midweek Lenten Service 6 at 6:30 pm; an “American” Supper will precede the service at 5:45 pm
Friday, April 7, 7 pm – Combined Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Worship at Zion (at Peace on Thursday, April 6)
April 6 – last day to sign-up for Easter Lilies; April 9 – Easter Festival Service followed by Easter Brunch
Saturday, April 22 – LWMS Spring Rally at Christ Alone LC, Dardenne Prairie – Mission Speaker from Indonesia
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Lent 6 – Palm Sunday: Zechariah 9:8-12; Ephesians 2:5-11; Matthew 21:1-9 (Historic Pericope Series)
Answers to Today’s Old Testament Lesson Brief Study:
- Moses tells us the people grew impatient. We hear their sins of complaining and ingratitude. Even daily free food from God (manna) is criticized. It all started with lack of trust and love for God. (“You brought us… to die in the desert.”)
- Trust God! God found a way to heal their soul and body at the same time. Their underlying problem was spiritual—a lack of trust—and God taught them to trust his promise. Sure enough, anyone bitten who looked at the bronze snake lived.
- Both the bronze snake and Jesus were lifted up. Both were lifted up so many could look, see the solution promised by God, and be saved. Both required no payment or human work, instead they both called dying people to look with trust to the only savior for their problem.
This week I am praying for……
