GeRue Blog

Third Sunday in Lent

Background
Jeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the word of the Lord. (Jer 26:1-15) So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak. (Lk 11:14-28) But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard. (Ex 8:16-24) They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil's armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord. (Eph 5:1-9) As children of light our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us. In a world where demons roam we confess, "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net." (Introit)

Scripture
* Psalm 136:1-16 (ESV)
* Exodus 8:16-24 (ESV)
* Ephesians 5:1-9 (ESV)
* St. Luke 11:14-28 (ESV)

Hymn of the Day
* LSB 659 "Lord of Our Life"

Other Hymns
* LSB 890 "O Blessed Light, O Trinity"
* LSB 521 "Christ, the Lord of Hosts, Unshaken"
* LSB 718 "Jesus, Lead Thou On"

A Book of Concord Reading for Oculi
Jesus is True God
Jesus was accused in our lesson of being in league with Satan. He then proves that he is acting as the finger of God. Regarding the nature of the Trinity, we read from the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article I, of God:
1] The First Article of our Confession our adversaries approve, in which we declare that we believe and teach that there is one divine essence, undivided, etc., and yet, that there are three distinct persons, of the same divine essence, and coeternal, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 2] This article we have always taught and defended, and we believe that it has, in Holy Scripture, sure and firm testimonies that cannot be overthrown. And we constantly affirm that those thinking otherwise are outside of the Church of Christ. and are idolaters, and insult God.
All Book of Concord quotations are taken from the Triglotta, copyright 1921 by CPH. It is in public domain.