Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 1:1-14,22-28; Romans 1:1-17
You shall not murder. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. (The Fifth Commandment)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Are you a murderer? Most people think that if they haven't killed a person, they haven't murdered. Jesus tells us that if we hate others and are angry without a cause, we are murderers. Insult your friends? Fight with your brother or sister? Tell your parents you hate them? Bully someone on Facebook? Yep. You're a murderer! We're all murderers. The Fifth Commandment says so.
What happens to murderers? Well, when Jesus comes, they go free! Remember Barabbas? He was a murderer! Jesus took his place when the crowd cried for him to be released instead of innocent Jesus. You and I are Barabbas. We're murderers whose place has been taken by Jesus. Guilty, we go free. Innocent, He goes to the Cross. We, who take life by our words and actions, are saved by the Lamb who gives His life to save ours. We, who take life, are saved by Him who gives life. Apart from Jesus, we are doomed to be punished for our murder and other sins. In Christ, our verdict becomes “not guilty” and we are set free.
It's easy to remember our murdering. Usually we feel badly when we hurt others. We certainly like to remind others of how they hurt us and they are good at reminding us how we hurt them. When that happens, we need to hear again that we are no longer murderers in Christ. Your Baptism says you are not a murderer but a child of God. Holy Absolution says that you are innocent of all charges. The Lord's Supper is the Body and Blood of the Lord whose murder brings us life and salvation.
After the Wise Men appeared, Jesus escaped murderous King Herod. But that was only for a while. For that Baby would grow up to take the place of Barabbas and you and me as the Savior of murderers and all sinners. What joy that our Lord not only keeps the Fifth Commandment for us but also dies to take away all of our Fifth Commandment sins! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
They rise and needs will have My dear Lord made away; A murderer they save, The Prince of Life they slay. Yet cheerful He To suff'ring goes That He His foes From thence might free. (LSB 430:5)
