February 18, 2007 - Quinquagesima - Martin Luther
“And taking the twelve aside, He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all that is written through the prophets will be accomplished concerning the Son of Man.” (St. Luke 18:31)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Jesus speaks today to the Twelve, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” “We” are going. But, “He” is the One who would be doing the work.
“They” would do some work in Jerusalem. When all the things written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man had been accomplished, the Twelve would scatter. One would betray Him. Another would deny his Lord. The rest of the sheep would scatter when the Shepherd was struck.
The Son of Man is delivered to the Gentiles, to save the Gentiles and the Jews. He will be mocked to save the world from their sins. Insult and spit await Him. They will scourge and kill him.
The Son of Man will do what is given Him to do – He will suffer and die for sinners. After three days, He will rise again.
“Quinquagesima” means “fiftieth.” Today begins the period of fifty days before Easter. He will fulfill all that was written about Him by the Prophets. “We” will go up to Jerusalem following Him. He will save us there.
Actually, “we” won't. He has already gone to Jerusalem. He has already died. We are here. He was there. He has won our salvation in Jerusalem. We can't be there, nor do we have to go up to Jerusalem.
Jesus takes all that He won for us on the Cross, by His being delivered into the hands of sinners, and makes it ours in His gifts. The mocking, the insults, the spitting, the scourging, and the death of Christ are delivered into your ears in the Word, on your forehead in Baptism, and into your mouth at the Lord’s Supper.
Dr. Luther wrote that if we want forgiveness, we don't have to go back to Jerusalem. Salvation was won there, but isn't found there. No, if we want eternal life, we go to where it is given for us – in the water, in the Word, in the bread and wine of the Sacrament. There, in His gifts, Jesus delivers His forgiveness to us.
That's what Lent is all about – we receive what Jesus achieved for us on the Cross in the Word. He goes to Jerusalem, today. We who are here follow Him the next fifty days – not in person, but by receiving His gifts. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Today's Reading: St. Luke 18:31-43
Daily Lectionary: Job 13:13-28; St. John 6:22-40
Here are the Pre-Lent Reflections, by Pr. George F. Borghardt III from St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe, TX. His email is revborghardt@higherthings.org.
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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