"Christ Crucified: What Does This Mean?" Hebrews 9:11-15

Judica, The Fifth Sunday In Lent (Passion Sunday)           21-March-21

Sermon Text: Hebrews 9:11-15

Sermon Theme: Christ’s Passion: What Does This Mean?  by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.

I.N.R.I. 1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The world in its wisdom does not and cannot understand the message of the cross. It seems utter foolishness that God’s only begotten Son should take on human flesh and enter human history only to suffer the horrid death of crucifixion. Children of Adam cannot by their own reason or strength understand Christ’s passion. The world mocks at the reality of original sin - that all men born of Adam in a natural way are born in sin, without fear of God, without trust in God, spiritually dead, and prone only to rebel and do evil rather than good. We can’t even know the depth of the depravity of our sinful condition apart from the Holy Scriptures. So when a man goes on a murderous rampage, instead of repenting as a nation for our culture of death - we politicize it for power gains. God the Holy Spirit teaches, 1Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

       The message of the cross - what is it? Do you know it? Can you freely speak of it to your neighbor? Or have you passed the cross unheeding - thinking it a common thing that God should die in the place of His sinful human creatures? Dear Christian beware your sinful flesh grows tired and is ignorant of the cross. Satan continues to whisper his lying words dressed up in spiritual garb that you can earn your own salvation by your own doings, feelings, experiences, and wisdom. It is a lie that the world repeats scratches the itching ears of our fallen flesh.

      Next week Holy Week begins. These past 40 days of Lent have covered the time from the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry after He was baptized and fought Satan for us in the wilderness - to today’s Gospel which takes place about six months before our Lord’s passion during the feast of tabernacles in Jerusalem. Starting next Sunday we will slow down to real time in the Church Year all the way through the festival of Pentecost. Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ joyful entrance into Jerusalem to fulfill the Passover as the Lamb of God. Maundy Thursday the final Passover and the institution of the Lord’s Supper for you. Good Friday we pause to behold the Lord of Life suffering and dying. Holy Saturday the Church holds vigil at Christ’s tomb awaking early Easter morning to hear the good news - “Christ is risen!”

          Today before all this wondrous mystery unfolds before our ears we pause to ask: Christ’s Passion: What Does This Mean?

          God the Holy Spirit through pen of the writer to the Hebrews instructs us that Jesus is the great High Priest. From the beginning the Lord God established worship for He created humanity to dwell in communion with Him. Adam’s rebellion tore humanity from God and life chaining us to Satan, sin, and death. The Lord rescued Adam and his wife by preaching “repent” and “believe the Gospel.” Breathing out His life giving Holy Spirit through the first promise of Jesus mankind was gifted with saving faith and torn asunder from the “father of lies” the devil. The Promise of salvation in Christ was passed down from generation to generation, through Noah and the flood, to Shem, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob/Israel, to Judah. The children of Israel were saved from the famine in Canaan by their brother Joseph in Egypt. Soon the Egyptian government enslaved them - their free food came at a cost 430 years of hard labor. The Lord God hadn’t forgotten them - He raised up Moses to lead His people. The Lord delivered them through the blood of the Passover Lamb whose flesh strengthened them for the journey. The Lord led them as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

          Rescued through the waters of the Red Sea from the mightiest army in the world, the Lord brought them to Sinai and spoke His Holy Ten Commandments in their hearing. God was visibly present among them in the cloudy pillar - His descent upon Mount Sinai filled them with fear. The children of Israel begged Moses to be their mediator and go talk with God for their feared hearing His voice from Sinai. Moses enters God’s presence and the Lord God gives him the directions to build the tabernacle - the portable tent church - for God to be visibly present among His people during their wilderness journey. The Temple at Jerusalem would mirror the design and layout of the tabernacle. In the most inner room of the tabernacle would stand the ark of the covenant - imagine it where our altar stands. This room was separated from the rest of the sanctuary or holy place by a heavy curtain. Once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest after offering sacrifices for his own sins and being cleansed with blood and water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer - would enter the holy of holies in complete darkness to sprinkling the blood of a year old male lamb on the mercy seat atop the ark of the covenant. Outside of the holy of holies was the holy place or sanctuary. Picture from the communion rail to where the pews begin in front. Here the priests would minister with offerings of incense, drink, and bread. Here the seven branched candelabra burned continuously. Outside of that was a court yard - picture the nave of our church - the place where our pews sit. In front of that court yard was the altar of burnt offering - about where the baptismal font has been placed during this lenten season.

       The dimensions and worship carried out in the tabernacle wasn’t invented by Moses it was given by God. Why? So that He could dwell among His people - a Holy God among a sinful people - protecting them from His consuming presence through sacrifice. What does this have to do with Good Friday? (Vs.11) St. John’s Christmas story sounds very basic: Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. - The Greek word for “dwelt among us” is “ske` noo`” and literally means “tabernacled” or “tented among us.” Jesus came among us with the greater tabernacle - His holy flesh and blood - not made with hands but conceived through the Word of Promise by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Virgin’s womb. John records that at the first Passover during His public ministry Jesus cleanses the Temple - as He will again repeat three years later. Joh 2:18-22 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" (19) Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (20) Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" (21) But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (22) Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.       Jesus is the only High Priest for this entire creation. (Vs.12) He willingly gives Himself over to be sacrificed for our sins upon the altar of the cross. It is on the hill on which Abraham was willing to fear, love, and trust in God even above his own beloved son Isaac. Abraham clung to God’s promise that through Isaac the Christ would be born that even if he was sacrificed he would be raised again to life. Heb 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," (19) concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” Mount Moriah would come to be called Mount Zion on which Jerusalem was built with a peak called the “place of the skull” - “Golgotha” in Hebrew - “Calvary” in Greek. Abraham beheld Jesus’ day when his beloved son Isaac was spared and an innocent ram with a thorny crown was sacrificed in his place.

       On the cross Jesus entered the Most Holy Place as creation went dark - in the blackness of the true holy of holies He poured out His life for ours, He offered His righteousness for our sin, He took our hell and suffered it all being forsaken by His Father - so He could open heaven to all who trust in His sacrifice alone. He suffers this all “once for all” crying out in victory - “It is finished!” Our sacrifice is complete - eternal redemption has been won for us sinners in Jesus crucified as the full payment for all our sins.

      Christ Jesus our High Priest won eternal redemption for us on Calvary - He applies it to us by His Holy Spirit within His Church by baptism, absolution, Gospel preaching, His holy meal, and through the community of saints gathering together. (Vs.13-14) The ceremonial laws and washing with water mixed with the ashes of a heifer would outwardly cleanse those who touched a dead body. Now we are washed with water mixed with Christ’s living blood - baptized into His death and resurrection. Now our conscience is cleansed - we are free - free from dead works - man made spirituality and wisdom - to freely serve the living God as we pour ourselves out in love towards our neighbor joyfully in the Ten Commandments.

        The Lord’s covenant is fulfilled in Jesus alone. (Vs.15) Moses’ covenant Jesus fulfilled perfectly keeping the Law in its entirety from the moment of His sinless conception for us sinners. He then offered Himself - the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He the great I AM - lays down His life for you - that He may take it up again. At the Last Passover He takes bread, blesses, and breaks it saying, “Take eat, this is My body given for you! Do this in remembrance of Me!” After the supper ends He takes the last cup of wine and sanctifies it with His Word, “Take drink, this cup is the New Testament/ Covenant in My blood which is shed FOR YOU for the forgiveness of your sins.” We confess: “These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," shows us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.” Here is the promise of the eternal inheritance! He is Jesus our great High Priest, our Savior, our God, our loving Brother, our King. He has called us to be His own with these words, “I baptize you...” Sealed with the sign of His holy cross. What does this mean? You are purchased and won from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil - not by what you have done, felt or experienced - but by what Jesus has done for you upon Calvary! Amen.