"Confirmands: Do Not Fear!" Isaiah 43:1-3a

April 10, 2022
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

Palm Sunday - our Lord Jesus rides into Jerusalem to die for our sins! On the day of confirmation, catechumens rejoice that they have been called by God in Holy Baptism. They recognized that Christ's life, suffering, death, and resurrection has been sealed to them in Holy Baptism. Sermon Text: Isaiah 43:1-3a. Sermon Theme: "Confirmands: Do Not Fear!" preached for Palm Sunday, 10-April-2022 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

Episode Notes

Palm Sunday                                                                         10-April-22
Sermon Text: Isaiah 43:1-3
Sermon Theme: “Confirmands: Fear Not!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. John 11:16 ...., "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." Thomas spoke to the other disciples, as Jesus set His face to go to Judea. The disciples questioned Jesus, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" Jesus must go to Judea. He had received word from Mary and Martha that the one He loved - Lazarus was sick. Now Jesus knew that Lazarus had fallen asleep in death. Jesus went to wake him. The Resurrection and the Life would show His power over death at Lazarus’ grave in Bethany. His Word restores and renews life.
    “Hosanna” - “Lord save us!” The pilgrim crowds sang forth as Jesus entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. The Resurrection and the Life rode into the City of David on a lowly donkey. He came to bear the burden of our sins to death upon the cross. He came to forever break the grave and the fear of death by laying down His life into our grave and taking it up again by His power. “Hosanna” - The Lord come to save is the Son of David - born of the Virgin Mary a descendant of David. He comes in the Name of the Lord to work forgiveness of sins, rescue us from death and the devil, and give eternal salvation to all who trust His Words and Promises. His Name is the only Name that saves sinners from hell.
    “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” Confirmands, this morning you will echo Thomas’ words. You will be asked, “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?” Are you willing to die for confessing the Way, The Truth, The Life - The only One Who reconciles us to God the Father? What happens here in the Divine Service deals with life and death - every Sunday? Are you willing to go with Jesus and die with Him?
      “I do, by the grace of God.” is the answer written in the rite of confirmation to the question of suffering all and dying rather than falling away from Jesus and His doctrine. God’s grace alone in Jesus saves and sustains us. Listen this morning to the prophet Isaiah as he preaches to you: “Confirmands: Fear Not!”
      As Jesus rode into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday He knew how the week would end. He warned His disciples Luke 9:22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." As our Brother He wrestled with fear in the Garden of Gethsemane - for the price of our redemption was costly. He would be forsaken by God His Father to reconcile us sinners to our God and Father.
  What do you fear? For two years our world has been cowering in fear. Fear of a virus. Fear of a sneeze. Fear of illness. Fear of shortages. Fear of being canceled. Fear of a collapsing dollar. Fear of collapsing morality. Fear of war. If we are honest it is all about - fear of death! Satan enslaves us with fear. God the Holy Spirit fixes our eyes upon Jesus teaching, Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
    The nations of Judah and Israel were under God’s judgment. They had forsaken His Word and profaned His worship. Graciously the Lord God sent His prophets preaching, ‘Turn from your sin! Return to the Lord your God!” The people were stubborn unwilling to repent their nations would be destroyed. Israel would be destroyed in 722B.C. by the Assyrian armies never to be heard from again. The nation of Judah also would fall to Babylon’s armies in 586B.C., but a remnant of Judah would return after 70 years that God’s promise to Abraham and David of the Messiah would be fulfilled in Jerusalem.
      The Prophet Isaiah preached God’s Law and His just judgment on the nations for their rebellion against His Word for the first 40 chapters of his prophesy. Beginning at the 40th chapter the Lord commands him to comfort God’s people through the promise of Christ Jesus - the Suffering Servant.
        Confirmands, learn comfort is found only in God’s Word and promise in Christ Jesus. (Vs.1) You are not an accident of evolution. Yahweh created you within your mothers womb. Contrary to the Satanic lie of our crumbling culture - your Creator called you to be male or female at the moment of your conception and clearing wrote His calling on your chromosomes. He knew you by name from the moment of your conception, as David confessed, Psalms 139:13-16 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. (15) My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” In this age when Satan’s lies rule the day, always cling to God’s Word and confess the Truth - “I believe that God has made me and all creatures!” Your heavenly Father creates and cares for your body and soul - do not fear!
    In the womb Jacob wrestled with his twin brother Esau - yet the Lord chose Jacob not Esau. God chose you in Christ Jesus from eternity. Baptism wasn’t your decision for God. It was Him confessing that He chose you to be His own beloved child in Christ Jesus. God the Holy Spirit teaches, Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Graciously the Triune God predestined you to be adopted as His beloved children in Holy Baptism even before the foundation of the worlds was laid. Learn to listen to His Word and promise as you begin and end each day, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” God the Father’s signature in the blood of His Son written by the Holy Spirit upon your body - your adoption papers.
      Learn to listen. Read, mark, inwardly digest the word of Christ Jesus. Wear out the Bible you receive as a confirmation gift as you search the Scriptures finding Christ Jesus from Genesis through Revelation. He who created Jacob also recreated him. ‘And He who formed you. O Israel.” Our pre-incarnate Lord Jesus wrestled with Jacob in the dark near the waters of the Jordan to bless him with a new name - “Israel.” It was under the cross that Jacob was formed to turn from his trickery and learn to trust alone in the Lord Jesus who draws near to bless us. Dear Confirmands under the cross, in your suffering, the Lord Jesus forms you calling you to follow Him. In your trials God the Holy Spirit will conform you to the image of God the Father’s Son - you will suffer with Him that you might be glorified in Him. This is the forming, the calling of your baptism - to daily die to your old sinful trickery self - to daily rise washed forgiven and made new in the blood of Christ.
    The Lord Jesus promises you as He promised Joshua leading the nation of Israel into the promised land after the death of Moses, Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Walk forward in God’s calling you in your baptism and forming you in Christ Jesus under the crosses He will graciously use to keep you in His Word and faith until you die.
    “Fear not!” the Lord God speaks to you every day of your journey through this dark shadowy valley of death as He leads you towards your true Homeland in the life of the world to come! Listen! “Fear not, for I have redeemed you:” Your price has been paid. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for you. It is finished for you upon Calvary - there and there alone in the flesh and blood of Jesus was your salvation won once for all. Throw all of your imagined goodness upon the dung heap and cling to Christ Jesus crucified for your sins and raised again to declare you forgiven - reconciled to God the Father as you believe by the Spirit’s grace.
    Fear removing salvation was earned for you on Calvary in the flesh and blood of Jesus. It is applied to you here and now for you are baptized into Christ - listen: “I have called you by your name; you are mine!” Cling to this precious Word of our God and Lord! You are His child! He has redeemed your body with His blood, sanctified it to be the temple of His Holy Spirit - He will preserve it through suffering, death, the grave, and raise it up on the last day freed from sin, death, tears, and pain.
      On the night Jesus gave Himself as sacrifice for our sins, He promised, John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Do not fear! Jesus is your Brother sympathizing with you in all your struggles. He is your God and Redeemer - He has rescued you! He is Emmanuel - God with Us/Man with us! (Vs.2) Facing trials your Jesus walks with you. He washed you His own in Holy Baptism and placed you into the saving Ark of His Church. Here God the Holy Spirit daily and richly applies the healing balm of the cross - forgiving you all your sins and keeping you in Christ’s Word and in the one true faith. Satan may threaten you with the fires of hell, but he is defeated - Jesus descended into hell to proclaim that Satan is defeated and robbed of all those whom he enslaved by the Lie. Now the fiery trials he hurls at you serve only to purify your faith to cling to Christ flesh and blood alone!
          Do not be afraid! (Vs.3a) During holy week we follow Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through teaching at the Temple Monday and Tuesday. To being silent on Wednesday. To celebrating the final Passover on Maundy Thursday - instituting a greater meal of His flesh and blood in bread and wine to place upon your lips forgiveness, life, and salvation. To His betrayal, trial, suffering, and death upon the cross on Good Friday. To His rest in the tomb on Holy Saturday. To His physical resurrection on Easter Sunday. He is the Lord ‘Your” God - Israel’s Holy One your Savior! Do not fear! Follow Him! Every Sunday rejoice to come into His House! Every day of the week listen to His Word! Amen.

Content Copyright Belongs to Emmanuel Lutheran Church
5761