"This Man Was Also With Jesus of Nazareth!" Mt 26:71

Midweek Lenten Vespers 2                    16-March-22
Theme: “Christ’s Passion: Revealing the Thoughts Of Many Hearts!”
Sermon Text: Matthew 26:69-72
Sermon Theme: “Servant Girl: “This Fellow Also Was With Jesus of Nazareth!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Luk 2:34-35 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (35) (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Holding her 40 day old baby Boy the Virgin Mother heard the truth of the cross. To hold Jesus close means declaring war on the devil, this fallen world, and yes, even our own sinful flesh. Within less than two years the cross will descend upon the infant sons of Bethlehem through King Herod’s sword. They had grown up too close to Jesus and would be the first martyred by the world that rages against its Creator. Exiled to Egypt until Herod the Great’s death - Joseph would bring his family to settle in Nazareth in Galilee - north of Jerusalem and outside of the territory now ruled by Herod’s wicked son - Archelaus. History records, “Mat 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. (23) And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
      Tonight the heart of a servant of the high priest is revealed. She served as a guard at the entrance of the outer courtyard of the high priest. She has learned to parrot her master’s disdain for Jesus. Last week heard Caiaphas chortle, “Joh 11:49-50 ...., "You know nothing at all, (50) nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." He was willing to see the Innocent Man murdered to preserve his prestige, position, power, and place. His disdain for Jesus has infected his household. As Dr. Luther wrote discussing the second commandment, “For the first things that spring from the heart and show themselves are words [Matthew 12:34].” (L.C. 2nd Cmdt) As Jesus says, “Mat 12:34 ....For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Tonight we hear the servant girl mock: “This Fellow Also Was With Jesus of Nazareth!”
      The evening of Tuesday of holy week our Lord Jesus told His disciples, “Mat 26:2-5 "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." (3) Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (4) and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. (5) But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.". Fearing a riot, Caiaphas didn’t want Jesus arrested and put to death during Passover. Caiaphas isn’t in charge of this sacrifice - Jesus, the Great High Priest and Sacrifice is! Judas betrays his Master. A cohort of Roman soldiers and temple guards follow the betrayer to Gethsemane. Over 120 men armed for battle come to arrest one Man. This is no ordinary Man - when He speaks His Word - “I Am!” they all are forced to the ground by the breath of His Word. Jesus freely gives Himself into their hand to be arrested. Peter acts quickly to defend Jesus. Discharging his weapon, his sword, he cuts off the right ear of Malchus - a servant of the high priest.
Jesus admonishes Peter to put away his sword - our Lord’s Kingdom comes not by force of the sword, but by the restoring and healing power of Christ’s Word and flesh. Jesus touches Malchus’ ear and restores it perfectly - He shows love to His enemies lowly servant.
    Bound like common criminal Jesus is brutally led to the courtyard of the High Priest. They had already determined that Jesus was to die, so their trial is nothing but a sham. Not even two testimonies of their false witnesses agreed - they had no grounds according to God’s written civil law to put Him to death. Matthew records the history of this kangaroo court. Mat 26:62-68 And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" (63) But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" (64) Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (65) Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! (66) What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death." (67) Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, (68) saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?" The mob parrots the hatred and disdain of their leaders toward Jesus. A blasphemer deserves shameful treatment and death!
        All of the disciples had fled at first. Peter and John then venture into the high priest’s courtyard. John is known to the high priest, he speaks to the girl guarding the gate and she admits Peter also. Bold Peter, at the Last Passover, was willing to die with Jesus even if all others abandoned him. Bold Peter could not even stay awake one hour in Gethsemane to pray with Jesus. Now proud Peter starts to distance himself from where Jesus is on trial.(vs.69) He is “in the courtyard’ and a servant girl confronts him, “You were also with Jesus of Galilee.” Peter’s words betray his heart (vs.70) Jesus had taught His disciples not to fear those who only can kill the body, rather they are to fear God the Father who can justly kill both body and soul in hell. He spoke to Peter and the eleven, “Mat 10:32-33 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (33) But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Peter pleads ignorance - he doesn’t know what this slave girl is talking about. Then he steps further away from Jesus. He goes out to the gateway.
      On the day of your baptism you renounced the devil and all his works and all his ways. You confessed the faith gifted you at the font - the Truth that God the Father created and cares for your body and soul. The Truth that God the Son paid your price in full to free you from all sins, from death, and from the power of Satan and his lies. The Truth that God the Holy Spirit brings and keeps you trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord through the Gospel preached within His Church. Within Christ’s Church the Holy Spirit daily and richly forgives you all your sins and the sins of all who believe that salvation is only found in Christ crucified. Are you with “Jesus of Galilee”? Or have you denied Him by stepping away from where He stands - within His Church - in His Word preached - forgiveness spoken - prayers breathed - and the Supper served? Confirmation isn’t graduation - it is vowing to stand with Christ Jesus in His Church - though all the world mock you - and it will!
    You cannot walk away from Christ’s calling you to be His own in His Kingdom! (Vs.71) The servant girl, whom John had spoken to let Peter in, now testifies, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” She had heard the news of Jesus rasing Lazarus from the dead. No doubt word had been discussed among her fellow servants of the miracles reported about Jesus - casting out demons, restoring the sick, healing the blind, opening the ears of the deaf, unbinding the tongue of the mute, and feeding multitudes in the wilderness. Minutes before Jesus testimony that He was the Christ, the Son of God - the Son of Man had rung in her ears - but she refused to believe the facts. She’d only parrot her master’s mocking word - “Jesus of Nazareth” - He is a charlatan, false messiah, deceiver of the people, for the Messiah must come from Bethlehem - not Nazareth.
    Slave often only parrot their masters without thinking. They refuse to use God the Father’s gift of reason. If their masters claim it is scientific they parrot crying out, “Science deniers” to all who disagree on the basis of factual evidence. If their masters claim evolution is a fact, they parrot crying out, “evolution is proved by science.” If their masters claim that there are multitudes of genders the slaves parrot the lie - shouting down all who speak the biological fact that there are only two sexes - two genders - male and female. Slaves refuse to think for themselves seeking the truth. Thinking and researching the facts to arrive at the truth is hard work - slaves would rather parrot their masters. They enslave themselves to their own passions and feelings - instead living a moral life - they parrot - “Whatever makes you feel good - do it.” Slaves parrot Satan’s lies popularized by the world and loved by our fallen sinful nature.
    In 1933, a German Lutheran theologian - Hermann Sasse wrote, “The lie is the death of man, his temporal and his eternal death. The lie kills nations. The most powerful nations of the world have been laid waste because of their lies. History knows of no more unsettling sight than the judgment rendered upon the people of an advanced culture who have rejected the truth and are swallowed up in a sea of lies. Where this happens, [history shows decline in every area:] religion and law, poetry and philosophy, life in marriage and family, in the state and society – … one sphere of life after another falls sacrifice to the power and curse of the lie. Where man can no longer bear the truth, he cannot live without the lie. Where man denies that he and others are dying, the terrible dissolution [of his culture] is held up as a glorious ascent, and decline is viewed as an advance. [“Union and Confession”] Following the lie Germany would be led into World War 2 by a National Socialist leader trumpeting that science proved that they could build a master race by slaughter those deemed imperfect by the state.
      Peter fears the parroting of the slave. (Vs.72) His Lord Jesus had just been put under oath confessing that He was the Son of Man - The Christ. Now Peter puts himself under oath denying even knowing “the Man” to save his own skin. Peter won’t speak Jesus’ Name! Beware of caving into the lie parroted by social media, friends, and family. The cross comes to all who stand by Jesus. His cross was scrawled upon your forehead and heart with water and His Word on the day you died and rose to eternal life. Do not fear the world’s mockery! His cross preserves you in His Word and the Faith confessed in The Apostles’ Creed. The Truth stands and sets you free - Satan, the world, and your sinful flesh may fight against it - in Christ’s cross the victory is your! Always be ready to confess, “I do know Jesus My Lord!” Stand with Him in His Church, speaking His Word in your home, living it in your workplace - following the example of another woman - the faithful Virgin Mary - who kept “all things” spoken of Jesus and “treasured them up in her heart!” From your heart - your mouth will confess Christ! Amen.