WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:06.600 We come to the 8th Sunday of the Easter season. 2 00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:12.800 Just as the eighth day of Holy Week, Easter Sunday, ushered us into the 3 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:13.800 joys of Jesus 4 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:21.900 resurrection. This day, Pentecost day ushers us into the joys of the Holy Spirit. 5 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:29.400 Jesus words in our Gospel reading come from the night before he would 6 00:00:29.400 --> 00:00:29.600 die. 7 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:36.100 He told his disciples, he must leave them and they could not follow. 8 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:39.000 How would they carry on 9 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:40.700 without him? 10 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:43.400 Jesus, leave. 11 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:51.600 Now that we have celebrated Ascension Day, we too are tempted to think 12 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.000 and feel that Jesus has left us. 13 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:54.700 What do we do? 14 00:00:55.900 --> 00:00:56.700 But Jesus, promised 15 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:01.900 when the helper or comforter comes whom I will send to you from the 16 00:01:01.900 --> 00:01:06.800 Father, the spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear 17 00:01:06.800 --> 00:01:08.300 witness about me. 18 00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:14.000 We certainly need comfort these days. 19 00:01:15.600 --> 00:01:20.800 Reports of Christians being persecuted in far-off lands, continue to 20 00:01:20.800 --> 00:01:21.300 confront us 21 00:01:22.700 --> 00:01:23.400 and rightly 22 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:23.500 so. 23 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:29.200 Our brothers and sisters in Christ are teaching us to remain faithful 24 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:32.300 even in the midst of suffering. 25 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:39.300 In our own land, we Christians are increasingly viewed 26 00:01:39.300 --> 00:01:42.100 as the problem to be remedied. 27 00:01:42.100 --> 00:01:44.800 The enemy to be vanquished. 28 00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:47.100 The hour is coming 29 00:01:47.100 --> 00:01:49.800 and is now here when many will think 30 00:01:49.800 --> 00:01:54.900 ostracizing and marginalizing, Christians is actually offering service 31 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:55.200 to God. 32 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.200 Not to the true God, of course. 33 00:01:59.600 --> 00:02:03.800 But it is offering praise and worship to false gods 34 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:09.100 of immediate gratification ideologies of the day 35 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:11.900 and raw power grabs. 36 00:02:13.700 --> 00:02:15.000 As Jesus warns. 37 00:02:16.100 --> 00:02:20.900 They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor 38 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:21.100 me. 39 00:02:24.100 --> 00:02:28.100 Now, Jesus does not say these things to lead us to anxious 40 00:02:28.100 --> 00:02:33.500 hand-wringing. No, he says, all these things to keep you from falling 41 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:34.400 away. 42 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:39.300 After all if they hated him 43 00:02:40.600 --> 00:02:42.800 they'll hate you, his Christians. 44 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:46.000 If they persecuted him 45 00:02:47.100 --> 00:02:51.400 they'll also persecute you. If they executed him 46 00:02:53.200 --> 00:02:56.300 they might just execute you too. 47 00:02:58.300 --> 00:03:00.800 I don't say these things to lead you to 48 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.300 anxious hand-wringing either. 49 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:06.900 But this is how our Lord would comfort. 50 00:03:08.200 --> 00:03:13.200 As Peter said, beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial 51 00:03:13.200 --> 00:03:17.700 when it comes upon you to test you as thou something strange was 52 00:03:17.700 --> 00:03:18.500 happening to you. 53 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:20.500 But rejoice 54 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:26.800 and so far as you share price, sufferings that, you may also rejoice 55 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:30.500 and be glad when his glory is revealed. 56 00:03:31.700 --> 00:03:38.100 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because 57 00:03:38.100 --> 00:03:42.200 the spirit of glory and of God, rest upon you. 58 00:03:46.700 --> 00:03:51.600 Jesus was preparing his disciples for that little, in between time. 59 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:57.200 He would leave them to go to the Cross, but after a little while, 60 00:03:58.600 --> 00:03:59.900 he would return to them 61 00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:02.200 resurrected on the third day. 62 00:04:04.100 --> 00:04:09.200 He would leave them again for a little while when he would ascend 63 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:10.000 to God's right hand. 64 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:18.600 And we are still in that little while between Jesus ascension and his 65 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:19.300 coming again. 66 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:28.200 The difference is now we have the crucified and risen Lord, his cross 67 00:04:28.200 --> 00:04:33.700 and shed blood forgive all our fears and doubts and apprehensions. 68 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:39.000 His victory over the grave gives us confidence, 69 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:41.000 hope 70 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:44.100 and comfort. 71 00:04:47.400 --> 00:04:52.900 Now that comfort comes not in the form of a cozy, warm blanket tyou put 72 00:04:52.900 --> 00:04:53.600 on your bed. 73 00:04:55.200 --> 00:04:57.600 It does not taste like comfort food 74 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:00.200 whether chocolate 75 00:05:01.400 --> 00:05:03.200 or something called Southern Comfort. 76 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:10.300 The comfort Jesus gives his both mighty and fortifying. 77 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.400 When the comforter comes whom, I will send to you from the Father, the 78 00:05:15.400 --> 00:05:19.300 spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness 79 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:20.700 about me. 80 00:05:24.400 --> 00:05:30.600 Our word comfort comes from two Latin words, con and fortis. 81 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:38.200 Splice those Latin words together and you get strengthen together or 82 00:05:38.200 --> 00:05:39.900 fortify together. 83 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:45.500 Instead of cozy warm blankets or soothing chocolates, think 84 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:47.400 bodybuilders muscle. 85 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:49.100 Or better 86 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:54.000 a towering castle wall in a mighty fortress. 87 00:05:56.200 --> 00:06:02.500 Our Lord's mighty comfort comes through the comforter, His Holy 88 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:02.700 Spirit. 89 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:11.900 And how does this Spirit of Truth, this divine fortifier, strengthen 90 00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:13.900 you together as Jesus disciples? 91 00:06:15.700 --> 00:06:18.900 He Bears witness about Jesus. 92 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:24.800 He teaches you all things that Jesus has said to you. 93 00:06:25.900 --> 00:06:30.500 And brings to your remembrance, all that Jesus has done for you. 94 00:06:32.200 --> 00:06:37.800 He gives you the peace of sins, forgiven, which the world cannot give. 95 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:42.700 He convicts you and the world of sin. 96 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:49.600 He convinces you, that Jesus has come from the Father has won your 97 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.800 salvation and has returned to the Father. 98 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:55.500 He convinces you 99 00:06:55.500 --> 00:07:01.900 that the ruler of this world, the old evil foe has been judged. 100 00:07:03.200 --> 00:07:05.700 He merely awaits his sentence. 101 00:07:07.700 --> 00:07:10.400 This truth strengthens, 102 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:12.300 fortifies, 103 00:07:13.700 --> 00:07:14.600 gives comfort. 104 00:07:17.900 --> 00:07:21.800 And so the spirit of Truth uses the word of Truth to bear witness 105 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:22.700 about Jesus. 106 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:28.800 Unless he recruits faithful teachers. 107 00:07:29.900 --> 00:07:30.700 Redeemed 108 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:31.100 sinners 109 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:32.200 just like the rest of us. 110 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:35.200 To take what belongs to Jesus 111 00:07:35.200 --> 00:07:38.300 what comes from Jesus and declare it to us. 112 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:42.400 We thank God, and celebrate 113 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:44.800 three of them here today. 114 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:48.900 Dr. Bartelt, Dr. 115 00:07:48.900 --> 00:07:50.200 Gibbs and Dr. 116 00:07:50.200 --> 00:07:54.200 Meyer. One taught us some Hebrew another taught us 117 00:07:54.200 --> 00:07:54.700 some Greek and one 118 00:07:56.200 --> 00:07:59.600 taught us to take our Lord's truth into the world with boldness and 119 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:00.200 joy. 120 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:04.900 Doctor Bartelt, you taught many of us 121 00:08:04.900 --> 00:08:08.700 God's truth revealed through the Hebrew, especially the prophet 122 00:08:08.700 --> 00:08:08.800 Isaiah 123 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:12.300 even before you wrote the book on Hebrew. 124 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:18.600 And some of us still remember things, such as niphal, hiphil and hithpael 125 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:21.100 or at least can look them up. 126 00:08:24.200 --> 00:08:25.200 Amazing 127 00:08:25.200 --> 00:08:30.300 how the spirit declares the truth of Jesus by means of such details. 128 00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:33.500 And Dr. 129 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:34.000 Gibbs. 130 00:08:35.400 --> 00:08:40.000 You taught us God, truth as revealed through Saint Matthew, especially 131 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.000 how the kingdom of God is not a place 132 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:47.600 But the gracious activity of God reigning in Jesus. 133 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.500 And it only took three weighty volumes 134 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:58.700 over eighteen hundred pages for Matthews 135 00:08:58.700 --> 00:08:59.400 28th chapters. 136 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:03.200 But they did come out before the Parousia. 137 00:09:05.400 --> 00:09:06.100 Amazing 138 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:11.900 how the spirit brings out the vast breath, and depth of the reign of 139 00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:12.400 Jesus. 140 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.300 And Dr. 141 00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:15.600 Meyer. 142 00:09:17.300 --> 00:09:22.700 You taught us God's truth first, as the lone voice of the Lutheran 143 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:26.300 Hour, and then is the leading voice of this Seminary. 144 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:30.100 No doubt laboring to corral 145 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:33.100 the many faculty voices into a harmonious whole. 146 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:38.000 And when the spirit bears witness about, Jesus, 147 00:09:39.400 --> 00:09:45.300 he unifies us to study and learn the things of Jesus. 148 00:09:46.400 --> 00:09:48.400 And he gives to all of us 149 00:09:48.400 --> 00:09:53.800 the voice to tell in our own languages the mighty works of God. 150 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:56.200 Amazing 151 00:09:56.200 --> 00:10:02.500 how the spirit speaks the truth of Jesus that we may proclaim it far 152 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:02.900 and wide. 153 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:09.600 Today, we thank all three of you for your labors. 154 00:10:11.300 --> 00:10:16.100 We especially thank our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for his gifts 155 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:17.000 of you. 156 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:20.800 As Jesus 157 00:10:22.300 --> 00:10:24.400 comforted his disciples with the promised 158 00:10:24.400 --> 00:10:25.000 Holy Spirit 159 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.900 he also comfort you by sending his spirit. 160 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:33.600 And with that Holy Spirit, not only working for you, 161 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:35.800 as well as in you. 162 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:42.000 You can be bold and say with sure and certain confidence. 163 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.600 The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall, I fear? 164 00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:51.400 The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom 165 00:10:51.400 --> 00:10:52.300 shall I be afraid? 166 00:10:54.400 --> 00:10:59.000 Amen. And the peace of God which goes beyond all understanding will 167 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.200 guard your hearts and minds in Christ 168 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:02.200 Jesus our Lord. 169 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:03.300 Amen. 170 00:11:03.300 --> 00:11:05.100 Please stand for the hymn.