30 March 2025
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Ringing of the Bell
– The bell rings as the call to worship, reminding us to discontinue conversation and reverently prepare for worship.
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Lutheran Service Book Divine Service Setting Three
Stand
609 Jesus Sinners Doth Receive LSB 609 sts. 1–2, 5–6
1
Jesus
sinners doth receive;
Oh,
may all this saying ponder
Who
in sin’s
delusions live
And
from God and heaven wander!
Here
is hope for all who grieve:
Jesus
sinners doth receive.
2
We
deserve but grief and shame,
Yet
His words, rich grace revealing,
Pardon,
peace, and life proclaim;
Here
our ills have perfect healing.
Firmly
in these words believe:
Jesus
sinners doth receive.
5
Oh,
how blest it is to know:
Were
as scarlet my transgression,
It
shall be as white as snow
By
Thy blood and bitter passion;
For
these words I now believe:
Jesus
sinners doth receive.
6
Now
my conscience is at peace;
From
the Law I stand acquitted.
Christ
hath purchased my release
And
my ev’ry
sin remitted.
Naught
remains my soul to grieve:
Jesus
sinners doth receive.
Text:
tr.
The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; Erdmann Neumeister,
1671–1756
Text: Public domain
Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; Erdmann Neumeister, 1671–1756Tune: Neu-verfertigtes Darmstädtisches Gesang-Buch, 1699, DarmstadtText and tune: Public domain
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
Invocation
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Exhortation LSB 184
P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
P Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C who made heaven and earth.
P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,
C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Confession of Sins LSB 184
P O almighty God, merciful Father,
C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
Absolution LSB 185
P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Kyrie
C Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
Salutation and Collect of the Day
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
P Let us pray.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
Psalm Psalm 32
Blessèd
is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose
sin is covered.
Blessèd is
the man against whom the Lord
counts no iniquity,
and in whose
spirit there is no deceit.
For
when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through
my groaning all day long.
For
day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my
strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
I
acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my
iniquity;
I
said, “I will confess my
transgressions
to the Lord,”
and
you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Therefore
let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a
time when you may
be found;
surely in the rush of great waters, they
shall not reach him.
You are a hiding
place for me; you preserve me from trouble;
you
surround me with shouts of deliverance.
I
will instruct you and teach you in the way you should
go;
I
will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be
not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which
must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not
stay near you.
Many
are the sorrows of the wicked,
but
steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Be
glad in the Lord,
and rejoice, O righteous,
and
shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 12:1–6
You
will say in that day:
“I will give
thanks to you, O Lord,
for
though you were angry with me,
your
anger turned away,
that you might
comfort me.
“Behold, God is my
salvation;
I will trust, and will not
be afraid;
for the Lord
God
is my strength and my song,
and he
has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
“Give
thanks to the Lord,
call
upon his name,
make known his deeds
among the peoples,
proclaim that his
name is exalted.
“Sing praises to
the Lord,
for he has done gloriously;
let this
be made known in all the earth.
Shout,
and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for
great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Epistle 2 Corinthians 5:16–21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
A This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Verse LSB 157
C Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love.
Holy Gospel Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fifteenth chapter.
C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: . . .
“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Sit
744 Amazing Grace LSB 744 sts. 1–5
1
Amazing
grace—how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like
me!
I
once was lost but now am found,
Was
blind but now I see!
2
The
Lord has promised good to me,
His
Word my hope secures;
He
will my shield and portion be
As
long as life endures.
3
Through
many dangers, toils, and snares
I
have already come;
His
grace has brought me safe thus far,
His
grace will lead me home.
4
Yes,
when this flesh and heart shall fail
And
mortal life shall cease,
Amazing
grace shall then prevail
In
heaven’s
joy and peace.
5
When
we’ve
been there ten thousand years,
Bright
shining as the sun,
We’ve
no less days to sing God’s
praise
Than
when we’d
first begun.
Text
(sts.
1–4): John Newton, 1725–1807,
alt.;
(st. 5): A Collection of Sacred Ballads, 1790,
Richmond
Text:
Public domain
Sermon - Pastor Eric Ash
Lent 4 B March 30, 2025 John 19:28
“I Thirst”
Today we will look at our Lord’s Fifth Word from the Cross, “I thirst,” which is found in John 19:28. What is the thirstiest you have ever been? Thirty-some years ago, I was in Dallas, Texas, in early July and the temperature was well above 100 degrees. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to walk a few miles without any water and no shade. By the end of that hike, I was parched and starting to get the symptoms of dehydration. I was never so glad to receive a sip of water.
Where we live, we take water for granted. It is estimated that one-quarter of the world’s population does not have convenient access to safe, clean water sources. Once I was at dinner with a missionary who served for years in Africa. When the waitress sat glasses on ice water in from of us, he said that is a luxury one would never see where he served. And so often that water is never drank! That there are people who are as thirsty as I was in Dallas that day everyday of their lives is a tragedy.
In the creation narrative of Genesis, God’s Spirit brooded over the dark, chaotic primordial waters. After creating light on the first day, on days two and three God separated the waters creating land, sea and sky. Two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Beneath the earth’s surface are huge bodies of water, more than we can imagine. The human body is 98% water. A person may be able to live three weeks or more without food. But usually, we can only survive about three days without water. Water is essential for human life.
Throughout the Bible, water is used as a sign of God’s kingdom, and cleansing and rebirth. That is what Luther says in his “Flood Prayer” that we use as part of our baptismal rite. God saved Noah and his family from the flood and repopulated the earth. God led His children Israel through the Red Sea to the freedom of the Promised Land. Jesus himself was baptized by John in the River Jordan.
From the cross Jesus said, “I thirst.” I am going to point out something linguistically about that statement that bears upon how we translate and read the Bible. In English, it takes us two words to say, “I thirst.” In Greek, the language of the New Testament, “I thirst” is just one word. There is not a one-to-one correspondence between Greek and English words. The King James Bible has 783,137 words. Other versions might have more words or less. Some people ask, “What are these other versions adding or taking away?” The answer is “Nothing.” “God’s Kingdom” and “the Kingdom of God” are both valid translation of the same Greek phrase, but one has two words and the other three. That’s why the word counts differ. No one is hiding or changing anything,
Up until the point in the crucifixion when Jesus said “My God. My God why have you forsaken me,” all of his speech was about other people, not himself. He prayed for his tormentors, he gave absolution, and he saw to it that his mother was provided for. When he quoted Psalm 22 saying, “My God, my God…” he gave us some insight into his spiritual state. Now, with “I thirst,” he tells us about his physical state.
Interestingly, Psalm 22 also alludes to Jesus’ thirst. Verse 15, reads, “I am dried up like a potshard and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.” Just as Jesus previously expressed his solidarity with all who suffer the apparent abandonment of God, now Jesus expresses his solidarity with all in physical suffering as well: all the thirsty, all the hungry, all the abused, all the tortured, every sick person lying awake at night in pain. Jesus knows how bad you hurt. He’s been there.
Of course, the physical and the spiritual are never far from one another. It’s hard to be spiritually at ease when we’re in physical pain. A person starving or dying of thirst doesn’t have the strength or will to contemplate spiritual truths. That is why often the first step in evangelism, reaching out with the gospel, is to meet people at their point of physical need: to feed the hungry, to give clean water to those who have none, to help people affected by disasters. Then they see the comfort Christians offer as a preview of salvation and have the desire to know more about this Jesus whose people care about their wellbeing.
Another connection between the physical and the spiritual, related to thirst, is an experience we have all had as Christians. Do you ever pray and feel like God is not listening? Do you ever just lack the motivation to pray, or read the bible, or come to worship? Sometimes does it seem like God, if there even is a God, just doesn’t care or isn’t as loving as advertised? Everyone feels that way sometime, even great saints like Mother Teresa and Martin Luther. This state of spiritual listlessness and lethargy has been called dryness. Maybe you have heard it called by its theological name, acedia.
How can our spiritual dryness be quenched? First, recognize that this is normal. Christianity is not a constant feeling of elation. There will be tough times. Hang in there. Know that if you just ride them out, things will get better. Secondly, do what you always do. Keep up your spiritual practices. Pray, read the Bible, go to worship, force yourself to do those things even when you don’t want to. The Holy Spirit will help you do that.
I recall a time in seminary when academic and financial stress and medical issues were overwhelming me. God seemed very far away, and my prayers seemed to go nowhere. I concluded that if I really believed what I said I believed, I had to keep praying, reading, and worshiping. My heart wasn’t in it, but by God’s power I continued to do those things, not perfectly, but as best I could at the time. When, by God’s grace, the situations all resolved, I could look back and see how God was right beside me all the way, although I could not see Him while I was going through what I was going through. I like to say that sometimes we see God “in the rearview mirror.” It looks like he has abandoned us, but when the crisis is over, we see how He got us through.
When Jesus said. “I thirst,” I wonder if he expected anyone to actually give him a drink. People had not treated him kindly since his trial began, why would anyone take pity on him then? When we consider how badly Jesus was mocked and beaten, how the mob mentality took over against him, how easily people bullied him without mercy, it was unlikely anyone was going to extend him any courtesy. Jesus’ suffering proves just how depraved and mean people can be.
The gospels do say that Jesus was given some sour wine or vinegar to drink. Roman soldiers were given some wine to drink in situations like that to keep them hydrated. Perhaps the hardened Roman solider had more sympathy for Jesus than his own people. Or this was more mockery. A small drink might have prolonged Jesus’ life longer extending his torture. I’ve mentioned this before, and its grotesque, but in the public latrines there would be a stick with a sponge on it that would be dipped in salt water and used for person hygiene. A person of that time and place, seeing the sour wine given to Jesus in the way it was, would likely be struck by that image.
All of us probably think that if we had been there at the crucifixion, we would have behaved differently. We would have given Jesus a good drink when he was thirsty, or we would have stood up for him when he was on trial or fought the soldiers to save his life. But would we… really? Martin Luther answered that.
In his classic Christmas sermon, Luther talked about how people feel sorry for baby Jesus in the humble circumstances of his birth, and how they say they would have cared for Jesus had they been there. Then Luther asked why don’t we help our neighbors as we say we would help Christ, since Christ has told us that what we do to the least of his brothers and sister we have done unto him. Jesus said specifically that a cup of cold water given to a child is really given to him.
When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman at the well for a drink of water, it led to a life-changing conversation for her, in which Jesus talked about the living water within him welling up unto eternal life. When we were baptized, we were washed in that living water and received the Holy Spirit. like a wellspring of that living water inside us and around us. That’s life changing for us.
We suffer with Christ, and we will rise with him. In the meantime, Jesus has created a space for us to work beside him in this world. We who share in his thirst have the blessed opportunity to share our goods with neighbors, to comfort our neighbors, to offer that proverbial cup of cold water to the least and the lost, for Jesus’ sake and in his name. And may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Votum
P The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
C Amen.
Stand
Nicene Creed
C I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life T of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the baptized who have left the faith and departed the household of God, that God would lead them to repentance; and for their parents, grandparents and others who mourn their departure, that God would preserve these in faithful patience to wait and pray, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation and all in authority, that God would make them prudent and wise so that we might live in peace and freely make known His message of reconciliation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the preservation of God’s creation until the old world passes away and He ushers in the new creation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in need of mercy, healing and help, [including _____________,] that the Lord would deliver them according to His will and remind them of the day when sorrow and sickness will be no more, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Pax Domini LSB 197
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C Amen.
Sit
Offertory Invitation
The Psalmist wrote, "Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offerings and come into this courts." Therefore, we now make our offerings to God.
The Choir sings as the offerings are collected
Stand
Offertory LSB 192
C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Holy God, accept and bless these gifts which you have given us to honor your name. In this Eucharist, take away our sins and prepare us for the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
Preface LSB 194
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them up unto the Lord.
P Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
C It is meet and right so to do.
Proper Preface
P It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. You bid your people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast. Renew our zeal in faith and life, and bring us to the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God. And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
heav’n and earth are full of Thy glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
The Words of Our Lord
P On the night, in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same also, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood, shed for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Lord's Prayer Invitation
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray. . .
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Fraction
P This is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are they who are called to His feast.
C O Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I will be healed. Amen.
Agnus Dei
C O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Jesus, Remember Me Taize
Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom.
Sit
Distribution
The pastor and those who assist him receive the body and blood of Christ first and then distribute them to those who come to receive, saying:
Take, eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins.
Amen.
Take, drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins.
Amen.
Stand
The Dismissal LSB 199
In dismissing the communicants, the following is said:
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace.
C Amen.
Nunc Dimittis LSB 199
C Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word,
for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Thanksgiving 200
A O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,
C and His mercy endureth forever.
Salutation LSB 201
P The Lord be with you.
C And with thy spirit.
686 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing LSB 686
1
Come,
Thou Fount of ev’ry
blessing,
Tune
my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams
of mercy, never ceasing,
Call
for songs of loudest praise.
While
the hope of endless glory
Fills
my heart with joy and love,
Teach
me ever to adore Thee;
May
I still Thy goodness prove.
2
Here
I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither
by Thy help I’ve
come;
And
I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely
to arrive at home.
Jesus
sought me when a stranger,
Wand’ring
from the fold of God;
He,
to rescue me from danger,
Interposed
His precious blood.
3
Oh,
to grace how great a debtor
Daily
I’m
constrained to be;
Let
that grace now like a fetter
Bind
my wand’ring
heart to Thee:
Prone
to wander, Lord, I feel it;
Prone
to leave the God I love.
Here’s
my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal
it for Thy courts above.
4
Oh,
that day when freed from sinning,
I
shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed
then in the blood-washed linen,
How
I’ll
sing Thy wondrous grace!
Come,
my Lord, no longer tarry;
Take
my ransom’d
soul away;
Send
Thine angels soon to carry
Me
to realms of endless day.
Text:
Robert
Robinson, 1735–90, alt.
Text:
Public domain
CLOSING RESPONSE
P Go in Peace! Serve the Lord!
C Praise be to God!
AcknowledgmentsUnless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.