March 18, 2026 – Midweek Lent                                       Text:  Zechariah 6:9-13

Dear Friends in Christ,

            One of the things drilled into me during seminary was that as Lutherans we live in two kingdoms – political which is the state and spiritual which is the church.  One of my professors always wore a clerical collar.   I remember him saying if he marched in a Walk for Life he would wear a regular shirt.  He would be Joe citizen.  Over the years I have sent numerous letters to the Board of Review, School Board, politicians and even the CEO of American Airlines.  I always sign them Chad Lueck, not Rev. Chad Lueck.  The letters go out from me as a citizen of the United States who has the right to voice my opinion.  I don’t try to manipulate that by putting on the clergy shirt. 

            In our text for tonight, we have an Old Testament prophet being crowned a king.  Is this a confusion of church and state?  The Lord had actually forbidden such a dual role.  Yet the Lord always makes an exception to his own rules.  That is what we see as the high priest Joshua receives the royal crown.  In holding both offices, Joshua serves as a picture of Christ.

“THE KINGLY PRIEST”

            It might see strange to Zechariah to combine the authority of the spiritual realm with the authority of the political realm.  All kinds of things could go haywire.  Wasn’t it better to have a separation of power?  But he knew better than to question the Lord.  If the Almighty decided that a priest could sit on the throne as a king, and that harmony would exist, it must be okay.

            At the time of Jesus there was no harmony between church and state.  The high priests had harmony in their contempt for the Romans, who held political power, and for Jesus, who was a threat to their spiritual power.

            Annas and Caiaphas led the Sanhedrin to convict Jesus of blasphemy.  The hard part would be convincing the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to authorize the death penalty.  Pilate had the political power.  He didn’t care for the Jewish leadership, but they had to cooperate to maintain peace.  When Jesus was led before him, he was dressed as king, but he would shed his own blood as a priestly sacrifice.  They condemned THE High Priest.  Treated him as a cartoon figure.  How could they have so completely missed who he was?

            Jesus in our text is given the name Branch.  The same name given in Isaiah 11.  There he emerges from the stump of Jesse, the royal dynasty of David.  New life would appear where it appeared there had only been a dead end.  The Hebrew word is tsemach.  Luther wrote of this word:  “(tsemach) means a plant or a twig which grows to be a large tree.  For Christ at first was a small shrub, or plant, in the Jewish land, but then He grew until He has become a tree which fills all the world with its branches, its top reaching to heaven and its roots reaching to the abyss of hell.”

            That is what this Branch has saved us from – the abyss of hell.  At times our lives can be hellish.  Trapped in the pit, burning with fever, day in and day out.  We look for political answers that do not come.  Common sense flies out the window and you and I are stuck on the merry-go-round.

            The answer is spiritual.  Joshua must have been an impressive figure clothed in the garments of both the high priest and the King of Israel.  He foreshadowed an even more impressive figure who would combine the two offices and carry them out in perfect harmony.  A Pastor serving in a political office may struggle with potential conflicts.  When your Pastor is Jesus no one minds that he’s also King.  And when your King is Jesus, he’s also the best Pastor.  No conflicts.

            As our Priest, who offered himself on the altar of the cross, he daily intercedes for us, pleading the merits of his once-for-all sacrifice.  As our King, who charged into battle to redeem us from Satan, death, and hell, he rules all things for the good of his church.  The branches of his temple spread ever wider.  There is harmony between his offices; there is harmony between forgiven sinners and our holy God.

            Here is the man:  the Great high Priest, the King of kings, the Branch, your Savior.

                                                                                                                                                Amen.        

March 11, 2026 – Lent                                                Text:  Zechariah 8:14-17

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Recently I served as a juror in a court of law.  Every witness swore they were going to tell the truth.  They have dropped the “so help me God” part, which they should put back in.  I saw a lot of lying.  The most egregious was the felon who came in handcuffs.  We watched a video of him saying one thing and he gets in the witness box and everything he said, he denied.  There was a lot of baloney bouncing off the walls of the McLean County Courthouse the week of January 19^th.

            God is the Father of truth, he hates lies.  Satan is the father of lies, he hates truth.  Lies destroy reputations, steal property, cost lives, and damn to hell.  God wants us to tell the truth, not just when under oath.  He expects us to tell . . .

“THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH”

            During centuries of rebellious behavior, including rampant lying, the Lord had refrained from punishing Israel with the full force of his fury.  But he eventually resorted to sterner measures.  The walls of Jerusalem came crashing down.  Israel’s upper classes were marched off to exile, where for 70 years they could reflect on God’s truth they had long ignored.

            The Lord relents and the exiles return home.  Zechariah announced that the Lord is determined to do good again to Israel, but he also expects to see changed behavior.  They are to practice truth in relationships and in their institutions.  Five centuries after Zechariah delivered this truth, were the people listening?

            While this text is not a direct prophecy of Holy Week it does point to the lack of truth in the courtrooms of the Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate and Herod.  They used false evidence and false witnesses to convict.  Did they speak the truth to each other?  No, they were all about personal gain.  Reminds us of our politicians, doesn’t it?  Did they render sound judgments?  No, the case against Christ was predetermined.  Did they swear falsely?  Yes. 

            God hated the disregard for the truth during Holy Week.  He hates the disregard for the truth today.  Can our society agree on anything?  The manipulating blowhards of our day must sadden the Savior.  We do not like it when people lie to us.  Leaders, lawyers, lenders or lovers, it does not matter.  We trust those who can tell the truth.

            We want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and doing but the truth.  Answer these truthfully in your head.  Did you do your homework?  Did you take your medicine?  Did you report all your income on your tax return?  Is your mind wandering during this sermon?  Not easy, is it?

            Amen means “that’s the truth.  I believe it.”  Are you telling the truth each time you pray the Lord’s Prayer that you will keep his name holy, you prefer his will to your own, you forgive those who have hurt you and you are happy with daily bread and no more?

            Sometimes the truth hurts.  It hurt Jesus to tell the truth.  Not because he lied, because he never did, it hurt because he knew by telling the truth what would happen next.  He said he was the Son of God and gets convicted of blasphemy.  He gets sentenced to death.  He tells the truth to Pontius Pilate and Barabbas gets released.  Doesn’t seem fair.

            The Bible contains many truths that are difficult to believe.  People stumble over a six-day creation, a Red Sea parting, virgin birth, walking on water, healing the sick.  We did not witness them and so we can struggle.  The other reason is because the Father of lies twists these words of the Bible into a pretzel.  Gaslighting is when someone manipulates you by telling you not to believe what your eyes see, and your ears hear.  We could dub the devil the Chief Gaslighter.

            Listen again to the beginning of our text, “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah; fear not.” (vs. 14-15)

            The Lord did what he promised.  He brought the people back and restored their temple.  He was true to his Word:  The Messiah came to the temple, then was laid on the altar of the cross to atone for all sins, including every lie that you and I have ever told.

            What are we to do?  Again, the text.  “Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another and love no false oath.” (vs. 16-17)

            Rejoice in the truth of your absolution.  Rejoice in the truth that God forgave you.  Speak the truth of your pardon upon the cross.  In other words:  the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  Help me do this, Lord.

                                                                                    Amen.     

March 8, 2026                                                                                                   Text:  Romans 5:6-8

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Raymond J Brown wrote an article and these words, “As belief has consequences, so does unbelief…I think the following passage from Thomas Howard…succinctly portrays the gradual loss of Christendom’s strength, numbers, quality, and value among the citizenry of our era.”  Thomas Howard a college professor wrote this:  “I have sometimes given a class the following list of words:  majesty, valor, courtesy, grace, chastity, virginity, nobility, splendor, ceremony, taboo, mystery, purity.  The reaction is quite predictable:  either a total blank or embarrassed snickers…They don’t know what to do with them…Majesty?  The man must be mad.  Courtesy?  What a bore.  Virginity?  Ho-ho – there’s one for you!”

            And then, commenting on Howard’s passage, Raymond Brown stated:  “There is little to add to this, except perhaps to note that this exchange took place at a Christian college.  I half wonder if a similar episode at Berkely would have resulted in a student boycott and investigation of the professor.”

            Words.  What word do you think would describe how much of the world and liberal Christianity see those churches that are battling to stay faithful to the Word of God?  How about the word – repulsive.

            Here is another question:  Will we remain faithful to the Word in these next years?  Let’s look at some of the most repulsive words.  Let’s consider . . .

“WHILE WE WERE”

            The beginning of our text:  “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die.” (vs. 6-7)

            There it is:  “While we were weak.”  That was our condition before being brought to faith.  It is the condition of all humanity without Christ.

            By nature, we were mostly concerned with the world.  What does it offer?  What can I get out of it?  Oh, we think about the grave once in a while, mostly at a funeral.  The world doesn’t want that reminder.  It’s too busy with their business.  The constant struggle for the child of God:  the distractions of the world.

            “At the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”  The right time.  When was that?  Paul wrote it, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman…”(Gal. 4:4). Timing.  God’s time.  He has set a time for us to be born, to be brought to faith, to live, and to depart this world.  God doesn’t look away.  Can you imagine how those without Christ would respond to all this?  Weak?  It is repulsive to human thinking…at least up to that moment when the final breath softly makes its last earthly whisper.

            “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (v. 8). Sinners.  In the article sighted earlier Raymond J Brown notes:  “Today we see a more barbarian outlook.  As G.K. Chesterton warned in The Ballad of the White Horse, we may recognize the return of godlessness by the ‘detail of the sinning and denial of the sin/by God and man dishonored/by death and life made vain.’  Or we might simply compare the letters published and answered in Dear Abby today to those of a generation ago.”

            We are a culture that relishes its sin.  Loves to boast and broadcast their vulgarities, desire for death, fulfillment of any sexual prattle they can foist onto people.  But they don’t want to have any productive talk about sin and its consequences…and please don’t talk to them about anything eternal.  Hey, are we awake here.  This is the world.

            In spite of all this, “Christ died for us.”  “God shows his love.”  Armin J Panning writes:  “…the word used here for God’s love is agape, the term indicating a one-way, unreciprocated love coming entirely from God.  There were no endearing qualities in rebellious humanity that moved or influenced God.  It wasn’t like in human friendship where both parties bring endearing qualities to a relationship so that a mutual affection develops.  No, in the situation Paul is describing, all the good things originate on God’s side of the relationship.”

            Paul also says, “…I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16). We can confidently and lovingly put this in front of others, regardless of how repulsive they find the words weak and sinners.

            What a wonder and a joy.  We have moved from “While we were still weak…while we were still sinners,” to WE ARE God’s people in Christ.

                                                                                                Amen. 

March 4, 2026 – Lent                                                                   Text:  Zechariah 13:7-9

Dear Friends in Christ,

            When have you had to scatter?  Was it at that time in college when you were at a party and the campus police came calling?  Was it the time you experienced a panic attack, and you just had to leave the environment around you?  Was it the time you were burning your draft card, enjoying free love and the national guard pulled into town?  Or did you ever experience a fire or toxic fumes where a quick getaway was in your best interest?  Maybe you are like me, and you like to scatter in public places to avoid congestion.

            Tonight, in our “It Is Finished” theme for Lent the prophet Zechariah has a prophecy about a scattering.  People are going to flee that you would not expect.  What would make you want to “get out of Dodge” as they say?

“SCATTERED SHEEP”

            The prophet opens this way, “’Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,’ declares the Lord of hosts.  ‘Strike the shepherd.’” (v. 7).  Parents are supposed to love and protect their kids.  Yet God sent a sword against His own Son.  We might understand if the Shepherd had been delinquent in His duties, but he had performed flawlessly and selflessly.  He tended the sheep, and they trusted Him.  So why would the Lord strike down this ideal caretaker who had done everything a faithful shepherd was supposed to do?

            You know why:  “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” (Jn. 3:16).  A faithful shepherd places himself between the flock and danger.  In this case the danger was God’s holy anger at sheep who would not listen.  Sheep like us who wander onto trails of temptation that turn into traps.  Pleasures that turn into pain.  Yet in his great love, the sword of the Lord struck the Shepherd, not the sheep.  “We all, like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53:6)

            There is more to Zechariah’s prophecy and isn’t cheerful.  “’Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.  In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third will be left alive.” (Vs. 7b-8).

            Many in Jesus’ day, as in Zechariah’s day, wanted a Savior of power, prosperity, comfort, ease, and their best life right now.  When Jesus said it wouldn’t be that way, many left him to await a more satisfying Savior.  En route to the Mount of Olives Jesus quoted these words to the disciples.  What happened?  They scattered in fear.  Ran to a parent, a wife, their baby blanket or favorite stuffed toy!  Because Jesus also told them they would be put in the fire and refined.  Somebody, hep me, hep me.

            Yikes!  We inwardly hope we will not be called to endure such tests.  A life of health, financial security, no conflict relationships, and all-around good cheer is much more appealing.  Many seek only a Savior who will give them this kind of life.

            See how the refining changed the apostles?  It made them stronger for what faced them in the early church, on their missionary journeys and in their martyrdom.  Our trials are not easy.  Do you think you have been refined too much?  Remember you have an ally that has already been through the fire.  In my recent kidney stone pain, before the wondrous shot, I was praying.  It helped.  The pain brought the prayer.  Refining was taking place as I thought about Jesus’ pain.

            Like the disciples, we have an imperfect faith.  We have fled from the enemy, wilted under the truth, and our devotion from a distance has often led us to scatter from the heat of battle.  If you have done that, remember the Good Shepherd allowed those timid sheep to return.  He has been praying for you in your trials.  He knows that after the test your faith will emerge from the fire purer and stronger.  He has already purified you of sin when he was struck by the sword for you.

            Zechariah describes the result of this refining process:  “They will call upon my name, and I will answer them.  I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (v. 9b)

            When your faith falters, you can still proclaim, “The Lord is my God.”  When Satan whispers you are eternally lost for scattering, you can still boast, “The Lord is my God.”  And when your Father hears your confession of faith, he will proudly say, “These are my people.”

                                                                                                                                    Amen.

March 1, 2026                                                                                  Text:  Genesis 12:1-9

Dear Friends in Christ,

            During the Napoleonic wars, British general Arthur Wellesley, often found himself using the British troops he commanded to reduce Spanish towns and villages held by French troops.  Once the artillery had broken through, the real dirty work began.  The first troops through the breach were called the “forlorn hope.”  Their chances of making it to tomorrow were extremely low.  They advanced through the breach knowing that they likely were going to be killed.

            There is a difference between this “forlorn hope,” which is a hopeless hope really, and the hope against hope.  In our story of Abraham in our text this morning, God shows us hope in the story.  We get to see Abraham’s faith.  Against hope, he believed a promise.

“HOPE AGAINST HOPE”

            God made some wonderful promises to Abraham.  He was going to make him a great nation.  He will be a blessing and his name will shine.  All the families of the earth are going to be blessed by this servant of God.  God will take care of those who curse him.  He is giving him a great land, but he has no idea where it is.  He only has the promise.  The only thing God does promise Abraham in this new land?  God tells him in Genesis 23 he will have a burial plot.  The best Abraham could do was burial insurance.  Isn’t that great?

            Imagine trying this scenario with your family.  You gather everyone and announce, “we are moving.”  “Where are we going?”  “Well, I’m not sure.”  “Where will our home be?”  “Again, not really positive.”  “What might our house look like?”  “We don’t have one.  But we do have burial insurance.”  The only thing he could assure Sarai of was this, “we do have a wonderful real estate agent!”  Isn’t it a wonder that Abram lived past that conversation?

            God said “go” and he went.  God didn’t expect him to believe because of sight, feeling, deeds, burial plot, or any other earthly prop.  God had spoken his promises.  That was good enough for God, and therefore it was good enough for Abram.  The theology of the cross is the theology of the Word.  He speaks.  We believe.

            Human reason does not support this faith and confidence.  It sees sin and weakness.  We see broken marriages, children born out of wedlock, and all manner of rebellion against God’s order.  We see a weak and suffering ministry.  We see people living the good life behind high walls.  Surely, God must be blessing them?  Why would we think we have God’s blessing?  We don’t have power or the deed to it.  That is why we must trust God.  All he gave to Abraham was a word.  How could Abraham become the father of many nations, when he couldn’t even be the father of one son?  Because he believed.  He didn’t give Abraham riches or the deed to a promised property, not even hope.  So, he against hope believed and had hope.

            Much that we believe must be believed against hope.  Why should God dwell here in our humble church?  Why should our Pastor have the authority to forgive sins or give the Supper of the Lord into our mouths?  Do we have a man giving him permission?  His authority is not from man, but from God.  “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Rom. 4:3). The voice of God’s promise assures that we are blessed and a blessing to the nations, through the Seed given to Abraham, even Jesus Christ, our Lord.

            What hope against hope do we have?  The apostle Paul says that are transgressions are handed over to Christ Jesus.  When we sin, it hurts God.  But he listens to our problems and our hurts, our sorrows and sins.  He listens as a loving Father.  But He takes on our sin not because He must for his own sake, but for ours.  Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5).  These are the blessings God promised to Abraham, a promise given to all the families of the earth . . . and given, therefore, to you.

            Lent is time of hope in the midst of hopelessness.  Our heavenly Father sent his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as possessing nothing and yet blessing all nations by giving himself to death for them.  He came not to possess the land but to give himself to those who are journeying with him to the cross.  With the promised blessings, we are still going on toward our final home.  Even though we have no deed for it, we have no hope in it, because God has promised, just as he did to Abraham.  Our hope is Abraham’s hope.

                                                                                                                        Amen.     

February 25, 2025 – Lent                                                         Text:  Zechariah 11:7-13

Dear Friends in Christ,

            What is it worth to you?  Each day we make decisions on how much to pay for dinner out, a hotel room, a flight, laundry detergent or toilet paper.  Should you go to the gym today or just wait until tomorrow?  Do I really need to see a doctor, or can it wait?  It is worth it?

            Toni and I had this decision on our trip to Aruba.  The trip was paid for by Toni’s work, so when we decided to have massages at the resort, it was easier to pay the higher prices.  If we have paid for the trip, what would we have done?  Just speaking for myself, the massage would have been a go.  It would have been worth it.

            In our text, Zechariah changes the question a bit.  He doesn’t ask “what’s it worth to you?”  Rather it is . . .

“WHAT’S HE WORTH TO YOU?”

            The He in our title is obviously Jesus.  What value do you put on Jesus?

            In this week’s prophecy, Zechariah describes a shepherd (himself) who’s fed up with his job.  He was called to pasture the flock (Israel), but the sheep were not kind.  Their spiritual help had deteriorated under their religious leaders, who had been unfaithful in their duties.  The Lord had lost confidence in the sham shepherds and the sheep were now “doomed to be slaughtered.” (v. 7).

            In one month, Zechariah had gotten rid of three shepherds.  Fired them.   Surely the sheep would be happy about that?  They weren’t.  They detested Zechariah.  Who could blame him for quitting?  If the sheep were determined to die, he wouldn’t stop them.  He didn’t even care if he got his severance paycheck – thirty pieces of silver.  The Lord told him to throw it to the potter.  He did.  He threw it down in the temple.

            Zechariah was actually prophesying about another prophet-shepherd far into the future.  You know that shepherd.  Cared for His people perfectly.  Loved them.  Had their best interests at heart.  The people had no interest in that shepherd.  They rejected Him with shouts of “crucify! crucify!”  They didn’t think he was worth a single piece of silver, much less 30.  And that fulfillment came with Judas.  Who betrayed Jesus for those 30 silver coins.  He also threw his coins back into the temple and ended up dying in a potter’s field.  Can you hear Zechariah’s prophetic words?

            This price paid for Jesus is insulting.  Jesus went humbly to the cross where He would pay an infinitely greater price for the souls of sheep who didn’t want Him.

            What is He worth to you, Christian?  Would you betray him for four month’s wages?  Would you pretend you don’t know him for a sack of silver?  I can guess your answer.  “I would never sell out the Savior.”  Maybe not.  Or maybe it would take much less.

            Have you ever traded Jesus for the acceptance of your peers?  Swapped time with the Teacher for extra hours of entertainment or sleep?  Held so tightly to your 30 pieces of silver that you couldn’t even give him one?  Does “me time” come before “He time?” 

            Jesus has reason to leave us.  Dismiss us in disgust.  Yet He stays on the job and shows us great favor.  If Jesus were asked, “What is that sinner – the one in the pew over there – worth to you?”  He would answer without hesitation, “That sinner is worth everything.  That sinner is worth my life.  That sinner is worth my divine blood.”

            Our Savior wasn’t concerned about the value placed on Him by the ungrateful sheep and their unethical shepherds.  He was more concerned about the value he placed on you.  The holy Son of God was willing to be sold for 30 pieces of silver, willing to be betrayed with a kiss, willing to be handed over to his enemies, willing to be sentenced to death as a criminal.  He bought in to a plan to be sold out by Judas so that he could buy you with his blood.

            The Good Shepherd, though rejected by most of the sheep, paid for our ticket to heaven “not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.”  (Luther’s Explanation to the second article)

            What is He worth to you, Christian?  Is He worth setting aside some time to serve in His House?  Is He worth the risk to talk to someone about what He has done in your life?  You show Jesus what He is worth to you by where He fits in your budget, your schedule, your heart.

            Many consider Christ worth 30 pieces of silver or even much less.  You know Him as your precious, priceless, irreplaceable Savior.  He is worth everything you have and everything you are.

                                                Amen.