THE WEEK OF TRINITY - WEDNESDAY

LESSON: PSALM 145

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:14-15

Paul says in Romans that God promised the Gospel beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, “the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:2-4). According to the flesh, then, He had a beginning, but, according to the Spirit, He has existed in eternity, although beforehand this was not clearly recognized.

It was not necessary for us to make a God of Him; we simply declare Him to be God’s Son and accept Him as such. This is also the concern of the Holy Spirit. John says, “When the Spirit of truth comes … He will glorify me” (John 16:13-14).

In another context, the evangelist John writes that Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made” (John 17:1-5).

SL 11:1149 (6)

PRAYER: Christ Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, through whom the invisible and most high became visible to mortal men, grant that by Your grace and power we may so live on this earth that we never lose the eternal treasure reserved for us in heaven, where You live and reign with the Father and the Sprit, one God, forevermore. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.