Worship Helps for Easter 7
The Stoning of St. Stephen
Vittore Carpaccio
Worship Theme: Jesus prayed for us the night before he died.
He prays for us still in heaven, and God has answered his prayer.
First Lesson: Acts 7:54–60
54When they heard these things,
they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen,
full of the Holy Spirit, gazed up into heaven and saw the glory of God and
Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56He said, “Look, I see
heaven opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57But they screamed at the top of
their voices, covered their ears, and rushed at him with one purpose in mind. 58They
threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses laid their cloaks at
the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning Stephen,
he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60Then he fell to
his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against
them.” After he said this, he fell asleep.
1. Where/how did Stephen see Jesus? (See 7:55)
2. Luke does not say that Stephen “died.” What does Luke say?
Second Lesson: Hebrews 7:11–27
11So if everything could have been
brought to its goal through the Levitical priesthood (for the people received
the law on the basis of that priesthood), what further need was there for
another priest to arise who was like Melchizedek, yet not said to be like
Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, by necessity a change
in the law also happens. 13Yet these things are said about the one
who belonged to another tribe, from which no one had served at the altar. 14It
is certainly clear that our Lord is descended from Judah. Moses said nothing
about priests in connection with that tribe.
15And this becomes even clearer if
another priest arises like Melchizedek, 16who became a priest, not
on the basis of a legal requirement about physical descent, but on the basis of
the power of an endless life. 17For it has been testified in
Scripture about him: You are a priest forever, like Melchizedek.
18To be sure, the former
requirement is annulled, because it was weak and useless— 19for the
law did not bring anything to its goal—but now a better hope is introduced, by
which we approach God.
20And something like this did not
happen without an oath. Indeed, others who became priests did so without an
oath, 21but this one became a priest with an oath, through the one
who said to him: The Lord has sworn an oath and will not change his mind: “You
are a priest forever.” 22In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor
of a better covenant.
23There were many who became
priests because death prevented any of them from continuing to remain in
office. 24But because this one endures forever, he has a permanent
priesthood. 25So for this reason he is able to save forever those
who come to God through him, because he always lives to plead on their behalf.
26This is certainly the kind of
high priest we needed: one who is holy, innocent, pure, separated from sinners,
and exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he
does not need to offer sacrifices on a daily basis, first for his own sins and
then for the sins of the people. In fact, he sacrificed for sins once and for
all when he offered himself.
3. Jesus did not ascend into heaven to retire and rest. What
is one vital thing Jesus is doing for us right now?
4. Since Jesus rose from the dead, he lives forever. Since
Jesus lives forever, what kind of priesthood does he have? (See 7:24)
5. Old Testament priests also interceded for God’s people.
Why is Jesus priesthood better? (And why, therefore, should we never leave
Jesus?)
Gospel: John 17:11b–19
“Holy Father, protect them by your name,
which you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I
was with them, I kept those you gave me safe in your name. I protected them and
not one of them was destroyed, except the son of destruction, so that the
Scripture might be fulfilled.
13“But now I am coming to you, and
I am saying these things in the world, so that they may be filled with my joy. 14I
have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the
world, just as I am not of the world. 15I am not asking that you
take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the Evil One. 16They
are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17“Sanctify them by the truth. Your
word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I also sent them
into the world. 19I sanctify myself for them, so they also may be
sanctified by the truth.”
6. Jesus prayed these words on the night before he died. It
is commonly known as his High Priestly prayer. For what things did Jesus pray?
7. What did Jesus mean when he said, “Sanctify them by the
truth, your word is truth”?
Answers:
1. Stephen saw heaven open and Jesus standing at the right
hand of God.
2. Luke says that Stephen fell asleep. What comfort for us!
In Christ, we have nothing to fear from death. We will rise again with Christ
on the last day.
3. One vital thing Jesus does for us is to act as our high
priest before the Father. He intercedes for us (7:25).
4. Since Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
5. Jesus priesthood is better than any Jewish priest of old
(and therefore we should never leave Jesus), because he was sacrificed for our
sins once for all. He is holy and blameless, exalted above the heavens.
6. Since he was leaving his disciples visibly, Jesus asked
the Father to watch over his disciples, unite them, and protect them. He also
prayed that the Father would sanctify them.
7. When Jesus asked the Father to sanctify his first
disciples he, meant to “set them apart” for God and for holiness. God through
his Word, and the trust worked by that Word, sets apart believers for himself. In
other words, we are in the world, but we are not of it. We are heaven-bound.
Jesus prayed that God would continue to keep them from sin, the devil and the
evil of this world through his holy Word. God continues to set us apart through
that same Word of truth.
A
reading from the Book of Concord for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
The adversaries condemn our statement that people obtain the
forgiveness of sins by faith.
Forgiveness of sins is received not by the outward deed because of
contrition, but by faith that sins are pardoned for him. For this is the chief article that we regard
is necessary to all Christians.
The adversaries say that faith comes before repentance. They
understand faith this way: not that faith justifies, but that, in a general way,
it believes that God exists, punishes the wicked, and so on. In addition to this faith, we require that
each one believe that his sins are pardoned.
We are arguing for this specific faith that asks us to trust in Christ's
promise. This faith overcomes terrors and makes the conscience peaceful. We
attribute justification and regeneration to this faith, since it frees from
terrors and produces peace and joy, and also a new life in the heart.
We do not see what benefit Confession has without absolution.
Paul teaches that the promise cannot be received except by faith (Romans
4:16). Absolution is the promise of the
forgiveness of sins. If the heart
doubts, it regards those things that God promises as uncertain and of no
account. So, it is written, "Whoever
does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the
testimony that God has borne concerning His Son" (1 John 5:10). – Apology
of the Augsburg Confession, Article XIIA, Repentance (59-62)
We all are one in mission; We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united By Christ, the Lord of all.
A single great commission Compels us from above
To plan and work together That all may know Christ's love.
We all are called to service, To witness in God's name.
Our ministries are diff'rent; Our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others With God's surprising grace,
So ev'ry folk and nation May feel God's warm embrace.
Now let us be united, And let our song be heard;
Now let us be a vessel For God's redeeming Word.
We all are one in mission; We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united By Christ, the Lord of all.
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