Know His Love - Sermon for Palm and Passion Sunday, March 28th, A+D 2021

 Palm and Passion Sunday, March 28, Year of Our + Lord 2021
Our Redeemer and Our Savior’s Lutheran Churches, Custer and Hill City, SD
Know His Love 

(This sermon references Samuel Crossman's hymn "My Song is Love Unknown, " especially stanza 6.  You can read the text of the hymn here:  https://hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/430) 

   What may I say?  Heaven was His home, but mine the tomb wherein He lay. 
 
   My tomb.  He didn’t deserve to die, but I do.  As we head into Holy Week, and truly every day, we need to hear and confess this truth.  Jesus died and was placed in a tomb because I am a sinner. 
 
   Hear and confess your sinfulness, and your sins.  Repent.  And then hear again.  Mine was the tomb wherein He lay.  The Holy One of God lay in the tomb for me.  And for you.  By His sinless presence in another man’s grave, Jesus made the graves of all believers holy ground.  He sanctified what had always been a cavern of death and decay.  Now you do not need to fear death.  Now, by faith in Jesus, your grave is but a temporary resting place for your body, until the Last Day when all the dead in Christ will be raised to join the glorious body and soul reunion of all the saints, gathered forever around the throne of the Lamb.
 
   This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and gave His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Samuel Crossman, our hymnwriter, called this “Love Unknown.”  It’s a beautiful hymn, and outside of Jesus Christ, it is true that such love is not known.  But my prayer for you, and for all people, is that you know the love that has been proclaimed to you this morning. 
 
   When you feel like nobody really loves you, remember that God has loved you perfectly in Jesus. 
 
   When you are in conflict with those you love, know that in Jesus forgiveness and reconciliation are possible. 
 
   When Satan points to your sins, and whispers that you are unlovable, tell that liar to shut his mouth, for God declares His love, His forgiving love, for you, in His Son, your Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.