Following Christ - Palm Sunday Sermon April 5th 2020 Mount Olive Lutheran Church. Pr. Ted Giese

We often think of this disciple as doubting Thomas but here he is anything but doubting, here Thomas says to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” grim - maybe, resolute - certainly, courageous - absolutely. He says this as Jesus announces that they will be returning to Jerusalem a city that had become dangerous to Jesus and the disciples. This moment reminds me of the hymn “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus” and the 3rd stanza where we sing, “Let us ever die with Jesus. Since by death He conquered death, He will free us from destruction, give to us immortal breath. Let us mortify all passion that would lead us into sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus here with You I die, there to live with You on high.”

Jesus had taught His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” When Thomas said “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” did he know that the Good Friday cross was coming? No. But even still Thomas was prepared to continue to follow Jesus wherever the road led, even if it led toward danger or death. We have a prayer that we pray in the church for times when we are venturing out into the unknown, you have likely prayed this prayer before in church or even on your own, it goes like this, “Lord God, you have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”