Sermon for Judica, 2026
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
They took up stones to throw at Him because they judged Him to be a blasphemer, because they would not receive His word, because they would not have Him as He is. They take up stones against the One who does not give stones, who instead opens His hand, giving and sustaining all things. They took up stones: to kill the One who is the Life of the world, to bury the One who lays down His life freely for the sins of the world.
He is not overcome by their rejection, nor undone by it. He does not shrink away from their intent or draw back from it. And yet, He does not remain before their eyes. They have stones in their hands; they would kill Him as a blasphemer, silencing Him. But Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. He hides Himself, not because He is escaping or because He is afraid. He hides Himself because this is not the hour, this is not the death appointed for Him.
Stones will not do. For the death He must die is not the death of a blasphemer, struck down by stones; it is the death of an accursed one, lifted up, hung upon the tree. Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. That is the death He must die. And so, He will not be put to death here as they intend; rather, when the hour comes, He will be given over as the sinner, as the condemned, as the One who bears the curse. No, stones will not do: there is no atonement in stones, no shedding there for the forgiveness of sins.
Readings:
Old Testament: Genesis 22:1-14
Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-16
Holy Gospel: John 8:42-59
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