Jesus is not a hireling who runs at the sight of danger. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, seeks the lost, binds up the broken, and strengthens the sick. On the cross, He bore the attacks of sin, death, and the devil to rescue you and lead you into the green pastures of His Word and Sacraments.

Think of every time you’ve been disappointed by your leaders… every time they caused you great grief and made you feel abandoned… every time a respected pastor sinned in a grievous and public way…

And then answer in your mind: When, during any of these difficult moments, did your Good Shepherd leave you alone?

Never. Not once.

Our Lord Jesus is the only Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for you, and He took it back up again. He knows you. And you know Him.

Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven' (John 20:22-23). These are the keys. A key to unlock the chains of sins wrapped around repentant believers and a key to bind those chains to the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Our Lord is not taken away—He is given. You children who will partake of the Holy Supper for the first time this day. You who have received this meal week in and week out. And even you who are not partaking of this Holy Supper yet. You see the same risen body of our Lord here. The same body standing before Mary Magdalene gently calling her by name and giving her the comfort of His victory over death.

Jesus doesn’t cast away the cup that the Father has given to Him. Our Lord drinks the cup of wrath for each of you—the cup filled with your sin, your shame, your death. He steps forward—not to fight, but to suffer, to obey His Father’s will out of perfect love for the Father and for us sinners. Christ chooses faithfulness over the world’s approval or His own comfort. This is the way of the cross, the way He calls us to follow. We must drink the cup He has given us, faithfully walking the path of suffering and sacrifice, just as He did.

Behold your King today. Not far off. Not as a mere historical figure. Behold Him in His Passion. Behold Him in His gentleness. Behold Him enthroned here in lowly and meek forms on a throne that to our eyes looks like a table we slid over here to use for Divine Service. He is here now to deal with you in gentleness and lowliness. If He treated His enemies with such love and gentleness, how much more graciously will He deal with you who have been reconciled to God in His blood.

This evening’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews marks a shift from doctrine to exhortation. St. Paul shows us that because Christ is our perfect High Priest, we are invited to “draw near” to God with boldness and confidence. Through Baptism, Confession, and the Absolution, we are cleansed from sin and brought into the presence of God. This invitation is not just for personal piety—it’s for us as a gathered body of believers, the Church, to live together in Christ, receiving His gifts of forgiveness and peace.

As Holy Week draws near, we are reminded that our access to God’s gracious presence is made possible through Christ’s sacrifice. Through His body and blood, we have full assurance of faith, standing in God’s presence with confidence. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, and consider how we can stir up one another to love and good works. Let us encourage those who have strayed to return and draw near to Christ in the preaching and Sacraments at Divine Service.