Judica Sunday (Lent 5) – Pr. Anderson sermon
St. John 8:46-59 “To Never See Death”
April 6, 2025 | Christ Lutheran Church
In Nomine Iesu
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Almighty God, heavenly Father, who, through Your Son our Lord and our Redeemer, promised: If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death, we humbly ask You, grant us Your Holy Spirit, that, duly knowing Your Son, we may keep His Word, trust in it, comfort ourselves with it in the hour of departure, and enter into everlasting life; for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, now and forever. Amen. (The Lutheran Liturgy, companion altar book for The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 92)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Rom. 1:7, etc.)
The sermon text for today is taken from the 8th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. We read selected verses in Jesus’ name:
[Jesus said:] “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
These are Your words, heavenly Father. Sanctify us by Your truth, Your Word is truth. Amen. (Joh. 17:17)
In Christ Jesus, who doesn’t mince His Words, but says plainly He is the Son of God, and by believing in Him, you will have life in His name, dear fellow redeemed:
The name for this Sunday, Judica Sunday, comes from Psalm 43. “Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” (Psalm 43:1-3) This psalm takes us to the great day we will stand before the judgment seat. As we stand there to be judged, this word has more of a meaning than simply to stand and wait for judgment. As written in the psalm, it is a plea that God would vindicate us and be our advocate against those who accuse us. Now before the righteous God, we know what sentence should be pronounced because of our sin. While our physical death from this world takes us before the judgment seat, to never see death is the outcome given to us. With the triune God ever present before us, the Son advocates on our behalf, giving us the blessing to live forever.
The psalm echoes our text as Jesus continues to go back and forth with the ungodly religious leaders of His people. [Jesus said:] “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” Through the season of Lent, we see some of those attacks on Jesus and they continue to mount in this text. They accuse Jesus of sin, but they can’t convict Him. Jesus reveals His Words are from God and He can back His Words up with the Scriptures these leaders have learned. As they continue to refuse to believe Him, they try to oppress Him and snuff out His light. If they would look to the Word of God, they will plainly see how Jesus is of God. Isaiah prophesied, “Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he” (Isaiah 41:4).
If this sounds familiar, it is because Jesus is building up to tell them this fact directly. As He asks them to find proof of their claims, He tells them this knowing it is only falling on deaf ears. Instead of proving their claims, they are only revealing their own ungodliness. As Scripture says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity,” (Psalm 133:1) we see by their response they are not looking for any peace. The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” Jesus makes a promise that comes with the Father’s judgment of perfection. To keep the Word means to never see death.
This is music to the world’s ears. Humanity is doing everything it possibly can to avoid death. There are many however who don’t realize Jesus is talking about spiritually dying. As we hear how there is a way to not spiritually die, the devil is trying to devour us, so we spend eternity with him in hell. Jesus knows his influence is strong, but He is not afraid to call out the devil. He points out that the devil is currently lurking near. Right before our text Jesus tells them, “You are of the your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Jesus is going directly at His enemies with the truth. As they hurl lies, their lies head straight toward death. Anyone who speaks against Jesus and His Word is getting all their answers from this source. The Father of lies who looks to devour everyone’s spirit.
After making the comment about never seeing death, the answer of the people is that their father Abraham and the prophets have all died. So, who could Jesus be to never see death? Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” The answer to their question is in two parts and it is an answer we do not want to forget. While dying physically takes us out of this world, dying spiritually seals our fate. When we fail to listen to His Word as Jesus stated earlier, we will spiritually die and as much as we say, “He is our God,” in our sins, we lie. Jesus wants us to heed His warnings of falling away because of how easy it is to cave to the devil’s lies. Jesus also answers this question saying, “He is not God of the dead, but of the living” (Mark 12:27). To never see death is to have life in God through His Word.
God keeps this promise to His people by being continually present. This presence is found in His Holy name. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). In the history of the world, God has never changed. He exists outside of time and space. He gave life to man and has cared for him even when he failed Him. God never strayed from His name; I AM WHO I AM. His presence was with His people as He brought them out of Egypt. His presence was with them as they wandered. Finally, the God who keeps His promises came down in the very presence of man to physically dwell with His people. The Son knows what the Father wants and supplies it to His people, so they never see death.
For the people to never see death, they have faith that God keeps His promises. It is the same faith Abraham lived by. “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” (Romans 4:3). Abraham believed in the promise that God would save Him. In His faith, he saw the day of His Savior; he saw it and was glad. This strong faith would be in the same promise of Genesis, and after many years, his descendant Jesus would come and save His people from their sins. This means his descendant was more than just a man, rather He is also God from eternity.
So, Jesus never denies who He truly is and states His name to His enemies. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. In the ultimate mic drop, Jesus reveals His identity as the Son of God. He states that He was not before Abraham in time, but He was eternally present before and with Abraham. Abraham saw His day. He saw it and was glad. The Son of Man would come from His line and God would Himself save His people from their sins. With Jesus knowing His identity, He would listen to the Word of His Father and save His people with His suffering and death. Jesus’ enemies would get their wish, but it wasn’t going to be on their timetable. The Word states He would suffer and die as a curse on a tree.
To glorify the Father, Jesus would die on the cross for the world. Jesus did not hide the fact that He would physically die. He knew this was the road for Him to follow. He knew it would not be easy, and He did it for you. Not only did He die a physical death, but He died the spiritual death you deserved suffering the very pains of hell. In pain and agony, He suffered the death unbelief deserves. Why would He do this? St. Paul writes, “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). The same righteousness that Abraham had because He believed in the promises of God. The righteousness that saw Jesus’ day fulfilled. The righteousness you have through His death and resurrection. You are vindicated as God has heard your cries for mercy, forgives you of your sins, and Jesus goes to the Father on your behalf.
The eternal Son, who died and rose, did so for the world. The blessings of forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation are for all who will listen. The world seeks for a way to never see death and that way is already in their midst. In the great commission, Jesus told His disciples, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). As His Word goes out teaching the world to repent of their sins and to cling to the Gospel, Jesus also hasn’t left. The devil will look to convince you with his lies that Jesus is gone, but you know the truth is He is always with you to the end of the age. He is with you in His Word and Sacraments. He vindicates you, “for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The Son of God put on your flesh and faced sin, the world, and the devil for you. In His death on the cross and your enemies defeat, as Jesus promises, you will never see death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.
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