Who Is Your Father John 8 42-59
March 22, 2026
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Judica, The Fifth Sunday In Lent 22-March-2026 Sermon Text: John 8:42-59 Sermon Theme: “Who Is Your Father?” I. My Father Loves Me Perfectly! (Vs.42-45) II. My Father Speaks To Me Honestly! (Vs.46-50) III. My Father Brings Me Home Safely! (Vs.51-59) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Judica, The Fifth Sunday In Lent 22-March-2026
Sermon Text: John 8:42-59
Sermon Theme: “Who Is Your Father?” I. My Father Loves Me Perfectly! (Vs.42-45) II. My Father Speaks To Me Honestly! (Vs.46-50) III. My Father Brings Me Home Safely! (Vs.51-59) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” The Psalmist exposes the inner struggles of a child of God. Holy Spirit Gospel breathed faith in Jesus wrestles against the old unbeliever within us. The old adam is the deceitful and unjust man that daily wrestles against the new man created in us by grace through faith in Jesus.
Often we cry out against our cast down souls stirring up turmoil within. Abraham certainly felt this struggle of faith against unbelief. God spoke a promise to him and he left all his family and security behind to journey to Canaan. He lived as a pilgrim and a stranger. God promised him and Sarah a son through whom the Messiah would be born. They remained childless - their souls cast down. Perhaps they sang this stanza of faith under trial: Psa 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Finally twenty five years later our Lord’s Word is fulfilled Isaac is born. The Lord made them laugh with joy for their son.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Imagine Abraham’s fatherly heart when perhaps about three decades later God speaks to him again. He is to take his only beloved son to a hill and offer him as the sin sacrifice. Abraham hopes in God.
Clinging to God’s promise of Christ Jesus to be born of Isaac’s descendants. He immediately obeys the Father’s command. God the Holy Spirit teaches, Heb 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," (19) concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. Abraham’s hope in God did not disappoint. In the mount of the Lord - on Moriah - later named Golgotha - a Substitute sacrifice was provide not only for Isaac, but for all of us.
Holy week draws near. Look to Jesus on the cross and boldly answer the question: “Who Is Your Father?” I. My Father Loves Me Perfectly! (Vs.42-45) II. My Father Speaks To Me Honestly! (Vs.46-50) III. My Father Brings Me Home Safely! (Vs.51-59)
I. God is in His Temple. He came to His own, but His own received Him not. The time is growing short. Judgment is drawing near. St. John tells us that it was the festival of booths or tabernacles. In the fall of the year, the Jews would construct temporary shelters from the leafy branches and camp outside for a week. It was a time of sacrifice and feasting. A time to remember and relive the forty year sojourn of their ancestors in the wilderness. A time to repent of stubborn refusal to trust in God’s love and promise to shepherd them into the promised land.
Jesus’ Words sound harsh, but they are words of love. (Vs.42-45) A fireman searching to rescue you from your burning smoke filled house will shout. To be offended because he didn’t quietly awake you would be insanity. The danger is real and near. Harsh words must jar you from slumber to save your life.
In about six months the final Passover will dawn. Jesus speaks harsh words in love to waken the Jews from their slumber. This is God the Father’s perfect love for us. The Father’s love may grate at our ears, but they are necessary to wake us up from spiritual slumber. If God is your Father you will love Jesus! Jesus alone is the eternally begotten Son of the Father - the Second person of the Holy Trinity.
Wake up! The fires of hell are eternal! There is no other way to God the Father except through the flesh and blood of Jesus.
The devil from the day of his rebellion against our Creator has tried to usurp God the Father and steal away His children. Satan is a liar and murderer. His words are lies enticing us to spiritual flesh pleasing slumber as he leads us captive to death and hell.
Wake up! Repent! Listen to Jesus’ Word. Faith only comes by hearing, and hearing through the message of Christ. All other manmade religions are lies of the devil designed to murder your body and soul in the eternal death of hell.
II. As a loving father wise Solomon wrote, Pro 1:8-10 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; (9) For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. (10) My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. A loving Father speaks honestly with His children, not to harm them, but to protect, instruct and teach them. Sometimes it may seem that their words are too harsh. Father’s are often reprimanded not for what they said, but how they said it. Father’s don’t fall silent. Our first father Adam fell silent as the serpent discussed theology with his wife. When the devil questioned God’s Word - Adam should’ve opened his mouth and spoken harsh words of love to rebuke the liar and murderous fallen angel possessing that beast.
Adam’s failure to speak brought us all into spiritual slavery to the devil and his lies. Repent! Return to God the Father! His words may grate your slothful soul as harsh, but the Father speaks to His children honestly.
Listen to His voice! (Vs.46-50) “I and My Father are one!” Jesus spoke. In the face of Jesus we see the face of God the Father. In the heart of Jesus we see the love of God the Father to save us lost and condemned creatures. The Father and the Son save us by breathing out the life giving Holy Spirit through God’s creative Word.
“He who is of God hears God’s Word.” A child knows the voice of his father. If the father yells at him to get out of the road the child obeys for he knows it is a honest word to save him from danger. God the Father speaks to you honestly in His Church through His written Word - the Holy Bible.
In love God the Father has given you a greater blessing than Abraham. God spoke to Abraham and gave him the promise of the Christ. As the Holy Spirit now teaches you, Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "AND TO YOUR SEED," who is Christ. Think of it. God spoke to Abraham, then for nearly a decade - no Word from God rang in his ears. He had to cling to that Word spoken and no doubt written down. Behold the love of God the Father to you. He speaks to you honestly and fully. Scripture teaches you, Heb 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;”
God the Father has spoken to us by His Son! We are entrusted with the very words of the Father spoken through His only begotten Son Jesus. Hear His Words! They are Truth. Study the Scriptures! Jesus promises you, Joh 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
If you refuse to hear God’s Word. Then hear the honest Word of our God and Father - “you are not of God.” You may excuse yourself from attending the divine service, when you have not physical disability to prevent you from joining those assembled around the Word of God. Truth is you have rejected God the Father and chosen to listen to the voice of your own desires, the world’s lies, and satanic spirituality leading you away from the Light to die in darkness. We see that darkness as the mob accuses Jesus of being a demon possessed Samaritan.
My Father speaks to me honestly His Word in Love. His law exposes my sin. Salvation is never through my feelings, promises, activities, thoughts, or desires. Salvation is only found in Jesus - the High Priest and only Sacrifice for sins upon the cross shaped altar of Calvary.
III. Jesus shows us God the Father’s heart - He came to seek and to save us lost sinners. My loving Father brings me safely Home to Himself.
How? (Vs.51) Through the Word of Jesus! There is no eternal life apart from keeping Jesus’ Word grasping it by grace through Holy Spirit given and sustained faith. This faith is the gift of God the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ Word spoken into your ears. It is not your doing - it is purely the Father’s gift to bring you Home.
The world mocks God the Father’s protection and call. (Vs.52-53) God’s Word is spoken, but men still die. The world celebrates life refusing to mourn the reality of death. It doesn’t want to deal with the truth that death is sin’s wages. We will all die, for we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Where alone is path through death Home to Life eternal? (Vs.54-55) God our Father is honored by knowing Him in His Son, our Savior, Jesus. We know Jesus only by the Holy Spirit working through God’s written Word. Keep His Word! Treasure it!
The Father’s Word in His Son fills us with Spirit given joy! (Vs.56-58) It was on Mount Moriah, as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac to fulfill God’s Word that he beheld the day of Jesus. Moriah would be named Zion. On it Jerusalem and its temple would be built. On a ridge-line of that mount the Romans erected a place of execution - the place of the skull - Calvary or Golgotha.
For Abraham God provided another sacrifice in the place of His beloved son. A ram caught in a thorny crown of thickets. Abraham called the place - “Yahweh Yireh” Literally “Yahweh Sees” or “The Lord will provide” The great “I Am” never changes. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The children of the devil now seek to destroy Jesus. (Vs.59) It is not the time for Jesus’ sacrifice yet. It will happen on Moriah, not in the Temple courts - He will be crucified as Psalm 22 predicted. He will be the scapegoat for all my sins and yours - as Isaiah 53 teaches.
My Father brings me safely Home to Himself through the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son. There is no other way, no other truth, no other life - Jesus alone brings us to the Father. Rejoice in Him always.
God the Father vindicated you through His Son’s sacrifice and victory in the waters of Holy Baptism. At the font Jesus substitutionary sacrifice for you on Calvary is sealed upon you working daily and rich Holy Spirit given forgiveness. At the font Jesus’ resurrection rescues you from death and the devil - you are a child of God. At the font Jesus’ ascension, enthronement, and rule assures you that you are saved - God the Father will bring you safely Home. He loves you perfectly in Jesus. He speaks to you honestly in His Word. Heb 3:14-15 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (15) while it is said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION." Amen.
Sermon Text: John 8:42-59
Sermon Theme: “Who Is Your Father?” I. My Father Loves Me Perfectly! (Vs.42-45) II. My Father Speaks To Me Honestly! (Vs.46-50) III. My Father Brings Me Home Safely! (Vs.51-59) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” The Psalmist exposes the inner struggles of a child of God. Holy Spirit Gospel breathed faith in Jesus wrestles against the old unbeliever within us. The old adam is the deceitful and unjust man that daily wrestles against the new man created in us by grace through faith in Jesus.
Often we cry out against our cast down souls stirring up turmoil within. Abraham certainly felt this struggle of faith against unbelief. God spoke a promise to him and he left all his family and security behind to journey to Canaan. He lived as a pilgrim and a stranger. God promised him and Sarah a son through whom the Messiah would be born. They remained childless - their souls cast down. Perhaps they sang this stanza of faith under trial: Psa 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Finally twenty five years later our Lord’s Word is fulfilled Isaac is born. The Lord made them laugh with joy for their son.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Imagine Abraham’s fatherly heart when perhaps about three decades later God speaks to him again. He is to take his only beloved son to a hill and offer him as the sin sacrifice. Abraham hopes in God.
Clinging to God’s promise of Christ Jesus to be born of Isaac’s descendants. He immediately obeys the Father’s command. God the Holy Spirit teaches, Heb 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," (19) concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. Abraham’s hope in God did not disappoint. In the mount of the Lord - on Moriah - later named Golgotha - a Substitute sacrifice was provide not only for Isaac, but for all of us.
Holy week draws near. Look to Jesus on the cross and boldly answer the question: “Who Is Your Father?” I. My Father Loves Me Perfectly! (Vs.42-45) II. My Father Speaks To Me Honestly! (Vs.46-50) III. My Father Brings Me Home Safely! (Vs.51-59)
I. God is in His Temple. He came to His own, but His own received Him not. The time is growing short. Judgment is drawing near. St. John tells us that it was the festival of booths or tabernacles. In the fall of the year, the Jews would construct temporary shelters from the leafy branches and camp outside for a week. It was a time of sacrifice and feasting. A time to remember and relive the forty year sojourn of their ancestors in the wilderness. A time to repent of stubborn refusal to trust in God’s love and promise to shepherd them into the promised land.
Jesus’ Words sound harsh, but they are words of love. (Vs.42-45) A fireman searching to rescue you from your burning smoke filled house will shout. To be offended because he didn’t quietly awake you would be insanity. The danger is real and near. Harsh words must jar you from slumber to save your life.
In about six months the final Passover will dawn. Jesus speaks harsh words in love to waken the Jews from their slumber. This is God the Father’s perfect love for us. The Father’s love may grate at our ears, but they are necessary to wake us up from spiritual slumber. If God is your Father you will love Jesus! Jesus alone is the eternally begotten Son of the Father - the Second person of the Holy Trinity.
Wake up! The fires of hell are eternal! There is no other way to God the Father except through the flesh and blood of Jesus.
The devil from the day of his rebellion against our Creator has tried to usurp God the Father and steal away His children. Satan is a liar and murderer. His words are lies enticing us to spiritual flesh pleasing slumber as he leads us captive to death and hell.
Wake up! Repent! Listen to Jesus’ Word. Faith only comes by hearing, and hearing through the message of Christ. All other manmade religions are lies of the devil designed to murder your body and soul in the eternal death of hell.
II. As a loving father wise Solomon wrote, Pro 1:8-10 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; (9) For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. (10) My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. A loving Father speaks honestly with His children, not to harm them, but to protect, instruct and teach them. Sometimes it may seem that their words are too harsh. Father’s are often reprimanded not for what they said, but how they said it. Father’s don’t fall silent. Our first father Adam fell silent as the serpent discussed theology with his wife. When the devil questioned God’s Word - Adam should’ve opened his mouth and spoken harsh words of love to rebuke the liar and murderous fallen angel possessing that beast.
Adam’s failure to speak brought us all into spiritual slavery to the devil and his lies. Repent! Return to God the Father! His words may grate your slothful soul as harsh, but the Father speaks to His children honestly.
Listen to His voice! (Vs.46-50) “I and My Father are one!” Jesus spoke. In the face of Jesus we see the face of God the Father. In the heart of Jesus we see the love of God the Father to save us lost and condemned creatures. The Father and the Son save us by breathing out the life giving Holy Spirit through God’s creative Word.
“He who is of God hears God’s Word.” A child knows the voice of his father. If the father yells at him to get out of the road the child obeys for he knows it is a honest word to save him from danger. God the Father speaks to you honestly in His Church through His written Word - the Holy Bible.
In love God the Father has given you a greater blessing than Abraham. God spoke to Abraham and gave him the promise of the Christ. As the Holy Spirit now teaches you, Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "AND TO YOUR SEED," who is Christ. Think of it. God spoke to Abraham, then for nearly a decade - no Word from God rang in his ears. He had to cling to that Word spoken and no doubt written down. Behold the love of God the Father to you. He speaks to you honestly and fully. Scripture teaches you, Heb 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;”
God the Father has spoken to us by His Son! We are entrusted with the very words of the Father spoken through His only begotten Son Jesus. Hear His Words! They are Truth. Study the Scriptures! Jesus promises you, Joh 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
If you refuse to hear God’s Word. Then hear the honest Word of our God and Father - “you are not of God.” You may excuse yourself from attending the divine service, when you have not physical disability to prevent you from joining those assembled around the Word of God. Truth is you have rejected God the Father and chosen to listen to the voice of your own desires, the world’s lies, and satanic spirituality leading you away from the Light to die in darkness. We see that darkness as the mob accuses Jesus of being a demon possessed Samaritan.
My Father speaks to me honestly His Word in Love. His law exposes my sin. Salvation is never through my feelings, promises, activities, thoughts, or desires. Salvation is only found in Jesus - the High Priest and only Sacrifice for sins upon the cross shaped altar of Calvary.
III. Jesus shows us God the Father’s heart - He came to seek and to save us lost sinners. My loving Father brings me safely Home to Himself.
How? (Vs.51) Through the Word of Jesus! There is no eternal life apart from keeping Jesus’ Word grasping it by grace through Holy Spirit given and sustained faith. This faith is the gift of God the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ Word spoken into your ears. It is not your doing - it is purely the Father’s gift to bring you Home.
The world mocks God the Father’s protection and call. (Vs.52-53) God’s Word is spoken, but men still die. The world celebrates life refusing to mourn the reality of death. It doesn’t want to deal with the truth that death is sin’s wages. We will all die, for we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Where alone is path through death Home to Life eternal? (Vs.54-55) God our Father is honored by knowing Him in His Son, our Savior, Jesus. We know Jesus only by the Holy Spirit working through God’s written Word. Keep His Word! Treasure it!
The Father’s Word in His Son fills us with Spirit given joy! (Vs.56-58) It was on Mount Moriah, as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac to fulfill God’s Word that he beheld the day of Jesus. Moriah would be named Zion. On it Jerusalem and its temple would be built. On a ridge-line of that mount the Romans erected a place of execution - the place of the skull - Calvary or Golgotha.
For Abraham God provided another sacrifice in the place of His beloved son. A ram caught in a thorny crown of thickets. Abraham called the place - “Yahweh Yireh” Literally “Yahweh Sees” or “The Lord will provide” The great “I Am” never changes. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The children of the devil now seek to destroy Jesus. (Vs.59) It is not the time for Jesus’ sacrifice yet. It will happen on Moriah, not in the Temple courts - He will be crucified as Psalm 22 predicted. He will be the scapegoat for all my sins and yours - as Isaiah 53 teaches.
My Father brings me safely Home to Himself through the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son. There is no other way, no other truth, no other life - Jesus alone brings us to the Father. Rejoice in Him always.
God the Father vindicated you through His Son’s sacrifice and victory in the waters of Holy Baptism. At the font Jesus substitutionary sacrifice for you on Calvary is sealed upon you working daily and rich Holy Spirit given forgiveness. At the font Jesus’ resurrection rescues you from death and the devil - you are a child of God. At the font Jesus’ ascension, enthronement, and rule assures you that you are saved - God the Father will bring you safely Home. He loves you perfectly in Jesus. He speaks to you honestly in His Word. Heb 3:14-15 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (15) while it is said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION." Amen.
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