• Home
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Resource Reviews

The Shepherd's Study

A Place of Rest and Renewal for the Busy Lutheran Shepherd

Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Misericordia Domini

12 April 2008 by Jeremiah Gumm

While making final preparations for tomorrow (Good Shepherd Sunday/Misericordia Domini or the Compassionate Love of the Lord), I came across a fascinating quote on the 2nd Article from Luther’s Large Catechism (para. 27-31), where he explains how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has poured out his compassionate love on us by his suffering, death and resurrection, and in so doing has shown himself to be our Lord and our Redeemer.

If anyone asks, “What do you believe in the Second Article about Jesus Christ?” answer as briefly as possible, “I believe that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, has become my Lord.” What is it “to become Lord”? It means that he has redeemed and released me from sin, from the devil, from death, and from all evil. Before this I had no Lord or King, but was captive under the power of the devil. I was condemned to death and entangled in sin and blindness.

For when we were created by God the Father and had received from him all kinds of good things, the devil came and led us into disobedience, sin, death, and all evil. As a result, we fell under God’s wrath and displeasure and were doomed to eternal damnation, just as we had merited and deserved it. There was no counsel, no help, no comfort for us until this only and eternal son of God, in his unfathomable goodness, had compassion upon our misery and wretchedness. He came from heaven to help us. Those tyrants and jailers have now been routed. In their place has come Jesus Christ, Lord of life, righteousness, every blessing, and salvation. He has snatched us poor, lost creatures from the jaws of hell, has won us, has made us free, and has brought us again into the Father’s favor and grace. As his own possession he has taken us under his protection and shelter, so that he may govern us by His righteousness, wisdom, power, life, and blessedness.

Let this, then, be the summary of this article: the little word “Lord” simply means the same as “Redeemer”. It means the One who has brought us from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and who preserves us in the same.

May the Good Shepherd richly bless your celebration of his compassionate love!

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Luther Resources, Lutheran Confessions, Worship | Tagged apostles creed, good shepherd, jesus christ, large catechism, misericordia domini, second article of apostles creed | 2 Comments

2 Responses

  1. on 23 July 2008 at 12:45 PM Oleg

    Greetings! How it is possible to contact the artist of a picture with image Иисус-Good Shepherd presented on your page?: http://shepherdstudy.wordpress.com//2008/04/12/misericordia-domin/


  2. on 25 July 2008 at 11:15 PM Jeremiah Gumm

    The picture is entitled “Jesus and the Lamb” by American impressionistic artist, Katherine Brown. You can find out more about her and this particular work of art at:

    http://www.jesusandthelamb.com

    Thanks for visiting the blog!



Comments are closed.

  • Subscribe by Email

    Subscribe by RSS Feed

  • Recent Posts

    • The Theology of the Cross: Reflections on His Cross and Ours
    • A Thanksgiving Trifecta: Giving Thanks for Our Vocations – Part 3
    • A Thanksgiving Trifecta: Giving Thanks for Our Vocations – Part 2
    • A Thanksgiving Trifecta: Giving Thanks for Our Vocations – Part 1
    • Thank a Veteran Today!
    • It’s Not About You
    • Welcome, New Readers!
    • The Clear Voice of the Gospel Still Rings Out!
    • Logos 4 Released Today!
    • A Mighty Fortress Is Our God!
  • Recent Comments

    Brian M. Davis on Thank a Veteran Today!
    Mark Buske on The Theology of the Cross: Ref…
    Jeff Samelson on The Theology of the Cross: Ref…
    Jeremiah Gumm on Here, O My Lord, I See You Fac…
    worldwar1letters on Thank a Veteran Today!
    Karen on A Man Named George
    Karen on “God Hates the Sin, Not …
    uberVU - social comm… on “God Hates the Sin, Not …
    Dawn K on “God Hates the Sin, Not …
    Pastor Joe McGarry on “God Hates the Sin, Not …
  • Top Posts

    • St. Nicholas Day - A Reason to Celebrate
    • Sing, My Tongue the Glorious Battle!
    • Misericordia Domini
    • The Theology of the Cross: Reflections on His Cross and Ours
    • Why Celebrate Ascension? (Part II)
  • The Lutheran Study Bible

    • Christ's life is God's great reversal. Jesus came to reverse the low estate of His servants. 20 hours ago
  • Currently Reading

    As Luther Taught the Word of Truth - Devotions on the Small Catechism - Lauersdorf God So Loved the World - A Study of Christian Doctrine - Lange

  • Recently Read

    The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel The Theology of the Cross Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly

  • Latest Review

    The Theology of the Cross: Reflections on His Cross and Ours

    By Daniel M. Deutschlander

  • Issues, Etc.

  • Blogroll

    • A Shepherd's Story
    • Cranach: The Blog of Veith
    • Cyberbrethren
    • GetReligion
    • Hymnoglypt
    • I Trust When Dark My Road
    • Light From Light †
    • Logos Bible Software
    • Lutheran Writer
    • No Church Home
    • Pastoral Meanderings
    • Pr. Mark Cares Blog
    • Pr. Strey’s Weblog
    • The Blog of St. Mark
    • WELSTech Podcasts
    • Worship Ideas You Can Use
  • Links

    • Art That Preaches Christ
    • Bach Organ Works
    • Christian Life Resources
    • Codex Sinaiticus
    • CPH
    • Cross of Christ Ev-Luth.
    • Koiné
    • Logos for Lutherans
    • Luther's Works – Weimar
    • Magdeburg Press
    • Mark V Publications
    • NPH
    • Pr. Wade Johnston’s Page
    • Seelsorger.org
    • Streams
    • Studium Excitare
    • Symbols in Christian Art
    • The Book of Concord Online
    • The Lutheran Study Bible
    • Theologia
    • Truth in Love to Muslims
    • WELS
    • WELS Military Services
    • WELS Stained Glass
    • WELS Together
    • What About Jesus?
    • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
    • WLS Online Essays
  • The Archives

  • Study Categories

  • Blogging Lutherans
    Powered By Ringsurf

  • Creative Commons

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
  • Thanks for Visiting!

    • 42,927 hits since launch on 23 January 2008
  • NetworkedBlogs
    Blog:
    The Shepherd's Study
    Topics:
    lutheranism, ministry, pastoral encouragement
     
    Follow my blog

Blog at WordPress.com.

Theme: Mistylook by Sadish.