Video of Tenebrae Vespers is here. The sermon begins around the 50:45 mark.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

One of my favorite songwriters has a song called “Closer to the Light,” which he wrote after the death of a friend. The chorus goes like this: “Gone from mystery into mystery/Gone from daylight into night/Another step deeper into darkness/Closer to the light” (Bruce Cockburn, “Closer to the Light,” Dart to the Heart). That seems to be fitting for what we are doing here this evening: From mystery into mystery, from daylight into night, another step deeper into darkness, closer to the light.

There are, of course, different kinds of mysteries. We use that word to mean “something we don’t understand.” We also use it to mean “something to be solved.” The Bible uses the word to mean something unknown to or unseen by previous generations, which God reveals in His own good time, such as that His salvation comes in this particular man, Jesus, or the salvation of the Gentiles. It can also mean something of which we have only a glimpse, something like the tip of an iceberg, the massive reality of God’s work, most of which is unseen by us; or something we have to take by faith in the Word of God, without fully comprehending it.

We have several “mysteries” in this long reading from John’s Gospel. Some of them are things that we don’t understand: the mystery of one of the Twelve, agreeing to betray Jesus, or how Peter could deny Jesus three times immediately after promising that he would not do so. On the other hand, maybe we can understand these things because, if we’re being honest with ourselves, we have betrayed or denied Jesus in our own thoughts, words, or actions.

There’s also a sort of mysterious irony throughout: the leaders of Israel refusing to enter Pilate’s headquarters so they would not be defiled for eating the Passover, while at the same time putting to death the Lord and fulfillment of the Passover; asking to remove the body of Jesus from the cross so they could eat their Passover in peace. Caiaphas saying that one man should die instead of the people, and He dies in their place and for their sins. Or the mockery of the soldiers, calling Jesus “King of the Jews,” when He certainly is; Pilate questioning Him about His Kingdom; Pilate saying, “behold, your King!”; Pilate refusing to change the sign calling Him the King of the Jews. The fulfillment of the Scriptures in spite of all their intentions.

From mystery into mystery; from daylight into night. Another step deeper into darkness, closer to the light. The King is enthroned on a cross. The Life, who raised Lazarus, dies. The source of living water thirsts. At death He hands over the Spirit who descended and remained on Him, testifying that this is the Son of God. The blood and water flow from His side: If anyone is thirsty, let him, the believing one, come to Me and drink. Just as the Scripture says, rivers of living water from His belly will flow. This is the mystery: that it is both beyond our understanding, that the eternal Son in flesh should die; and that it is the revelation of the long-hidden salvation of God for you in this Man. Now is the judgment of this world; now is the ruler of this world cast out; now He draws you to Himself.

Do not marvel at this mystery, that it is too much for you to believe, so you turn away from it. Do not mock; do not deny; do not betray. “We dare not ask how this can be, but simply hold the mystery and trust this word where life begins: ‘Given and shed for all your sins’” (LSB 634:5). Do not be an unbeliever, but believe! My Lord and my God. Like Thomas, we live after His resurrection. All of this is written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you have life in His Name. Believing, born from above by the water and the Spirit. Believing, come to Him and drink the living water of His eternal life. Believing, eat His flesh and drink His blood, because His flesh is true food and His blood true drink, and whoever feeds on His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life, and He will raise you up on the last day.

From mystery into mystery, from daylight into night; each step deeper into darkness, closer to the light. The mystery deepens, beyond anything we have seen or experienced. From the night of the crucifixion, the glory of the crucified, to the light of the first day of a new creation. While it was still dark, Mary came to the tomb. Jesus says her name, and she suddenly knows. Deeper into darkness, closer to the light.

So it goes, even in the darkness of this world, the darkness of our own sin and unbelief, the darkness of death. The mystery of God taking flesh leads to the mystery of God dying in flesh. The mystery of God dying in flesh leads to the mystery of the resurrection of Jesus in His body. The mystery of resurrection leads to the mystery of your rebirth in baptism. Crucified with Christ, He calls your name, so that you will know Him as your God. The mystery of baptism goes with the mystery of faith. The mystery of faith leads to the Lord present in bread and wine. And the mysterious work of the Spirit means the irony of dying daily in the midst of life, and having eternal life in the midst of death.

That’s what these three days, especially, are about: going from mystery into mystery, going from daylight into night, another step deeper into darkness, closer to the light. The victory has been won. Christ, the crucified, goes triumphant ahead of us, from darkness to light, from death to life. It is finished, so the Lord rested from all the work of your salvation that He had accomplished in these six days. From mystery into mystery, the day is coming. Already the true Light is shining and the darkness is passing away.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV). Amen.

– Pr. Timothy Winterstein, 3/27/24