Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for August 23-29, 2026
There Is No Rock… There Is No God Like Our God
(Matthew 16:13-20)
RLC worshippers at our 11 AM service will be familiar with a hymn written by Rita Baloche we sometimes sing entitled “Rock of Ages.” This is a hymn I love, because the song offers praise to God as “the Rock of Salvation that cannot be moved” and as One who has “proven Himself to be faithful and true.” The song does what the Scriptures do. It connects the Old Testament picture of God as a “stronghold” and “safe place” with Jesus Christ, the Rock of our salvation. It repeats that truth in its refrain: “Jesus is the Rock.”
That’s an appropriate focus today as we give thanks and praise to God this weekend for Jesus and those who confess Him in words and actions to be the promised Savior to come, the “Son of the Living God” (16:16). Jesus primed His first disciples to do just that by first asking them who people said He was. The prevailing impression of Jesus Christ was that He was an ordinary man now brought back to life once used by God to point ahead to the coming Messiah: a new John the Baptist, say…or a new “one of the prophets.” Sound familiar? Not everyone who speaks Jesus’ name in faith today associates Him with the living God. For Muslims, Jesus is a great prophet. For Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is King of God’s heavenly kingdom, but not divine. Yet when Jesus asked His disciples who they themselves said He was, one of them named Simon spoke up: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Simon confessed Jesus to be MORE than a prophet. Simon recognized Jesus to be more than just a good human being. Jesus forgave sins and restored others to life. He was the fulfillment of God’s Old Testament promises that a Savior would come! Jesus was—Jesus is—the rock that gives life in the wilderness (1 Cor 10:4)! As a result, Jesus, recognizing that only God Himself could reveal such truths, renamed Simon “Rock” (Gk.: Petros), saying on “this rock” His church would be built!
What a privilege to number ourselves among those who are given by God to confess by words and actions that Jesus saves and that He is our rock and safe place! And that happens despite our misunderstandings and sins. On such as us and our confession Jesus continues to build His church today. By the grace of God, we put our trust in the One who laid down His life on a skull-shaped rock and overcame the stony tomb on Easter Sunday. There is no rock…there is no god like our God! Because of Jesus not even death and the grave will prevail against us.
Amen and Amen!
What a Celebration
I want to send a special word of thanks to everyone who made our campaign kickoff a success last weekend, especially Ako and Donnie Wilson, our campaign Hospitality Support Team leaders, who facilitated our lunch in the gym. Almost 190 of you came out for the event to find out more about Faith in Action and to volunteer in making that gathering a success. Thank you, one and all, for your gifts of time, talent, and treasure that you may have already made in thanksgiving to God on behalf of our Faith in Action campaign!
Please note that both a broad base of support and a few more substantial gifts to our campaign are needed. Of course, not everyone can make a gift that reaches 10, 5 or even 1 percent of our goal. The Scriptures tell us that “God loves a cheerful giver,” and I encourage you to give cheerfully as you are able! But if you can, please do what others can’t and watch how it inspires similarly generous gifts. Most importantly, I encourage you to continue to keep these efforts on behalf of Resurrection Lutheran Church and our involvement in God’s mission in your prayers. We do what we do best as a congregation when we do it together!
Peace and joy in Christ,
Pastor Jonathan
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
Click HERE to view a brief video from Pastor Jonathan.