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March 2005
Week 1 Matthew 23:1-36 Dear friends, may God’s blessings
be with you this day. Our devotional for today finds the Jewish leaders at
loss of words after Jesus’ response to their questions. Jesus then turns to
the crowds and his disciples and issues a warning against the Jewish leaders.
He reminds the crowds and his disciples to follow the laws that are set
before them, for the laws come from God. At the same time, he warns them, not
to follow their practices, for they do not put into practice in their daily
living, what they proclaim.
What is placed before us in this
passage is the way to live a faithful life. At the heart of the Jewish
community are their respective doctrines, traditions, ceremonies, and
customs. They do indeed bring order to the religious community.
Unfortunately, they also place burdens upon the community. The leaders, then
under the burden of their laws, through their codes of ethics within the
community, (which is included in the 613 laws), placed them upon the shoulders
of the people. Unable to bear the weight of the law codes, members of the
community were excluded. In the mean time, the leaders "paraded"
around the temple courtyard, flaunting themselves before the people and
before God.
Jesus sees through their hypocrisy.
The questions they had asked of him exposed their shallow faith and their
disrespect for God and for his people. After responding to their questions,
Jesus exposes their hypocrisy for all to see. In this passage, Jesus issues
seven "woes" before them. Perhaps, they would "see" and
make amends. We too, have our doctrines, traditions, ceremonies and customs.
The question before us, do they enrich our faith or do they place a burden
upon our people? The seven "woes" call for us to closely examine our
faith "practices" as well. He calls for an inward confessional
heart and a consecrated life, which is shown in our relationship with God and
with our neighbor. This Lenten season is a time of reflection and preparation
of our recognition of our Lord’s death. May our worship and our daily lives
reflect our faith this holy season.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with the
letter “A”.
Matthew
23:37-39
Dear friends may the promises our
Lord’s grace be with you this day. Yesterday’s devotional reading, found
Jesus proclaiming warnings to the crowds and his disciples about the
practices of the Pharisees. Upon the conclusion of the pronouncement of
"woes", Jesus mourns for the city of God. On numerous occasions, the community
had opportunities to hear the word of God through the prophets. They had come
and in rejection its leaders abused and killed them. This is Matthew’s
setting.
Jesus had entered the city
on Palm Sunday, triumphant as the King of kings. Yet as we have witnessed,
they too rejected the message he brought, just as those before them rejected
the prophets. Now the time is drawing to a close. Jesus’ own impending death draws closer to
reality; his final journey to the cross is soon approaching. Jesus’ desire
for the inhabitants of Jerusalem
to come to him is also drawing to a close. In this passage for today, Jesus
laments for the beloved city of Jerusalem.
As he recognized that Jerusalem
had rejected the prophets God had sent before him, he knows his ministry and
his life that is also rejected and threatened. He mourns openly for the city
and its inhabitants. He longs to bring them together as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings.
My friends, this text draw
us to recognize the final journey of our Lord. Again from Matthew’s eyes, we
see his concern and his desire for his people, that all would come to him and
to recognize the gift of salvation. Let us remember that he offers that same
message to us this Lenten season and that we come that we may hear clearly
the message of salvation that he offers. Let us continue to pray, that we may
be strengthened in our faith. Let us be in prayer for all people that they
too may hear and accept the gift of salvation our Lord offers to them.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with the
letter “B”.
Matthew 24:1-35 Dear
friends, may the gift of our Lord’s love be with you this day. Our devotional
for today is the response of Jesus to his disciples’ question, "when
will this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of
the age". Matthew devotes both chapters 24 and 25, with Jesus’ response
to his disciples in one long discourse. In this passage, we see that Jesus
and his disciples have left the temple. They are walking through the city and
they journey to the Mount of Olives, which is just outside the city of Jerusalem. There they
ask him privately when all this will take place. In response, Jesus calls for
them and his readers to "watch". Then he lists all the things that
will come about as a prelude to the end of the age, which is when he will
come a second time.
We are reminded that
everyday is a time of preparation and watchfulness. We are living in the
seasons of the end of the age. Our call as Christians is to fully be aware of
the signs that will come upon us as the second coming of our Lord draws near.
Some of the signs that Jesus mentions in this passage are frightful. In this
age, there will be persecution because of our faith. There will be a variety
of rumors. There will be war of nation against nation and there will be
death. There will be natural disasters. There will be false prophets who will
come and deception will be their intent and message. There will be the
worldwide spread of the gospel to the far corners of the earth. All the signs
will appear. And when all is complete, Jesus says he will come and will usher
in the new kingdom. John in his Book of Revelation, describe these events in
full detail.
What can this passage help
us with in our journey this Lenten season? It can help us be aware of all
that is happening around us in our life. It can also help us to know that
even in the midst of the hardships that may come upon us, our Lord Jesus
assures us of his presence. It is through the Holy Spirit; he strengthens us
in our faith and solidifies our relationship with him. Let us pray for
strength in our journey, as we wait for his coming kingdom.
Prayer Concern: Members of
Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with the letter "C".
Matthew 24:36-51
Dear friends, may
the peace of our Lord be with you this day. Our devotional for today
continues with Jesus’ response to his disciples’ question, "when will
this happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the
age?" In this segment, Jesus tells his disciples that "no one knows
about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only
the Father". He then follows with various examples of that which will
take place. He tells them and us, to "watch" and so prepare
ourselves for that hour.
There have been
and will continue to be "predictions" about the end of the age.
Books, articles in magazines, television and radio personalities have gone to
great lengths in their predictions. They have "researched" the
scriptures, (particularly the Book of Revelation) and "read" all
the signs and predicted the "time". It is interesting to read or
listen to their comments when the "event" doesn’t happen. Their
excuse is often "miscalculation". In order to save their following,
they have exercised fear and predicting personal condemnation upon the
followers, should they leave the cult. Over a period of history, many
including the leader have given their lives for their cause. Jesus warns us
about such "false prophets" (vss. 5, 23f).
The great comfort for us is
Jesus’ opening words for us in this passage. No one but the Father in heaven
knows the day and the hour. Through this statement, we recognize that God
alone is in control of his order of creation. That means, not only in this
world, in this time, but also in his coming kingdom. At his appointed time,
he will send his angels and so prepare for the coming. Then he will send his
Son in his entire glory and so usher in the new creation, his eternal
kingdom. Jesus gives to his disciples and to us, passages like these, to help
us prepare for his second coming. It is very fitting for us to receive this
passage at this time. Lent reminds us, just as God fulfilled his promise to
his people and sent his Son to bring salvation to the world, he will also
send our Lord once again and bring us to his kingdom. May we take comfort in
this passage.
Prayer Concern: Members of
Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with “D”.
Matthew
25:1-13
Dear friends, may God’s gift of hope be with you this day.
Our devotional for today continues with Jesus’ words about the coming of the
end of age. In chapter 25, we read three specific parables, which all teach
us about how to prepare for the coming of the new kingdom. Our passage for
today is the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids. The message that he leaves with
us is in the closing verse, "Therefore, keep watch, because you do not
know the day or the hour".
What does Jesus portray in
this parable about the end of times? He uses the common occurrence of a
wedding march. Traditionally, the bridesmaids lead the bridal couple through
the streets to the place of the wedding in the home of the bride’s parents.
After the wedding ceremony, the procession was a walk to the groom’s home,
where the celebration was held. In case of evening, there was the need for
the bridesmaids to carry the torches to illuminate the street. In the
parable, the bridegroom is identified as our Lord. The bride is the church
and the bridesmaids are the members of the church. The oil is for the torch,
which illuminates the darkness, is the faith of the people of God.
This is a parable of pending
judgment at the end of the age. Members are responsible for their faith (the
oil). In the scriptures, the "wise" put all of one’s faith and hope
in God. The "foolish" is the senseless one, the one who does not
believe in God or his promises. Through a period of time, the bridesmaids
fell asleep. Suddenly, the cry came, "The Bridegroom is coming!"
Awaken from their sleep, they rushed out to meet him. Some of them were
prepared to meet him and walk with him. Others were not. In haste they turned
to those who had and begged for oil. There was none to give. Everyone had to
account for her own. They left the procession to search for oil, only to
return to locked doors. In the time before Christ comes, we are called to
prepare ourselves for his arrival. When he comes, the judgment is immediate.
There is no time, to try to find our "oil". The calling of the
bridegroom into the wedding feast is imminent.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name
begins with the letter “E”.
Matthew 25:14-30
Dear
friends, may the promises of God’s blessings be with you this day. Our
devotional for today is the Parable of the Talents. Jesus continues to
instruct his disciples on the signs of the end of the age with the parable of
the Talents. In the parable, Jesus uses the illustration of the master who
entrusted his property to his servants. He recognizes the talents of his
servants and entrusts to them according to their talent. During this period
of time, two of them wisely invested their talent. In their investment, the
master’s property increased. The other did not, refusing to invest or even
chance losing the master’s property. After a period of time, the master
returned. The two servants, who invested, brought their investment to the
master and he richly rewarded their wise use of their talent. When the one
who ‘hid’ his talent came to the master, he banished him from his
inheritance. His judgment came because of his act of omission.
The message of the parable
is explained in vs. 29, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he
will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken
from him". What is to be understood from this parable? All our gifts
come from God, whether they be natural gifts or gifts of the Spirit. We are
to be accountable at the last day, (the new kingdom) for our use of these
gifts. The reward of the faithful servant is to "enter into the
joy" of his master. This is the joy of the kingdom, the heavenly
banquet. The faithful servant participates in the joy of the master; this is
his reward for his faithfulness. The judgment of the servant, who ‘hid’ his
talent, is banishment from the kingdom and the joy of the banquet with the
master. Harsh judgment of condemnation is placed upon the servant, for his
lack of faith, lack of trust in God, the one who had given them the talent to
use for God’s glory.
This lesson shares with us
the continual call of faithfulness and service for God’s kingdom. The God who
comes to us calls us to faith and service in his kingdom. May we pray that he
will guide us and strengthen us in our faith and in our service to him and
one another.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with
the letter “F”.
Matthew
25:31-46
Dear
friends, may the message of grace which comes from our Lord, be with you this
day. Our devotional for today is the parable of the Sheep and the Goats. This
parable is the final parable of Jesus. Jesus has completed his ministry of
teaching his people and now his disciples. In Matthew’s Gospel, the scene
shifts quickly to the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. This parable
is an illustration of the final judgment. Jesus tells his disciples, that he
will come again in all his glory. When he comes again, he will gather his
people before him, just as a shepherd gathers his flock. In the judgment, he
will separate his people, just as the shepherd separates the sheep and the
goats. The righteous he will place on his right and the unrighteous on his
left.
The blessing of the
inheritance of the kingdom is shown in the very beginning. Throughout Jesus’
ministry, he expressed that the love one has for God, is shown in the love
and mercy given to their neighbor. The great command is to love God with
heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. The
parable of the Good Samaritan is a classic example for us to follow. Jesus
tells us, that the love expressed to our neighbor is a reflection of our love
to him. In the vss, 35f, Jesus shares how we have expressed our love to him.
He uses "I was" five times. The righteous asks him, "When we
did we do this?" He responds, "When you did it to the least of
these brothers of mine, you did it to me". The inheritance is given. The
judgment is vice versa. If you did not show love and mercy to your neighbor,
you did not show love to him. To those who are unrighteous, he takes away the
inheritance and casts them into the darkness of eternal death.
This passage reminds us that
the crucified King of kings has proclaimed his love for us. It also reminds
us, that he calls us to love him and our neighbor. Through such love, he
openly welcomes us into his eternal kingdom. May this inspire us and
strengthen us throughout this Lenten season.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with
the letter “G”.
Week 2 Matthew 26:1-5
Dear friends, may the blessings of God love which come through the promises that are
given to us this Lenten season, be with you this day. Our devotional for
today is the beginning of the events of Jesus’ Holy Passion. The opening of
the verses of chapter 26 set the tone for the remainder of Jesus’ life. He
expresses to his disciples, that which will soon take place, meaning his
crucifixion. Matthew shares these intimate details with us. Matthew is
intentional to show that through Jesus prediction, all things are to be
carried out through God’s plan. The very plot of his life is carried out in
the darkness of sin. Everything must happen at the appointed hour.
Jesus knows that the hour is
very near. His statement, "the Passover is two days away", shows
the urgency in his voice. Jesus, having finished his teachings with his
disciples, now explains that all that had been accomplished through his
ministry of teaching and healing will now find fulfillment in his sacrifice
for the salvation of the world. The Passover celebration becomes the setting
for his sacrifice. Jesus in his sacrifice and death becomes the new
"Passover", in which the salvation of all people would come.
Through his sacrifice and death, Jesus releases all his people from their
captivity to their sin. No longer are we bound. We are set free from this
spiritual captivity of sin. Free in Christ, to be God’s people and to journey
with him into God’s eternal kingdom.
For us, the Lenten season is
a time to reflect our Lord’s death. In the opening verses of this chapter, it
is a passage like this that draws us back to acknowledge why God sent Jesus
to live among us in the first place. The passages that follow now for the
next couple of weeks, place us in this Holy Place, the place where our sin and
the sin of the whole world is forgiven. In Matthew’s Gospel, the story of
Jesus is as his name so declares, for he will save his people from their
sins. In Matthew’s gospel, it begins to take place here. Our thoughts place
ourselves with him on his journey to the cross. Salvation has indeed come for
all of God’s people.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with
the letter “H”.
Matthew
26:6-13
Dear friends, may
God’s peace be with you this day. Our devotional for today is the anointing
of Jesus at Bethany.
This is a powerful faith story. Just as yesterday’s passage about the plot to
kill Jesus, was a story of darkness, and at the end of this passage is the
darkness of Judas’ soul in which he plots his betrayal, this story in the
middle is one of light that pierces that darkness. Matthew places this story
in the home of Simon the Leper. The woman comes and brings with her an
expensive bottle of perfume. She begins to anoint Jesus and his disciples
question the validity of her act. Jesus tells them to let her alone, for her
act of kindness is the prelude to the anointment for his burial. In the
story, he commends her for her faith and her kindness. He tells his disciples
that whenever the gospel is proclaimed, this very act will be told in her
memory.
In this setting at Simon’s
house, the events of our Lord’s Passion are beginning to take shape. There
are many parts, many different characters, to the events that are unfolding
before us. Each play an important part in the drama that is a part of God’s
plan for the salvation of his people. This passage concludes the first two
days of Holy Week, in which we saw the busy schedule Jesus led in the temple
courtyard. We read his final instructions for his disciples and his church.
Now, we see Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper, resting and dining with him
and his disciples. The woman comes in, anoints Jesus and sets yet another
tone to the events. Before us, Jesus commends her actions.
The anointing of Jesus is a
significant event in which the royal anointing is given to the one who is
about to die. He is indeed the King of the Jews, however a crucified King,
who hangs in the shame of the cross. The act itself is a gracious gift from
this woman. It shows us how great her love for her Lord was. This Lenten
season, we recognize the gift this woman offered for our sake. May this gift
that the woman gave, help us to recognize how precious an act of giving can
be and in turn receive back from our Lord.
Prayer Concern: Members of
Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with letter “I”.
Matthew 26:14-16,31-35
Dear friends, may gift of our Lord’s
hope be with you this day. Our devotional for today continues with the events
of the evening on Maundy Thursday. It is the story of Jesus’ prediction of
Peter’s denial. The setting is after they had finished their Passover Meal,
they walk to the Mount of Olives. Their
emotions must be running wild. In the middle of the Passover Meal, Jesus
declares that someone would betray him. They questioned him and each other.
Suddenly Judas leaves them. Then Jesus takes bread and wine and declares
something totally foreign. Eat his Body? Drink his blood? What does this all
mean?
After the meal is completed,
Jesus takes them out of the city to the Mount of Olives, where the Garden of Gethsemane is located. Along the way,
Jesus tells his disciples that they will ‘fall away’ because of him. Peter,
always the outspoken one, declares, "even if all fall away on account of
you, I never will". And Jesus responds, "Peter, before the night is
over, and before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times". Peter
responds, "No, Lord". Matthew shares that the conversation was
between Jesus and Peter; however, the others were part of it as well. They
too said, "No, Lord".
The events that follow, the Garden of Gethsemane scene, the betrayer’s kiss,
the arrest, the flight of the disciples, all show the human reaction to the
Passion scene. They reflect the sinful existence of the whole of the
community. They reflect you and me. Even here in the brokenness of the disciples’
reactions, Jesus offers a word of hope and promise. "But after I have
risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee".
In spite of all that has taken place and that which is yet to come, Jesus
declares, you will meet me there in Galilee.
In essence, the disciples, despite all their brokenness, will be the apostles
who will bear the saving good news of God’s love to the world. This is good
news for us this Lenten season. In spite of whom we are, God came and
declared his love for us. That is the gift of the cross to us this season.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with
the letter “J”.
Matthew
26:36-46
Dear friends, may our Lord’s
blessings be with you this day. Our devotional for today brings us to the
events of Maundy Thursday in the Garden
of Gethsemane. As we
read through this scene, we see the emotion of our Lord as he nears the hour
of his death. Jesus takes his disciples from the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives, where he spends time in prayer with
his Father in heaven. Take a moment as you read this passage, to recognize
how this time is overwhelming for our Lord. This is shown in his statement to
his disciples and in his prayer to his Father. Let the words speak to you and
know that which is coming for our Lord, is done for us. In this way, we may
begin to comprehend its impact. To his disciples, "My soul is
overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with
me". His prayer to the Father was "My Father, if it is possible,
may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will".
His plea with his disciples,
"Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so
that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body
is weak". And once again to his Father, "My Father, if it is not
possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your
will be done". All these statements are soul wrenching. Even in this
deepest hour, Jesus recognizes the cross he soon bears, is for the sake of
his people. The sole purpose for his coming into the world, will soon be
fulfilled. Through his death on the cross, his people will receive the gift
of forgiveness and through their faith in him the promise of eternal life.
We are in the middle of our
Lenten season. In Matthew’s story, here in the Garden, Jesus prepares himself
to go on that final journey. By doing so, he now fulfills all that the Father
had sent him to do. The Garden
of Gethsemane story
ends, Jesus is arrested and now begins his final walk to the cross. Then
events now take us down the Mount of Olives through the city streets of Jerusalem. Then to the
cross. Through it, salvation has indeed come for his people.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with
the letter “K”.
Matthew 26:47-56
Dear friends, may
the assurances of grace from our Lord, be with you this day. Our devotional
for today is the betrayal of Judas and arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In this passage, the act
of betrayal in all its ugliness is shown. The pain of betrayal is portrayed
by the one who is betrayed. The pain in Jesus’ voice is shown as Judas
approached him, "Friend, do what you came for". Matthew identifies
Judas as one of the twelve, who was a Zealot. Throughout his time with Jesus,
Judas searched for signs within Jesus’ ministry, that if he was truly the
Messiah, he would lead a revolt against the Roman government and deliver the
people of Israel
from that suppressive rule. Within Judas’ mind, there were some signs that
Jesus could truly be the Messiah. Convinced that the time was right, Judas
went to the Jewish council to convince them to join forces Jesus and his followers.
Then Israel
would be free.
The Jewish council, seizing
the opportunity to arrest Jesus, agreed under pretense to "confer"
with Jesus. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas agreed to lead them to Jesus.
As Judas led the crowd of soldiers and Jewish leaders to Jesus, the pain of
betrayal is also seen in the manner Judas chose to disclose to the leaders
who Jesus was. The sign of the kiss is an act of greeting, a sign of
friendship. The kiss by Judas now becomes the action of a betrayer. Notice
the reaction to the kiss. The crowd steps forward. Jesus is arrested, bound
and led away. One the disciples (John tells us his name is Peter), draws his
sword and strikes one the servants. Jesus tells him and the crowd to put
their swords away. All that has and is happening in these events are to take
place so that the scriptures may be fulfilled. With these words, his
disciples desert him.
Picture in your minds the
scenes of Maundy Thursday: the joy and celebration of the Passover Meal in
the upper room; despair and sadness as Jesus goes to the Father in prayer;
betrayal by Judas, a disciple, a friend. That is the setting now as Jesus is
arrested and led away. We ponder the picture in our minds.
Prayer Concern: members of Augustana’s family, whose
last name begins with the letter “L”.
Matthew 26:57-68
Dear friends,
God’s gift of love be with you this day. Our devotional for today is
Matthew’s conclusion to the events of Maundy Thursday. In the early morning hours,
Jesus is arrested and led from the Garden
of Gethsemane to the
courtyard of the high priest, Caiaphas. There he is brought before the
Sanhedrin, which is the Jewish council, for trial. We need to remember that
throughout his ministry, Jesus was watched closely. Every word and every
action was reported to the chief priest. Numerous times there were
confrontations. Finally, in the latter months of his ministry, the Jewish
council sought ways to arrest him and to destroy him through death. Judas in
false hope became their instrument. After his betrayal, Jesus was arrested
and brought before the council.
Before the council,
"witnesses" were brought to bear false testimony against him.
Against these charges, Jesus remained silent until Caiaphas charges him to
tell the council, "if you are the Christ, the Son of God". To which
Jesus responds, "Yes, it is as you say, but I tell you: In the future
you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and
coming on the clouds of heaven". Upon finishing his statement, Caiaphas
rips his clothes in anger and charges Jesus with blasphemy and the council
condemns him to death. The final scene to the cross is set.
Jesus is charged with
blasphemy. Confirmation of this charge brought death. All the charges brought
to the council prior carried no weight. The pointed question of Caiaphas, the
High Priest, "are you the Christ, the Son of God", brought a
response from Jesus’ lips. To continue to remain silent would have meant that
he denies his very existence as God’s anointed Son. He spoke. He declared his
relationship with the Father. Even knowing that he would be condemned, Jesus
declared, "I am". This statement of open declaration is our gift.
For our sake, he proclaimed the ultimate truth. Through his death, salvation
would come to all people.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family,
whose last name begins with the letter “M”.
Matthew
26:69-75
Dear friends, may God’s peace be
with you this day. Our devotional for the day is the story of the denial of
Peter. After Jesus was arrested and taken before the Jewish council, the
disciples had deserted him and fled. Tradition places them in the upper room
where that had celebrated the Passover Meal, hiding, waiting in fear. Peter
however is in the courtyard. This is where we see the human tragedy of Peter.
He follows Jesus to the courtyard and waits outside to see what happens to
him. There he is recognized and is approached by the crowd in a condemning
way. Fearful, he denies that he knows Jesus and is a disciple. Peter denies
Jesus on three separate occasions. After the rooster crowed, Peter remembers
the words of Jesus. He breaks down and weeps bitterly.
This passage brings us back
again to the human tragedy in which our Lord came. In the midst of
brokenness, Jesus came to bring good news to God’s people. The scene in the
temple courtyard of the high priest shows the failure of the community to
grasp and believe the message of salvation Jesus had brought. In the
courtyard, we see in Peter, the failure of human life to fully know and
understand the relationships Jesus had established with his people. To the
community of unbelief and the denying of Peter in each of us, Jesus continues
to make his journey to the cross. He does not stop. There on the cross, he
offers the words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do". Forgive their unbelief, their denial and their sin. To us, he
speaks these words as well. Thanks be to God for the gift of forgiveness and
of renewal.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with
the letter "N".
Week 3
Matthew 27:1-10
Dear
friends, may the message of our Lord's peace be with you this day. Our
devotional for today is Matthew's story of the events that begin what we call
Good Friday. It is a story of despair and condemnation. It involves Judas,
one of Jesus' chosen disciples, who became disillusioned with the direction
of Jesus' ministry and his proclamation of the coming kingdom. A member of
the Zealots, Judas' dream of a free restored Israel, rid of Roman rule, was no
longer a reality. His dream of the Messiah as the one who would lead a
rebellion against the Romans, did not take place. Judas came to the Jewish
council, hoping that maybe if they would talk to Jesus, the direction of the
movement would journey to revolution. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas
delivered Jesus into their hands. After seeing Jesus condemned to die Judas
in total despair hangs himself.
What happens to one, when
dreams and expectations fail? That is a question plagued by the human race
from the beginning. The scriptures are full of similar stories. The
scriptures also speak about the abundant signs of God’s gracious love which
he gives to his people, especially in times of brokenness and despair. This
passage about Judas’ suicide is a sad passage. Even though he returned the
money of his betrayal, Judas left, filled with emptiness, filled with shame
and despair that he would never experience or could ever dream of forgiveness
from his Lord. In his despair and ultimate suicide, Judas missed hearing the
words of Jesus, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do". The signs of unconditional love were never heard or experienced. My
friends, we have these moments in our lives as well. There are times when we
have lost dreams, when we are broken in spirit and our world is a life of
emptiness and despair. When we reach those moments, remember the words of our
Lord, "Father, forgive them". They are words of unconditional love,
of unconditional comfort and unconditional hope. May we rest this day in
those promises.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begin with
the letter "O".
Matthew
27:11-31
Dear friends, may God’s
blessings be with you this day. Our devotional for today brings Jesus before
Pilate. The council brought Jesus to Pilate under the charge of
blasphemy. They could not under Roman
rule, issue a decree of death.
However, to their insistence, they brought to Pilate the demand of
Jesus' death, "for the sake of the whole nation". After questioning him, Pilate brings Jesus before
the crowd and offers a release.
Instead, they ask for Barabbas' release and for Jesus'
crucifixion. The journey is now nearly
complete.
Pilate is a pawn. It is
difficult to begin to even comprehend what was going through his mind. Pilate
was caught and he knew it. Charges of blasphemy, brought by the council were
serious accusations. Now standing before him, was a righteous man, who had a
great following of believers. Pilate knew the mood of the city. Full of
pilgrims for the Passover celebration, many had heard Jesus speak and
witnessed his miracles. He also knew how dangerous the situation was. Either
side could in essence rise up and incite a riot. Disaster loomed. He also
knew the custom of releasing a prisoner, a pardon of all crimes, during
festival. The crowds could choose. He gave to them a choice, Jesus or
Barabbas. Little did he anticipate, of the intent of the Jewish leaders and
their desperate attempts to destroy Jesus. They chose Barabbas. The scene for
Jesus’ crucifixion was set.
We make confession in the
Apostles' Creed, "born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried".
The cycle is now complete. Could we have imagined (if we were living
at the time of Jesus), that this was the journey, the purpose God intended? It is difficult for us to comprehend all
that had taken place in those early morning hours. So many different
scenarios. So many different
emotions. The human tragedy leads the
God of creation, to become the God of redemption in his Son, Jesus. We now move with him to God's crowning
glory, the cross itself.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begins with
the letter “P”.
Matthew
27:32-44 Dear friends, may the promises of
God’s grace be with you this day from our Lord Jesus. Our devotional study for today moves
through the streets of Jerusalem,
to the hill of Calvary. (See also Mk. 15:21-32; and Lk. 23:26-43,
Jn.19:17-24). As we read through the
scene of the crucifixion, there is still the tension that is displayed
between Pilate and members of the Jewish community. The community followed the procession of
the cross to the hillside to witness the crucifixion. Pilate has a notification constructed on a
sign and it read "Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews".
It is interesting how one
sign and statement can be interpreted and understood. For the Jewish community, the sign was
blasphemous and a charge of definite embarrassment. For Pilate, the sign was of mockery. The
council had embarrassed him. It
essentially was get even time. They paid for their deceit. In reality, there can be no further
statement of truth. For Matthew in his
writing of the gospel, Pilate's insistence upon declaring "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the
Jews”, may also have been a declaration that Jesus' Kingship is final and
unalterable.
Upon the cross of Jesus, the
sign says, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", very well could
have been inscribed, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the World". The Kingship of Jesus, as he earlier had testified
before Pilate, was to fully reveal God's glory and the truth of the promises
of God. In the crucifixion scene, by the inscription of the sign, God
declares, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. This is my Son, the King of kings and Lord
of lords. This is my Son, who now ushers my people into my heavenly kingdom.
This is my Son the mission for the salvation of the world is now
complete. Believe in him and you will
have the gift of life".
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begins with
the letter "R".
Matthew 27:45-56
Dear
friends, may God's message of love abide with you this day. Our devotional for today is the death of
Jesus. (see also Mk.15:33-41;
Lk.23:44-49; John 19:28-37). The tragedy unfolds. I remember a scene from movie, "Jesus
of Nazareth". The emotional
setting is overwhelming. You know from reading the gospels what is about to
happen, but you are not prepared for what is about to happen within you. The
hymn writer, "Were you there?" captures the scene. Jesus upon the cross looks to heaven and
cries out to his Father. He looks
around at those who have gathered before the cross, the soldiers, the two
thieves besides him, the members of the Jewish Council, his mother, his disciple
John and other followers. He speaks to
them. He offers from the cross, a
prayer of petition to the Father on their behalf There from the cross, Jesus
fulfilled all things. There upon the
cross .... Jesus died .... for you .... for me .... for the world.
Beneath the cross of Jesus, I long to take my
stand;
The shadow of a mighty rock Within a weary land,
A home within a wilderness, A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat And burdens
of the day.
Upon the cross of Jesus, My eye at times can see
The very dying form of one Who suffered there for
me.
And from my contrite heart, with tears, Two wonders
I confess:
The wonder of his glorious love And my
unworthiness.
I take, O cross, Your shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of his face;
Content to let the world go
by, To know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
my glory all, the cross.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the
letter "S".
Matthew
27:57-61
Dear friends, may God's peace be with you this
day. Our devotional reading is the
burial of Jesus and concludes the Passion Story. (See also: Mk.15:42-47; Lk.
23:50-56, Jn. 19:38-42). In this passage,
we are introduced to Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph goes to Pilate and asks for
the body of Jesus. The setting is late
in the afternoon. In the other
gospels, there was the understanding that the bodies would be brought down
from the cross before the Sabbath Day would begin. Understanding this and fearing that Jesus
would be taken to an unknown pauper's site, Joseph goes to Pilate and asks
for Jesus' body.
Who is this Joseph of
Arimathea? Matthew identifies him as a
disciple of Jesus. He was a member of
the Pharisees and was secretly a believer because he feared the Jews. This
fear was placed upon the Jewish community, that whoever followed Jesus and
believed in him, would be cast out of the synagogue or ex-communicated from
the community. Together, Joseph and
another man identified as Nicodemus risked their lives, came to the cross and
took the body of our Lord and laid him in a newly constructed tomb.
We have been in similar
circumstances. We have laid to rest loved ones, family and friends. It is the
most difficult task set before us. So we
know the importance of the task these men had performed. In this context, we can see the beauty of
the gesture of Joseph and Nicodemus.
They cared for the body of our crucified Lord Jesus. They laid him in the tomb, prepared and
ready for God's greatest miracle, the power of the resurrection. We confess..."crucified, died and was
buried". Soon, we celebrate the
resurrection. Soon, we celebrate the
gift of life. All things have been
accomplished.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begin with the letter
"T".
Matthew 27:62-66
Dear friends, may the message of hope be with you
this day. We have completed reading
the Passion Narrative of our Lord, which was based upon the Matthew's
gospel. At the same time, we also read
the parallel accounts from Mark, Luke and John. Basically these stories are similar, with
some variations and additions. Yet, there remains one story that is recorded
only in Matthew's gospel. That is the
story of the guards placed at the tomb.
The context of this event is the fear that still
remained with the Jewish community, even after Jesus' death. Their fear would
be the "tale" that the disciples would spread around Jerusalem, concerning
Jesus' raising from the dead. The
council went to Pilate and said, "We remember him making claims of
rising from the dead after three days.
Place some guards, so that his disciples will not be able to steal his
body and claim his resurrection".
Their fear was that this act (Jesus rising from the dead), would be
worse that the first (Jesus' claim to be the Messiah).Matthew records this
passage, to respond to the growing concern amongst the Jewish community, at
the time he was writing. The fear was
great. If Jesus was the Messiah, if he
was the Son of God, how can the community continue to deny the claims? How can they continue to deny the promises
God extends to them through his Son?
Matthew wants to show the responses of the Jewish leaders at the time
of Jesus' death. Perhaps then, the people
of the community will begin to understand.
The story contains many twisting scenarios.
However, the leaders in their frantic frame of minds
did not realize one thing. No matter
how sealed the tomb was, or how many guards were placed to secure it, there
would not be a tomb which could prevent God from performing his greatest
miracle, the raising of his Son from the grave of death. The truth remains; there is no earthly
power that could imprison our Lord in the tomb. God is victorious. He raised his Son, Jesus, the Christ from
the grave. With this miracle of life,
is the new life we soon will celebrate, as Easter awaits us.
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose
last name begin with the letter "W".
Week 4 Holy
Week Seven Words of the Cross
Dear
friends, our Lord's message of blessings be with you this day. Our devotional for this week are the seven
words of Jesus, spoken from the cross.
Last week, we finished our readings of the passion story. Now, we have the opportunity to
intentionally look at the scene of the cross.
As we reflect upon the words of Jesus from the cross, we see that they
speak words of compassion to those who gather beneath the cross. We see that they are also words of
submission by Jesus, to complete the mission of salvation God had sent him to
do.
Today, we center our thoughts on Luke 23:34. Jesus says, "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do". Even
from the cross, Jesus petitions the Father and offers a prayer of intercession
on our behalf. "Father, forgive
them". For those who crucified
him, he prayed, "They do not know what they are doing". To the Roman soldiers, who carried out
their orders, he prayed to the Father to forgive. To the leaders of the council, who followed
the procession and to witness Jesus' death, who in ignorance cried out for
his crucifixion only moments before, he prays for forgiveness. To the crowd, who stood by in silence and
in fear, and for those who cried out for his death, he prays for forgiveness. To the crowd of pilgrims who waved palm
branches and sang hosannas, but now watch hopelessly, he prays for
forgiveness. To those who ridicule
him, with their voices, with their thoughts, he prays for forgiveness. Now to the .world of brokenness, he prays
for forgiveness.
And lest we forget, from the cross, he prays an
intercessory prayer for us. For our
brokenness, caused by our sin, he prays for forgiveness. In reading these words here in Luke's
gospel, we are reminded of who Jesus is.
He is our Savior in the world of brokenness. In the power of forgiveness, the words, the
act itself, conveys a powerful message of hope. In his death, the world, broken by sin, is
now restored to wholeness, in a divine relationship with the Father. God's plan for salvation for his people is
now complete in the gift of forgiveness.
Beneath the cross, we give thanks to God.
Prayer Concern: Members of
Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the letters “A & B”.
Seven Words of the Cross
Dear friends, may God's grace be
with you this day. Our devotional for
today, are the second and third words of Jesus spoken from the cross. The second word, recorded in Luke 23:43, is a responsive word of
grace to the one thief who hung besides him.
Only in Luke is a full description of the conversation between Jesus
and the two thieves. (The other gospels only mention he was hung between two
thieves). In vss. 25-43, we see the
attitude of the crowd, the soldiers and one of the thieves. They hurled insults at Jesus. Yet, one cried out in remorse, "We
deserve this punishment. But Jesus has
done nothing wrong" and turning to him, he asks, "Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom".
Even from the cross are
words of grace and love. To the
repentant thief, Jesus offers these words, "Today, you will be with me
in paradise". This offering of
hope, is also offered to us. Surely
upon death, we cry out, "Remember me Jesus". We take from here a glimpse of God's
glory. From the cross, Jesus opens the
gates to God's kingdom. At this
moment, for the thief, for us, becomes a moment of pure gifted grace.
From the cross is another
grace filled moment. In John 19:25-27,
we see the followers of Jesus beneath the cross, including Mary, Jesus'
mother. Filled with compassion for his
mother, Jesus gave to his disciple John, his beloved mother, Mary. (At this
time, during Jesus' ministry, his family had presumably deserted him because
of his claims. Only after Pentecost,
we are told they did believe).
However, filled with compassion and love for his mother, Jesus
provided for her needs. From the
cross, he said, "Dear woman, here is your son", and to John,
"Here is your mother". From
the cross, he remembered his abiding and faithful love.
Today, we remember Jesus'
grace filled compassion for others.
Here, he speaks words of comfort and assurance. Indeed there is forgiveness; there are
words of promise of life to come and the provision to sustain life for those
around us, in the midst of pending death.
We can take great comfort in these words offered for us.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the
letters “C & D”.
Seven Words of the Cross
Dear friends,
may God's abiding love be with you today.
Our devotional for today continues with the fourth and fifth words of
Jesus from the cross. We read these
words in Mt. 27:46 and Mk.15:34, "My God, My God, why have you
forsaken me?" Here, we see the pain, the anguish, Jesus suffered on the
cross. Earlier, we saw the beauty of
the cross in his previous words. Yet,
here the full extent of the cruelty of the cross bears upon us. This is not a pretty picture. We know the full story as it has been
proclaimed to us throughout the history of the church. In this perspective, we "rush"
past the words and scenes. We quickly
move to Easter and look back.
For us the words are
printed, to be remembered, lest we forget.
It is difficult for us to look here at Jesus suffering, not only his
feeling of abandonment, but also his great thirst. (Jn.19:28). The difficulty lies in that this event is
also upon our shoulders. It is so easy
to say, "Look at what the chief priests, the soldiers and the thief did
and said to him". Lest we forget
the words, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
Son". "The world" is
the means here, past, present and the future.
What makes us uncomfortable is it happened, because of me.
Yet, my friends, this is
precisely the reason for the cross. If
we rush over the events of Good Friday, because it brings suffering and death
to the fore front of our consciousness, and we move quickly to Easter
morning, how can we say, "Jesus died for me", if .we don't look
seriously at these passages? We are
called to remember the passion of our Lord.
That means, in the final moments of his life in which he gave freely
for us, there was pain, there was suffering and there was abandonment.
Even in our difficulty
with reading these passages, we need to remember the story. The "good news" is, our Lord
endured the effects of the cross and all that it represents, for the world
... for you... and for me. That is
God's gift to us this Holy Week.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the
letters “E & F”.
Maundy Thursday Matthew 26:17-30
Dear friends, may the peace that
rests in the promises of this Maundy Thursday, be with you. Our devotional for this Maundy Thursday is
the passage describing the settings of the Lord's Supper. The scene is in the
upper room, where Jesus is celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the
bringing of the Passover festival, with his disciples. This celebration is a meal of remembrance. In traditional Jewish custom and thought,
to celebrate a meal of remembrance, is the participation in the event
itself. By remembering, the community
places itself in the event, marking its importance in its history. On this occasion of the Passover
celebration, Jesus and his disciples remember the exodus event and the
release from captivity of the people of Israel
from Egypt.
When the meal had been
completed, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and said, "take and eat,
this is my body which has been given for you". He then took the cup, gave thanks and said,
"take and drink, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you
and for many, for the forgiveness of sins". Then he said, "Do this in remembrance
of me".
"Do this in remembrance
of me". These words bring us back
to the upper room. To remember brings
us into the event itself. Just as
Jesus and his disciples participated in the exodus event from Egypt
through their remembrance also participating in this meal, brings us to the
supper table of our Lord. There with
his disciples, we hear his words, "Take and eat. Take and drink". There with his disciples, we hear the
promise, "for the forgiveness of sins". In the meal, we remember Jesus' life, his
ministry, his suffering and death and resurrection. We know then, as this was done for his
disciples, so also was it done for us.
Therefore, as often as it is offered, and as often as we participate,
we remember the lasting gift our Lord has given to us. Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of
me". We do remember and for this
gift this night, we give you our thanks and praise.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the
letters “G & H”.
Good Friday Seven
Words of the Cross
Dear friends, may
God's message of hope be with you this Good Friday, as we remember our Lord's
death on the cross for the world and for us.
Our devotional for today, are the sixth and seventh words of Jesus
from the cross. From John 19:30, Jesus declared to the
world, "It is finished".
From the cross, Jesus had fulfilled all that was to take place. His ministry of teaching, healing and
through it, the proclamation of salvation to the world has been
completed. At this moment, the incline
of Jesus' ministry which began with his baptism by John, now reaches a
climax. God's mission has been
completed. And God declares,
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
"It is finished!"
As these words were proclaimed, all that had been prophesied about the coming
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, had been fulfilled. All that had been declared by the prophets
had been accomplished. God's work of
redemption had been completed in and through his Son, Jesus. Jesus through his ministry and now on the cross
has met Satan, the broken world and its sin, head on. In his death, Jesus defeated all the forces
of evil that are represented in Satan, in the world and in sin itself.
Can we recognize this? Our
salvation is complete. Our sins are
forgiven. Our brokenness, the effect
of our sin, is restored and we are made whole. The debt of our sinfulness has been fully
paid through the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross. With these final words, God declares to us,
"You my children, are forgiven.
You are free from your bondage to your sin. My Son, Jesus, has done this for you. He has paid the ultimate price, so this may
be. Therefore, you are mine, forgiven
and free".
With this, Jesus turns his
face upward, and says, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit".
Luke 23:46 And he
died.
For the World......
For You...... And For Me.
Prayer
Concern: Members of Augustana’s family, whose last name begins with the
letters “I & J”.
Week 5
Friends,
beginning this week we will begin to read the Easter stories and post-Easter
stories from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They will be placed
in the known order of events as they occurred in the Gospels. After the
gospel events, we will read I Corinthians 15, which is the most complete
statement of faith written by Paul as he responded to the questions of
resurrection from the Cornith church. After we complete these readings, we
will return to Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 5.
Easter Sunday Matthew 28:1-10 Dear friends, may God's blessings
through his Son’s resurrection be extended to you this day. Our devotional is the Easter story from
Matthew's gospel. As Matthew writes
the story, notice how Matthew interweaves the story. Notice the action: to the tomb, the angel's
presence, the power displayed the guards’ response, the angel's message and
the response of the women. Last of all, notice the Risen Lord's presence in
the garden as he greets the women. Within Matthew's story, there is
compassion, there is fear, there is joy and there is the encounter with the
Risen Lord.
What is it that transforms
fear to joy? Is it the encounter with
Jesus our Risen Lord, who transformed Mary's and the other women's lives and
his disciples' as well. The story of Easter is a transforming victory of
bringing to God's people, the power of a new life in God's kingdom. It is a
sense of inner joy and peace that really cannot be described. It is a message
of hope and promise that sustains us throughout our life's journey. We
recognize that through the cross, Christ offers us the gift of forgiveness of
our sins. We recognize that through
the power of the resurrection, the grip of death and the grave cannot hold
us. Recognizing that, the church
celebrates with joy, the story of Easter.
It is the center of our faith.
Notice at the end of Matthew
Easter story, our Lord's commission to the women, "Go and
tell". Their commission is also
the same for us. We are called to tell
the Easter story. It is the "good
news" of salvation that has come for all people. In the Easter story, the women witnessed to
the disciples. They told them about
the empty tomb. They told them what
the angel had said to them. They
talked about how Jesus appeared to them in the garden. How he greeted them and spoke to them. This is the women's story as told by
Matthew. What is your Easter story? How have you been commissioned to tell your
Easter story? As you tell your Easter
story, what message do you share? How
has that been an influence in your life?
God's blessings this Easter week.
Prayer Concern: Members of
Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the letters “K & L”.
Mark 16:1-8
Dear friends,
may the gift of grace from our Lord, Jesus, be with you as we await the
celebration of his resurrection. This
Easter Eve, is a time of reflection and preparation. Throughout the Holy Week observances, we
centered our thoughts in remembrance of Jesus' suffering and death. This day, we remember and ponder its power.
Today, we also prepare ourselves, as we look to the celebration of the
resurrection of Jesus. Like the women,
who waited patiently for the sun to rise, so that they may anoint his body,
we wait patiently and reflectively.
"Were you there when the
crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they
crucified my Lord?
Oh ... sometimes it causes me
to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they
crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they
nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they
nailed him to the tree?
Oh ... sometimes it causes me
to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they
nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when the laid
him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid
him in the tomb?
Oh ... sometimes it causes me
to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid
him in the tomb?
Were you there when God
raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God
raised him from the tomb?
Oh... sometimes it causes me
to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God
raised him from the tomb?"
The Easter Story awaits us. God's Victory awaits us.
Thanks be to God!
Prayer Concern: Members of Augustana's family,
whose last name begins with the letters “M & N”.
Luke 24:1-12
Dear friends, may the gift of God’s love offered
through the promise of the resurrection, give you assurances this day. Our devotional for today is the Easter
story in Luke's gospel. It is Luke's story of the events at the empty tomb of
Jesus. Luke's story is very concise. He emphasizes the facts about the
resurrection story as he had heard them. (We need to remember that Luke was a
physician, who became a believer after Pentecost. What he writes, is through
the stories he had heard about the ministry of Jesus.) Within the story, are
factual statements about the empty tomb, the message of the angels and the
specific call to remember and believe what Jesus had previously told them.
In Luke's story, the call to
believe is in the words, "Why do you look for the living among the
dead?" Here Luke emphasizes the most important consideration of the
Easter story for us. Whether the death and resurrection of our Lord means
anything to us solely depends upon whether or not we believe. In the story,
the women, Peter and probably the rest of the disciples had difficulty
believing and even understanding. It
was only after Jesus appears to them later, that they believe. It is through their belief, that they bore
witness for us of these events.
What does Luke's story mean
for us? In essence, what is Easter all
about? How do we incorporate Jesus'
death and resurrection into faith?
These were the questions of the early church. In many respects they are also ours. Paul tells us in Romans 4, that
"Christ was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our
justification". In the cross,
Jesus took our sins upon himself and died for them. Through it, forgiveness of sins is
proclaimed. In the resurrection, the
rising from the dead and the grave, is the opening for the gift of salvation. Our sin and the consequence of our sin,
cannot contain our Lord in the grave.
Jesus is victorious. The Easter
message is the victory of our God over Satan, the effect of sin, which is
death and the grave. God is victorious
in the events of the cross and in the empty tomb. That is the gift and that is also the call
to believe, which is written here in Luke's Easter story.
Prayer concern: Members of
Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the letters “O, P & R”.
John
20:1-18
Dear friends,
may the gift of God's peace be with you this day. Our devotional for today is the Easter
story from John. It is the story of
Mary Magdalene going to visit and mourn at the tomb of Jesus and finding the
stone rolled away. It is the story of
Peter and John, as they too, come to the tomb, finding it empty, begin to search
within themselves as to its meaning.
It is the story of Mary's encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus. Not recognizing him, she asks where Jesus'
body is. It is a story of Jesus,
calling out Mary's name and she immediately recognizes his voice and responds. Immediately, she goes to the disciples and
declares the first Easter proclamation, "I have seen the Lord".
Ever since that morning in
the garden, Easter has been a day of rejoicing and celebration throughout the
church. For the Christian community,
Easter is a day of triumph and victory.
It is a day of celebration when God declares, "You are my
forgiven resurrected children".
Sin, death and the grave are destroyed. Its powers no longer enslave us and keep us
captive. The cross, the resurrection
frees us from those powerful grips.
Resurrection is the victory. It
is Easter week and the tomb of Easter morning is empty.
We ask ourselves, "Why
is Easter so special?" It is special, because it is the center of the
confession of faith. It is our journey
to the empty tomb. It is looking in,
like Peter and John and seeing the folded grave clothes lying there. It is with Mary and the Lord calls our name
and we recognize his voice and we know the story is true. It is acknowledging that the resurrection
from the dead, from the grave, is the sure and certain hope of the
Christian. Our hope of a new life,
life with God in his kingdom, is based upon the power of the cross and the
miracle of the empty tomb. Luther
shares with us, "where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also
life and salvation".
Our memory of Easter morning
celebration brings the complete picture of God's mission before us. Through our Lord's death and resurrection,
we become God's forgiven resurrected people.
That is the hope of Easter.
That is the Easter story.
Prayer concern: Members of
Augustana's family, whose last name begins with the letters “S, T & W”.
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