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Luke 24:36-49 - Lectionary for Easter 3B

4/12/2018

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4/12/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

During approximately three years of walking around with his disciples, Jesus consistently showed them that he was the Messiah. He fulfilled prophecy after prophecy. He worked miracles. He received worship. And he warned them several times that he would be killed and that he would rise from the dead again.

Despite all of this preparation, the disciples really weren’t ready for what happened at the Passover. They were terrified when Jesus was actually arrested. It made them run away. When they heard the details of the trial from Peter and John, who had followed Jesus, they didn’t know how to react. By the time Jesus was led out to be crucified, John was the only one of the apostles to be an eyewitness. After his death, it was two members of the Sanhedrin who actually took his body and entombed him.

Not one of the disciples expected Jesus to rise from the dead. They weren’t waiting for this news. The women had gone to take care of anything that was overlooked in his very hasty entombment. All their expectation was that they would find his lifeless body laid out on a slab.

The news which arrived to the disciples during the day of resurrection was also unbelievable. The body was gone, there was some sort of angelic apperance, maybe Jesus had appeared to someone, but maybe not. Peter and John had verified that the body was missing. And the disciples, disconsolate, had gathered together in a locked room, hoping that nobody would arrest them also. They were hiding.

What could change their minds? It didn’t seem likely that anything would persuade them that Jesus had risen from the dead. That wasn’t even on their radar screens. Then, without even seeming to open the door, without knocking, Jesus appeared among them. Distance, doors, locks and bars mean nothing to the risen Lord. He can come and be with his disciples. He shows that he is not a ghost by eating something and demonstrating that he is absolutely a living person.

We notice now that Jesus gives more instructions to his disciples. He tells them that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to continue their work. Now, maybe, just maybe, they will be able to take his promises seriously. We know, of course, that in just seven weeks’ time they will receive the power they need. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to give the disciples hope and trust.

In every age, Jesus, in his resurrection, confronts our sinful unbelief. He shows that he is, in fact, the one who always keeps his promises, even if it requires him to do impossible miracles, such as rising from the dead. It’s when we find Jesus in our midst that we are able to take him at his word and believe him.  May the Lord continue to come into our midst in ways that we can recognize.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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1 John 3:1-7 - Lectionary for Easter 3B

4/11/2018

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4/11/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Those of us who are parents are well aware of this scenario. It happens when we least expect it. Our child, whom we love, respect, and trust, does something that’s incredibly stupid. Frequently it happens in the privacy of our own home, or the home of a good friend. Sometimes it’s rather more public. Wherever it is, and whatever the specifics, something goes wrong. Someone’s hurt, offended, embarrassed. It will certainly cost time, often money, sometimes reputation, sometimes even health or life. And occasionally, we’ll be accosted by the other parent. “Do you know what YOUR child did today?”

Hmm, I thought this was our child, together. I wonder what happened that she’s suddenly just mine? We talk, we shake our heads, we pray, sometimes we confront and correct, and hopefully there’s a time of repentance, forgiveness, restoration, and life goes on.

What happens when we are confronted by the fact, from 1 John 3:1, that we are God’s children? How have we made him shake his head? How have we done things that cost him in reputation? How have we pushed the loving, gracious, and compassionate Lord of all to show love, grace, and compassion? Yes, he delights in caring for his children. But wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t seem to need it quite so much? Wouldn’t it be great if God’s reputation were built up by our actions, rather than being torn down?

The world doesn’t really know Christians for what we are. Their image of God is also warped because they somehow expect that Christians will reflect God’s character well. The fact is, we often don’t appear exactly like the holy people the Lord has called us. We seldom show the Lord’s character very accurately. The text says it clearly. What we will be is not yet revealed.

As we wait for our true identity in Christ to be revealed, may we walk, day by day, in repentance, looking to Jesus, who confronts our sin, takes it upon himself, and gives us his righteous character. It doesn’t seem to fit very well yet, but given time, we trust that we will eventually be like him.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Acts 3:11-21 - Lectionary for Easter 3B

4/10/2018

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4/10/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In Acts chapter three, Peter and John were used by the Holy Spirit to heal a man who had normally been found sitting at the gate of the temple, begging. He was unable to walk, unable to work, unable to live a productive life in society due to his disability. We can safely assume that he was not the kind of intelligent and connected person for whom the ability to stand and walk would not prevent him from carrying out an occupation.

What’s the reaction when he is healed? Amazement, and rightly so! God has worked a mighty miracle. He has done something that we realize is impossible. What of the people gathered around? Jerusalem was a big city, crowded, and the gates of the temple were popular places to be.

The miracles continue in Acts chapter three. Not only is the man healed from his disability. He also is used to provoke questions, which are answered by the apostles. How did this happen? It happened through Jesus, who rose from the dead to redeem and heal. It happened because God chose to use the sin of the people of Jerusalem against Jesus for the ultimate good of them all, the death of Jesus on their behalf. This should rightly get all of our attention.

One miracle, healing a lame man, brings many more, as the Gospel is proclaimed and people believe, receiving eternal life.

What miracles are we looking for in our world? Do we think they are all showy? Do we think they are all elaborate attention-grabbers? I once received a letter from a man who said the greatest miracle in his public ministry had been when glowing rocks appeared on an altar and floated up and down in his church building. Of course, he didn’t say how this brought the gospel of Jesus to anyone. He wouldn’t see it as a miracle when God’s loving forgiveness is proclaimed and someone believes. He wouldn’t see it as a miracle when God’s Word gives someone direction in life, restores relationships, and guides people in their God-given vocations. No, he would overlook the less showy miracles. But we don’t need to.

May we always be ready to see the way the Lord speaks in plain and simple matters of life, through Word and sacrament, drawing many to himself.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Psalm 4 - Lectionary for Easter 3B

4/9/2018

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4/9/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

A luminary of American military history, General Thomas Jackson, was fond of citing Psalm 4:8. When asked how he could remain calm on the battlefield, with cannons roaring, bullets whistling, surrounded by pain and death, he would explain that he was a Christian and trusted in God. He was as safe in that situation as he was lying peacefully in his own bed at home. Nothing would harm him apart from God’s providential care. He would suffer no eternal harm because his God was the God of resurrection.

Why are we so ready to fear? Why are we moved to anxiety? We all are. Could it be that we don’t really believe that Jesus is the redeemer? Could it be that we don’t realize that Jesus, the one who rose from the dead, rose for us? Could it be that we don’t understand what it means to be an heir of eternity with Jesus?

Those are tremendous concepts. The fact is that we don’t understand them and never will. We can try, we can strive, we can agonize over our failings, we can be moved to repentance again and again. But we won’t actually grasp how great God’s salvation is or how trustworthy he is until we see him face to face in the last day. Until then it’s more a matter of seeing and hearing the words, trying to trust in God’s promises, and asking for faith and trust.

Maybe it would help if the prayer in verse 1 were answered? We cry out to God for deliverance, but we don’t seem to think he is answering. It’s because he has already answered, in the person and work of Jesus, God the Son. Truly, the Lord of all has answered our prayer. We have only to revisit it in the Gospels. May the Lord of all grace guard us in this life and to the next.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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