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Matthew 28:1-10 - Lectionary for Easter Sunday, Series A

4/13/2017

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4/13/17
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 our reading for Easter Sunday, Matthew 28:1-10, we find the risen Christ. This tremendous good news has been obscured by many who wish to emphasize the differences between the various first century accounts. If we compare the four canonical Gospels we find that there is one angel, that there are several angels, that a variety of different people are mentioned as the first witnesses, that maybe some of the apostles came to the tomb and that sometimes only women are mentioned. This is all perfectly coherent. The different evangelists wrote their accounts not as an exhaustive and exclusive story but to communicate the big picture as clearly as possible. Some of Jesus’ followers went to the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week. They found that Jesus was not present. There seems to be an angelic appearance. One or more people who witnessed this met the risen Jesus. He reminded them of his resurrection and sent them to tell others. The various differences in the accounts are not important. The risen Lord is important.

As we begin the season of Easter we proclaim boldly that Christ is risen from the dead. He is the firstfruits of the resurrection. Just as he passed through death into life, so he calls all who believe him to trust that he will bring them through death into life as well. Jesus has done all that is needed to rescue his people. He will bring it to pass. This is the message of Easter.

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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Colossians 3:1-4 - Lectionary for Easter Sunday, Series A

4/12/2017

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4/12/17
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.

We boldly proclaim salvation by grace through faith. What’s the role of works, then? Are we supposed to ignoregood works? After all, if all our life is lived in submission to the Holy Spirit, if we don’t change, maybe it’s not our fault?

The apostle Paul answers this in Colossians 3:1-4. Those who have been called by the name of Christ are to set their minds on him, on things above. If our life is wrapped up in Christ it should have a strong influence on our goals. We self-consciously try to take our minds off of earthly things.

Does this mean we are to become “so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good?” Not at all. Rather, we look to Christ as the one who sustains us and who uses us as his messengers for good in this world. We don’t set our minds on the things of this world for our own benefit. We set our minds on what Jesus has done for the world. We show mercy as He has shown mercy. We feed the poor and hungry because He is the bread of life. By setting our minds on things above we have a new care and compassion for those things below. We try to bring them into accord with Christ’s mercy as well.

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 10:34-43 - Lectionary for Easter Sunday, Series A

4/11/2017

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4/11/17
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 the season of Easter churches traditionally replace the Old Testament reading with a reading from Acts. This week, in Acts 10:34-43, we find Peter explaining the good news of Jesus to the household of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Peter’s explanation of the Gospel here, as he visits a Gentile household, shows clearly that Jesus’ forgiveness is available to Gentiles also, not only Jews. This was an enormous claim, as the Jews were always considered the people of God. However, by faith, people from every nation could be adopted as part of God’s people.

In modern evangelistic efforts, especially in the Western world, it is common to focus on the story of how Jesus makes people feel. There are highly emotional appeals. There are claims that Jesus will fix all the things that are wrong in our lives. These ideas stand in stark conflict to the biblical account. Peter’s claims are focused on what Jesus did. Jesus provides peace, he heals people, he is killed according to the Scriptures, he is raised from the dead, he appears to his disciples, he sends them to proclaim the good news. This good news, further, is that Jesus is going to be the judge of the living and the dead.

In short, the claims of the Gospel found in this passage from Acts are that Jesus has done all that is necessary for the salvation of a world that is separated from God, hostile toward him, and has no hope of reconciliation. Jesus, Lord of all, has redeemed his people from death and destruction. That is very good news. It’s certainly the news we need to hear. Each one of us needs the adoption provided in Christ. And it is ours for the asking. Thanks be to God.

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 16 - Lectionary for Easter Sunday, Series A

4/10/2017

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4/10/17
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.

Psalm 16 speaks from a fascinating perspective. It has clear signs of speaking as from God the Son. See in verses 10-11 there is a very strong hint of the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ is the one who truly delights in God. But at the same time we can all look to Jesus and his work on behalf of his people to find the presence of the Lord which the Psalmist longs for.

There’s an exclusive claim in this Psalm as well. Following the other gods, the false gods, is of no avail. It is an offense to the true God. Therefore, we avoid false worship. Rather, we look to the true God, the creator and sustainer of all. We are informed by His Word day and night. There we find security.

As we enter the season of Easter, then, we find that our security is in the resurrected Lord Jesus, the one who did not see corruption. Even death could not keep him. Therefore, as we walk in the light of the resurrection, we can also trust that death will not keep us. The lines fall for us in pleasant places. We have a beautiful inheritance, to be received by grace through faith.

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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    About Throwing Inkwells

    When Martin Luther was dealing with struggles in his life he once saw what appeared to be an angelic being. Not trusting that he was going to be informed by someone other than the God revealed in Scripture, he took the appearance to be untrustworthy and hurled his inkwell at it. The chipped place in the plaster wall is still visible at the Wartburg Castle, though apparently the ink stain on the wall has been refreshed periodically by the caretaker.

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