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WEEKLY DEVOTION
APRIL 23
Tuesday, APRIL 23, 2024
Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN
“The Passover of God”
READING: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-13 – The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the side and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast……This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into our belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals – and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
Today is Passover! Some years Good Friday coincides with Passover; some years it doesn’t. Christianity and Judaism have different dating systems because Christianity uses a solar calendar while Judaism uses a lunar calendar. I’m sure there is some ancient arcane method for determining the dates of Good Friday and Easter. It has something to do with the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox, but even after I Googled it I could not determine why they are so different this year. All I know is that the calendar hanging on the wall behind me while I’m writing this says today is Passover, three- and one-half weeks after we celebrated Easter! Go figure!
What is important is that the first Passover (and every one of them thereafter) was full of Jesus. Think about it: the Israelites were to take a year-old male lamb without any blemish, sacrifice it and catch the blood. That blood was to be smeared onto the wood of their doorframes. Then the lamb was to be consumed entirely by the household. When the Destroyer came amongst the dwellings, any home marked with the blood of the lamb would be “passed over” and no harm would come to that family.
Jesus, “The Lamb of God”, was in his prime when taken to the cross. He was without a sinful blemish, perfect before God. Then he was sacrificed on the cross, and by his blood we are “passed over” without condemnation for our sins. He was utterly consumed: physically tortured and bled out; spiritually rejected by the Father on our behalf; and abandoned by nearly every one of his friends and followers. What happened at the Passover was precursor to the sacrifice of God’s Son for the benefit of sinful humanity.
And, of course, the Passover is directly connected to the Lord’s Supper. Instead of pointing back to a sacrifice on the cusp of the Exodus, Holy Communion points back to a sacrifice on the Cross that brings hope and salvation to all who believe on Jesus’ name. When we eat his body and drink his blood, we are remembering and re-enacting his death while receiving its benefits at the present time. Concurrently, we are brought into the very presence of Christ himself in fulfillment of his own words of institution: “This is my body…this is my blood.” Jesus comes to us and joins himself to us In a most marvelous way. The Passover was evidence to Israel that God was with them and leading them out of bondage with a mighty arm. Communion is evidence to Christians that God is with us and leading us out of bondage to sin and death by the “Blood of the Lamb”.
So Happy Passover to you! We don’t celebrate it in the Church, but it is always a day worth remembering because in so many ways it heralded and pointed ahead to God’s deliverance of all people whose hope is in our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians can’t and shouldn’t look at the Passover without seeing Jesus all over it. He is the very Pascal Lamb sacrificed for us and our salvation. It is celebrated once a year by Judaism while the Lord’s Supper is celebrated by Christians often and frequently. And some day you and I will celebrate all of it at the “Wedding Feast of the Lamb in his Kingdom.” Now that’s something to look forward to! Amen.
PRAYER:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) Please pray for our Junior Confirmands. This Sunday they will be confirmed in the Faith in the late service. Pray for Amelia, Madelyn, Maggie, Breena, Heidi, Knox, Landon, Asa, Kellen, and Lukas as they become communicant members of Grace.
2) ATTENTION IU FANS: we are taking a bus tour to IU Bloomington to take a guided tour of Assembly Hall and a visit to the Fine Arts Building on campus on Wednesday, May 15. The tour costs you $10.00 and you’ll buy your own lunch. Sign up outside the office or call Karen to get your name on the list.
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/kZ8MbyizpsU
PRINTABLE PDF: WDApril23.PDF
[email protected] — (502) 797-7407
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WEEKLY DEVOTION APRIL 22
Monday, APRIL 22, 2024
Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana
“Take Courage In Jesus.”
Dennis Prager, radio host and author of the Rational Bible, has a strong opinion about courage. In His Rational Bible commentary on Exodus he says, “I am convinced courage is the rarest of all good traits. There are far more kind and honest people than there are courageous people. Unfortunately, however, in the battle against evil, all the good traits in the world amount to little when not accompanied by courage.”
I would agree that courage is fundamentally critical if anything good is accomplished. When we visit Acts chapter 4, we discover very different kinds of disciples than the ones we met on Easter morning, namely ones with courage. In Acts 3 Peter and John heal a beggar over 40 who had been crippled from birth. It was his daily routine to go to the Temple to beg. Peter and John heal the beggar who immediately follows the disciples into the Temple. His dancing and glorifying God for his healing gets the attention of those who always knew him as the beggar at the gate. Peter and John are quick to identify Jesus as the source of the miracle. They are also quick to speak of Jesus resurrected from the dead. Speaking so boldly at the Temple gets the disciples arrested and thrown in jail for the night.
Enter chapter 4. Peter, John, and the former crippled man stand before the same men who crucified Jesus. Verse 5-6 reveal the political players by name. “The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.” The list of names are Sadducees, and members of the same family. The Sanhedrin was very nepotistic as it seems. These men not only represented the aristocracy, but also the religious group that did not believe in a resurrection and hated Jesus. Now they hate Jesus’ disciples and especially their message. They had put Jesus to death on the cross and now they were looking for ways to “cancel” or silence Jesus’ disciples.
This is where we want to take special notice. In Acts 4:13 we hear, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” “They took note that these men were with Jesus” reveals why they have the courage that they held—they were with Jesus. Peter and John knew whom they followed and what Jesus had done and will do. The evidence was literally standing next to them dancing about praising God. These were not the same men that were hiding behind locked doors on Easter morning, huddled in fear of these very men that they were so bold to witness to by Acts 4. Peter and John were no longer afraid of what may happen to them and boldly chose to follow Jesus rather than heed any threats or warnings not to preach. In this one case we see elements important to courage. Courage deals with the truth and reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Fear only deals with possible scenarios and uncertainties such as the notion of religious leaders combing the streets looking for the disciples. Courage deals with certainty, truth, and gets noticed and respected even by one’s enemies.
We’ve seen it before in Daniel 3 where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the golden statue. Verses 16-18 displays a bold faith. “16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Courage here says the idol isn’t real and Nebuchadnezzar’s power is limited even if in the moment he seems so strong.
Laster in Daniel 6 that it was Daniel’s turn. Daniel was set up by other leaders who were jealous of Daniel’s position with the king. These leaders convince the king to make a law where all Persian citizens could only worship the king for the next 30 days. They knew Daniel would not abide by the decree. The plan didn’t phase Daniel who went and prayed as he always did. He was hauled before the King and the king, bound by his own law, threw Daniel into the Lion’s Den. An angel shut the mouths of the lions and saved Daniel much to the king’s relief.
In all three examples these men remained bold in their faith. In each case the followers of God were ready to give their lives. Any man willing to sacrifice himself for the cause is hard to stop. Their courage developed from a deep communion with God. Each one was willing only to worship God alone and serve him only.
What we should all come to realize is that the devil has no new tricks. He will threaten God’s people. He will try to silence them in fear. There will always be someone trying to outwit and shut down the church. Courage that is founded in a deep communion with God drives away fear. It doesn’t necessarily avoid fiery furnaces, or Lion’s dens, or even abuse from the religious leaders but it does have guts to say, “Even if the Lord does not save us from you, we want you to know that we will not serve your stupid idols or buckle to your evil ways.”
Courage is the ability to stand your ground refusing to stop even if one is wounded. Courage is inspired by whom we are associated with, namely the resurrected Jesus. Peter and John were no longer afraid of evil men because these same evil men couldn’t stop Jesus from rising. The contrast is stark. On the one hand Jesus is resurrected from the dead. On the other hand, there were a bunch of rich, entitled men who thought they could outsmart God but failed miserably. They failed again with Peter and John. The message of Jesus is what gives courage then and what gives us courage today. The circumstances have not changed.
The most powerful part of courage is how it focuses on purpose. In 2016 the movie Hacksaw Ridge came out. It’s about Private Desmond Doss, a pacifist and a 7th Day Adventist, who saw himself serving God as a medic in WWII. Many called him a coward. He endured many moments that were cruel and unfair. He even faced a potential dismissal from the military itself but finally won the right to serve without even carrying a gun.
His courage was proven at the Battle of Okinawa. In one of the worst fights the Allies were forced into retreat leaving behind many wounded and many casualties. Doss remained behind. Throughout the night under the cover of darkness Private Doss roamed the battlefield searching for survivors amongst the carnage of bodies and craters. He crawled around careful not to get caught by the Japanese who were wandering about finishing off the wounded. When he would find a wounded man, Doss would drag him to the cliff they climbed up and lower them down to safety where medics would get them to a hospital. By the time he was done he saved 75 soldiers.
The line made famous in the movie was what Doss would say to himself as he went searching for more. “Lord, give me one more, just one more.” His courage was motivated by a trust in the Lord. He was in a hostile place willing to give his life surrounded by many who wanted to kill him. This is a picture of courage. Although Doss wasn’t saving men for this purpose, but Doss would go on to earn the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Courage by any account is always admired and it gets noticed by the faithful and the unfaithful alike. Courage makes us respectable and powerful. But the last aspect of courage is its impact. Courage will always bring attention to the person who exercises courage. However, that person will likely use this courage to highlight a message and purpose greater than Himself. Doss’ message was Jesus and the Gospel. Peter and John’s message was Jesus and the Gospel. The three men in the fiery furnace, was the God of Israel as the only true God. For Daniel the message was the God of Israel alone is worthy of worship.
A faith that has courage is an unstoppable faith. This combo will inspire and transform the landscape. May the Lord give us courage to believe and boldness to proclaim it like Peter and John.
Pastor Matthew Woods
John 3:30
PRINTABLE PDF: WDApril22.PDF
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/i-WFIDiE0tE
[email protected] — (502) 523-9327
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WEEKLY DEVOTION APRIL 16
Tuesday, APRIL 16, 2024
Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN
“The Ephemeral Nature of Things”
READING: Psalm 33:8-11, 20-22 – Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations…We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
A couple of weeks ago I had been to a meeting at church, and on my way home I saw the most beautiful sunset I had seen in some time. The sun was lowering in the western sky, just over the Knobs. The sky was fairly cloudy, with great big banks of very tall, very chubby clouds. As I was coming up Klerner Lane just before Grant Line, the sun was shining on those clouds and turning all their edges to a blazing orange. Each individual cloud was fringed with a bright orange outline and the orange tint stretched across the western sky as far as I could see. I actually slowed my car almost to a stop so I could take it all in. And I thought to myself, “Lord, you are a fabulous artist!”
When I turned on to Grant Line and headed toward home, I kept taking peeks to my left to catch sight of all that glory. IUS’s woods obscured my view for a few moments, and don’t you know, by the time I got to The Pines Trailer Court the orange was gone! Just that quick! There were a couple of clouds with a dull orange tinge, but within moments, that too was gone. I was disappointed. I could have stared at that spectacular sunset for hours, but no, it lasted only mere minutes and it was gone.
As I reflected on the experience I was reminded just how ephemeral things are. We prepare a marvelous Thanksgiving feast, sit down with our family, and fifteen or twenty minutes later much of the food is gone and everyone is sated. We head out on a week-long vacation with great anticipation and expectations, and in no time, we’re on our way home again. We plan, prepare, and anticipate our wedding day, and a week later we have trouble remembering some of what was said and what went on. We wait 50 years to celebrate our Golden Anniversary with family and friends and all at once we’re celebrating our 51st anniversary. We say, “Where does the time go?” We take pictures and videos just to hang on to a few of the memories and impressions we have of big events in our lives.
Time marches on, and things that are new to us today are old and worn out tomorrow. People that were once young with us suddenly look lame and unhealthy. That beautiful brand-new 1999 Cadillac now looks saggy in the suspension, faded in the color, and much in need of a new set of tires. Movie stars we once idolized and bought posters of are now REALLY OLD PEOPLE (or dead!). Houses and buildings we once frequented are demolished and gone, replaced by other structures that have little in common with what once stood there. Yes, things (and people) are ephemeral. Here today, gone tomorrow.
BUT NOT SO THE LORD! His word, his ways, his truth, his law, his Gospel, his power, might, goodness, love, and compassion are NEW every day. He does not change with the changing times. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow – and we depend on that! We depend on his purposes and plans for us being steadfast and unmovable. We depend on his Word being trustworthy and true. We depend on his Son’s love, his intercession on our behalf, his promises that in his Resurrection we can see our own, and his promise that he is preparing a place for us so that we may be where he is. We depend on our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be exactly the same from now to eternity. As the Psalmist says, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.”
That sunset came, and just that quick it faded away. The second hand on your clock just keeps sweeping on. Our children were once babies; now they have babies of their own (or even grandchildren of their own!). Seasons come; seasons go. But the Word of the Lord stands forever. He was God in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. And may the Lord be praised for his steadfast love. He changes not! Amen.
PRAYER:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) Please pray for our Junior Confirmands. This Sunday they will make their good Confessions in the Sunday morning services. And then on the 28th, they will be confirmed in the faith in the 10:30 service. Pray for Amelia, Madelyn, Maggie, Breena, Heidi, Knox, Landon, Asa, Kellen, and Lukas as they prepare themselves for the events of this month.
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/zU5SVXB7IRw
PRINTABLE PDF: WDAPRIL16.PDF
[email protected] — (502) 797-7407
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WEEKLY DEVOTION APRIL 15
Monday, APRIL 15, 2024
Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana
“Render to God What is God’s”
Today is April 15, tax day. In the spirit of the day, I thought it would be fun to talk about Matthew 22 where Jesus is challenged on the subject of taxes. “Render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is God’s.”
What exactly is rendered? Today I am going to read the whole passage from Matthew 22:15-22. “15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.”
Now let’s keep in mind the three groups represented here, the Herodians, the Pharisees, and the Followers of Jesus. The Herodians were a non-religious party that supported the dynasty of Herod, thus their name. They were Jewish supporters of the Roman Government who also supported the tax. On the other end of the spectrum were the Pharisees, a religious party who believed in the strict observance of the Law and especially of oral traditions such as the way one washes their hands. They did not see Jesus as Messiah, even with all the signs and miracles that Jesus did. These first two groups were at opposite ends of the spectrum and yet they come together to trap Jesus with a question. The third group is represented by the disciples who were no doubt at the temple with Jesus nervously and silently watching and learning as Jesus fielded many questions meant to trap him that day.
The kynsos is the poll tax which was exacted on all Jewish citizens, and all conquered territories of Rome. It was considered a special badge of servitude to the Romans. This tax was especially galling to the Jews because Caesar was often portrayed as a god and the coin with him image was inscribed with “divine” implying Caesar’s divinity. And Lord knows that when Paul instructs Christians to pay their taxes in Romans 13 those monies were used for troubling things back then too. Using this tax as part of the question posed to Jesus was a trap because in the minds of this mixed crowd the answer to this question essentially pointed out where one’s loyalties were, with God or with Rome.
The trap was simple. If Jesus were to answer that it was not good to pay the tax, he could immediately be arrested for trying to usurp Rome. To answer the other way was to insight the Jewish people against Jesus because so many were so opposed to the poll tax. Instead, Jesus sets up the challengers in their own trap in way that they answer their own question. “Show me a coin,” Jesus says. The image on the coin was that of Caesar. The very image of Caesar was never allowed in the Temple. Once when Pilate tried to bring shields into the city with Caesar’s image on it the people rioted yet many of these very leaders carried that image in their pockets without a single thought. “The image on the coin was Caesars. So, give back to Caesar that which has his image on it. And give back to God what has God’s image on it.”
So, do we? “Do we what, Pastor?” Do we give God what is God’s? What do we carry in our pockets that have other images on them—those things we probably shouldn’t be carrying our hearts and minds often without a thought? We often get ourselves in a twist over the way we see the government waste our taxes. Are we any less guilty about waste? Forgiveness for example is heavily spoken about in places like Matthew 18. Jesus speaks of the unmerciful servant. He is forgiven much but ends up loving little. Can we say we are as generous as Jesus has been to us in His mercy. In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus speaks of a wealthy man who is given a great crop. Instead of thanking the Lord and honoring the Lord’s generosity with his own generosity the rich farmer decides to build bigger barns for his own personal comfort and lifestyle. Can we say we have been generous in our love, our patience, in our words, in our own self-control. Are we grateful people or stuck on sourness over things we can’t really control. How much of what the Lord gives to us, who bear His image, is given to God.
The distinction between the followers of Jesus and the other groups is well spelled out in Matthew 25. The believers and unbelievers are distinguished by what they gave to the Lord. Visiting the sick or people in prison. Clothe those who need clothes. Both the believer and unbeliever alike ask, “When did we see you?” The goats did nothing. The sheep gave to the Lord what was the Lord’s. They gave to those in need with what the Lord had supplied them, a home to invite strangers in, clothes to clothe others, and time to visit the sick and those in prison. What these sheep do is instinctive, flowing out of a character shaped by the Lord Himself. They know the will of the Lord on loving thy neighbor; they hear his voice and follow it. These sheep do not consider the work of the Lord taxing but worthy of faith-filled response; as a form of thanksgiving for the gifts that enable sheep to love others.
As Jesus does in so many of His parables, Jesus draws a sharp contrast between the two kingdoms, the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of Jesus. Jesus is a king not of this world as He told Pilate in John 18:36 and we are citizens of that kingdom who yet live in the kingdom of the world. So, for now we give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and render to Jesus what belongs to him. We are not about the temporary securities of coins or taxes. We are about honoring the Lord. Romans 13 reminds us that means remaining good citizens. Romans 13:7 says, Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Just as we would serve Jesus by offering a visit to the sick or clothing to the poor so too we honor Jesus by honoring the Lord under the authorities that He has established.
Like Caesar our modern government reps and officials are by and large corrupt, immoral, and power hungry. They spend our money on many contemptable things. Their abuse of their authority will not go unpunished, but vengeance belongs to the Lord and not to us. They tax our patience, our conscience, our incomes, and so many other things. We on the other hand are called upon to pray for them, to vote, and to encourage one another in the Lord above all else. So, on this tax day I would offer a reminder that rendering unto Jesus is good even if that means we must continue to live in a patient endurance for our Lord’s return. Give thanks that we have something from Jesus to render back to Jesus namely His grace, His cross, and resurrection. We have reason to render and share God’s grace that overflows through us. Happy rendering.
Pastor Matthew Woods
John 3:30
PRINTABLE PDF: WD4-15.PDF
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/NZjBmOqGVo0
[email protected] — (502) 523-9327
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WEEKLY DEVOTION
APRIL 9
Tuesday, APRIL 9, 2024
Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN
“Who Will Roll Away the Stone?”
READING: Mark 16:1-6 – When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Pharaohs built great pyramids in old Egypt filled with all kinds of luxuries and loot to while away the time until it was done. A Chinese emperor had a huge army of thousands of entirely different and unique ceramic soldiers and horses made to assure its happening. A famous baseball player had his body quick-frozen and kept perpetually at perfect zero until it could happen. The nobles and the wealthy of many ages and on nearly every continent had themselves buried in elaborate tombs supplied with utensils, gold, and now and again, a wife or two and a couple of servants so they wouldn’t be lonely or wanting until the time came. Nearly every religion known to man has some thoughts and even an answer or two when the subject comes up. So what am I talking about? The question the ladies asked one another as they hurried to Jesus’ tomb that Sunday morning: “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?”
That is a question that has bedeviled human beings from their earliest times. “When I die and the family buries my body, is that it? Or will there be more? If so, who will open my tomb and bid me to come out?” Good question, right? Hard question for the unbeliever, the agnostic, the skeptic, but not so hard for the Christians. Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb? The ancients outside Israel had all kinds of ideas. Most of them revolved around an afterlife that resembled their earthly existence only in a more ethereal plane. It was going to be so much like earthly life that they tried to pack every comfort, luxury, and tool so they wouldn’t be wanting “on the other side”. A lot of thought and a lot of expense went into it for those on the “uptown train.” For the poor and for the slaves, there was a plain and empty grave that might mean more of the same kind of existence in the afterlife. No promises of something better or freer.
Even still in our day there is much writing and speculating about what comes after death. Except for the hardcore and committed atheists, most people at least speculate about what might be waiting for them “out there.” Mostly it’s wishful thinking about “The Big Guy Upstairs” who’s been watching from a distance and knows that they “tried to be good.” They tried “not to hurt anybody” and they were good to kids and animals. They hope “The Big Guy” cuts them some slack “…cause after all, nobody’s perfect.” They have a nebulous hope to meet up with their family and loved ones somewhere, somehow. No promises; no assurances, just some wishful thoughts.
Not so you and me! We know EXACTLY who is going to roll away the stone from the entrance to our tombs. We know how he’s going to do it, too. “He will come on the clouds with the angels and the saints, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (I Thess. 4) That last and glorious day will be the fulfillment of every promise Jesus has made to us. No wishful thinking here. No nebulous hopes. We have HIS WORD on it.
When the women were hurrying to the tomb, their thoughts were filled with the practical details of a Jewish burial rite. Traditions and requirements had to be met. Things had to be done right. But the most practical of all their concerns was getting that tomb opened up. They had seen the stone rolled in place. They knew how big it was; all of them together would not be strong enough to budge it. So came the question, “Who will roll away the stone…?”
Little did they guess that the answer had already been given. Their greatest needs has already been addressed: forgiveness of their sins, reconciliation with God, through baptism a status of sons and daughters of God would be given, and a reunion in heaven with their dear Lord and all those who died in Jesus. It had all been taken care of for them and for us.
So as you and I continue to celebrate the Easter season and rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection, we don’t have to wonder and worry about the afterlife. When we give up our final breath, we already have a place prepared for us by the One who did not let the stone set before his own tomb hinder him. That thing got blown away. It could not hold him. The grave could not claim him. Neither will our graves hold us. When the Lord gives the loud command, “Come out!” we will do what Lazarus did when he heard the voice of Jesus: come alive and come out! Stone or no stone! Amen.
PRAYER:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) Please pray for our Junior Confirmands. This weekend they participate in their Retreat. On April 21 they will make their good Confessions in the Sunday morning services. And then on the 28th, they will be confirmed in the faith in the 10:30 service. Pray for Amelia, Madelyn, Maggie, Breena, Heidi, Knox, Landon, Asa, Kellen, and Lukas as they prepare themselves for the events of this month.
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/v5jtMa_Pd4M
PRINTABLE PDF: WDAPRIL9.PDF
[email protected] — (502) 797-7407
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WEEKLY DEVOTION APRIL 8
Monday, APRIL 8, 2024
Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana
“Over the Moon”
Today is a special day. Today is the day of the Solar Eclipse here in Indiana. I’ve picked up my eclipse glasses and I have a place to go to watch within the zone of totality. The zone of totality is something we have been hearing a lot about for the last few months. This zone of totality describes the area that is going to be totally dark when the eclipse happens. In a nutshell it’s the zone that has the best seats in the house. Well, since this will be the last eclipse over Indiana within many of our lifetimes, (2049 being the next one), I am going to try to experience this rare moment.
What role does the moon have in scripture? Well, Genesis 1:14-18 speaks of the moon as one of the “great lights” that God made on the fourth day. The moon is part of the system of “lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and…to mark sacred times, and days, and years…God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.” The moon with all its phases is designed to mark the passing of time from day to day, month to month.
The new moons mentioned in scripture also marked the beginning of months in the lunar-based Hebrew calendar and signaled times for certain sacrifices. Numbers 28:11 speaks to the Israelites; “At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish…” In speaking about the Passover, we hear Psalm 81:3 says, “Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival…” The time that the moon marks is often associated with a festival or sacrifice. Because of the moon’s association with Passover, it is possible that a full moon may have been in the night sky on the night Jesus was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Having just celebrated Passover the timing may have been just right for the moon to be full.
On another interesting front the moon is also associated with Joel 2:31: “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” (See also Revelation 6:12). The moon seems to also have a role in the future for marking the end of time when the Lord returns on judgement day. In speaking about the restoration of Israel from Babylon Isaiah 30:26 marks the occasion with a day when “the moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter.” It certainly appears that the moon is a marker of significant moments in our future as well as our current calendar.
According to Wikipedia, The Moon is a planetary-mass object or satellite planet. Its mass is 1.2% that of the Earth, and its diameter is 3,474 km (2,159 mi), roughly one-quarter of Earth’s (about as wide as Australia.) The moon also has a significant role to play on our oceans. The high tide is caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. The moon effectively causes the tides to bulge out on both sides of the planet. (See illustrations from Nasa sight– https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tides/). The earth seems to be interdependent upon the Earth and the Earth to the moon. And based on all the pot marks and craters on the surface of this rock it also seems to me to be a nice little shield from various garbage floating about. The science of it all is pretty amazing. The Lord has been very creative with this lessor light.
As spiritual lessons go the moon as bright and as amazing as any full moon may shine it is still just a rock with no actual light of its own. All it can do is reflect the light of the sun. Without the sun there is no light of the moon. Human beings are likewise a reflection of the Light of the Son, Jesus. We are the light of the world says John 1:4-5, but only in so far as we are people of Christ. We are created in His image made to reflect that image. Seeing us is to see Jesus. We are not to be the center of attention but to remind others of the greater light of Christ.
Years ago, during a season when I worked at Yosemite National Park in California, I once got the opportunity to hike up to the top of half-dome in the full moon light in July. Half-dome in Yosemite is basically a huge bald granite mountain. The face of mountain facing the Yosemite Valley is flat but the 11.5 acres on top is as bald and rocky as it gets. My friend and I got to the top of the mountain at about midnight. The best part about it was the full moon. The light of the moon reflected off the granite so brightly that the whole mountain seemed to glow in the dark. It was so bright that neither of us needed a flashlight to see. It will always be a once in a lifetime experience that I will remember all my life.
Today’s eclipse is a once in a lifetime experience as well. The hope is for us to be the light of Christ to someone in a way that we can leave a lasting impression as well. You see, the moon is a daily reminder of a greater Gospel truth. God’s people are designed to reflect the greater light, a light that shines in the darkness. As followers we are the lessor light. We are a light in the darkness only because of Jesus. The design of who we are as God’s people is to shine in a way that the people see our good works but then give God the credit for the goodness that is demonstrated. To see us God willing they see Christ.
It should not be lost on us that Jesus Himself also represented the Father in a similar fashion as well. In John 12:44-46 Jesus cries out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” In John 14:9 when Philip asks Jesus to show him the Father Jesus immediately reminds the disciples, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father as well.” This is the same Jesus who said, “I am the light of the world.” What that means for us is spelled out in 2 Corinthians 3:18; “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Just as the moon is tied to an intricately and brilliant eco system which relies on the light of our sun so too we are part of a greater body of work by our Lord. We too rely on the Light of Christ and we too are part of the greater body of work by our Lord in the saving of many souls.
I don’t read much into eclipses except that they are a marvel and a unique conjunction of God’s creation. I do think however that the moon holds for us Christians a strong example of what we are designed to be as image bearers. We are not here independently in this world. We are part of a body as much as the moon is part of a greater celestial creation and together we groan for the Lord’s return. In the meantime, we are designed to influence those closest to us much like the moon affects the tides. We are to be a reflection of the greater light; no light of our own, but made to reflect a greater image than ourselves. And just as the light of the moon is evidence in the night that light is still shining Christians are evidence in this dark world that light is still with us. Praise God for the moon and for its humble service in our night sky.
Pastor Matthew Woods
John 3:30
PRINTABLE PDF: WDApril8.PDF
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[email protected] — (502) 523-9327
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WEEKLY DEVOTION
APRIL 2
Tuesday, APRIL 2, 2024
Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN
“The First Word”
READING: I Corinthians 15:1-8 – Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! A Blessed Easter to each and every one of you. What a marvelous day Easter is! Lent and Holy Week with all their gloom, their doleful music, and their sorrow give way to the loud and joyful sounds of celebration and victory. There’s nothing like it. Not even Christmas can match the triumphal pitch of Easter.
Our text for this morning may be more important than you’ve ever imagined. Certainly it’s St. Paul stressing the importance of Jesus’ resurrection to the Christian community. He goes on in the chapter to remind us all that if there is no truth to the Easter story, if Jesus did not physically rise from the dead, then the entire Christian message is humbug and without merit. Then our faith is worthless, and we are still mired in our sins. After this discussion he sounds the triumphal note with these words, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
What you might not be aware of is that our reading today is widely considered in scholarly ranks as the earliest written attestation of Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead. You see the learned people think that Paul wrote I Corinthians in 55 A.D. near the end his three-year stay in Ephesus. The best guesses for the writing of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) seem to point to a late 50’s, early 60’s. John is typically considered to have been written in the 70’s or even 80’s. If (and I say, if) the scholars are close to correct, St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is the first written testimony we have of the Resurrection. That makes it an important text to those who want to investigate the Easter story.
St. Paul is the only one to give us a list of the various witnesses to the Resurrection. Look back at his list and ask yourself, “Who is NOT on that list?” The answer is: the Ladies. That’s always of interest to the scholars, for the Gospel writers all give prominence to the women being the first to receive the Good News and even to be the first to see and touch the living Jesus. Paul says nothing about them. Of course the skeptics always veer towards, “Obviously, the early church was at odds over who saw Jesus and hadn’t yet solidified their story.” (To that I say, “Bologna!”)
I think that Paul’s purpose here is to establish his credentials as an evangelist. Having already brought the good news of Christ to the Corinthians, he mentions some of the most well-known and prominent eye-witnesses such as Peter, James, and “The Twelve” before listing his own testimony. He doesn’t need to mention the women because the Corinthians wouldn’t have known them, nor would they bolster his place on the list. Whatever his reasoning, the Gospels all testify to the role of the women on Easter morning.
If Paul did write this letter in 55, we realize he is doing so only some 20-25 years after the Passion and Resurrection took place. There would have been many of the eye-witnesses still living who could attest to his report or contradict it if it was not accurate. Paul is already well aware of the importance of the Easter message to the salvation offered in Jesus’ name. Without the Resurrection there IS NO CHURCH! Without the physical resurrection of Jesus we have no real hope in him. If there was a dead Jesus in some grave on the third day, then the whole thing is a sham and a shame. The skeptics and the unbelievers have always realized this, that’s why they so often attack the Resurrection. It is the column on which the Church stands or falls. Thanks be to God that we have eye-witness testimony and the martyrdom of so many of the principal leaders of the Church. That they were willing to die for the Savior attests to their absolute faith in the truth of that Sunday morning. Who is willing to die for a fabrication they know to be a lie?
Jesus lives! Paul knew it. Peter knew it. James knew it. Mary Magdeline knew it. The Twelve knew it. And because they knew it, we know it, too! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia and amen!
PRAYER:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) Please pray for our Junior Confirmands. Next weekend they participate in their Retreat. On April 21 they will make their good Confessions in the Sunday morning services. And then on the 28th, they will be confirmed in the faith in the 10:30 service. Pray for Amelia, Madelyn, Maggie, Breena, Heidi, Knox, Landon, Asa, Kellen, and Lukas as they prepare themselves for the events of this month.
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WEEKLY DEVOTION APRIL 1
Monday, APRIL 1, 2024
Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana
“The Tomb is Empty”
Empty things are usually discarded. Ever notice that. When the paint can runs out of paint what do we do with it? (Throw it away.) When tube of toothpaste has been squeezed and flattened until no more can be gotten out what do we do with the empty tube? (Throw it away).
We are not normally keen on empty things. If we were to get an empty box all for our birthday it probably wouldn’t mean much. “Yes, but look how pretty it is wrapped. I wrapped it really pretty just for you.” Yea, no. If the outside is really pretty but nothing is inside of it what’s the point? Right?
We are not really fond of things being empty. If our gas tank is empty we fill it. It’s either filled up again or the car won’t run—for most of us. If we use the expression, “my tank is empty” we may need to fill our stomachs or get an energy drink to “fill our tanks” because we may be tired. Most of us like things that are full. We fill our garages. We fill our closets. We fill our stomachs and our schedules. Let’s face it. Empty things are usually thrown out or refilled.
On Easter Sunday the Tomb that Jesus was laid in was empty. Matt 28 tells us that an angel came down from heaven and rolled away the stone. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes as white as snow. It was so overwhelming that the guards of the tomb shook and became like dead men.
When the tomb was sealed Pilate put a Roman seal on it which meant than anyone who opened did so under penalty of death. However, the angel was of a higher authority than Rome and opened the tomb for the women to see what was inside. It was empty. It was a tomb without a dead body. Oh, the grave clothes were there but no Jesus.
Maybe they got the wrong tomb. How many of us who have buried a mother, or father, or a child would ever forget where their grave was. Come on! Matthew 27:61 tell us that Mary Magdalene was watching as Joseph and Nicodemus placed Jesus in the tomb. And something tells me that the view of the angel also gave it away. John 19 mentions that all that was left when Peter and John looked inside later on was Jesus’ burial clothes. His resurrected body passed right through them but the head clothe was folded up by itself. The tomb is empty. No dead body. Jesus was not there.
Maybe Jesus wasn’t dead and just walked out on his own. Come on! Even the chief priests saw how beaten and bruised Jesus was. They watched Jesus die. They insisted on his death. Can anyone seriously believe that those men who hated Jesus so much would let him slip away. Besides the Roman soldiers did this for a living. The had crucified many. The callous way that they cast lots for Jesus’ clothes right at the foot of the cross illustrates how routine this was for them. Besides all of this they made sure Jesus was dead when one of them thrust the spear into Jesus’ side—blood and water flowed. Jesus didn’t flinch or move. He was dead. Even Mary Magdalene, goes looking for a dead body for a bit in order to put Jesus back into the grave. Everyone knew Jesus was actually dead. And even if he did survive how would he have the strength to move the large stone? Not dead. Come on! It would take a lot more faith to even consider such things as possible. Anything but the Gospel truth is an empty story.
The angel’s words say it all. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
The tomb is empty because Jesus isn’t in it anymore. He is risen! He is risen indeed! If He didn’t our faith would be futile. The empty tomb became the loudest place on the planet. It may be empty but it is full of meaning for us. Isn’t it cool! The cross which was a symbol of death becomes the symbol of life. The tomb which is a place of death becomes the place for life.
What’s amazing is how the chief priests react to the guards’ report. Somewhere they had heard Jesus’ prophecy that he would rise on the third day. They were hell-bent on keeping Jesus in the grave; posting the guards and getting Pilate to seal the tomb.
The tomb is empty. The guards undoubtably went looking for a body when they woke up. If Jesus body were to be found they would have gladly paraded it back to the tomb. But there wasn’t a body. To be fair I guess even Mary Magdalene went looking for Jesus’ body.
The guards were definitely shaken by this and reported everything to the chief priests. And what was their reaction. “Praise God! Looks like we were wrong after all. Let’s go and worship at the empty tomb!” Not even close. Nope. They devised a plan. More plotting and scheming behind closed doors. They came up with their own story. Here is what you are to say…. “Tell everyone you are really terrible soldiers who slept on the job. Then somehow while you were sleeping and not aware of anything, you saw the disciples come and steal the body.” These religious leaders filled the empty tomb with a false narrative, fake news, anything but the truth. Because the truth for these religious leaders is having to face a resurrected Jesus on judgement day. No. They were too full of themselves to allow that.
And why would the guards even go along with a plan that would ruin their careers and make them look like fools? For the same reason we all distrust politicians today—Large sums of money; bribes from lobbyists trying to get their agendas passed into law. Large sums of money were offered to the guards. And if the news reaches Pilate, which it would, Large sums of money will make him happy too no doubt. “No one will go away empty…as long as you stick to our story. Forget what you saw.” And yes, by the way those large sums of money would come from the same coffers as those thirty silver pieces came from—the temple treasury.
I wonder if at least one of those guards would at some point share with someone what he actually saw and regretted taking the money. After all who could forget the sight of an angel in all of its brilliance. I wonder if those guards second guessed themselves when they started hearing rumors of a resurrected Jesus appearing to over 500 people at one time. I wonder if any of them went to listen to Peter on Pentecost who spoke of Jesus resurrection. And then stood in wonder as thousands of pilgrims became believers and were baptized. I wonder if one of them noted Peter and John’s bravery as they spoke out in the Temple and went to prison for it– in direct opposition to the religious leaders who threatened them with the same end as Jesus. I would like to imagine at least one of those guards come to faith because the tomb they once guarded for three days was empty. I could imagine that soldier perhaps following pilgrims who went to the tomb to see for themselves. To watch their reactions and listen to some who may have spoke about seeing Jesus. The story of the religious leaders had to be bought with large sum of money and would seem so void of life while the Gospel story blesses people so freely and is full of life. The question then becomes which story will he follow? Which do we follow?
The message we know and love and believe is that the tomb is empty. What does this mean? We all know that that means. So, I think we should answer this question together because the answer applies to all of us who believe in Jesus.
It means… the Word of God is truth. The Bible is completely true.
It means… that my death has been swallowed up in victory.
It means… I am going to heaven.
It means… I am going to live in the Father’s House.
It means… no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain.
It means… that the old things have passed away and the new has come.
It means… I will be reunited with loved ones and never have to say good-bye to them again.
It means… I will see Jesus face to face.
It means… He will wipe every tear from my eyes.
The empty tomb means a lot. The cross of Jesus is where Jesus emptied Himself and took upon Himself our sin and died. Now, the tomb is empty and full of life. The empty tomb is actually very full of meaning for us. It means that Jesus’ promises are never empty. It means that our lives are full of purpose as representatives of the Gospel. It means eternal life is real and we have reason to hope. Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor Matthew Woods
John 3:30
PRINTABLE PDF: WDApril1.PDF
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/O36kbvAwfTA
[email protected] — (502) 523-9327