On Easter Sunday, the white cloth was folded up, no longer covering Jesus’ dead body. He had risen, so it no longer had any use except to serve as the surrender flag of sin, death, and the devil.
On Good Friday, before Jesus was put on the cross, he was given a scepter and mockingly hailed. The king of the world accepted subhuman treatment and shunned earthly glory in order to reign with his people in heaven.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus was within hours of death, but he offered the bread of life to his followers. He gave his body for the forgiveness of sins and the Lord’s Supper as tangible evidence of his love.
Jesus on a donkey…crowds shouting praise…palm branches on the road. The crowd on the first Paul Sunday welcomed Jesus as a hero and a king. He deserved every bit of it and oh, so much more.
A Lenten devotion by Mr. Steve Pelischek from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel.
On December 7, 1972, we saw our planet for the first time from outer space. All of a sudden, we were able to see our planet for what it really is. The second half of Romans 5 is like that. It lets us see our planet and our lives from God's perspective. Today we look for our ruin, our rescue, and our reign, and we find the best news ever in Romans 5:12-21.
A Lenten devotion by Minister for Nurture Mark Kjenstad
The Book of Romans is full of deep theology, but the word "peace" occurs for only the fourth time in chapter 5, in which Paul develops this idea: we are at ease because of what God has done in Christ. With so many unknowns in life, so many crises we cannot guarantee we will avoid, so many possibilities that are out of our hands, we can hang our hats on something. We have been justified. Let's rejoice in the blessing of peace together.
A Lenten devotion by Pastor John Boggs from Luther Preparatory School.
Irish singer-songwriter Bono wrote a song called “Grace.” Grace, she takes the blame. She covers the shame. Removes the stain . . . Grace, it's a name for a girl, It's also a thought that changed the world . . . What once was hurt, what once was friction, what left a mark no longer stings because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things. When interviewed about the song, he said, "There is atonement built in [into the world]: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Then enters Grace and turns that upside down. I love it.” So do we. Grace brings us together to hear the good news of how God, by grace, turns the world upside down. In Romans 4, Paul teaches us through Abraham. Don't expect God to jump for joy over your obedience; instead, you can jump for joy over what he's done for you. It's grace. And we’re delighted you’re here to receive it with us.