Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Father, forgive them; they do not know what they
are doing" (Luke 23:34).

In a Sunday school class, the teacher was working
with her young students on the subject of the Crucifixion.
As they were going through the Event, the teacher
asked, "Do you understand? Do you understand this
Crucifixion?" They all nodded yes. But she wanted
more, so the teacher asked, "Do you really understand
the meaning of the Cross for you and for me?" To
which one of the youngsters replied, "Why are you
trying to make it so hard? It just means that God will
do almost anything for us."

That is a beautiful answer. "God will do almost
anything for us" -- even the death of His own Son. We
would be hard put to come up with a better
interpretation of the Crucifixion.

HE WILL DO ANYTHING FOR US!

Easter Tuesday

Scripture:

Read Luke 24:36-49.
TEXT: As they were talking about these things,
Jesus Himself stood among them
(see Luke 24:36).

On Sunday evening the disciples are hiding behind
locked doors. But their fear and grief has been
replaced with joy, as they discuss Jesus' afternoon
appearances to Simon and on the road to Emmaus.
Suddenly, Jesus is standing right in their midst,
saying, "Peace be with you."

They should be overjoyed, but instead they are
terrified. He didn't come through an open door or
window. He simply appeared out of thin air. They
think they are looking upon a ghost. Immediately,
Jesus asks why they are so agitated. He stretches
out His hands and tells them to feel and know He
has flesh and bones.

Still the disciples cannot believe because their
hearts and minds are unable to grasp the magnitude
of the wonderful thing they are seeing. So Jesus
asks for some food. By eating before them He can
impress upon them that they are actually looking at
His risen body and not a ghost.

Just as Jesus unrolled the Old Testament references
about His suffering, death and resurrection to the two
walking to Emmaus, He unfolds the prophets to the
11 and those with them. He reminds them what He
had said to them when He was with them before His
death-that He would suffer, die and rise again on the
third day. Now they remember His mighty words of
prophecy. Finally, Jesus reveals their work. The
disciples are witnesses of Jesus' fulfillment of the Old
Testament prophecies, so they are to be the witnesses
who proclaim what they have seen to all nations,
beginning with Jerusalem. First, they must wait until
Jesus sends His Holy Spirit to equip them with power
from on high.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for completing all the work
required for our salvation. Help me to faithfully believe
the words You shared with Your witnesses in the
New Testament. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Easter Monday

Scripture:

Read Luke 24:13-35.
TEXT: (Jesus said) "What is this conversation that you
are holding with each other as you walk?"
(see Luke 24:17).

On this day of Jesus' resurrection, two of His followers
are walking to a nearby village called Emmaus. Jesus
begins walking with them, but they are kept from
recognizing Him. When the stranger asks them what
they are discussing, they stop dead in their tracks,
stunned that anyone coming from Jerusalem could be
unaware of the things that have happened there.

They talk about the powerful prophet Jesus, whom
they had believed to be the Messiah, about the horrible
end He met, about the chief priests who delivered Him
up to be crucified. They add the bitter disappointment
of hoping He was the One who would ransom Israel,
and the women's confusing report about angels at the
tomb.

After letting them unload their grief and sorrow, Jesus
begins to solve their mystery. They had been quick to
believe the glorious things about the Messiah, but they
stubbornly resisted the passion He predicted and of
which the prophets had spoken. The Christ first had to
pay the ransom price for sins; only then could He enter
the glory the Jews had focused on for so long.

When they reached Emmaus Jesus sat down with them
at the table. He blessed and broke the bread, and while
He was giving it to them their eyes were opened to
recognize Him. Then He vanished from their sight. They
discuss the way their hearts warmed with new faith,
assurance and joy, when they finally understood the
Messiah's work.

They then return to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples.
They are greeted with shouts: "The Lord truly arose! And
He appeared to Simon." Then the two tell their story.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for taking the time to teach Your
disciples and us about the ransom You paid to free us from
our sins. Receive our joyful thanksgiving. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)