Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Luke 24:36-49.

TEXT: They shall come and proclaim His righteousness to
a people yet unborn, that He has done it (Psalm 22:31).

When Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His Twelve
and to many other disciples. Luke tells us, "He presented
Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs,
appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the
kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). These apostles boldly shared
the things they had heard and seen, and the church grew
tremendously under the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit.

By the Spirit's inspiration and guidance, the apostles
recorded Jesus' words and deeds in the four Gospels
(Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and in various letters and
writings of the New Testament. Through that word they
continue to speak of all the Lord Jesus accomplished for us.
They wanted to be sure that generations yet to come would
know the truth about Jesus' great mission of salvation.

You and I were among that people yet unborn when these
great events were accomplished for us. Yet God's Word has
come down to us, proclaiming God's righteousness, and
assuring us that our Lord Jesus Christ has done everything
necessary for our salvation. Comforted, strengthened and at
peace with God through this Good News, we cannot help but
go and proclaim God's righteous plan throughout the whole earth.

Unless Jesus comes first, you and I will also lay in the dust of
death one day awaiting the resurrection of the dead won by
Jesus Christ our Lord. May God work in us to go throughout the
world and faithfully share the Gospel. May we do this so that
many generations yet unborn may put their trust in Jesus Christ
and pass on His great salvation until the day the Lord Jesus
returns with all His angels.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, to You belongs all praise and glory. Continue
to bless and guide us Your people, that we may spread Your
story to a people yet unborn. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

The Resurrection

28 Early on Sunday morning,[a] as the new day was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the
Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat
on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as
white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw
him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he
said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said
would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And
now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from
the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see
him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very
frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give
the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus
met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his
feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be
afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see
me there.” (Matthew 28:1-10)
 
Reflection:

There are times in our lives when fear grips us and doubt clouds
are minds. We go through seasons where our present
circumstances and situations can make us forget Jesus's
promise to us.
 
In our text, Mary Magdalene and Mary came to the tomb looking
for Jesus body and, seen the empty tomb, they became afraid..
The women did not see the tomb as a fulfillment of Jesus promise
revealed to them.

But Jesus, through his angel, reassured them just as he reassures
us of what he promised-that "just as He said," He has risen. On
this Resurrection Day, Jesus invites us to come and experience
him through His death (v.6) and resurrection without fear (v.10)

Prayer:

Resurrected God, whatever the circumstances, help us to stay
faithful in the truth of your death and resurrection, knowing that
you are always with us  AMEN!

(The Covenant Home Alter, author, Darrick Tam)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that
whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that
the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

HE IS RISEN!  HALLELUJAH!

Read Psalm 23.

TEXT: All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before
Him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who
could not keep himself alive (Psalm 22:29).

This passage from Psalm 22 speaks of all who worship and
bow before Jesus our victorious King and Lord. All believers
prosper under His rich blessings, which include partaking of
His body and blood in Communion, as well as worshipping,
praising and glorifying Him who has done such great things
for us.

This day after Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, we
remember how His body rested in a borrowed tomb. Christ's
victory gives hope to us when we are going down into the dust,
soon to sleep in death for a short while just as He did, awaiting
the resurrection of our bodies. "Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

But this is not just a day for the living or the dying. Even those
who were unable to keep themselves alive, those believers who
died and whose bodies now lie in the grave, their spirits also
bow before Him and worship in His presence. They too wait the
day of the resurrection of their bodies, but they dwell in the
presence of God our Father and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. "They
shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not
strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst
of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to
springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17).

THE PRAYER:

 Lord Jesus Christ, we praise and worship You as we look
forward to seeing You face to face, bowing before You with all
the saints already worshipping before Your throne. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)