Brothers and sisters. I encourage you to attend Bible class and worship tomorrow. The themes of life and death run through the scripture lessons for the day.
Hymns from the LSB hymnal chosen for the day: #686 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing; #552 O Christ Who Shared Our Mortal Life, (vs 1, 9-10, 4); and #754 Entrust Your Days and Burdens.
Scripture readings for the day are Psalm 130:1-8; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:1-11; and John 11:1-45.
Psalm 130 is described as a psalm of ascents, a type of song pilgrims would sing when climbing the mountain approaching Jerusalem, or when climbing stairs approaching the temple for worship. In this case the psalm is also classified as a penitential psalm, a crying out to God for mercy. Our sin would condemn us, but none of us can rightly recognize his sin. We each deserve the curse of death; stained by sin we could not safely approach holy God. But the psalmist is reminded of God’s steadfast love and mercy. So the psalmist eagerly awaits the day God completes His redemptive work. God will save you from death and give you life.
Considering the Old Testament reading: The nation of Judah had been conquered, and her citizens taken off in exile to Babylon. They are cut off from their past. They longed for their homeland and a return to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. In many ways they felt spiritually dead. Their hope was lost. In Ezekiel 37, God gives the prophet a vision of dead dry bones laying on the valley floor. The question is posed, ‘can these bones live?’ God instructs the prophet to begin preaching to the bones that they might hear the word of the Lord. As the word of God is preached, the dead dry bones are slowly brought to life. God explains that the bones in the vision are the people of Israel. Ezekiel is sent to preach to them, announcing God’s promise to restore them. Restoration includes a return to their homeland, but also a raising from the grave. God will give His people life, with the Holy Spirit alive in them.
Considering the Epistle reading: Jesus satisfies God’s requirement of the Law: perfect obedience. The perfect Jesus’ was put to death to redeem you, to pay the penalty of your sin, so you are absolved/forgiven. Jesus has set you free from sin’s obligation. You are no longer under God’s condemnation. But because sin still clings to our flesh this side of heaven, we still do ungodly things we shouldn’t, and we don’t do godly things we should. This is quite a struggle for our souls. In Romans 8:1-11, Paul reminds the members of the church that they are baptized; the Holy Spirit is alive in them. Keeping our minds set on the desires of the flesh leads to death. Setting our minds on the desires of the Spirit leads to life and peace.
In the gospel lesson from John 11, Jesus raises from the dead a man named Lazarus. In this miracle Jesus demonstrates His compassion and willingness to take action to relieve suffering. In this miracle Jesus also demonstrates His divine power over death. He gives proof to His claim to be the resurrection and the life. He says, ‘whoever believes in Me, though he dies, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.’ Then Jesus asks the eternal life and death question we will all have to answer. ‘Do you believe this?’ How you answer will determine where you spend eternity—daily suffering death in hell, or alive in joy and peace in heaven. By His actions, Jesus is foreshadowing His own resurrection. He opens the grave so that death would be overcome permanently. Jesus promises eternal life to you and all who would believe in Him and His words.
COLLECT: Almighty, Gracious God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Adjust your schedules now so you can join us for the Good Friday service at noon April 7, and an Easter service at 10:30 on April 9.
Let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about Sunday’s lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
