Christ is Risen, Alleluia. Jesus lives forever. His resurrection gives evidence that death is defeated. In baptism Jesus shares His victory with you. Among God’s many blessings to you is a new and eternal life in heaven with Him.
For the liturgy Sunday we will be using Divine Setting One, beginning on page 151 of the LSB hymnal.
Hymns chosen for the day are #475 Good Christian Friends Rejoice and Sing; #585 Lord Jesus Christ With Us Abide; and #476 Who Are You Who Walk in Sorrow. Those present for communion will sing #624 The Infant Priest Was Holy Born, and #482 This Joyful Eastertide.
The Scripture lessons will be Psalm 116; Acts 2:14a, 36-41; a Peter 1:17-25; and Luke 24:13-35. One theme I will be emphasizing is the word of the Lord that “remains forever”. The word of God reveals Jesus and God’s plan to save us from our sin. It is a plan that was begun before the foundations of the world and centers on Jesus crucified and risen from the dead. Through Jesus there is forgiveness and access to God. Set aside time to consider what that means.
Psalm 116 expresses the love the psalmist has for God. The words are appropriate for a group celebration as well. God is gracious and merciful, and He has delivers His people from grief, attack, and affliction. The psalmist responds by considering the ways he might repay God. He concludes that the best ways to respond is by calling on God (an act of trust and recognition that God is alive and listening), taking part in the Passover meal (drinking from the cup of salvation) and giving thanks and offering (so that everyone would be aware of God’s goodness). What do you think of the psalmist’s response? How would you answer the question, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?”
Acts 2:36-41 includes the closing comments of St. Peter’s sermon preached after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. Peter speaks of Jesus as the Lord and Christ (anointed One from God), and points out how the crowd had participated in His crucifixion. The preaching of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit moves the people to seek relief from their guilt. Cut to the heart they cry out, ‘what shall we do?’ Peter urges them to ‘repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ He urges the people to save themselves from the crooked generation within which they live. About 3000 received his word, were baptized, and were saved into God’s kingdom that day. The power of the Holy Spirit working through baptism and the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus is God’s revealed way of bringing people into the Church.
1 Peter 1:17-25 is part of what a number of Bible scholars consider to be a sermon/letter intended to remind Christians of the benefits of baptism. Baptism is part of the redemptive work of Jesus. Dying on the cross He pays for our sin; and rising from the dead He declares victory over death. That promise is true even though you may go through suffering. In baptism God sees you as born again. Redeemed an purified by Jesus’ blood. And in baptism Jesus bestows the Holy Spirit and His benefits to each of us individually. It is a remarkable exchange. Jesus’ blood was given as a trade or ransom payment for your sin. He was put to death so you could go free. Our punishment was given to Him, and He gives us His victory. Peter urges Christians to respond by trusting Jesus in all circumstances, conducting ourselves in fear (repentant and relying on Jesus), and loving each other earnestly (the word he uses suggests giving effort and being intentional, not casual or merely going through the motions).
Luke 24:13-35 is a narrative of events that took place in the late afternoon or early evening of the first Easter. In the morning women had found the tomb of Jesus’ empty. There were various sightings of Jesus. But many of His followers were still confused and uncertain about what was happening. Two of these followers were walking home and talking, trying to make sense of all the news they had heard. Suddenly Jesus joined them on their walk, but they did not recognize Him. They let Jesus know all the things that were troubling them. He responded by pointing out that all these events had been foretold in Scripture one time or another. Actually all the Old Testament points to Jesus, and is background and preliminary indications of what He has now accomplished. Though the two disciples still didn’t recognize Jesus, they invited Him to stay with them and have supper. As He blessed and broke bread with them, they were suddenly able to recognize Him. But just as suddenly He vanished. The two hurried back to Jerusalem to report what they had seen to the disciples gathered there. Jesus had made Himself known to them in the breaking of the bread. We are invited to receive the body and blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. It is given you for the forgiveness of your sin. But in the Lord’s Supper the Holy Spirit also works to enlighten and strengthen our faith that we would recognize Jesus. Though He is not visible to our eyes, He continues to work for your salvation. Do you feel relief, and an urgency to tell others?
I invite you to let me know any prayer requests you may have, or any questions about Sunday’s Scripture readings. God bless you. Pastor Boster
