Devotions from Steadfast Lutherans

On this day, Jesus kept the Sabbath rest and extended His time in the tomb to fulfill  His words that He would rise on the third day. It was necessary that Jesus remain in the  grave on Saturday. But if baptism has joined us to Jesus’ death and resurrection, what  does this day mean for us in terms of our baptism? 

So forget how powerful your sinful flesh can seem at times and take Jesus at His  Word. His Word says that baptism joined you to His death. Your sinful nature is dying.  Jesus cannot lie. And finally Jesus will bring the sinful flesh to its end, and you will live  before Him in righteousness and purity forever.

This Thursday is called “Maundy Thursday.” The word “maundy” comes from the  Latin mandatum, which means “command.” Jesus gives us a new command on this night:  love one another.

The devil teaches heretics to scoff, “It’s  just a handful of water. What’s that going to do?” But the devil cowers before that  handful of water, because he knows that handful of water is Jesus’ handful of water. The  devil can imitate and mock baptism all he wants, but he can’t come close to it and, in the  end, must flee before it.

And so, if we’re tempted and prevail, we give thanks to Jesus for baptizing us and giving us the Holy Spirit. If we’re tempted and fail, we give thanks to Jesus for baptizing us and covering our sin with His righteousness. Therefore, at all times we thank Jesus for the glorious gift of baptism.

Dear Jesus, give us joy in the gift of baptism and bring to completion the good  work You have begun in us. Amen.

“The garments of salvation” and “the robe of righteousness” are Jesus Himself. “As  many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Jesus treads on  our garments because He brings a better one: Himself, with whom we were clothed when  we were baptized.

The Pharisees washed couches. The Greek says, they baptized couches. They obviously didn’t dunk the couches in the Jordan River...

Here the Lord shows us His two words He speaks to mankind: His Law and His  Gospel. The Law is God’s eternal will for mankind, and it shows us our sin. The Gospel  is God’s gracious promise to save us through His Son. Here God reveals His will for  man, and He shows us through simple arithmetic what He desires for us. 

Jesus is Immanuel, God with us!