For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the pinnacle of our faith, affirming the importance and dignity of the human body. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus honored Christ's body, countering our culture's often dismissive view of the physical form. This cultural disregard is evident in practices ranging from casual attire in public spaces to the tragic acceptance of body-altering surgeries that do not honor the body's inherent dignity. Yet, the women who first approached Jesus' tomb sought to honor His body, only to find it gloriously resurrected, affirming that our bodies too are worthy of respect and care. Christ's resurrection teaches us that our bodies are not mere vessels; they are fearfully and wonderfully made, designed for intimacy, community, and ultimately, for resurrection. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, redeemed by Christ's physical suffering and resurrection, destined for eternal glory. Thus, we are called to honor God with our bodies, which are not only integral in this life but also in the life to come, where we shall see God face to face in our glorified flesh.

Pilate's attempt to absolve himself of guilt through the symbolic act of washing his hands highlights a profound truth about human responsibility and the indelible nature of sin. Despite his repeated findings of Jesus' innocence, Pilate succumbed to the crowd's demands for crucifixion, revealing a failure to uphold justice due to fear and political calculation. This narrative serves as a mirror reflecting our own lives, where we too face moments requiring moral courage and the adherence to duty, yet often find ourselves wanting. The Lutheran teaching through the Small Catechism urges us to reflect on our roles and responsibilities, recognizing that our sins and failures are not easily erased by simple gestures or the passage of time. However, the sermon brings us to the heart of the Gospel, where the mercy of God meets us in our disobedience. Through the crucifixion of Christ, God offers a path to redemption, transforming the curse into a blessing. The blood of Christ, shed on the cross, becomes the only means by which our sins, deeply stained as they are, can be cleansed. This divine act of mercy is not just a historical event but an ongoing invitation to receive grace, to be washed clean, and to be reconciled with God, fulfilling the promise that though our sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.

Sleep, as revealed in Scripture, serves as a profound metaphor for our human limitations and God's restorative power. It teaches us humility, reminding us of our finite strength and patience, often tested by daily responsibilities and cares. Yet, sleep is also a divine gift of refreshment, where God heals and restores our bodies and minds, even as we do nothing. This pattern of rest preceding labor, as seen in the creation account, emphasizes that our work should flow from the rest God provides. However, not all sleep is restorative; the disciples' sleep during Jesus' agony in the garden was marked by sorrow, reflecting our own seasons of restless, anxious sleep filled with regrets and worries. This sorrowful sleep contrasts with the sleep of death Jesus embraced on the cross, which was not an end but a transformation, making even death a form of sleep from which we shall awaken. Through His crucifixion, where blood and water flowed from His side, Christ birthed the Church, offering us the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist as means of grace. Thus, in Christ, death becomes sleep, a temporary rest until the resurrection, teaching us to view our own death with the same peace with which we see our beds each night. As we practice this nightly, let our last thoughts be of God, confessing and entrusting our souls to Him, comforted by the promise of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

A new commandment is given to us by our Lord during the Passover meal, a command to love one another as He has loved us. This commandment is not a mere suggestion but a profound mandate that reflects the very essence of God's interaction with humanity. In the context of this meal, Jesus not only commemorates God's deliverance but also establishes the sacrament of His supper, offering His body and blood for the life of the world. This act of love is further exemplified as Jesus washes the feet of His disciples, including Judas, the betrayer, demonstrating a love that embraces even the unlovable. This washing is not just a ritual act but a depiction of Jesus taking upon Himself our sins and cleansing us, just as He humbly washed the dirt from His disciples' feet. We are called to let Jesus wash away our sins, to relinquish our burdens and accept His forgiveness and love. As we embrace this divine love, we are equipped and compelled to love others with the same depth and purity, fulfilling the commandment He has set before us. This love culminates at the table of the Lord, where we partake of His body and blood, drawing strength and joy from the very essence of His sacrificial love, enabling us to live out this love in our daily interactions.

Jesus cried out with a great voice and yielded up His spirit, marking not just a moment of agony but a profound act of divine control and authority over death itself. This powerful death was immediately followed by supernatural events: the temple curtain tearing from top to bottom, the earth shaking, rocks splitting, and tombs opening. These signs underscore that Christ's death was not an ordinary event but a cosmic victory over death. The opening of the tombs and the later resurrection of the saints signify that through His death and resurrection, Jesus has indeed defeated death, offering a foretaste of the final resurrection. This Holy Week, we remember that Christ's sacrifice was for our redemption, His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. As we anticipate His return, we hold fast to the promise that death has been defeated and that we, too, will rise in glorified bodies, free from condemnation, to live eternally with Him.

Psalm 119 serves as a profound meditation on God's Word and wisdom, emphasizing the transformative power of divine instruction in our lives. It teaches us that God's wisdom, often perceived as foolishness by the world, is manifested supremely in Christ crucified, the perfect sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world, bringing us peace with God. The psalmist also explores the role of suffering, viewing it as a form of divine discipline that reflects God's fatherly love, helping us grow and mature in faith. Furthermore, the psalm underscores the importance of humility, showing us that even in our pursuit of righteousness, we must acknowledge our continual need for God's grace, confessing our sins and depending on His steadfast love. The psalmist's plea, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant," encapsulates the essence of our spiritual journey--striving for holiness while humbly admitting our shortcomings and relying on God's mercy and redemption through Christ. This acknowledgment does not contradict our efforts to shun sin but rather aligns us more closely with God's will, as we seek to hate what He hates and love what He loves, all while recognizing our ultimate dependence on His saving grace.

Before Abraham was, I am. Today, we delve into the profound truth that Jesus Christ, in His very person, embodies the judgment of the world. This judgment is not merely a future event but is actively unfolding as Christ is preached and either accepted or rejected by individuals. This rejection of Christ equates to a rejection of God Himself, a theme vividly illustrated in our gospel text where Jesus confronts the Pharisees. Despite their harsh accusations, labeling Him a Samaritan and demon-possessed, Jesus clarifies that rejecting Him is tantamount to rejecting the Father, the ultimate judge. He offers the comforting promise that those who keep His word will never see death, transforming the dreaded end of life into a passage to eternal life, a transformation so profound that it turns death into a gateway to a fuller existence in the presence of God. This promise underscores the ongoing judgment where Christ's identity as God is revealed, particularly in His declaration, "Before Abraham was, I am," asserting His divinity and eternal existence. This assertion leads to His rejection and attempted stoning, yet it also foreshadows His ultimate vindication through His death and resurrection, affirming His identity and authority. Thus, our vindication and hope rest securely in Him, for in Christ, there is no condemnation, and in the final judgment, we will not find an accuser but our Savior who grants us eternal life.

Is it Christian to hate? This question challenges us deeply, especially when we encounter scriptural passages that speak of God's hatred towards sin and evildoers. Indeed, the Bible does not shy away from expressing God's disdain for wickedness and those who perpetuate injustice and falsehood. For instance, in Psalms and Proverbs, we see clear declarations of God's hatred towards certain behaviors and the stern warnings against those who stray from His commandments. This divine hatred is not a contradiction to God's nature as love but is a profound aspect of His justice and holiness. As Christians, we are called to hate sin just as God does, recognizing that our hatred should be directed not towards individuals per se, but towards actions and attitudes that are contrary to God's will. This understanding helps us discern true Christianity from a faux version that the world might promote, ensuring that our actions and beliefs are aligned with the scriptural truth. We must embrace both the love and the righteousness of God, learning to love what He loves and hate what He hates, always aiming to reflect His holy character in a world that often misunderstands the depth of His love and justice.

Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Today, we reflect on the profound lessons from the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, where Jesus not only addresses the physical needs of the crowd but also offers spiritual nourishment, pointing to His identity as the true bread from heaven. This miracle, occurring during Passover, connects deeply with the Old Testament provision of manna, highlighting Jesus as the sustainer not just of physical life but of eternal life through His body and blood. As we consider the ephemeral nature of worldly possessions and relationships, we are reminded that everything we have is a transient gift from God. Yet, in contrast, the gifts of God in Christ--His sacrifice, our baptism, and the promise of eternal life--are enduring and unchanging. Through these gifts, we are invited to hold loosely to the things of this world and cling firmly to the eternal, recognizing that in every circumstance, whether in abundance or in need, we are called to proclaim, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Life is paradoxically short and long, filled with battles and weariness, yet amidst this, the psalmist in his lamentation declares his unwavering adherence to God's statutes, finding joy and sustenance in His word despite feeling like a dried, brittle wineskin in smoke. This smoke symbolizes the persecution and challenges from God's enemies, yet it also serves to strengthen us. We are urged not to contribute to the burdens of each other but to share the rejuvenating wine of God's word, keeping our spirits nourished and resilient. In our trials, we are not to romanticize life or excuse our adversaries but to hold fast to the hope and promises poured into us through Christ. His eternal word and love, exemplified in His sacrifice and the hope of eternal communion with Him, fortify us against the transient struggles of life, guiding us towards wisdom and true joy found only in His enduring word.