Lutheran Reflections

This week, we look at Luke 24:36-49, where Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection. How does Jesus respond to his disciples' unbelief, and what are his instructions for them as he prepares for his ascension?

In this episode, we look at the Gospel reading for Easter evening, which is Luke 24:13-35. Why didn't the disciples recognize Jesus as he was talking to them? What does their confession say about the state of their faith? Why is it significant that they only recognized Jesus after he broke bread with them?

In this Good Friday episode, we look at Hebrews 4:14 - 5:10, where we are told, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." If Jesus couldn't sin, how was he tempted? Did Jesus really experience every temptation that we do?

In this episode, we look at several prophecies from from Zechariah that were fulfilled during Holy Week, including the Old Testament reading for Palm Sunday, Zechariah 9:9-12. How were these prophecies misunderstood in the New testament era, and what can these misunderstandings teach us about our own tendencies when reading Scripture?

In this episode, we look at Mark 10:32-45 where James and John tell Jesus, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." How does Jesus respond when his disciples ask him for glory or positions of power, and what does this reveal about the disciple's misconceptions of Christ's mission?

In this episode, we discuss both John 3:14-21 and Numbers 21:4-9. How does the bronze serpent made by Moses foreshadow Christ? Did Jesus die for the sins of everyone, or only the elect?

In Mark 8:27-38, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, however also rebukes Jesus when he predicts his own suffering and death. It seems that Peter knew who the Christ was, but not what he was sent to do. In this episode, we answer what it means to be The Christ, and discuss how Peter's confusion is a mirror of modern day misconceptions about Jesus's identity.

In this year's Ash Wednesday episode, we turn our attention to 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:10, where Paul tells us that "we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us." How can we be ambassadors for Christ, and how can the Church prepare her members for evangelizing?

In this Transfiguration episode, we look at 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6, where Paul says, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Who is "the god of this world" and how does he blind minds of unbelievers to the Gospel?