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Reflections
Today’s Reading: Mark 16:1-8
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10-31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13
And the crowds that went before Him and who followed after Him shouted saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!! Blessed is the One coming in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The women who came to the tomb early on Easter morning expected to find a corpse. They expected to anoint the body of Jesus, weep, and then return home in grief. Instead, they heard the messenger tell the Good News. Christ is not dead! He is alive! In response to that great news—they ran away, afraid.
Death is something that all people fear. It is likely that these women had encountered the death of family or friends at some point in their lives. They did not enjoy the finality of death and the sadness of loss but were at least familiar with them. They were brave enough that morning to get up early, get the spices, and head to the tomb. But when they hear the Good News they are shaken with fear and they run.
Perhaps what scared them was not death, but the power to overcome death? For only God could do that. Only the eternal God who created life could overcome death and come back to life. The women knew that Jesus was Lord, but His resurrection brought home to them in a powerful way that to be in His presence is to be in the presence of Yahweh—the great I AM—the eternal God.
So they ran in fear, when in truth they now had no reason to be afraid. What they should have feared was death and the punishment for sin but Christ Jesus had died to forgive sins and destroy the power of death. He rose to give these women peace. The enemy was crushed. Their Lord Jesus is the risen Prince of Peace!
On this Easter Day, rejoice in the truth that Jesus rose to give you peace, too! Don’t be afraid to be in His presence. Come hear His Word at church. Remember your Baptism where He washed you clean and gave you His life. Kneel at His altar and eat and drink His Body and Blood under the bread and wine. Let Him feed you and forgive you and bless you as only He can. Don’t be afraid to come near to Him. He lives to save you and love you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Resurrection of Our Lord)
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By Higher Things®Today’s Reading: Mark 16:1-8
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10-31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13
And the crowds that went before Him and who followed after Him shouted saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!! Blessed is the One coming in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The women who came to the tomb early on Easter morning expected to find a corpse. They expected to anoint the body of Jesus, weep, and then return home in grief. Instead, they heard the messenger tell the Good News. Christ is not dead! He is alive! In response to that great news—they ran away, afraid.
Death is something that all people fear. It is likely that these women had encountered the death of family or friends at some point in their lives. They did not enjoy the finality of death and the sadness of loss but were at least familiar with them. They were brave enough that morning to get up early, get the spices, and head to the tomb. But when they hear the Good News they are shaken with fear and they run.
Perhaps what scared them was not death, but the power to overcome death? For only God could do that. Only the eternal God who created life could overcome death and come back to life. The women knew that Jesus was Lord, but His resurrection brought home to them in a powerful way that to be in His presence is to be in the presence of Yahweh—the great I AM—the eternal God.
So they ran in fear, when in truth they now had no reason to be afraid. What they should have feared was death and the punishment for sin but Christ Jesus had died to forgive sins and destroy the power of death. He rose to give these women peace. The enemy was crushed. Their Lord Jesus is the risen Prince of Peace!
On this Easter Day, rejoice in the truth that Jesus rose to give you peace, too! Don’t be afraid to be in His presence. Come hear His Word at church. Remember your Baptism where He washed you clean and gave you His life. Kneel at His altar and eat and drink His Body and Blood under the bread and wine. Let Him feed you and forgive you and bless you as only He can. Don’t be afraid to come near to Him. He lives to save you and love you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Resurrection of Our Lord)