Reflections

February 19, 2024 

Today's Reading: Genesis 22:1-18

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 6:1-7:5, Mark 3:1-19

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. They were on a mountain, a mountain where a sacrifice would be made. A knife lifted high above his head; Abraham was ready to strike. Isaac, laying there bound and helpless upon the makeshift altar, terrified as one can imagine, looking up at his father. In an instant, at the last moment an angel speaks “Abraham, Abraham!” God would not pour His wrath out on Isaac, not this day. He would not cover Abraham with grief at the death of his only son. Instead, God would provide for them a ram, caught in the thicket. Abraham would then give this mountain a name, “The Lord Will Provide.” 

God certainly does provide. He provides all things, as the First article of the Apostles Creed teaches us, as well as the explanation in Luther’s Small Catechism. He provides us with food and drink, house and home, land, animals, and all that we have. But He not only provides for our physical needs, but He also provides for our spiritual needs as well. He gives us what we need, the only thing that can save us from death, is someone or something to die in our place. 

They were on a mountain, a place where a sacrifice would be made. A hammer lifted high above His head; the Roman soldier struck the nail again, and again, and again. Jesus, laid there as He was crucified, looking up into the heavens, to His Father. But there would be no angel to step in, there would be no ram in a thicket, The world would go dark, Yet God provides even here, even now. Unlike Isaac, Jesus would die. Unlike Abraham, God takes on the grief of a Father who sacrifices His one and only son. God provides not just any old lamb, instead He provides the Lamb of God, the one who takes away your sin, and the sin of the whole world. The Lord provides the offering of His son, for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Alas! And did my Savior bleed,  And did my sov’reign die? 

Would He devote that sacred head  For such a worm as I?  (LSB 437:1)

- Pastor Caleb Weight is associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 18, 2024 

Today's Reading: Mark 1:9-15

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 4:1-26, Mark 2:18-28

As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending like a dove. (Mark 1:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Beginnings and endings are always the best part of a story. The beginning brings with it optimism, excitement, something new, a reason for hope. The ending, well, the ending resolves conflicts, it brings about completion, and it answers questions. A good ending brings everything full circle. In our reading today we have a beginning, not of a story, but a true account of the ministry of Jesus. In Mark, the beginning of the Gospel of Christ begins not with his birth, but with his Baptism. The beginning of the account of Jesus is a tearing open of the heavens as Christ comes from the water, heaven and earth meet in a moment of awe and wonder as the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus. With this comes the hope of all people, this Jesus is not an ordinary man, but He is the Son of God. He comes to take away the sin of the world. God dwells among men! He comes to bring heaven to earth. 

Yet this hope fades away, Jesus, the son of God encounters rejection, He encounters false accusations, He encounters people who are spiritually blind. Eventually, He will encounter physical violence, He will be arrested, beaten, flayed, and crucified. All the optimism, hope, and excitement of Jesus would be snuffed out like a wick. The disciples scattered. But something else would happen as well. Jesus would cry out, He would give up His spirit, and the temple curtain which guarded the holiest of holies would be torn. The barrier between heaven and earth, shredded. The beginning comes full circle with the end, or at least the end of Lent. 

As we prepare our hearts for the coming Passion of our Lord, we focus our hearts on Jesus who is the proclaimed Son of God, who tears open the heavens and reconciles you to God, the Father. He is the Alpha, and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. And in Him everything comes full circle, everything becomes complete. In the beginning of Mark, we get a glimpse of the end. Jesus goes before you, and He tears open the heavens, so that now, you who believe may enter in, and dwell in His presence forever.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

- Pastor Caleb Weight is associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 17, 2024 

Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1

Daily Lectionary:Job 13:1-12; John 6:1-21

For he will command his angels concerning you
 to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
 lest you strike your foot against a stone..” Psalm 91:9-11

In The Name of Jesus. How strong do you feel against Satan? How good at turning back the temptations of the demons?

Maybe we don’t want to answer that question. If I say, “I am strong against Satan, I am good at turning back temptation!”, then I’m guilty of self-righteousness, self-deception, and high arrogance before God. On the other hand, if I say, “I have no chance against Satan, temptations overcome me at every turn,” then I have left myself as powerless against the devil; I might as well give up. Either way, the Law crushes me, either for self-righteousness or for falling to temptation, both of which are about the same thing anyway.

Maybe we need a different question. How strong is Jesus against Satan? How good is He at overcoming temptation?

This question gets an entirely different answer. When tempting Jesus, Satan used the words of Psalm 91. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down [from the Temple pinnacle],” said Satan, “for it is written, ‘[God] will command his angels concerning you to guard you.’” (See Luke 4:1-13)

It was a real temptation. Jesus can “prove” His faith. Why shouldn’t Jesus trust the words of the Psalm? But Jesus turned not to the words being twisted by the devil, but to the words “It is said, ‘you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Deuteronomy 6:16)

Jesus needs to prove nothing to Satan, as if jumping from the Temple would prove His faith. Jesus turned back Satan’s temptation. Though tempted as we are, Jesus is without sin. Satan has no accusation to hold against Him, the holy Law has no guilt for Him.

Jesus did not walk into that wilderness to be tempted by Satan because it was something Jesus needed for Himself. He did it for us. He did it for every sinner, for each one of us as we daily fall to Satan’s deceit and temptations. Jesus underwent the temptations which belong to us. And He overcame it. For us. He, the righteous One now accounts His righteousness to us, even as on the cross, our falling to temptation was accounted to Him. 

How strong are you against Satan? No, rather ask, how strong is my Lord against Satan? For He is the One who forgives me, who commands His angels concerning me, and who guards me in all my ways. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Father in Heaven, let your will be done on Earth. Lead me away from temptation and deliver me from the Evil One and from all the evil he brings to the world and to me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 16, 2024 

Today's Reading: 

Daily Lectionary: Job 12:1-6, 12-25; John 5:30-47

For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. John 5:36

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus gives us so much in those few words: “the works that the Father has given me.”

What does it mean to be Son of the Father? For Jesus, it means to receive all things by way of gift. Jesus, as God the Son, has all power. Is anything outside His grasp? Yet, Jesus considers nothing according to how He can grasp it (see Philippians 2:6-7). Rather, Jesus receives all things as a gift. Before He ascends to Heaven, He tells His eleven Apostles (Judas has not yet been replaced), “all authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28). The word of Gospel Jesus speaks, this, too, is given Him by his Father (John 17:8). 

What does it mean for Jesus to be Son of the Father? It means that from His Father He receives all things not by way of power and grasping, but by way of gift.  

You are a child of the Father—a son or daughter. After all, Jesus gives you to pray, “Our Father, who art in Heaven …”

You belong to Jesus because you have been given to Him by His Father (see John 17:6). In this way, everything Jesus did to redeem you, to purchase you with His own blood and atone for your sin, to gather you into His Church—He has done it all because it was given Him to do by His Father.

So now, you are a child of the Father. Everything comes to you by way of gift. Our temptation is to think that things come to us by way of our work, by power, by what we can grasp. This is, indeed, the way of the world, which is under the Law. So in our world, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. If you don’t study, you don’t pass. If you don’t take the bull by the horns, you come up empty-handed. That is the way of the Law, and it remains thus in our world until our Lord comes again.

But in our life before the Father, our life of faith, it is all a gift. The Father gives His words to Jesus, Jesus receives the gift. Then Jesus speaks His words to us, and by those words, He makes us children of the Father. You belong to the Father.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Father in Heaven, let your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Your will is that your Son’s word go forth to all sinners. Let me daily hear your Son’s word, and let me rejoice in speaking His word Jesus to comfort my fellow Christians and, where you give me opportunity, to bear witness to my neighbor. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 15, 2024 

Today's Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism, 8th Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Job 11:1-20; John 5:19-29

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There is much negative to say. That’s hardly a secret. All the deceit, the lies, the shameful behavior, the hidden acts, not to mention, everyone around me, including my closest friends, including myself, are in sinful flesh, which means, we’re sinning—there’s much negative to say. So speak the accusation! That’ll help straighten matters out. 

Scripture names the one who is to be known for laying the accusation: Satan. The word “satan” is the Hebrew word for “the accuser.” So anytime Satan or his demons are around (and when are they not in this sinful world?), we can expect the accusation. Satan accuses Job, who belonged to the Lord of being unrighteous (see Job 1:8-10). Satan laid the accusation against Joshua (Zechariah 3:1). Is it any secret why Judas Iscariot committed suicide? With Satan “in his heart” (John 13:3), what would we expect? Satan will lay the accusation (and Judas was, indeed, guilty), but Satan will not deliver the Gospel. 

When we hear the accusation (as we should, after all, hear the accusing Law), but we do not hear the Gospel of all sins forgiven, Satan has us just where he wants us.

To speak the Law for the sake of the Law, and not for the sake of the Gospel—that is, to speak the accusation but to withhold the Gospel—is to fail to give the full testimony. The Gospel is the full testimony. The blood of Jesus atoned for the sins of Job (despite what Satan would have Job believe); the blood atoned for Joshua’s sin, and for Judas’s sin. And for your sin.

We are people of the Gospel. The Commandment tells us to not give false testimony against our neighbor. The Catechism further expounds that we are given to, “defend [our neighbor], speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.” We are able to do this because the one thing we know for certain about our neighbor’s sin is that Jesus took that sin upon himself and bore it to the cross. 

When we look at our neighbor, we may see him for his sin, his failures, his shame. Or we may see him as one redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, You bid us bend our human pride  Nor count ourselves above

The lowest place, the meanest task That waits the gift of love.

Lord, help us walk Your servant way  Wherever love may lead

And, bending low, forgetting self,  Each serve the other’s need.  Amen. (LSB 857: 3,4)

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 14, 2024 

Today's Reading: 

Daily Lectionary: Job 10:1-22; John 5:1-18

[Job said,] I loathe my very life;
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,
    but tell me what charges you have against me.
Does it please you to oppress me? Job 10:1-3

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you want to argue with God? Sounds blasphemous. Job argues with God. Scripture shows us many people of faith arguing with God. Jacob wrestled God, telling God he would not let him go. Finally God said, “Let me go …” But Jacob did not let go until God blessed him (Genesis 32:22-28). Did these men of faith sin by arguing with God? 

The key is the word “faith.” Faith holds onto God even when God seems your enemy. When everything in life is down the drain, when no blessing can be seen, faith holds onto what cannot be seen. Faith holds onto the promise. And when we don’t see the promise, we are given to argue with God, to say to God essentially, “You have given me your name as an oath, I belong to you, yet I don’t see the blessing, and, as Job said, I loathe my very life .” (Job 10:1)

Faith calls on God to once again speak His promise. To see this, we need only to look at how God teaches us to pray. Among the Psalms of praise, of thanksgiving, of extolling the Word, our Lord gives us to pray also Psalms of complaint. Look at Psalm 13, where the Lord gives us words by which we are to argue that He has forgotten us (Psalm 13:1) and to demand that He give us an answer (Psalm 13:3). 

The Lord answered Job’s prayer. Job’s account began with him giving sacrifice for his family, knowing that by the Lord’s gift of sacrifice the Lord was forgiving sins and making Job and his family holy (see Job 1:1-5). After going through much affliction, Job argues with God. God answers the argument. He calls Job to account where he was wrong, but more importantly, speaks to Job again the word of promise. Not only that, but the Lord tells Job’s friends (who have been giving Job bad counsel regarding God) to go to Job so that Job could give the sacrifice to atone also for their sins. 

Can you argue with God? Yes. Just remember Job. Use the words the Lord gives you in Psalm 13 (or other Psalms of complaint). Call on God to speak His promise to you. Ask for His Gospel. Don’t let Him go. He wants to hear your prayers. He wants to answer your complaint. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, in the midst of my doubts, my despair, my loss of hope, bless me! Let me hear your promise! Keep me steadfast in your Word. Amen.

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 13, 2024

Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Daily Lectionary: Job 9:1-35; John 4:46-54

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Freedom is a nice word. As Americans we love it. Freedom from oppression, freedom to speak your mind without fear, freedom to … —you fill in the blank.

But we have to know that Paul is speaking of something else. Something more profound, more meaningful. For this freedom comes from the Holy Spirit, our Lord. For Paul, it is freedom from what? From the veil. The veil is removed and the Christian is free, you are free!

The veil is removed and we see our Lord for who He is, the Suffering Servant who is serving us with all His gifts. The veil is removed and we see that in the death of Jesus, we have died our death to the Law. For Jesus accounts His death to us, so that in Baptism, we are united to the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus (see Paul’s extolling of Baptism in Romans 6). 

The veil is removed and our eyes of faith see that we are no longer slaves to sin, death, and the devil, but our Lord has freed us to live as His own, daily standing up in the gift of repentance, that is, standing up to live in righteousness and purity by faith. This is the work of our Lord, the Holy Spirit, who daily keeps us in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit knows your temptations and weaknesses, He knows your doubts and failings. And He wants you troubled or enslaved by none of it! So He brings you to the gifts of Christ. When you hear the words, “I forgive you all your sins,” you may know that the Holy Spirit is there, in those words, by those words, freeing you from the guilt of your sin. When you remember the promise of your Baptism, the promise that you bear the Holy Name and that in the promise of Baptism Jesus is with you, even until the end of the age, the Holy Spirit is there, in that promise, daily cleansing you and making you His own. When you hear Jesus say (through the mouth of the pastor), “Take and eat, my body; Take and drink, my blood for the forgiveness of your sin,” the Holy Spirit is there, by those words delivering the holy body and blood once shed upon the cross to your mouth now—all to forgive you, to give you life, to make you free. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Holy Spirit, my Lord, remove the veil which enslaves me to the Law. Free me from my doubts, from my despair, from the lies of the devil. Let me hear the Words of my Savior, Christ Jesus. Keep me steadfast in his Word. Amen. 

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 12, 2024 

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Daily Lectionary: Job 8:1-22; John 4:27-45

2 Kings 2:9: When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, ‘Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.’”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. That’s a strange request. What does Elisha want with those words, “a double portion of your spirit on me”? Notice that little word “on.” Why didn’t Elisha say “a double portion of your spirit in me”? 

Scripture does speak of the Holy Spirit being “in” a person. Paul speaks of this gift for the Christian: “Do you not know that … God’s Spirit dwells in you.” (1 Corinthians 3:16) In this way, David, praying for forgiveness, asks God to “take not your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:9,11) Comfort for the Christian: although we live in sinful flesh, yet our faith rejoices that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. It’s God’s promise. 

But Elisha prays for the Holy Spirit upon him (not in him). Here Scripture speaks to us not of the life of faith (i.e., “the Holy Spirit” in us), but of an office. To have the Holy Spirit upon a man is for that man to be in the Holy Spirit’s Office, bearing the mantle of proclaiming the Gospel. In this way, Jesus—who certainly has the Holy Spirit in him—speaks of the Holy Spirit coming upon him. When the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus, Jesus has now been publicly placed in the office of proclaiming the good news of salvation (Luke 4:18). How could it be any other way? When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus at His Baptism, Jesus is publicly named as God the Son (Luke 3:22). Then the prophet John is able to publicly proclaim him to be the Lamb of God bearing the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Lamb of God bearing the sin of the world—is that not the perfect description of the office Jesus is given to be our Savior? 

We now rejoice. Rejoice that all our sin was borne by Jesus as He fulfilled His office of the Lamb of God. And you now rejoice that the Holy Spirit dwells in you, creating in you a clean heart of faith. And rejoice that while every Christian has the Holy Spirit in himself or herself, the Holy Spirit is also upon those who are called to the Office of Holy Ministry, so that these called and ordained men now bear the office to proclaim Christ crucified to you for your salvation. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus, create in me a clean heart and let not your Holy Spirit be taken from me. In the midst of my sin, give to me, as you gave to David, a repentant heart to rejoice in your grace. Be with my pastor and all pastors, that they may have much joy in proclaiming your Gospel to those for whom you died. Amen.

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 11, 2024 

Today's Reading: Mark 9:2-9

Daily Lectionary: Job 7:1-21; John 4:7-26

Mark 9:6 “For he [Peter] did not know what to say, for they were terrified.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s impressive—Jesus, God the Son from Heaven, standing on a mountain in radiant white clothing like never seen before. Moses lived some 1,500 years before the Transfiguration, he’s standing there with Jesus. Elijah lived some 900 years prior; he too stands there with Jesus. Impressive.

Moses and Elijah are living! Breathing and talking. We should be comforted, there’s no death for those belonging to the promise.

But the Transfiguration hits us with a danger: The God of power and might and holiness in the flesh. Moses and Elijah at His face in conversation. Are we comforted? Peter’s not. He’s terrified. Mark 9:6: “And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ For [Peter] did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” James and John, too—terrified! Why? Isn’t it good to see Jesus has power even over death? 

We, like Peter, James, and John, stand in sinful flesh. Consciences unclean, looking to justify ourselves by the Law, yet knowing we cannot. 

The eyes of flesh are veiled. The veil is the guilt; it’s the shame covering us, not only for our own sin, but also the sin having been done to us. The veil is the unclean conscience reading everything according to the Law, finding no way out. To look at Jesus with veiled eyes is terrifying. With eyes veiled by the Law, we read the Bible and see God’s holiness and power and divinity, but not His grace. 2 Corinthians 3:15: “For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.”

This is why we can read the Bible and find only rules and regulations and more Law of how to live. Then, in our sin, we’re terrified. For sinful flesh reads Scripture in the way of the Law.

Christ lifts the veil! 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” 

“This is my beloved Son,” says the Father, “Hear him.” So we hear him. He says, I forgive you. Now, look at Him standing on the Mount of Transfiguration! See not a sight to terrify, but a Savior on His way to the cross to redeem us. For us, it is not fear, but faith. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus, by your Gospel, lift the veil from my eyes that I may hear your Word for your grace, your mercy, your forgiveness of my sins, and your promise to be with me always, even unto the end of the age. Amen. 

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

February 10, 2024 

Today's Reading: Introit Psalm 99:1–5; antiphon: v. 9

Daily Lectionary: Job 6:1-13; John 3:1-21

Introit for the Transfiguration

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain;

 for the Lord our God is holy!

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!

 He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

The Lord is great in Zion;

 he is exalted over all the peoples.

Let them praise your great and awesome name!

 Holy is he!

The King in his might loves justice.

 You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool!

 Holy is he!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

 and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

 is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain;

 for the Lord our God is holy!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “The Lord our God is holy! … Holy is he!” (Psalm 99) The Introit for our Lord’s Transfiguration is from Psalm 99. Did you notice how many times in this Introit God is named as holy?  Yet, our Lord has the words of this Psalm spoken in a world which is unholy, and to sinners—you and me—who are unholy. And that which is unholy cannot make itself holy!

This Psalm is a comfort for the Lord’s people Israel. As they live in an unholy world, and living as an unholy people, the Lord provides for them holiness. He sets a mountain to which He gathers His people, and at that mountain the Lord from Heaven has words spoken to make His people holy: “I, the LORD, who makes you holy, am holy” (Leviticus 21:8). The mountain to which the Lord is taking His people is, of course, Mount Zion, where the Lord is making His people holy, delivering to them the forgiveness of their unholiness through the blood of the sacrifice at the Temple. 

The Psalm prophecies Christ! On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John see the Holy One. He is on His way to the cross. At His Mount Zion, His holy mountain, that is, at Golgotha, the holy One, Jesus, bears all unholiness. On that mountain, on the cross He gives the sacrifice to make every sinner holy.  

This Psalm now belongs to you. To me, to every sinner Jesus gathers to His Name. In our unholy world, in our own unholy lives, Jesus brings holiness as a gift. You are now given to speak the words of this Psalm, and to pray for yourself, your family, and your neighbor, as one who has been made holy by Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Abide with us, O Lord, we pray;The gloom of darkness chase away;

Your work of healing, Lord, begin, And take away the stain of sin. Amen. (LSB 401)

-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.