Reflections

Today's Reading: Job 19:23-37

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-16; Hebrews 11:1-29 

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth." (Job 19:25)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. No one needs to convince you that over the last two years we have seen and experienced the sharpness of death. From the ongoing pandemic to wars being fought in Europe, we are constantly under the shadow of death in this life. Job experienced the tragic loss of his own family. He lost his possessions, his health, and even his sons and daughters, who perished when a severe storm destroyed the house where they were assembled. On hearing this news, Job felt thoroughly stripped of everything. He tore his robe, fell to the ground, and exclaimed, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised" (Job 1:21).

Left alone in his sin, his shame, and nakedness Job would surely not survive such tragic losses. Likewise we who have encountered and engaged with the sharpness of death around us are useless if we are left on our own. Job survived in the faith He had been given. A faith that confessed, "I know that my Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25). It meant that he, too, would rise again from the grave. But even more! Job was to live many more years. God gave him a second family and enabled him to see "his children and their children to the fourth generation" (Job 42:16).

God has not promised that He would end pandemics or wars or replace lost families, but He has solemnly declared, "I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). Also He says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). This grace is given to us in its fullness in Jesus Christ, His Son, who gave His life for our salvation. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide me with His eye; He lives to comfort me when faint; He lives to hear my soul's complaint. ("I Know That My Redeemer Lives" LSB 461, st.4)

-Rev. Kent Schaaf is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock, AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ's earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God's people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 16:13-35; Hebrews 10:19-39

 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the third setting of the Divine Service, during Confession and Absolution we say, "Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins. . . " (LSB, p.184). How does one draw near to God? Is this something that we can choose to do? Is it something that we have the ability to decide on? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding "NO!" We cannot decide to draw near to God, we do not have a choice in the matter, and because of our sin we don't even want to draw near to God. 

So how can we fulfill what the author of the Hebrews tells us to do? Jesus must first draw us to Himself. He has done just that through His glorious death and resurrection, won for you that first Holy Week. He poured out this Gift to you freely in your Baptism. In Holy Baptism your sins are drowned and you are resurrected in the newness of Jesus' life. The writer to the Hebrews says, "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh. . . " (Hebrews 10:19-20). 

In Holy Baptism you have the confidence and assurance that your confession of sins is heard by almighty God. In Holy Baptism you are given the confidence that your Old Adam has been drowned and that you have been resurrected to new life in Christ. In Holy Baptism you can be assured that you have been drawn near to Christ and forgiven of all your sins and cleansed to walk in the newness of eternal life. We confess our sins and we know that our Father in heaven has forgiven us of all our sins on account of Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Merciful Father, through Holy Baptism You called us to be Your own possession. Grant that our lives may evidence the working of Your Holy Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, according to the image of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for Life as a Baptized Child of God)

-Rev. Kent Schaaf is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock, AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ's earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God's people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Luke 24:36-48

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:19-16:12; Hebrews 10:1-18

And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:41-42) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus loves to eat! This is quite remarkable! The resurrected Christ breaks bread with those grieving men at Emmaus, turning their tears and confusion into hope and purpose. Then Jesus shares in eating fish with the disciples in Jerusalem, with a similar impact. For Luke, Easter is less about an empty tomb then it is about food shared around a table! Ghosts and spirits cannot eat real food. The resurrected Jesus asks for and eats this fish to prove that He is truly resurrected in body and soul. If a high point of your Easter celebration was a big family meal, how appropriate–it would appear that Jesus spent Easter Day eating, and calling the ones He loved to the place where bread is broken and food is shared.

Luke challenges us to think of Easter in terms of food. We should not have difficulty in doing that. Central to our Holy Week remembrance is that wonderful meal that Jesus provided for his followers in the Upper Room on the night before He was handed over to His enemies. We hear of Jesus sitting with the disciples on that first Maundy Thursday. Jesus took the Passover bread, blessed it in a special way, then broke the bread and shared it with His friends. In words that have become woven into the fabric of our believing hearts, Jesus gave His new covenant in His blood for us to eat, drink, and be forgiven and sustained. This great act is not only a defining memory for us, but it is the way we are fed by Jesus Himself: in, with, and under the bread and wine.

This points us to the promise we hear, again and again, in the great resurrection banquet" that no one will be hungry and all will be satisfied. The last will be first and the first will be last, and the feasting will continue forever. Christ is risen: Come and let us feast! "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8).  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Holy Thursday)

-Rev. Kent Schaaf is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock, AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ's earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God's people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 15:1-18; Hebrew 9:1-28 

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:30-31)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! The resurrection is hard to believe and hold onto. We don't see people rising from the dead in our cemeteries on a regular basis. It would be great if we could point everyone to the resurrected Christ in our midst every Sunday. Obviously we cannot do this, but nonetheless, Jesus has not left us to fend for ourselves. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:19). 

The message of the resurrected Christ is foolishness to the world and even at times to our ears as well, but we are not those who have no hope. This is why Jesus gave us His Word and even by that Word He instituted the Sacrament of the Altar for us and for our salvation. The first disciples doubted Jesus' resurrection even on that first Easter Sunday. They were sure that all was lost. Jesus opened up their minds to the Scriptures and finally revealed His victory over death in the breaking of the bread. 

Each Sunday Jesus opens your minds in the hearing of His glorious Gospel and in the breaking of the bread. As your pastor raises the bread and the cup in the Eucharist, he proclaims, "The peace of the Lord be with you always." This isn't an earthly peace or some temporary sense of being calm. This is the peace that Christ won for you by His death and resurrection. As you come to the altar you partake of the crucified and resurrected Jesus who reveals Himself for you. By this wondrous meal you are forgiven and strengthened in this Christian faith. Jesus says to you today, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Come to the Easter feast, come and see and receive Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, Paschal victim, paschal bread; With sincerity and love Eat we manna from above. Alleluia! ("At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing" LSB 633, st.4)

-Rev. Kent Schaaf is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock, AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ's earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God's people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Mark 16:1-8

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 14:10-31; Hebrews 7:23-8:13 

And they went out and fled the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them. . .  (Mark 16:8) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christ is risen! So shall you be! Historically Mark, who wrote this Gospel, has been recorded as the one who fled away naked from Jesus on the night of Jesus' betrayal. Imagine that for a minute. Seeing your Lord and Master being betrayed with a kiss of peace, put into shackles and hauled off to trial. Imagine the fear that gripped Mark and the disciples. Fear that was so intense that Mark would rather run away naked in public than be caught up with Jesus in suffering. 

Fear and trembling gripped the disciples, just as fear and trembling gripped the women on that first Easter morning. Fear and trembling grips us in the throes of life as well. Changes, decay, chaos, confusion, and death are looming all around us. Our fears can get the best of us and our trembling can cause us to run away from the Lord's work. It happened to the disciples, to the women, and it happens to you. 

Yet within all of the fear, trembling, and astonishment, the simple words of a young man ring out for us today: "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here" (Mark 16:6). The man sitting with the white robe in the empty tomb foreshadows you on the day of the resurrection of all flesh. You shall not die eternally, but you shall live. You have received the robe of Christ's righteousness that covers all your sin. You are baptized into Christ's death and resurrection. Fears, trembling, and astonishment subside as Christ tells you today, "Peace be with you!" You are forgiven, you are restored. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, and so shall you rise. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; 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)

-Rev. Kent Schaaf is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Little Rock, AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ's earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God's people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Matthew 27:57-66

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 13:17-14:9; Hebrews 7:1-22

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:3-4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When God created the heavens and the earth and everything that fills them in six days, He rested on the seventh day. He commanded that the seventh day, Saturday, be a day of rest for His people. That seventh day is called the "Sabbath," which literally means "the rest day." But the day of rest has been disfigured by sin and sinfulness. Instead of resting in the grace of God, people (including you!) have filled it with work and play and have ignored the rest that God has given you in this day. 

That's why the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is so important. On Friday afternoon, the body of Jesus was laid to rest in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. He rested there until His return to life and His resurrection. It's like creation held its breath between one week and another, between the fullness of sin and the fullness of God's grace revealed. Jesus Christ died so that you would have the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He rested, inviting you into the rest of His grace. 

How will you spend this day, the day that seems suspended between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Is today a day simply for Easter egg hunts or shopping for Easter clothes or the mundane activities of weekly life? Maybe. But make today also a day of resting in God's grace. As Jesus rested in the tomb for you, rest in the grace of Jesus Christ. He has taken your sins to the Cross, and now that He has died for those sins, you truly have rest. Today is a day of joy and true relaxation, because Jesus has died for you and given you what sinners without God's grace can't have--rest. 

Today, if the devil, the world, and your own sinful nature come to you calling you a sinner who doesn't deserve God's rest, tell them to leave you alone, because you have the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and that gives you the fullness of God's rest. After all, it is Jesus who holds all creation together and He is the One who gives you complete and total rest. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

O God, creator of heaven and earth, grant that as the crucified body of Your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with Him the coming of the third day, and rise with Him to newness of life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Holy Saturday)

-Rev. Peter Ill is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: John 18:1-19:42

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 12:29-32; 13:1-16; Hebrews 6:1-20

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:18-20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus is the firstborn. But wait, that sounds like a Christmas statement, not a Good Friday statement. But it is also a Good Friday thing to say. Not only was Jesus the firstborn of the Virgin Mary; but He is also the only-begotten Son of God. Colossians refers to Him as the firstborn from the dead. Revelation 1:5 says that Jesus is the "firstborn of the dead." Jesus is the firstborn, and Jesus died. The only-begotten of God, who is God in the flesh, died. Those are powerful words that don't always make a lot of sense to us. After all, how can God die? 

That's not something that can be explained rationally. It can only be confessed. God took on flesh, and according to His human nature, He died. That doesn't mean that just the "human part" of Jesus died: Everything that is true of the human nature of Jesus is also true of the divine nature of Jesus. Jesus died. He is the firstborn of the dead. He is the most important person, who died for you so that you are His dear child. Colossians uses the word "preeminent" to say this. "Preeminent" can be understood as "most important" or "in the most important place." 

Exodus 13 talks about the sacrifice that needed to be made for a firstborn son. It was necessary to redeem a firstborn son by the sacrifice of a lamb. You are now all the firstborn who have had the Lamb of God sacrificed for you to redeem you. That's what's necessary for you. 

That promise is unchanging. From the day that Jesus hung on the Cross until now, to the day when Jesus returns in the resurrection, nothing will change the fact that He is the One who was and who is and who is to come. As you observe Jesus' death today, remember that this reality is for you, now and always. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.         

Your cords of love, my Savior, Bind me to You forever, I am no longer mine. To You I gladly tender All that my life can render And all I have to You resign. ("Upon the Cross Extended" LSB 453, st.6)

-Rev. Peter Ill is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: John 13:1-15, 34-35

Daily Lectionary:Exodus 12:1-28; Hebrews 5:1-14 

[Jesus said][ "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today is all about commands. That doesn't sound very Lutheran, though. Lutherans like to talk about God's Law and God's Gospel. But "commandment" is law language. Even the name for this day, "Maundy" Thursday, comes with commandment language. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum (like "mandate) that means "commandment." On this day we remember that our Lord Jesus commanded us to love one another. But He also commands that we receive the specific Gift of the Lord's Supper. Jesus calls you to love one another. Love other people in Christ's Church. Love your classmates, your friends, even those you might think of as your enemies. How is that going for you? Especially now, at the end of Lent, you can probably say that you haven't always loved one another and you certainly don't deserve God's goodness or love. Instead, you deserve God's punishment and anger. You haven't kept His commandment. You need help. 

The Lord's Supper was given on the day of Passover. That's because Jesus is the Passover Lamb. You remember that from Exodus--how the lamb that was killed was drained of its blood and then cooked. Jesus shed His blood on the Cross for you, and Jesus declared that the bread that was broken is His Body and the wine in the cup is His Blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus has given this command: Take, eat; take, drink, because you haven't kept all the other commands He has given to you. In the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives you Himself. The One who washed the feet of His disciples is the One who died for you. He brings you the forgiveness that He won for you on the Cross and delivers it to you, here and now. Since today is another day of your being a sinner, this is another day for you to believe that Jesus is your Passover Lamb, that He shed His Blood for you and has given His own Body as a feast of forgiveness. Come, receive the promises of Jesus, just as He has commanded you for your good and for your forgiveness. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Maundy Thursday)

-Rev. Peter Ill is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Luke 22:1-23:56

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 10:21-11:10; Hebrews 4:1-16

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (Luke 22:3-6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Hard hearts are hard to understand. You might get this, at least a little bit, if you have ever apologized to someone and they wouldn't forgive you. That is a difficult situation. In Exodus, Moses records that there had been ten plagues calling the people of Egypt and the people of Israel to repentance. Pharaoh's heart was hardened. It even says that the Lord Himself hardened Pharaoh's heart. That can be troubling. Why would God harden Pharaoh's heart? The Lord explained why He did this in Exodus 7:3-5: "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them." The Lord did this so the Egyptians would know this was the Lord's doing, and the people of Israel would be delivered by the hand of the Lord. 

Scripture doesn't say that Judas Iscariot had a hard heart, but Luke does say that Satan entered into Judas. He agreed to turn Jesus over to the chief priests. But Satan can't do anything that God doesn't allow him to do. Why did God allow Judas to betray Jesus? Why did God let this bad thing happen to His only-begotten Son? It was in order to show His grace. It is by the betrayal and death of Jesus that hearts would be called to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. It is by the shedding of the blood of Jesus that you are made holy before God. God's work is seen even as Jesus is betrayed and as He died for you. Jesus has the opposite of a hard heart. For you, a sinner who has not obeyed God's Law, He has shown the depth of His mercy. He has rescued you from sin, death, and the devil. That's the Gospel truth. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death, and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Wednesday of Holy Week)

-Rev. Peter Ill is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Mark 14:1-15:47

Daily Lectionary:  Exodus 9:29-10:20; Hebrews 3:1-19

There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that?" (Mark 14:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever wasted something? Honestly, you've probably wasted time, and maybe you've been told you were wasting energy. Certainly, no one wants to waste money or food or anything else physical. Precious things are precious, and shouldn't be wasted. That's what the people thought had happened at the dinner Jesus attended. That ointment that could only be used once was being wasted on Jesus. When the objection was raised that the money could have been used for the poor, Jesus pointed out that the poor would always be in the world, but Jesus Himself wouldn't always be here. Putting this expensive, precious ointment on Jesus seemed to be a waste. But then Jesus said that the ointment was preparing Him for His death. 

Jesus' death seemed wasteful, too. As He was crucified and was dying on the Cross, it would have been easy to think "What a waste of a life!" There, as Jesus' blood was shed from the Cross it could certainly seem that His life, like that precious ointment, was being wasted. But Jesus' death wasn't wasted. Instead, it was the precious blood of Jesus that cleansed you from your sin and calls you to believe in His gracious Name. Jesus didn't waste His life on you. Instead, He spent His life for you. It's like the explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles Creed in Luther's Small Catechism: "I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity." You, a poor and condemned person, were saved by the holy, precious blood of Jesus and His innocent suffering and death. Now you belong to Jesus because of His goodness. Jesus' life was not wasted on you, but He is the price of your redemption and your forgiveness. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord's passion that we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Tuesday of Holy Week)

-Rev. Peter Ill is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.