Reflections

October 23, 2026

Today's Reading: Matthew 13:54-58

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 24:10-25:10; Matthew 16:13-28

“Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:54b-56)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

After the beloved Christmas stories and Jesus in the temple as a young boy, there are only a few places in the Gospels where we get hints at Jesus’ earthly family. This is one of them. Whether the words “brothers and sisters” here refer to Jesus’ biological half-siblings or more generally to His disciples and friends (both meanings are possible), the point is that most people thought Jesus had a “normal” family—that He had been born in the natural way. Luke 3 shows us this assumption: “Jesus, when He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph…”

In our passage the problem is simply being associated with Jesus, whether they’re technically related to Him or not. It’s as if Jesus’ critics are saying, “Wait a minute. We know this guy’s family! We know where he’s from! How can He possibly be doing the works of God?” Has that ever happened to you? Perhaps you’ve had to follow in an older sibling’s footsteps, for better or worse. Maybe one of your teachers remembers teaching one of your parents! (No? Just me?) It’s sort of like “guilt by association”—in this case, the fact that Jesus’ earthly family is well-known means that Jesus can’t actually be from God… or so they think. 

It is an incredible thing to think about: God took on flesh and was born into an earthly family. But that doesn’t mean Jesus is “just some carpenter’s son”! No, God beheld our broken families, our sibling rivalries, our humble origins from this or that little town, and entered into it with us and for us. He became part of our earthly families so that we by faith might be adopted into His eternal heavenly family. You’re not technically related to Him—at least not by earthly standards. But in the kingdom of God, sons and daughters by adoption are no less than sons and daughters by birth. Read these verses again and add your own names. Are not Jesus’ brothers _____ and ______? And are not His sisters, ______ and _______ here with us? Yes. By faith, dear Christians, yes, you are.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, shepherd of Your people, You raised up James the Just, brother of our Lord, to lead and guide Your Church. Grant that we may follow his example of prayer and reconciliation and be strengthened by the witness of his death; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, WY.

Where are you looking for meaning? In Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself author Joshua Pfeiffer charts a compelling path outward: upward to God in faith and gratitude, outward to our neighbors in love and service, and forward in joyful anticipation of resurrection.

October 22, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of duties: of civil government

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 21:1-23; Deuteronomy 22:1-24:9; Matthew 16:1-12

“…there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What’s the image you get in your mind when you think of “power”? Government? Waterfalls? Electric mixers? What about “authority”? A judge’s gavel? Police officers? Parents?

Making a careful distinction between “power” and “authority” is becoming more and more important as we consider how the church is supposed to interact with the state, that is, the government. Here’s a simple way to tell them apart: “power” has to do with the ability to do something, while “authority” has to do with the right to do something. An easy illustration of this is found in confession and Absolution. Your pastor is a poor, miserable sinner just like you—he doesn’t have the power to forgive sins! But he has been given the authority to forgive sins on Jesus’ behalf: “by virtue of my office…in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ…”

When it comes to God’s Gift of government, it is important to keep in mind the distinction between power and authority. Remember that all earthly governance derives its authority from God Himself. And because we recognize that governing authority comes from God, we as Christians are called upon to be good citizens of our earthly nations. 

It’s worth being aware of where our government’s authority ends and where the power plays of sinful men begin. It's good to keep in mind that, while our government may have the power to make laws and carry out orders which contradict the Scriptures, no earthly governance has the authority to redefine God or His Word, nor indeed to tell you, dear Christian, what you must or must not believe. It’s worth knowing the contents of our Constitution and its amendments. But above all else, it’s worth remembering and rejoicing that on the Last Day it won’t be any earthly magistrate holding the gavel. It will be Jesus, the One to whom all power and authority in heaven and on earth belong, judging us and all the faithful to be righteous for the sake of His own blood.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O merciful Father in heaven, from You comes all rule and authority over the nations of the world for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well. Graciously regard Your servants, those who make, administer, and judge the laws of this nation, and look in mercy upon all the rulers of the earth. Grant that all who receive the sword as Your servants may bear it according to Your command. Enlighten and defend them, and grant them wisdom and understanding that under their peaceable governance, Your people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness, and unity. Protect and prolong their lives that we with them may show forth the praise of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, WY.

Where are you looking for meaning? In Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself author Joshua Pfeiffer charts a compelling path outward: upward to God in faith and gratitude, outward to our neighbors in love and service, and forward in joyful anticipation of resurrection.

October 21, 2026

Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 20:1-20; Matthew 15:21-39

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

There are so many things that compete for our time—there’s family and friends, schoolwork and sports, and that’s hardly scratching the surface. If you have a job, there’s another demand on your time. Do you participate in any extracurriculars? It’s already overwhelming, all the stuff we fill our schedules with—and now we’re supposed to make room for God, too? What is the best use of our time? Should we have fewer friends, do less homework, maybe quit a job so we can spend more time in the Scriptures?

The answer is… probably not, but… maybe. I’d imagine you can probably find a few minutes in your day to read the Scriptures and pray, but if not, it might be time to have that conversation with your parents, your pastor, or perhaps some trusted Christian friends. If the demands on your time begin to demand you spend less time on the one thing needful, it might be time to look carefully.

We can have these hard conversations and ask these hard questions because of who we are in Christ Jesus. Our God is even the God of time, who created time itself, who orders our days, and who in the fullness of time entered into our time that He might redeem us in body and soul for all time—even eternity! And this changes how we view time. Instead of “living each day like it’s our last,” we can live each day like it’s the first one of an eternity with Jesus and with all the faithful. Dear Christians, in Christ, you don’t have a last day!

Look carefully then how you walk—be wise in how you spend your time on this side of glory. The Scriptures you hear and read, the prayers you pray, the relationships you cultivate, the people you spend time with, the words of peace and joy and thanksgiving you express to one another, all these things matter. It matters how you walk, precisely because Christ has redeemed you for a walk with Him—both here in time and thereafter in eternity. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise—as the faithful, redeemed by God, guided by His Word and Spirit, following Him always on the way that leads to life everlasting.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty and ever-living God, You make us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable in Your sight. Let Your fatherly hand ever guide us and Your Holy Spirit ever be with us to direct us in the knowledge and obedience of Your Word that we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, WY.

Where are you looking for meaning? In Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself author Joshua Pfeiffer charts a compelling path outward: upward to God in faith and gratitude, outward to our neighbors in love and service, and forward in joyful anticipation of resurrection.

October 20, 2026

Today's Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 19:1-20; Matthew 15:1-20

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

This may be one of the most hope-filled invitations in all of Holy Scripture. God Himself is calling out to you and to the world, not to make demands but to invite you to come, to receive, to live. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!” This is not a financial transaction in the marketplace. This is a Gift from your Father in heaven. For what can be purchased with money and price but the things of this life which do not satisfy? God invites us higher. Come and receive those things which money cannot buy, which your labor cannot produce! Come to the cleansing floodwaters of Holy Baptism, the wine which carries the precious blood of our Passover Lamb, the milk which is mingled with free-flowing honey in the glorious Promised Land. 

Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good. Feast in body and soul upon the Word and even upon the Word made flesh. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Seek Me where I have promised to be for you. In the Word. At the font. On the altar. Let even the wicked of the world forsake his ways, and let the unrighteous abandon his thoughts. There is room for them, too. God will abundantly pardon. 

Dear Christian friends, the words of Isaiah 55 are not stuck in the past with Israel of Old. His covenant, signed and sealed in the blood of great David’s greater Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, is an everlasting covenant of forgiveness and life and salvation. The call rings out to you and to the world: come and receive that which is paid in full for you, freely offered to all who would believe. Come and see. Come and hear. Come, eat and drink. Come to Jesus, and live forever.

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Come to Calvary’s holy mountain, sinners, ruined by the fall; Here a pure and healing fountain flows for you, for me, for all, In a full, perpetual tide, opened when our Savior died. Come in sorrow and contrition, wounded, impotent, and blind; Here the guilty, free remission, here the troubled, peace may find. Health this fountain will restore; they that drink shall thirst no more. (LSB 435:1, 3)

Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, WY.

Where are you looking for meaning? In Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself author Joshua Pfeiffer charts a compelling path outward: upward to God in faith and gratitude, outward to our neighbors in love and service, and forward in joyful anticipation of resurrection.

October 19, 2026

Today's Reading: Matthew 22:1-14 or Matthew 21:33-44

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 18:1-22; Matthew 14:22-36

“Then [the king] said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’” (Matthew 22:8-9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I wonder what was going through their minds. Wave after wave of the King’s servants came out with invitations—the King was giving a wedding feast in honor of His Son. Such a gracious invitation, spread across the kingdom! But they wouldn’t come. They paid no attention. They went about their business. Some even rose up against the King’s messengers and killed them. What was going through their minds? Did they suppose the invitation to be fake? The King wasn’t really a King, the Son wasn’t really married, the feast wasn’t really happening? Maybe they thought they’d have time to come around to the feast later, after they took care of more important things.

Parables of feasts often end up having something to do with the Lord’s Supper. At the very least, there’s usually some symbolism that makes us think about the Lord’s Supper. This one’s a little different. While we could use this parable to talk about worthy reception of the Lord’s Supper, the clearer meaning concerns the worthy reception of the invitation to the wedding feast, that is, the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end. 

If we’re talking about Judgment Day, then worthiness is an even more important conversation. Those who were not worthy were those who rejected the invitation. We must be on guard against this! What are the things in your life that would tempt you to reject such an invitation—or to extend such an invitation to someone else? Luther reminds us that the truest preparation for the Lord’s Supper is repentance and faith, and that’s true of preparation for the heavenly banquet hall, too.

Here’s the thing. You’re not worthy. You know it as well as I do. In your sinfulness and rebellion and rejection, you cannot do anything to merit that invitation to Christ’s wedding hall. But I suppose that’s the thing about invitations. You don’t have to earn them.

The table is set. The Lamb of God has been fattened on the sin of mankind and slaughtered for your salvation. Everything is ready. It is finished. Come to the wedding feast at the altar—and receive there a foretaste of the greater feast to come.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus, source of lasting pleasure, truest Friend, and dearest Treasure, Peace beyond all understanding, joy into all life expanding: Humbly now I bow before You; Love incarnate, I adore You; Worthily let me receive You and, so favored, never leave You.  (LSB 636:5)

Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, WY.

Where are you looking for meaning? In Lift Your Eyes: How to Live Outside Yourself author Joshua Pfeiffer charts a compelling path outward: upward to God in faith and gratitude, outward to our neighbors in love and service, and forward in joyful anticipation of resurrection.

October 18, 2026

Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 17:1-20; Matthew 14:1-21

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We know from the gospels that St. Luke was not one of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, but the early church historian Eusebius wrote that St. Luke was among the seventy-two sent out ahead of Jesus in Luke 10. Paul’s letter to the Colossians refers to Luke as the “beloved physician.” As we draw these few details together, let us find in the feast day of St. Luke an opportunity to give thanks to God for the Office of the Holy Ministry and the Means of Grace, and the healing God works in us thereby. 

There is a sense in which Luke 10 speaks mostly to pastors—they are those sent out ahead of Jesus into every place the Lord wants to go. They are faithful lambs going out where there is danger of wolves. They bring little with them and depend upon what is provided by the congregation. Most importantly, they speak peace to the house they enter and heal the sick therein.

God accomplishes this by Word and Sacrament—that’s the Word of peace and the healing of the sin-sick soul. Our Augsburg Confession, article V, teaches us that this is why God gives us pastors in the first place: He sends them as Jesus once sent the seventy-two to speak, to heal, to declare the Kingdom of God. It is not because the individual men have such great heavenly power or because they’re less sinful than the rest of us—it’s because the power and authority to heal, to forgive, to grant peace all come from God and His Word!

When I, as a pastor, teach my congregation about these things, I almost always conclude this way: Jesus is at work in this place to forgive you, to heal you, to comfort you with His Word, His Spirit, and His Supper. His voice just so happens to sound like mine!

One last thing: there’s also a sense in which passages like Luke 10 speak to all Christians—according to your vocations as son or daughter, friend, student, co-worker, you, too, are called upon to bring the peace of Jesus into every place. You’re probably not called to be a pastor—yet!—but even in you, who have received the peace of Jesus, the kingdom of God goes forth into the world.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, our Father, Your blessed Son called Luke the physician to be an evangelist and physician of the soul. Grant that the healing medicine of the Gospel and Sacraments may put to flight the diseases of our souls that with willing hearts we may ever love and serve You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, WY.

Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.

October 17, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 20 - Psalm 48:1, 9-11; antiphon: Liturgical Text

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 15:19-16:22; Matthew 13:44-58

“We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!” ( Psalm 48:9-11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What does your routine look like as you get prepared to go to church on Sunday? Your week might be extremely busy, and you might be lucky to even make it to church. Blessed are you, the Lord is still there in all his mercy for you. But if you have a few minutes, especially before you go to sleep on Saturday, just take a couple of breaths and think about the steadfast love of God. And that can be, quite simply, a lot to think about. 

You can go through the steadfast love by thinking about what goes on in your typical Divine service. After the opening hymn, the first thing that happens in a Divine Service is Confession. Confession is where we come before the Lord of Angel Armies, the Creator of Space and Time, the One who Made You, and admit that we are poor, miserable sinners, who deserve nothing but hell and condemnation for our sin. We have failed to love God, we have failed to love our neighbor. If you walked into an earthly courtroom and just flat out admitted to a laundry list of heinous crimes, you would be arrested and charged. But in the presence of the very Lord of the Universe, you are declared innocent for the sake of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who has paid for all your sins for you. 

And that’s not all! The grace absolutely overflows in the divine service. You hear the readings, where God tells us of his love for his creation, ultimately point forward to the gospel reading (that’s why we stand for it) and shows his love chiefly in the person and work of his son. 

After that is the Eucharist, where Jesus comes to dwell bodily with his people, to be with them and to confer the forgiveness of sins once again. All for you. Steadfast love of the Lord? Indeed.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.

October 16, 2026

Today's Reading: Matthew 13:24-43

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 22-23, 14:28-15:15; Matthew 13:24-43

“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:28-30)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The summer we bought our house, I wanted to plant a garden. So, I got a rototiller (very fun machine by the way) and tilled up a big old patch of soil, one that got a lot of sun and lots of water when it rained. I got some good seed from the store, planted it in nice, neat little rows with little signs that declared that pumpkins grew here, and here were the carrots, potatoes, and squash. You get the picture. I knew there would be some tending, some watering, and the occasional weed-pulling. 

I was not prepared for the pigweed. 

At first, it seemed like little sprouts covering everything. I thought at first it was some kind of clover, but then it kept growing, taller and taller. I found out it was called redroot pigweed, and it completely took over. My garden was toast. In that moment, I understood a little more about the parable of the weeds. 

My garden was completely choked out by the pigweed, but God’s garden is different than my pitiful attempt. God is first and foremost a God of mercy, and it is within his character to be merciful. This is why he lets the weeds grow. He does not want to risk a single stalk of wheat being ripped up along with the weeds. 

And remember, this is a parable. This is not actually about weeds and wheat. Ordinarily, a gardener would be happy to tear that weed out by the roots, especially because the weeds steal nutrients from the crop. And if that means sacrificing a small bit of the crop, so be it. But remember, we aren’t talking about wheat. We are talking about souls. The hearers of this parable would have thought this was reckless and crazy. But God is not reckless, and God is certainly not crazy. He is so careful to keep his people that he does something that seems even wilder to the world: he sent his son, Jesus Christ. He did not send him to take over an earthly throne or to punish humanity. He sent his son to die for the sins of the world, and yes, that means your sin, too. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Of all his scattered plenteousness One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat, And bears a harvest hundredfold: “Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!” (LSB 586:5)

Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.

October 15, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of duties: what hearers owe their pastor

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Matthew 13:1-23

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13)

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb. 13:17 (What the hearers owe their pastor)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

If nobody ever told you this, being a pastor is hard sometimes. Scratch that, being a pastor is hard a lot of the time. From weeks with back-to-back funerals (yes, you read that right) to someone being incredibly nasty, sometimes being a pastor is hard. 

But being a pastor is a joy as well. Being a pastor means, quite simply, that you get to bring Jesus to people! 

So what does Dr. Luther admonish his hearers to do here? First, he cites 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. It says that those who labor (work hard) among you are to be respected. Why should someone show respect to those who labor among them and are over them in the Lord? It is because that man (the pastor) is the one whom God has called to bring Jesus to His people. Pastors are not just there for no reason. They bring Jesus to you!

So pray for your pastor! Offer words of encouragement to him. He keeps watch over you because he must give an account to the Lord on the last day. Not only that, he keeps watch over you because Christ keeps watch over you, yes, dear Christian, even you. The same Christ who promised never to leave or forsake his disciples has also promised never to leave or forsake you. The same Christ who said that he is the good shepherd, that his sheep hear his voice, has sent an undershepherd to care for you, yes, even you. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Preach you the Word and plant it home To men who like or like it not, The Word that shall endure and stand When flow’rs and men shall be forgot. Preach you the Word and plant it home And never faint; the Harvest Lord Who gave the sower seed to sow Will watch and tend His planted Word. (LSB 586:1, 6)

Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.

October 14, 2026

Today's Reading: Matthew 12:38-50

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 12:13-32; Matthew 12:38-50

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:38-40)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Signs are beneficial. If you drive or ever ride in a car, you know this. Sometimes, signs can give you directions. A sign that says “right turn only” means that the road after that goes one way only. In Florida, there is an underwater cave called the “Eagle’s Nest.” It’s one of the most notorious underwater caves, on account of its being incredibly dangerous. There is a large sign at the entrance that says "STOP." Prevent your death. Go no further. There’s nothing in this cave worth dying for. Clearly, that sign is telling you to stay out of the cave! 

But what the Pharisees are after is something altogether different. It seems like they are casually asking him to do something for them. They even phrase it so nicely, too, don’t they? “Teacher” is what they call him. They seem so polite. But underneath that politeness lurks malice. Because from the earliest days of his ministry, they are always seeking to entrap Jesus, to catch him on something where they can arrest him, haul him in, put him on trial, and put him to death. They knew what they had already seen. All of Jesus' earthly life testifies to his being the Messiah who would save God’s people from their sins. They just don’t want to believe. No doubt if they had gotten their sign, they would have wanted another, and another, and another. Because the problem is, they have no faith. 

Those are the wicked ones. They only see the sign of Jonah testifying against them and their unbelief. 

But for the ones who do believe, the ones who have had their sins forgiven by Jesus, the sign of Jonah is not a testament against them but the best news that there is. Since Christ has risen, his people will rise too!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

All the earth with joy is sounding: Christ has risen from the dead! He, the greater Jonah, bounding From the grave, His three-day bed, Wins the prize: Death’s demise— Songs of triumph fill the skies. (LSB 462:1)

Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.