John 20:19-31

When things seem too good to be true, they usually are. We have to look for proof to know whether or not good news is worth believing.

Jesus' resurrection (for which there is plenty of proof) is the proof that we can believe the unbelievably good news that we have peace with God!

Job 19:23-27

The film director Woody Allen once said, "I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens." Studies have shown that most people fear death to varying degrees. This fear is so common that there is even a field of psychological study called thanatology. It examines human reactions to death and dying.

One of the biggest reasons people fear death is its apparent permanency. In our experience, dead is dead. Someone dies, and they're gone. All you have are pictures and memories. That's the way we normally think, but it is far from reality! On Easter, Christ proves to us that death isn't final or permanent at all!

Easter teaches us that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died. Just as Christ rose, "so in Christ all will be made alive" (I Corinthians 15:22). That changes everything: from the way we grieve the death of a Christian loved one, to the way we feel when our health fails, and even the way we look at our purpose in life right now.

Today we're observing the Sunday of the Passion. It's a Palm Sunday tradition to read the entire account of Jesus' passion from one of the Gospels in preparation for Holy Week. Today, as we read the Gospel of Mark, we'll see real strength displayed in our Savior as he endures suffering for us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is in turn what gives Christians themselves their strength.

John 12:20-33

It's natural to assume that Christianity is just like every other religion: just one brand of rules and thoughts about good living among many, demanding commitment and devotion from its followers. There's some truth to that. Christianity is about commitment, and it does require devotion and commitment to be a believer, but that's not the commitment that the Christian faith is built on. It's not about what you can do for God. Thinking that way just leads to exhaustion, failure, and disillusionment. No, Christianity is all about Jesus' determined commitment to God's plan of salvation, and his devoted love for you–love that drove him to the cross without a second thought?

Numbers 21:4-9

Whether they call it sin or not, every religion has the concept of sin. That means every religion proposes some solution. Outside of Christianity, those solutions boil down to the same basic ideas: Try harder! Make up for it! Just deny it!

God offers us a solution to sin that might not make sense to our minds, but one that he promises will actually work.

John 2:13-22

Person A never attends worship. He can’t see the point. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. She’s there, but her mind wanders off during the services because she views the activities of worship merely as required tasks for her to complete. Who is worse off? Rather than debating the point, maybe we can just admit that neither person A nor B really understand the true worth of worship. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Satan wants.

Many people think worship is about what we do for God, but that’s only partly true. The truth is that whatever we offer God in our worship absolutely pales in comparison to what he offers us! As we gather around his Word and sacrament, the Spirit moves us to love and trust in God above all things. Moved by the cross of Christ, we bow down before him and commune with him. That’s exactly what God wants.

Mark 8:31-38

It would make sense for us to assume that choosing the correct religion means that we should have less suffering and discomfort in our lives, but today Jesus challenges us to rethink that assumption. As awful as it was, it was necessary for Jesus to go to his cross to redeem us. As unpleasant as it can be, it is a necessary part of following Christ to be willing to carry whatever crosses we might face for our faith. The good news is our salvation doesn't depend on how well or willingly we carry our crosses. It depends entirely on Jesus!

Genesis 22:1-18

This Lent we are examining some of the assumptions we might be guilty of making when it comes to religion, even our own.

“If God loves us, why doesn’t he remove all the trials and tests and temptations that we face?” That question demonstrates the religious assumption that those things are bad. The truth is, they’re not. In the hands of a loving God, they are tools by which he refines our faith. He uses tests as a way to compel us to be less self-reliant, and instead trust in his strength. He uses trials to teach us that this broken world is not our true home. God even takes Satan’s temptations and uses them for our good!

Trials, tests, and temptations are not exceptions to God’s love. That’s a false assumption! Instead, they are examples of God’s love! Proof is that God allowed his beloved Son, Jesus, to face trials and temptations so that he might be our perfect Savior and substitute.

The potential promotion at work. The third date, which will signal if there is real potential in this relationship. The test this Friday, which will determine if you make honor roll or not. The game on Sunday with the playoffs on the line. So many things compete for our attention! It’s easy to think of religion as just another of many activities to cram into our schedules. Sometimes, perhaps, the schedule is just too crowded. 

So, Jesus lovingly whispers in our ear, “Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.” Those are the words spoken as a dead body is planted in the ground. The reality is that our time in this world is so short. After comes eternity, spent in one of two very different places. Jesus wants us to grasp that somber truth so we rethink where he should fall among our priorities. Death can come at any time. So now is the time to cling to Christ in true repentance. Not later. Now. There is no higher priority!

On Ash Wednesday, we face the uncomfortable truth because we need to wake up, repent, and cling to God’s wonderful promises.

Mark 9:2-9

Do we take it for granted that Jesus is God? Do we realize exactly the magnitude of this truth? It should terrify us that all the glory of God belongs to Jesus as true God, but because of his love, we don't have to fear. Instead, we find joy and hope even in the darkest times when we see Jesus' glory on display.