This Lent text opens with some Pharisees warning Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

Kiri and I ask Dr. Chris Croghan what are the religious leaders’ motivation in warning him about a political threat?

The key is in Jesus’ response: we think it’s our action that makes us right with God, but it’s not. It’s God’s action. God doesn’t desire sacrifice, he desires your heart. We want to avoid the consequence of our sin; God wants to deliver his forgiveness and mercy.

HOLY WEEK GUIDE

“The cross stands before us, and the empty tomb beyond it. Nothing will ever be the same. The road is narrow now. The hosannas will fade like the last notes of a half-remembered song, and in their place comes a malevolent, oppressive evil. Holy Week is upon us, and there is no turning back.”

As we enter into Lent, we know that Holy Week lies on the other side of these 40 days. And though its completion is marked with triumphant joy, there is no “skip to the end” option here. The only way out is through, but it is not even our burden to bear — “We come only to hear, to receive, to be repented.”

As you prepare for Holy Week, we invite you to take advantage of our brand new, free Holy Week Planning Guide, courtesy of Pastor Mark Anderson, which includes weekly planning outlines, Bible studies, activities, liturgies, and hymns. Access the guide: https://lutherhouseofstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HolyWeekPlanner.pdf 

LENT GUIDE

As we enter the 40-day season of Lent, Luther House of Study is offering a new Lent Planning Guide from Pastor Mark Anderson. He describes, “It seems to be set up for ‘What I have to do,’ for pastors to start giving people examples of Christian living, but Lent is all about what God has done.” 

The guide offers the following free resources to help pastors preach the Gospel with clarity:

• Week-by-week reflections focused on baptism, repentance, grace, and more.
• Hymn suggestions that tie into each week’s theme.
• Greek word studies that deepen the understanding of key theological concepts.
• Practical sermon and teaching ideas to help bring the message of Lent to life.

Visit: Preparing for Lent with Pastor Mark Anderson - Luther House of Study 

GOSPEL 

Luke 13:31-35

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32 He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

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