"Given Identity"

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

What do people think of me? This is a question that is pretty hard to avoid, because every morning we start our day by making ourselves presentable to the world. We are constantly comparing ourselves to other people's lives, bodies, possessions, and status. Our value and worth is placed in our monetary success or our education that allows us to think, if not say, well, at least I'm not like _______. All of us can fill in this blank, and we do everyday.However, this is not the life God desired for us. Before the fall, life was all about communion with God in harmony with the earth and each other. However, as Adam and Eve turned from God, life made a nasty shift from concern about God to obsession with self, which resulted in our alienation and death. But, Christ came and died for us! We have been crucified with Christ. God has given us our new identities as children of God through Baptism. In this, He forgave our rebellion against Him and turned us back to real life in Him. Our worth is not found in our relation to others and our personal success or failure, but rather in our relationship to God.As Christians, we know that living in a fallen world produces a constant temptation to turn from God back to ourselves. The Holy Spirit brings daily forgiveness through God's Word when our flesh is weak. He empowers us to live as believing and forgiven people, so that others would also learn of their true identity in God through His work in us. God uniquely uses each one of us as the world sees Christ in our given identity!

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, during this Lenten season crucify the mistaken identity that we have created for ourselves, and turn us back to our true identity in You. Forgive us daily and empower us by the Holy Spirit to live as Your children to others. Work through us and show the world our transformed lives, even as You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Written by Pastor Daniel PrughFirst Lutheran Church - Gainesville, Florida

"Jesus, Our Substitute"

March 21, 2009

Isaiah 53:4-6: - "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."


My brothers and I grew up playing soccer. My dad coached our teams, and we played many weekends and evenings. Whenever a person got hurt or exhausted from a hard play on the field they yelled out, "Coach, I need a sub!" The game would stop, and another player would take the field in the injured player's place.In a more somber way, the idea of a substitute comes into view during the season of Lent. No longer is the word "substitute" used only in sporting events. It is used to communicate with and open our hearts, minds, and souls to the reality found in Isaiah 53.God's only begotten Son was born to take our place under His Father's divine judgment. He became the Suffering Servant, standing under the guilt of the world's sins. He carried them to that fateful hill outside the gates of Jerusalem. There our Lord was crucified for our transgressions.Even as disciples of Christ, we forget the costly sacrifice made on our behalf. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."Therefore, in this season of Lent we focus on the substitution Christ made on the world's behalf. Just as verse six of Isaiah rings true in our ears, so does verse five that shares the Gospel message: "But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me for those times I take Your sacrifice for granted. Thank You for being my substitute through Your death on the cross. Strengthen my faith through the working of Your Holy Spirit in my life. Amen.

Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministry
Written by Pastor Ryan Honeycutt Redeemer Lutheran Church - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Create in me a clean heart....

MONDAY.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
– John 13:17.

On Thursday morning the disciples came to Jesus, saying: "Where wilt Thou that we make ready for Thee to eat the Passover?" And He said: "Go into the city to such a man and say to him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; and I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples." And the disciples did as Jesus had told them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the even was come, He sat down with the Twelve.

And there arose also a contention among the disciples which of them should be accounted the greatest. And Jesus rose and laid aside His garment; and He took a towel and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. Then cometh He to Simon Peter; and Peter with unto Him "Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said unto him: "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter saith unto Him: "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus answered him: "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Simon saith unto Him: "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Jesus saith unto him: "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit. And ye are clean, but not all." For He knew who would betray Him; therefore said He: "Ye are not all clean."
So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and had sat down again, He said to them: "Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (Matthew 26:17-20; Luke 22:24; John 13:1-17.)
We Christians are clean through faith in Christ. He merely needs forgive us the sins which defile us on our journey through this life. And this He gladly does. And so we Christians must also be kind to one another, and willingly forgive one another, and serve one another in every way. If we know these things, happy are we if we do them.

PRAYER. – Lord Jesus, my Savior, I thank You that by Your blood You have cleansed me of all my sins, and that You richly and daily forgive me all my sins. Grant me Your Holy Spirit that I may prove myself Your disciple - gladly forgiving my neighbor when he has offended me, and loving and serving him. Amen.

The Father's Love

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say: "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord". – Matthew 23:37-39.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by preaching and working miracles, had done so much for the people of Jerusalem in order to reveal Himself to them; but He had always been rejected. On this Tuesday in Holy Week, in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people had continually harassed and tempted Him. They even held counsel on how to kill Him. So now, in the presence of all the people, powerfully and repeatedly, Jesus cried woe upon these murderous hypocrites.

At last He said: "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets and wise men and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation."

And then He pronounced upon the whole of Jerusalem, encrusted in unbelief, self-righteousness, and carnal-mindedness, the stirring as well as portentous words written above. Yea, He often would have gathered Jerusalem, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings; but they would not. As Jerusalem had always been a murderess of prophets, so even now it brooded murder against Him and His witnesses. Therefore an end must be made of Jerusalem and of the temple and of the service and of the people. And Him, the Savior, they were not to see henceforth, not until they shall see and hear Him on Judgment Day, when, with gnashing of their teeth, they shall be constrained to confess that it is He to whom they must say: "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23.)

This text serves as a reminder for all Christians how much the Lord does love us. That despite our continual rebellion He still comes to us and offers forgiveness and salvation. However, these days of grace will one day come to an end. Judgement Day will come and those who, like the ancient Israelites, reject Jesus and His offer of free salvation will be punished. As the Lenten season approaches we turn our attention towards Calvary and the empty grave, but as we do so we should also think about those around us that are rejecting God's grace. If judgement were to come today where would they be eternally? Use today to share the gospel and invite your loved one to find comfort in the loving arms of Jesus.

PRAYER. – Lord Jesus, I thank You that – through Your Gospel – You have taken me under Your saving wings and to this point have kept me there! Govern me, I implore You, by Your Holy Spirit, lest, after all, I reject such grace. Grant that I may appreciate the same ever more, and accept it ever more thankfully, gladly hearing and learning Your precious Word, living according to it, and being governed by it, to the end that now I may know You to be my gracious Savior, and when You shall come again, that then I may enter the eternal mansions with You. Amen.

Hymn 33, 8.
Lord Jesus, who dost love me,

O spread Thy wings above me,
And shield me from alarm!

Though Satan would devour me;
Let angel-guards sing o’er me:
“This child of God shall meet no harm!”

I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior.
– Isaiah 43:11.

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, trying Him, and saying: "Master, which is the great commandment of the Law?" Jesus said unto him: "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets." So instead of walking into the open trap, and setting one commandment above the other, our Lord recited the sum of all commandments and of all their explanations, which is the love toward God and toward the neighbor. But who dare boast of this love? Who can thereby become righteous before God and be saved? Not one. – Now, while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them: "What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said unto Him: "The son of David." He said unto them: "How, then, doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying: The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on my right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? If David, then, called Him Lord, how is He his son? " And no man was able to answer Him a word. And the trials were at an end. (Matthew 22, 34-46.)

True, Christ is the son of David. But at the same time Christ is He who through the prophet said: " I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior." And Jesus is the Lord who became David's son and our only Savior. And He, through His vicarious life, suffering, death, and resurrection, procured for us that righteousness which we sinners could never bring about by the fulfillment of the Law. Let us look to Him in faith, then shall we be righteous before God and obtain life eternal.

PRAYER. – O Jesus Christ, my Lord and God – Lord and God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and David, and of all who in all ages desired Your salvation – I give thanks to You, for You have kept Your gracious Word, and by Your salutary birth and by Your bitter suffering and death did make Yourself our Savior. Truly, besides You there is no Savior. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit I may bow my knees before You in firm confidence, and be and remain a partaker of Your salvation, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost are true God, blessed forever. Amen.

Hymn 93, 3. 4.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him, who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, Whom David Lord did call;
The God incarnate, Man divine; And crown Him Lord of all!

These devotions are adapted from Crumbs by C. M. Zorn (1914).
The hymn stanzas are from Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1918).
The illustration is from The Doré Bible Gallery (circa 1885).

Life in Christ

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.– Matthew 22:32.

On Tuesday, in the temple, our Lord was tried and tempted a great deal by His enemies, the hardened Pharisees and Sadducees. The latter, who said that there is no resurrection, came and asked Him, saying: "Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren; and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother; likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her." Jesus answered and said unto them: "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:23-32.)

If through faith in your Savior you are a child of God, so that God is your God and Father, then God will not leave you in death, but raise you from the dead; for He will not be the God and Father of the dead, but of the living. This is what Jesus Christ has taught, and His Word – also in many ways and places – teaches the resurrection of the dead. In the resurrection, however, there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; we shall be no longer subject to the laws and regulations of this terrestrial life, for we shall have spiritual bodies. These the power of God, which is boundless, will give us. So let not the spiteful drivel of those who know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God confuse you.

PRAYER. – Grant, O faithful God, that I may be and remain Your child through faith in my Lord and Savior, depart this life in blessed peace, holding fast to Your grace, rest in my grave under Your protection, rise by Your power, and thus inherit the blessed hope – eternal life – for the sake of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, to whom, with You and the Holy Ghost, be praise, honor, and glory, now and evermore. Amen.

Hymn 534.

AND must this body die, This mortal frame decay?

And must these active limbs of mine Lie mouldering in the clay?

God my Redeemer lives, And ever from the skies

Looks down and watches all my dust, Till He shall bid it rise.

Arrayed in glorious grace Shall these vile bodies shine,

And every shape, and every face, Look heavenly and divine.

These lively hopes we owe To Jesus’ dying love:

We would adore His grace below And sing His power above.

These devotions are adapted from Crumbs by C. M. Zorn (1914).

The hymn stanzas are from Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1918).

The illustration is from The Doré Bible Gallery (circa 1885).

As long as they are free to others, you may make copies of this devotional.

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Teaching a Teacher

Bible Reading
John 3: 1-5
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, the same came to Jesus at night, and said to Him: “ Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that You do, except if God be with Him.”

By now, most of the Jewish leaders had turned against Jesus because of his cleaning out of the temple, disrupting their flow of personal and temple funds. However, Nicodemus, who we are told was a Pharisee, a deeply religious man, came to Jesus by night, seeking answers to his own heartfelt questions. Not only did Nicodemus have questions, but he was aware that Jesus' miracles proved that He came from God. There must have been a great debate in Nicodemus’ mind as he contemplated who Jesus really was. Was he a simple carpenter turned teacher, or could there be something more to Jesus. Could He be the Messiah?

Jesus tells Nicodemus that, "a man must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God." How this must have jarred Nicodemus' understanding of reality. "How can an old man be born again?", he asked. Here Jesus stretches Nicodemus' faith, by pointing not to a physical rebirth, but rather a spiritual rebirth. This second birth takes place in Baptism, when one is born of water and of the spirit.

That is why Christians today celebrate three birthdays throughout their life. The first birthday is the day of our physical birth. Our second birthday comes in the waters of our Baptism as we are born into God’s eternal kingdom. And our final birthday comes at death, when we are born into eternal life. In addition, each one comes to us as a gift from God. How can a man enter the kingdom of God? Through faith in Jesus that is delivered to us in the waters of baptism. And it is this Baptismal life that we enjoy now and forever.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the life that you have given to me. For creating me and all creatures, giving me all that I need to sustain this life. For sanctifying the waters of my Baptism so that through your Holy word my sins have been forgiven and I was made your holy child. And for the eternal life that is now mine through Jesus death and resurrection. May I forever remain a student of the faith and seek answers in your Holy Word. Amen.

Cows in Church

Bible Reading
John 2:13-17
"And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting, and when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple."

As was Jesus custom, He regularly attended the great feasts held in the holy city of Jerusalem. As the Holy city of God, the temple was the not just the center of the Jewish religious life, but it was also the very house of God on earth. During the Passover thousands of worshipers would make the long journey from across the Holy land to offer prayers and sacrifices in this special place.

But look what Jesus finds when He arrives at church. At the gates of the temple Jesus hears the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the cooing of doves, the tables of the money changers, and lost souls of so many pilgrims. That is just what Jesus saw, not to mention what it must have smelt like. The odor of the beasts, the manure, and the sweat of so many crowding around looking for the perfect offering must have been overwhelming. And this was just the entrance to the temple. Cows in Church! Can you imagine what our reaction would be today?

The problem was not just the cows in church, but it was the greed behind the whole system at work. The High Priest, his friends, and the moneychangers were making a killing fixing prices, charging extra fees, and offering unfit sacrifices all in the name of religion. And to make matters worse no one said any thing about it! God‘s sacred place had been made into a den of robbers and a common market place. But Jesus did not allow this to remain. With righteous anger, He took a cord and drove out the moneychangers. He flipped over tables and drove out the herds. This was God’s house, a place of worship and prayer not Wall Street.

What would Jesus do if he came into our churches today? Would he use the whip again to clear out our narthexes and Fellowship Halls? We must always be on guard against temptations that allow the things of this world to invade the sacred place of our churches. Worship is a time to hear the word of God and learn about God’s salvation given us through Jesus death and resurrection. When this is not the focus, we are in danger of losing focus on what is important. May God protect us from this happening!

Prayer
Lord I love the habitation of Your house and the place where you Glory dwells. Amen.

When the Wine Failed

Bible Reading

John 2: 1-11

The mother of Jesus said to Him, " They have no wine." Jesus said to her, " Woman, what have I to do with you? My hour is not yet come.".... Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water."

And they filled them to the brim . . . When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine. . .

he said . . ., "You have kept the good wine until now."

When Jesus was on earth, as it is today, a wedding was a wonderful day of joy and celebration. Among the many guests at the wedding in Cana were Jesus and his new disciples. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also there helping the other women with the meals and the entertainment. Everyone was enjoying themselves until Mary noticed the supply of wine was running dangerously low. It would be a disgrace for the family to run out of wine for their guests before the end of the celebration. Mary, seeking her Son's help, asked if He was able to help in any way.

When Jesus answers her as He does, He is stressing to her the old days, when she as His mother directed His doing, were coming to an end. Jesus had begun His public ministry beginning with His Baptism and now He is doing the work of His Heavenly Father. Mary was beginning to realize this, but Jesus words must have seemed to contain a promise, so she told the servants to do whatever Jesus might command.

Jesus commanded them to take six stone jars, which held about 20 gallons each, and fill them to the brim with water. After doing so, Jesus then directed them to take some of the water and give it to the toastmaster as a sample of what was going to be served next. Now, no one but the servants knew that what was in the stone jars was water, however when the toastmaster tasted this water now turned into wine, he commented on the fact that this was the best wine he had ever tasted.

This act is what we call a miracle, something we can not understand or explain by the ordinary laws of nature. But here in Cana, a divine power had acted and a miracle happened. This was to become the first of many such miracles performed by Jesus throughout the next three years. Though each of the miracles would be different, they all had one thing in common. They point to the fact that Jesus was God's Son who was acting on behalf of man and our salvation.

What was the result of this first miracle? For those at the wedding feast we are told their faith in Jesus was strengthened by this outward sign of Jesus' power and love. For us today we hear about this first miracle and we too should find our faith strengthened as well. This miracle of changing water into wine shows us Jesus did not frown upon our humble earthly celebrations. Rather, He takes it and, through His own presence, lifts it up using it to point toward a day when through Him all believers will celebrate the Great Wedding Feast in Heaven.

What joy it is to know that through faith Jesus is our guest at our weddings, birthdays, family dinners, and other special occasions. Blessing our time together here on earth with the sweetness of His love and the hope of future glory with Him and all believers in heaven.

Prayer

Help us, O Jesus, to believe in You as the true Son of God and the Savior of our Souls. May this, your first miracle, strengthen our faith today as we invite you to be a guest in our own homes. Bless us with your presence and your grace this day and in the days to come. Amen.

The Lamb of God

Bible Reading: John 1: 29-34

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him , and said,

" Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." (v.29)

Today, John begin his day like any other day, preaching to the people and baptizing those who heard his message and believed. That is until John saw something out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly everything halted. For the first time the prophet was silent as his eyes became transfixed on a young man approaching from the distance. Pointing to Him, John called out with all the more vigor, " Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." Every head turned to see who the Baptist was pointing out and all eyes landed on Jesus.

Why did John call Jesus " the Lamb"? To modern ears this title does not have much meaning, but to those who heard it first that day images of the Passover lamb would have come to mind. You see it was the Passover lamb on that long never to be forgotten night when God sent the last plague on Egypt that was killed to redeem God's people from their years of slavery. Did John mean that Jesus would be killed, and thereby God's people once more redeemed from bondage? Was Jesus a spiritual " Passover Lamb" of whom the first lamb was but a shadow of a great one yet to come?

Or was John referring to the lamb that was offered up as the daily sacrifice in the temple. As most Jews understood at the time this lamb was sacrificed as an atonement sacrifice for the sins of the people every night and day. Did John mean that Jesus would be sacrificed like those lambs for the sins of the people?

Those in the crowd who knew their Bible, would have also recalled the word's of Isaiah in chapter 53 which tells how God's Servant would submit to suffering and death as meekly as a lamb on account of the sins of the people so that through its shed blood healing and peace would be given to God's chosen people. Did John mean that Jesus was the one would be, " brought like a lamb to the slaughter," and "wound for our transgressions", because, " the Lord has laid on Him the sins of us all"?

My friends, the answer to all these questions is yes! John meant all of those things when he called Jesus the Lamb of God. As God's children we have heard and sung many times John's words during Lent or a Communion service. We have in faith look upon Jesus just as those who beheld him that day so long ago as the Lamb of God, who borne our sins and the sins of the whole world suffering on the cross so that through his shed blood our sins could be forgiven and the angel of Death will pass over us on the last day.

Today we thank God that He has sent that Lamb for us so that we may too look upon Jesus in faith and behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. Who takes away my sins and gives me life. May we love Him for His great love for us!

Prayer Hymn

Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain

Could give the guilty conscience peace

Or was away the stain.

But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name

And richer blood then they.

My soul looks back to see

The burden Thou didst bear

When hanging on the cursed tree;

I know my guilt was there.

Believing we rejoice

To see the curse remove;

We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice

And sing His bleeding love. Amen

Not all the Blood of Beast. Lutheran Service Book