Fifth Wednesday in Lent Devotion

Our Story                                                       Fifth Wednesday in Lent - March 17, 2021

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-49; Luke 24:1-12)

LSB 438 – A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

(Verse 4 of this week’s hymn served as inspiration for today’s devotion.)

We all have a story; events and circumstances that paint a picture of who we are and what makes us who we are. Each detail, small or large fit together. Life is a compilation of those stories and every day we interact, share, and help form each other’s stories whether we realize it or not. In our stories there are very important details, actions that we make or receive. Each one of us has a story to tell, unique as the person God created us to be. And yet there is one more story…

44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words. 9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

The very death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. See, our story does not simply stop with our death. Jesus fulfilled the promise given to Adam and Eve that God would send his Son to be our sacrifice so that no matter what we did, no matter how many times we sinned, forgiveness would be ours. And it is! We have been given forgiveness and eternal life in Christ. We have been given the promise that we too will live eternally in heaven. It is a life that someday we too will live. To me there is no better promise, no better promise fulfilled…that we have been purchased and redeemed by the blood of the lamb. A promise, by no means of our own, fulfilled. Our stories…they continue…they continue in name of Jesus Christ our Lord…Amen.

Prayer

Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Prayer from Pastoral Care Companion)

Rev. Nathan Ruback – Grace Lutheran Chapel