It’s the Lenten season, and we are to be thinking about the sufferings of Jesus and be grateful for his sacrifices; even willing to pick up our own crosses and follow Him. Not sure he meant giving up Snickers, but that’s another week!

One thing we can and should and need to put off is this idea that our personal sacrifices add to or strengthen that of Christ’s. The New Testament authors are adamant that only Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God is sufficient for us men.

The Old Testament authors said the same; for instance Psalm 49, and then we’ll look at Revelation 17. Psalm 49:7–9 says “truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of his life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on and never see the pit.” See that? “Never suffice.” One man can’t die for the other and wipe out his sins; his own stand in the way. But in verse 15 there is hope: “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” The message is clear: man can’t ransom anyone, but God can, and he does, through Jesus. Romans 6:23 (you should have that one memorized!).

In Revelation 17, the Harlot/Jerusalem doesn’t believe the scriptures. She drinks the blood of the saints in hope of life. She has two cups: one full of abominations, the other the blood of the saints. She’s hoping that drinking their blood will give her life, for the life is in the blood, forbidden in the old covenant as idolatry, because the blood of goats and bulls (and even human at times) never saves. She’s drunk on the blood of saints and martyrs. So rebellious old covenant jewish leaders, the circumcision of Jews and Judaizers, hope for another way. But she gets burned with fire and disappears off the scene (17:16).

So, only the blood of Jesus covers your sins! Drink it rejoicingly in the meal!

While there is a war going on, don’t get sidetracked and miss what is really happening. And what is that? RESURRECTION!

The world in our neighborhood is going from the slumber of winter death to the awakening of spring and summer. From death to life; from brown rottenness to leafy green and purple and white and pink and yellow and…

So when you walk or drive around and see the daffodils springing up and blooming, or the Bradford

Pears and Redbuds blooming, don’t just notice the beauty. Rather, reflect on the deeper meaning: there is

life and resurrection in God’s world, and He is reminding me of this every year. It’s springtime, when

God chose to redeem/resurrect Israel out of Egypt with the Passover, setting up our Easter observance

which fulfills it all in Jesus, once and for all. Not only is the world coming back to life, but it all points to the work of Jesus and our blessings in that.

Think about verses such as Romans 4:25, “…who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our

justification.” Jesus was resurrected so you might be made right with God: so live that out by praising him for all the bloomings around you and how you enjoy favor with God the Father through Jesus’ faithfulness and obedience. Rejoice for the life of God and the life in God and tell your spouse and your kids and your friends and your neighbors how great it is to be reminded of this every year: death does not get the final word. The resurrected, life-giving Jesus does.

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

If you missed Vespers this past Wednesday, you missed some great insights into the Lord’s Prayer from Pastor Joe.

One insight is that the Lord’s Prayer is a kingdom prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he gives them a kingdom perspective prayer. First, their eyes are pointed heavenward, and then even their earthly prayers are directed to kingdom ends: give us food to do our tasks and peace between each other through forgiveness and protection from evil that would suffer the kingdom with setbacks.

Another insight is that the prayer is a “corporate” prayer, not an intensely personal prayer. It’s a prayer the church body prays, collectively. “Our Father…Your kingdom…our daily bread…our debts…lead us…deliver us.”

Further, it’s an actual “prayer.” It’s a model prayer that we can and should use to pray, as well as direction on the things Jesus would have us pray for.

Additionally, it’s not a prayer designed to curry favor with the Father by heaping up all his names and attributes and empty phrases like the Gentiles. They do that to be heard by their gods, but the Father already knows what you need before you ask him. So ask humbly, in awe that the Father is so intimately involved with our lives that he enjoys hearing the prayers of his children.

In conclusion, the Vesper’s service is a place to hallow God’s name and receive daily food!