“He is Risen!” “He is Risen, Indeed!”

This is the welcome greeting that we all exchange on Easter morning. At least, you should; we all should.

Why? Because words change us; speech changes us. Speech reforms us. Not only did speech create the world out of nothing, but Speech is the very being of God, the Word of God, Jesus, the second member of the Trinity. When he spoke, he changed the world: the water into wine, the dead into life, the storm into whispers, the sinner into forgiven.

Which means that when you speak, being the image of God, you change things. And the most important thing to use your speech for is to change your brothers and sisters with the most important event in the salvation of mankind: He is Risen!

When you speak that, they are changed. They are confronted. They are pigeon-holed. They are made to face the gauntlet: “will I agree that Jesus is risen and alive, by saying, ‘He is Risen, Indeed!,’ or will I remain silent and not affirm the truth that the universe rests upon?”

Speak it to your brother and sister that they may affirm this truth, and be changed. That they may be encouraged, that they may find rest and life and peace and eternal salvation in the Personal One who overcame death.

But don’t stop saying it when you reach the church doors. Speak it to your family and friends and neighbors. They all need to hear the truth too, so that they may be changed.

“He is Risen!” “He is Risen, Indeed!”

Good Friday: Is it a cheerful event or a solemn time?

Some argue that it is to be cheerful; after all, it is “Good.” Jesus died on the cross procuring our salvation in time and history. Without his death, redemption and removal of God’s wrath doesn’t happen. How can we not rejoice? So rejoice together, remember his suffering, and leave being socially grateful and happy for his obedience.

Others say it should be a solemn observance. After all, eternal judgment was being dealt with. Our eternal pain or joy was at stake. Can we not for a small interval stop the noise and be quiet and still and meditate on this? On their side is the fact that while Jesus was on the cross, the land was dark for three hours. God forced men to take notice of his actions.

What to do? How to think?

The answer is our church leadership has chosen for the Good Friday observance to be quiet, reverential, solemn, and meditational. In wisdom they think it’s good for you and yours to slow down and grasp what has happened on your behalf; how Satan and death were conquered for all time and for Christ’s church. That’s not too much to ask; in fact it’s good for us to shut out the busyness for a little while so we can truly grasp what transpired and be more deeply thankful.

So leave your phone in the car, teach and train and remind your children no running, no talking, no visiting (you might try practicing this at home for ten minutes several times), and practice that yourself: come in and sit down and work through the liturgy mindfully. When it’s all over, keep your children in hand quietly and depart into your vehicles.

For sure, neither you nor them will like not speaking to their friends; but that silence may just give a glimpse of the depth of the love of Jesus for us his Bride.

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!