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Pentecost is a great time of remembrance and celebration. The giving of the Holy Spirit upon believers in order to be lights and temples in the pagan and unfaithful Jewish culture is worth remembering. Also worth remembering is the beginning of the filling of ordinary Christians with the Holy Spirit upon baptism (Acts 2:38). The text relates that none of those 3000 baptized that day went about exercising extraordinary gifts such as healing, tongues, or prophesying. They were just normal Christians who were temples of Christ filled with his Holy Spirit.

So what did the normal baptized Christians do? Verse 42 says they devoted themselves “to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Things you can be doing today in the modern church!

The Apostles’ teaching? We have that recorded in the Acts and the Newer Testament. But are you devoting yourself to their teaching? Are you discussing their teaching in your family and with Christian friends? And are you giving yourself to the fellowship which that devotion creates? At church when the doors open? And linger to fellowship? And attend other outside gatherings and get togethers? The Christian faith is about relationships, not just propositional truth. But you can’t get to know people without being around them!

“Breaking of bread” is probably a reference to the Lord’s Supper, and in those days, daily. So keep up your weekly worship, whether at St. Mark or another church if you’re on the road or vacation, etc. Prayers? Probably those that occur in the liturgy, but there’s nothing wrong with a personal prayer life after reading the scriptures. There’s always plenty to give thanks for—like the Holy Spirit!

We are all familiar with “being in Christ” with regard to our baptism. Romans 6:3–4 makes it very clear: being baptized into Christ means being baptized into his death and being raised to newness of life. We entered into death “in Christ” and “into resurrection” in baptism. That should be a great consolation to every believer: no longer enslaved to sin, but having new life in Christ (6:5–8).

The same is true regarding the ascension of Jesus, which the church observed this past week. We, as believers, also share in his ascension into heaven to reign and rule. Paul implies in Colossians 3:1 that we sit at the right hand of God with Christ, and that being heavenly, we are to be heavenly-minded even as we live on earth. Ephesians 2:6 says it explicitly: “and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”

So you are an “ascension” person in Christ. You are heavenly bound, by and in faith and finally as part of the Bride of Christ (Revelation 20–22). You are a person who transcends the boundaries between heaven and earth in Christ. Presently, this is all by faith, for faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

But God hasn’t left us without any practice of ascension in this life. Every week, in worship, you ascend as part of the body of Christ into his heavenly presence, gathered around the throne. You are called to heaven, washed for the trip, and then having ascended, you are transformed by his word and meal. For while in heaven, you feed on Christ, that you may become more like Christ! And then Jesus sends you back down to earth to share the good news of his Lordship, and so invite the world to join you next week in our weekly ascension!

Psalm 22 is full of jewels, as Pastor Joe made clear in his preaching to us last week. While you can’t say everything in one sermon, two more jewels from this Psalm deserve a second look.

First are verses 9–10, (chiastic arrangement: womb>trust>>cast on you>womb) which make clear that God is your covenantal God right from conception, birth, and early childhood. Parents can rejoice that their God is the God of their children, long before they understand that reality. Long before they exhibit visible faith, they are trusting in their God right from the womb! That’s great encouragement in our training: these are God’s children because when he called the parents to faith, he was calling the children to be his as well in compliance with the Abrahamic promise: I will be God to you and to your children. So teach and nurture and love them confident in God’s great love and attachment to HIS children!

Secondly, these two verses, 9 and 10, are coupled with verse 11, which brings the reader back to David’s present distress: “trouble is near and there is none to help.” David shifts from children to their parents; from the younger generation to the older generation. His point? God is with you as well; in fact, he’s been with you since the womb. Meaning he won’t abandon you now in the hour of your need! And be encouraged: God has been with you your whole covenantal life! David begins to seriously press this home in verse 19: “But you, O Yahweh, be not far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!” Verse 26 wraps it up: “The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied.”

From young to old, from safe to afflicted, God is your God! Rely on him, trust in him, as he taught you from the womb. For there is no other!

I hope that you listened intently to Pastor Joe’s sermon last week on Psalm 23.

In my own ministry I find it more and more one of those “beast of burden” Psalms: it readily carries a heavy load in counseling or wisdom situations.

But Pastor Joe pointed out why it is such a great Psalm: because it is about JESUS, not some distant and unknown Lord. The modern translations supply LORD for “Yahweh,” and so we think of someone named LORD as a person of office—a King, Knight, ruler, feudal superior, etc. Like “Lord Vader,” “Lord Farquaad,” “Lord Sauron,” etc. But “Yahweh” is God’s personal name, like Bob or Tom or Peter. Someone you know or can get to know. Someone you are to know deeply, like Jesus, your brother, your savior, your advocate.

So it’s Jesus, the God-man, and not a distant LORD, who gives you what you need, who makes you rest in peace places, who is beside you in difficult times, who does surgery on your soul, who leads you in righteous and protects you in situations of death, (“I died, and behold I am alive forevermore” Revelation 1:18). He’s the one who gives you all kinds of glorious meals, whether in worship or at a broken home. He’ll pursue you to death so that you dwell with him forever. “Further up and further in!”

The second great thing Pastor Joe did is forever remove this Psalm as just a picture with little lamb-like children all around Jesus. That’s a true picture in the Gospel’s, but this is a warrior Jesus, a fighting man, a God and savior who does all these things not only for children, but also for adults. Primarily for adults. Even really old adults

We often discuss the event of salvation, and maybe our own salvation, in a gnostic manner; we talk about “salvation” separated from history, as in the ordo salutis: calling, regeneration, repentance, faith, obedience, etc., all wrapped up in God’s electing decree (we hope!). All these things happen as points on a line hanging in space. So our discussions about salvation tend to be timeless, ethereal, otherworldly.

But that is not how the Scriptures speak about salvation. Salvation of God’s people is always in the context of a story, not philosophy. It’s always personal, not just gnostic spiritualizing. Salvation, our salvation, your salvation, is deeply rooted in history: the stories of your forebears, your experiences in life, your local home and church scene, your prayers and bible reading, your friends and enemies, the books and movies and social stuff you use for entertainment and conspiracies, etc.

Which brings us back to Eastertide and the Ascension of Jesus, recorded in the Gospels and Acts. It’s another historical example, THE example, of a King who comes and takes his place upon his throne to rule, protect, provide, and instruct his people in the way of living in the true kingdom of God. By his ascension and rule in history we are caught up into the divine Trinity, made members of a community rich in history and story and fellowship. How glorious is the Ascension of Jesus!

And you were ushered into that story and fellowship of the Ascension of Jesus and the Trinitarian fellowship by your baptism!

Which, of course, is part of your story in Jesus.

Jesus is Lord.

Jesus is King.

Jesus is my savior.

Jesus talks to me and leads me everyday.

Jesus hears and answers my prayers.

Jesus comforted me at my parent’s death.

Jesus protected me when I totaled my car today!

Jesus saved my wife during childbirth!

Jesus convicted me of my sins so that I would confess them and find forgiveness from my mother.

Jesus watched over us on our last family vacation.

Etc., Etc., Etc.,

But what do all these above, and the myriad of pronouncements and spinoffs we could construe about how Jesus interacts with us every day, necessitate?

They all necessitate that Jesus is alive. That he rose from the dead. That the resurrection of his body occurred on the Sunday morning after his death. That he was telling the truth when he told the Apostle John to “fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…” (Rev. 2.17-18). That Stephen was telling the truth when he gazed into heaven and said “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God,” and while being stoned called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7).

Your whole life is subsumed with the resurrection of Jesus. Could it be any other way? Hallelujah!

At Easter Sunday lunch, the guests sat around the table discussing the importance and benefits of the Resurrection.

“Jesus overcame death, giving us assurance we will overcome death in him.”

“He was raised that we might be justified with God.”

“He crushed the serpent’s head in his death (Gen 3.15), but in his resurrection he plundered his kingdom.”

“No resurrection, no hope for eternal life, says Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.” “Our sins were covered by his death, but in his resurrection, we are glorified with life in the Father.”

All great answers of course, leading to much discussion as well about other tangential resurrection doctrines.

But the discussion sounded like a summary of Question 62 in the “I Belong to God” catechism: “What did the death and resurrection of Jesus do for you?”

Answer: “Because I trust in the crucified and risen Jesus, I am now regenerated (which means I am born from above and share in Jesus’ resurrection life), I am justified (which means I am right with God and forgiven by him), I am adopted (which means I am God’s child and heir), I am reconciled (which means I am at peace with God and he calls me his friend), I am sanctified (which means I am a priest to God, and he promises to make me grow in holiness and obedience), and I am glorified (which means I have the Holy Spirit living in me and will be conformed to Christ’s image).

No wonder the New Testament authors talked about the Resurrection so much! Maybe you should, too!

“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!

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!