Second Sunday in Lent
Glory be to God, that He forsook in your place His own Son, Who was humble even to the point of death on a cross. Since there was never a time when He failed to humble Himself, His blood makes payment for every failure of yours. Since He was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, your death is now an entrance to eternal life. Your sins are forgiven.
First Sunday in Lent
So, in this place every single week, God comes to you in His Word and says, “What is this that you have done?” Convicted, you modern Adams and Eves confess your sins and hear the pastor say that a Savior has fixed what you have broken. He has turned the accusation you owned onto Himself, so that God has said to Him and not you, “What is this that you have done?”—and He has faced your consequences.
Ash Wednesday
You are forgiven because of what Jesus has suffered for you. The cross on your forehead represents, now, the cross upon which your Savior died for you. You follow your risen LORD, rising from death yourself to receive the joy of His salvation. What sweet music are those words of our text when attributed to Jesus.
Quinquagesima Sunday
After the suffering and the killing that Jesus mentions, are the ones about Him rising from death. Take those words as a great comfort this morning because, having been forgiven of your sins in Christ’s sacrifice, you too will rise to be with Him. There isn’t any other way it could work out that would be better. God has it all worked out. It is worked out in the best possible way for you.
Sexagesima Sunday
God answers the question of Scripture’s effectiveness through the prophet’s words in our Old Testament lesson. He says, My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. And then He goes on to talk about His people going out in joy, being led forth in peace, flourishing eternally.
Septuagesima Sunday
You tread a long path in this world day by day, though. You’re tempted to leave it all behind, grabbing instead the world’s approval, the world’s possessions, the world’s point of view. So, your Savior feeds you here each week. He invites you over and over, to come to Him and have God’s grace and His kingdom. And it will be worth the wait. It will be worth the struggle.
Epiphany 2 Service
The one Who reads Isaiah’s words in the Synagogue in our text, reads them for the most gracious purpose. He comes in the power of the Spirit with good news for the poor in spirit—all who recognize their inherited sinful nature, and the need for God to remake them in His image. He proclaims liberty to the captives because His mission is to put Himself in their place, taking their guilt upon Himself—and their punishment.