Thursday after Quasi modo geniti Sunday
Posted on April 11, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. John 20:19-23 (NKJV)
20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Devotion
In the days immediately after Easter, we rightly focus on the miracle of Christ’s resurrection and what that resurrection means for all of us. In the resurrection, we see the power of the Son of God from all eternity as He conquers death itself, and demonstrates for all time that His sacrifice is sufficient payment for all of our sins. We see Him prepare to ascend to the right hand of God the Father.
And what does He do before that? One of the things He made a point to do was to commit the work of the ministry to His apostles. Jesus Christ Himself caused quite a stir when He forgave the sins of a paralytic man (Mark 2:1-12). Now the risen Christ Himself commits the ministry of Law and Gospel, repentance and the forgiveness of sins, to His apostles. That ministry is still done by God’s will and command today, as all of our pastors and deacons preach, absolve, baptize, and administer the Lord’s Supper. This ministry does not consist in the wisdom of men. The Word of God is committed to men to carry out the word and will of the Almighty Son of God, in His name and according to His instruction.
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s Resurrection, may, by the help of Thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
