Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday within the Octave of the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Luke 24:36-47 (NKJV)
 
24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
 
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
 
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
 
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
 
Devotion
 
There is a practice that pastors can do when visiting the flock entrusted to their care at the hospital, or in nursing homes, or simply at homes. Upon entering the room or the house, no matter the situation, the pastor greets the people with the words “Peace be unto you.” Sound familiar? It is not a coincidence that these are similar words to what Jesus spoke when He visits His disciples who were hiding for fear in the upper room. Just as Jesus is the bringer of peace between sinful man and God, so pastors, who go at His bidding and represent Him in the Office that He instituted, bring that same peace with them. Faithful pastors are equipped with the most powerful, and peaceful, thing in the universe: God’s Holy Scripture, which points to Christ Jesus.
 
Life can certainly weigh us down with its tribulations in this fallen world. We Christians, however, rejoice that God has opened our understanding so that we might comprehend His Holy Scriptures. The necessity for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day is a message of rescue, so repentance and remission of sins has been (and continues to be) preached to us in His name to bring that salvation. Thanks be to God!
 
Prayer: Almighty God, who through Thine Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life, we humbly beseech Thee that, as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; 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.

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