Fifth Week of Easter

May 3 - 9

Book of Leviticus, Gospel of Luke

A woman, hunched over and unable to stand up straight, suffering from an eighteen-year disfigurement. A man with severe and painful swelling in his body. According to God’s command in Leviticus, neither of them would have been allowed anywhere near the presence of the LORD, yet here is Jesus, the Son of God, approaching them, not only to speak, but to physically touch them and bring healing.

It is difficult to imagine what it must have felt like for that woman to finally stand up straight after nearly two decades of chronic pain, or to watch the swelling simply disappear from the man’s body and to see him move with ease again. As astonishing as it might be, it pales in comparison to the real point. It isn’t simply about being kind to the downtrodden; it is about Jesus’ kingdom, where death itself is conquered by his resurrection. It is a glimpse of the place he is preparing for us, where the pain and tears brought on by sin no longer exist.

In his mercy, Jesus comes to us, too: the unnoticed, the unclean, pressed down with the weight of sin and guilt. He brings his healing touch to our souls with his body and blood in the Sacrament, so that we can actually stand before him. And then, out of these tiny, unimpressive vessels grows true faith, a magnificent, verdent, unmistakable demonstration of his love and grace.

As we enter the final weeks of the Easter season, we, the healed sinners, can continue to rise up and rejoice in anticipation of the kingdom to come.

Sixth Week of Easter

May 10 - 16

Book of Numbers, Gospel of Luke

This week, lessons in discipleship. In Leviticus, God lays out his order for the priesthood and temple worship. He also reveals his plan for the long awaited capture of the promised land. But the Israelites still need stiff reminders in gratitude, humility, and trust. That line of discipline is threaded into our readings from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus illustrates the qualities and requirements of those who follow him. And they are imposing to say the least:

Recognize the immense wealth of our Lord’s blessing in our lives, yet remain willing to sacrifice all of it to follow him.

Extend God’s grace to all, especially those in dire need, yet be as shrewd in protecting it as the world is in protecting its wealth.

Humbly do your duty as a true servant of God, yet be bold and confident in executing those duties, even when you don’t fully understand them.

Sit humbly in the lowest seat at the dinner table, yet be the salt of the earth that brings the purity of Christ into a sinful world.

We may be tempted to believe this kind of discipleship is within our grasp. But an honest look at God’s law tells us a much different story. We don’t have what it takes to be sojourners, salt, doves, serpents, or prodigals.

But Jesus does. His perfect obedience, sacrifice, and resurrection empower us to be truly faithful disciples. Jesus’ ascension gives us a wonderful illustration of this. The once slain Lord, now risen, holds out his pierced hands, continuing to bless his church and every person in it until his return. With complete confidence in his blessing, we can joyfully worship him and go about his work until the day he makes it complete.