Pentecost Saturday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Saturday after Pentecost 

Numbers 32:1-6, 16-27      Luke 24:1-27

He is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Yes, I know, it is no longer the Easter season… or is it? Do we not live in the knowledge that Christ is risen? That the victory of the cross is an accomplished fact? That sin has been paid in full? That the sacrifice is accepted by the Father? That as we have been baptized into Christ, we also will be raised with Him on the last day?

OK, then let me say it… and hear it…

He is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

On that third day the tomb was empty, just as Jesus had told them. They had been informed of what was going to take place, but the women went there. An angel even spoke to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” (vv. 5-7)

These women returned to the disciples and informed them, they thought it was nonsense. A couple of them, in disbelief ran to the tomb to see it for themselves and went away marveling. But did they believe?

A couple of them were walking to Emmaus and discussing the events of the last few days when Jesus came to them. When He asked what they were talking about, they were astounded, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” (vs. 18)

Jesus asked them, “What thing?” They proceeded to tell Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” (vv. 19-23)

Him they did not see! They still did not believe, even though this was exactly what Jesus had foretold was going to happen – on numerous occasions – all before He was arrested in the Garden.

At that point Jesus said, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (vv. 25-26) Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (vs. 27)

Note that Jesus did not jump up and down in front of them. He did not tell them to touch Him. He did not rant about the empty tomb. He opened their minds by explaining the Scriptures – from the very beginning – as being about Himself as the Christ. It is in the exposition of the Scriptures, it is in the proclamation of Christ, that the Holy Spirit works faith.

It is in the exposition of Scriptures as the proclamation of Christ that the Spirit is still at work, building faith.  That is one of the means by which God has promised to work to build and nourish faith. Your would think that God incarnate, God in human flesh, would have done something different. He could have, for He was/is God, but He did not. He confined Himself to working in the manner that God has ordained to work, faith is built as the Word of Christ (that means, Christ for you) is delivered into hearing ears.

That is the message of the resurrection, it is all about Christ “for you.”

Christ was born of the virgin, God taking on human flesh in her womb, to be the God-man – for you.

Christ lived in human flesh, fulfilling all the Law perfectly – for you.

Christ’s perfection, His holiness and righteousness, He sacrificed – for you – by willingly going to the cross to pay the redemption price of your sins, and with His death it was “finished”, accomplished – for you.

Christ’s sacrifice was accepted by the Father as He raised Him from the dead on the third day – for you.

As Christ died and rose again from the dead, so you also, in whom He has authored and will perfect in faith, die daily to sin and are raised to new life. And He will, on the last day, raise you (and all the dead), giving unto all those whom He has perfected in faith, eternal life.

Live your life in Christ! Live in the love and peace He has give to you, in fervent love toward all those for whom He has died.

Let us pray:    Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning. Guide us that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.