On this Palm Sunday we see the word “Rock,” which functions as the primary proper name for the God of Israel in this chapter (32:4). It is a poignant image, certainly for Moses. On two fragile occasions, the Lord provided water for the people by Moses striking a rock. On the second occasion, Moses was not supposed to strike the rock, but…

The Epistle, our preaching text, is one of St. Paul’s clearest explications of reconciliation, including what is surely one of the richest summaries of the Gospel and the sanctified life which results: “In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:19). Link to Service video…

The Gospel, our text this week, actually precedes last week’s Gospel, Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem (Lk 13:31–35). In that lesson, Jesus faced confrontations over the message about repentance and perishing that He preached at the beginning of chapter 13, this week’s Gospel. This week’s hard words will often bring opposition, but their purpose is that sinners repent, be forgiven, and thus be…

On this day, Christians continue their annual journey into the depths of Lent. On this Second Sunday in Lent, we descend deeper in our journey into a world of spiritual poverty and desolation. In particular, we see the desolation wreaked by rejecting God’s Word—preached and incarnate: “This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant” (Jeremiah 26:9,…

During the season of Lent, the Christian returns to the wilderness and meditates upon his journey to the cross and open tomb of Jesus Christ. Since he is united to Christ through the waters of Holy Baptism, this journey involves the Christian’s own death and resurrection, dying and rising with Christ in the Sacrament (Rom 6:3–4). This faith and life therefore also…

Transfiguration is truly the bridge between Epiphany and Lent. Now, as the road to the cross nears, we are given a special glimpse of His glory and hear the voice of the Father telling us to listen to Jesus. Only in hearing and listening to Jesus, and in knowing that He is truly the One who deserves all glory, will we be…