Throughout the Lenten season we looked at the kings of the Old Testament and found the truth of Psalm 146: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (vs 3–4). The plans of God are eternal, gracious…

Palm Sunday is that pivotal Sunday in the season of Lent. Through the preceding five Sundays, we have lamented our sins in contrite hearts, pleading the Lord’s mercy as we joyfully look toward His coming. And Jesus does come to us—descending from heaven above (to earth I come!). But now He ascends, up to Jerusalem, the place of sacrifice. We follow our…

All what Paul talks about in this chapter is the Christian’s union with Christ through Baptism and faith. This is all part of what Christ won for us by dying on the cross and providing unity with the Holy Spirit by Baptism and faith. It is here that Paul rejoices in Christ as the fulfillment of the Law. Using the “in Christ”…

The season of Lent, as the name reminds, is the season of lengthening days, when light overrides darkness. The obvious evidence, which nature provides, foretells the final triumph when the darkness of Good Friday will yield to the glorious sun of Easter morning. Already this Fourth Sunday in Lent, though, exhorts us to “walk as children of light” by seeking what is…

The Lenten battle against sin is intensifying. Last Sunday Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John 3 about God loving the world. Here in chapter 4, that declaration is made more concrete with the people of Samaria, who were traditionally rejected by the Jews. The readings for this Sunday contrast the grumbling and unbelief of the people of Israel when they need water…