April 21, 2019 - EASTER FOOLISHNESS

Day 111 - (Today’s Bible readings: Sunday Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 16; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12)

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26 ESV)

There is a lot of foolishness associated with today. While rabbits, colored eggs, candy, and brunches are nice, but for too many people, this is all that Easter means.

Jesus had to contend with Easter foolishness later in the day on that first Easter. The Emmaus disciples foolishly thought that Jesus had been defeated on the cross. Instead, the resurrection reality is that Christ won the greatest victory of all time on that Friday we call Good Friday!

The Catechism explains His victory in this fact fashion:

Why is Christ's resurrection so important and comforting?
Christ's resurrection proves that
A. Christ is the Son of God;
B. His doctrine is the truth;
C. God the Father accepted Christ's sacrifice for the reconciliation of the world;
D. All believers in Christ will rise to eternal life.

In foolishness, the world rejects the deity of Jesus. Unbelievers do not accept His teachings to be true. Neither do they see a need for reconciliation and the guarantee of heaven to all who repent and believe. 

Paul put it this way:  "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead... For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead."  (1 Corinthians 15:19-21 ESV)

I praise You, my risen Savior, for dying for me on the cross and for rising in proof that You accomplished Your saving mission. Please use me to help others who are lost in the foolishness of this world hear of Your amazing victory for all of humanity. Amen. 

“See” you at the Communion table this Easter morning!

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!