Good Friday – A Rich Burial
The ancient Tenebrae Service dates back to the 8th century. It commemorates the sufferings and death of Christ with the progressive extinguishing of all candles until only the Christ candle remains. The fading lights symbolize the fading loyalty of the disciples in Jesus’ hour of greatest need. The six extinguished candles remind us that over the course of six hours, our sins extinguished the life of Christ who was the Light of the world. Solemn as tonight is, we do not end in despair; at the end of the service is a hint of the promised resurrection.
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- Mar 25, 2016Good Friday – A Rich BurialGood Friday – A Rich BurialThe ancient Tenebrae Service dates back to the 8th century. It commemorates the sufferings and death of Christ with the progressive extinguishing of all candles until only the Christ candle remains. The fading lights symbolize the fading loyalty of the disciples in Jesus’ hour of greatest need. The six extinguished candles remind us that over the course of six hours, our sins extinguished the life of Christ who was the Light of the world. Solemn as tonight is, we do not end in despair; at the end of the service is a hint of the promised resurrection.
- Mar 24, 2016Maundy Thursday – BloodbathMaundy Thursday – Bloodbath
The name for this day comes from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning "commandment." It refers to the two commandments our Lord gave to His disciples on this day. The first is, "Love one another;” the second is, "Do this in remembrance of Me." Our service today is part-one of what the early Church observed as "the triduum," a three-day remembrance of the events of our Lord's suffering, death, and resurrection.
- Mar 20, 2016His Triumphal EntranceHis Triumphal Entrance
“Hosanna” means “save us now!” Jesus received great praise as he entered into Jerusalem and the people shouted, "Hosanna. Save us, and do it now!" But that day was also the beginning of the end for our Lord, an end that will culminate in the most humiliating of deaths: by crucifixion. Yet we can rejoice, not for a palm parade, but for the truth that after his death, resurrection and ascension, God exalted his obedient and humble Son to the highest place where he receives all glory as King of kings and Lord of lords, having won for us the forgiveness of sins!
- Mar 13, 2016Is There No Justice?Is There No Justice?
Travesties and miscarriages of justice are all around us. Christ suffered the greatest injustice of all: stricken for our transgressions, He was cut off from the land of the living. Through Him, God has accomplished His own plan of justice: our justification by grace alone.
- Mar 6, 2016Knowing When to Keep QuietKnowing When to Keep Quiet
Countless are our sins of speech, especially against the Second, Fourth, and Eighth Commandments. A silent lamb led to the slaughter, Jesus kept quiet when He could have spoken out. By suffering and dying in silence, He atoned for all our talk.
- Feb 28, 2016Stray SheepStray Sheep
We all like sheep have gone astray. We were lost and vulnerable to the wolf. (Some still are.) The Good Shepherd became a sheep and laid down His life to bring us back into the fold of salvation.
- Feb 21, 2016By His Wounds We Are HealedBy His Wounds We Are HealedHave you ever heard of anyone who has never been sick for even one day throughout their life? That would be nearly impossible. Regardless of how good or bad, poor or rich we may be, our lot in this broken world is to experience sickness, pain and ultimately death. We all need a physician when we are sick! Jesus agrees when He says, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.…….for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12,13 WE HAVE THE GREAT PHYSICIAN OF BODY AND SOUL, JESUS CHRIST, “ON CALL” 24/7 IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH. He will never leave us till He takes us from this “vail of tears” to perfectly heals our resurrected bodies in the likeness of His glorious Body!
- Feb 14, 2016Appearances Can Be DeceivingAppearances Can Be DeceivingJudged by outward appearances, the crucified Christ held no attraction. But He took upon Himself the ugliness of our sin, that we might be gloriously clothed in His righteousness before God. (Our Suffering Savior, p. 145)
- Feb 10, 2016Who Has Believed?Who Has Believed?We ponder how Christ overcame unbelief and skepticism and powerfully rescued all humanity. He is the arm of the Lord, strong to save! (Our Suffering Savior, 145). A Christian custom on Ash Wednesday is to receive a mark of the cross made with ashes upon the forehead. Ashes are a symbol of repentance and of our mortality, especially as we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
