This week's devotion is from Deacon Tanya Behnke, based on Luke 24:1-12

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The Resurrection of Jesus

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

 

 

In this passage, we see varying degrees of faith shown. The women who went to the tomb and were told Jesus was risen. Did they see Jesus? No. Did they believe what they were told? Absolutely.  So much so that they rushed to share the good news, not needing more convincing.  Most of the apostles did not believe them.  Although they followed Jesus, without him actively leading them, we see their belief waiver. And then there is Peter. The disciples who recently denies even knowing Jesus, rushes out to see for himself. 

 

I'm sure most of us would like to think we're like Mary and the other women, full of faith, without question. But the reality is likely that we are a mixture of all levels of faith. Some days we may be full of faith like the women who visited the empty tomb, rushing to share the good news with everyone around. Other days we may feel the disbelief that the other disciples felt. And most days we probably are like Peter with the curiosity and desire to see for ourselves. 

 

We are shown varying levels of faith in the Bible, and yet they are all devoted followers of Jesus. On days that we have doubts, we are still followers of Jesus. On days that we need to see for ourselves, we are still followers of Jesus. Jesus accepts us always, each and every day. 

 

Let us pray,

 

Gracious and holy God, give us diligence to seek you, wisdom to perceive you, and patience to wait for you. Grant us, o God, a mind to meditate on you, eyes to behold you, ears to listen for your word, a heart to love you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen. 

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(Prayer from ELW)

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Previous devotion is from Pastor Zach, preparing us for Holy Week, based on Luke 22:39-41

 

39 Jesus came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed.

 

Looking at the calendar, particularly next week, I’m overwhelmed. Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Worship on each of those days, both here at Calvary, and gathering with clergy around our region. So many services in the same amount of time that we normally would have one. Undoubtedly, one or multiple of these liturgies will bring me to tears—if the copy machine or technology or sermon writing doesn’t. It’s a lot.

 

Maybe you feel that way as a casual worshipper as well. Maybe you are on altar guild and it seems like a lot. Maybe you’re Paul or Ari, reading this between the time you’re spending with music. Maybe you’re preparing to read or lead or usher or who knows what else in our busy lives that makes us look at the calendar next week and go, “that’s a lot.” Church, it is a lot. And…it’s a gift.

 

Ahead of his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus withdrew, though still nearby (“a stone’s throw,” Luke’s gospel tells us) and prayed.

 

Though the calendar next week looks like it’s a lot—and it is—it’s also a gift for us, if and when we approach and wade into next week having prepared ourselves not to treat it like a checklist, but as the Church’s annual weeklong act of prayer and dedication of time and attention to the amazing love of God in Christ, whose passion, death, and resurrection is really worth dwelling on.

 

It’s a lot. And it’s so worth it. And the only thing that can prove that is showing up in whatever way works for you. Dear church, I’m praying for you as we enter into Holy Week once again. May God guide your footsteps as you, too, kneel down and pray.

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Previous devotion is from Deacon Bob Lewis, based on Luke 9:10-17

10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

 

13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

 

15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

I imagine the disciples were concerned, worried and maybe even panicking because they only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to feed about 5,000 people who had gathered to hear Jesus talk. They tell Jesus to send the crowd away so they could go buy themselves food. But Jesus tells the disciples to give him what they have and he performs the miracle of turning what they had into enough to not only feed the 5,000 but there were even leftovers. 

We learn from this story that we can trust God to provide because he always meets our needs.  We can trust him and not worry about ever having enough. And it teaches us to serve and share with others what we have been blessed to receive.   ​

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