Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Read – Ephesians 2 No clearer gospel has been proclaimed than Paul’s words in Ephesians 2! Those who once were dead have been made alive in Christ Jesus! And this is not their own achievement – it is the pure gift of God! Ephesians 2:1-10 are a gem. We would do well to memorize these verses. Paul also proclaims how the work of Christ breaks down all the barriers that separate people from one another (Ephesians 2:14). This is the message that Isaiah proclaimed, and following him, Luke proclaimed. The author of this, of course, is Jesus!

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, April 29, 2013 Read – Ephesians 1 This week we journey through the book of Ephesians. As we begin we do need to notice that the book is not without its challenges for those of us who are readers. From Paul’s own letters and from the book of Acts we hear of Paul spending a considerable amount of time with the Ephesian Christians – yet in the first chapter of the letter Paul says, “I have heard of your faith…,” (Ephesians 1:15) as if he had never visited these people. How are we to understand this? This and a few other things within this book have led some to think that Paul really didn’t write it. Others have speculated that the letter was really written by Paul but sent to another destination that Paul really had not visited and is thus misnamed “Ephesians”. It really doesn’t matter much. The content of the letter proclaims Paul’s gospel. In the first chapter Paul witness to the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:20). Once again the resurrection stands at the very center of our faith.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, April 28, 2013 Read – Luke 24:50-53 These concluding verses provide a good summary of Luke’s gospel. As we have noted earlier, Luke begins his gospel in the Temple in Jerusalem as faithful Zechariah is about his priestly duties. As one who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, Zechariah is evidence for Luke of those among God’s Jewish people who did receive the Messiah. So now Luke ends by telling his readers that the disciples were continually in the Temple blessing God. This is quite a different picture than we might imagine given the story the other gospel writers have told us – especially if we let ourselves be influenced by Mark. Luke provides us with a good reminder that there may be more to see than we would think. Just before Luke tells us of the disciples in the Temple in Jerusalem he tells us of Jesus leading them out to Bethany, lifting up his hands in blessing, and withdrawing from their midst being carried up into heaven. We need to remember that this story is connected with the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples on the evening of the resurrection day – it is still the same day! How are we to understand all of this, especially given the stories of Jesus meeting with his disciples on a mountain in Galilee in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 28:16-20) and, even more puzzling, Luke’s own description of the ascension of Jesus forty days after Easter in the book of Acts (Acts 1:6-11). One possibility is to remember that the resurrected Jesus seemed to have a way of disappearing after he had disclosed himself to his followers through Word and Sacrament. Jesus did the same with the two travelers on the Emmaus road. The withdrawing in the end of Luke’s gospel can be viewed in a similar way. One might suspect that the Emmaus road travelers did not expect to see Jesus again – but they did back in Jerusalem in the room where the followers had gathered. So, while one might understand the disappearing of Jesus from the two travelers and the withdrawing of Jesus from the followers on the evening of the resurrection as temporary, the ascension in the book of Acts has a more permanent feel to it. But then there is the appearance to Paul on the Damascus road. Was that like the others? Luke leaves his readers with a sense of mystery. Perhaps it is best for us to simply live with the mystery instead of trying to resolve it. So, our journey with Luke has come to an end – at least for the time being. But, Luke’s story goes on. It is important for us to recognize that the book of Acts continues the story. In one way the gospel of Luke is not complete without the book of Acts. Luke has brought us from the Temple out into the world and back again to the Temple – in the book of Acts he will lead us from the Temple to the ends of the earth. Welcome to the continuing story.

Western Iowa Synod Assemby 2013

Former ELCA Bishop Herbert Chilstrom on the left and current ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson on the right.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, April 27, 2013 Read – Colossians 4 Paul’s letters are a good place for us to reflect upon the meaning of our faith. Though at times Paul is dealing with issues within the churches he founded – issues which are at times difficult for us to understand or identify with – Paul’s proclamation of the gospel is a source of faith and growth in our lives. It is amazing that Paul likely never dreamt that his writings would one day be considered scripture. As time passed Christians saw value in the writings of Paul and so they have come to us too to inform us and strengthen our faith.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, April 26, 2013 Read – Colossians 3 In this chapter Paul uses the image of taking off clothing and putting on other clothing to speak of the new life that is ours in Christ. Paul’s assumption is that faith in Jesus makes a difference in our lives. Ethics follows from faith. Paul reminds us that it is as we let the word of Christ dwell in us that we grow in faith and grace. Once again we are driven back into the scripture as the foundation of our life in Christ. We have seen this “dwelling in the word of Christ” in Luke’s teaching too. Jesus pointed his followers to the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. We can add to that the New Testament.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, April 25, 2103 Read – Colossians 2 One of Paul’s insights is that baptism is a picture of death and resurrection – as a person enters the waters of baptism they enter into death and are buried with Christ and as a person comes up out of the water they are made alive in Christ. Baptism by immersion is assumed in this picture. Of course that does not mean that only immersion baptism is effective. It is interesting that in this connection between baptism and death/resurrection Paul has “spiritualized” or “symbolized” the event. While the gospel writers tell of the baptism of Jesus it is likely that they did not think of Paul’s analogy between baptism and death/resurrection. Of course Jesus did speak of his own death as a “baptism” (Mark 10:39) but Luke omitted that part of Mark from his gospel.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Read – Colossians 1 As we turn now to the book of Colossians we hear more of the witness of Paul. Some have described the picture that Paul paints of Jesus in this letter as the “Cosmic Christ”. Paul sees Jesus as the center of all things – the one who holds the whole creation together (Colossians 1:17). Paul also sees Jesus as the image of the invisible God – Jesus makes God visible. He shares this view with the gospel writer, John.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Read – Philippians 4 How does one come to experience joy? Certainly from outward appearances Paul’s life was at best a mixed bag. He says that he has known prosperity, but he has also known loss. Yet in all things Paul has discovered the joy of being a follower of Jesus. As we conclude our reading of Philippians we are invited to reflect upon Paul’s experience and how the death and resurrection affected his life. His letter has been an uplifting one and motivates us to stronger faith.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, April 22, 2013 Read – Philippians 3 The third chapter of Philippians is one of those special chapters that most clearly proclaims the gospel to us. Paul reflects upon his own life – though he was once a Pharisee – in fact the best Pharisee of all (Paul is not very humble here) – being found by Christ has made all the difference for Paul. It is important to notice that. Paul does not claim his faith as something that he has achieved! “It is not that I have made it my own, but that Christ Jesus has made me his own!” (Philippians 3:12). No better words have been written about the reality of faith! Paul’s witness is that his encounter with the risen Jesus changed his life. As we live in the days after Easter, how has the risen Jesus changed our lives?

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, April 21, 2013 Read – Luke 24:44-49 As we continue with Luke’s gospel today, we need to remember that this story is really a part of the story we began last week – Jesus with his disciples on the evening of his resurrection. In that story we heard how the disciples did not recognize Jesus at first and needed to be convinced by seeing his hands and feet and through the eating of fish. Our reading for today links that experience with the proclamation of Word. The story is similar to the story of the travelers on the Emmaus road – Word and Sacrament bring about faith. We have been talking about what has been called by others “Messianic Exegesis” (Don Juel). That is exactly what Jesus describes in our reading for today. Jesus points to the Old Testament scripture claiming that the scripture witnesses to him. And then Luke tells us that Jesus opened their minds to see what the Old Testament bears witness to. This is not a matter of going back and finding some “proof text” that proves that Jesus is the Messiah. Actually, we can search the Old Testament from beginning to end and we will not find a text that definitively states that the Messiah must suffer and die and be raised from the dead. What Luke is describing is what happened to the first followers of Jesus – and can happen to us too – when we read the Old Testament through the lens of the experience of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Old Testament takes on new meaning it did not have before! The end of the story of Luke’s gospel has arrived. But there is more to be said – and Luke will write a second volume about that, the book of Acts. As the gospel of Luke ends Luke tells of the commission of Jesus of his followers to bear witness to all these things. But how are they to do that? Luke’s Jesus tells them of the promise of God that his Spirit will empower them. They only need to wait for it to come. It is clear that Luke experienced that very Spirit in his writing of the gospel! It’s not that the Spirit told him everything to write down – no, Luke is the creator of his gospel, is responsible for it, and needs to be given credit for the marvelous witness he made! God treasures the creative of his creature. But, Luke would likely testify that God was with him in the journey. Luke does not write as a disinterested reporter – he writes as a believer fully invested in witnessing to his faith. Thanks be to God for the witness of Luke – and thanks be to God for his insight into “Messianic Exegesis.”

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, April 20, 2103 Read – Philippians 2 In chapter 2 of Philippians we hear Paul’s use of what likely was an early Christian hymn as he reflects upon who Jesus is. And Paul’s reflection – the message of the hymn – is that it is the cross that defines Jesus – “he was obedient onto death, even death on the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Once again we have Paul theologizing about the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus. What did it mean for Jesus to die? In his death, Jesus was subservient to God – taking the form of a servant – and because he willingly went to the cross, God has raised him above everything else. Paul calls upon his followers to imitate Christ – to have the same mind and attitude that we find in Jesus.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, April 19, 2013 Read – Philippians 1 We turn our attention now to a few of Paul’s shorter letters. First we will read through the book of Philippians – one of Paul’s later letters. In the first chapter of Philippians Paul says, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). It is obvious that resurrection faith was at the very depth of Paul’s being. If one were to ask Paul what gives him hope – what gives him drive in life – it is likely that he would answer that it is the promise of resurrection life. The resurrection had a profound effect upon Paul. As we live in the days following Easter, what effect does the resurrection have on our lives?

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, April 18, 2013 Read – 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Paul sums up his argument with the claim that “flesh and blood” cannot inherit the kingdom of God – there is something beyond this life and beyond this world! The only way into the kingdom of heaven is through death! And so Paul finally ends up admitting that he is dealing with mystery – the mystery that only God can fulfill. Resurrection is finally about what God will do – transforming the perishable into what does not perish, the mortal into what does not die. Gospel writers are content to witness to the resurrection of Jesus. For the gospel writers the resurrection is the vindication of Jesus – and of his followers. While Paul goes far beyond the gospel writers in his discussion of the resurrection, it is important that we notice that Paul supports them. At the center of Paul’s proclamation was the death and resurrection of Jesus. At the heart of the gospel story is also the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Read – 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Paul moves on now to talk about what human beings will look like in the resurrection – a question that no one can really answer. Paul makes his attempt but I don’t think he was really all that successful – his argument is mostly about what we will not be like. Perhaps Paul was up against some people who were “making fun” of the idea of resurrection. In the end his argument is that the resurrection, while somewhat indescribable, is real and is essential for faith. There are many things about faith that are beyond our ability to fully comprehend and fully describe – the resurrection is one of them. But that does not make those things any less real. Paul knew he was dealing with “mystery” when he was talking about the resurrection of the dead.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Read – 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 When one reads the Old Testament one of the things we might notice is that there isn’t very much said about the resurrection of the dead. In fact, most of the Old Testament is silent about the issue. As important as the resurrection is for Christians this may seem rather strange. While the Old Testament is mostly silent there is just enough evidence to support the belief in the resurrection of the dead. From a historical point of view, the widespread belief in the resurrection of the dead did not happen until the time of the Maccabean revolt in about 165 BC. At that time Antiochus Ephiphanes had desecrated the Temple and was killing faithful Jews who opposed him. These “freedom fighters” came to the belief that God would be unjust if those who lost their lives were not granted a new life to enjoy – otherwise what was the point of fighting? Out of the aftermath of the Maccabean revolt more and more Jewish people began to believe in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees, whose origins go back to this same time of the Maccabean revolt and its aftermath, were strong supporters of the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees, the aristocratic leaders of the nation, did not believe in the resurrection. By the time of Jesus belief in the resurrection likely was the prominent view among the people – although as the gospel stories show, the Sadducees still were not convinced. It is important for us to note that the Jewish belief in the resurrection of the dead was very different from the Greek belief in the immortality of the soul. Jews simply did not divide a human being up into body and soul – the concept of the immortality of the soul was foreign to them. It was the resurrection of the whole person that mattered. It is interesting that over time much of Christianity has really adopted the Greek view of the immortality of the soul and somehow combined it with the idea of resurrection. But that is far afield from our discussion here. In this part of his letter Paul is disputing with those who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Were they Sadducees? That seems unlikely in a Corinthian setting – but not impossible. We simply don’t know enough about the recipient of Paul’s letter to decide – but the point is that for Paul, the resurrection of the dead is essential for Christian faith! Paul sees the resurrection – actually the death of Jesus – as not only dealing with the forgiveness of sins but also as God’s victory over death itself! Our minds travel back to Isaiah who wrote in the Isaiah 25 that God would come to swallow up death itself. This is a significant thing to remember about Christian faith – we have made it so much about forgiveness of sins that we sometimes forget that victory over death is also part of the meaning of the death of Jesus – Jesus died as much for our suffering as he did for our sins!

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, April 15, 2103 Read – 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 This chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians has sometimes been identified as the “resurrection chapter.” As we read it we reflect upon Paul’s dealing with the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus. As we begin it is very important for us to notice that Paul tells us that he is “passing on to us what he received from others” (1 Corinthians 15:3-7). Paul lists the resurrection appearances – first to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve (apparently Paul either was unaware of the demise of Judas or he is including Matthias (Acts 1:26) or he is using “the twelve” as symbolic language of the “Apostles” – or maybe Paul was just careless and should have written eleven), then to more than five hundred (something not spoken of anywhere else in the New Testament), then to James (an appearance that is also spoken of nowhere else in the New Testament – James being the brother of Jesus). Finally, Paul claims that the appearance of Jesus to him on the Damascus Road be included which does expand the view of what constitutes a “resurrection appearance.” Could it be significant that Paul does not include the women in his list? The point of all of this is really that witness to the resurrection is important to Paul and he confesses that he received it from those before him. The resurrection is a historical fact! This is evidence that the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus was being told from the very beginning and that it is THE story that constitutes the church. It is may be of some interest to remember that Paul wrote all of his letters before any of our gospel writers wrote their gospels. Readers of Paul have noticed that he seems not to be very interested in the “life of Jesus” – only his death and resurrection matter! We owe a debt of gratitude to Mark – and Luke and Matthew who follow Mark and to John, who ventured on his own, for attempting to give us a narrative of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus!

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, April 14, 2013 Read – Luke 24:36-43 We really should read the last verses of Luke’s gospel as one unit – Luke 24:36-53 – but we are going to take this passage in three parts. One thing that we should make note of is that Luke’s resurrection stories all happen on one day. That is different from both Matthew and John who also tell us resurrection stories. A second thing that we should notice is that all of Luke’s resurrection stories take place in or very near to Jerusalem. That too differs from Matthew and John who tell stories in both Jerusalem and in Galilee. We noticed that Luke drops out Mark’s words of the messenger at the empty tomb that Jesus will go ahead of his disciples to Galilee where they will meet him. In Luke’s gospel neither Jesus nor his disciples ever go to Galilee! Luke has been editing his source again. One might ask why Luke sets all of the resurrection stories in and near Jerusalem. Luke does that, not because he is attempting at historical accuracy, but because Jerusalem and the Temple are crucial to his understanding of the mission of Jesus and of the people of God who will be featured in his second volume, the book of Acts. Luke began his gospel story in the Temple with faithful Zechariah and so he ends his gospel with the followers of Jesus in the Temple daily. And it is from Jerusalem that the message will go out to the ends of the earth. We have noticed throughout Luke’s gospel that he has a far more positive view of the Temple than any other gospel writer and that he is insistent on telling his readers that there were faithful Jews who did receive the Messiah! As we turn to the story before us today, we recognize that it is very similar to the story John tells about Jesus coming to the disciples in the Upper Room on the evening of the first day of the week – resurrection day. It is unlikely that Luke and John were directly aware of one another or that either Luke was dependent upon John or the other way around. But, the more likely idea is that Luke and John are dipping into a shared piece of the story of Jesus. I have tried to talk about how all of the gospel writers took bits of the story and put them into their own “storyline” and I think this shared story between Luke and John is gives credibility to that concept. The story Luke tells us has similarities to the Emmaus road story – the disciples do not recognize Jesus who has to demonstrate the reality of his presence by showing them his hands and feet, and most significantly by eating with them. While the connections to worship and Holy Communion are more subtle than in the Emmaus road story we should still recognize them in this story. They recognize Jesus in the eating of the bread and fish. There is something about Word and Sacrament that rings forth in these stories. That’s probably good reason why we ought to continue to experience Word and Sacrament even today – we see Jesus today in the hearing of the Word and in the participation in the Sacrament! We’re going to leave the rest of this story until next week, but it is important here to notice that Jesus does the same thing in this story as he did in the Emmaus road story – Luke tells us that Jesus points his followers to the words of scripture – the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms – more “Messianic Exegesis!”

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, April 13, 2013 Read – Isaiah 5213-53:12 This is the last of the four “servant songs” and one that Christians have cherished as it adds its voice to the growing proclamation of just who Jesus is and what Jesus accomplished. Again, it is important to remember that these words had meaning to Isaiah and to those to whom he wrote long before they took on the meaning they do for Christians who read these words in light of what happened to Jesus. But, having remembered that, we can let the words of this “servant song” do their work in our hearing – this is who Jesus is – the one who gave his life in order that we might have life. We can imagine those first followers of Jesus contemplating the death and resurrection of Jesus and what it might mean and then going back to read their scripture in the Old Testament. Jesus must have “sprung off the page” for them as they read these words in Isaiah 53 and then thought of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We are going to leave Isaiah behind now. I hope it has been beneficial for all of us to have read Isaiah in light of what happened to Jesus. Perhaps we have experience just a little of what those first travelers on the Emmaus road experience as Jesus opened the scripture to them to tell them why it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die. We have had an exercise in “Messianic Exegesis.”

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, April 12, 2013 Read – Isaiah 51 The “gospel” of Isaiah continues – and calling it “gospel” is very appropriate. In Isaiah’s time these words were precious to his hearers – they spoke of God’s act of deliverance – that’s what “gospel” is – the word that frees and brings to life that which is dead! We read Isaiah 51 in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus and we marvel in the grace of God.

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Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, April 11, 2013 Read – Isaiah 50 We find the third “servant song” in Isaiah 50 and once again we see how reading these words in light of the experience of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is helpful in understanding and recognizing Jesus. We may have wished that Luke would have told us specifically where Jesus turned in the Old Testament to interpret the death and resurrection of Jesus for the Emmaus road travelers – but on the other hand maybe it is much better to be forced to do that on our own. Do you begin to see how the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection led the first followers of Jesus to read the Old Testament with new eyes? What a privilege for us too!

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, April 10, 2013 Read – Isaiah 49 While there is much benefit in reading all of Isaiah 40 – 66 in light of the story of Jesus, we move forward today to pick up another of the “servant songs” in Isaiah 49. And once again, we see how these ancient words helped believers in Jesus describe what happened in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I need to repeat myself. I don’t think it is proper to simply say that Isaiah wrote these words to “predict” what would happen to Jesus. Sometimes prophecy is treated in this way – as if the words had no meaning to either Isaiah or to those to whom he wrote. Nothing could be further from the truth and when Christians treat the Old Testament as if its only function was to “predict” the future and then think that they can use those very texts as “proof texts” about Jesus, they do a great injustice to the Bible. It would be very much worth our while to attempt to understand Isaiah in light of his own time. Space does not allow that here and that is not my purpose. The purpose here is to imagine how the first followers of Jesus read the Old Testament with new eyes in light of their experience of Jesus. While doing that is a proper exercise – simply using the Old Testament as a “proof” about Jesus isn’t. So, when we read Isaiah 49 through the lens of “Messianic Exegesis” we do see how the words of Isaiah do help us to understand and recognize Jesus. And we do hear Isaiah’s vision of a light that shines upon all nations and all people – the very thing that Jesus came to accomplish.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, April 9, 2013 Read – Isaiah 43 The powerful “gospel” of Isaiah 43 is a delight for anyone of faith to hear. And, once again, they had meaning to Isaiah and their first hearers in the context of their life! But, once again, through “Messianic Exegesis” we can see them informing our experience of faith in Jesus. Luke does not tell his readers exactly what Jesus taught the travelers on the Emmaus road as Jesus explained to them that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die and then enter into his glory. But, we can imagine that these words for Isaiah may have been part of that teaching. While it is important that we do justice to the Old Testament by insisting that it speaks on its own to its own time – we can move on from there to the hear those words in a new light – they do help us understand Jesus.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, April 8, 2013 Read – Isaiah 42:1-20 We pick up Isaiah again today with what is known as the first of four “servant songs” in Isaiah 40-53. Luke has used this passage in his telling of the story of Jesus – at the baptism and on the mount of Transfiguration when God speaks. I suppose we could say that God has used these words of Isaiah to talk about the identity of his Son. The connection between the “suffering servant” in Isaiah and Jesus is something that each of the synoptic gospel writers – Mark, Luke, and Matthew – want to make. Luke has introduced us to his concept of “Messianic Exegesis” and this is likely a good place to start. When Isaiah wrote these words he likely had no idea of the specific story of Jesus. They had a whole different meaning in his context – the suffering of God’s servant and even of God’s people, who are often spoken of as God’s servant, and the subsequent deliverance promised to those in Babylonian captivity. When Luke and other Christian followers read Isaiah’s words and contemplated them in light of the experience of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, they recognized Jesus in the Old Testament story and they used that Old Testament story to help them tell the story of Jesus. That is precisely what “Messianic Exegesis” is – seeing Jesus in the Old Testament story and then using that story to tell the story of Jesus! Of course on a much deeper level that none of us can really enter or fully comprehend God was moving in a direction of saving his people. I don’t think it is right to think of Isaiah writing his words only to “predict” the coming of Jesus – his words were of importance and meaning to the people of his day. But, God saw further than is possible for any human eyes can see. And it is only in going through the experience of the cross and resurrection that we can see more in what Isaiah wrote than Isaiah could possibly have imagined. The marvel of God’s work in the world!

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, April 7, 2013 Read – Luke 24:13-35 We return today to Luke’s story. Once again, the story of the travelers on the Emmaus road is a story that only Luke tells us – it joins the other marvelous stories and parables that are unique to Luke. This is a marvelous story! Luke captures the desperation of the followers of Jesus in the aftermath of his death. Can you imagine what it must have been like to go through those terrible moments when the one you had put all you hopes upon is nailed to the cross? And so the two travelers we meet in this story trudge on in a daze. The story is marked by humor and irony. When Jesus approaches the two travelers he asks them what they are discussing. Can you imagine the “tongue in cheek” questioning of Jesus? They wonder if Jesus is the only one who has not been paying attention to what had just happened in Jerusalem! Readers of Luke’s gospel have often wondered why the travelers did not recognize that the one walking with them was Jesus – Luke tells us that God kept it from their eyes! Revelation is needed! There are three important things to notice about this story. First of all, Luke’s emphasis on remembering comes fully into sight. Appropriating the resurrection of Jesus has to do with remembering. Second, Luke introduces us to something that will be very important to him in his second volume, the book of Acts. The meaning of Jesus death and resurrection is to be found in reading the Old Testament with new eyes – Jesus taught them that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die and be raised to new life by recounting the Old Testament witness. I have mentioned earlier Don Juel’s concept of “Messianic Exegesis”. Luke’s contention is that the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus can only be found by contemplating what happened in light of the Old Testament. The first followers of Jesus saw the Old Testament with new eyes when they read it in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Luke will invite us to do the same. Third, Luke makes a clear connection between the experience of worship, and especially participation in Holy Communion, and coming to faith in Jesus. The telling of the story in light of the Old Testament is followed by the “breaking of the bread” and Luke tells us it was in the “breaking of the bread” that they finally recognized who Jesus was. As Lutherans we might say that it was only the connection of “Word” and “Sacrament” that enabled believing faith. Luke’s clear allusion of Holy Communion cannot be missed here – or in the story that will follow. We need to remember that Luke told us that God kept them from seeing – and now God opens their eyes in the “breaking of the bread!” Faith is a gift that only God gives – and God gives it through Word and Sacrament! One final thought comes to mind as we leave this story – once their eyes of faith had been opened to recognize Jesus, Jesus disappears from their sight. Luke is beginning to tell us a part of the story that will be more fully told both at the end of his gospel and in the beginning of the book of Acts – the ascension of Jesus. More on that later, but for now, it seems that when faith has been given Jesus is free to go.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, April 6, 2013 Read – Isaiah 40 Interpreters of the Bible, as far back as Luther and even earlier, have noticed a marks change occurring between Isaiah 39 and 40. Isaiah 39 tells of the terrible destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Isaiah 40 announces a new day – a new “exodus” more glorious than the first exodus. As readers of Luke’s gospel we remember the words of Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration when they spoke to Jesus about the “exodus” that he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Beginning with Isaiah 40, a prophet announces the good news of deliverance to people held in bondage in Babylon. It is especially the chapters we find in Isaiah 40 and to the end of the book that inform Luke’s story. As we read them we gain insight into the accomplishment of Jesus through the cross and resurrection.

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, April 5, 2013 Read – Isaiah 35 Remember how Luke introduced the ministry of Jesus in Luke 4:16-21? Likely Luke was well aware of the words in Isaiah 35 which long for such a coming of the Messiah who will open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf and make the lame to walk. Luke tells us that Jesus came to set those who are bound free. Jesus fulfills the vision of Isaiah 35. As Easter people we rejoice in the freedom that God brings us thought Jesus and we work toward the freedom of all people. The ministry of Jesus continues – it continues through us, his church.

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Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Thursday, April 4, 2013 Read – Isaiah 26 Isaiah 26 continues the vision of a new reality brought into existence by God – the resurrection and the reality of God’s new kingdom. Luke envisioned the presence of that kingdom now, in this life, and not just in some distant future. As Easter people the hope of resurrection informs and directs our life here and now! We strive to live as God’s people today – not just people who hope for tomorrow’s heaven! How does the reality of resurrection inform your life today?

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, April 3, 2013 Read – Isaiah 25 The idea of resurrection is not very prominent in the Old Testament. In fact, we have to look very closely to see it. Isaiah 25 is one of those places where an Old Testament prophet dared to imagine God swallowing up death and creating a whole new world. As Easter people we venture to believe that Isaiah’s vision of God gathering his people in a great feast of victory over death has come to reality in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is the day for which Isaiah had waited and we have waited too!

Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, April 2, 2013 Read – Isaiah 12 Isaiah continues to sing of the restoration of God in our reading for today. Well aware of the wrath of God that marks our present existence Isaiah longs for a new day when God’s wrath has come to an end and the dawn of salvation has arrived. As Easter people we understand the accomplishment of Jesus on the cross and through the empty tomb as the arrival – a foretaste of what it to come – the arrival of the kingdom Isaiah longed to see. Easter is a time for us to sing too of God’s presence in our midst.

April 2013 Echoes Newsletter

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Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Monday, April 1, 2013 Read – Isaiah 11 We have now entered the Easter Season and also come to the conclusion of Luke’s gospel. Yesterday, we heard Luke’s story of the discovery of the empty tomb. There are really only two more segments in Luke’s gospel – the story of the Emmaus Road and the appearance of Jesus in Jerusalem and his departure from them. We are invited to ponder these events during the whole month of April – and that means that we will have time to reflect upon other parts of the Bible which compliment these words from Luke. We begin by picking up some more of Isaiah – most likely Luke’s favorite prophet. Later we will reflect upon Paul’s writings and their connection to the good news of the resurrection. Comments on these texts will be brief. Today we begin with Isaiah 11. The resurrection of Jesus brings with it the promise of God’s restoration of creation. Isaiah’s words paint a picture of that final restoration and provide a word of hope to all people. How does the promise of Easter bring you hope in a world often marked with despair and death? As Easter people we are invited to contemplate God’s restoration of all things and to let that reality inform our lives even today.