Slaughtered lambs and sacrifices are not something we are used to. The whole concept of a lamb being killed and its blood being shed to cover our sin seems odd and off-putting; brutal and cruel; just a bit barbaric. The whole, “Lamb of God” (“Agnus Dei”) all just seems just a bit…much.
Let’s just talk about Jesus sacrifice for sin in an abstract way. A sanitized way. Let’s just think about Good Friday and what happened there as an concept; an academic reality; as a tragic story.
The reality of Good Friday and Jesus as the Agnus Dei should cause us deep and lasting pause. It should cause a rip in our heart and a breathlessness in our spirit.
When we understand the true and utter pain and sacrifice – of will and life – taken on by our Lord, it should be shocking, devastating, and numbing. The trauma He underwent should traumatize us to the core.
But…it should also move us from the deep regret from the reality of our sins which precipitated this willing action to a deeper gratitude and soul-stirring joy for the results this brings – complete forgiveness, fulfilled life from death, everlasting communion with God!
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”John 1:29.
Behold. Look upon. Take to heart and mind Who He is and what He did. All of it. Don’t shy away. Don’t avert your eyes. Behold. The Lamb of God. For you. For the world.
“Thank, You, Lord Jesus, Agnus Dei, for all of it. For me. Thank You.”
In our Old Testament lesson we see the results of the Israelites’ ‘golden calf’ rebellion and Moses’ smashing of the first set of tablets from the Lord. – They needed a new start!
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”’”
Exodus 8:1 (ESV)
In our Passion Sunday Gospel text, we hear the people shouting praises to the Lord, welcoming Him into town. Later that same week, the people will be shouting “crucify Him!” Because of their rebellion they will also need a new start!
We need not even look to some monumental rebellion in our lives to see what we need. Every day we rebel again God, His heart, His laws, His children, His creation – and every rebellion results in the same need – a new start!
That’s what God does; He gives a new start in Jesus. Through His promised coming, His birth, His life, His suffering, His miracles, His teachings, His scoldings, His sermons, His unjust trial, His beatings, His mockings, His death, His resurrection, His appearances, His ascension, and His preparation of our everlasting Home with Him, His promise to come again – all of it is about another chance, away from death and in His Life! It’s about His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace upon grace! It’s about no longer having the Law written in stone to threaten stoning but the opportunity to shout “Hosanna to the Son of David!” because there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)!
And because we are given another chance, we also have the opportunity – the joyful obligation and privilege – to give chances to others, too.
As we have been forgiven, we forgive. As we have been granted Life, we share. As we have been loved, we love.
As we start a difficult and most-Holy week, let us wrestle with both the reason a “second change” needed to be given in Jesus; sin. Our sin. But let us not stay on the reason, but move instead to the Solution, the Savior, the Lord – Jesus! Through Him we have all things. And through Him we live in newness of life; for Him and for others.
Hosanna! Hosanna! Thank You Lord Jesus!
“We praise and thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for giving all mankind – for giving us a second chance through Your Son, our Savior Jesus! Through Him we have all we need or could ever want or imagine! Grant us, Lord, to share Your mercy and grace in our hearts and actions joyfully. Focus us this Holy week on Your willing, full, and complete Sacrifice for us, Jesus, and grant that we continue from the depths of Good Friday to the height of Easter Sunday; which changed everything! In Jesus’ most precious Name do we pray. Amen!”
God’s plan from Before time headed toward our time to share it with all.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to hGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
I want to say that every parent has heard and experienced that emphatic “mine!” from their kids, but the truth is, I think most adults at one time or another has expressed this same sentiment (albeit usually more subtlety.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”’”
Exodus 8:1 (ESV)
We like stuff; from when we first see it to the plan for acquiring it (and then, sadly, the all-too-quick plan to replace it)!
Today we see “the Ten Words” (more often referred to as “the Ten Commandments”). The last of these refers to “coveting” – the deep desire toa make something your own in whatever way you can. It is a blatant lack of contentment for what you have (what God has given and blessed you with).
It also fails to recognize the reality that nothing actually ever belongs to us! Everything is the Lord’s (including us)! We are merely His stewards.
When we realize that He has everything, that He wants (and has) us, that He has given us all that we need to support this body and life, that He has forgiven us and saved us for eternity; then it is an easy step to take to get to contentment! It comes from a deep gratitude recognized in our true reality. It is a joy that comes from what we have rather than despair in what we lack. It’s a fullness of spirit that comes from knowing we are His instead of the empty and endless futileness that comes from constant pursuit of things, status, or pleasure.
We – along with everything else – are the Lord’s! Praise Him for that! May we be content and joyous is the revelation that we need nothing other than Him, because, through Jesus, we have everything unto everlasting life!
Halleluia!
“O Lord, we are Yours! Fully and completely. Help us, when we are tempted and covet to be reminded that, as Your children, You have given us everything that matters – including forgiveness, mercy, grace, life, and salvation! Send us Your Spirit to be, not only content in everything, but joyful in You and all Your Gifts! Thank You for creating us, wanting us, saving us, providing for us, and desiring to be with us forever! In Jesus’ precious name; amen!”
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”’”
Exodus 8:1 (ESV)
“Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:6).
Water is a basic necessity of life. Without it no one would last long.
And it doesn’t just provide life through drinking, it also is needed for cleansing and waste removal; and even for recreation.
So it is understandable why the Israelites are…testy…when they are living in the wilderness with no water – for themselves or their livestock.
So they revert back to their seemingly only playbook – complain about God and bemoan how good Egypt was.
Sigh.
After countless displays of His faithfulness to them, He is once again at the end of their displeasure and lack of trust.
So He provides a means of, literally, getting water from a Rock; providing water from the very Water of Life, the pre-incarnate Christ! If we go to Him for drink and believe in Him, “out of [our] heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
We are guaranteed of all this because blood and water flowed from His side on the cross. We see that it is through God’s Words and promise joined to water in our Baptism that we are united with Him; with His suffering, in His victory over sin, death, and the Devil; in His resurrection.
“Strike the Rock” was the command, and the result was the saving of the Israelites with the Living Water.
God saves us through the same Living Water, Jesus, through faith and baptism. God saves us from being struck down in death because He was struck as the Rock; struck before Pilate; struck on the Cross.
We are saved by the Living Water, Jesus! Drink Him in fully and, strengthened in Him, flow in that Water to drench others with Him; His Word, His love; His forgiveness; His life.
The Rock was struck! Through faith in Him, you and I are saved!
How amazing! Thank You, Lord!
“Gracious Father, thank You for providing Your Son, the Living Water to save Your people in the wilderness and saving us through the waters of Baptism. Grant us a continual thirst for Him so that we always seek, drink, live, and share Him in all our dealings with life and others. In His precious and life-giving name do we pray. Amen.”
“Stop trying and start trusting.” That’s the truth God teaches his people in Exodus 14. And that’s the Gospel truth God teaches us as well.
People like to be independent. We like to chow the world and ourselves that we can do it and don’t need help. We want to show we can “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.”
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”’”
Exodus 8:1 (ESV)
But the reality is, we can’t do everything by ourselves – and that’s good!
When you believe you need no one, you believe you are God.
The Israelites had “won.” Pharaoh had let them go and they were on the way to the Promised Land.
Then God told them to turn back just as He was hardening Pharaoh’s heart to pursue them and bring them back.
What?!
The people were understandably upset. Why was Moses leading them back; so they could “die in the wilderness?” They would rather have been left alone, so that they “may serve the Egyptians” instead of God.
What a terrible statement!
But Moses answers that they will see “the salvation of the Lord” today and that “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
What an amazing statement!
We know the story; the Israelites crossed over the sea on dry ground and the Lord destroyed the Pharaoh’s army in that sea.
God saved them!
Sometimes we get the mistaken impression that we must handle everything – including our salvation. We believe that we are the reliable ones in the couple of God and us. But the reality is, God is the only One who is reliable. Always!
This is manifested most fully in our salvation. Jesus fulfilled the Law; we couldn’t. Jesus lived perfectly in love; we wouldn’t. Jesus died; we didn’t.
Rather than bemoan when we realize we need God, we should rejoice; for in faith we see God waiting when we get to the end of ourselves.
It’s time to “stop trying and start trusting” that God’s got us and all our issues. He fights for us and we have only to be silent.
“Thank You, Lord!”
“O Lord, thank You for providing all our daily needs for body and life. Forgive us when we fail to trust You and try to do things ourselves. Help us to look to You, trust in You, and live in You for all things, through faith in Jesus. In His name we pray. Amen.”
When God makes Himself known in our lives, we are changed.
For some that change is done in pride and obstinance, resulting in a tenacity of rebellion.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”’”
Exodus 8:1 (ESV)
For others, it is a transformation of our very core identity, life of sacrifice, and cross-bearing unto everlasting life.
We see in our Scriptures from Exodus 3 how God changes us through
His presence,
His Plan,
His Purpose, and
His Messiah!
And how we, as ones now changed in Jesus, are:
humble in stature,
bold in action,
steadfast in adversity,
confident in uncertainty.
God has changed you through Jesus! He has broken into your life and moved you from the deepest depths of your sins to the highest pinnacle of perfection! But as His redeemed ones, He also calls us to service outside of our plans, ourselves; outside out comfort zones; outside of ourselves.
And that will changes us too.
That will changes others through us.
Because God uses His people to change people; to free people; to work His Plan in Jesus!
“Thank You, Lord, for changing us forever through Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. Give us boldness when You call us to a life of change with Your presence, Your plan, and Your provision, because of Your Messiah. Give us humility, boldness, steadfastness, and confidence to live in You and Your change for us every day. In Jesus’ precious name do we pray; Amen.”
There are a lot of significant Sundays we observe on the church calendar that we don’t give fair due.
Transfiguration is one of them.
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”
Matthew 17:5 (ESV)
For many it’s a interesting story of Jesus going up a mountain with his besties, appearing brilliantly with Moses and Elijah, and His Father giving Jesus His imprimatur. Peter says some “Peter things,” and they come down.
Of course, all that is true.
But it seems there is so much more going on!
First, of course, is that Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets – which Jesus came to fulfill. They were on the holy “Mountain of God” in their respective times.
The mountain where Jesus was transfigured – considered by some to be Mount Tabor – has much to consider that it was instead Mount Hermon at the northern end of Israel.
Why is that important?
Mount Hermon was in the Bashan area. It was where some considered evil spiritual forces descended to commit some of their rebellion. There was a place there that was called “the Gates of Hades” and is the area where a little prior to today’s reading Peter gave his confession of Jesus and Jesus said “the gates of Hell” would not prevail against the Church.
If this, and not the Mountain of God,” is where this Transfiguration took place, there seems to be a message being telegraphed of cosmic spiritual significance happening.
Jesus is taking the battle to the Enemy! He is letting it be known that He is here to fulfill all that the OT said and conquer all who oppose. This mountain of the Enemy will no longer be a stronghold. Jesus, the beloved son of God, has come and, as a result, we will all be transfigured into His holy ones through faith!
Right before our text Jesus tells his followers they must “take up their cross and follow Him.” There is no doubt this means pain, sacrifice, humiliation, and suffering are a part of a Christian’s life (just as He also tells them of His impending death), but that is sandwiched between Jesus’ “the Gates of Hell will not prevail” and Jesus taking to the top of an Enemy’s mountain to say, in essence, “I’m coming for you!”
No matter what is going on in your life, look to the Transfigured Jesus as evidence that whatever you are facing, Jesus has covered it; has conquered it; has redeemed it! The Enemy is defeated and his time is limited! Rejoice as we look forward to the reality of a life transfigured in Jesus forever!
Bring it, Lord!
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for conquering the Enemy for us and our salvation. Help us to be bold in our living for You and others, carrying our cross with perseverance of confidence until we are transfigured into our new glorified bodies at Your return. In Your powerful, victorious, resurrected Name do we pray. Amen!”
Today’s reading seems simple on a cursory reading.
It is not.
Let’s start with the concept of purpose. Salt’s purpose is to be salty. Light to give light. God’s commands to bring our will in line with His. Jesus: to accomplish reconciliation with us and God; saving us through faith in His; bestowing His mercy and grace because of His love for us; fulfilling of all the Law and Prophets. Us: to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to do His will.
“For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
Matthew 5:18 (ESV)
You may quibble about the wording and include other aspects. That’s fine. But the point is there is point to the OT Law & Prophets; a point to Jesus; a point to why we, as His children, are here.
Some believe that the portion of our purpose of ‘doing the Law’ is the point. It is not. The point of that Jesus fulfilled all that was necessary on our behalf. It truly and fully is all accomplished!
All!
Now Jesus, who has done that and bridged the gap between God and us, gives us a new command; a new Law; a new purpose, which is to go well beyond righteousness displayed by the scribes and Pharisees: a Law of love our of response to His fulfillment!
Right after our reading today, Matthew goes into the “Sermon on the Mount” where Jesus tells us “you have heard it said” in the OT Law…but I tell you…” In other words, what they had heard about the Law, Jesus fulfilled and gives it back to us reclaimed with an emphasis on the spirit of the Law, given in love, rather than the Pharisaically-watered-down letter of the law minimized and ignored of old. Jesus gives us a joyful Law to live in response rather than a broken one done out of fear. He reminds us that He has already accomplished all for us, so that we can respond as the best salt, and light, and CHRIST-ians He has give us purpose to be!
Through Jesus, all is accomplished! Now live joyfully, in the glorious purpose He has given you to live and love!
“Lord Jesus, thank You for accomplishing all and fulfilling all the Law and Prophets of old on our behalf. Grant us Your Spirit to joyfully respond with Your Law of love; salting and shining with Your purpose so the world sees You through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Join us on WEDNESDAY, February 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM for Ash Wednesday worship and the Imposition of Ashes.
“Big Things with Small Stuff”
May we see God’s rescue of our evil ways in our personal prison conquered forever through Jesus.
SCRIPTURES:
Genesis 3:19
Exodus 2:1-10
The purpose of repentance is not to be swallowed up by guilt. It is to be freed from a dark and destructive direction by God’s wakening Word, and to be sent on a new path by the sin-conquering Savior. It’s what we all need.
THE REV. MIKE NEWMAN PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS DISTRICT OF THE LC-MS
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey, which culminates on Easter Sunday with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
On that night at worship we mark our foreheads with an ash cross and, as that cross is marked, we are reminded of our sins. As we are marked by Jesus’ sacrifice; we are drawn to the realization that “[we] are dust, and to dust [we] shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
On Ash Wednesday and throughout the season of Lent, we also focus on our sins, on repentance, and on our broken world; seeing how we and all of creation has fallen far short of God’s intention and glory.
But we do not despair because we look to the certain hope that is ours through the forgiveness of our sins given to us freely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.
THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES
Everything we experience in life is
finite and temporal, including our own lives. As the Scripture reports, we came
from the dust of the ground and we will return to the dust of the ground. (Genesis 3:19 & Ecclesiastes 3:20)
For many centuries the use of ashes has symbolized repentance. Imposing ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead of the worshipper on Ash Wednesday is a vivid reminder that such a person has been redeemed by Christ the Crucified. It is a symbol, not primarily of our sins, but upon the forgiveness of them through faith in Jesus.
As Ash Wednesday is a somber time as we remember that Jesus willingly suffering and death come as a result of our sins and His love. As such, at the conclusion of worship that day, we exit the church in silence.
“Repentance slays selfish pride, turns us from sin’s siren call, quiets arrogant arguments, tames out-of-control egos, pulls us back from distraction, leads us to restoration of relationships, places us on the pathway of walking with God, and restores our hearts with compassion and grace.
We need this personally. We need this as schools and congregations. We need this as a District. We need this as a Synod. We need this as Christ’s Church.”
The Rev. Mike Newman Former President of the Texas District of the LC-MS
Let week we discussed “the Confession of St. Peter” as well as our own confession – verbally and in life.
This week marks “the Conversion of St. Paul.”
Both are such giants in Scripture. Both can make it difficult to relate to or emulate in any meaningful way.
They glorified God because of me.
Galatians 1:24
When we look at St. Paul, he has an amazing story of conversion and transformation; of mercy and grace; of boldness and faith. So much so that we talk about someone’s “Damascus Road” or “”Damascus experience” to signify a person’s colossal life change or coming to faith experience.
But therein lies a problem: the vast majority of us do not have an experience or story life Paul. If we are told to expect that (or if we do) and don’t have a story like his, we can feel let down or that somehow our faith or importance in the Body of Christ is diminished somehow. We fall victim to the fiction that God’s plan for us – our story or witness – is less important or valuable and, consequently, we must be less important or valuable!
Listen and listen well: You are the exact person God has chosen for a part of His plan and loves you beyond measure! He has chosen you before the creation of the world to be His; to do His will and serve in spirit and truth. Your story – however “un-Damascus” it is – matters! It is valid and important!
So, then, what is your story?
Scripture tells us honor Christ as holy in our hearts, “always being prepared to make a defense [of our faith] to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15).
My story began before I was born, as when I was conceived, I was already a sinner – dead throughout and separated from God. But on Sunday, May 4, 1969, my parents brought me to the saving waters of Holy Baptism, where God washed me clean, gave me saving faith, and made me His precious child. There were many, many failures and missteps along the way, but every time I sinned or was unfaithful, God remained faithful to His Word and promise for me through Jesus! He has used me, with all my gift and shortcomings, to know and believe in Him as well as serve and share Him in word and deed.
That’s some of my story. It’s not altogether complicated or by any means spectacular. It won’t be the subject of a screenplay or podcast. But God has saved me and used me in some small way to share with other His saving message of Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the Devil through His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension.
And the same goes for you!
Think about God’s plan through your story today, and thank Him for it; for through your faith in Jesus it – you – are remarkable!
“Thank You, Lord, for reaching into my lost, sinful, failure of a life and saving me through faith in Jesus! Thank you for giving me an everlasting story that matters and is focused on You for the blessing of others. Help me to rejoice in my story, live my story, and share my story in word and deed in every way that brings your glory and honor. In Jesus’ victorious name do we pray. Amen!”
