Author: Eric Weiss

During these great fifty days of Easter, we gather again to hear the risen Lord Jesus as He appears and speaks to us in no less a real way than when He appeared and spoke to the first disciples before His ascension into heaven. As Scripture says, “The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20). So we gather in reverent, holy anticipation as we hear the words of Jesus in John’s inspired account, recalling His promise given on Holy Thursday, His word concerning the promise that He would send “another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17). The Holy Spirit is wherever He creates and sustains faith through God’s Word. However, our Easter celebration will break forth before the world on the Day of Pentecost.

Jesus says the world cannot receive, see, or know the Spirit. Paul found this to be true in Athens as he noticed an altar dedicated “To the unknown god.” Though many in our day certainly have heard about Jesus, they do not know Him apart from faith in His word. But you know Him! Baptized into Christ, His resurrection life has given us new life, which for now is but the beginning to be stretched out into life eternal.

READINGS

Our fifty-day celebration of Easter continues as we solemnly gather in the presence of our crucified and risen Savior Jesus Christ. Present He is for we see and hear Him touching and speaking to us through His Spirit, in the water of Holy Baptism, in His very body and blood in Holy Communion, in His words of Holy Absolution, and in the preaching of His Word. We gather not as much to give anything to Him but to receive from Him His gifts of deliverance, salvation, and righteousness. Today, once again He bestows on you His own righteousness, making of us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession. Our sin has been taken away, and we are renewed with eternal life by the faith created in us by His Spirit. In this faith our doubts and fears are taken away as we look forward to our heavenly home, the many rooms and mansions, the place prepared for us, as we await His final return.

READINGS

The closing prayer of the funeral service begins with these words: “Lord God, our shepherd, You gather the lambs of Your flock into the arms of Your mercy and bring them home.” Describing Jesus as a Shepherd is a special image used in prayers, hymns, and Christian artwork. The believer receives a sense of assurance in knowing that the One being followed throughout life is Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The fact that our Lord chooses to repeat the words “I am the Good Shepherd” more than once indicates its importance to Him and to us. As we follow Jesus, we can be confident that He will lead us into that place where goodness and righteousness are eternal.

READINGS