‘Grab Hope’ This Easter
As we approach the joy of Easter Sunday, Lutheran Media has been sharing a special message from Pastor Adrian Kitson, inviting our podcast audiences, radio listeners and social media followers to ‘Grab Hope’ — and to share their stories of Easter hope with us.
If a friend or family member might benefit from an invitation to explore the hope that comes to us at Easter, please share our ‘Grab Hope’ message with them!
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My Future Hope Easter Sunday Read: Revelation 21:1-4 “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3b-4 (NIV)
Today is Easter Sunday and our Lord Jesus has beaten death and the devil and has been raised to live in Heaven with our Heavenly Father. He is risen indeed! We focus today on all that God has accomplished through Jesus. Through Jesus’ death and rising He has brought us life, and life forever with Him. Revelation is a book of the Bible that is hard to know how to interpret. Many have tried, but we have to be careful not to read into what isn’t there. It is the last book of the Bible, and it was written by John telling of his visions.
This vision of the future is meant to transform the present, by providing hope and motivating Christians to reflect on the character and values that Christ embodied while with us on earth. It shares the vision of what heaven will be like when God is present among us. I love reading about the perfection of Heaven. It won’t be a restored earth, but a totally new reality where there will be no more suffering, all God’s promises will be fulfilled, and we will have a perfect relationship with God (no more sin or separation). This future hope, through the vision of John, provides comfort and encourages all believers to live holy lives here and now in the present. This new creation is divine, not built or created by human hands, but entirely a gift of love from a loving Father.
This salvation is ours for all time. Today we celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death, through His rising from the grave. God has through this act of love and grace, given us the same victory over sin and death where we can now come to Him directly as His precious children. Our sins have been forgiven, and we are washed clean. We can now live in the hope of our future with God forever in Heaven. We can live our future hope now in the present, knowing a loving Saviour loves us unconditionally!
Prayer: My risen Lord and Saviour, thank you for giving me a glimpse of Heaven through the visions of John. Guide me through my life that I may reflect the love you have for me to those around me. Amen.
Eyes to See 40th Day in Lent (Holy Saturday) Read: Luke 24:13-35 “Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” Luke 24:31-32 (NIV)
I am sure there is such a thing as ‘man eyes’. I looked it up and it is defined as: “a colloquial term for a specific type of inattentiveness, not about male eyesight, but rather for a person unable to find something they are looking for that is in plain sight.” [Reddit] I have heard myself saying when talking to my husband or children who are looking for something, “Are you looking with your man eyes?” I am usually able to find the item that has been searched for quite easily. The disciples saw Jesus die, they saw him taken from the cross and the women saw where Jesus had been buried. They saw all this happen. So, it is only natural that they would say when asked where he was, that he was dead and buried.
Today, we as Christians wait with expectation for the resurrection tomorrow morning. We know the story. But for those who were there, their eyes would tell them that Jesus was dead. He had told them many times, that on the third day he would rise again, but they couldn’t forget what they had seen. Some disciples had left Jerusalem in fear after the crucifixion, thinking that they would be next to die, and were walking to another town called Emmaus. They were talking about what had happened over the last days trying to make sense of it all, when another man came up asking questions. This man listened to their fears and tried to explain what they didn’t see. What they didn’t see, was the hope that what Jesus had said earlier was true.
He revealed some of the mysteries and explained what the eyes cannot see or understand. Finally, Jesus revealed Himself having risen and in bodily form and then He disappeared, but their eyes were opened to the truth. Where are you today? Are you looking at this story with ‘man eyes’? Or have you the eyes to see the risen Saviour? I pray that you can see and experience the love and forgiveness of our loving risen Lord this Easter. May your eyes be opened to see a risen Saviour and the hope He brings.
Prayer: Open my eyes, living Lord Jesus, that I may see and know the love you have for me and all of humankind. Open my heart to others around me to help them understand the hope you bring. Amen.
Eyes to See 40th Day in Lent (Holy Saturday) Read: Luke 24:13-35 “Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” Luke 24:31-32 (NIV)
I am sure there is such a thing as ‘man eyes’. I looked it up and it is defined as: “a colloquial term for a specific type of inattentiveness, not about male eyesight, but rather for a person unable to find something they are looking for that is in plain sight.” [Reddit] I have heard myself saying when talking to my husband or children who are looking for something, “Are you looking with your man eyes?” I am usually able to find the item that has been searched for quite easily. The disciples saw Jesus die, they saw him taken from the cross and the women saw where Jesus had been buried. They saw all this happen. So, it is only natural that they would say when asked where he was, that he was dead and buried.
Today, we as Christians wait with expectation for the resurrection tomorrow morning. We know the story. But for those who were there, their eyes would tell them that Jesus was dead. He had told them many times, that on the third day he would rise again, but they couldn’t forget what they had seen. Some disciples had left Jerusalem in fear after the crucifixion, thinking that they would be next to die, and were walking to another town called Emmaus. They were talking about what had happened over the last days trying to make sense of it all, when another man came up asking questions. This man listened to their fears and tried to explain what they didn’t see. What they didn’t see, was the hope that what Jesus had said earlier was true.
He revealed some of the mysteries and explained what the eyes cannot see or understand. Finally, Jesus revealed Himself having risen and in bodily form and then He disappeared, but their eyes were opened to the truth. Where are you today? Are you looking at this story with ‘man eyes’? Or have you the eyes to see the risen Saviour? I pray that you can see and experience the love and forgiveness of our loving risen Lord this Easter. May your eyes be opened to see a risen Saviour and the hope He brings.
Prayer: Open my eyes, living Lord Jesus, that I may see and know the love you have for me and all of humankind. Open my heart to others around me to help them understand the hope you bring. Amen.
Suffering 39th Day in Lent (Good Friday) Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)
It was around the time of COVID that I suffered horrific pain resulting in the removal of my gall bladder. The sharp pains, the cramping and the restlessness of not being able to get comfortable or be rid of the pain led to deep anxiety and fear. If you haven’t been through this, maybe you have had the experiences of intense pain through an accident, joint replacement, or childbirth. Going through such pain can make you stronger, knowing that God is there helping to restore you to bring you back to health and being able to cope. When I think of what I consider pain and suffering, I am in awe of what our Saviour Jesus went through on the cross, which we remember today.
The intense beating and scourging of his flesh, the nailing, the emotional pain of friends leaving, and the sense of abandonment when His Father left Jesus to suffer and die; I know nothing to compare to this! The fact that Jesus went through all this, not because of any wrongdoing on His behalf, but because of all the wrongdoing on our behalf. In this Bible reading in verse 7, Peter tells us to, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Here we are being reminded that even though we cannot understand this type of suffering, we are to rely on God for strength, because He knows what our suffering is about. Having a Saviour who has experienced deep pain and suffering, can allow us to bring our cares to Him, for He understands.
When sharing personal events and stories with people, we tend to choose someone who understands and will sympathise and empathise with our situation. Support groups for those with illnesses and diseases rely on understanding. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our support group when troubles and suffering occur. You will be understood and listened to. You will be cared for and given support. Our suffering will only be for a little while, we are assured, for God Himself will restore us and make us strong. Place your hope in the support of a loving Saviour.
Prayer: Our loving Saviour, thank you for being prepared to suffer and die for me. You know and understand my pain and suffering, and you care for me. In you I place my hope and love. Amen.
Our Inheritance 37th Day in Lent (Wednesday) Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4a (NIV)
Money can be a good thing that helps, but also one that divides families. I have heard stories and seen movies where in the reading of the will of a deceased family member, arguments occur, division and rifts happen between families when family members do not receive what they feel they deserve. There are also other families who do not think about the inheritance but rather feel blessed when some help comes their way. There are stories in the Bible where these issues also occur – one that comes to mind is the Prodigal Son story (Luke 15:11–32). People throughout the ages, in the Bible, in royal families, whether rich or poor, have squabbled over inheritance and riches. Inheritance depends on the person writing the will and what they feel others deserve.
When God writes out His will, we are all included and the inheritance He gives us is eternally amazing. None of us actually deserve God’s inheritance – we disobey, we say bad things, we hurt others, we turn away from God and ignore what He asks us. But still, God has given us a way to be cleansed, forgiven, and become worthy of this inheritance. It is not through anything we can do, rather it is everything that God does. He sent His pure and only Son to the cross to suffer for our sake, so that we also get to share the inheritance of Heaven with Jesus.
Our inheritance is being washed clean through Jesus’ death and resurrection (He suffered for us). Then we get to join in the riches that are ours in Heaven and in living with God eternally. As Christians we have this hope for we have faith and believe that God is truly our Heavenly Father and that we are His children. This inheritance cannot be taken away from us and is more precious than diamonds or gold. Be filled with joy and thank and praise our loving God for what He has given us. Our inheritance is the salvation of our souls!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing me to share in the inheritance of your Father. You died for me so that I can be clean and forgiven. Help me to live a life worthy of your love and sacrifice. Amen. 4
Full Assurance 36th Day in Lent (Tuesday) Read: Hebrews 10:19-23 “…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22-23 (NIV)
As a child, I remember our family really enjoyed fish and seafood of all sorts. One year I remember we got together with friends and went crabbing at some mudflats near Adelaide. We had to have old shoes on – in case the crabs got our toes – and a bucket and spade. I was younger so I went with an adult. The way to find crabs is to look for the bubbles on the surface of the very wet sand/mud and then dig down with a spade and see what comes up. I remember getting so dirty with mud and sand that my father would not let us in the car until we had washed the mud off.
We ended up getting quite a few crabs that we shared between the families. Quite a feast! You may also remember times when you got dirty, muddy or just covered with dust. Every day we get dirty – if not on the outside, it’s on the inside when we do wrong things, hurt someone else, or even think bad things. That is where it is important to be washed. We can do the outside with a shower or bath, but it is only God who can clean us on the inside. In the Bible verse above we read that Jesus cleans us through the sprinkling of water (baptism) and in verses 19 and 20 we are told that it is by the blood of Jesus that we can be totally cleansed and brought before God as His holy people. We are another day closer to Good Friday when Jesus suffered and died for our sake. Why do we call it ‘Good’ Friday?
Because that is the day that Jesus (the Son of God) put His life on the line for all our dirtiness and wrongdoing which made us unacceptable to God. Through the precious blood of Jesus and what He did for us on the cross we can draw close to God with full assurance of our forgiveness. Hold onto this faith and the hope – for God’s promises are sure and He is faithful.
Prayer: My Saviour Jesus, thank you for cleaning me inside and out so that I can be forgiven and acceptable in your Father’s sight. You bless me each day with the full assurance of this forgiveness. Amen.
My Secure Anchor 35th Day in Lent (Monday) Read: Hebrews 6:16-20 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)
While living in Loxton we got ourselves a little runabout boat to tour the Murray River and to have some fun with inflatables that we pulled behind it. One weekend we took the boat out for a picnic to have on board with the children. We motored to a lovely inlet just off the main Murray (Katarapko Creek) and my husband put down the anchor. The Murray River is a dangerous river, for there are swift undercurrents as well as holes in the river floor. It is very important to wear a life jacket. We were not planning on swimming as the weather was cool. But… that was until our anchor became stuck and wedged on a tree root.
I volunteered to go in (with a life jacket) to untangle the anchor. We were close to shore, so I thought it wasn’t deep – that was before going in and finding the water over my head. My husband had a hold of my life jacket the whole time I tried to untangle the anchor. I finally got it free, and the boat started to drift off. But my husband kept ahold of me. I really love the analogy that Paul uses for God as an anchor. There are so many things around us that keep changing – circumstances with family, finances, jobs; but that is what is so wonderful about God – He will never let go of us in any circumstance.
This is the hope that we hold onto. This can encourage us when faced with seemingly calm waters, but underneath are huge currents and holes which can cause us to go under. God holds onto us in all and every situation. He is a firm and secure anchor! We are going through Holy Week. Yesterday we celebrated with the King entering Jerusalem, today we walk with Jesus towards the cross. For God to send His Son to the cross for our sake, sealed our salvation. God’s love for us is unwavering – He has promised us eternal life, and He sealed it for us forever with an oath. His sinless Son would take our sin upon Himself on the cross and then rise to glory. This promise for us is sure!
Prayer: My loving Father, thank you that you hold onto me and will never let me go. You love me with an unfailing love. Help me to share the hope of life eternal with you. Amen.
Christ Our Hero Palm/Passion Sunday Read: Hebrews 3:1-6 “But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:6 (NIV)
Many have heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) for his unfailing faith and hope in His Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and expressed anti-Nazi sentiments during WW2 for which he was imprisoned for two years. Due to his resistance to the Nazi regime, he was hung for his beliefs in Flossenbürg Concentration Camp one month before the end of WW2 in Europe.
He was considered a hero of the faith, for he served as an example of faithfulness to his Lord. He never thought himself a hero, rather Deitrich emphasised that the greatest heroism and salvation comes from Jesus Christ. Today is Palm Sunday and we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as a King. Later this week we see the sentiments change very quickly, with Jesus being sentenced to death as a usurper and troublemaker by the very people He was trying to save. But today we see Him being heralded as a King.
People saw Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a martyr of the faith, but really it is Jesus who Dietrich was defending who was the martyr. Bonhoeffer was faithful to the end, but Jesus has been faithful to His Heavenly Father from the beginning of time. Jesus returned to Jerusalem knowing that He was going to His death, but the people greeted Him with loud ‘Hosannas’ – He was coming to be their King and Saviour. The people of the time wanted Jesus as an earthly King to overthrow the Roman Government, but Jesus came to overthrow the power that sin and death has on everyone.
He came as a Heavenly King. This is the hope that we hold on to. We have a hope and confidence in Jesus as our Saviour. The Bible verse encourages all believers to hold tight to this hope and to remain faithful to the end. Bonhoeffer and other heroes of the faith were faithful to their Lord and Saviour which remind us to also hold fast to our faith and hope. Jesus Christ remains faithful to us, let us remain faithful to Him!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you love me with an everlasting love. Your grace and love bring me the hope of salvation and life everlasting with you. Hosanna in the Highest! Amen.