‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children’ (Luke 10:21).
Read Luke 10:17–24
Seventy-two adults returned from their apprenticeships as ambassadors of peace and healers of the sick. The scripture does not say how long they were away, only what they were to do, and that they went ahead of Jesus. As Luke describes it, I picture the reunion like kids who, when figuring out how to ride a bike, fly a kite, or do something they previously thought unimaginable, they came screaming up to Jesus: ‘You’re not going to believe what we just did!’
Even though Luke doesn’t describe the minute details, I can’t help but imagine a smirk on Jesus’ face, a hand on their backs (you know, like what your mum or dad did when you succeeded at something), and he says to them, ‘Okay, okay, that was fun, I know. Calm down. Don’t let your joy be overrun by what you did; think about the big picture. Your names are written in the Book of Life because of what God is doing. Nothing can get at you. Ever’.
Jesus thinks of the disciples as God’s children. They were excited. Though it was amazing to the disciples that they were given power over the spirits, it would be God’s work in Jesus that would be the final blow to Satan and all his schemes. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God’s saving work on the cross, every believer, saint and sinner alike, escaped the clutches of sin, death and the devil.
This Easter season, rejoice that the work of Jesus reveals your name in the Book of Life. Nothing can get at you. Ever.
Describe one time in your life when you used your gifts to bring about goodness. How would you imagine Jesus responding?
Thank you, Jesus, for writing my name in the Book of Life. Give me bold strength to use your gifts in the world. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine, and Greta, have created a Spotify channel where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com and regularly contributes to The Lutheran magazine.
‘When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house”. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them. If not, it will return to you’ (Luke 10:5,6).
Read Luke 10:1-17
Before COVID-19, there was a part of the service I called ‘The Introvert’s Worst Recurring Dream’. In church terms, the bulletin read … PASSING THE PEACE.
Typically, extroverts would turn en masse to the nearest people and shake hands or (worst case scenario) open their arms for a hug. This ‘passing of the peace’ would last for agonising minutes – lots of ‘Hello’s’ and ‘How are ya’s’, maybe a recap of the week, and finally – mercifully – the pastor would jovially proclaim, ‘All right, you can all go back to your seats now’. I sometimes wondered what the point was. What was ‘passing the peace’?
In our scripture today, Jesus sends out 72 willing, able, and (presumably) peaceful servants who will act as ambassadors for Jesus as they go ahead of him to the towns, to individual homes, to share his peace. As they enter houses, they are to pass the peace (of Jesus) to the inhabitants and, if the residents are promoters of peace, it will stay. If not, it bounces back, I guess.
Is this what happens in churches? Do we herald the peace of Jesus? Do we share this peace which entails confession, forgiveness, grace, and all the fruits of the Spirit, or is it simply a catch-up time for those who might have been late for the service?
I’m tempted to think that the designation of peace, and the passing of it, was to prepare others for Jesus’ coming. As you are promoting peace, think about the words that facilitate the grace of God coming to individual houses. While small talk might be necessary, maybe this phrase could be a later follow-up: ‘No matter what you are feeling or going through at this moment, may the peace of God which passes all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.’
Holy Spirit, let your peace be upon me. Please help me to be a promoter of peace and one who passes it on to others. Help me not only to feel peace but to be peaceful. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine, and Greta, have created a Spotify channel where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com and regularly contributes to The Lutheran magazine.
‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24:32b).
Read Luke 24:13–49
On January 12, 2007, an amazing thing happened near the Metro station in Washington DC. A young man wearing jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt began to play the violin. It was evident to all who passed and especially, those who paused, that the young man had talent. He played for 45 minutes, enjoyed the hearty applause from the select few who stopped and, when finished, he picked up his violin case and deposited the handful of coins – 32 dollars worth – that had been unceremoniously chucked into it, into his pocket and whistled his way away from the station.
Some would have walked away wondering why their hearts had burned with beauty after the young man’s performance. Amazingly, if they had shown up at the Boston Symphony Hall three days earlier, they would have paid 100 dollars to hear Josh Bell, one of the preeminent violinists on the planet, play his 1713 Stradivarius.
Hundreds had the opportunity to stop and hear the master, Josh Bell, play for free, but most were too busy and missed out on the opportunity to have their hearts set on fire.
When Jesus appeared to Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus, they had no idea it was the Master of all Creation walking with them. Without cost and reservation, Jesus ‘sang’ the Music of Salvation and the Song of Hope to these men. While so many in Israel had passed Jesus by, these two had front-row seats to the masterpiece.
And when they had finished, and Jesus had disappeared from their midst, it almost sounded as though they were breathless. ‘Were not our hearts burning within us …?’
This is what the risen Jesus does for all of humanity. He offers himself free of charge, and the time we spend with him is full of beauty and the majesty of the Father’s Song of Salvation. Have you heard the song lately?
Question: When was the last time your heart burned within you for the sake of faith?
Thank you, Jesus, for your miraculous gift of salvation. For the gift of grace through your life, death, and resurrection, I am overwhelmed and grateful. Thank you. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine, and Greta, have created a Spotify channel where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com, and regularly contributes to The Lutheran magazine.
Easter Sunday Read: John 20:1-31 “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’” John 20:18a (NIV) Begin a chain reaction with God’s Grace. There is always a chain reaction to good news, and it seems before long everyone has heard the news in one form or another. Sometimes after it has travelled through various sources, we may question the authority of the news and want to get it from a firsthand source. Especially now in the days of social media – news can spread far and wide so quickly that it is hard to keep track of all who know. I love the account of the resurrection in the Gospel of John. For one thing, John puts himself in the picture of being one of the first to see Jesus alive – (John 20:3-5)… it is commonly assumed that John was ‘the other disciple’. So, Jesus appeared to John, Peter and Mary, then all the other disciples (except Thomas). He was the one who questioned the authority of the source, but Jesus soon put him straight by appearing it seemed just to him. How would it be to have the risen Saviour standing in front of us today? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Jesus! But we do, we see Jesus every day in the people we talk to, the people on the street, in the school, in the aged care home. Jesus appears everywhere. We have been given God’s Word to assure us of His presence in our lives. Jesus has risen – He is alive in us and in others. Such a gift of grace. This is itself a source of joy and hope. The excitement began with Mary Magdalene in the text above and soon the disciples had caught this joy and they then shared it with the help of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you also will catch the promise of Easter – our risen Lord and Saviour who has promised us the gift of life forever. This is Jesus’ exciting grace – Share this grace of love, joy, forgiveness and hope to the rest of the world. ‘Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!’ Prayer: My risen Saviour, I praise you for overcoming death to assure my salvation in heaven. Help me to begin a chain reaction to this Good News. You have triumphed, Halleluiah! Amen. 5
40th Day in Lent (Holy Saturday)
Read Mark 15:33-47 “And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God.’” Mark 15:39 (NIV) In the death of Jesus our life begins – that’s GRACE. When living in Loxton in the Riverland of SA, I found that I was truly able to understand how death brings life. For a seed to bring fruit it first must die, and be buried in the ground, and through water and sunshine (gifts from God) that seed will soon become a plant that produces fruit to bring life to others. Farmers have a most incredible faith. Their livelihood relies on God’s grace and goodness to bring rain and sunshine at the right time to bring the crop to harvest time. In the above account in Mark, we read that Jesus died a horrific death, even calling out to His Father feeling abandoned, and leaving His life on earth. Even in His dying, we read the proclamation of the guard standing by that this man was God’s Son. Fruits were already being felt by those seeing an innocent man die. Joseph of Arimathea (who was a prominent member of the Jewish Council) recognised Him as the Messiah and made sure Jesus’ body was given a proper burial in a new tomb. God’s grace came to fruition three days later when that tomb became empty. The Son of God had defeated death and rose from the ground to live in God’s Sonshine. The title of this devotional is ‘Understanding GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense’. It is at the time of Jesus’ death that we can truly understand God’s intentions for us. He needed everyone to be saved and so to cover our sins, He sent His innocent Son to die. But we will read tomorrow what God has done in the resurrection of Jesus. Death could not hold Jesus and He defeated Satan for us. Through the death of an innocent man – the Son of God – we are freed and can begin a life with God in heaven. Through the death of one man, our eternal life has been secured. Prayer: My loving Saviour, thank you that you did not leave me to live in my sin, but you brought me grace and love through your death. I can now live eternally knowing my sin is removed. Amen
39th Day in Lent (Good Friday)
Read Luke 23:26-43 “Then [the robber] said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:33 (NIV) God’s gift of grace is the promise of eternal life. It is not an easy thing to have a loved one die. It is so hard to say ‘Goodbye’. Today I have had a very close and loved friend pass away from this life to her eternal home. Even with the pain of her disease she always welcomed me with a smile and love in her hug. She knew about her loving Lord and Saviour. She knew that one day she would be with Him in His Kingdom and what assurance it now is for those who knew and loved her. Her life does not end today, it never ends… she is with Her Heavenly Father with no pain, no sorrow. Today is also the day Jesus died. His was a horrible death on a rugged cross with only pain searing through His body with every breath He took. Jesus’ death had been planned from when time began. This was God’s solution to a world filled with pain, sorrow, hurts, and sinfulness. The only way He could save the world was through the death of His sinless Son who paid our price on the cross and gave us the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Two criminals hung there with Jesus. One ridiculed Jesus and made fun of Him not knowing that through Jesus was life eternal. The other confessed his sins and wrongdoings and asked Jesus to take him to heaven. When we are faced with a loved one’s passing, or even our own, Jesus has promised: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” What an incredible gift, a promise of grace and a life with our beloved Father in Heaven. This grace is a gift. I am feeling incredible sorrow and sadness for myself and my friend’s family as we know we are without them now on Earth. But, with the promise of Jesus – there can be no sadness only joy and thankfulness of a promise and life assured. Jesus will never forget His promise! Prayer: Thank you for your grace in dying an innocent death so that my eternal life in Heaven is secured. I welcome seeing you and experiencing this joy one day with you. Amen
38th Day in Lent (Maundy Thursday)
Read: John 17:20-26 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 (NIV) Jesus promises us life eternal through His gifts of grace. Maundy Thursday was a very important day for Jesus as it was when He gave us all His commands and gifts of grace. On the Thursday evening before the Passover meal, Jesus got down and washed His disciple’s feet commanding them also to be a servant to others. Jesus predicted both the betrayal of Judas, and also Peter’s betrayal. In John 13:34 Jesus shares the commandment to love each other as He has first loved us. Will he love and forgive Judas and Peter? – yes to both, but Judas was so filled with guilt he couldn’t accept Jesus’ forgiveness. Jesus then instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus gave His body and blood for our redemption. This was the greatest gift of grace – the giving of His life for us. In John 14-17 we can read of the prayer that Jesus prayed for all believers, His disciples and himself and in it He promised another gift – that of the Holy Spirit who would come to be with them once Jesus had gone to be with His Father. Soon after the dinner, Jesus and a couple disciples went out into the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus again prayed for His Father to be near Him as He knew what was coming and needed to do the Father’s will. Soon after, a traitor betrayed Him with a kiss, which then began the horrific torment and torture of Jesus in body, mind and spirit. We tend to put limitations on God’s promises and His love. But Jesus’ love is unlimited and is free for all, even traitors. Christ still loves us when we are sinful and go against His will and His way. Only when we trust in His all-encompassing love, grace and promises will our own love truly grow beyond limits. Christ’s new commandment is for us to have a boundless love, a love of grace, a love without end. Like the love He has for us… Prayer: Our loving Saviour, thank you for showing me the way to love through your actions and promises. Help me to emulate your love to others and share with them also your promises of grace. Amen.
37th Day in Lent (Wednesday)
Read: Revelation 22:7-21 “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” Revelation 22:21 (NIV) Grace guides those in darkness into the guiding light of Christ. We are now in the Wednesday of Holy Week, and you will have already read 42 devotions on God’s grace. What else can be said? The last verse in the Bible is written above. The author of Revelation, assumed to be John, is blessing us with God’s grace. It is completely by the grace of our Lord Jesus that God saves us sinners, provides for our needs, allows us to serve Him and keeps us until the final day of redemption. Part of our calling as a Christian is to work together with God to assure others of their salvation. God wants everyone to be saved. D. L. Moody told the story of a passenger boat trying to make Cleveland harbor on a stormy night. The pilot knew he could find the harbor channel safely by keeping two lower shore lights aligned with the main beacon. But the lower lights had gone out. In the darkness, the pilot bravely tried to find the channel, but the boat crashed on the rocks, and many lives were lost. As Christians we are standing on the shore and God charges us with the job of sending out the guiding light of Jesus to others to help them find their way to Jesus and God’s saving grace. During this last week of Jesus’ life on earth He was preparing everyone for when He would return again. It was all very confusing for the disciples as Jesus was talking about when He would come back. “But He hadn’t gone yet. Was He going somewhere for a rest and then coming back?” If we think it is confusing for us, it was doubly so for the early church who faced questions about their Lord’s return. Jesus himself told us that: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32 NIV) Send out God’s guiding light of grace and love. There is still time to spread God’s grace. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to understand the urgency with which to spread your love and gift of grace with others. I trust in you that you will return in your good time. Amen.
36th Day in Lent (Tuesday)
Read: Mark 13 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Mark 13:31 (NIV) God’s Word of Grace is the light over all darkness. War is defined as “a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations,” or more generally, as “a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism.” About 30 years ago a group of academics and historians compiled some startling information. Since 3600 BC, the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period, that is, during the past 5,600 years, there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the entire world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Jesus’ teaching in Mark 13 is to prepare readers and hearers for what lies ahead as well as what lies in the distant future. He says that there will be wars, hunger, pain, natural disasters and false preachers and I think we can attest to all of these having occurred and will continue to occur in our world. The problems and trials we go through in life are sometimes too numerous to mention. They may weigh heavily on our spirit. But there is the one Light that shines in all the darkness and that is the Light of Christ who brings His promise of grace and hope. As children of the Light, we hold on to a future life in heaven that will not be taken from us. We need not be scared or fear when Christ will return, rather we rely on hope – the hope that is based on God’s faithfulness and not our own. That means that our watching and waiting is an active, hopeful and purposeful waiting – to be about the mission of Jesus in our world. Unrest will continue in the world with wars and natural disasters, but we know that our future salvation is totally in God’s hands and that His grace is the Light in a dark world. This will be the beginning of a New Life with God. Come, Lord Jesus! over all the darkness in the world. Amen.