Cross and Resurrection - Inseparably Together

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.   John 5:39

There exists a unity to the Old and New Testaments in the central message of Jesus Christ.  From the frequent references to the Old Testament in Matthew’s citations, ‘It is written,’ to Jesus’ teaching the Emmaus disciples how everything took place to fulfill what was revealed in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms, there is a clear continuity to the Scriptures.  That continuity is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and His saving work of the crucifixion and the resurrection.  From Genesis to Revelation, all of the writers of Holy Scripture are inspired by the Spirit to focus on the Messiah, promised and revealed.  To the religious leaders, Jesus tells them that the Scriptures, meaning the Old Testament, “bear witness about me.”  Like the Law and Prophets, Evangelists and Apostles, everything we preach, pray, and sing focuses the worshippers on Jesus and Him crucified and risen again from the grave.

Choir anthems, hymn selections, and sermons all confess the Christ who suffered, died, was buried and rose again.  There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.  As Gustaf Wingren wrote, “Always it is where law speaks, where agony and death hold sway that the Gospel of Christ’s resurrection speaks.  For Christ’s cross and resurrection belong inseparably together, the way to resurrection goes through death.” (The Living Word, p. 59).

My prayer for the congregations of the District this week is that everything would point to Christ, His death, and resurrection.  May God bless the labor of pastors, parish musicians, church secretaries, elders and ushers, altar guild and Audio-Visual team members that all of our service would be in support of the proclaiming of this central message about Christ, the cross and the empty tomb.

Prayer – Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross.  Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan