Death Stinks Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”  John 11:39 Death stinks.  Spouses, children, families, and congregations all understand.  Literally and figuratively, death stinks.  Sometimes death...

Jesus Revealed  And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”  Mark 9:7 No one in Mark’s Gospel seems to understand who Jesus is.  Let me be more precise, the only ones who seem to know who Jesus is are the demons! ...

A Day in the Life And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.  And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left...

Sent to Serve “[T]he Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Students across the country are celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week with special events all week long.  In normal years these activities range from chapel services...

A Simple Call “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”  And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Mark...

Listening to the Word of the Lord at a Wedding Reception “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no...

The Best or Worst Trade in History Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.  A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian...

Making All Things New Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud...

It Happened And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered… And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths...

Praying the O Antiphons of Advent O come, O come Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to thee O Israel! (LSB 357 v. 1) For more than a thousand years, the Church has been...