Pious Lutheran

Christ as the Good Shepherd, Lucas Cranach the Younger, 1540 Jesus is the Good Shepherd The sheep go astray through sin There are many false shepherds who lead the sheep astray and devour them Jesus finds His sheep and  gathers His sheep together and nourishes them by giving Himself to be devoured by them. We follow His example. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! I love this Sunday when we get to hear Jesus say: “ I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. ” We sing some pretty delightful hymns on the 23rd Psalm, we think of all the Good Shepherd artwork, it’s just very comforting and pleasant. Who doesn’t want to meditate on our Lord carrying us who are weak and frail. It’s a very paternal image of a big strong Shepherd carrying us, perhaps reminiscent of our childhood and seeking refuge in the arms of our parents. But these texts are also quite humbling, because if Jesus is our Shepherd, then that makes us sheep. St. Peter sa...

Doubting Thomas , Peter Paul Rubens, 1615 Jesus Delivers His Peace through Pastors Those who took hold of the horns of the altar, where blood for them was shed,  pleaded for grace in their need. Thomas needed to take hold of the horns of the altar of Christ’s body, in order to find peace from His sins. Since we cannot take hold of Jesus’ wounds,  Jesus sent Pastors to speak in His stead and by His command, so that we may have peace. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the Old Testament God had made a merciful allowance for accidental murderers, allowing them to flee to God for mercy by taking hold of the horns of the bronze altar outside of the tabernacle. The bronze altar stood directly outside of the holy place, and at this altar the sacrificial animals were burned up morning and evening, along with other sacrifices during the day. On the Day of Atonement the blood of the lamb would be placed onto the horns of the altar. So those horns for Israel were...

The Resurrection, Francesco Buoneri, 1619 Jesus Rose, Hence God is Real Why were the first witnesses of the resurrection afraid and astonished? Because God is real, and Jesus is God. Jesus rose, and therefore sin, death, and hell are real, but so is our rescue from those things. Let us then celebrate the resurrection without the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! How do you feel right now? Are you afraid? Has trembling and astonishment seized you? I’m guessing probably not. Today Easter has an ambiance of spring time happiness, with bright pastel colors and smiles galore! So the response of the women on the first Easter maybe strikes you as a bit bizarre: “ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ” Why in the world would they be trembling and filled with fear? Shouldn’t they be jum...