Now It Came to Pass, When the Time Had Come For Him to Be Received Up, That He Steadfastly Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem: St. Luke 9:28-62

St. Luke 9:28-62: "1 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, 'Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah'--not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!' 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen. 37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. 38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, 'Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.' 41 Then Jesus answered and said, 'O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.' 42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 'Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.' 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. 46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, 'Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.' 49 Now John answered and said, 'Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.' 50 But Jesus said to him, 'Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.' 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.' And they went to another village. 57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, 'Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.' 58 And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' 59 Then He said to another, 'Follow Me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' 60 Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.' 61 And another also said, 'Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.' 62 But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

The events of this narrative follow eight days after the Lord has told them about His suffering and death in Jerusalem. The Evangelist St. Luke supplies some of the details that were missing in the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark. We learn that the three disciples that our Lord took with Him were heavy with sleep, and did not see His glory until they were fully awake. It is almost as if they had fallen asleep and awoke in another reality. Another thing that the Evangelist St. Luke reveals that the other Gospel writers do not, is that the disciples and our Lord, spent the night on the mountain. For we are told that they came down the next day from the mountain, after His transfiguration.

Another thing we learn from the Evangelist St. Luke regarding the transfiguration of our Lord, is what our Lord Jesus, and Moses and Elijah spoke about on that mount. We are told they spoke about "His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." In other words, they spoke about His crucifixion and death. Even after our Lord and His disciples come down from the mountain, and He casts out a demon, our Lord Jesus tells His disciples that He was about to be betrayed into the hands of men. Then comes these great words for our ears to hear, "He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem." Meaning, that our Lord sets His purpose and will to accomplish the will of His Heavenly Father, that He discussed with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. He sets His will to suffer and die for our sins.

Having fulfilled the Law for us; Having given many proofs of His Divinity, and that He was indeed the promised Messiah; Having shown His power and authority over the devil and the powers of darkness; He marches toward Jerusalem, like a military general set on defeating and capturing his enemy in one final battle.

There in Jerusalem our Lord, as we well know, will be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, suffer mockery, spittings, beatings, and scourging, and be sent to be crucified to death. All this He does for our salvation. As He says, "The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." He gets destroyed for us, so that we would not be destroyed. The fire of the Father's wrath over the sin of mankind is poured down upon Him on the cross, so that we would not suffer that wrath.

Therefore, at the beginning of this Lenten season, we also set our face steadfastly towards Jerusalem and the cross. For it is at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we lay our sins, and receive His forgiveness.

May God be with you!

Deacon Dulas

Here Is a Place By Me, And You Shall Stand on the Rock: Exodus 33:1-23

Exodus 33:1-23: "1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, "To your descendants I will give it." 2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.' 4 And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the LORD had said to Moses, 'Say to the children of Israel, "You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you."' 6 So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb. 7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. 12 Then Moses said to the LORD, 'See, You say to me, "Bring up this people." But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, "I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight." 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.' 14 And He said, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' 15 Then he said to Him, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.' 17 So the LORD said to Moses, 'I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.' 18 And he said, 'Please, show me Your glory.' 19 Then He said, 'I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.' 20 But He said, 'You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.' 21 And the LORD said, 'Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'"

In this pericope we again see Moses being a prefigurement of our Lord Jesus Christ. For our Lord God chooses to reveal His glory to Moses, but Moses must be hid in the cleft of the rock. This is very similar to an episode that the Prophet Elijah had where he too was allowed to see the Lord's glory pass by while he was in the cleft of a rock. In this we have a connection between Moses and Elijah, and this glory that they only got to see from the cleft of the rock, and not even the Lord's full glory, for His face was hidden from them, we see fully revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration. There Moses and Elijah talk with our Lord Jesus, and they are not afraid, however, the Apostles, St. Peter, St. James the Elder, and St. John, are shaking in their sandles, with their faces to the ground, for they had been revealed the full glory of our Lord Jesus.

But Moses and Elijah are not afraid, for they had seen this glory before. This cleft in the rock also holds significance, because it points to the cleft of rock that our Lord Jesus was placed into after His crucifixion. He was placed in a brand new tomb, that had been cut out of rock. Therefore, Moses, and Elijah, being placed into this cleft in the rock is a picture of the tomb of our Lord Jesus. In this tomb, our Lord reveals His true glory, for in the tomb, our Lord Jesus, buries, once and for all, sin, death, and the power of the devil, so that they can no longer harm us.

Having done this, we, unlike Moses, and Elijah, can see the full glory of the Lord face to face. And we behold that glory, whenever we receive His Body and Blood in bread and wine. The bread that we eat, is the Body of Christ, and the wine which we drink, is the Blood of Christ, this is His glory, the giving out of the forgiveness, life and salvation, that He won for us on the tree of the cross.

Therefore, as we enter into Lent, let us stand upon this Rock, and hide ourselves in the cleft of this Rock, and behold our Lord's glory, which we will reveal to us in His holy crucifixion. May our eyes ever be shown our sin, that we may cast them at the foot of the cross.

May God be with you!

Deacon Dulas

Today This Scripture Is Fulfilled in Your Hearing: St. Luke 4:14-44

St. Luke 4:14-44: "4 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.' 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.' 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, 'Is this not Joseph's son?' 23 He said to them, 'You will surely say this proverb to Me, "Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country."' 24 Then He said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.' 28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. 31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, 'Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!' 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, and come out of him!' And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, 'What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.' 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region. 38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, 'You are the Christ, the Son of God!' And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. 42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.' 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee."

One of the good things about this Lectionary is that we get to go back and hear the narratives that we heard in St. Mark, told from a different perspective from St. Luke. As a matter of fact, if the Epiphany season was longer this year, we would have also heard these same narratives from St. Matthew's point of view. So that, the three synoptic Gospel writers each have a voice in training us about our Lord Jesus' life and mininstry leading up to His crucifixion. And during Lent we will get to hear from all four Gospel writers their perspective of the Passion of our Lord. If you are wondering when we will get to hear St. John's perspective on the life and ministry of our Lord, that will come during the Easter season, from Easter to Whitsunday. St. John giving us our Lord's life and ministry from a theological standpoint comes after Easter. For the three synoptic Gospel writers present the material in a catechetical manner. And since Epiphany was historically the preparation for catechesis into the Church, and during Lent the catechesis actually took place, these narratives serve as a teaching tool for to learn what our Lord did while He was alive on Earth, and it teaches us what things He endured for our salvation.

Therefore, today, we get to see from St. Luke the narrative of our Lord teaching in the synagogue of His home town, Nazareth. From St. Luke we learn that the people of Nazareth did want our Lord Jesus to perform the works that He did in Capernaum, but our Lord says no. We also learn that this upset the people of Nazareth so much that it led them to so much wrath that they desired to throw our Lord off of the mountain upon which the town was situated. Now, something should first be said about differences between the Gospel writers. St. Luke and St. Mark to not differ in substance, they only differ in the details. That is, what one writer leaves out, the other writer supplies. This is for our benefit, for we get to see this narrative on our Lord's return to His home town, from different perspectives to get the full story.

The key to understanding this pericope is that the people of Nazareth had a stumbling block which got in the way of our Lord performing any miracles there, and that stumbling block was who is family was. He was born to lowly parents, a handmaid and a carpenter. They knew His family, and they weren't kings, or leaders, and of course, this is from whom the Jews thought the true Messiah would be, from a family of substantial standing. Therefore, we first see our Lord being despised by men, for whom He is not; for His humble existence.

In other words, they had heard of the miracles performed in Capernaum, but because of their reproach of Who He was, and on account of their envy of the works performed by Him in a Gentile region, they did not receive His works. Mystically speaking we see here the unbelief of the Jews, portrayed by the people of Nazareth, and the willing reception of the Gentiles, represented by Capernaum, which was in the land of the Gentiles. This is in a sense a foreshadowing of what would eventually take place, the Jews would reject our Lord Jesus, to the point of crucifying Him, but the Gentiles would gladly hear about the Messiah from the Apostles after His Resurrection and Ascension.

This is shown further by our Lord's exegesis of the Old Testament. For in both Elijah's day, and Elisha's day, the unbelief of the Jews towards the prophets prevented them from healing the Jews. Only the widow of Zarephath would receive the benefits of Elijah's preaching, on account of her belief. And only Naaman, the Syrian, would receive the benefit of Elisha's preaching, for only he was willing to do what the prophet asked. Therefore, we see from these examples from the Prophets, the unwillingness of the Jewish people to listen to and hear the Word of God. It is on account of their unbelief that many more wonders were not performed in their territory. As it was for the prophets Elijah and Elisha, so it is for our Lord Jesus in His own country. For our Lord was not the type of Lord they expected, nor wanted.

The same is true today, for many want our Lord to work many wonders and miracles, to show Himself in grand ways. They prefer rock bands, and laser light shows with fog machines blowing, and loud amplification systems blaring over all, for in their mind, they think this is the only way that people will listen. First of all, it is not the only way that people will listen, but secondly, and more important, it is not the way that our Lord portrayed Himself, nor came to His people. But He came to us in simple and humble means. He does this today as well. For He comes to us in the simple and humble forms of water, word, bread and wine. In these simple means He, through the working of the Holy Ghost, performs the miracle of forgiveness of sin. There are many today who despise and distain such simple means, after all they aren't as flashy as a big screen with words and pictures on it, and loud music.

But this is how our Lord has chosen to impart His miracles of forgiveness, life and salvation. All those who receive them in faith, trusting that our Lord does impart His gifts through them, gladly receive them, and they are strengthened through them. Those who reproach them, receive no benefit, and search after other false means, which lead them away from God, and into a theology of themself. And there is no salvation in one's self.

May God Almighty lead you to the One True Faith, and guard and keep you in that faith, unto life everlasting, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God be with you!

Deacon Dulas

And After He is Killed, He Will Rise the Third Day: St. Mark 9:2-32

St. Mark 9:2-32: "2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah'--6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!' 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. 11 And they asked Him, saying, 'Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?' 12 Then He answered and told them, 'Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.' 14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, 'What are you discussing with them?' 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, 'Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.' 19 He answered him and said, 'O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.' 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he said, "From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.' 23 Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!' 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!' 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, 'He is dead.' 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' 29 So He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.' 30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, 'The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.' 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him."

This pericope as the recurring theme of our Lord Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples first heard about our Lord's death and resurrection immediately after confessing Him to be the Son of God, which we heard in the previous chapter. Then on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appear to our Lord Jesus to discuss, we are told from another Gospel, the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Coming down the mountain, He discusses with His disciples His death and resurrection, and then after casting out an unclean spirit, He again tells His disciples about His death and resurrection. That is three times in this reading where our Lord's crucifixion and resurrection are related to His disciples and to us; Four if you count the previous scene which happened, according to the Evangelist St. Mark, six days before.

And so our eyes and our thoughts are directed by our Lord Jesus to the cross, that is, to His death for us. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah discuss His death with Him. The question is often asked, "Why Moses and Elijah?" There are several reasons for this.

First, both Moses and Elijah had the privilege of seeing the Lord in His glory pass by. Both of them were hidden in a cleft of a rock for their protection. This cleft of rock prefigured the tomb of Christ, who was placed inside a tomb that was cut out of a rock.

Second, Moses and Elijah represent the beginning and the end of the prophets. Moses was the first prophet specifically called and sent by the Lord God, and Elijah was to be the last prophet to come and herald the coming of the Messiah; He was supposed to be the forerunner. Elijah's return is fulfilled in the person of St. John the Baptist, as we learn from our Lord in this reading that Elijah has come. However, we learn from another Gospel that this was St. John the Baptist.

The third reason for Moses and Elijah being the ones who converse with our Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration deals with the special relationship that these two men enjoyed with our Lord God, especially in their final days. Moses we are told was buried by God, and Elijah we know was carried into Heaven on a fiery chariot. Both of these men received special treatment in their deaths from our Lord God, and were therefore equipped to prepare our Lord Jesus for His own death.

Fourth, the Lord brings His disciples to the Mount to meet Moses and Elijah, for there were those who (not among the disciples) who believed our Lord Jesus to be Elijah, or one of the prophets, which we learn from the previous chapter of St. Mark. Therefore, we see the reason for Elijah's presence. Our Lord Jesus was also accused by some to be a blasphemer and a breaker of the Law of Moses. Moses' presence is a testimony that our Lord Jesus is not a transgressor of the Law of Moses, but is in fact in fellowship and league with him.

Fifth, our Lord brings the disciples, St. Peter, St. James the Elder, and St. John, before Moses and Elijah to present to them a picture of life and death, or to say it another way, to present to them a picture of the resurrction itself, and the power that our Lord Jesus has over life and death. For Moses had died, but Elijah did not. And so, in these two men themselves we see a picture of our Lord Jesus' death and resurrection. We can also see in these two men our own resurrection from death.

Sixth, we have here in this meeting of our Lord Jesus with Moses and Elijah, a meeting of the Old Testament with the New Testament. The Old Testament promises, made by Moses and Elijah about the coming of the Messiah, are fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ. And the disciples, who were present, would become the prophets of the New Testament proclaiming that our Messiah, the Christ, who is our Lord Jesus, has come, and has brought forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation.

Finally, and there could be more, we see in Moses and Elijah two prophets who defeated and destroyed that which was evil, and that led to the oppression and slavery of men's souls. For Moses, through the plagues defeated Pharaoh, and led the people of Israel out of the oppression and bondage of slavery. In this we see represented God's deliverance from the slavery of sin. Elijah, also called down fire from Heaven, and killed the five hundred false prophets of Baal. We see represented in this our Lord God's removal of all lies and false preaching.

In our Lord's death and resurrection, we see both of these things, we see our Lord Jesus' sacrifice for us, winning for us forgiveness, life and salvation. And we see our Lord dispelling all false teaching, and false ways to get salvation, for in Him alone and in His death to we find salvation. So today, we get to hear of our Lord's death and resurrection, and we get to hear of what He did for us, fulfilling the Law on our behalf, and sacrificing Himself in our place so that, like Him, we too might not die eternally, but be raised again to live with Him in Heaven for all eternity.

God be with you!

Deacon Dulas