Author: Andrea Schultz

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world.”
Ephesians 2:1-2a

How does it work for a person to be dead in sin? Aren’t we living creatures no matter what? St. Paul reminds us that living in sin is death—spiritual death. In such a condition, one cannot reach out to God and trust in Him. This is what Paul means by “dead.” To live without the comfort that we are reconciled to God is to exist as dead men. Sure, many are physically well and healthy, but that is not God’s plumb line. Our physical biology is not the locus of trust in God or the recipient of Christ’s peace—our spirit is. Unfortunately, we were born with a dead spirit, one that is horizontal instead of upright, and reeks with the deadly poison of sin. And because of our spiritual death, our body also experiences sin and corruption. We age, decay, and die.

What is needed is a resuscitation to quicken the spirit. The resuscitation of our spirit occurs by the Holy Spirit in the waters of Baptism, which quench the fires of hell, the brink to which our heavy guilt “had well-nigh brought” us. The Holy Spirit says to us, “Your dead spirit will not do. Here is a better death: Christ’s. Since His death is now your own, even more so is His life.” Our Baptism in Christ quickens the spirit. It also guarantees our resurrection of the body to life eternal with God.

Let us pray: dear God, heavenly Father, You saw the death in which we lived and sent Your Son to die so that we might live. Allow us to never take for granted Your mercy that we may always find peace and comfort in the death and life of Your Son, which is ours now and forever. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Silas Hasselbrook, Sem I)

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” …and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.”
Luke 23:4, 14

Luke is the Gospel of setting the stage, and the stage in Luke 23 is the courtroom. Luke’s judicial imagery stands with the famous courtroom scenes of literature. Like Atticus pacing the hall in “To Kill A Mockingbird” or Dimitri’s sweating brow in in “The Brothers Karamazov,” the descriptive language of Jesus’ trial is the dramatic prelude to the climax of the story.

But in these verses, Pilate gives us the defining difference in Jesus’ trial from all other trials: “Behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.” In a twist of fate, we realize the guilt is not on the hand of the accused, but of the accusers. The sinless Son of God must die so that the sinful child of man can live. Yet what kind of Savior chooses to give Himself up for those who hate and curse Him? What defendant would die for the one who falsely accuses Him?

Christ is both the judge and the sacrifice. He is the fountain of water and blood that saves you through the waters of Holy Baptism and continues to strengthen you in the Lord’s Supper. He is the Word made flesh whose innocent blood declares us righteous in God’s sight. Those who stand at the feet of the cross stand in this life-giving flood. We can stand before the throne of God in the assurance that our guilt has been covered. Our shame has been taken away. Christ has paid our debts. Pilate stands before Christ and says, “I find no guilt in this man,” before sending Him to His death. On account of Christ, the Father stands before man and says, “I find no guilt in this man,” before welcoming him into eternal life. Rejoice in your salvation, beloved of Christ! Your sin is forgiven, and death does not have the final say!

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, on behalf of those who mock and accuse, You gave Your beloved Son to be a sacrifice on the cross. Grant us mercy at the foot of your throne on behalf of your Son, to whom we pray: come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

(Emilyann Pool, Deaconess Student)

“For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:25

Punishment—a penalty or retribution for an offense. As this hymn says, Jesus’ punishment on the cross was certainly strange. What was Christ’s offense? What could be the penalty for having lived a life in perfect obedience and faithfulness? Strange punishment indeed.

And yet, Christ did not call out this injustice. He did not stand before Pilate and declare His innocence. No, he gladly and willingly took on our identity as sinful beggars—worthy of death and damnation. He did not protest or point fingers at the truly guilty. Both the Shepherd and the Lamb, He guides us and gives up His life for us as a sacrifice. In His dying, our debt is paid. In His living, we inherit unimaginable fortune—the hope of everlasting life, free from punishment.

Let us pray: O Lord God, in our sin we have strayed from You and ran after darkness. But You are our faithful shepherd who calls us back into new life. In Your perfect obedience, You took on our punishment so that we may be free. Keep our eyes fixed on You, O Lord, and guide our hearts in Your truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Anna Barger, Deaconess Student)

“[Jesus our Lord] who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Romans 4:25

No one likes to think about their sins, especially knowing the great sorrow and anguish they caused Jesus. He suffered in our place on the cross. He received the death that we deserve. Lent is a time to reflect on why Jesus was delivered up. We spend time meditating on God’s Word and promises. We hurt knowing that we should be the ones suffering for our sins and receiving the punishment we deserve.

Even during this time of sorrow, there is Good News! Jesus came to die on the cross and take all our sorrows and anguish upon Himself. We look forward to the joy and promise of a risen Savior. Because of His resurrection, we have the promise of our own bodily resurrection when He comes again. We remember the promises given to us at our baptism. We repent of our sins and receive absolution. We turn our eyes to Jesus, the One who died for the forgiveness of our sins and is raised for our justification, even though we are undeserving.

Let us pray: O God, though we are undeserving of Your mercy, You sent Your only Son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Grant us peace and comfort during this season of Lent as we look toward the cross and resurrection of Your Son; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Amanda Korthase, Deaconess Student)

“[Jesus said] ‘And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.’”
Mark 10:34

If you knew it was coming, wouldn’t you stop it? Three times, Jesus told His disciples exactly what was going to happen. Three times.

What indignity and shame He knew He would face! How did He endure it? With just the smallest word from His mouth, He could have stopped it. He could have made Himself not feel the sting of the whip. He could have ended the torture and torment. He could have made the spit miss. He could have refuted their mocking. He could have come down from the cross.

But no, Jesus not only allowed the pain and the shame to go on, He knew it was coming. The Living One knew He would taste death. He knew He would drink the cup of wrath that our sins deserved. He knew how ugly it was. And still, He accepted it.

That, brothers and sisters in Christ, is true love. Our best attempts at loving each other are pale and self-serving compared to the passion of Christ. Thank God it is. Because death could not keep him. And now it cannot keep you.

Let us pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, You willingly sent Your Son to suffer and die for our sake; grant that we would look to His cross and passion this Lenten season and take comfort in the knowledge that because of His death we will have eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Jerry Smith, Sem IV)

“Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.’ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.”
Luke 23:20-24

Three times Pilate affirmed Jesus’ innocence: “What evil has he done?” But the crowd kept shouting, “Crucify him!” And there’s Jesus, standing in silence. He is the spotless Lamb, led to slaughter. Soon, the shouting match ends with the headstrong demand of the crowd prevailing over Pilate’s plea.

Shouting matches rarely turn out well. We desire to be heard over our neighbor. We want things our way and blame others for our mistakes. Like the crowds, we shout against all authority in what we say and do. Like Pilate we desperately want our plea for the innocent to be heard, but too quickly give up to sin’s demands. This Lententide, repent and see the Lord of Life, giving Himself up on His cross for our sin and punished with our death.

O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken? That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, willingly gave Himself over to the cross to pay for your crimes and die for your sins. And in the end, Jesus has the last word. In His resurrected glory He announces that your sins are forgiven.

Let us pray: O crucified Lord of Glory, for our crimes and transgressions You went to the cross to die. Grant us repentant hearts that we may recognize You as our substitute in Your cross and passion, that in Your death we receive life. It is in Your name we pray. Amen.

(Jeffrey Kyler, Sem. IV)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

One might speak of a great annoyance as the “bane of my existence,” but for Christ His bane went way beyond any burden we could ever bear. His bane, that which caused him death, ruin, and woe, was the cross. He felt the pain for the punishment for all your sin.

But His love for you runs deeper than the nails that pierced His body, for from them flowed a well of blood that has washed you clean. Jesus hanging on the cross for you is your greatest blessing and pleasure. He interceded for you and you were right there with Him. It is true what Martin Luther says: “By faith you are so cemented to Christ that He and you are as one person.”

Your sinful flesh met its end on the cross and now you live by faith. You are united to Jesus through your baptism into His death and so He is with you as you bear the crosses of this life. Since Jesus bore the cross in your place, He is yoked together with you day by day, making your burdens joyfully light. Because of His love, by faith we rejoice in counting our crosses as our blessings and pleasures.

Let us pray: Dear Lord Jesus, by Your crucifixion we have peace that knows no measure. Abide with us as we bear our crosses in this life so that we may rejoice in knowing that You are bearing them with us, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Carl Wendorff, Sem. IV)