Holy Cross Lutheran Church

The work of Christ, on a cross and through a tomb, created a ripple that touched the edge of every human experience. Yet, it was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that opened the floodgates! While Jesus attracted a good number of disciples, it’s in the wake of the Holy Spirit’s coming that the church sees exponential growth. Today we celebrate the opening of the floodgates and the outpouring of the Spirit and the journey that begins in its wake.

The resurrection ripple touches everything, affects everything, and redefines everything. The resurrection is THE defining moment of all human history. And it is worth dying for. Stephen - the first martyr - was so convinced of Jesus’ resurrection, His Lordship and the life He brings…that he was willing to lay his life on the line rather than deny the life that was his in Jesus. And yet, in his death, his (eternal) life began.

The pivot from disciple-arresting Saul to disciple-making Paul is his encounter with the Resurrected Jesus. The Jesus Who died, Whom the disciples claimed had risen from the dead, Whose teaching was unraveling everything Saul loved - that Jesus met Saul on a road. And his interaction with the resurrected Jesus - left him so that he could see the world anew. That’s what the resurrection does - it allows us to see the world anew.

The resurrection ripple affected each disciples - but perhaps, none as profoundly as Peter. Peter’s journey from “I don’t know him” to “Jesus Christ IS the Cornerstone” can be indicative of each an ever one of us - our past failures hidden in the blinding light of Jesus’ resurrection.

The resurrection life is an abundant life - both now and in the world to come. But, the abundance that Jesus speaks about is often at odds with the abundance the world desires. In fact, the abundant life will only be found when the desire for the abundance of the world…dies. The resurrection ripple brings death and life.

The implications of an empty tomb were not immediately known. In fact, some disciples lived in fear — talking in hushed tones and wondering what’s next. No doubt, the journey to Emmaus was exactly that. But - it’s there, on the journey, that Jesus meets those wrestling with “implications” and questions of “what’s next.” And it’s there - that Jesus provides the guide needed to keep walking in faith.

Christ is risen! The resurrection is an event that alters the world as we know it. And yet, in those early hours, doubt is present…and not just from crowds…from within Jesus’ close-knit group of friends — his own disciples. Like lots of people, Thomas needs assurances. He needs proof. His doubt is written into history but not for the reason most assume. His doubt is not shunned by Jesus, but embraced. Doubt and faith live very closer together.

The weight that crushed Christ on Good Friday does not rise with Him on Easter. Death remains in the grave; sin remains condemned; wrath remains satisfied. Christ emerges without the burden He carried—and because He rises without it, so do we. Easter is not just victory after suffering. Easter is the removal of the entire weight of the world’s sin. The burden that has followed humanity from Genesis 3 is nowhere to be found. It has been crushed, buried, and left behind.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the long-promised King—but He does not come to take power. He comes already bearing the full accumulated weight of Scripture: the first sin, the broken Law, Israel’s failures, their laments, their exile, their sacrifices, and their stone-hard hearts. The crowds cry “Hosanna,” but the King rides in carrying the burden they cannot see—the sin of the world. Palm Sunday is not triumph but transfer: the weight of humanity being placed onto the shoulders of Christ, the true Scapegoat and the lifted-up Deliverer.

Even after returning from exile, Israel’s deepest captivity remains: the hardened, unresponsive heart that cannot keep God’s covenant. The problem is no longer Babylon—it is within. Sin is not just what we do; it is what we are. Into this hopelessness, God announces the New Covenant—a promise to give His people a new heart, a new spirit, and forgiveness that will not be revoked. This promise leads directly into Holy Week, where Christ establishes the new covenant in His blood.

Exile confronts God’s people with a devastating truth: everything they trusted—land, temple, king, identity—can be stripped away. Captivity exposes the fragility of human security and the depth of spiritual dislocation. Yet God promises deliverance from an unexpected source: a Persian king named Cyrus, called His “anointed.” Through this unlikely rescuer, God restores His people and foreshadows Christ, who liberates us from the deeper captivity of sin, death, and the devil.

God’s people groan under the weight of suffering, injustice, and delayed deliverance. Habakkuk and Lamentations capture the cry of a wounded nation: “How long, O Lord?” Their grief reveals a burden deeper than circumstance—the ache of hopes deferred and prayers seemingly unheard. Yet God promises that the one who brings judgment will in turn be judged. Babylon will fall. Oppression will end. And this reversal anticipates Christ, who will take judgment into Himself and bring hope out of ruins.

The story of the Judges confronts us with the weight of repeated failure. Israel falls into sin, cries out, is rescued—and then collapses again. These cycles reveal not merely bad habits but a deeper spiritual truth: left to ourselves, we return to the same sins, the same patterns, the same brokenness. Yet in every generation, God raises a deliverer—lifted up for a moment, empowered by His Spirit—to rescue His people. These imperfect saviors point ahead to the One who will break the cycle forever.

The Law reveals the weight of sin with crushing clarity. When God speaks the commandments, Israel discovers not a path to moral improvement but a mirror reflecting the truth: we cannot keep God’s law, and we cannot save ourselves. Yet in the wilderness, God provides a surprising promise. When His people look upon the bronze serpent lifted high, He shows them the pattern of salvation—life through Another who is lifted up for us.

The purpose of the Christian Life is walking toward the surprisingly better life with others; not only with other believers, but with those who are far from God. To be clear, walking with Jesus means walking into places and relationships that are often uncomfortable. And, to do so, means walking in patience and great humility while also requiring a deep trust in the powerful and transformative gospel of Jesus.  When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become courageous influencers.

There are times when Jesus doesn’t pull punches - He just unloads with full force. When Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan - He is condemning those who are too busy to stop for others, too prideful to speak to the lowly, or too holy to interact with sinners. People matter. God’s desire is that all people would be in the Way of Jesus - walking toward the Surprisingly Better Life. And more often than not - God puts people in our path so we can practice generosity - both with our time and possessions. When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become generous hosts.

God is compassionate. This is affirmed by the scriptures over and over and over again. God is slow to anger, He is forgiving, and His love for us…is steadfast. Time and time again, in the biographies of Jesus, we read of Jesus’ compassion on the crowds - He joined them in the suffering of their bodies, minds and Spirits. And that compassion led Him to act. When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become compassionate friends.

Theologians down through the centuries all agree - God is actively speaking to His people and His people are actively ignoring Him. In other words, it’s not a talking…but a listening problem. When Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is at hand - He’s telling us that we can access God’s kingdom - if we simply pay attention, listen to what’s being said, and then by God’s spirit, walk in faith. When we are discipled in the words and ways of Jesus, we will - like Him - become expectant listeners.

At the end of the day, the command of Jesus for every disciple is to be a disciple-maker. As we walk toward the surprisingly better life, being shaped in the words and ways of Jesus, we are commanded to bring others along. Discipling other people isn’t difficult, but we won’t do it by accident. We are called to share the story of Jesus, to walk in His ways along side of others, in the places where we live, work, and play.

The Christian life begins in the waters of baptism — It’s there that we are marked by Christ, the crucified. Yet, far too many Christians associate this life with the one that is to come - the one kept in heaven for us. When Jesus was baptized, it was to mark the beginning of His earthly ministry — His journey here on earth. The Christian life, the abundant life, is a life lived not only for heaven…but here on earth. This Surprisingly Better Life is a life lived in the Way - the way of Jesus.

In CS Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Pevensie children stumble into a dark woods during an eternal winter. Yet, in the middle of that wood is a street lantern, aglow with light and warmth. That light is a beacon in that dark, cold wood. Today, we celebrate the Epiphany - when Magi from the east are enlightened by the Light of the Word. Jesus, like a street lantern in Lewis' wood, is a beacon calling every man, woman, boy and girl...home.

When Christmas is barely over, the Church reminds us that Jesus entered not a safe world, but a dangerous one. From fleeing to Egypt to bearing our suffering on the cross, Christ walks a new Exodus to rescue us from sin and fear.

On a quiet night outside Bethlehem, God chose shepherds and a manger to announce the arrival of His Son, the King. Today, we slow down, step into the darkness with the shepherds, and see how God’s glory shows up in humility.  We awe in the good news that the child of Bethlehem still meets us in ordinary places, turning fear into joy and anticipation into praise.

Jesus is not far off—He keeps showing up in the most ordinary places: preached words, poured water, bread, and wine. These simple gifts are where the King meets us face to face, just as truly as in Bethlehem and just as surely as when He comes again.

The same King who came in humility and who comes even now will come again as Judge and Deliverer. Advent directs us to prepare in repentance and hope for the trumpet that will peel back the sky.

The last Sunday of the Church Year - is known as Christ the King Sunday. Yet, the texts associated with this day are often texts that feel…well, less than kingly. A crucified Jesus takes center stage, reminding us that kingly power and authority are characterized by humility and though the world feels broken…the King still rules.

Teaching kids to say please and thank you is one of the first lessons in language. But, it’s also a lesson in a kind of attitude — a way of understanding one’s self in the world and in relationship to others. This same attitude is carried by those of us who follow Jesus, acknowledging our dependence on God. A Thank you…goes a long way.

Jesus is really clear: life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. The surprisingly better life is  NOT one in which we simply get more. Rather, the life and way of Jesus is to give one’s whole self: possession, time, love, money, etc. We give in order to have life.  AND, we give, in order to share life. As the Psalmist reminds us, God “…released those condemned to death...so, write it down…[that] a people yet created can praise the Lord.” The Life of Jesus is for us and for Generations to Come.