The Readings for SUNDAY, April 16, 2017 - Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of Our Lord

THE INTROIT

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

(Psalm 139:18, 5, 6)

Morning Prayer

O God:
Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Jeremiah 31:1-6

“At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword    found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’”

Psalms

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever.
2   Let Israel now proclaim, "His mercy endures for ever."
14   The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.
15   There is a sound of exultation and victory in the tents of the righteous:
16   The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! the right hand of the LORD is exalted! the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!
17   I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18   The LORD has punished me sorely, but he did not hand me over to death.
19   Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the LORD.
20   This is the gate of the LORD; he who is righteous may enter.
21   I will give thanks to you, for you answered me and have become my salvation.
22   The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23   This is the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24   On this day the LORD has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from Colossians 3:1-4

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Matthew 28:1-10

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message.

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Prayer of the Day

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

A Prayer for Sundays

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Prayer for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

EASTER SUNDAY, April 16, 2017 - "The Resurrection of Our Lord"

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10, ESV)

"The Resurrection of Our Lord"

Quite a text! To read this text and to think of all we do to celebrate Easter, there has got to be more to the story than meets the eye. The story comes off a little flat. Women coming to the tomb and you wonder if they only intended to view the grave from a distance, remember their teacher, tell a few stories and then go back remembering the good times of the past for what they were, events of the past. Done and only to be remembered.

There is a touch of defeat in the story. Maybe Pilate was correct, the dead Jesus was going to be kept dead. These are people living in fear, people who feared the worst, people with little hope. There seems to be little reason to hope. Just one more day following after the horrors of the weekend – betrayal, denial, abandonment and death.

Matthew’s Easter story is a story for people who know fear. People, when they feel the earth shake imagine doom and despair. It is a story for fearful people who look at a grave and only see an end to life. It is hard not to conclude that death is winning – read the story.

If this is a story for people who know fear, it is a story for us. We know fear. Death is all around us. People we love are dying, violence forces us to be fearful in our own community. Nations all around the world are torn by terrorism and war and the oceans no longer insulate us from such events. This is a story for people, who think that death, and fear, and sadness are more reliable than life, and joy, and hope.

Matthew knows about fear and it is to this fear that Matthew speaks. Yes, there is an earthquake but this is the apocalyptic earthquake of God entering into our world of fear. God bringing about the ultimately decisive event for human history – the one who came into the world to save the world from sin, death and fear, has completed his work.

Death, which has bound humanity for all time, is no longer in charge.

The words of the angel and the words of Jesus are words for us, “Do not be afraid.” The earth shakes but it is not about hopelessness and despair, but about God who enters the world to make things right, to give us hope.

We do not celebrate a faith that is centered at the shrine of an grave but we celebrate and live a resurrection faith. A resurrection faith that does not depend on evidence but on the experience of a risen Christ. A Christ who goes before us into a world of fear but fear that no longer paralyzes, no longer a fear with the power to destroy.

This is a faith that expects us not to stay at the tomb and wonder and remember. It is a faith that leads us into the future, following one who goes before us. He is the one, as the angel said, “going ahead of you into Galilee.” Galilee, the key word for Matthew referring to the place where the people who did not know God were found.

A resurrection faith seeks to share the love of God with those who have not experienced God’s love. Such a faith looks to others rather being caught up in the commemoration of an event or a place. Salvation has been accomplished, Christ is arisen, let the world know. Let go of the fear that holds you, follow the one who goes before you.

Matthew was right, for those who need tangible proof, there is precious little. It is easier to live lives diminished by fear. We are tempted to build lives which we can control because then we can be sure. But Jesus invites us to meet him in Galilee, the future that only he can see. Galilee, where there is no shortage of things to be afraid of, yet a place where Jesus goes on before us.

When many of us were small we learned the bedtime prayer,

“Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Mike Slaughter reminded me of that prayer. He writes,

Do you remember praying that? Death and all that stuff was scary. But we knew God was big enough to hold us, didn’t we? When we went to bed, we didn’t lack fear. There were monsters under the bed, and bigger monsters in the closet! But we weren’t like adults. We went to sleep knowing that God was big enough to care for us.

Matthew ends his Easter story with some fearful women coming to a tomb while the men hunkered down in fear elsewhere. It is into this group of paralyzed and fearful people that Jesus comes with the words, “do not be afraid, I go before you.” These are the words for us today also, “do not be afraid, I go before you.” Following these words he gives us our mission,

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

Tell people what it is like to experience the love of God and invite them to experience the same love of God in their lives. Lives which are so full of fear – but fear which need not paralyze and destroy.

Jesus leaves us with those powerful words, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This is the resurrection faith we live today. This is the resurrection hope that turns the cross from a means of death into a means of life. This is the faith that allows us to move into the future facing fear knowing that Jesus is alive, and goes on before us.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted. Sermon shared by Roger Haugen on Mar 28, 2002.

Prayer of the Day - Sunday, April 16, 2017 - Easter Sunday

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Verse of the Day - April 16, 2017 - Easter Sunday

Romans 13:8 (NIV) [Love Fulfills the Law] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Read all of Romans 13

Listen to Romans 13

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un Dia a la Vez - Día de testimonio

Cristo nos libertó para que vivamos en libertad. Por lo tanto, manténganse firmes y no se sometan nuevamente al yugo de esclavitud.
Gálatas 5:1, NVI

Mientras escribía el devocional anterior, mi Dios, que es tan lindo, me permitió tener otra vivencia para que se las relatara a ustedes. No lo hago porque me sucediera a mí, sino para reconocer la grandeza de nuestro Padre. Y también para testificar que cuando en verdad decidimos entregar toda nuestra vida en sus manos, Él nos honra y nos bendice.

La historia que quiero contarles es de una chica que me llamó para decirme que desde hacía varios meses tenía pensado quitarse la vida debido a sus muchos problemas. Entonces, llamó a nuestro programa radial y, gracias a Dios, pudimos ayudarla, tranquilizarla y ubicarla de modo que recibiera el apoyo necesario.

Hoy, dándole las gracias a Dios, me llamó para decir que me escucha todos los días, que está tranquila, trabajando y que vive con su mami. Además, está asistiendo a un grupo de oración y apoyo, y en estos momentos espera con ilusión su tercer hijo. De las muchas cosas lindas que me contó, me llenó de alegría cuando dijo: «De lo que sí estoy segura por completo es que no vuelvo a las drogas. Dios me liberó y me quitó el deseo. Ahora, al mirar atrás, veo el tiempo que perdí no estando con mis hijas y el dinero que gasté en las drogas».

Las dos le dimos muchas gracias a Dios por este hermoso testimonio que, una vez más, nos muestra que no hay circunstancia que Él no pueda cambiar. Hoy es tu oportunidad.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - DANGER CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall…danger…?

Romans 8:35f, NIV

The question asked is a personal one. Not “what” can separate us but “who”? The inference is our enemy, Satan, who tries every tactic he can garner to make us think we can be separated from Christ’s love. Today we look at his tactic of “danger.”

Dr. Paul Negrut pastored the largest Baptist church in Europe which is located in Oradea, Romania. He served the church faithfully under the cruel Ceaucescu regime and often suffered personal mistreatment.

He shared with our Open Doors leaders that the most difficult time he remembers was a night he returned home rejoicing after a very successful evangelistic crusade. But when he walked in the house, he saw his wife weeping and his nine-year-old daughter was trembling. Through her tears his wife shared that when their daughter was coming home from school that day, the Securitate (Romanian secret police) tried to rape her to destroy her and the family.

Paul said, “That night I was in a great struggle. For the first time I was thinking to emigrate from Romania. I asked the Lord, ‘Should I leave the blessing of suffering or should I endure to see my girl like that?’

“I talked to my wife and after prayer, we chose to stay. Two days later they tried to rape our daughter again. And two days later they tried to rape my wife. But every time God was protecting them in a miraculous way.”

Today Dr. Paul Negrut is the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Oradea and the Chancellor of Emmanuel Baptist University. Dr. Negrut weathered the days of communism in Romania and rose to great influence when the Iron Curtain came down. He was offered a job with the new democratic government in a free Romania, but turned it down believing that serving the Lord was a higher calling. Emmanuel University and the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Oradea are known throughout Europe. The university trains people from all over Romania and many other parts of the world.

RESPONSE: I will live this day in the awareness that danger can never separate me from Christ’s love.

PRAYER: Help me remember, Lord, that You are there in the midst of all my troubles.

LHM Daily Devotion - "An Early Morning Surprise"

The women don't waste a moment making their way to the tomb.

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"An Early Morning Surprise"

April 16, 2017

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb ... (Luke 24:1a, ESV)

Read Luke 24:1-12

The women don't waste a moment making their way to the tomb. In a climate where decay rapidly sets in on a corpse, they want to complete their work, while they can still handle Jesus' body. They needn't have hurried; God refused to give death any victory over His Son's body, including any hint of decay. Also, by the time they arrived, Jesus was already gone.

As they reached the tomb they found the stone rolled away. While the women are looking in, two angels appear as young men in the prime of life, wearing dazzling clothes. Immediately, the women are gripped with fear.

The angels point out the folly in what these women are doing: "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!" Then they remind the women of Jesus' predictions and the divine necessity behind His suffering. God's divine love for fallen humans required Jesus' suffering and death to remove our sins. They mention three essentials: Jesus had to be delivered into the hands of men, die by crucifixion, and rise again in glory.

At these words the women remember, quickly returning to report them to the 11 apostles, and the other believers with them. Peter sets out for the tomb, stoops down to look into it, and sees with his own eyes the linen bands, empty and undisturbed. Even with this clear evidence of Jesus' miraculous resurrection, Peter still isn't ready to accept it as truth. Instead, he goes away wondering exactly what has actually happened.

THE PRAYER: Almighty God, thank You for the joyous news of the angels: my Lord is risen! I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). 

Devociones de Cuaresma - Nos vemos en casa

Devociones de Cuaresma  2017

Nos vemos en casa

16 de Abril de 2017

Domingo de Pascua de Resurrección

"No teman. Vayan y den la noticia a mis hermanos, para que vayan a Galilea. Allí me verán." Mateo 28:10, RVC (1-10)

Galilea tiene un lugar especial en mi corazón, pues fue el lugar que vio crecer a Jesús. La orilla del lago fue el lugar de encuentro, de llamado de discípulos, de predicación, y de la mayoría de los milagros que Jesús hizo durante su ministerio. Galilea fue testigo del poder y del amor de Dios. Y Jesús planificaba cerrar su ministerio en la tierra en ese mismo lugar. Galilea iba a ser nuevamente escenario del milagro de la gran pesca y de la restauración de Pedro. La promesa que Jesús les hizo a las mujeres para que la trasmitieran a sus discípulos, es la más esperanzadora que una persona pueda recibir: "Allí me verán."

Cuando releo estas palabras de Jesús, pienso en cuántas veces decimos nosotros palabras similares a nuestros hijos o a nuestros amigos: "Nos vemos en casa." Ésa fue la promesa de Jesús: 'Nos vemos en casa.' Y ésa sigue siendo su promesa para nosotros. El Jesús resucitado victorioso, lleno de vida inmortal, nos dice: 'Nos vemos en casa.' El evangelista Juan nos recuerda que Jesús ascendió a los cielos para prepararnos un lugar (Juan 14), para 'vernos en casa'. No hay promesa que traiga más consuelo ante nuestra propia muerte. Dos veces ocurre esta frase en la lectura de hoy. La primera vez, los ángeles dicen a las mujeres: "...va delante de ustedes a Galilea; allí lo verán." La segunda vez, es el propio Jesús que anuncia: "...vayan a Galilea. Allí me verán."

Jesús resucitado nos dice hoy: "...vayan a Galilea; allí me verán." ¿Dónde se encuentra nuestra Galilea? En la Palabra de Dios y la Santa Cena, allí donde Jesús se hace presente y está dispuesto a vernos, a hacer milagros, a restaurarnos de nuestro pecado. Pero no sólo allí: también hay una Galilea eterna, el lugar del encuentro definitivo. Allí nos veremos.

Gracias, Padre, porque resucitaste a Jesús y lo enviaste delante de nosotros al cielo. Reafirma nuestra fe de que "allí nos veremos". Amén

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡U tilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.

Our Daily Bread - He Understands and Cares

Read: Isaiah 53:1–8 | Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 30–31; Luke 13:23–35

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Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. Isaiah 53:4

When asked if he thought that ignorance and apathy were problems in modern society, a man joked, “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

I suppose many discouraged people feel that way about the world today and the people in it. But when it comes to the perplexities and concerns of our lives, Jesus fully understands, and He deeply cares. Isaiah 53, an Old Testament prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus, gives us a glimpse of what He went through for us. “He was oppressed and afflicted . . . led like a lamb to the slaughter” (v. 7). “For the transgression of my people he was punished” (v. 8). “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand” (v. 10).

On the cross Jesus willingly bore our sin and guilt. No one ever suffered more than our Lord did for us. He knew what it would cost to save us from our sins and, in love, He willingly paid it (vv. 4–6).

Because of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, He is alive and present with us today. Whatever situation we face, Jesus understands and cares. And He will carry us through.

Lord, we give thanks for Your knowledge of our circumstances and Your care for us. Today we want to walk with You and honor You in all we do.

He is not here; He has risen! Luke 24:6

By David McCasland

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Ngài Thấu Hiểu Và Quan Tâm

Đọc: Ê-sai 53:1-8 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: 1 Sa-mu-ên 30-31; Lu-ca 13:23-35

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Thật, Người đã mang sự đau ốm của chúng ta, đã gánh nỗi đau khổ của chúng ta. Ê-sai 53:4

Khi một người được hỏi anh có cho rằng sự ngu dốt và thờ ơ là những vấn nạn trong xã hội hiện đại không, anh đã đùa rằng: “Tôi không biết và tôi không quan tâm!”

Tôi thiết tưởng nhiều người chán nản cũng thấy như vậy về thế giới của chúng ta ngày nay và những con người sống trong đó. Nhưng Chúa Jêsus hiểu hết mọi hỗn độn và lo lắng trong đời sống chúng ta và Ngài thật sự rất quan tâm đến chúng ta. Ê-sai 53, một lời tiên tri trong Cựu Ước về việc Chúa Jêsus bị đóng đinh, đã cho chúng ta thấy một chút về những gì Ngài trải qua vì chúng ta. “Người bị ngược đãi và khốn khổ… như chiên câm lặng trước mặt kẻ hớt lông” (c.7). “Người đã bị đánh phạt và cất khỏi đất người sống là vì tội lỗi của dân Ta” (c.8). “Đức Giê-hô-va vui lòng để Người bị tổn thương và chịu đau khổ. Sau khi đã dâng mạng sống làm tế lễ chuộc tội, Người sẽ thấy dòng dõi mình; các ngày của Người sẽ dài thêm, và ý muốn của Đức Giê-hô-va nhờ tay Người được thành tựu” (c.10).

Trên thập tự giá, Chúa Jêsus đã vui lòng mang lấy tội lỗi và vi phạm của chúng ta. Chưa ai từng chịu khổ như Chúa chịu vì chúng ta. Ngài biết giá Ngài phải trả để cứu chúng ta khỏi tội lỗi và bởi yêu, Ngài vui lòng trả cái giá ấy (c.4-6).

Lạy Chúa, chúng con dâng lên Ngài lời cảm tạ vì Ngài thấu hiểu hoàn cảnh của chúng con và Ngài quan tâm đến chúng con. Hôm nay, chúng con muốn bước đi với Ngài và tôn vinh Ngài trong tất cả những gì chúng con làm.

Ngài không ở đây đâu, Ngài đã sống lại rồi! Lu-ca 24:6

bởi David McCasland

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Él entiende y le importa

Leer: Isaías 53:1-8 | La Biblia en un año: 1 Samuel 30–31; Lucas 13:23-35

Ciertamente llevó él nuestras enfermedades, y sufrió nuestros dolores… (v. 4).

Cuando le preguntaron si creía que la ignorancia y la apatía eran problemas de la sociedad moderna, un hombre bromeó: «No sé ni me interesa».

Probablemente, muchas personas desanimadas sienten eso sobre el mundo y los que en él habitan. Pero Jesús entiende bien la confusión y las preocupaciones de nuestras vidas, y le importa lo que nos sucede. Isaías 53, una profecía del Antiguo Testamento sobre la crucifixión de Cristo, nos deja entrever lo que padeció por nosotros. «Angustiado él, y afligido […]; como cordero fue llevado al matadero» (v. 7). «Por la rebelión de mi pueblo fue herido» (v. 8). «Con todo eso, el Señor quiso quebrantarlo, sujetándole a padecimiento. Cuando haya puesto su vida en expiación por el pecado, verá linaje, vivirá por largos días, y la voluntad del Señor será en su mano prosperada» (v. 10).

En la cruz, Jesús cargó voluntariamente con nuestro pecado y nuestra culpa. Nadie sufrió jamás como el Señor por nosotros. Sabía lo que costaría salvarnos de nuestros pecados y, por amor, quiso pagar el precio (vv. 4-6).

Gracias a la resurrección de Jesús, Él está vivo y con nosotros hoy. No importa qué situación enfrentemos, Jesús entiende y le importa. Y nos ayudará a atravesarla.

Señor, gracias porque conoces nuestras circunstancias y te preocupas por nosotros.

No está aquí, sino que ha resucitado… Lucas 24:6

Por david c. mccasland

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Er versteht

Lesen: Jesaja 53,1-8 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Samuel 30–31; Lukas 13,23-35

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Fürwahr, er trug unsere Krankheit und lud auf sich unsre Schmerzen. Jesaja 53,4

Auf die Frage, ob er meine, Unwissenheit und Gleichgültigkeit seien ein Problem in der heutigen Gesellschaft, erwiderte ein Mann lachend: „Keine Ahnung, und es ist mir auch egal.“

Ich fürchte, viele frustrierte Menschen empfinden heute genauso. Jesus jedoch hat vollstes Verständnis für unsere Sorgen und Fragen, und sie sind ihm nicht egal. Jesaja 53, ein Kapitel im Alten Testament, das Jesu Tod am Kreuz vorhersagt, gibt uns einen Einblick in das, was er für uns durchgemacht hat. „Als er gemartert ward, litt er doch willig . . . wie ein Lamm, das zur Schlachtbank geführt wird“ (V.7). „Denn er ist . . . für die Missetat meines Volkes geplagt“ (V.8). „So wollte ihn der Herr zerschlagen mit Krankheit. Wenn er sein Leben zum Schuldopfer gegeben hat, wird er Nachkommen haben und in die Länge leben, und des Herrn Plan wird durch seine Hand gelingen“ (V.10).

Am Kreuz litt Jesus willig für unsere Schuld und Sünde. Niemand hat je mehr erduldet als unser Herr für uns. Er wusste, was es ihn kosten würde, uns von der Sünde zu erretten. Er war aus Liebe bereit, den Preis zu zahlen (V.4-6).

Weil Jesus von den Toten auferstand, lebt er und ist heute bei uns. Egal, in welcher Situation wir uns befinden, Jesus versteht uns. Wir sind ihm nicht egal, und er wird uns durchtragen.

Herr, wir danken dir, dass du unsere Umstände kennst und dich um uns kümmerst. Wir wollen heute mit dir gehen und dir mit allem, was wir tun, Ehre bereiten.

Er ist nicht hier, er ist auferstanden! Lukas 24,6

Von David McCasland

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Il nous aime et nous comprend

Lisez : Ésaïe 53.1‑8 | La Bible en un an : 1 SAMUEL 30 – 31 et LUC 13.23‑35

C'est de nos douleurs qu'il s'est chargé. V.4

Lorsqu’on lui a demandé s’il trouvait que l’ignorance et l’apathie étaient problématiques au sein de la société moderne, un homme a répondu à la blague : « Je l’ignore et je m’en fous. »

J’imagine que beaucoup de gens sont découragés de constater l’état du monde actuel et de la population mondiale. Reste que Jésus comprend notre perplexité et notre inquiétude, et qu’il tient à nous en soulager. La prophétie vétérotestamentaire de la crucifixion de Jésus nous donne un aperçu de ce qu’il a subi pour nous : « Il a été maltraité et opprimé […] semblable à un agneau qu’on mène à la boucherie […] et frappé pour les péchés de [son] peuple » (ÉS 53.7,8). Par ailleurs, « [il] a plu à l’Éternel de le briser par la souffrance […] Après avoir livré sa vie en sacrifice pour le péché, il verra une postérité et prolongera ses jours ; et l’oeuvre de l’Éternel prospérera entre ses mains » (V. 10).

Sur la croix, Jésus a porté nos péchés et notre culpabilité de son plein gré. Personne n’a jamais souffert davantage que notre Seigneur l’a fait pour nous. Il savait ce qui lui en coûterait pour nous sauver de nos péchés et, par amour, il a choisi d’en payer le prix (V. 4‑6).

Étant donné que Jésus est ressuscité des morts, il est vivant et présent au milieu de nous aujourd’hui. Quelle que soit la situation que nous devons affronter, Jésus nous comprend et se préoccupe de nous. Or, cette vérité nous permettra de tout surmonter.

Il n’est point ici, mais il est ressuscité. LUC 24.6

par David McCasland

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Він розуміє

Читати: Ісаї 53:1-8 | Біблія за рік: 1 Самуїлова 30−31 ; Луки 13:23-35

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Направду ж Він немочі наші узяв і наші болі поніс. — Ісаї 53:4

Один чоловік, коли його спитали, чи справді невігластво та апатія є проблемами сучасного суспільства, відповів жартома: “Не знаю. Мені байдуже!”

Гадаю, що чимало розчарованих людей вважають, що світ дійсно такий. Але на відміну від них, Ісус все розуміє і виявляє велику турботу, що стосується проблем, складностей і турбот у нашому житті. Старозавітне пророцтво про розп’яття Ісуса, яке записано в Ісаї 53, відкриває нам картину того, через що Христос пройшов заради нас. “Він гноблений був та понижуваний… як ягня був проваджений Він на заколення” (Іс. 53:7). “За провини Мого народу на смерть Його дано” (Іс. 53:8). “Та зволив Господь, щоб побити Його, щоб муки завдано Йому. Якщо ж душу Свою покладе Він як жертву за гріх, то побачить насіння, і житиме довгії дні, і замір Господній рукою Його буде мати поводження!” (Іс. 53:10).

На хресті Ісус добровільно поніс наші гріхи і провини. Він знав, як дорого Йому коштуватиме спасіння нас від гріхів, але добровільно, з любов’ю сплатив цю ціну (Іс. 53:4-6).

Ісус воскрес із мертвих, і завдяки цьому Він є живий і присутній у нашому житті. В яких би обставинах ми не опинились, Ісус завжди розуміє і піклується про нас. Він щасливо проведе нас крізь усі випробування.

Господи, дякуємо Тобі за те, що розумієш всі наші обставини і завжди піклуєшся про нас. Бажаємо цей день прожити так, щоб прославити Тебе кожним своїм вчинком.

“Нема Його тут, бо воскрес!” — Луки 24:6

Автор Давид Маккасланд

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Он понимает

Читать сейчас: Исаия 53:1-8 | Библия за год: 1 Царств 30-31; Луки 13:23-35

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Он взял на Себя наши немощи и понес наши болезни. — Исаия 53:4

Одного человека спросили, что он думает о невежестве и безразличии в современном обществе. В ответ он пошутил: «Я не знаю, и мне все равно».

Мне кажется, что многие разочарованные люди чувствуют себя подобным образом, глядя на мир и людей в нем. Но не так с Иисусом Христом. Какие бы трудности и переживания ни обрушились на нас, Он все понимает и искренне заботится. Глава 53 Книги пророка Исаии, ветхозаветного пророчества о распятии Христа, показывает, через что Он прошел ради нас. «Он истязуем был... как овца, веден был Он на заклание» (Ис. 53:7). «За преступления народа Моего претерпел казнь» (Ис. 53:8). «Господу угодно было поразить Его, и Он предал Его мучению. Когда же душа Его принесет жертву умилостивления, Он узрит потомство долговечное, и воля Господа благоуспешно будет исполняться рукой Его» (Ис. 53:10).

На кресте Иисус добровольно взял на Себя нашу вину. Никто не страдал больше, чем наш Господь за нас. Он знал, во что обойдется наше спасение, но из любви уплатил все сполна (Ис. 53:4-6).

На третий день после распятия Христос воскрес, теперь Он с нами. Что бы ни случилось в жизни, Он все понимает и может помочь.

Господи, мы воздаем Тебе благодарение за то, что знаешь наши обстоятельства и заботишься о нас. Мы хотим жить с Тобой и прославлять Тебя во всем, что делаем.

Взгляните еще раз на события распятия и воскресения глазами очевидцев в брошюре Рэя Стэдмана «Слух о надежде».

«Его нет здесь: Он воскрес». — Луки 24:6

автор: Дэвид Маккасланд

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный