We are free to serve one another. We do not need to treat our neighbors as a means to an end for attaining righteousness before God. We know that, because we are forgiven in Christ, we are not held captive or forced to make ourselves worthy before God by what we do. In Christ, we are already free. So, we are free to love one another through our vocations at home, at work, and in our community.

In Isaiah, the Lord spoke of how His presence, His open hands, and His words were rejected. However, just as the whole cluster will not be disregarded because some good grapes remain, the Lord will not completely wipe out His own people because the faithful remnant remains. Jesus alone is the one who truly remained faithful. He gives us the new wine of the Gospel, His blood, which was poured out for us upon the cross to bring all who are in Him into the final harvest forever.

The beauty of the northern lights gives us a glimpse of the wonder of the Lord's handiwork in creation. Wisdom was there. That is, the Son was at the creation. The Spirit was there too. Three in One and One in Three, the triune God is majestic and beyond our limited abilities to fully understand Him. Yet, in God's wisdom, He has revealed and given us salvation through Christ dying on the cross and rising again. We marvel at the mighty work of our triune God to save us.

On Pentecost, Jesus' disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit so that all ears heard about Jesus' mighty deeds of salvation through His crucifixion, conquering of death, and resurrection. Going out in all directions from Jerusalem, the Gospel was beginning to fill the earth. Even today, the Holy Spirit continues to fill ears through Word and Sacrament, and the church works to fill every corner of the world with the Good News.

It is a blessing when the church works in unison. But where does that unity come from? By Holy Baptism, we are united to Christ's death and resurrection and are children of God. Because we are children of God, we are also brothers and sisters in Christ. It is beautiful when we confess to one another, forgive one another, dwell in that unity accomplished by Jesus, and function in unison around Him

The lamb, an animal that appears vulnerable and weak, is the picture Scripture gives us of Jesus as the one who carries the ultimate standard of victory. Christ is that "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). His victory was not won by a worldly military conquest but by giving Himself up for us by dying on the cross. Christ's victory is not the way of the world, but it is the only victory that accomplishes forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation!

When Jesus told His disciples that in a little while they would not see Him, He was preparing them for His death on the cross. There would be a time of trial for the followers of Jesus, but this would not be the end. For Christ has been raised from the dead. He has won for us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. In our times of trial, Jesus' words remind us of His promises that He indeed is still with us in His Word and Sacraments. He has not abandoned His church; all who believe in Him shall be raised on the Last Day.

As Paul prepared to go to Jerusalem, he called the elders of Ephesus to give them his parting encouragement that they should watch over the flock of the Good Shepherd. The Lord's undershepherds are to remind the flock to heed the Shepherd's voice and to flee from every voice that would entice them away from His care. For Christ alone is the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life on the cross and rose again from the grave to give all who believe in Him eternal life.

Paul fell to the ground, and the Lord raised him up in Baptism. What a reversal! Paul went from persecuting the faith to proclaiming it. What a Lord that He still unites people to His death and resurrection by Baptism. Our Baptism is death to sin and being made "alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). When we remember our Baptism, we live in this reality by daily repenting and believing the Gospel!

Jesus stood among His disciples to show them His hands and side. The marks of the nails showed that the Jesus who was crucified is the very same Jesus who has been raised and lives. Thomas was not there the first time Jesus appeared among His followers, but he wanted to verify with his own eyes and hands that Jesus lives. Jesus' hands still bear the marks of His love for us through His sacrifice upon the cross.

David's psalm proclaims that the Lord is at his right hand, and at the Lord's right hand are pleasures forevermore (see Psalm 16:8, 11). David's soul will not be abandoned to Sheol. While David died and remained in the tomb, we know that this psalm is ultimately about Jesus. Jesus is the Holy One who did not seen corruption in the tomb. He was raised from the dead, ascended, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus will bring David and all who are in Him by faith to the resurrected life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!