Wednesday of Lent 5

Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain – Lutheran Service Book #435

Zechariah 13:1; Hebrews 9:14; Matthew 27:33-35; Isaiah 25:6-8

Come to Calv’ry’s holy mountain,

Sinners ruined by the fall;

Here a pure and healing fountain

Flows for you, for me, for all,

In a full perpetual tide,

Opened when our Savior died.

Jesus lived a life of sacrifice. Sacrifice was a part of priestly duty. It was Jesus’ supreme sacrifice on the cross, that broke down the barrier between God and man. A vital part of Christ’s work was to live in complete obedience to the will of the Father. Thus, His sufferings were a necessary end to His life of obedience, and in that sense, He learned obedience through what He suffered. With respect to His high priesthood, Christ’s suffering revealed His full ability to sympathize with people, for His suffering was an indication that He knew and felt to the greatest degree the pain and anguish that is a part of this human life. 

Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[1]

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[1] Lutheran Service Book, Collect for hope of eternal life in Christ; © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis