Tuesday, March 29, 2005 Just one more Amen!
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
all. Amen –Revelation 22:21
Thus
a concluding benediction. Similar to the ones appearing at the conclusion of
other NT Epistles.[1]
Why do
we end the Lord’s Prayer with the word amen? The word amen means, “So shall it
be” and emphasizes that God, who has commanded us to pray, will hear our
prayers and answer them as He has promised[2]
The Lenten
season is now past us. We now bask in the glow of an empty tomb for we truly
are Easter people! We have just reviewed the various aspects of the Lord’s
Prayer. The only thing left is the word Amen.
The
word Amen simply means - yes! It is so! As we daily come to the Lord, we can be
assured that He hears every petition. Such is the privilege of being a part of
a community and people of faith as we uphold each other through prayer. In our prayers,
we take our needs burdens joys and sorrows to the throne room of grace and then
we are truly thankful as the Savior answers each petition according to His
gracious will. Amen simply means that we are in agreement with what we have
asked. “Amen” from the Lord’s
perspective is that He will answer us according to His gracious favor. From the
perspective of Easter, our only request needs to be that the Lord would bring
us at last to be with Him in glory. Thus, in this Easter Season, we keep our
eyes heavenward as we await His final return in glory.
Yea, Amen, let all adore Thee. High on Thine
eternal throne; Savior, take the pow’r and glory; Claim the kingdom as Thine
own. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and Thou alone![3]
[1] The
Lutheran Study Bible, © 2009 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis, MO Pp.2236
[2] Luther’s
Small Catechism, Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer © 2008 Concordia Publishing
House, St. Louis
[3] Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending Stanza 4,
Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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