Wednesday prior to Easter 3

 

[1]

1Peter 1:17-25 – The resurrection according to God’s plan – The resurrection was destined by God for eternity

God raised Jesus in conformity with eternal destiny.

God has a destiny for every person, even for Jesus. God had the cross in mind even before the creation of humanity. He knew of humanity’s upcoming fall. He knew of the disobedience and rebellion before humanity’s creation. God had a plan to restore us to fellowship before the sacrifice of Christ. It was the eternal destiny of Jesus to be the Messiah, to die, and rise again (verse 20). The question arises: If God knew in advance of humanity’s sin and the horrible death necessary on the cross, why did God bother to make us? Only God can answer that.

Life on earth is a time exile. (v.17) Christians are in the world but not of the world. Life is a pilgrimage on a one-way street with no turning back to live again. We are only foreigners, from our home is in heaven. Christians are in a passing parade on the way to heaven. We are aliens and exiles. The earth is not ours but the Lord’s Life, then, does not consist of the abundance of worldly possessions. WE are as grass, here today and burned tomorrow.

Collect for Wednesday of the week of Easter 2: God of mercy, you have filled us with the hope of resurrection by restoring man to his original dignity. May we who relive this mystery each year come to share it in perpetual love. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen  [2] 19 April 2023

---

[1] The Risen Christ, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Collect for Wednesday of the week of Easter 2, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY