Third Sunday of Easter
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1 Peter 1:18–19 – “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
Christ ransomed us and bought us back from the slavery into which we were born. We do not belong to ourselves, to the devil or to the world. We belong to Jesus. Therefore, we live our lives not in accordance with our own wisdom, but in line with God’s Word.
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Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 36–41; 1 Peter 1:17–25; Luke 24:13–35
The Risen Lord Jesus Is with Us in Holy Baptism and in ‘the Breaking of the Bread’
From “before the foundation of the world” until heaven and earth pass away, “the word of the Lord remains forever” (1 Peter 1:20, 25).
This “living and abiding word of God” is the preaching of Christ Jesus, namely that God “raised him from the dead and gave him glory” (1 Peter 1:21, 23). By this living word, we “have been born again” to eternal life (1 Peter 1:23) and ransomed from our sinful and mortal life “with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19).
This living word also calls us to repentance, to dying and rising in Holy Baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). In this, we receive the Holy Spirit “for you and for your children and for all who are far off” (Acts 2:39).
Through the preaching of His cross and resurrection, Jesus draws near to bring us “into his glory” (Luke 24:26). As He opens the Scriptures, He opens our minds to comprehend “the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27), and He brings us to know Him “in the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:35).
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Life Thoughts for the Week
Third Sunday of Easter – The practice of abortion rests on the argument that the unborn should not be considered real persons, worthy of dignity and protection under the law. How different that is from the way God views these little ones!
St. Peter reminds us that the death and resurrection of Jesus are “for you and your children and for all who are far off” (Acts 2:39). If all children have been purchased by the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19), surely they are worthy of our love and care, both inside and outside of the womb.
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Lectionary Series – Sunday’s Scripture Readings © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 800-248-1930, Ext. 1265 • worship@lcms.org • lcms.org/worship. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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