March 8, 2026
Third Sunday in Lent
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Exodus 17:3 – “But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?’”
Even the Israelites, who saw miracles with their own eyes, fell into unbelief and fear. From this distance we can see how foolish their worry is.
How foolish will our worries appear from the distance of eternity? The Lord cared for them, and He will care for us.
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Third Sunday in Lent
Exodus 17:1–7; Romans 5:1–8; John 4:5–26 (27–30, 39–42)
We Worship the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit and Truth of His Gospel
Though the Lord had brought them out of Egypt, “all the congregation of the people of Israel” grumbled against Him because “there was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1). Despite their quarreling, the Lord graciously provided for them. He did not strike the people for their sins, but by the hand of Moses He struck the rock instead and brought forth water for the people.
In the same way, living water flows from the pierced side of Christ at “about the sixth hour” (John 4:6; 19:14), when He is lifted up on the cross for the sins of the world. He is “the gift of God” (John 4:10), the well from which the Holy Spirit is poured out and becomes in His people “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).
By this grace in which we stand, being at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we “worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” because “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:2, 5).
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Life Thoughts for the Week
Third Sunday in Lent - The world tells us to avoid suffering at all costs, even justifying murder (abortion, suicide, assisted suicide) on the grounds that death can be used to avoid further suffering.
However, St. Paul reminds us that instead of trying to avoid suffering through death, we “can rejoice in our sufferings” (Romans 5:3), knowing that God uses our suffering to increase our hope in Him and bring us to everlasting glory.
Therefore, when suffering comes, “let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker (Psalm 95:6), entrusting ourselves into the hands of the One who “died for us” (Romans 5:8).
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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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