Mariah Mills, Boise ID 

Warm-up Questions 

• How did you celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Easter?
• What happened after all of the celebrations were over? Did it feel like life just went back to normal?

What You See, Isn’t Always the Truth 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! What now?

If you went to or watched church on Easter Sunday, you likely heard something along the lines of: “Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the powers of sin, death, and the devil have been defeated! We no longer have to fear, we no longer have to be captive to sin, we are set free! Death is no longer the last word!” These are the beautiful truths we hold on to as followers of Jesus.

If you’re like me, you probably found yourself watching the news or using social media later that day after church. Through all of the scrolling we’re bombarded with stories about the ways death and injustice continue to wreak havoc throughout our world. We just proclaimed that death and evil have been defeated, and at the same time we still witness so much unjust death and so much evil. It looks like death continues to prevail. When all of the alleluias subside, what do we do with the resurrection? How do we reconcile the promise of the resurrection with a world that continues to hurt and suffer?

Thankfully, one week after we hear the joyful proclamation of Christ’s resurrection, we hear about what happened in the days following the empty tomb. It’s there, in this story we find today about the aftermath, that we find even more good news—as we wrestle with what resurrection means for us, and for the world, Jesus shows up.

Discussion Questions 

• How do you respond when you see the ways death and evil continue to show up in the world?
  • Do you think it’s possible to still see glimpses of the resurrection in the midst of it all? What do those glimpses look like?
• If you could ask Jesus one question about his resurrection, what would it be?

Easter Sunday 

Acts 4:32-35

Psalm 133

1 John 1:1—2:2

John 20:19-31

Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings. 

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day. 

Gospel Reflection 

If you read this passage from John and immediately went to “Doubting Thomas,” you wouldn’t be the only one. Often, along with his disbelief, Thomas becomes the star of the show in this passage. People try to wrestle with whether Thomas is doubting. or lacking trust. People wonder if that’s good, bad, or none of the above. Those are all great things to wrestle with at a time when doubt and questions continue to be seen as “bad” in the Christian faith. But if we zoom out a bit, and look at this passage within the bigger picture of the resurrection, I wonder if we’ll get a different perspective.

When we look at this passage rooted in resurrection, I think we find that these encounters with the disciples, Thomas, and the risen Jesus are directly addressing the question “What now?” The disciples know that the tomb is empty, and they’ve heard Mary say “I have seen the Lord.” Now they’re locked up in a room, out of fear for what might happen to them if they were outside. They could face the same fate as Jesus if they were found out. They are afraid of what’s next, uncertain about where Jesus is, and probably have questions about what Mary saw. What now? Then Jesus appears before them, saying “Peace be with you.” Jesus brings them peace in the midst of their fear.

We aren’t sure why, but Thomas isn’t there. Maybe he was making a coffee run, or maybe he really did believe that Mary had seen the risen Jesus and he was out proclaiming the good news. All we know is that Thomas missed seeing Jesus. So, all Thomas wants is what the other disciples had: an encounter with the risen Christ. Thomas wants to see for himself what the other disciples now know, that Jesus is alive. He is adamant, saying “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and his side, I will not believe.” Jesus appears before Thomas, saying “Peace be with you,” showing Thomas the marks in his hands. Jesus brings Thomas peace, and shows the marks of his defeat over death, all in the midst of his yearning to know Jesus is alive.

Today we also ask ourselves the question, “Jesus is risen. What now?” We may find ourselves feeling a lot like the disciples, filled with fear and uncertainty about the future. We may feel like it’s easier to hide and shut out the world rather than be with all those who suffer. Today we are reminded that, through the Holy Spirit, we have received the breath of the risen Christ. This is both a breath of peace and a breath that sends us out into the world as the body of Christ.

We may also find ourselves feeling a lot like Thomas, and I think that’s because we are all Thomas. We have not seen the resurrected Jesus in bodily form appear before us. Yet that does not mean we cannot believe. Although Jesus has not appeared to us to show us the marks of his hands, there are marks of the resurrected Jesus that we can see all around us. When you see signs of hope in the midst of the world’s suffering, those are marks of resurrection.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! What now? We live as the body of Christ in the world, trusting in the promise of resurrection. We do this with all of our joy, fear, wonder, questions, disbelief, and faith in tow. And as we live as Christ’s body, living in a world that still endures death and suffering, we will see that there are indeed still marks of the resurrection permeating all things.

Discussion Questions 

• When is a time that you’ve felt like the disciples, afraid and locked up in a room out of fear?
• When is a time that you’ve felt like Thomas, wanting to see evidence of Jesus and his resurrection?
• What do you think it looks like to see “marks of the resurrection” all around us? Can you think of one that you’ve seen this week?

Activity Suggestions: 

• Go out and live as the body of Christ in one way this week. Maybe that looks like volunteering at a nonprofit, helping a neighbor with yard work, or talking to someone new and getting to know them.
• Spend some time journaling about a time when Jesus showed up when you were feeling afraid or struggling to believe. 

Closing Prayer 

God of resurrection, we praise you for the life, death, and resurrection of your son Jesus. As we wrestle with what resurrection means for our world, help us to see marks of the risen Jesus. Show us marks that give us hope for the coming Kingdom, a place where all that has been fractured is restored. A place where death, injustice, and evil are no more. A place of resurrection. Build us up as the body of Christ, and guide us as we proclaim the promise of resurrection in a hurting world. Amen.

Kelsey Green, Baltimore MD 

Warm-up Questions 

• In a world plagued with violence and death, what does resurrection in our current time and place look like to you? 
• How do you know “Jesus lives”? 

What You See, Isn’t Always the Truth 

Friends, I’m tired. I don’t know if I’m the only one, but the current state of the world has me shuffling between images of pure terror and mind-numbing silence most days. I’m worried about my neighbors, worried about the future, worried about what to say to you. I’m sitting here hoping that this reflection might bring you whatever it is you seek in the holy scriptures…but I’m not worried about Jesus. In fact, the lead up to Easter assures me that there is nothing too big, too scary, too uncertain for our God.  

Growing up I thought of Easter as a big party, complete with fancy dresses and tasty brunches. I knew that something BIG had happened because I could look around the room and see the delight on my fellow churchgoers faces. The deep purples and scarlets transformed into golden hues, candy passed secretly over and under pews. It was a day of celebration and while I didn’t understand, I just knew it.  

When I came to a deeper understanding of the Lenten season and ultimately Resurrection Sunday I began to connect a few dots in my mind. We were so sad on Good Friday, so painfully aware of the absence of the savior. On Holy Saturday we sat in the sadness, much like our ancient siblings believing that the one who came to save us, had failed. Just as in our current reality–it is normal to feel powerless to the death dealing ways of the world. As people of God, as followers of the risen one we are equipped with a new message to combat the powerlessness–that is, if we can believe it. As Paul said in his letter to the Church at Corinth:  

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 

My friends, tired though we may be–we have the power to remind those who are perishing that death doesn’t have the last word. That the one who came to save all people, is still at work in the world. We can use our faith to propel us towards action, towards empathy, towards a brighter tomorrow.  

Discussion Questions 

• Take a moment and reflect on your life so far:
  • What are some things you feel powerless to? 
  • Where do you go to decompress from the realities of our world?
  • Where in your life do you need reminders that “death does not win”? 

Easter Sunday 

Acts 10: 34-43 

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 

Mark 16:1-8 

Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings. 

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day. 

Gospel Reflection 

Well talk about tired! Not to mentioned traumatized, brutalized, exhausted…tired doesn’t even seem to cover it all. By the time we encounter the women in Mark’s gospel this resurrection Sunday, they have been through quite a harrowing ordeal. Their dear friend, confidant, and teacher has been rounded up, brought before a mock trial, and executed at the hands of the state. The men they’ve been following around, brothers in the fight, have been scattered and fled. The terror throughout the land is palpable and yet: the women are at work.

They do not remain bound by their fear but go into service for the one whom they loved. It is customary in Jewish law to tend to the body of one newly deceased and prepare it for burial. Despite their fear, the women go to the tomb, wondering who will move the stone away so they can get to work. I imagine their eyes still bleary as they approach to see the stone already rolled away. That would have been enough for me. Cowering and fearful, I certainly would have run away but they women persist.

Upon entering the tomb they are greeted not by the body of their beloved but by a man dressed in a white robe. The man calls out to them, “do not be afraid!” I can’t help but chuckle because what else would they be? He assures them with a word, “I know who you are looking for–Jesus the one who was killed most gruesomely. Do not be afraid, he is not dead–he has been raised!” I give the women a lot of credit because I would have laughed this poor man to shame. He then instructs them to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has gone ahead of them and will see them again in Galilee, just as had been promised. The women, still struck with fear, fled from the tomb. While they were excited, their fear held them captive from saying anything to any one.  

As a preacher I always try to remind people of the mental gymnastics that these women were doing at the tomb early that morning. After going through a traumatizing pattern of events they have gone to do the most normal thing any grieving Jewish woman could do. They went to follow the law, to prepare the body of the one they loved, and the tomb was empty. After all they had witnessed, after all the horrors they had faced, the broken and battered body of the person they loved most was missing. And I think they give the angelic one in the tomb grace. I, for one, would have had many more questions to ask of this mysterious fellow.  

Once confirmed, I too would have had a bit of an issue with what once was dead coming alive. I would have forgotten all about what Jesus had said because grief is a powerful mind eraser. I don’t blame these women for hearing of this resurrection and holding it close to the chest. The disbelief, coupled with cautious joy midway for the exit stage left. For those of us who have read this story before, we know what is to come. Let us beloveds sit in this resurrection joy. Let us not be so quick to move on to what comes next but rather to marvel at our ancient sisters who knew the risen one long before the others caught on. 

Discussion Questions 

• How do you find joy in the world today?
  • Are you cautious to receive/experience this joy?  
• How do you share the good news? 
• If death doesn’t have the last word, what would you say to someone who is deep in their grief/despair? 

Activity Suggestions: 

• Look for the risen Christ in the world: keep a running list of “God sightings” to bring you joy on gloomy days!  
• Take time to get outside as winter turns to spring and look for signs of new life 

Closing Prayer 

God of newness, you gave your only son to die for our sake – that we might have new life. In this season of new beginnings breathe resurrection into our dreary bones and awaken us to the needs of our broken world. May our work in you be done to uplift those bowed down. May our hunger for justice be fed in community. May our hope shake up a comfortable few – bringing attention to your mercy. Unite us here and now. Today to the ends of the age. Amen and amen. 

Sarah Fryman, Bayonne, NJ

Warm-up Questions

• What has it looked like for you when the anticipation of an event was better than the event itself? Worse than the event itself? 
• What about when the event doesn’t even end up happening?

An…wait for it…ticipation!

I am notorious for putting the cart before the horse (or maybe the cart before the donkey???). I get really excited about new things or adventures. I build up all this anticipation. And then the Thing happens…and it wasn’t what I expected. Or, even worse, the Thing doesn’t happen at all. 

The past couple of years have been filled with this anticipation. I anticipated going to seminary, and it didn’t turn out the way I expected, mostly due to a global pandemic. In some ways, it was worse than I expected, but surprisingly, thankfully, it was better than I could have imagined. For as long as I can remember, I have looked at the world through the lens of “What if this doesn’t work out?” It hasn’t been until recently that I was challenged on this by someone I trust. She said to me, “Sarah, but what if it does work out? What if it is even better than you anticipated or expected?” 

A great poem that touches on this theme is “Imaginary Conversation” by Linda Pastan:

You tell me to live each day
as if it were my last. This is in the kitchen
where before coffee I complain
of the day ahead—that obstacle race
of minutes and hours,
grocery stores and doctors.

But why the last? I ask. Why not
live each day as if it were the first—
all raw astonishment, Eve rubbing
her eyes awake that first morning,
the sun coming up
like an ingénue in the east?

You grind the coffee
with the small roar of a mind
trying to clear itself. I set
the table, glance out the window
where dew has baptized every
living surface.

There are so many things as young people that we are told to anticipate–first jobs, getting into college or trade schools, dating, marriage, children, advanced degrees, traveling–and yet, sometimes we hype these Things up, or they just don’t end up being what we expected. Managing disappointments can be a sign of growth, of maturity, and yet it is still so, so hard to do. As people of faith, we sometimes put expectations on God, as we anticipate what our lives in Christ may look like. While there will inevitably be disappointments and let-downs, God usually has something better in store than we could have ever anticipated.

Discussion Questions

• Take a moment and reflect on your life so far. 
  • What are some things you anticipated to happen by now? 
  • What are some things you anticipate to happen soon or in the near future?
  • When things haven’t gone the way you anticipated, how have you navigated the disappointments? 

Palm/Passion Sunday

Procession with Palms: Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 14:1 — 15:47 or Mark 15:1-39[40-47]

Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings.

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

“A little thought for Palm Sunday…

Think about the donkey that rode Jesus into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday. People were lining the streets to see him. Shouting “Hosanna!” Waving their palm branches. That donkey might have started to think he was the star of the show. But the donkey had to learn the same thing we all have to learn. The glory is not ours. We’re just the asses that get to carry Jesus in.” – Shane Claiborne

The disciples of Jesus, and the many, many people who followed him around, had expectations. They anticipated the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One. And so far, Jesus wasn’t necessarily meeting those expectations. He was hanging out with the “wrong” types of people. He wasn’t advocating for military or political power. I imagine the disciples were saying to themselves, “Well, if this is who he says he is, then sooner or later, he’s going to have to do something we expect a king to do!” 

Enter: Palm Sunday. Or so one may think.

On the surface, the processional gospel for today does indeed have an air of triumphalism, of kingliness, of a sigh of relief. Finally, this Jesus guy has come to Jerusalem to take what is rightfully his: the title of King. The people are putting their cloaks on the ground, along with leafy branches. It’s like a royal parade. But, things are still a little weird. Jesus is riding in on a humble donkey. In those days, a king would have a huge procession of fancy chariots and horses and it would be extravagant because of course, a king deserves this!

We hearers of the good news, on this side of the resurrection, know that in the days to come, the expectations, the anticipation, the hopes and dreams of these desperate people will – again – not be met. The lives they thought they would have are about to be hung on a cross, under the title, “King of the Jews”. The One who was supposed to come and be the King, the Messiah, the Chosen One, is entering into the holy city on a donkey, heading toward his death. And not just any death, but a horribly brutal, shameful, traumatic death. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be, right? This wasn’t the hope, the anticipation, or the expectation that any of the disciples or the crowds had in mind. Truth be told, it’s not that we, today, want to read. Questions are racing through our minds: What if Jesus isn’t who he said he was? What if this is the end? What if all of this was – and is – for nothing? But if we change our negative “what ifs”, look how this changes our questions: What if this isn’t the end of the story? What if this is a path God has laid before us? What if this is Jesus being EXACTLY who he said he was?

Being a human means there will be disappointments. But, being a human means there will be successes, too. How we view the world, the lens through which we experience Things, impacts our responses to them. When we put our trust in God, our hopes and dreams and anticipations may still not work out the way we expect, but we have a God who abides with us in those let downs and disappointments. We have the gift of not only anticipating what is to come in this life but in the one after, too. We have the gift of viewing the world through a lens of hope. Hope is a “what if it does work out?” As we continue our journey with Jesus to the cross, may we anticipate his death, resurrection, ascension, and coming again. 

Discussion Questions

• What are some things you anticipate or expect God to do?
• How do you anticipate or expect these things to happen? What is your role in making these things happen?
• What does Jesus Christ as King mean to you?

Activity Suggestions

• Take some time to think about the expectations people had, and still have, both for the Messiah and for God. 
  • On a piece of paper, write those on the left side.
  • On the right side, write what actually happened, as well as the results of those expectations.
  • Using your discernment, decide if the result was greater than the anticipation.
• Considering using this as a framework for evaluating how things go in your own life.

Closing Prayer

Surprising God, we know that every good gift comes from you. In our expectation and anticipation of your work in the world, remind us that you have always been with us. Show us that your goodness, love, and mercy are far better than we could ever imagine. Help us again and again to remember we are just the donkey; this isn’t about us. As we journey with your Son to the cross, abide with us. Lead us on the path that you have set out for us, and may we always trust in you and your will. In the name of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, we pray. Amen.

Kate Van Valkenburg, Grand Rapids MI

Warm-up Question

Have you ever taken a difficult journey, like walk, hike, or roll through difficult terrain? What was that like for you?

Into the Unknown

My friend, Alyssa, told me we must go on an adventure, so I followed her to the Superior Hiking Trail in Northern Minnesota. I had no idea what to expect, but I trusted her. I put my backpack on, filled with a tent, snacks, sleeping bag, first aid kit, and two Nalgene water bottles. It takes 2-4 weeks to thru-hike this trail, but we were only going to hike in and out. I was planning for two days, so I thought one bottle for each day would suffice. Boy, was I wrong. 

I made a couple of mistakes on this trip. I didn’t train for the elevation changes, nor did I practice hiking with my backpack on. Really, I was a safety officer’s worst nightmare. However, the biggest mistake we made was beginning our journey at 4 PM. We needed to reach our tenting area by sundown, which was only about 4.5 miles, but starting at that time meant we had only 4.5 hours of daylight. Our naive thought was, “A mile an hour? That’s totally doable.” 

At about a mile in, we came to a giant hill. Alyssa told me her plan of attack. Trusting in her confidence, we made it over the hill, but a five-minute rest was necessary. We shared a snack together. I looked at my watch and realized we had to keep going or there was no way we’d reach the tenting area before sundown. Alyssa turned to me and said, “It’s going to be okay. I won’t let anything happen to us.” 

I was drinking a lot of water because it was the middle of August and one of the hottest days that summer. As I look back now, I wonder why we thought it was a great time for a hiking trip, but oh well. I needed a fruitful adventure; an adventure that would bring renewal and joy. We kept going, but then I saw it. The inevitable Mt. Trudee and its 1,500 ft of elevation. My heart was pounding in my chest. I didn’t see this coming. I didn’t know it would be this hard; how defeated it would make me feel. I had no idea how we were going to make it and I was scared. 

Maybe you haven’t been in this exact scenario, but how often does life throw us into situations where we have absolutely no idea how it’s going to turn out? When we turn on the news, it’s hard to trust that everything will be okay. We can all probably connect with this fear of the unknown: a fear where we can do nothing but fall to our knees and pray. 

That’s often when God shows up, or when we finally realize God has been there all along. After surviving the shaky trek over Mt. Trudee, Alyssa and I reached our goal just as the little sliver of sun dropped behind the terrain. Almost in tears as my body hurt so badly, we heard a faint guitar in the distance followed by singing, “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary.” Between a few trees, there was a group of women from Wheaton College sitting around a fire. They had already been hiking for six days, so they had intense camping supplies and let us use their water filters to fill our bottles. 

I was awestruck by our luck as we fell asleep that night listening to their songs sung around the fire. This could have been so much worse. I was out of water, exhausted, unsure where I was, and suddenly we had everything we needed. Then, while lying in our tent, Alyssa whispered to me, “I told you we’d be okay. I wouldn’t let anything happen to us.” 

Discussion Questions

• Trust is often difficult. Why do you think that is?
• How do you deal with stress of the unknown?

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

Gospel Reflection

I have to be honest that, though this is not one of my favorite Gospel passages, it’s also true that the Bible is supposed to make us uncomfortable sometimes. This scripture gives us a lens to better understand God and God’s people. When the Greeks show up and declare, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus,” Philip and Andrew tell Jesus of their request. We cannot understand Jesus’ response until we understand the community the Gospel of John was written for. This book was written for a people who shared in Jesus’ Jewish heritage. This audience was living with the deep hurt caused by the reign of the Roman Empire and the destruction of the temple. This Gospel was trying to make sense of the cruelness of the world because the community was struggling to understand God’s will and the role of Jesus in their lives. In other words, the Gospel of John has a very, “Everything happens for a reason,” vibe. 

Jesus says, “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” This foreshadows his persecution, death and resurrection. Yet, in the next verse it says, “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” The deep truth in this text is that there is a cost to discipleship. Following God does not lead us to wealth, riches, or power. It leads to liberation, equity, and shared resources. In our hope to glorify God, we must let go of who we were in order to become who God calls us to be. 

The Gospel of John echoes this sentiment because its readers were seeking a reason to hope. It was in the dying and rising of Christ that the author tries to make sense of everything bad happening to God’s faithful people. Eventually, they would have what they needed in eternal life with Christ. And that is what kept them going.

I share in this hope. I long for the day when everyone has exactly what they need. We would no longer be filled with fear of the unknown, or shame of having too little or too much. Nevertheless, this is not the world we live in. So what do we do now? 

I am called back to Jesus’ metaphor of the seed. If it is unwilling to be changed, it will remain a single grain. This text does not ask us to die as we understand death, but to allow the Holy Spirit to change us. The seed does not cease to exist, but it is transformed for the goodness of all creation. And we ask God to do the same in us.

Discussion Questions

• What do you wish you could change in the world?
• Is it frustrating when we can’t make the world change?
• What is something small we can do to share God’s love with someone?

Activity Suggestions

• Go check out a butterfly exhibit! This time of year is when butterflies are hatching from their chrysalides. Experience God’s creation changing to become a beautiful butterfly!
• Write a note to someone who may need a word of encouragement. We can do small things with great love that make ripples in the world. Who might need to be reminded that they are loved?

Closing Prayer 

O God, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Andrew Thompson (Fairborn, OH)

Warm-up Questions

• Do you have any go-to Bible verses or catchphrases that ground you?
  • If so, what are they and what difference do they make in your day-to-day life?
  • If not, what are some meaningful phrases you have encountered in popular culture that seem important to people? Why do you think those phrases touch their hearts?

Pieces of the Puzzle

One of my favorite activities to do with my family is putting a puzzle together. We have so much fun working on a common goal. We have conversations inspired by puzzle’s sought-after image or other things that are going on in our lives while laughing, and sitting, and being together.

In our ever-accelerating world where we are regularly bombarded by various news updates, social media posts, and snippets of so many stories happening across the globe, I find it refreshing to focus on one puzzle. Together, with those I love, looking at each piece with interest and seeing how it all comes together towards a broader picture is comforting.

On social media, I often find myself feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of content out there. Posts simultaneously open my eyes to perspectives across the globe and yet seem to keep such happenings to surface level engagement. Through social media, I similarly feel tempted to reduce the complex stories of real, living breathing human beings to 240ish-character-max posts.

I like to think that such reduction is done not out of a lack of interest or care but because the size of the puzzle being presented. The whole interconnected world is presented on our news feeds! It seems there are too many pieces to really value each story on the level that they deserve. I have felt the need to compartmentalize what was being presented simply to try to make sense of the huge amount of data I was inputing into my brain, seeing how the stories I received connected with my own story and with God’s unfolding story of life.

Discussion Questions

• In what ways are you staying connected to this vast, interwoven world?
• Have you found ways to zoom in on a particular piece of this digital “puzzle?” If so, what are those practices and what difference have they made in your journey?
• Do you ever step away to take a break from such digital “puzzling?” Why or why not?

Third Sunday in Lent

Numbers 21:4-9

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings.

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

This Gospel lesson wraps up Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, who was one of the religious leaders of the day. Nicodemus had come to Jesus under the cover of night, likely because Jesus had already created quite the reputation with the religious establishment—driving merchants from the temple with a whip and saying that he will raise the temple back up in three days after its destruction will do that. In this late-night life chat, Nicodemus affirms that Jesus is “a teacher who has come from God,” and continues to ask him questions.

This interaction leads to one of the most quoted and memorized scriptures of all time, John 3:16. Whether on signs created by sports fans, stenciled onto a quarterback’s face paint, amplified in online bios, or is one verse that is drilled repeatedly in Sunday School, this verse is widely appreciated as a distillation of Christian faith. Indeed, “God so loved the world that God gave God’s only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

I wonder what would have happened if this was the only verse that we ever received. For instance, the verbs that describe God’s activity in this verse are all in the past tense. God loved and God gave. Important, life-changing actions for sure. Yet, if we only find refuge in this one verse alone, we may walk away with a picture of God as One who acted once upon a time and then went on God’s merry way. Fortunately, the faith we have been given testifies to a more active story to dwell in and live out of than that. Jesus reveals God’s ongoing love for this world!

Like the puzzles with my family, we can look at other pieces to get a broader picture. As we zoom out and dive deeper into this passage, God’s good news comes alive even more. Adding just the next verse to the mix reveals that “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” This verse calls into question the more judgmental expressions of our faith. That reminds me of a post I read years ago on a newsfeed that said “if God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, I am sure that God did not send [us] to do so either.” Can I get an amen?

Looking further beyond these two verses offers us insight upon insight as well. For instance, verses 14-15 provide an important link between Jesus’ ministry and the Jewish tradition that was his spiritual home. Verses 18-21 remind us that, even amidst injustice, God is still moving and still loving and still sustaining this world. These puzzle pieces can inspire us to faithful action, like ongoing interfaith relationships with our Jewish siblings and works of service for our neighbors.

There will always be moments, verses, stories, and snapshots that ground us and motivate us. When we take a chance to zoom out, we can notice even more of what God is up to in these well-worn verses. Just like John 3:16, reading more of the story helps us to appreciate those verses even more because we can see the pieces connect to the bigger picture. As we continue through this Lenten season, I invite you to reflect on the pieces of the puzzle of scripture that especially captivate, comfort, and motivate you in your day-to-day life.

Discussion Questions

• Are there any stories, verses, or testimonies that inspire you to live out the faith you have been given? What difference do they make in your life?
• How do you think God is continuing to show love and generosity in the world today?
• What are some specific ways God is continuing to show love and generosity through your actions in the here and now?

Activity Suggestions

• This activity can be done as a group or individual journaling practice.
  • First, read one of your favorite Bible stories.
  • Next, write down any questions or curiosities that linger for you as you read the passage. What do you wish you knew more about this story? Pray and reflect on what God is stirring up in you.
  • Then, read one chapter before and one chapter after the story to get a zoomed-out view of the passage. What questions and curiosities do you have now?
  • Finally, continue to explore your questions and curiosities by discussing them with friends or mentors.

Closing Prayer

God who loved us and loves us still, through Christ you displayed that your deep compassion for this whole world never ends. We thank you for offering us testimonies through the Word and through our siblings in Christ that reveal your ongoing work for the sake of creation. Give us the courage to dive deeper into the stories we hear, discovering your presence and love that accompanies each of us every step of the way. We pray in the name of your Son, who gives us light and love: Amen.