#but to the savior rising from his tomb

[droogiesanddiscourse]

"Hellfire."

Pairing: Monsignor John Pruitt x F!Reader

Summary: You are called first to receive everlasting life from the angel's blood during Easter Vigil.

Warnings: Spoilers for Episode 6 of Midnight Mass and all the content that comes with it. Language. Taking some liberties with how the angel's blood works uhhh hehe. Millie who's that AU. Going off of the stream of consciousness / dream-like writing I am trying so hard to stay out of my head and just write what comes.

"Brothers and sisters,” Monsignor Pruitt concludes. “On this most holy night I come to you with good news. Not only the good news of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who arose to forgive us of our sins after three days in the tomb. But, also the resurrection of ourselves."

He clasps his hands together in makeshift prayer, eyes sparkling an unfamiliar orange glow that you've never seen before. That of a feral black cat's eyes bouncing back light. The ones that hunt on the outpost of the island, all teeth and heat and hunger and sex and wild and and and--

Visions of nocturnal holiness.

"I ask you. Trust in me. And God will reward your loyalty heavily. Know that I would not ask of the ultimate sacrifice of your life if I did not have utmost faith in our God for the miracle he is about to bestow tonight."

The silence within the church is deafening. Not a soul rises for his offer, parishioners stunned to their seats. His eyes scan, searching for a familiar face. Finally focusing on yours.

“Please. [“____”]," his voice like liquid honey calls to you, echoing through the church. "I call upon you to take the plunge first, my sweet child. Show the good people of Crockett Island that there is nothing to fear. That there is paradise waiting for us all tonight."

He leaves his pulpit, descending down the steps towards you. His arm reaches out, using his slender fingers to beckon you to him with a "come hither" motion. White vestments flowing, covering his human visage as he moves, billowing out like an angel's wings.

Devils were once just fallen angels. Symbols of purity be damned.

He notices your trepidation.

"One moment of pain, perhaps. But an eternity of youth and love and worship in His name. We have been given a tremendous gift, sister ["____"]. Be brave.”

Beverly Keene remained tucked in the upper corner of the church, stirring the choice of death for this evening. She's always been a witch in your eyes; now the harsh comparison rings true more than ever as she concocts a deadly potion of sickeningly sweet liquid.

The smell reminds you of too hot summers and running against the shoreline as the waves lap against your ankles and buying popsicles at the general store and sticky raspberry juice running between your fingers. Familiar memories and tastes intermingled with rat poison.

“And so Jesus rose from the tomb, trampling down death. As will we. I am with you, and you are with me. There is nothing to fear."

Don't drink the kool-aid, the old adage goes.

But you wonder how vanilla and raspberry taste mixed together.

Jonestown redux is standing before you, with his hand outstretched for you to take; his body backlit by the illumination of hundreds of candles. You look up at him through your lashes, lips slightly parted. Your eyebrows upturned and eyes reposed.

"Monsignor. Forgive me, but I cannot," you swallow hard. Back yourself from that cliff, you have one leg dangling over the edge now! "For I have not taken communion as my sins have been too weighty, too difficult to ever be forgiven. I believe I did not deserve the body and blood of Christ at that time, which is selfish of me. Forgive me.”

John almost considers this for a moment, his thick eyebrows furrowing together as he stares down at you.

"There is no resurrection for me. I will die,” you state bluntly. Your words are finally registering. 

Back away back away, make distance between the cliff.

But he smiles, against your expectations. A tight lipped smile, his eyes kissing at the corners when his cheeks raise. Missed by the miracle of reversed age, not reaching the crows feet that reveal only when he's truly happy.

"My angel. You've taken more than enough of my seed in your womb, and down your throat. The blessing is already inside you."

His hand grazes your cheek, and Hellfire reigns down as the finality of his reveal sets in across the room. Hot and prickling at the back of your neck. High pitched buzzing of bees in your ears. Whore of Babylon comes to Crockett Island. Mary Magdalene weeps. Hundreds of eyes descend upon your form, fragile and ready to break at a moment's notice.

Hell has a special place reserved for you for tasting the most unholy fruits. You wear guilt like a halo.

John positions his index fingers and thumb underneath your chin, tilting it upwards. Your eyes dart away, unable to face him. For sure your very skin would burst into flames if you stared too long.

"Look at me," he demands. "Look at me, angel. Do not be ashamed.”

Oh, you’re more than familiar with this position.

Your eyes tilt back, big and yearning and scared yet wanting more. More of John, more of his smell on your bedsheets, more of his fingers in your mouth more of the salty bitter taste of his skin more breaking the boundaries between heaven and hell more more more more flesh more blood no sin no death no guilt.

Hell has a special place reserved for you in due time.

But real hell is living without him. You slip your hand into his, rising from the pew.

The church is silent, conversations about your unforgivable sin now hushed to murmurs. Somewhere in the distance you hear the gentle song of night crickets that intermingle with your delicate footsteps across decades old wood. A resounding creak and moan of the floorboards that echoes through the small church that makes it become an entity of its own, ready to swallow you whole.

Someone is crying, quietly muffled pathetically behind a cloth. A woman blesses herself using the sign of the cross as you pass.

A dead girl walking, and this is the sound of your funeral march.

Your toes bump into the first step leading up to the chancel. Guiding you by your waist, John spins you to face the congregation. Expressions of the crowd are unreadable.

Are you Joan of Arc or a witch about to be burned at the stake?

Blasphemy, blasphemy stood before your friends, family, acquaintances.

A light. The vision of John blocks you away from their watchful eyes as he stands before you, cupping your face within his hands. Your eyes lock together. Gently, he presses a chaste kiss to the center of your forehead. Lips just barely ghosting over your flesh. You tremble before him.

Bev stands behind you, both arms outstretched forward, bent at the elbow. You’re smart enough to realize she’s ready to catch you for when you involuntarily start seizing, your body putting up its final fight against the poison coursing through its veins.

Life. Death. Rise. 

A sob starts in your larynx, unable to burst fully to the surface The warmth of his hands removed from your face, now reaching for Bev's as he takes the small plastic solo cup of juice from hers into his.

"I am with you," he whispers as he holds the cup up to your lips. "As you walk through the valley of the shadow of death I am with you, and you will come out on the other side anew. Whole. Pure as a reward for your devotion to Him."

Raspberry and vanilla threaten to break the seal of your lips, the cup tapped against it. His other hand snakes his way up your back, weaving his fingers within your hair. The digits tug against your locks slightly, tilting your head back.

"Open."

Saliva gathers at the back of your throat.

You can't, you can't, you can't.

You cannot dare to lose the chance to miss another one of those too hot summer days where the children of Crockett island throw their books haphazardly into their backpacks basking in their first hours of summer vacation and the salty water clinging to your hair making it curly and sticky raspberry juice dripping between your fingers–

But oh the visions of him with and the way he whimpers into your neck when he thrusts into you, his hot mouth on your pulse point, the way his hand pin down your wrists forcing you to stay still. Murmured praises and bedroom hymns whispered as the moonlight coats both of your bodies in a ghostly blue glow. Was it truly ever living without him? No more hiding no more secrets you are his and he is yours. A boundary death cannot even cross–eternity is a beautiful thing to imagine.

A tear slips out of your eye, rolling down your cheek. The pad of John’s thumb gently rubs it away. Sympathy for the condemned.

"Drink."

And you do.

[eretzyisrael]

BE STRONG AND STRENGTHEN OTHERS 

This week’s Torah portion, Vayechi, completes the Book of Genesis. When we finish one of the five Books of Moses in the yearly cycle of Torah reading in synagogue, the congregation rises and calls out together “Chazak, chazak, venitchazek!” (“Be strong, be strong, and strengthen others!”) Unlike the later four Books of Moses, Genesis ends on an apparent down note: “Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.” (Gen. 50:26) It seems incongruous for worshippers to make a passionate avowal of strength right after reading that Joseph’s bones are sitting unburied in a box in Egypt. Why not end the Book of Genesis with the more uplifting story of Jacob’s passing, his burial in Israel, and the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers?  Rabbi Mordecai Kamenetzky provides a compelling explanation for why Genesis ends with Joseph in a state of limbo. Recall, Joseph himself tells his family not to bury him: “So Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying ‘When God has taken notice of you, you shall carry up my bones from here.’” (Gen. 50:25) Possessing wisdom as well as prophecy, Joseph knows that the Egyptians will eventually forget the Hebrew viceroy who saved their empire from famine. They will no longer see the Jews as saviors but rather as visitors, then as strangers, later as intruders, and finally as slaves. Joseph's descendants are destined to endure great suffering before their long exile finally ends - and he wants to be part of the jubilant caravan leaving Egypt. Joseph’s request not to be buried until his people leave Egypt is a promise to future Jews that they will one day be free. Rabbi Kamenetzky says, “We must not see a box of bones - see the hope that lies therein.” Genesis ends on an unfinished note because the journey of the Jewish people is unfinished. It is appropriate for the congregation to shout “Be strong!” at this point in the story because Joseph’s box of bones is not a depressing detail but rather a promise of future salvation meant to strengthen his descendants.

Image: Joseph’s tomb in Shechem 

[infjtarot]

Hanged Man. Mystic Spiral Tarot

Themes and Keywords: Dissolution. Sacrifice. Renunciation. Redemption. Immersion. Baptism. Crucifixion. Listening. Change of perspective. Suspension. Time out. Cleansing. Earned or bought wisdom. Lucid dreaming. Stillness. Meditation. The power of water. Roads less traveled. Waiting. Self-abnegation. Annihilation of self in the beloved. Enlightment process. Astrology/Element Note that the esoteric title is the Spirit of the Mighty Waters. Our three primary elemental majors (Fool, Hanged Man, Judgement/Aeon) are the only ones thus named. The Hanged Man is the major representing the element of water, physical and astral. As an element, it is considered cold and wet, or phlegmatic in temperament. The phlegmatic nature is dispassionate, so though this is also the element of emotions, it is serenity, and rising above them. The symbol of water is the downward-pointing triangle, showing that it has traits considered feminine, like receptivity and intuition. A downward-pointing triangle is also a very rough pictogram of the heart, as water as a symbol is associated with the feeling realms. Water is associated with consciousness itself, personified by the vastness of the sea, and the tranquilizing hush of endless waves upon the shore. Bodies of placid water present us with reflection, stillness, and depth. Water is the replenishing source that cleanses, purifies, baptizes, quenches, and conquers. It is the amniotic fluid of conception and life, yet the direction of the element, the west, is associated with endings and death. The Hanged Man as spiritualized water also has an affinity for Neptune the dissolver, the modern ruler of Pisces, and for twelfth house themes of transcendence, renunciation, and self-undoing. But as elemental water, it is associated with the entire Cups suit and traits of all of the water signs: Cancer as birth and baptism, Scorpio as death and transmutation, and Pisces as sacrifice and resurrection. Mythology/Alchemy Alchemically, water relates to dissolution, either the physical dissolving of the alchemical ash of calcination into water or, psychologically, the purification of the psyche through immersion in the unconscious. “Let go and let God,” or going with the flow and remaining open to the previously rejected parts lurking in the unconscious mind. Treasures guarded by your demons surface, and you feel recharged and elevated. The mythologies suited to this card are the dying gods of Frazer’s Golden Bough, and the stories of sacrifice, resurrection, and redemption: Tammuz/Dumuzid, sent to the underworld for failing to mourn Inanna; Osiris slain by Set and reassembled by Isis; Jesus the crucified and resurrected; Lazarus who arose from the tomb; Attis the self-castrated; beautiful Adonis, slain lover of Aphrodite transformed by her tears; Dionysus slain by Titans and resurrected by Zeus; Mithras the savior, guardian of waters; and perhaps most fittingly, the Norse god Odin. For nine days and nights Odin, wounded by a spear, willingly hung himself upon the world tree Yggdrasil without food or drink. He sacrificed himself to himself, or his lower self to his higher, in order to acquire the secret wisdom of the runes. In another tale, Odin sought Mimir’s well at the roots of the tree Yggdrasil. Mimir, the rememberer, was the guardian of memory and knew all things. Odin sacrificed an eye for a taste of the water that granted wisdom. For Odin, no sacrifice was too great for knowledge and no price too steep for understanding. He gave up one way of seeing things (his eye) for another type of perception. Susan T. Chang

[madamlaydebug]

Alchemy is both a physical and spiritual science, according to the Philosophers, the physical is a "shadow" of the spiritual. Physical Alchemy is considered to be a true science and a paragon which leads to the true Light of Nature. Here Mr.Kuhn sheds some light on the spiritual allegory as it relates to ancient Scriptures.....his work is highly recommended for a return to the understanding of the cryptic meaning of Ancient myths and texts:

"Armed with this unquenchable fire which is intellect, we are sent on earth to inhabit a body which is described as a watery and miry swamp. The body is nearly eighty percent water! It is the duty of the fiery spark to enlighten the whole dark realm of mortal life, to transmute by its alchemical power the baser dross of animal propensity into the finer motivation of love and brotherhood. This life is a purgation--Purgatory--because it is a process of burning and tempering crude animal elements into the pure gold of spiritual light. In Egyptian scriptures the twelve sons of Ra (the twelve sons of Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel) were called the 'twelve saviors of the treasure of light.' An Egyptian text reads: 'This is the sun within us, the seminal source of light. Do not dim its luster or cause it to suffer eclipse.' And another runs: 'Give ye glory as to the sun; he is the chief, the only one coming from the body, the head of those who belong to the race of the sun.'

With this force of fire we must uplift the lower man and transmute his nature into the spiritual glow of love and intelligence. With it we must turn the water of the lower nature into the wine of spiritual force. Around it we must aggregate the refined material which we shall build into that temple of the soul, that body of the resurrection, the great garment of solar light, in which we shall rise out of the tomb of the physical corpus and ascend with the angels. This is the radiant Augoeides of the Greeks, the Sahu of the Egyptians, in which the soul wings its flight aloft like the phoenix, after rending the veil of the temple of the body. It is our garment of immortality, the seamless robe of glory, in prospect of which we groan and travail, says St. Paul, as we earnestly desire to be clothed upon with the garment of incorruption. As flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of heaven, we must fashion for our tenancy there this body of solar glory, in whose self-generated light we may live eternally, having overcome the realms of darkness, or spiritualized the body. Jesus prays the Father to grant unto him that glory that he had with him before the world was, and his prayer is fulfilled in the formation of the spirit body out of the elements of the sun."

-Alvin Boyd Kuhn

[orthodoxadventure]

Righteous Job the Long-Suffering

Commemorated on May 6

As an indestructible pillar of courage, you repulsed the attacks of Belial and remained unmoved in temptation. Therefore, O wise Job, the Church praises you as a model of endurance and an example of virtue; and she is made radiant by your great deeds.

The righteous Job (whose name means “persecuted”), God’s faithful servant, was the perfect image of every virtue. The son of Zarah and Bossorha (Job 42), Job was a fifth-generation descendent of Abraham. He was a truthful, righteous, patient and pious man who abstained from every evil thing. Job was very rich and blessed by God in all things, as was no other son of Ausis (his country, which lay between Idoumea and Arabia). However, divine condescension permitted him to be tested.

Job lost his children, his wealth, his glory, and every consolation all at once. His entire body became a terrible wound covered with boils. Yet he remained steadfast and patient in the face of his misfortune for seven years, always giving thanks to God.

Later, God restored his former prosperity, and he had twice as much as before. Job lived for 170 years after his misfortune, completing his earthly life in 1350 B.C. at the age of 240. Some authorities say that Job’s afflictions lasted only one year, and that afterwards he lived for 140 years, reaching the age of 210.

Job’s explanations are among the most poetic writings in the Old Testament book which bears his name. It is one of the most edifying portions of Holy Scripture. Job teaches us that we must endure life’s adversities patiently and with trust in God. As Saint Anthony the Great (January 17) says, without temptations, it is impossible for the faithful to be saved.

The Orthodox Church reads the book of Job, the first of the seven wisdom books of the Old Testament, during Holy Week, drawing a parallel between Job and Christ as righteous men who suffered through no fault of their own. God allowed Satan to afflict Job so that his faithfulness would be proven. Christ, the only sinless one, suffered voluntarily for our sins. The Septuagint text of Job 42:17 says that Job “will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up.” This passage is read on Great and Holy Friday, when the composite Gospel at Vespers speaks of the tombs being opened at the moment the Savior died on the Cross, and the bodies of the saints were raised, and they appeared to many after Christ’s Resurrection (Mt.27:52).

[Text from OCA]

You were true and just, pious, blameless and holy, O glorious servant of God. You enlightened the world by your perseverance, much-afflicted Job. Therefore, we all honor and praise your divinely-wise memory.

[unitedbyprayer]

(via It Is His Sacrificial Death And Resurrection In Which We Place Our FAITH)

It Is His Sacrificial Death And Resurrection In Which We Place Our FAITH

https://www.unitedbyprayer.com/united-by-prayer-wall/it-is-his-sacrificial-death-and-resurrection-in-which-we-place-our-faith

The birth of Christianity is a well-documented historical fact that is grounded in Holy Scripture. Its members believe in the historical Cross of Christ, and have placed their faith in the sacrifice that He made on that Cross, which saves people from their sins. There were literal blood stains on the wooden Cross upon which our Savior hung. There was a literal tomb where the body was placed, and there was an empty grave where Christ once laid. But now He is risen, ascended, and glorified, and He has the power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him in faith. Resurrection means to rise from the dead, never again to die. Death has no more dominion over Christ, and He is the firstborn from the dead, paving the way for the bodily resurrection and everlasting life for all who believe in Him by grace through faith. It Is His Sacrificial Death And Resurrection In Which We Place Our FAITH, and those who have trusted Christ as Savior, have been given the Holy Spirit as God's guarantee. Let us have this confidence in Christ today, His resurrection identified Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God. It gives power to our Christian life in this world and guarantees our future inheritance with Christ in heaven, to Whom be all praise and glory, through time and into eternity.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Our United Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing past the evil of death and bringing about Christ’s Resurrection. Thank You that we no longer need to fear death and hell, as death itself has been swallowed up in Christ's victory. Thank You that we have been placed in Christ. Show us more of Him, we pray, and may we participate in the fellowship of His sufferings and the power of His Resurrection. May Christ shine through our lives as we go out into the world and tell of the wonders of His grace. In Jesus' name we Pray, AMEN.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Friday, May 19, 2023

may 19_may 6

SAINT JOB THE RIGHTEOUS (1350 B.C.)

Icon from Uncut Mountain Supply

The righteous Job (whose name means “persecuted”), God’s faithful servant, was the perfect image of every virtue. The son of Zarah and Bossorha (Job 42), Job was a fifth-generation descendent of Abraham. He was a truthful, righteous, patient, and pious man who abstained from evil. Job was rich and blessed by God in all things, as was no other son of Ausis (his country, which lay between Idoumea and Arabia). However, divine condescension permitted him to be tested.

Job lost his children, his wealth, his glory, and every consolation all at once. His entire body became a terrible wound covered with boils. Yet he remained steadfast and patient in the face of his misfortune for seven years, always giving thanks to God.

Later, God restored his former prosperity, and he had twice as much as before. Job lived for 170 years after his misfortune, completing his earthly life in 1350 B.C. at 240. Some authorities say that Job’s afflictions lasted only one year and that afterward, he lived for 140 years, reaching the age of 210.

Job’s explanations are among the most poetic writings in the Old Testament book, which bears his name. It is one of the most edifying portions of Holy Scripture. Job teaches us that we must endure life’s adversities patiently and with trust in God. As Saint Anthony the Great (January 17) says, the faithful can't be saved without temptations.

The Orthodox Church reads the book of Job, the first of the seven wisdom books of the Old Testament, during Holy Week, drawing a parallel between Job and Christ as righteous men who suffered through no fault of their own. God allowed Satan to afflict Job so that his faithfulness would be proven. Christ, the only sinless one, suffered voluntarily for our sins. The Septuagint text of Job 42:17 says that Job “will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up.” This passage is read on Great and Holy Friday, when the composite Gospel at Vespers speaks of the tombs being opened at the moment the Savior died on the Cross, and the bodies of the saints were raised, and they appeared to many after Christ’s Resurrection (Mt.27:52).

VENERABLE MICAH DISCIPLE OF St SERGIUS OF RADONEZH (1385)

Saint Micah of Radonezh was one of the first disciples of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, and lived with him in the same cell, and under his guidance, he attained a high degree of spiritual perfection. For his meekness of soul and purity of heart, Saint Micah was permitted to witness the appearance of the Mother of God to his great teacher. Once, after Saint Sergius had completed the morning Rule of prayer, he sat down to rest for a while; but suddenly, he said to his disciple, “Be alert, my child, for we shall have a wondrous visitation.”

Hardly had he uttered these words when a voice was heard, “The All-Pure One draws near.” Suddenly there shone a light brighter than the sun. In fear, Saint Micah fell down upon the ground and lay there as if he were dead. When Saint Sergius lifted up his disciple, he asked, “Tell me, Father, what is the reason for this wondrous vision? My soul has nearly parted from my body from fright.” Saint Sergius then informed his disciple about the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Saint Micah fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1385.

Saint Micah’s relics rest in a crypt at the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. On December 10, 1734, over Saint Micah’s tomb, a church was consecrated in honor of the Appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Holy Apostles Peter and John the Theologian to Saint Sergius of Radonezh.

Source: All texts 

ACTS 15:5-34

5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." 6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 made no distinction between them and us, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we could bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved in the same manner as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 . After they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: 14Simon has declared how God at first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this, the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 After this, I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.' 18 Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had those who preach him throughout many generations in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath. 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" -to whom we gave no such commandment- 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no more significant burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. 30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, themselves prophets, also exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. 34 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

JOHN 10:17-28

17 Therefore, My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may retake it. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I can retake it. This command I have received from My Father. 19 Therefore, there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 Many said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” 22 It was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked into the temple, on Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

[didanawisgi]

CRUCIFIXION & RESURRECTION MYSTERIES “The list of the deathless mortals who suffered for man that he might receive the boon of eternal life is an imposing one. Among those connected historically or allegorically with a crucifixion are Prometheus, Adonis, Apollo, Arys, Bacchus, Buddha, Christna, Horus, Indra, Ixion, Mithras, Osiris, Pythagoras, Quetzalcoatl, Semiramis, and Jupiter. According to the fragmentary accounts extant, all these heroes gave their lives to the service of humanity and, with one or two exceptions, died as martyrs for the cause of human progress. In many mysterious ways the manner of their death has been designedly concealed, but it is possible that most of them were crucified upon a cross or tree. The first friend of man, the immortal Prometheus, was crucified on the pinnacle of Mount Caucasus, and a vulture was placed over his liver to torment him throughout eternity by clawing and rending his flesh with its talons. Prometheus disobeyed the edict of Zeus by bringing fire and immortality to man, so for man he suffered until the coming of Hercules released him from his ages of torment. In his article on the Cross and Crucifixion in the Encyclopædia Britannica, Thomas Macall Fallow casts much light on the antiquity of this ideograph. "The use of the cross as a religious symbol in pre-Christian times, and among non-Christian peoples, may probably be regarded as almost universal, and in very many cases it was connected with some form of nature worship." One of the most interesting interpretations of the crucifixion allegory is that which identifies the man Jesus with the personal consciousness of the individual. It is this personal consciousness that conceives of and dwells in the sense of separateness, and before the aspiring soul can be reunited with the ever-present and all-pervading Father this personality must be sacrificed that the Universal Consciousness may be liberated. Saviors unnumbered have died for the sins of man and by the hands of man, and through their deaths have interceded in heaven for the souls of their executioners. The martyrdom of the God-Man and the redemption of the world through His blood has been an essential tenet of many great religions. Nearly all these stories can be traced to sun worship, for the glorious orb of day is the Savior who dies annually for every creature within his universe, but year after year rises again victorious from the tomb of winter. Without doubt the doctrine of the crucifixion is based upon the secret traditions of the Ancient Wisdom; it is a constant reminder that the divine nature of man is perpetually crucified upon the animal organism. Certain of the pagan Mysteries included in the ceremony of initiation the crucifixion of the candidate upon a cross, or the laying of his body upon a cruciform altar. It has been claimed that Apollonius of Tyana (the Antichrist) was initiated into the Arcanum of Egypt in the Great Pyramid, where he hung upon a cross until unconscious and was then laid in the tomb (the coffer) for three days. While his body was unconscious, his soul was thought to pass into the realms of the immortals (the place of death) After it had vanquished death (by recognizing that life is eternal) it returned again to the body, which then rose from the coffer, after which he was hailed as a brother by the priests, who believed that he had returned from the land of the dead. This concept was, in substance, the teaching of the Mysteries. In his notes on the theology of Jakob Böhme, Dr. Franz Hartmann thus sums up the mystic symbolism of the crucifixion: "The cross represents terrestrial life, and the crown of thorns the sufferings of the soul within the elementary body, but also the victory of the spirit over the elements of darkness. The body is naked, to indicate that the candidate for immortality must divest himself of all desires for terrestrial things. The figure is nailed to the cross, which symbolizes the death and surrender of the self-will, and that it should not attempt to accomplish anything by its own power, but merely serve as an instrument wherein the Divine will is executed. Above the head are inscribed the letters: I. N. R. J. whose most important meaning is: In Nobis Regnat Jesus (Within ourselves reigns Jesus). But this signification of this inscription can be practically known only to those who have actually died relatively to the world of desires, and risen above the temptation for personal existence; or, to express it in other words, those who have become alive in Christ, and in whom thus the kingdom of Jesus (the holy love-will issuing from the heart of God) has been established." The modern world has been misled in its attitude towards the so-called pagan deities, and has come to view them in a light entirely different from their true characters and meanings. The ridicule and slander heaped by Christendom upon Christna and Bacchus are excellent examples of the persecution of immortal principles by those who have utterly failed to sense the secret meaning of the allegories. Who was the crucified man of Greece, concerning whom vague rumors have been afloat? Higgins thinks it was Pythagoras, the true story of whose death was suppressed by early Christian authors because it conflicted with their teachings. Was it true also that the Roman legionaries carried on the field of battle standards upon which were crosses bearing the crucified Sun Man? Concerning the crucifixion of the Persian Mithras, J. P. Lundy has written: "Dupuis tells us that Mithra was put to death by crucifixion, and rose again on the 25th of March. In the Persian Mysteries the body of a young man, apparently dead, was exhibited, which was feigned to be restored to life. By his sufferings he was believed to have worked their salvation, and on this account he was called their Savior. His priests watched his tomb to the midnight of the vigil of the 25th of March, with loud cries, and in darkness; when all at once the light burst forth from all parts, the priest cried, Rejoice, O sacred initiated, your God is risen. His death, his pains, and sufferings, have worked your salvation." (See Monumental Christianity.) The cross of Quetzalcoatl became a sacred symbol among the Mayas, and according to available records the Maya Indian angels had crosses of various pigments painted on their foreheads. Similar crosses were placed over the eyes of those initiated into their Mysteries. When Cortez arrived in Mexico, he brought with him the cross. Recognizing this, the natives believed that he was Quetzalcoatl returned, for the latter had promised to come back in the infinite future and redeem his people. One of the most remarkable of the crucified World Saviors is the Central American god of the winds, or the Sun, Quetzalcoatl, concerning whose activities great secrecy was maintained by the Indian priests of Mexico and Central America. This strange immortal, whose name means feathered snake, appears to have come out of the sea, bringing with him a mysterious cross. On his garments were embellished clouds and red crosses. In his honor, great serpents carved from stone were placed in different parts of Mexico. In his Ancient Freemasonry, Frank C. Higgins reproduces the Masonic apron of a colossal stone figure at Quirigua, Guatemala. The central ornament of the apron is the three Passion nails, arranged exactly like the British broad arrow. That three nails should be used to crucify the Christ, three murderers to kill CHiram Abiff, and three wounds to slay Prince Coh, the Mexican Indian Osiris, is significant. The East Indian equivalent of Christ is the immortal Christna, who, sitting in the forest playing his flute, charmed the birds and beasts by his music. It is supposed that this divinely inspired Savior of humanity was crucified upon a tree by his enemies, but great care has been taken to destroy any evidence pointing in that direction. Louis Jacolliot, in his book The Bible in India, thus describes the death of Christna: "Christna understood that the hour had come for him to quit the earth, and return to the bosom of him who had sent him. Forbidding his disciples to follow him, he went, one day, to make his ablutions on the banks of the Ganges * * *. Arriving at the sacred river, he plunged himself three times therein, then, kneeling, and looking to heaven, he prayed, expecting death. In this position he was pierced with arrows by one of those whose crimes he had unveiled, and who, hearing of his journey to the Ganges, had, with generation. a strong troop, followed with the design of assassinating him * * *. The body of the God-man was suspended to the branches of a tree by his murderer, that it might become the prey of vultures. News of the death having spread, the people came in a crowd conducted by Ardjouna, the dearest of the disciples of Christna, to recover his sacred remains. But the mortal frame of the redeemer had disappeared--no doubt it had regained the celestial abodes * * * and the tree to which it had been attached had become suddenly covered with great red flowers and diffused around it the sweetest perfume." Other accounts of the death of Christna declare that he was tied to a cross-shaped tree before the arrows were aimed at him. The fact that among many nations it was customary to spread the arms in prayer has influenced the symbolism of the cross, which, because of its shape, has come to be regarded as emblematic of the human body. There are four basic elements (according to both ancient philosophy and modern science), and the ancients represented them by the four arms of the cross, placing at the end of each arm a mysterious Qabbalistic creature to symbolize the power of one of these elements. Thus, they symbolized the element of earth by a bull; water by a scorpion, a serpent, or an eagle; fire by a lion; and air by a human head surrounded by wings. It is significant that the four letters inscribed upon parchment (some say wood) and fastened to the top of the cross at the time of the crucifixion should be the first letters of four Hebrew words which stand for the four elements: "Iammin, the sea or water; Nour, fire; Rouach, the air; and Iebeschah, the dry earth." (See Morals and Dogma, by Albeit Pike.) There are three distinct forms of the cross. The first is called the TAU (more correctly the TAV). It closely resembles the modern letter T, consisting of a horizontal bar resting on a vertical column, the two arms being of equal length. An oak tree cut off some feet above the ground and its upper part laid across the lower in this form was the symbol of the Druid god Hu. It is suspected that this symbol originated among the Egyptians from the spread of the horns of a bull or ram (Taurus or Aries) and the vertical line of its face. This is sometimes designated as the hammer cross, because if held by its vertical base it is not unlike a mallet or gavel. In one of the Qabbalistic Masonic legends, CHiram Abiff is given a hammer in the form of a TAU by his ancestor, Tubal-cain. The TAU cross is preserved to modern Masonry under the symbol of the T square. This appears to be the oldest form of the cross extant. To the Rosicrucians, Alchemists, and Illuminati, the cross was the symbol of light, because each of the three letters L V X is derived from some part of the cross. The cross is also highly revered by the Japanese and Chinese. To the Pythagoreans the most sacred of all numbers was the 10, the symbol of which is an X, or cross. In both the Japanese and Chinese languages the character of the number 10 is a cross. The Buddhist wheel of life is composed of two crosses superimposed, and its eight points are still preserved to Christendom in the peculiarly formed cross of the Knights Templars, which is essentially Buddhistic. India has preserved the cross, not only in its carvings and paintings, but also in its architectonics; a great number of its temples--like the churches and cathedrals of Christendom--are raised from cruciform foundations.” The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Manly P. Hall

[eugene114]

28

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

1 One day when heaven was filled with His praises, One day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, Dwelt among men, my example is He!

Refrain: Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely for ever: One day He's coming—-O, glorious day!

2 One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain, One day they nailed Him to die on the tree; Suffering anguish, despised and rejected: Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He! (Refrain)

3 One day they left Him alone in the garden, One day He rested, from suffering free; Angels came down o'er Him tomb to keep vigil; Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He! (Refrain)

4 One day the grave could conceal Him no longer, One day the stone rolled away from the door; Then He arose, over death He has conquered; Now is ascended, my Lord evermore! (Refrain)

5 One day the trumpet will sound for His coming, One day the skies with His glories will shine; Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing; Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine! (Refrain)

[ponderlyunbiasednews]

Did Jesus' resurrection happen?

Fact Box

‘Resurrection’ is defined (generally) as “bringing something that had disappeared or ended back into use or existence” and (in Christianity) “Jesus Christ's return to life on the third day after his death, or the return of all people to life at the end of the world.”

Jesus (born 6-4 BC, died 30-33 AD) was a first-century Jew who led a ministry focused on seeking and saving the lost and calling sinners to repentance. In each of the gospels, he predicted his death and resurrection. Jesus died by Roman crucifixion, and three days later, his disciples and other eyewitnesses reported having seen him again, risen and alive. 

Christianity hinges on Jesus’ resurrection being true. First Corinthians 15:12-14 says, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.”

A 2022 Lifeway research found that 66% of surveyed US adults believe the biblical accounts of Jesus’s resurrection are accurate, including 58% of those aged 18-34

Vic (No)

Jesus is believed to have died for the sins of humanity, encouraging early believers to convert from Judaism to Christianity following his death, so it wasn't in vain. Believers used the resurrection story to promote conversion to Christianity, which later justified brutal wars against believers and non-believers alike. However, simply put, Jesus' resurrection couldn't have happened because dead people don't come back to life. Science has yet to prove how it would have happened, and attempts to disprove resurrection claims are futile in the face of a global religious community whose existence is propagated by the story. Some historians regard the Bible as fiction, noting uncanny similarities between its stories and Greek mythology. Like Jesus, the Greek god Hercules, also born of a human mother and divine father, was known as the world's savior. Thus, Jesus' resurrection is as fantastical as old Greek and Norse myths, albeit less exciting.

Other theories suggest that Jesus did not resurrect from the dead, producing plausible explanations for his empty tomb. The swoon theory claims Jesus never actually died on the cross but 'swooned' or fainted. Therefore, he was placed in the tomb undead, eventually able to wake up and leave his tomb. Another is that those who went to recover Jesus' body mistakenly went to the wrong tomb. Likewise, it is possible Jesus' body was stolen to perpetuate this claim that he was a risen lord. Skepticism toward a bodily resurrection of Jesus persists due to concerns over the absence of empirical evidence, the apparent influences of mythology on the gospel accounts, and alternative naturalistic explanations, not to mention the fact that people do not rise from the dead. Continued rigorous scrutiny and critical analysis of such historical claims is necessary for many things, including the resurrection.

Elisa (Yes)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is considered a historical event. The resurrection and gospel accounts present compelling evidence that cannot be theorized away; They were written in the first century (closer to Jesus' lifetime than accounts for Alexander the Great were), included eyewitness testimony, and contained embarrassing details (such as the disciples' cowardice following Jesus's death), which legitimize resurrection claims. 

The 'historicity' (historical authenticity) of the events surrounding Jesus' life and death shows the resurrection happened. Historical evidence—like his empty tomb and the witnesses of his death and burial—is affirmed by secular and religious scholars alike. Even non-Christian sources confirm Jesus lived, died by crucifixion, and was later seen risen by the disciples and many others. The gospels even highlight women as the first to see Jesus alive, which is significant since women's testimonies were not legally recognized. They certainly would've excluded such witnesses from the accounts if they had made this up. Enemies of Jesus even acknowledged his empty tomb, accusing the disciples of stealing his body. If Jesus were truly dead, the Romans and Jewish authorities could’ve produced his body at any time to squash resurrection rumors. Even modern scientists, such as physicist Daniel Gordon Ang, have stated 'the theory that Jesus rose from the dead is a much more plausible explanation than any of the other ones.'  

Finally, why would Jesus's disciples endure such persecution, torture, and even martyrdom for a lie? Most of Jesus's disciples later endured traumatic deaths. No one knowingly dies for a lie, especially when they've gained no power or riches from it. The disciples were emboldened by what they had seen—the risen Jesus—enough to 'die for what they knew to be true.' Approximately 2.3 billion Christians believe today, and that’s because Jesus Christ's resurrection happened.

[e-devotion]

reflections on easter Sunday

Easter is one of the most incredible holidays that Christians celebrate.  So many emotions, so many stories, so many blessings come with our celebrations, the worship and even time with families.  Easter is so good.

But what makes it stand out is something that is empty.  That’s right.  It is the tomb.  Where Jesus was placed after He died on the cross.  The resurrection shown by the empty tomb is what seals our eternal promise as well as our daily hope.

Let’s ask the questions that others were asked.

Luke 24:1-8  NLT  

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

We do that.  But we shouldn’t.  It is true of humanity that we seek too often what is temporary rather than will last.  That is why life is the focus, not death.  That is why the deceiver seeks to deceive but the Savior seek to save.  Who will we seek?

May we celebrate Jesus.  He is alive.  Or, He is risen!

The following is from the writing of Henri Nouwen in his devotion “Reflections on Easter Sunday” (go to https://henrinouwen.org/ for more)

Easter season is a time of hope.  There still is fear, there still is a painful awareness of sinfulness, but there is also light breaking through.  Something new is happening, something that goes beyond the changing moods of our life.  We can be joyful or sad, optimistic or pessimistic, tranquil or angry, but the solid stream of God’s presence moves deeper than the small waves of our minds and hearts.  Easter brings the awareness that God is present even when his presence is not directly noticed.  Easter brings the good news that, although things seem to get worse in the world, the Evil One has already been overcome.  Easter allows us to affirm that although God seems very distant and although we remain preoccupied with many little things, our Lord walks with us on the road and keeps explaining the Scriptures to us.  Thus there are many rays of hope casting their light on our way through life. 

PRAYER

Almighty, everlasting God,

on this day you conquered death 

and opened for us the path to eternal life.

And so we celebrate in joy the feast of his resurrection.

Make us new through your Spirit,

so that we too may rise and walk in the light of life.

We ask this through Jesus Christ. 

Thank you for continuing to read and share these e-devotions.  May God help us focus on and walk with Jesus each day!

[superjakethegreat]

Life Through Death

March 22, 2024

[Jesus said] Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.


John 12:24-26

Imagine we dig a small hole in the dirt. Carefully, we place a seed inside of it and gently push the soil over the seed. We wait, and all on its own, the seed sprouts. A green leaf pokes through the ground. And that single seed becomes a plant that bears more seeds just like it. Life comes through the death of the one seed.

It seems counterintuitive, right? Life through death. Yet, that was the very core of Jesus’ mission. He came to bring life to us followers through His own sacrificial death. Like a seed planted in the dark dirt, Jesus would be buried in a tomb dug from the earth for three days. After those three days, Jesus would rise to life and promise the same life to all who die believing in Jesus as their Savior.

But Jesus doesn’t just focus on death with His words; He focuses on life, too. A man once reminisced about the pastor he had growing up—he remembered the preacher saying, “You must die every day!” in nearly all his sermons. As a boy, he didn’t understand what the preacher meant. He didn’t want to die! He wanted to live.

He later understood what that preacher meant. Die to sinful self. Die to selfish desires. Surrender the sinful agenda and submit to God’s love and will. Death to self brings life.

It’s a life full of love for God and the people in our life. It’s a life of peace and contentment. It’s a life with Jesus. It’s not easy. But it is life to the fullest, where Jesus promises His Father’s honor to all who serve and follow Him.

[starcunin]

@softersinned 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 ﹕ ❛ every  time  i  wake  up   &    you’re  there  next  to   me ,   i  wonder  if  i’m  still  dreaming . ❜

ִ ࣪ 𖤐 astarion stirs before the other spawn that morning , ִ𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 heating naked , cool flesh , half covered by bedsheets [ somewhat stained with a combination of both of their blood , as they spent the evening before indulging in the succulence of one another ] . her undead blood offers no nutrients but she tastes as sweet as fresh berries , exquisite enough to become addicting. they are a tangled mess of pale limbs beneath the tousled sheets , her legs weaving through his , and her head resting on his shoulder.

he admires her through white lashes on lids still heavy , 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍. you’d never be able to tell the horrors unleashed by her own hand just looking at her like this [ but those horrors are nothing in comparison to the horrors awaiting him back home , he’s certain ] . astarion has done terrible things against his will , and when he looks at her , he doesn’t see a monster. he sees his savior. he sees a potential future , one without the looming threat of being enslaved by cazador yet again. one where he’s happy , one where she’s happy. and only more 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓.

and astarion can find no words to describe her beauty right here and now , there isn’t one in his vocabulary that does this image justice. the way the sunlight catches curly , red tresses splayed out over his arm. washed in such a radiant golden glow that her pale flesh almost looks as though fresh blood still flows beneath the surface. and as she begins to stir herself , astarion turns halfway on his side , the front of his body facing her more so that he can wrap both his arms around her slender frame. her sleepy words , though meant to be sweet , cause astarion’s traumatized mind to wander.

𝒐𝒉 , 𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.

he hates the fact that a remark so innocent could bring about such terrifying feelings. the way a simple utterance of affection can just teleport him right back inside of that tomb. he thinks about it often , it’s his deepest of fears— especially as they get closer to cazador , and every morning he wakes to stori’s lovely face. every morning he dares to smile a genuine smile , he is reminded : what if he’s still inside of that tomb ? what if he’s been in there this entire time ? what if none of this is even real ? no freedom , no love , no sunshine on his skin. just him , maddened by isolation and starvation , 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅.

❛ i— know the feeling— ❜ his voice is slightly wavering , but astarion tries to smile through it , hoping just being here with her will prevent his rising panic from becoming troublesome. he doesn’t need to breathe , he doesn’t need to breathe , he doesn’t need to breathe— but why does he feel like he’s bloody suffocating ? he takes in a deep breath , as if trying to sate his now aching lungs [ but that breath alone should already be a signal that something is very wrong ] , yet it doesn’t work. his smile begins to falter as he turns back over onto his back , brow creasing as he inhales again , he tries to make it deeper , but it’s so agonizingly shallow and short , it’s practically a gasp.

he has to sit up , though stori rests upon his shoulder , he pulls himself up regardless , as his other hand grasps futility at his burning chest. ❛ i— ❜ his voice is strained through his shallow , gasping breaths , he doesn’t even know what to say or how to say it , he knows how ridiculous this must be. a vampire having a bloody panic attack ? it shouldn’t even be physically possible , ❛ i’m sorry— i— can’t fucking— breathe ! ❜

[stpaullutheranchurch]

march 26 2023

2023 Lent 5, March 26th

Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm: Psalm 130

Epistle: Romans 8:1-11

Gospel: John 11:1-45 (46, 53, 12:10-11)

Sermon Text: John 11:17-53

Sermon Title: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”

Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, “many of the Jews believed in Him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done”. (John 11:45b-46) “So, from that day on, they made plans to put Jesus to death … they gave orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest Him”. (John 11:53, 57) Later “the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him, many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus”. (John 12:10-11)

Last week, we heard the man who was healed of his (physical and spiritual) blindness by Jesus, almost immediately begin to suffer because of his faith in Him. The Pharisees interrogated him, mocked him, and eventually threw him out of the synagogue, having already decided that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would suffer this fate. Jesus’ final word to them on that day was, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt, but now that you say, we see, your guilt remains”. (John 9:41)

But they took no warning from Jesus’ words, rather they continued in their evil behavior against Him and those who followed Him. In chapter 10, the Jews said of Jesus, “He is insane and has a demon; why listen to Him”. (John 10:20b) “Again, they sought to arrest Him”. (John 10:39) Today, Jesus performed the greatest physical miracle of His ministry, so far, by raising Lazarus after he had been dead four days, and the leaders of the Jews still opposed Him. It did not matter what Jesus did or said, they were against Him.

Now, Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill and instead of going to him immediately, He delayed going for two days; by which time Lazarus had already died. In a moment we will hear some of the Jews complaining about His decision to wait. Jesus plainly told the disciples why, saying, “Lazarus has died and for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him”. (John 11:14b-15) Jesus is glad He was not there? Yes! Glad because He knows that He will demonstrate to the disciples, complete power over death by raising Lazarus bodily from the dead.

It is another miracle or sign proving who Jesus is; both true man and true God. To paraphrase last week’s Gospel, “it was not that Lazarus sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3) by being raised from the dead. Again, Lazarus died so that the works of God would be manifested in him.

“Now, when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother. So, when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met Him, but Mary remained seated in the house”. (John 11:17-20)

Martha approached Jesus and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You”. (John 11:21-22) In Martha here, we have what seems to be a mixture of faith; believing that the dead will be raised on the Last Day, and frustration that Jesus had not come in time to heal her brother in this life. The idea of her brother being raised that day, in the present, did not occur to her.

“Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again! Martha said to Him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the Last Day”. (John 11:23-24) Jesus did not contradict Martha’s confession, but rather testified of Himself saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live”. (John 11:25)

Jesus affirms that those who believe in Him have eternal life even now saying, “everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. (Martha) Do you believe this”? (John 11:26) All who believe in Jesus will die physically, but the eternal life we have in Him, survives death and the grave, and on the Last Day, body and soul will be reunited in the resurrection. This is what the Lord declared through the prophet Ezekiel, “You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graces and raise you from your graves”. (Ezekiel 37:13)

Martha then gives a wonderful confession of faith; “Yes Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world”. (John 11:27) Jesus then is approached by Mary, “for Martha had went and called her sister, saying in private, the Teacher is here and is calling for you. And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to Him”. (John 11:28-29) They share a similar conversation as Mary also asked Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died”. (John 11:32)

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, Jesus was deeply moved in His Spirit and greatly troubled … He said, where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. So, the Jews said; See how He loved him”. (John 11:33-36) Jesus wept even though He knew He would raise up Lazarus in a few moments. Some saw this as a sign of weakness saying, “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying”? (John 11:37)

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Jesus; Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days”. (John 11:38-39) Jesus is not deterred in any way. The works of God are to be revealed in what He was about to do.

“Jesus said to her; Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? So, they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that you heard me. I know that You always hear Me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me”. (John 11:40-42) Jesus prays aloud so that those who heard would also come to saving faith in Him.

“When He had said these things, Jesus cried out with a loud voice; Lazarus, Come out! The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth (as was the burial custom of the Jews). Jesus said to them, Unbind him and let him go”. (John 11:43-44) Jesus has again borne witness to Himself, that His Words are true; “He is the resurrection and the life”. (John 11:25a)

Now, Lazarus was raised from the dead, but we know that he died again. In this way, his resurrection was different than the resurrection of the body on the Last Day; “when Christ will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ”. (Third Article explanation, Small Catechism) As Jesus said, “an hour is coming, when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment”. (John 5:28-29)

Just as Jesus had predicted, “many of the Jews … who had seen what He did, believed in Him”. (John 11:45) Sadly, many others, “went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said; what are we to do? For this man performs many signs”. (John 11:46-47)

Remember, these were the religious leaders of Israel. They acknowledged Jesus had done many great miracles, including this most recent one in raising Lazarus. These were clearly signs that only the Messiah/Christ could do, and yet they were so full of hate for Jesus, they rejected Him anyway. They were more concerned with maintaining the status quo, than they were in the truth. “If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation”. (John 11:48) In other words, as the saying goes, “truth be damned”.

“From that day on, they made plans to put Him to death”. (John 11:53) Not only that, as we heard last Sunday, they were making threats to anyone in the synagogue who dared to speak of Jesus as the Christ. Then a few days later, “the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death too, because on account of him, many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus”. (John 12:10-11) Those who hate Christ, also hate those who belong to Him.

Knowing this (from Scripture) why do we always seem to be seeking to get along with (compromise) those who oppose Jesus and His Gospel? Why do we think we can make peace with the Devil? For, we know that what the Apostle Paul says is true; “to set the mind on things of the flesh is death … hostile to God … cannot please God”. (Romans 8:6-8) This is not what God has intended for “for those who are in Christ Jesus”. (Romans 8:1a)

For Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross that He might “destroy the one who has the power of death”. (Hebrews 2:14) We have died with Christ in our baptism and have “been set free from sin”. (Romans 6:7b) Eternal life is ours through faith in Christ alone, “who died once for all” (Romans 6:10a) so that we would “consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus”. (Romans 6:11) Through Christ’s death and bodily resurrection, by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word and Sacrament, we have eternal life now and forever. This we believe, teach and confess; “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

The peace of God …

[leonbloder]

The Stars In Our Sky

The other day, I was introduced to a poem by Ann Weems that I have been reading and re-reading ever since. It feels like a good one to share during this season of Easter because it speaks to the divine rhythm of dying and rising that was dramatically and incredibly embodied in the Resurrection of Jesus.  But there's more to this poem because it begins with the grief that comes with significant loss.   It starts with John chapter 11, where Jesus weeps over the death of his friend Lazarus just before Lazarus walks out of his tomb, wrapped in burial clothes. 

Jesus wept,                 and in his weeping,                he joined himself forever                to those who mourn.        He stands now throughout all time,                  this Jesus weeping,                 with his arms about the weeping ones:         “Blessed are those who mourn,                 for they shall be comforted.”              He stands with the mourners,                     for his name is God-with-us.  Jesus wept.  “Blessed are those who weep, for they shall be comforted.”                  Someday.   Someday God will wipe the tears from Rachel’s eyes.                 In the godforsaken, obscene quicksand of life,                             there is a deafening alleluia                            rising from the souls                             of those who weep,                            and of those who weep with those who weep.                            If you watch, you will see                            the hand of God                            putting the stars back in their skies                            one by one.  

I don't know about you, but that poem speaks to me now.  I've been coming to grips with the reality of grief and how all our griefs and losses are connected.  

When our grief over a loss returns, it reminds us of all the losses that have come before it and all those that have happened since.  It also gives us a sense that grief is ongoing with its restorative but often awful work.  

And we are also confronted with the reality that there will be more losses to grieve as we keep journeying through life.  

But throughout all our griefs and losses, we have this image of a weeping Savior to sustain us.  Because Jesus wept, we know that God fully understands what we feel during our grief over what or who has been lost to us. 

And we also know that whatever weeping we may do is like a prayer to that same God who is constantly at work "putting the stars back" in our skies. 

The last line is what gets me, though.  "...one by one."  

The light returns slowly to us when we feel the darkness of loss.  The stars get put back into place over time, and we often don't fully recognize they are there until we finally look up and see them all twinkling above us. 

And some of the constellations that we see are different.  

Because when you find your way through grief, you end up in a different place, more often than not.  In those new hemispheres, our view of the sky has shifted enough for us to see new lights to guide us home.  

May you rest in the hope of this today and every day.  And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.  

[seekfirst-community]

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2023. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net

Meditation: Do you believe the Lord Jesus is truly alive and ready to make his presence known to everyone who believes in him? The first to see the risen Lord was not Peter or one of the apostles, but a woman noted for her demonized living! She had been forgiven much, and loved her Master greatly. She was first at the tomb to pay her respects. Unfortunately for the disciples, they would not believe her account of the Risen Master. Jesus had to scold his apostles because of their unbelief and stubborn hearts.

The Holy Spirit makes our faith in Jesus Christ come alive

Are you like the apostles or like Mary - slow to believe or quick to run to Jesus? Do you doubt because you do not see? The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work and power of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to know him personally and to understand the mystery of his death and rising. Do you believe his word and do you listen to his voice?

We are Christ's ambassadors and witnesses of his victory over sin and death

After his appearance to his beloved apostles, Jesus commissions them to go and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of Israel but to all the nations. This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task - to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Do you witness to others the joy of the Gospel and the hope of the resurrection?

"Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith and hope in the power of your resurrection. And give me joy and courage to be your witness to others and to boldly speak of what you have done to save us from sin and death."

The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2023.

take the witness stand

“They called them back and made it clear that under no circumstances were they to speak the name of Jesus.” —Acts 4:18

Jesus is risen, and we are His witnesses (see Acts 1:8; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 10:41; 13:31). Satan could not keep Jesus from rising from the dead, but he can try to keep us from being witnesses for the risen Christ. However, we should never stop “speaking of what we have heard and seen” (Acts 4:20) from the risen Christ, no matter how much we may have to suffer. The risen Jesus Himself will back us up by reprimanding those who do not believe our witness (Mk 16:14). He will also send the Holy Spirit to put the words in our mouths so we can witness (Lk 12:12). The Spirit will likewise convict of sin those who disbelieve our witness (Jn 16:8).

Therefore, witnessing is one of the most powerful ways of communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ (see Acts 1:8). When we witness to our faith in Jesus, we share the faith and grow in it ourselves. Witnessing glorifies the risen Jesus, builds the kingdom of God, and hastens our growth in holiness. Witnessing for the risen Christ changes the culture of death into a civilization of life and love. Thus, Satan, “the prince of death” (Heb 2:14), hates witnessing, for he is especially defeated by it (Rv 12:11).

Love God; defy the devil; be a witness for the risen Jesus.

Prayer:  Father, may I witness for Jesus right where I am, and then to my neighbors and co-workers, and then to cities and countries (see Acts 1:8).

Promise:  “Proclaim the good news to all creation.” —Mk 16:15

Praise:  Praise Jesus, “the Resurrection and the Life”! (Jn 11:25) “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it” (Ps 118:24). Alleluia!

Reference:  (Do the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil keep you from experiencing the presence and power of God? The retreat Living in Reality, held April 21-23, will give you the keys to living a fulfilled Christian life with the power of the Holy Spirit. Call 513-373-2397 or e-mail retreats@presentationministries.com to register or for questions.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from April 1, 2023 through May 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio September 21,, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements