Luther for the Busy Man

EASTER - WEEK 3 - TUESDAY

LESSON: HABAKKUK 2:2-4

You have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. “For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry.” Hebrews 10:36-37

The first “little while” which Jesus mentioned when He said, “A little while, and you will see me no more,” the disciples understood very soon after this when they saw Him taken captive and put to death. But the second “little while” when He said, “Again, a little while, and you will see m...

EASTER - WEEK 3 - MONDAY

LESSON: PSALM 30:1-5

“A little while, and you will see me no more; again, a little while, and you will see me.” John 16:16

“A little while,” Jesus says, “and you will see me no more.” He is about to be taken captive and put to death on the cross. But this will not be for long. During this “little while” they will certainly be sad. “But cling firmly to Me and follow me,” the Lord means to say to His disciples, “matters will soon take a turn for the better.” He would...

EASTER - WEEK 3 - SUNDAY

LESSON: JOHN 16:16-23

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” John 16:20

You see here how Christ announces to His disciples that they will become sad because He is about to leave them. They are still quite simple and unlearned, considerably disturbed by what Jesus said when He instituted His Holy Supper. They cannot understand what He is talking about. Indeed, the subject of Christ’s discussion here is too pr...

EASTER - WEEK 2 - SATURDAY

LESSON: MATTHEW 5:13-16

I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

The source of all power in Christ’s kingdom rests in God’s Word of truth and salvation. Those who hear that Word and believe it are members of God’s kingdom.

Among the members of God’s kingdom, the Word becomes so powerful that it provides them with all that they need and brings...

EASTER - WEEK 2 - FRIDAY

LESSON: PSALM 23

He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. Ephesians 4:10

You have heard how our Lord Jesus Christ, after His suffering and death, was translated and entered an immortal existence. We must not understand this to mean that Christ is now sitting idly up in heaven and that He is nothing but an object of continual joy to Himself alone. He has taken over the full kingship of His kingdom and is exercising full rule over...

EASTER - WEEK 2 - THURSDAY

LESSON: ROMANS 2:19-26

The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

You have often heard how God sent a twofold proclamation into the world. The one is to proclaim God’s Word as Law and tell men: “You shall have no other gods before me.…You shall not kill, commit adultery, steal” (Exodus 20:3,13-15). In this proclamation, men also hear the threat that if they do not keep this Law they will die. This proclamation never succeeds in making a man truly righteous...

EASTER - WEEK 2- WEDNESDAY

LESSON: PSALM 85

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8

In preaching Christ, it should be made quite clear that Christ rejects no one, no matter how weak he may be, but readily accepts everyone. He comforts and strengthens His sheep, like the good shepherd that He always is.

If Christ is proclaimed in this way, as He really is, the hearts of men will incline to Him of their own accord. There will be no need to use c...

EASTER - WEEK 2- TUESDAY

LESSON: 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-6

A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench. Isaiah 42:3

Matthew declares that these words of Isaiah were fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 12:20). A bruised reed is a reed very close to breaking point. One who has received a very serious injury or is carrying a very heavy wound—that is, a Christian who is not only weak and stumbling, but who is overwhelmed in temptation, actually breaking a leg, so to say. It may be that he has fall...

EASTER - WEEK 2 - MONDAY

LESSON: LUKE 5:27-32

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Matthew 9:12

Even though we are weak and sickly, we should still not lose heart and begin to think that we do not belong to the kingdom of Christ. The more we become aware of our infirmities, the closer we should walk with Christ. For it is His office to heal us and to make us well.

If you are sick and a sinner and feel your need, you have ...

EASTER - WEEK 2- SUNDAY

LESSON: JOHN 10:11-16

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Pastors can never become any more than the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the instruments whereby He continues to proclaim His Word visibly here on earth. He permits His Word to go out into public so that all may heart it, but the inward acceptance of the Word in the heart is a spiritual experience that takes place through faith. It is a hidden work of Christ. Chris...