St. Johns News

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

A Living Hope

Daily Devotion – April 19, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Peter 1:3

See series: Devotions

Peter was a fiercely loyal follower of Jesus. Or at least he wanted to be. Peter promised Jesus, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” But just hours later, he called down curses on himself as he denied ever knowing Jesus not once but three times.

His denial of Jesus proved he wasn’t as strong as he claimed to be. How could he ever be sure of anything again? How could he ever find hope again?

Years later, Peter wrote, “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Peter and his friend John had run to the tomb on Easter morning after the women reported that it was empty. Later that day, Peter saw Jesus alive, and he was filled with “an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Peter’s fear, grief, and despair turned to peace, joy, and hope.

What struggles have you faced in your life? What burdens are you carrying on your heart today? Does the loss of a loved one have you feeling empty and alone? Does your own failing health cripple you with confusion and uncertainty? Does the fear of what the future may hold have you worried and afraid? Find hope and peace where Peter found it. Easter hope. Living hope.

Jesus keeps his promises. He died for our doubts and worries and rose to prove that they are forgiven. Grief, shame, and guilt are gone. Life with Jesus is ours!

Prayer:
Jesus, when life leaves me hopeless, give me living hope through your resurrection from the dead. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:27,28

Prove It

Daily Devotion – April 18, 2023

Devotion based on John 20:27,28

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You have to see it to believe it! Animals with two heads, products that range from the novel to the absurd, amazing abilities and little-known scientific facts. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not has over three dozen museums and attractions where you can find all kinds of oddities that are strange, but true (or so they claim).

Of course, just because something is in a museum or on the internet does not mean it is true. In this digital age, so-called evidence can be easily altered to “prove” events that never happened or the existence of things that never actually existed. It can be wise to be skeptical.

Jesus’ disciple, Thomas, wasn’t going to get sucked into the hysteria. He wasn’t going to put his life on the line for something that seemed so unlikely. He had to see it to believe it. It wasn’t enough that his close friends said they had seen Jesus with their own eyes, and others claimed to have touched and walked with him. He wanted to see and touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side for himself.

And then it happened. One week after Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas was there when Jesus appeared to his disciples. Jesus was alive, standing there in the flesh right in front of him.

Perhaps Thomas thought about how slow he had been to swallow his pride and believe the truth! But Jesus showed the scars in his hands and in his side to assure Thomas that he paid the price for his pride, doubt, and all of his sins. A living Jesus was proof that Jesus defeated the devil and overcame death. Seeing his living Savior, Thomas joyfully confessed, “My Lord and my God!”

Do you have doubts about God’s love? Are you worried that God couldn’t forgive you? The risen Jesus proves that God loved you enough to give his life for you. Proof that death is conquered, and life is yours. Believe it!

Prayer:
Jesus, forgive my fears and doubts. Help me confess with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
John 20:19

Peace be with you!

Daily Devotion – April 17, 2023

Devotion based on John 20:19

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Fear can be absolutely paralyzing, can’t it? I have a fear of heights. If I am someplace where my mind tells me I could fall and be seriously injured or die, my heart begins to race, and I can hardly move an inch. Maybe you’ve experienced the same thing. Or maybe for you, it is a fear of spiders or snakes, public speaking, water, or tight spaces. It doesn’t matter whether the danger is real or not. Fear paralyzes us.

Jesus’ disciples were terrified. They had seen him tied up and taken away by his enemies. Some of them were there when they killed him. They watched the life drain out of his body and saw him take his last breath. What Jesus’ enemies did to him was so brutal, so hateful, so final. What would stop them from doing the same thing to them?

So they hid, locked behind closed doors. They hid even after they heard reports that Jesus was alive. They didn’t believe the news. Fear paralyzed them. They lacked proof. They lacked peace.

Suddenly, Jesus was standing right in front of them. And the first thing Jesus said was, “Peace be with you.” It was his promise that they had nothing to fear, because everything was right between them and God. He would not hold their fears against them. He would not curse them for their confusion or damn them for their doubts. Those things were forgiven. They were left there on the cross when Jesus died.

The risen Jesus says the same thing to you. “Peace be with you. Your fears and failures are forgiven. I was condemned and cut off from God’s love so that you will not be. I am alive as proof that God has accepted my life as payment for your guilt. Everything is good between you and me, between you and God.” With the proof that he is alive, Jesus gives the gift of peace to fearful hearts.

Prayer:
Risen Savior, when guilt, shame, and uncertainty try to fill me with fear, let your resurrection bring me peace. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:19,20

Overjoyed!

Daily Devotion – April 16, 2023

Devotion based on John 20:19,20

See series: Devotions

What failures we human beings are! We see it so clearly in Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had told them on several occasions that he was going to rise from the dead. Yet, two days after Jesus’ death, his disciples were confused, afraid, and locked in a room.

Jesus, the all-powerful Son of God who miraculously rose from the dead, suddenly appeared in the room with his disciples. He could have said to them, “Why didn’t you listen to me?” He could have said, “I’m going to find some new disciples, followers who will listen when I make a promise.” He could have said that.

But he didn’t! Instead, he said to them, “Peace be with you!” He showed them his hands and his side because there were the marks of the nails and the spear, signs of his love for them and the ultimate proof that their sins were forgiven. They were overjoyed.

Take that picture of Jesus and focus on it with your mind’s eye. The risen Lord Jesus stands in front of you with his hands out-stretched. You see the nail marks—proof that YOUR sins are forgiven too. And what does he say to you? He says exactly what he said to those disciples.

Peace be with you!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for your promise that, just as you rose from the dead, you will one day raise me from the dead. Let the peace of this promise fill my heart. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name.”
Isaiah 12:2-4

With Joy Give Thanks

Daily Devotion – April 15, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 12:2-4

See series: Devotions

When I think of drawing water out of a well, I usually don’t associate that with joy. I’ve never actually done it myself, but it looks hard. A gallon of milk gets heavy very quickly if I decide to not use a shopping cart. In comparison, pulling the dead weight of a ten-gallon bucket of water out of the ground doesn’t sound like a lot of fun; that sounds like work. Hard work!

But the prophet Isaiah tells us that we will draw water with joy. He tells us about a well that is not a burden to draw from. It’s the well of salvation. From the well of salvation, we draw water that brings real and lasting joy. That’s because we are drawing living water. We draw the life-giving water of God’s Word.

Do you ever go a day without drinking water? It’s pretty hard to do, especially if you are outside spending time in the sun. You need water, and you would never think of going without it for very long. But sometimes we treat the living water of God’s Word as if it is somehow less important, less needed. Sometimes we go days and weeks without stopping at the well of God’s Word for a nourishing drink. Often, we treat our bodies with more care than our souls.

But there is a treatment for that sin. It’s the living water. Go back to the well of God’s Word and receive forgiveness. Drink up a tall glass of his grace. Drink deeply from it, and be refreshed with the satisfaction that the living water God offers is your salvation. Trust in him and do not be afraid because of everything Jesus has accomplished for you by his life, death, and resurrection. Through your Savior, you will spend eternity with your Lord in the glories of heaven. There you will sing with Isaiah. There you will say every day with a praise-filled heart and voice: “Give thanks to the LORD.”

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for refreshing my soul through these moments in your Word. As you care for my physical needs, support me in my spiritual journey, until I join you in paradise. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

“You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’”
Jonah 2:3,4

Banished but Not Forgotten

Daily Devotion – April 14, 2023

Devotion based on Jonah 2:3,4

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Jesus only compared himself to one prophet. He picked the one we would least expect: the prophet Jonah. Reluctant Jonah. Selfish Jonah. Sinful Jonah.

God called Jonah to preach to the foreign city of Nineveh. But Jonah didn’t want to go. He got on a boat and went the other way. And when a storm came up and threatened to sink Jonah’s ship, he told the sailors the only way to stop the storm was to throw him into the sea. And sure enough, once Jonah was overboard in the water, the storm stopped.

There in the sea, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. From the belly of that fish, Jonah prayed to God, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” Even in such a terrible predicament, even after he had sinfully disobeyed his God, Jonah trusted that the Lord could rescue him and allow him to one day look at the holy temple in Jerusalem.

Why did Jesus compare himself to this particularly sinful and selfish prophet? Because just as Jonah was delivered from the belly of that fish, Jesus knew he would be delivered from the grave after his death.

Sure enough, after suffering for our sins and being placed in a tomb on Friday, Jesus was raised back to life and walked out of the tomb on Sunday. It all happened just as Jesus knew it would happen. And it will happen to his followers just as he promises it will happen. Although we will suffer death and be placed in the grave, we will be raised one day to experience the eternal life Jesus won for us.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for taking my place and for giving me life with God forever. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

[Jesus] appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8

The Life-Changing Resurrection

Daily Devotion – April 13, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:5-8

See series: Devotions

After Jesus’ death on Good Friday, his disciples were scattered and scared for their lives. Their leader was dead. Their enemies held all the power. It was only a matter of time until this following of Jesus fell apart.

But that never happened. And instead of dissolving, the Jesus following slowly grew. The disciples of Jesus came out of hiding and started boldly teaching about Jesus. A skeptic of Jesus became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. And someone who tried to imprison and kill the followers of Jesus turned into the greatest missionary for Jesus. What happened?

Jesus appeared to them. Not beaten, battered, and broken, but alive and well. Jesus had been dead. He was executed by professional Roman soldiers. But he rose from the dead and started showing people that he held the keys to death.

Jesus’ change from death to life changed the people who witnessed him alive. Fear turned into confidence. Doubt turned into faith. Persecution turned into the right kind of zeal. Jesus’ resurrection from the grave was life-changing.

It still is. Jesus’ resurrection means we have a sure hope of eternal life. It means that because Jesus went through death and came out alive on the other side, we will too. It means that whatever this world throws at us, Jesus will get us through it. It means that Jesus is who he says he is and will keep all his promises. It means he is your Savior from sin. That is life-changing!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal: – 440)
So let us keep the festival to which the Lord invites us; Christ is himself the joy of all, the sun that warms and lights us. Now his grace to us imparts eternal sunshine to our hearts; the night of sin is ended. Alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3,4

According to Plan

Daily Devotion – April 12, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

See series: Devotions

We love it when things go according to plan. Maybe it’s a road trip that has each stop carefully researched and detailed. And there are no car issues, nothing more than routine traffic, and everything goes according to plan. Or maybe it’s a business merger carefully planned and executed by the right people to minimize conflict and maximize productivity. Or it could be a retirement plan that appreciates with time and regular contributions. It is satisfying when everything goes according to plan.

The reason we love that feeling so much is that it so rarely happens. Life is full of variables that derail plans. Cars break down. Employees become disgruntled. Financial emergencies happen. So much for the plan.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, it looked like God’s great plan of saving mankind had been derailed. What good was a dead Savior?

But the apostle Paul makes clear that the death of Christ was all part of the plan. The Scriptures, God’s Word, foretold this plan from the beginning. And not only did the Scriptures foretell Jesus’ death and resurrection, but Jesus himself proclaimed that this would happen. Jesus fulfilled everything that the Old Testament prophets predicted that he would do. And Jesus predicted his own death and resurrection and pulled it off.

No wonder Paul says that this is of first importance. Christ died, was buried, rose from the dead, and appeared to many witnesses. All according to the plan to deliver you from your sins!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal: – 440)
It was a strange and dreadful strife when life and death contended. The victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended. Holy Scripture plainly saith that death is swallowed up by death; disgraced, it lies defeated. Alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:9,10

Don’t Be Afraid

Daily Devotion – April 11, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 28:9,10

See series: Devotions

It’s hard to imagine everything those women felt on that first Easter morning. Heading to the tomb, perhaps they felt lonely and lost without their leader, Jesus. Disappointed and depressed by what happened three days earlier. But after seeing the angel and the empty tomb, perhaps amazement and confusion replaced those other emotions. One emotion we know they felt, though, was fear.

Frightened by the angel. Overwhelmed by the empty tomb. Startled by Jesus’ sudden appearance. Jesus spoke to the women’s fear immediately after greeting them, “Do not be afraid.”

Jesus didn’t just mean not to be afraid at the sight of him now, but also not to be afraid of what he would do now that he was alive again. Jesus gave the women a mission to be messengers to the disciples. Remarkably, He called the disciples his brothers. He didn’t call them cowardly traitors who had deserted him but brothers. You see, Jesus’ disciples had turned their backs on Jesus during his arrest and crucifixion.

And, just as remarkably, Jesus calls us his brothers and sisters even though we have often turned our backs on him when we have lived the way we want rather than the way he wants. But, you see, the whole reason Jesus went to the cross was for those sins. Because of God’s great grace, Jesus didn’t rise to deliver retribution or revenge. He rose as an assurance of sins forgiven and death defeated.

The living Son of God has made full payment for sin so that he can call us his brothers and sisters. We are rescued from the punishment we deserve. Death is defeated. We do not need to be afraid!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal: – 440)
Christ Jesus, God’s own Son, came down, his people to deliver; destroying sin, he took the crown from death’s pale brow forever. Stripped of pow’r, no more it reigns; an empty form alone remains; its sting is lost forever. Alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Matthew 28:5-7

The Fact of the Resurrection

Daily Devotion – April 10, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 28:5-7

See series: Devotions

Whom do you trust to deliver you the news? It seems each news source has a spin or a bias that colors their reports. Not only that, but anyone with a social media platform and an opinion can deliver those opinions as facts, even if they are just feelings. And the cynic might say that everyone is trying to sell you something, no matter how neutral they claim to be.

Sometimes you feel like Sargent Joe Friday from the old Dragnet radio and TV series and would like to say, “All I want are the facts, ma’am.”

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead has all kinds of amazing, life-changing meaning. But before the women who came to the tomb that morning could process all of what that resurrection meant for them, they first needed the facts. Before the disciples could understand all the implications of Jesus’ resurrection, they first needed to know that it, in fact, happened.

And that’s what the angel at the empty tomb did. He delivered the facts. He told the women, “Yes, Jesus was crucified. He did, in fact, die. But he is not here anymore because he is alive. He told you this would happen. His body is not here. Look for yourself and see what is true.”

Christianity doesn’t rest on the fiction or fantasy of Jesus’ resurrection but on the fact that Jesus bodily rose from the dead. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus is alive.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal: – 440)
Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands for our offenses given; but now at God’s right hand he stands and brings us life from heaven. Therefore let us joyful be and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.