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Third Saturday in Lent Devotion

Third Saturday in Lent - March 6, 2021

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27:57-61)

LSB 430 – My Song Is Love Unknown

(Verse 6 of this week’s hymn served as inspiration for today’s devotion.)

Oh, yes! Here, at this tomb, here! Nowhere else have love and grief and joy embraced one another as here. Here we see the depth of God’s love, the depth of His devotion to us! Here might I stay and sing, knowing all the while that this passion will forever exceed my words and music. Here I wish to stay, at the tomb of the One who loved me, His enemythis much!

And yet . . . soon my song will echo strangely louder in that tomb. It will bounce off the walls of a totally hollow cave! My Lord, the One in whose praise I could sing all my days is no longer there! He has risen! He is no longer in the tomb! He bids me leave as He left. Yet I still would gladly spend all my days in His sweet praise.

And so, I can. And so, I will! My song of praise streams from my mouth. It flows noiselessly through my hands. It drives my feet with its joyful rhythm. And this song of praise is called “Love”, love for the neighbor, the self-sacrificial love which is Christ in me for those He has placed in my life. Oh, yes! Here, among these people, His creatures purchased with His blood . . . Here I will stay and sing His love in word and in deed. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, by Your death and resurrection You completed my salvation. All is finished! But do not permit that assurance to devolve into apathy. Give me zeal to do Your will among those whom You have placed in my life. Amen.

Rev. Martin Dressler – Salem Lutheran Church