Lenten Theme Hymn: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say," ELW 332
Devotion
1I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast."
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
and he has made me glad.
2I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down and drink and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
3I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"I am this dark world's light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I'll walk
till trav'ling days are done.
Text: Horatius Bonar, 1808-89 (Public Domain)
At the beginning of Holy Week we start the journey with Jesus to the cross. Yet we follow Jesus' passion, aware of the events that will culminate a week from today in the celebration of Easter. Jesus Christ is risen, today and every day. Already in the midst of the passion we can celebrate Jesus as our risen Lord. We live every moment in the Easter promise—redeemed sinners to whom God speaks and listens, and whom God loves deeply.
The risen Jesus speaks to us already in and through the days of his passion in a voice of power and compassion: "I freely give you living water. You need not search for a well; you don't have to dig your own. You live surrounded by this water, and springs of it flow from your heart. I rose from the dead for you; you live and move and have your being in me. The same power that raised me from the dead—the Holy Spirit—now dwells in you. Hear my voice, and live!"
Prayer
Holy God, Maker of all that is seen and unseen: Lead me to live in the freedom of the risen Jesus, and empower me through the Holy Spirit. Amen.