Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:22-21:9; Luke 20:45-21:19
Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. (Psalm 68:1 from the Introit for Pentecost).
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Tomorrow is Pentecost. Tomorrow is the day the Holy Spirit came and Christ was preached and 3,000 sinners were baptized. Tomorrow is the day you will be in the Divine Service where you were baptized and where Christ's Word will be preached and Christ Himself will be present with His body and blood.
Where that Word is preached, God is arising and scattering His enemies. Where Christ on the cross is preached, the devil and his demons flee in fear. Where God's Word is sung and spoken and chanted, the evil one is kicked out. Where Christ is preached and His gifts are given, the devil, the world, our flesh, and death itself flee and run away!
Where Christ crucified and risen is proclaimed, the devil and those who hate Him cannot stand but must flee. From that first day of Pentecost and ever since, kingdoms have risen and fallen, religions have come and gone, but the kingdom of Christ continues to go to the ends of the earth. Sinners are saved. And those who hate Christ and would persecute and kill His people soon pass away and are no more.
This is a triumph like the world has never seen and cannot understand. It is not a show of force or a military victory. It is not the glory and pageantry of some fancy royal family. No, it is the victory of the Gospel which is preached, through which the Holy Spirit calls sinners to repentance and brings them to faith in Christ.
Tomorrow, you will see God arise—not in a flashy or frightening way, but in the humble delivery of His Word and body and blood, establishing His church, comforting His people, and driving away all our enemies. The cross of Christ and the empty tomb and the preaching of Pentecost are the mighty works of the Lord, who saves sinners and scatters His enemies. Christ is risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Christ, the Lord of hosts, unshaken By the devil's seething rage. Thwarts the plan of Satan's minions; Wins the strife from age to age; Conquers sin and death forever; Slams them in their steely cage. (LSB 521:1)