1. God's Son comes to deal with the infestation of sin, but in an unforeseen twist of grace, he’s the only one who goes under the knife.
  2. God excludes our boasting out of his abundant mercy.
  3. Every part of Jesus’ encounter with Mary Magdalene in John 20 was incredibly intentional and personal for God to systematically redeem what was lost.
  4. On May 2nd, Cantate Sunday, in the year 1507, Luther celebrated his first Mass.
  5. To give us God’s name, the name that is above every name, Christ gave us the exact words to say at baptism: the name of the triune God who is three persons, one God: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
  6. Free-range Christ is fearful Christ because he is present, speaking, and I just crucified him.
  7. Sometimes loss is gain. Sometimes defeat is victory. Sometimes weakness is strength. Sometimes death is life. Sometimes, that is, when Christ is at the center, on his cross and not in his tomb.
  8. God has found a way to be God even for the likes of us. He has found a way to save sinners.
  9. The Messiah is exiled from God on the cross as Israel was. Forsaken as Israel was forsaken. Cast away from Yahweh as Israel was. Why?
  10. Today, Maundy Thursday, we receive the feast of Christ’s true body and blood for us, for the forgiveness of our sins. All of them.
  11. How fitting that we have our feet washed by the very God from whom we once ran in terror and shame.
  12. Christ has come to make every last aspect of your life the object of his eternal, never-ending, always transitive grace.