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For this first week of Easter we are continuing with the format of listening to scripture that we used through the season of Lent in order to give a good sweep of some of the resonate meaning of Jesus\u2019 Resurrection and Redemption.\xa0 So, listen in again today for what the Spirit might be saying to you today through this Good Word of Easter hope!

Psalm 111:1-2, 9-10

Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. \u2026 He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever\u2014holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Exodus 12:7-8, 11-14

\u201cThen they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. \u2026 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord\u2019s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord\u2014a lasting ordinance.\u201d

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, \xa0that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he 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.

Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus\u2019 body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, \u201cWho will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?\u201d But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. \u201cDon\u2019t be alarmed,\u201d he said. \u201cYou are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, \u2018He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.\u2019\u201d Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.\xa0

Prayer

Dear God, we praise your name for your great works of redemption. Through the blood of Jesus, the lamb you have delivered us and all your people from our slavery to sin such that we can now live in the freedom and promise of his resurrection life. \xa0Enable us to stand firm, living our lives in this good, covenantal confession of the Gospel. In Jesus\u2019 name we pray, Amen.

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