hausvater 2c horiz 800x300

Hausvater: /HAUS-fah-ter/
noun (German)
1. Housefather.
2. Spiritually responsible head of household, including the housefather as assisted by the housemother.
>> Example: "As the Hausvater should teach it [Christian doctrine] to the entire family ..."
(Martin Luther, Small Catechism, 1529)

Bible Studies

When Darkness Becomes Light (Study Guide)


For individual or group Bible study, look up the passages indicated and contemplate the flow of this poem.

Also available:

When Darkness Becomes Light, by Ryan MacPherson

Thick darkness falls deeper

  • Isaiah 59:9–15
  • John 3:19–20

layering the land;

  • Psalm 23:4
  • Matthew 27:45
  • Mark 15:33

in sorrow cries Someone,

  • Psalm 22:14–15

“Where is the Lord’s hand?”

  • Psalm 22:1–2,19

Distant, so distant

  • Exodus 14:11–12
  • Psalm 22:11
  • Habakkuk 1:2

God’s presence recedes,

  • Matthew 27:46
  • Mark 15:34

yet God’s hand is close—

  • Exodus 14:13–14
  • Psalm 22:16
  • Habakkuk 3:17–19
  • John 20:20,27

nailed to the trees.

  • Matthew 27:35
  • Mark 15:25
  • Luke 23:23–33
  • John 19:16–18

Blood flows and dries

  • John 19:31–37
  • Hebrews 9:13–14

in the sunlight now vanished;

  • Luke 23:44–45 

for the sins of all people

  • Isaiah 53:5–6
  • John 1:29
  • Hebrews 10:10
  • 1 Peter 3:18
  • 1 John 2:2 

God’s own Son is banished:

  • Leviticus 16:10
  • Isaiah 53:8

For the sin of those taunting

  • Luke 23:34

at the One on the tree—

  • Deuteronomy 21:22–23
  • Galatians 3:13

they sneer, “Save thyself!”

  • Psalm 22:8
  • Luke 23:36–37 

to Him who saves me.

  • John 3:16
  • 1 Peter 1:9–12

Afar in the Temple,

  • Hebrews 9:3,9

but so near in my heart,

  • Ephesians 2:12

a veil that once separated

  • Exodus 26:31–33

is now torn apart.

  • Luke 23:45
  • Ephesians 2:13
  • Hebrews 9:11–15

The Christ breathes His last

  • Luke 23:46
  • John 19:30

as He gives up His life,

  • Isaiah 53:9,12

to breathe into me

  • John 20:22

God’s first breath of life.

  • Genesis 2:7
  • Job 33:4

The old Adam dies

  • Romans 6:2–3,6

that a new may be born—

  • Colossians 2:11–12

when darkness becomes light

  • 2 Samuel 22:29
  • Psalm 119:105
  • Ephesians 5:8
  • 1 Peter 2:9
  • 1 John 1:5

on the great Easter morn!

  • Job 19:25
  • Isaiah 53:10
  • Luke 24:1–8
  • John 8:12
  • John 11:25
Pin It



TAGS: Evangelism, Easter

Click for a Printer-Friendly Copy