Wednesday, April 04, 2007
From AscensionNYC
Wednesday in Holy Week
Psalm 69:7-15,22-23
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Hebrews 9:11-15,24-28
John 13:21-35
Let us pray that we make the spiritual transition this Holy Week that is made in these lessons.
In Psalms, David says that his zeal for doing God's work has led to reproach, shaming, alienation, insult, ridicule. He humbly asks God, in His abundant and steadfast love, to rescue and deliver him. In humility, he prays that this be in an acceptable time to God. He then also hopes that his enemies will get their "just deserts" — face God's anger and live in darkness and terror.
Isaiah says that God has given him the power to do His work: to hear, speak to and sustain the weary. He writes that doing God's work has led to his being shamed, punished, judged, and tortured. His asks God to sustain and strengthen him so that he can withstand his enemies. He also looks forward to his enemies being eaten away by moths and tormented.
In John we read of Jesus foretelling his betrayal, which we know will also include shame, ridicule, punishment, judgment, and torture. Unlike the Old Testament writers, Jesus will also experience death. Yet he does not look forward to punishment, destruction, darkness, and terror for those who persecute him. He lets go of what will happen to those who are in error. Jesus dedicates his future to the Glory of God. Jesus asks his disciples to focus their minds and hearts on a new teaching of loving one another.
Paul, in Hebrews, also asks his readers to purify their minds from dead works and serve the living God. He tells us that Christ will come again not to deal with sin (not to spend his time focused on the terror and punishment of evil doers) but to save. The love of God and His Son saves. Our ability to love one another saves.
Let us this day cleanse our hearts of wishing punishment, shame, retribution for our enemies.
Let us focus our minds and hearts on the new teaching of Jesus:
"A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Hebrews 9:11-15,24-28
John 13:21-35
Let us pray that we make the spiritual transition this Holy Week that is made in these lessons.
In Psalms, David says that his zeal for doing God's work has led to reproach, shaming, alienation, insult, ridicule. He humbly asks God, in His abundant and steadfast love, to rescue and deliver him. In humility, he prays that this be in an acceptable time to God. He then also hopes that his enemies will get their "just deserts" — face God's anger and live in darkness and terror.
Isaiah says that God has given him the power to do His work: to hear, speak to and sustain the weary. He writes that doing God's work has led to his being shamed, punished, judged, and tortured. His asks God to sustain and strengthen him so that he can withstand his enemies. He also looks forward to his enemies being eaten away by moths and tormented.
In John we read of Jesus foretelling his betrayal, which we know will also include shame, ridicule, punishment, judgment, and torture. Unlike the Old Testament writers, Jesus will also experience death. Yet he does not look forward to punishment, destruction, darkness, and terror for those who persecute him. He lets go of what will happen to those who are in error. Jesus dedicates his future to the Glory of God. Jesus asks his disciples to focus their minds and hearts on a new teaching of loving one another.
Paul, in Hebrews, also asks his readers to purify their minds from dead works and serve the living God. He tells us that Christ will come again not to deal with sin (not to spend his time focused on the terror and punishment of evil doers) but to save. The love of God and His Son saves. Our ability to love one another saves.
Let us this day cleanse our hearts of wishing punishment, shame, retribution for our enemies.
Let us focus our minds and hearts on the new teaching of Jesus:
"A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
Connie Heginbotham
