the church of the
ascension
in the city of
new york
Friday, March 06, 2009
Friday, March 6
Psalm 51 / Hebrews 4:11-16 / John 3:22-36
In some ways, the Bible is a great comfort — John the Baptist's disciples are having a "discussion" with a Jew about purification, so they come running to John to deal with it. But actually, they really want to tell John how Jesus' disciples are baptizing people, and not only that, more people than he, John, is baptizing. It is comforting because the people in the Bible are so real and the topics so pertinent to our world today. We, too, squabble and argue and metaphorically stick our tongues out at each other: "Our version of Christianity is best because... !"
John's answer is simple. "I am not the Messiah," he says, "but I have been sent ahead of him. ... He must increase and I must decrease." How many people in today's world would be willing to say that?
He also reminds them that "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God's wrath."
Paul reiterates this: "Indeed, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
The Psalmist tells us that "the sacrifice that is acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart."
Keep me from turbulence, Lord, and give me a contrite heart.
— Barbara Head
In some ways, the Bible is a great comfort — John the Baptist's disciples are having a "discussion" with a Jew about purification, so they come running to John to deal with it. But actually, they really want to tell John how Jesus' disciples are baptizing people, and not only that, more people than he, John, is baptizing. It is comforting because the people in the Bible are so real and the topics so pertinent to our world today. We, too, squabble and argue and metaphorically stick our tongues out at each other: "Our version of Christianity is best because... !"
John's answer is simple. "I am not the Messiah," he says, "but I have been sent ahead of him. ... He must increase and I must decrease." How many people in today's world would be willing to say that?
He also reminds them that "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God's wrath."
Paul reiterates this: "Indeed, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
The Psalmist tells us that "the sacrifice that is acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart."
Keep me from turbulence, Lord, and give me a contrite heart.
— Barbara Head
