It was the LORD who made it known to me, and I knew;
then you showed me their evil deeds.
But I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter.
And I did not know it was against me
that they devised schemes, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will no longer be remembered!”
But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge righteously,
who try the heart and the mind,
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause. (Jeremiah 11:18–20 NRSV)
Stand up, O LORD, in your wrath;
rise up against the fury of my enemies.
Awake, O my God, decree justice;
let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.
Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High;
O LORD, judge the nations.
Give judgment for me according to my righteousness, O LORD,
and according to my innocence, O Most High.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God.
God is my shield and defense;
he is the savior of the true in heart. (Psalm 7:6–11)
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” (John 7:37–52)
In today’s devotional readings Jeremiah, David, and John all point us in the same direction.
Jeremiah 11:20 – “for to you [Lord Almighty] I have committed my cause.”
Psalm 7:10 – “God is my shield and defense; he is the savior of the true in heart.”
John 7:41 – “Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.” (even Nicodemus)
I love these special seasons in the Christian calendar. I have found in these seasons a powerful rhythm that has strongly enhanced my faith. Can you come near at Christmas and throughout the Advent season and not be strangely warmed by the HOPE Jesus’s birth brings?
So, too, throughout this season of Lent, leading up to Holy Week, I have discovered a great time of reflection, contemplation, and growth in my own Christian life. How about you?
As you consider Jesus’s holiness and your sinfulness, does it draw you in true repentance and brokenness, with thanksgiving, to the Savior? Does the reality of your own mortality stir up in you greater faith in the one who makes mortal into immortal and corruptible into incorruptible? And does this personal transformation drive you to reach out in love to your neighbor, who also needs this transforming work of grace?
Jeremiah, David, and John all teach us to:
- Commit our cause unto the Lord Almighty – (Jeremiah).
- Trust in God; he is our shield and defense, our Savior – (David).
- Declare “Jesus is the Messiah!” Nicodemus and some of the others did. – (John)
How can we come to discover this greatest of all truths and not live it out in practical ways every day as we take our faith to the streets of our neighborhood? Let’s recommit to love God and our neighbor every day this Lent season, together!
George Johnson is the senior pastor of Hope Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
