Monday, March 24, 2008

Lectionary for 3/23/08

The readings for Easter Sunday were Exodus 14.10-31 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+14.10-31 ) and Hebrews 7.23-8.13 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+7.23-8.13 ).
 
Hebrews 7.23-25 (ESV) says, "The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
 
On the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we also remember that Jesus is the one who will never leave his priesthood, bringing us to God.  He is the one who always prays for his people.  He is the one who pleads on our behalf and whose prayers are heard and answered by God, since they come from the heart of God himself.  Jesus is the one saving people "to the uttermost."  While Moses brought the people of Israel through the water of the Red Sea, which is in itself symbolic of death, Jesus has brought his people through death into life, by means of his death on our behalf and his life as the firstfruits of the resurrection.
 
Look at the new covenant God has established with his people.  He has written his law on our hearts.  He has fulfilled it through his own son.  He is establishing a people for his name, to bring glory to himself.  He is using his people for his own purposes, according to his own will, to bring them to the perfection which he alone knows.  And we have the utmost confidence that he will be able to bring all this to pass becasue we see he has brought it to pass in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
 
Do we doubt God's care for us?  Do we fear death?  Do we wonder if the Lord is truly able to save his people completely?  Then the day we celebrate the resurrection, the first day of the week, and particularly this most important first day of the week in the whole year is the day of particular hope.  Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed.
 
 
 


 

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