Exodus 5.1-6.1, Mark 15.33-47 - Lectionary for 3/26/10 - Friday, Lent 5

Today's readings are Exodus 5.1-6.1 and Mark 15.33-47.

In our Old Testament reading we see the people of Israel, who have been suffering from oppression, suffering still more.  When Pharaoh hears of their plan to leave he increases their workload, imposing a demand on them which they cannot fulfill.  The people of Israel receive penalties and cry out even more to the Lord for deliverance.  Pharaoh gloats that the people have not been delivered from their labors.

How often are we like Pharaoh?  When someone wants something that we don't want to grant we increase that person's labors.  The teenager wants some special privilege so we parents impose burdensome tasks on the child.  An employee is dealing with a situation away from work which would be made much easier if he were to leave a little early.  We say it would be fine as long as all the day's work is done and then we find extra work.  Someone who has offended us wishes to be reconciled and we make it more difficult because, quite frankly, we want to hurt that person.  We pile heavy burdens on those we disagree with, burdens we would not be willing or able to move no matter how hard we tried.

What is God's promise?  He repeats his promise in Exodus 6.1.  He will deliver his people.  In fact, he will deliver them in such a way that Pharaoh, who did not want them to leave, will drive them out himself.  Our Lord fulfills his promises.  He fulfills them in ways that we can't imagine.  He fulfills them in such a way that the very people who try to hinder his will are left speechless.  Consider the crucifixion of Christ.  The one who did no wrong is convicted as a criminal.  The one who is a king is stripped of all his authority.  The deathless one is put to a cruel death.  The sinless one receives the burden of the sin of the world.  The plans of sinful humans and of the devil seem to be complete as they have put the Lord of life to death.  But God has promised a savior and that's exactly what he delivers, counter to expectation, counter to reason, counter to all our plans against him.  In the resurrection of Christ we see God's triumph over death, hell and the grave.  Indeed our Lord's promises in Christ are fulfilled.