Daily Liturgy and Scripture

Christ is risen! Next to other scriptures about God's judgment on the earth and the Psalmist singing songs of praise, today seems a little fragmented. But if it had been God's only intention to judge and destroy, Jesus would have taken a very different path. When we see Jesus, we see God. This gives us a glimpse into the way God really wanted the world to look.

Today we read about Christ's crucifixion from the Gospel of Mark. From the cowardice to Pilate to the rage of the mob, from the involuntary service of Simon to the compassionate request of Joseph of Arimathea: there is a character in this story we can all probably identify with at times. It is very much our story as much as it was theirs.

Fun fact: the inclusion of Simon being the "father of Alexander and Rufus" is thought to be an indication by some scholars that Alexander and Rufus were known to the early church, and may have even been church leaders. Even the minor characters matter.

Today is a picture of what it looks like to be distant from God: Israel in judgement, reminded of who God wanted them to be. Peter, in sorrow, choosing to abandon his Savior. What a fortunate thing that God's ultimate plan is redemption, or none of us could stand.

Israel wants to depend on other nations in Isaiah, but God tells Israel (and the nations) how they will wither. Putting faith in anything other than God himself is always a lesser undertaking. Even as our faith falters as Peter's we're continually called back. Let us never lose sight of our savior.

Between Psalms and Mark, today feels like a dialogue between two weary friends. Psalm 22 reflects how  many of us probably feel when we don't think God is coming through, and Mark recalls how Jesus sat at a table with his own betrayer. In both cases, the one making the indictment sits face-to-face with the other. It's important, in times where we feel like God may have let us down, to remember to do the same.

Many want to be Jesus... but there is only one Jesus. He works with the Father and the Holy Spirit to bring us into the Kingdom both now and in the future.

How do you describe the power of God? Today's Psalm makes a pretty good start. Isaiah tells of his power to judge those who oppress his people, and Jesus talks about God judging his own people. But a loving God cannot show love if he doesn't judge evil.

Jesus isn't often immediately identified as a witty intellectual, but today he demonstrates that he certainly is. His authority was easily recognized, but his ability to say the right thing at the right time can't be understated. As quickly as he dispatched his debate opponents, though, we must remember that he also showed incredible grace and mercy.

God is worthy of our trust. He will not allow injustice to remain. In today's passages, God has judged mighty nations, and Jesus allows the bad stewards of God's house to expose themselves.

This is outside the reading plan. Psalm 139 is a great way to reflect on who God is, and how deeply we are known by him. The Psalms are a wellspring of spiritual depth, and they can do amazing work in us if we let them take us to the throne of God.