Holy Week - Tuesday

Today’s Scriptures: Lectionary selections from the Revised Common Lectionary Year C Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 71 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 John 12:20-36

Today’s Reflection: One of the common expectations for the Messiah in the time of Jesus was as a warrior who would rescue the nation from the occupying Romans. Isaiah, Psalm 71 and John all reflect this belief among the Jews across different periods. Jesus disappoints those who were gathered around him as he explained the Heavenly order for the events to come by using a wheat grain to illustrate his point. As a people oppressed, they sought someone who would bring relief in their lifetime. They did not want to wait for eternal rewards and they most certainly did not want a sacrifice. Nevertheless, Jesus continued under the direction of God and gave the people what they needed rather than what they wanted. The Corinthians passage argues that God’s order does not need a warrior to succeed. In fact, it would not have succeeded as a military action. During Lent, a similar Isaiah passage explained God’s knowledge over humanity’s knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1 brings that argument to salvation through Christ. The salvation through Christ changes people at the core of who they are, something that would not have happened if Jesus come with a military force. Military conquest does not change the heart. The permanence of spiritual salvation far exceeds the short term relief provided by military victory. With the weakness of human understanding, we can be thankful for a God who provides for our needs rather than our wants.

Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org