Today's Reading: St. John 8:42-59
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-31
“Amen, Amen, I say to you, if anyone cherishes my words, they will not see death.” (St. John 8:51)
Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen. Judicabegins with some judging, just not the kind of judging you expect! The Jews judge Jesus. They say He seems to be a Samaritan or a demon. There is one thing they judge that He definitely cannot be—God.
That’s the judgment of this world. Jesus is a lot of things, but He’s not God. He can be a good rabbi, a revolutionary, or even a prophet. But, God Himself? No, not even close. Yet, Jesus clearly claims today that not only is He God, but He’s the God of the Old Testament! He’s Yahweh! The God who brought the people out of Egypt, the I AM, the LORD.
“Before Abraham was, I AM.” He proclaims it boldly today. They knew exactly what He was talking about, they knew Who He was claiming to be. And they picked up their stones to stone Him for blasphemy. Their judgment: You aren’t God—not even close.
Is Jesus who He says He is? Is He God? Is He just a man? Today, Jesus says that the One who holds dear His Words will not taste death. That’s a pretty bold statement! What’s your judgment of Jesus?
Watch what Jesus does. See if what He says is true. He said that He’d be handed over to the chief priests and teachers of the Law to suffer and die for your sins. Then He promised after three days to rise again from the dead. So far, so good. If Jesus is possessed by some demon like the Jews in today’s reading judged, He might get himself killed. But only God Himself could rise from the dead.
He died, and then He rose from the dead on the third day. Just as He promised He would do,which means that everything else that He said should probably catch your attention, including the words for today, “If anyone cherishes my Words, they will never taste death.”
The One who died and rose again has the power to save you from death. He has power to rescue you from your sins, to free you from your slavery. He already has beaten death for Himself. How could He not rescue from death, too?
Judicastarts with Jesus being judged. Is He truly God? If you have doubts, see how He holds up under scrutiny. He’s a big God, He can handle it. You will find that what He says is true. What He promises has been fulfilled. Believing in Him, you will not taste death. Happy Lent. In the name Jesus. Amen.
“Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; teach me to do Your will. He delivers me from my enemies. You have delivered me from the violent man.” (Psalm 43:5–Gradual for Judica)