Hi, friends! If you've ever wondered what a grumpy Jesus sounds like then today is your lucky day. Today's Jesus unleashes a tirade of frustration out on the Pharisees for their hypocritical ways and then spends some time being a little cryptic as he speaks of his second coming. While this might not necessarily read like "good news" in the traditional sense but there is good news in the transparency that Jesus gives. Jesus/God wants us to get it right, you know that by now after reading the hundreds of stories in the OT of when we get it wrong. Jesus calls us out to improve us and I find that to be an act of love. What sticks out to you today? Lemme know!
Scripture to Read
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What does this teach me about Jesus?
What are my thoughts on the second coming of Jesus? What will that be like?
What, if anything, feels applicable to today? What does it challenge me to do in response?
- My Thoughts -
I've never really given thought to the second coming of Jesus - I don't know if I'd go as far to say that I don't believe such a thing is going to happen but I've certainly filed into the "mystical" side of our faith that I tend not to think on too much. But this reading has given me pause on that, but not necessarily for the same reason as you might think. What if you and I have encountered Jesus in our lives and just did not know? What if he already had come back and we just missed it? Hear me out, Jesus himself refers to John the Baptist as the prophet Elijah and the people killed him. Who is to say that Jesus comes back as the same Jesus that ascended? Even if he were, who is to say we would recognize him? Who is to say what country he would appear in? When I think of the inflated conflicted between Israel/Palestine right now I almost wish that God would appear again and help calm the waves of war over God's beloved Jerusalem, but would I even know in the comfort of my office in the US? I don't know.
The author of Hebrews writes to us that we should treat all people with kindness as we might be entertaining angels and not even know it. (Hebrews 12:2) What if Jesus had crossed your path at some point? Thinking of Jesus second coming as a subtle encounter rather than some cosmic war almost gives me more reason/incentive to stay vigilant as he tells his disciples and to treat others as he would want me to treat them - lest I discover that it was him the whole time.
What are your thoughts on the second coming?
Praying the Hymns
Our hymn for today is 247 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright. Just as a heads up this is a longer hymn that usual but wow it also is magical. I hope you enjoy as much as I did! As a bonus the final verse also speaks of Jesus return so that's fitting. (Singing starts at 1:27 if you wanna skip ahead some)
1. O Morning Star, how fair and bright
thou beamest forth in truth and light,
O Sovereign meek and lowly!
Thou Root of Jesse, David's Son,
my Lord and Master, thou hast won
my heart to serve thee solely!
Thou art holy,
fair and glorious, all-victorious,
rich in blessing,
rule and might o'er all possessing.
2. Thou heavenly Brightness! Light divine!
O deep within my heart now shine,
and make thee there an altar!
Fill me with joy and strength to be
thy member, ever joined to thee
in love that cannot falter;
toward thee longing
doth possess me; turn and bless me;
here in sadness
eye and heart long for thy gladness!
3 What joy to know, when life is past, the Lord we love is first and last, the end and the beginning! He will one day, O glorious grace, transport us to that happy place beyond all tears and sinning! Amen! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Crown of gladness, we are yearning for the day of your returning.