Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-34, Psalms 33:12-22, Proverbs 9:1-6
Today is the 12th day of February. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is wonderful to be here with you today for the next step forward in the adventure that we are on. And what an adventure it is as we travel all of the pathways of the Scriptures this year - front to back - every word. And we’re well on our way into this journey. We’ll take the next step forward now. Dramatic things happening out in the desert with the children of Israel as they move toward idolatry, move back away from idolatry, as God has given the law and then Moses has broken the tablets that they were written upon when he comes down from Mount Sinai and sees what the people are doing. So, we’ll pick up with that story. We’re reading from the Contemporary English Version this week. Exodus chapter 34 verse 1 through 35 verse 9.
Commentary:
Okay. In the book of Matthew, Jesus has been sentenced to death. I know we know the story. I know that we’ve heard it a thousand times, but can we focus our attention here for a second. Jesus, God in the flesh, God with us has been sentenced by us to die. He brought light and life and good news. He showed humanity a picture of who it really is and what it should look like, which is what we are constantly saying in our faith. Right? To be Christ like. And yet, humanity sentenced him to die. And not just be executed, but to be utterly and completely humiliated. We’re about to move into a season where that is something that is supposed to be contemplated and we should contemplate this because it’s a picture of just how far humanity has fallen just how backward the world is to the way we were created to be. So, it’s important for us to not just blaze through and go, yeah, that’s the story of the crucifixion, I’ve heard it a million times, like Jesus, our Savior, has been condemned to crucifixion. He has been beaten beyond recognition. His flesh is torn. He’s swollen. He’s in agony. This is our Savior and this, frankly, is what He was willing to do in order to rescue the species of which you and I are a part. This is what He was willing to do on our behalf. Do we have anyone else in our lives like that? This is important to consider the next time we’re turning to false things to give us life. Right? Because an idol doesn’t have to be a golden calf. An idol is anything that were going to give our heart in worship to thinking that it will give us life, that will bring us life. And Jesus told us He was the way, and the truth, and the life. And, so, we could talk about Moses, we talk about the proverbs, which is very important. We could rehash the Psalm, but can we stay with this today? Because this is what it cost. And can we imagine the confusion among Jesus friends? And can we imagine the torture in the soul of Jesus mother? Can we imagine the rejection that God felt in this moment? Those who had been created were willing to kill the creator. This is bigger than just a crucifixion story. It’s easy for us to say I am saved by grace, I can’t earn it, it’s a free gift, and then we just live into it without understanding, this cost God something. Our freedom that we take for granted cost something precious. And we so easily forget it,
Prayer:
So, Jesus, it’s hard to know what to say. So, it’s not about
filling the room with words. Contemplating Your sacrifice on our behalf, the
cost of sin, the price of redemption, when looked at full face leaves us
speechless. Thank You would be the right thing to say, and we do. But that falls
so short. So, Holy Spirit, come. Help us to contemplate the cost of our sin. Help
us to become aware of the way that it’s eating us, that it’s killing us, that
it’s estranging us. And as we contemplate Your willing sacrifice, we realize
that this is the only way to get rid of it. And You were willing on our behalf.
And, so, we choose some silence today to consider this, to contemplate this. And
we ask you to help us stay in this, to stay contemplating this, because it
changes our perspective. It snaps us back into reality. This was not easy for
you. But You loved us. You loved us. Show us how to honor that with our very
lives. Come, Holy Spirit. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Song:
Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle
To the cross, I look, and to the cross, I cling
Of it’s suffering, I do drink, of its work, I do sing
On it, my Savior, both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love and God is just
At the cross, You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees
And I am lost for words, so lost in love
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
Yeah, yeah, oh Lord
What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given through Christ crucified
You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now, through the cross, I’m reconciled
Ooh, and at the cross, You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees
And I am lost for words, so lost in love
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
At the cross, You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees
And I am lost for words, so lost in love
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
And in awe of the cross, I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love
And how great is Your faithfulness
At the cross, You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees
And I am lost for words, so lost in love
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
At the cross, You, You’ve beckoned me
You draw me gently to my knees
And I am lost for words, so lost in love
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
Yeah, yeah, I’m broken for you
I’m broken for you, my Lord, yeah
Jesus, Your love is there
I am sweetly broken