Thursday, March 31, 2022

 

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Exodus 32:4-14; John 5:31-47)

In today’s from reading Exodus the Israelites have just apostatized.  They molded an image of gold and worshipped it.  Moses tries to defend them from God’s wrath.  He tells God that He would look foolish in destroying the people he saved.  He also reminds God of His promise to Abraham.

In the gospel the Jews are about to reject God again.  They refuse to believe that Jesus is God’s emissary.  Jesus tries to dissuade them.  He argues that his testimony is greater than John’s.  He may be referring to his baptism that forgives sins whereas John’s only shows repentance.  Jesus also performs mighty works that testify to his closeness to God. The Father also testifies to Jesus.  It is not clear what’s in mind here.  Perhaps Jesus is saying that the Father speaks to people’s hearts.  Finally, the Scriptures since Moses have testified to Jesus being God’s enduring prophet. 

We should recognize the possibility of our worshipping idols and rejecting Jesus.  For an idol we may put pleasure or even family before God.  We may reject Jesus by refusing to forgive others as he taught.  Now is the time to renew our faith in the Father and the Son.  Soon we will relive their victory over sin and death.

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