Devotion
Jesus Of Nazareth King Of The Jews
David Jacobs
Have you ever been wrong about something but had trouble admitting it once you realized that you were wrong? It can feel like a great burden on your shoulders, sitting like the giant elephant in the room, but our pride sometimes stalls us from admitting that we were incorrect. I have had relationships suffer simply because two people got into a meaningless argument but are too proud to apologize to one another.
Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to be crucified and killed. He scourged him, mocked him, and killed him. In these verses, the chief priests, who also wanted Jesus killed, ask Pilate to change the words that were written on the cross. In their view, Jesus had blasphemed by saying that he was the King of the Jews, and this was the reason they wanted him condemned to death. After watching the grisly scene unfold, I also think they must have felt some remorse and regret for allowing this unjust crucifixion take place. If Pilate changes the inscription, they will feel that Jesus' death was justified, because he should not have said that he was the King of the Jews. Pilate will not admit any wrong doing, unwilling to change his final mistake.
Everybody makes mistakes. The priests and Pilate certainly did. Learning to forgive and ask for forgiveness are actions that all Christians should be familiar with: we are born sinners and must go to God in order to be forgiven. Luckily, if we knock, the door will be open for us, seek and we will find. (Matthew 7:7) If we ask we are forgiven, or our pride will help us share the priests' and Pilates' fate.
Prayer
Gracious God, forgive me for my sins. Lead me from evil and I forgive all people that have ever wronged me. I am constantly tempted by sin, O Lord, and I ask that you deliver me from it unscathed. You are the one true God! Your son is the King of the Jews! I pray this in Jesus' holy name. Amen.
Devotion
Culpability
Frances Taylor
This is an interesting passage because, among other things, it talks about sin and who is considered guilty of sin. Paul is talking about how he has been forgiven, how God has been merciful to him because his actions were committed in unbelief. In order for sin to be committed, one needs to know he is committing it. No one can commit sin in retrospect. Sin is always a deliberate act. This can be hard for some to understand. Actions can be considered sinful, even though the person committing them may not be culpable. For example, lying is a sin. However, is the two year old hiding behind the curtains sinning when he or she claims not to have broken the vase? No, because the child has no understanding of the difference between truth and lie. Those who do not have a relationship with God, who do not know the commandments, who have never heard of Jesus, may commit sinful actions, but are not guilty of sin. This is what Paul claims is his situation. Paul ...
Morning Prayer
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Inspiration
When the Lord sent his only Son, he sent also his word. For his body was this very word made flesh. Importantly this was not simply a manifestation of God's word, but also rather an 'animation' of it (meant here in the original Latin as 'animare' –'to instill with life or spirit'), an instance of God's love and divine grace in action, among us.
Prayer
Lord, I am grateful for your mercy in showing us your word made flesh so that we may be redeemed. Further, I am grateful to you for showing us your love and grace through your only begotten son. Let his body not have been torn and broken for no avail, but feed us now in the Eucharist. Let not his blood have...
