Jesus understands fully our experiences of betrayals great and small. He knows the pain more deeply than anyone has ever felt. We can draw on the times we have been betrayed to connect to Jesus. To tell him we know a bit about what he was feeling. We can sorrow with him. We can tell him we would like to stay with him when others desert him. We share a bond of emotions with Jesus in his betrayal. But we don’t only use that bond for our comfort. We use it to offer Jesus devotion. To offer him love. To yearn to give him some care, some relief, some hope.
Betrayed
March 17, 2024 • Gerrit Dawson • Psalm 41:5–9, Psalm 55:12–14, Psalm 55:20–21
A Priest Forever
April 28, 2024 • Gerrit Dawson • Psalm 110:1–4, Hebrews 4:14–16
Psalm 110 directs us to a mighty king who brings peace, a priest who offers bread and wine and blessing. He already exists and yet is coming. He will share rule with the I AM himself. Remind you of anyone? This swirls our minds. But we need to realize the depth of the person of Jesus. To know him rightly, we need to see how Jesus alone pulls all the threads of Scripture together. He is our savior. He is our Lord. He is also our priest who offered the perfect sacrifice to God: himself on the cross. He also continues in the role of priest, connecting God and humanity.
THE Wedding Invitation
April 21, 2024 • Scott Graham • Psalm 96:10–13, Revelation 19:9, Revelation 19:11–16, Psalm 96:1–6
Sin isn’t a spiritual parking ticket, or a little too much dessert after a nice meal. Sin is adultery. It is a betrayal of our love, and a profoundly hurtful act. It’s saying we can be engaged to two fiancés at once, that the bloodshed, the life given up on our behalf is a laughable, somewhat provincial gift, and we’re trading it for the latest trending fashion to come across our phone. I’ve seen it happen to friends, parishioners, and fellow pastors. It seems so exciting and exotic for a moment, maybe awhile. But it leads to a “mouthful of gravel.”
Who Shall Ascend?
April 14, 2024 • Colton Underwood • Psalm 24
If Christ has ascended as the one who can rightly stand before his Father, and more, to sit at his right hand with clean hands and a pure heart, we have hope to follow after him. Where he is, there we shall be. And much of the reason why is because when Jesus went up to be exalted at the Father’s side, he did not shed his physical human form. No, he took it with him. So now, for the first time ever, glorified human flesh dwells in the heavenly throne room. Even more, a man — the Man — sits on the throne of heaven.