Christ Church Rockville Lenten Devotion
Jer. 29:1, 4-13
Rom. 11:13-24
John 11:1-27, or 12:1-10
In memoriam: a devotional submission by Virginia Grier from Lenten Devotional 2015
Why do you not understand what I am saying? Is it because my teaching is beyond your grasp? John 8:43
In this passage Jesus is speaking to the Jewish authorities but he feels the same exasperation with his disciples. His charisma is so strong it attracts men and women from all walks of life, leaving family, home, work, and following Him all the way to the cross, although they never fully comprehend his message. His kingdom of love and peace was beyond their grasp.
We were having a similar experience in the Sunday morning study group, reading Professor Gossai’s new book about the Hebrew prophets, trying to relate his scholarly account of God’s dealings with the ancient Hebrews to life in our chaotic modern world.
I sometimes wonder what I would do if a strange man claiming to come from God appeared at my door, asking me to join him in a crusade to bring in a new kingdom of love and peace. Would I slam the door in his face?
In the dark days of Lent we long for light, for a surer sense of ourselves as children of God—the God who loves us in spite of our doubts and fears.
“I believe; Lord, help my unbelief.”
