Who Are You Serving?
Good Morning Friends,
If Judas had not betrayed Jesus would we still be Christians? If Peter had not denied Christ and later been forgiven would we understand grace? Friends, we are in Holy Week and it is a time when we remember both the darkest hour of history, and the time the Son of God shines with the brightest glory. The Light of the world shined in the darkness of the cross and evil would not overcome light. The redemptive purposes of the Almighty Sovereign and saving act of God would be accomplished by the dreadful evil hands and hearts of dishonor to accomplish perfect redemption. Judas still had the opportunity for repentance and forgiveness. The Light has come to save those in darkness…even Judas could be forgiven if he would ask. But Judas did not realize that Jesus would abolish death by being swallowed up by death. Jesus submitted to the darkness and overcame it not with a passive love, not with a private personal feeling, but with the actions of a servant willing to die for the cause of redeeming the world. Who Are You Serving?
Scripture: Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:1-6 (NRSV)
After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
John 13:21-33 (NRSV)
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
John 13:36-38 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s Catholic lectionary connects the questions of who we serve and where Jesus went that we cannot go. Jesus is preparing for the cross but also preparing the disciples for where they are going. Who we serve and where we are going are connected. The readings include the Second Servant Song from Isaiah and a Gospel reading that is about the denial and betrayal of Jesus and sets the stage for how one of the disciples would seek forgiveness and one would not. The dark Gospel text should trouble our spirit for Jesus was disturbed to His very soul in the narrative. But it is also about light…for it sets out the plan of salvation for the entire world. It is played out in the physical dark of night but also the dark of people’s souls. In this darkness the word glorify in used multiple times in the text and there is the story. It is about Jesus being called to a task to Glorify God and change the world in the middle of darkness. As a backdrop for this drama we read Isaiah 49: 1-6 which is also known as “The Second Servant Song.” There are four servant songs in Isaiah, and they can be read as prophecies about the Messiah. As Christians, we understand the “Servant” described by Isaiah in these “Servant Songs” to be Jesus Christ. What is interesting and unique about this Second Servant Song, though, as you may have noticed, is the fact that it’s not entirely clear who exactly the servant is. The song begins as if the servant himself is speaking, “The Lord called me before I was born.” But then it is reported that God said, “You are my servant, Israel.” And later on, the name of Jacob is mentioned. The final portions of this song only say “You.” The text has this kind of ambiguity, to engage us in a reflection on who we really are serving and whether we have surrendered to Jesus or Satan. The contrast here is strong. The plan is revealed. The choice is laid out. That is what connects these two scriptures. Who will you serve? Where are you going?
Pray the light overcome the darkness in our lives. Pray
we choose to serve the Lord of Light and not the Lord of Darkness. Pray we learn to seek forgiveness for our sins. Pray we embrace God’s will. Pray we realize that to love one another is to offer the sacrifice of self for another’s good. Pray we believe in this kind of love. Pray we realize the presence of Jesus in our midst when we witness to the powerful love of Jesus. Pray we realize that Jesus’ love never ends. Pray we are servants to the will of God to Glorify God. Pray we know where we are going. Pray we serve Jesus with the spirit of love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 