Jeremiah 8:4-7, 18-9:6 (NIV)
John 8: 12 (NIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Romans 5: 8-10 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.
Devotion
The Lenten Season gives us the opportunity to reflect more deeply about the meaning of Christ’s death on the Cross. In the Old Testament God gives to the prophet Jeremiah the words he should say to the rebellious people of Israel about the necessity of punishment for sin. Sin had entered human nature almost at the very beginning of mankind’s creation (Gen 3). Punishment for Sin is still God’s truth. Romans 6:23 tells us “…the wages of sin is death” but it continues “…the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” God Almighty in his love (Rom 5:8) gave us the way to overcome our sinful nature through the death of his Son as the sacrificial “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29b).
Christ’s suffering and death has set us free from being under the yoke of sin and its bondage. Our challenge is to take up Christ’s yoke (Matt 11: 29-30) by putting our faith, trust, and obedience in the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Son. Then our troubles, pain, sorrow, agony – the darkness in this world – will be of much less weight. Christ’s “Light” will shine and reflect on us and will illuminate our way.
Some time ago, reflecting on this, gratitude compelled me to write the following poem.
JESUS
O heart, so pierced and burdened
by world’s enormous sin,
O flesh, so scored and branded
to save our guilty skin.
O mind divine and glorious
the word of God in flesh,
who drank the acrimonious
full cup to mend the gash.
He gave us through his sorrow
and passion on the cross
his righteousness to borrow
and healed all mankind’s loss.
To take away the color
of sin so crimson red,
to dress us with his valor,
to cleanse by his blood shed.
He saved us by his sacrifice
that we from death with him may rise.
Father God, filled with mercy
and love toward sinful man
had our possible salvation
from beginning in His plan.
So souls can find redemption
He sent us Christ, His Son,
and by His Grace and Spirit
we’ll go where all begun
to the Almighty’s presence.
Come let’s respond with faith
and give to our Lord Jesus
the merit, thanks, and praise.*
Prayer
Almighty God, have thanks and praise for Your unending love and mercy for us in Jesus Christ! Amen.
Brigitte Rais
*This poem appeared first in Brigitte’s book, My Life, God’s Light.