Tuesday 8 February

Exodus 1:1-3:22

The Lord has an unusual way of expressing his concern.  He is concerned about his people’s harsh treatment at the hands of the Egyptians so he sets up this sort of ancient style Christmas tree (the burning bush) on a mountain at least a week’s trek away.  Then, when a shepherd who was almost murdered by his own mother (never mind the papyrus basket, she did follow Pharoah’s command to ‘throw’ Moses in the Nile) stumbles upon this glowing shrub, the Lord asks him to take his shoes off.  Can you ever imagine such a plan of action being voted through the UN Security Council as a way of dealing with the problems in Zimbabwe??  It would be cast out as utterly ridiculous.

It is a beautiful thing to lark around in these Old Testament passages; soaking up and enjoying the bowels of the narratives rather than jumping straight to the redemptive conclusions.  It doesn’t half give you a feel for the extraordinary character of our God.  You get a sense of his extreme eccentricity, at least to the ear of a city-dwelling, 21st Century professional (do I still count as a professional?? maybe I never was).  An eccentricity that is entirely grounded in the conviction that the only result that should really be sought, the only end-game that will deliver the goods, is the one where the people of the earth are deeply wedded with an unbreakable love-bond to their true God; I AM who I AM.

Matthew 26:1-30

What did Judas think he was doing?  Why would he have accepted the paltry sum of 30 silver pieces (the price of a slave) for the betrayal of Jesus?  Maybe he was trying to create a crisis that would force Jesus into acting more quickly.  Maybe he just lost faith that Jesus was actually going to sort anything out and decided he’d make a quick buck before it was too late. Maybe it was fear, or greed, or jealousy.  I don’t know exactly why, but there is a completely fascinating hint dropped during the course of the dinner celebrations.  Jesus, knowing he is about to die, is reclining and celebrating, singing and eating as if he has very few cares in the world (we did say he was an eccentric).  He then casually drops in the betrayal thing and all the disciples except one say “Surely not I, Lord?”.  The other,  Judas, cannot bring himself to call Jesus his Lord, instead opting for the respectful but not completely submissive Rabbi.  Respecting Jesus is not enough.  In fact, it seems to be a very dangerous place to be.  Enjoying Jesus’ teachings and taking on some of his insights is not enough.  In fact, it seems to be a very dangerous place to be.  Jesus does not want to be our Rabbi.  Rabbi’s get let down, get betrayed and get murdered by their students.  No, Jesus’ call is for us to abandon ourselves wholly and completely to him, pouring our perfume on his feet and letting him set our agendas and our timetables.  Jesus’ call is for us to make him our Lord.  And this is only right - for he is the one who gave his own blood to purchase us by the forgiveness of our sins.

Psalm 19:1-6

This ties in really closely with Romans 1:19&20.  God has been shouting about himself to everyone on the earth.  All we need to do is listen.