Monday after Judica (Passion) Sunday
Posted on March 18, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. John 13:31-35 (NKJV)
13:31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Devotion
John Calvin thought that the central doctrine of the Christian faith was the glory of God. He thought that even truths as central to the Reformation as the authority of Scripture and justification by faith alone were rooted in the primacy of the glory of God. In contrast, the Lutheran Reformation taught that justification by grace through faith is the main doctrine of Christianity. “…when it [justification by grace through faith] is properly understood, it illumines and magnifies the honor of Christ and brings to pious consciences the abundant consolation that they need” (Apology IV, 2).
God is glorified when He is known and professed for who He is and what He has done for us. The Son of God reveals to us who God is. Jesus’ coming in human flesh reveals the love of God to save sinners. Jesus said to Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). When the hour had come for Jesus to suffer and die, He said, “Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (John 17:1). Here in John 13, Jesus is at the point of laying down His life for us. God is glorified in Jesus’ love for us.
We glorify God when we confess our sins in accordance with the teaching of His Word of Law. We glorify God when we believe in His Son’s atonement for forgiveness, and thus are justified by grace through faith.
Collect: We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon Thy people, that by Thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
