The Saturday after Judica (Passion) Sunday
Posted on April 12, 2025 by under
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-15 (NKJV)
5:11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Devotion
Bible translators using the word ‘terror’ in verse 11 (instead of the word ‘fear’) seem to be looking backward to “the judgment seat” in verse 10, as if without “the love of Christ” in verse 14. Thus, they depict this as servile fear, rather than filial—slavish terror making one run away from a Master’s harsh punishment, rather than the fear of alienating a loving Father that would lead a beloved child to run to Him, confess transgression, and ask for mercy.
Yet, verse 14 assures us that the latter case is intended in this “fear of the Lord.” As a Christian and servant of the Word that brings us the peace and reconciliation that God establishes with us in Christ, Paul confesses love for Christ that is fed by Christ’s love for him, and he bids us do likewise. Christ so loved us as to die for all, and we who are brought to faith in Him are to see ourselves as having also died. In faith we no longer live our own selfish lives, but the life He has given us to “live under Him in His kingdom and to serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness” (Small Catechism, Apostles’ Creed, 2nd Article). This love shown in the extremes Jesus went to for our salvation now constrains us, bringing us to do what may seem similarly crazy to others, because we know that having that love is absolutely necessary for all.
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 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.
