The Thursday after Judica (Passion) Sunday
Posted on April 10, 2025 by under
Scripture: Exodus 32:30-34 (NKJV)
32:30 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! 32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
33 And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34 Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.”
Devotion
In Romans 9:3, Paul speaks like Moses: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for [the sake of ] my brethren.” Even while knowing they could not substitute themselves for the people—that only the Christ could do so—both give voice to God’s own desire. They speak from knowledge of their own sinful thoughts, words, and actions; they have no claim of personal merit on which to base their salvation. Each reasons that it makes no sense for him to be able to be saved and his brethren lost, because each reasons his own heart the worst of them all (1 Tim. 1:15; Luke 18:14).
Moses and Paul voice a desire that is as close as a sinner can get to the fervency with which our Lord has desired to save us. He, being perfectly holy, would nonetheless take upon Himself this very role and burden, being made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) and suffering the abandonment we deserve so that such an end may be taken from us.
Thus, Moses points forward to Jesus, and Paul points backward to Him. Moses hears from the voice of Yahweh the proclamation that He will only do justice, not punishing Moses for the sins of the people. Either each one will bear the punishment due, or he will confess the Messiah as the bearer of the punishment of all, the only maker of peace between God and men.
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.
