The Thursday after Judica (Passion) Sunday
Posted on March 26, 2026 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
The context for today’s reading is the story of the golden calf. While Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for forty days, the people of Israel made an idol for themselves. They took gold from their earrings and constructed a calf to worship. It was a sin of the worst kind, since it directly broke that first and primary commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods.
Sin cannot simply be dismissed. We cannot comfort ourselves, saying, “It’s okay. God will just forget about my sin.” Sin has consequences. Sin deserves death and punishment. Though not all sin involves making a golden calf, all sin is rebellion against God and breaks the First Commandment.
Moses knew what their sin deserved, and so he offered himself as an atonement for their sin. He asked God to blot him out of the Book of eternal life instead of punishing the Israelites. In this way, the people would be forgiven, but justice would be preserved.
Of course, Moses could not really do this. He was a sinner too! He could not make an atonement for the people’s sin. But his proposal signified what Christ would later do on our behalf. The sinless Son of God did make an atonement for our sin. Jesus offered himself on a cross so that we might be forgiven for every transgression committed under the Law.
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.
