The Tuesday after Judica (Passion) Sunday
Posted on April 8, 2025 by under
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (NKJV)
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
Devotion
Jesus ended yesterday’s reading by saying His disciples would not immediately be following Him to death and to Heaven, but would show they were His disciples through love toward one another. Paul adds some ‘flesh’ to those words today.
St. Paul speaks of this service to Christ as a two-way street. What Paul suffers, he is willing to suffer for the benefit of those he serves in Christ. And those he writes have shown the same love to him by praying for him in his trials and giving thanks in his deliverance. In the suffering of such trials, both he and his hearers are to learn the comfort that is in Christ and, in turn, to comfort one another with that comfort. When sentenced to death, we know that we have the only true God, the One who raises the dead and will continue to do so. Those who partake of such suffering and such consolation are then able to comfort one another with the Word of God that has sustained them through their temptations and afflictions.
In faith we trust in the active and passive obedience of Christ as the merit that obtains for us before God’s throne—that the Father in Heaven is our Father by grace through such faith, accounting us righteous and hearing our prayers. We have every reason to remain fixed on this comforting Word and to pray for one another, building one another up and blessing the Triune God!
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.
