Misericordias Domini Tuesday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Tuesday of Misericordias Domini 
Exodus 34:1-28     Luke 7:18-35

John had been thrown in prison, his disciples were distraught – they wondered if John was truly a prophet of the most high God and was his message true? They were, at the very least, uncertain what to do with themselves now. John, knowing that he wasn’t going to be set free, sent them to Jesus to ask if He was the One who was going to come.

After assuring them that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of Man, they left.

After John’s disciples left, Jesus asked the crowds. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'”

John the Baptizer. What a great preacher. He had great concern for the people. He preached loving, gentle sermons bringing the people God’s peace. He used to preach such great sermons like this portion of one from earlier in Luke’s Gospel.  He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Luke 3:7 9 ESV)

The people flocked to listen to him preach and to be baptized by him. They knew that He was proclaiming the Word of God in truth and purity. Of course, there were the nay-sayers, those who were upset by what was preached. They didn’t like it because he preached the truth, and those without the Holy Spirit do not like to hear the truth.

So, what do you go to church to hear? Good news! OK, what is good news?

John had it right when he called those gathered “a brood of vipers.” The Pharisees and the lawyers may have gathered in the wilderness to hear John, but then turned around and bad-mouthed him. Just like vipers, their mouths spewing poison, gossiping and passing judgement on other as if somehow, they were better than everybody else.

Others were like vipers; everything they touched was poisoned. Even their good works were tainted by sin, their pride poisoning that which was good in them. Others that gathered were baptized by him, and then they left falling again into the same sins. 

Does this sound like you? Do you gossip? Are you better than other sinners?  Does your pride taint the good that God would do through you? Do you find yourself falling again and again into the same sins?

What did they come to see that day recorded in our text? Why did they come to listen to Jesus? "To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, " 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.' For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! 'Sinners, that is who Jesus is describing. That is what the people of that day were. They were fickle and hard to please. John’s preaching could make them happy one day and angry the next. Jesus’ preaching could make them happy one day and angry the next.

They thought it was an insult to say that Jesus was a friend to sinners. But that is why He was born. That is exactly why the Son of God became the Son of Man.  He came to bring forgiveness and eternal peace from God to man.

It is Jesus who shows His great love for sinners when He willingly rides the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem where He knew He’d be crucified at the end of the week. He is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. But He bore our iniquities. The chastisement that brings us peace was upon Him. The Lord has taken away the judgements of a righteous God against us, and quiets us with His love. 

Victorious over sin, He rises from the dead three days later.  Christ is the greatest friend to sinners. Christ ignored the shame of sin, to be our best friend in our greatest need.

What do you go to find at church? Do you go to listen to the pastor preach? If so, you are there for the wrong reason! Do you go because it is your Christian duty? Then you go for the wrong reason! Do you go to impress your neighbor? You go for the wrong reason!

I hope you go because your best friend invited you over for supper. Jesus comes to be a friend to sinners. When we are willing to truly listen to the Word of God, then we know that is exactly what we are, sinners. It is a true friend who will, out of love, point out the traits in a friend that need to be changed. A friend stands by when we are at our worst, not just when we are at our best.

When sinners gather together in God’s house to hear His Word and to gather at His table, we receive from Jesus what no other can give. In God’s house Christ comes as the true friend to sinners, the one who could accuse us, for He is without sin. However, He chooses instead to give us His life and peace.

Jesus is a friend to sinners. He speaks Words of forgiveness, love, and peace.

Jesus is a friend to sinners. He sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

Jesus is a friend to sinners. He grants us peace with God.

Jesus is a friend to sinners, and even now prepares an eternal home for us, that when He comes again, He might take us to be with Him. 

Let us pray:     O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.