Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, July 21, 2019
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Jesus came as an equal to humanity and experienced the best and worst of what it means to be human. His sacrifice means that suffering will not have the final say.
Jesus came, not as a Greek or Roman god, demanding that people worship him and sacrifice to him. Jesus came as an equal to the belovedness of humankind by God. Jesus came as a son of God and brother to humanity.
As an equal, Jesus would have experienced the best of being human—holding a newborn baby, falling in love, laughing with his closest friends. He would also have experienced the most bittersweet moments—leaving home to explore the bigger world, holding the hand of a dying elder, choosing to give up the hope of marrying for a life of teaching, serving, and changing the world.
But Jesus also would have experienced the worst of being human—being mocked by those who didn’t understand him, being denied by his closest friends when he needed them the most, and the ultimate cruelty—death on a cross.
It is because he shared in the entire range of human experience that he understands humanity in a way God could not have done before. He understood what it meant and what it felt like to have nails driven through his flesh. He knew the fear of being alone and in excruciating pain hanging on the cross. He knew how desperately people needed the redemption his death offered. He knew it in his soul and in his body. Consequently, he knew just how to comfort the mourning and give courage to those afraid.
He knew how to encourage those needing bravery and soften the blows for those being beaten. Even though humanity is destined to suffer and to cause suffering, Jesus’ sacrifice has given us confidence that suffering, pain, not even death will not have the final say.
For supplementary preaching resources, please visit our website access point. (Link: bit.ly/proclaim-it-nl)
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