Sunday Stretch: Vol. 71
Start off your week with a grounded take on Bible, prayer, the world, and your life ...
Hi Readers,
It’s already the third Sunday of the season of Lent, the first Sunday of March, and we have some incredibly important Bible texts to review today. So - let’s get to the texts!
Bible Stories
Exodus 20:1-7
Ex. 20:1 Then God spoke all these words:
Ex. 20:2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods beforea me.
Ex. 20:4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generationa of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Ex. 20:7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
This reading in Exodus marks the beginning of God’s revelation to Moses of the 10 Commandments, the foundation of God’s Law, or Torah, to God’s people. Of course, the Torah is much more extensive than these 10 commandments, but nonetheless these verses form the foundation of biblical understanding of God.
The whole idea of this first Commandment is a prohibition on idolatry, a word that sometimes sounds antiquated to modern ears. I grew up learning about the Golden Calf (Exodus 32) in Sunday School, and thinking of idols as animal statues made that people would pray to in place of God. It’s easy to say, “We don’t do that anymore,” or to somehow think that (especially white American Christians) are somehow above these ideas of “primitive” religions, much as our European ancestors did when they scorned the religions they encountered in what was to them the New World.
In truth, I believe our modern-day idols are much more pernicious and dangerous than the animal statues of the past or of animistic religions that nonetheless had much more respect and honor for the created world than we often do. It is impossible to look at modern-day western society and even at our own lives and not conclude that money functions as an idol. It’s not a fun exercise, but simply take a moment or two to think about the ways in which we’ve structured our lives to worship money as a god. It is feared as well as revered.
That’s why this Exodus 20 text is such a foundational part of the season of Lent. The Cross of Christ insists that we put God alone in the place of God. And not just an ambiguous man in the sky with a long white beard, but the particular God who is revealed to us in Scripture, a God who is described as “a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generationa of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Questions to Ponder
Why is it significant that God begins with the statement of I AM?
What do the 10 Commandments tell us about who God is?
How does Jesus edit our understanding of verses 5-6 when it comes to children paying for the sins of the parents? How do you see this playing out in the world today?
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
1Cor. 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
You know by now that I have many, many favorite Bible passages - but this one is certainly near the top of the list. I return to it again and again, and even upon my first few times reading it, I am struck by the way in which it forces me to stop, sigh, and take stock of myself and the world.
In this passage, and others that surround it from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul courageously stakes out a position for those who follow Jesus that is at odds with the ruling structures and hierarchies of the world. If you think about especially verses 20-25 in context, you’ll see that Paul is directly setting up a contrast between the prevailing Greek philosophy of the day and the Gospel. But he is also boldly staking a place for the Gospel that is not diametrically opposed to Greek wisdom or to Jewish tradition. Instead, he is proclaiming Jesus’ uniqueness and independence of both political and religious human hierarchy. He anticipates the arguments about the Gospel that seek to limit its power and to put its power into human hands. For me, in these verses we see the radical Theology of the Cross, a sometimes-paradoxical teaching that nonetheless always returns to me as the only way to get through this life with a sense of grace, hope, and faith. Otherwise, we may as well attempt to save ourselves and become our own god.
How does it feel to have Paul proclaim the message about the Cross as “foolishness?”
What kind of criticism about the Gospel do you think Paul was hearing that led him to share these words?
Who is the “we” that Paul refers to in verse 23?
John 2:13-22
John 2:13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
I have been spending a lot of time with this passage lately as I write my new book, as it’s a favorite of the pastors who like to preach about a warrior-like, extreme masculine version of Jesus. They truly love an angry, violent Jesus - if only to try and make men and boys into his image. But as we read the Gospel texts, much more often Jesus is gentle, patient, and non-violent, preaching patience, calming the storm, retreating to the wilderness to pray, and spending time with women. What then do we make of this text?
Sometimes I think that lots of pastors (especially the ones who preach violent masculine Jesus) focus on Jesus’ emotions and affect here so that they can avoid his words, i.e., what is actually making him so angry. The truth is that Jesus saves his greatest ire in the Bible not for moral offenses or supposed “impure” social transgressions, but instead he saves it for those religious hypocrites who have used the temple as a grift. Sound familiar? Not like all the pastors and churches who have gone full-on Prosperity Gospel in recent years and used their literal church campuses as Ground Zero for selling their books and promotional materials? !
To focus only on Jesus’ emotion in this passage and not on the reason for his emotion is to ignore the central point of John’s passage. And this reading comes right at the beginning of John’s Gospel, right after his baptism, and the calling of the disciples, and the merriment of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus does a miracle at his mother’s prodding. Central to Jesus’ message and to his Gospel is that, sadly, it’s often religious leaders and religious places that most pervert the message and goodness of God. It is this moment for which Jesus reserves his anger, rather than too many Christian leaders, who waste their anger on social media and on attacking those who they perceive to be weaker than them, especially women and LGBTQ people and anyone who they view as marginalized and “other.”
Imagine this scene of chaos in the Temple. How do you think the religious elders responded?
Have you ever experienced chaos in a place of worship? What happened?
What does it mean for Jesus to claim his body, rather than actual building in Jerusalem, as the temple?
PRAYER
Dear God,
Your weakness is stronger than human strength. In the moments when I feel weak and afraid in the swirling madness and fear and anxiety of the world, help me to return again to Your word and Your faithfulness. Remind me that you are gracious and merciful, and abounding in steadfast love.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
AMEN
This was a special FREE version of the Sunday Stretch, both for the mid-point of Lent but also because these texts are so central to this season. Please share with others who might find these interpretations and prayers helpful, and thanks for reading!
An Invitation
A Community that prays for one another is transformed by the power of the Spirit. We’ve been praying for and with each other now for over a year! For the new year, and about once a quarter, I will re-start this space for prayer requests and praises. Please email with your own requests and I will share here with your permission!
We are in a new season, Lent, of the Church Year. I will re-start our prayer request section below. Please hit REPLY to this email or leave a comment to add a public or private prayer request to this list. Thanks for praying with me!
For our world, that this season of Lent might bring more attention to the value of slowness, compassion, and contemplation. That we can slow down to pay attention to this season and remember the theology of the Cross.
For all churches, church leaders, musicians and volunteers who are working hard this season to add extra worship services and prepare for Easter; may you bless their words and work and help to build great community in local churches this season.
For Yulia Navalnaya, Dasha Navalnaya, friends and loved ones, and all those in the Russian resistance movement who are mourning the death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. For courage, hope, fortitude, and support for all those who continue to fight for freedom in Russia and against the Putin authoritarian regime
For family and loved ones of the law enforcement officers and paramedic who lost their lives in a Minneapolis suburb last month during a call to a domestic incident with seven children in the home, and for that family and their loved ones, after the father of the children sparked the incident, threatening his family, and died by suicide.
For ongoing war and bloodshed in Israel and Gaza, that humanitarian pathways will be opened up to make way for food and supplies into Gaza, that a way forward out of war will be heard by Israel and Hamas, that all those in danger, including hostages, will be protected and set free.
For those who continue to live and fight in Ukraine, that the world will not turn away its attention from the plight of Ukrainians and their stand against authoritarian Russia.
For the United States and the Republican Party in the midst of a contentious and angry primary season. That governmental leaders might see themselves as servants and examples, and for wisdom and courage for all who serve in government, especially the judicial system as it faces former President Trump’s cases.
For all of those living with and navigating chronic illnesses and injuries, and those who are caring for loved ones in need.
For all those who don’t have a safe place to live or enough food to eat, that they might be first and receive what they need.
For all those living with addiction and mental illness, that they might find a way into recovery
For farmers and all those preparing for planting season
For all around the world who face persecution for their religious beliefs, especially for religious minorities in places where governments sanction religion-based violence
For Christians to be emboldened to speak out courageously against anti-semitism and to acknowledge how we have been complicit in anti-semitic actions and speech against our Jewish siblings
For governments and leaders to prioritize climate change solutions and not be only ruled by profit or big business
For all the concerns deep on our hearts, that you hear and know and acknowledge, we pray …
Lead me to the Cross, O God of truth and courage, and help me share your witness with confidence and humility in these weeks ahead.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
AMEN
P.S. …
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The passage from 1 Corinthians is a favorite of mine too.