Psalm 41, 52; 1 Kings 13:1-10; Phil. 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47
A “man from God” is sent to Jeroboam to prophesy against the altars the king has set up at which offerings and sacrifices are made to the gods he has made. The prophecy is that one called Josiah will arise who will destroy these altars and those who have led the people astray. The prophet is authenticated when Jeroboam stretches forth his hand against him and the hand is paralyzed in mid-air. God is providing them with a word that is authenticated by a sign in order that they might turn from their idolatry and apostasy, but now that he is healed, will Jeroboam ignore the sign and go back to business as usual? The prophet is wise enough not to be wined and dined by the king, his integrity is not for sale.
The sign which the onlookers proposed, Jesus coming down from the cross, is not given. Is this truly the man of God? Could God not save Him as He saved the prophet from harm in our first lesson? It seems that the hope of the people, in particular those who had followed Jesus and believed in Him, were ended. There was no way to make sense of his death given what they had believed about Him. When Joseph of Arimathea comes to ask Pilate for the body, Pilate is surprised that Jesus is already dead and asks the centurion who oversaw the crucifixion if indeed he can verify Jesus’ death. Joseph is granted “the corpse.” That seems a terrible word when applied to Jesus and we see Joseph lovingly providing for Jesus, a shroud and then a new tomb, He will not be among other corpses, and the tomb is shut up with a stone. What would have happened if Joseph had put Jesus into a tomb with others?
What a wonderful opening to a letter. Paul’s joy over the community in Philippi overflows in his prayers and his praise to God for their faithfulness, their partnership in the Gospel, that they are partakers in the same grace with him, and for what he knows will be the continuing work of Christ in them and among them. His affection for this community is clear from the beginning. Remember what happened when Paul went to Philippi? There were few Jews there so he and Silas and Luke went to the riverside to see if there were a place of prayer and there they met Lydia. Philippi was the place where the slave girl with a spirit of divination followed them until Paul rebuked the spirit. They were arrested and imprisoned, and while they sang praises to God, the doors were opened. This is the place where the jailer was converted. This community was one that had seen God do great things, had heard the message and seen the signs and believed. It is not surprising that Paul should love this church and that they should be growing in faith and love.
Christ for the world we sing,
The world to Christ we bring, with fervent prayer;
The wayward and the lost, by restless passions tossed,
Redeemed at countless cost, from dark despair.
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