Good Morning. It’s another beautiful fall day in Minnesota, and our prayers go out to the people along the Gulf coast whose homes and lives have been devastated by yet another hurricane.
In the reading from Job appointed for today Job himself takes a view toward the disasters that have befallen him that is almost fatalistic. In effect he tells us that only God knows why these tings have happened to him, and that it is not up to him to debate the fairness of actions that God has precipitated. In the NRSV translation Job says:
“Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
For he is not a mortal, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should come to trial together.
There is no umpire between us,
who might lay his hand on us both. [Job 9:32-35]”
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
For he is not a mortal, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should come to trial together.
There is no umpire between us,
who might lay his hand on us both. [Job 9:32-35]”
I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen “umpire” used as a title for Jesus, and yet as Job describes the umpire he is describing a role that summarizes all that Christ has done for us. It is Jesus who comes between God and us. It is Jesus alone who lays claim to the ability to lay hands on both God and humanity. As Peter testifies in today’s reading from Acts, “he [Jesus] is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. [Acts 10:42-43]” God has given to Jesus all authority over us, and therefore it is Jesus alone who stands between God and us in merciful and righteous judgment.
In both the Acts reading and the reading from John I am struck by the fact that the people around both Jesus and Peter were concerned with what your training and accomplishments were and where you came from. They forgot their own history and the history of God’s relationship with them. Throughout the history of God’s relationship with humanity God chose some of the least “qualified” and least “accomplished” people to carry out His work. Who we are is less important than whether or not God chooses to accomplish His ends through us. In fact we are all chosen, but if we would follow the path of Christ then we must also be prepared to be blessed, broken and given for the completion of God’s will. God can use us all. To deny that is to deny God.
Prayer: Merciful God, we give You thanks for the umpire You have sent to be our only judge. It is Christ Jesus who knows what it is to touch both You and us. Use us, O Lord. Bless our efforts on behalf of Christ’s Gospel, and grant us the courage to follow His path so that we might give glory to You for all the world to see. Amen.
Today’s readings are Job 9:1-15,32-35; Acts 10:34-48; John 7:37-52; Psalm 16, 17 & 22.
You are blessed. Accept God’s invitation to follow His umpire!
Pastor Jim
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