I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

Testimony Greater than John's--Dec. 19, 2012


 O God, you are our God, the God of Jesus:
speak to us, for your testimony is true.
Even the works that Jesus performed
testified that you sent him to us.

Remind us of those whose
testimony made them martyrs;
remove all our jealousy, hostility;
and testify to us, that we through our
words and our works may testify for you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17

Isa. 11:10-16
Rev. 20:1-10
John 5:30-47

Selected Verses

Ps. 50:7

"Hear, O my people, and I will speak,

         O Israel, I will testify against you.

         I am God, your God.  …"


Isa. 11:13
The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
          the hostility of Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
          and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.

Rev. 20:4b
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God.

John 5:36
"…But I have a testimony greater than John's.  The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.  …"  [Jesus to those who were persecuting him and seeking to kill him]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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