Suffering Will Come--Nov. 29, 2013

[from Nov. 25, 2011 archive]

Suffering will come, has already come,

and there is more to come.

Does this not make us fear you?

When the earth staggers and falls,

it does not rise again--

its transgression lies heavy upon it.

Under the cruel weight of the cross

Christ staggered and fell,

was crucified, and rose again.

Christ suffered for us; he suffers with us.

Does this not make us love you?

Teach us the way we should choose.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40

Isa. 24:14-23

1 Peter 3:13-4:6

Matt. 20:17-28

Selected Verses

Ps. 25:12

Who are they that fear the LORD?
          He will teach them the way that they should choose.

Isa. 24:20

The earth staggers like a drunkard,
            it sways like a hut;
its transgression lies heavy upon it,
            and it falls, and will not rise again.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit…

Matt. 20:18-19

"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised."  [Jesus to the twelve disciples]