Outside the Camp--Feb. 5, 2018

Jesus, there was division in the crowd because of you.

You maintained the right of the weak and the orphan;

you rescued the needy from the hand of the wicked,

and they arrested you, killed you outside the camp.

Now the peoples are divided, strong against weak,

and we remember those who are in prison, those

who are being tortured, as you were tortured,

and we go to you to ask you why, and you

direct us outside the camp, to bear

the abuse that you endured.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29

Gen. 25:19-34

Heb. 13:1-16

John 7:37-52

Selected Verses

Ps. 82:3-4

"…Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
          maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
          deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 

                        [God, to the divine council]

Gen. 25:22-23

The children struggled together within [Rebekah]; and she said, "If it is to be this way, why do I live?"  So she went to inquire of the LORD.  And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger."

Heb. 13:3, 12-13

Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.  …Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.  Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. 

John 7:43-44

So there was a division in the crowd because of [Jesus].  Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.