Killing the Righteous Ones
Wisdom 2:1, 12-22
Ungodly men reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us sins against our training. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father.
Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is Gods son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected. Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls.
Believe always that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Sent By the Father!
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
At that time: Jesus went about in Galilee, he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the Jews feast of Tabernacles was at hand. But after his brethren had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.
So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, You know me, and you know where I come from; But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me. So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.
Moment of Reflection
The Jewish authorities in Jerusalem had apparently decided that Jesus had to die because of his claim to being the Son of God, and by implication, divine himself. That was blasphemy, and the penalty for such blasphemy was nothing short of death. The ordinary citizens of Jerusalem also apparently agreed with their leaders. They thought they knew where Jesus came from. He was from Galilee, the son of a carpenter from Nazareth. How then could he be the Son of God and a divine person? But they were grossly mistaken. They did not know that Jesus came from God, born of the Virgin Mary. Joseph, the husband of Mar, was not his real father, but only his foster father. The disciples of Jesus know the truth, and rightly worship him as the Divine Person that he is.
Think Deep
Jesus paid a tremendous price for us so we could have abundant life. He willingly took all of our sin on Himself and gave His life on the cross so we could be forgiven and have new life in Him. (Joyce Meyer)