Amazing Grace

Jim:

Amos 2:6 –16
Oddly, the connection I made to this passage comes from verse 16, “and those who are stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, says the Lord.” What came to mind was the scene of Jesus’ arrest as told by Mark where, “A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.” Indeed, those who had said they would stand by Jesus to the very end ran away in his hour of greatest need. I do not assume that Jesus’ arrest is what Amos was specifically pointing to, but I do believe that in the face of God’s actions human bravado and human power melt away leaving us naked before God, exposed in our weakness and our sinfulness and in desperate need of God’s grace to cover our multitude of sins.

2 Peter 1:1-11
Speaking of having our sins covered, verse 3 offers great comfort. It says, “His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Through the knowledge of the “glory and goodness” of Jesus Christ we are “covered” with everything we need to live a godly life, to be in community with God and one another. While the actions of God can lay us bare in our sinfulness, God’s grace offers us hope and peace. As John Newton wrote in the words of the hymn “Amazing Grace,” “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.”

Matthew 21:1-11
It is fitting, then, to consider verse 10 from the gospel reading. “When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in a turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’” Again, the actions of God reveal the ignorance of humanity. But more importantly, God’s grace abounds in the opportunity to answer the question, “Who is this?” To know Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, even in his death, is to know God’s richest blessing of grace for all people and to find comfort and solace in our living.