Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Tending to the Least and Lost

Jim:

Genesis 16:1-14
The words of the angel of the Lord to Hagar, Sarai’s slave girl, in verse 11 are quite similar to those of the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:31. The words in Genesis are: “Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael (God hears), for the Lord has given heed to your affliction.” The words in Luke are: “And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus,” soon after which Mary magnifies the name of God for looking “with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” God’s attention is always on the least and lowest of humanity. God cares for and looks after those who are oppressed. No woman in servitude is too insignificant, no young girl is outside of God’s knowledge. We, too, should be attentive to the needs of the poor and the oppressed, for this is God’s work.

Hebrews 9:15-28
Hebrews puts the death of Jesus within the context of the old covenant. “…(A)nd without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Jesus, then, plays the role of the scapegoat in taking away the sins of the world, once and for all. Freed from sin, we are now freed to live to God’s glory and to praise and serve God with all our being. For no longer must we tend to the requirements of the law, but now we tend to the well being of one another, just as Jesus tends to us.

1 comment:

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