Scripture Scribbles: November 21, 2021

the Gospel

John 18: 33-37

Pilate said to Jesus,

"Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own

or have others told you about me?"

Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?

Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.

What have you done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.

If my kingdom did belong to this world,

my attendants would be fighting

to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.

But as it is, my kingdom is not here."

So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.

For this I was born and for this I came into the world,

to testify to the truth.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

the devotion

Time and time again, I have heard this passage and the living Word continues to reveal Himself anew to me, deepening my heart in His incarnation.

We have arrived at the end of another liturgical year and encounter our King at the end of His earthly life. Next week we enter a new season, a chance to begin again, to start over, to slow down and anticipate our Lord’s arrival on Christmas morning.

What a stark contrast we see today. The end.

“If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.” Heart convicted. Tears flowing. None of us are worthy of this sacrifice our Lord made for us and yet, what a love. What a love. The King of the Universe stood there alone understanding our pain, understanding our fear, understanding the weight of our humanity and our weakness. “For this I was born...to testify the truth.”

How often do I turn away from His truth and run from Mercy? How often do I deny the sacrifice that was made for me, for all of us, so I can fulfill my own desires? As I reflect on the end of this liturgical year and begin preparing for Advent, I wonder, am I going to allow the roaring crowd, the busyness of life, the anxieties of tomorrow to fall silent, so I can hear the voice of my King? When I take the time each morning before the children wake, coffee in hand and enter into silence, my heart allows for deeper conversion in my belovedness.

I am a beloved daughter of the King of the Universe. You are a beloved child of the King of the Universe.

That’s the truth. Sit with that for a while.

Today’s devotion was written by Diana Giard.