[ Today's Readings ]
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
'This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'"
How quickly we forget the God who saves us. We may think the people of Israel ridiculous in their behavior. But how long is it after we receive blessings from God that we ourselves turn to idols? They aren't molten calves to be sure. But even if they aren't the obvious ones of pleasure and power we can be sure that we still have some idols lingering in our lives. What are the things with which we are unwilling to negotiate with God, which take priority over his will for us? These are our idols.
Jesus wants to call us back from these idols. Moses pointed away from them. John pointed away from them. But we're slow to accept what they say. We search the Scriptures to find an easier way to eternal life. But there is no way except Jesus. It is to him that Moses and John the Baptist ultimately point. It is from his Father and for the sake of his promise to his people that Jesus comes to us. Why are we so slow to come to him and have life?
But you do not want to come to me to have life.
He wants us to come to him. He longs for us to come to him. He desires us and thirsts for us. Even more than Moses stands in the breach for his people Jesus intercedes to save us to ensure that the promise of the Father is fulfilled.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
Let us listen to the testimony of Jesus about who he is and who his Father is.
But I have testimony greater than John's.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
Let us come to Jesus. He reveals the Father to us. Let us come to him that we may have life.
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