Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Much of American Christianity tries to view Jesus as a friend. We have this picture of the gentle Jesus. Maybe we picture him as still a baby. Maybe we picture him in his humanity as the one who would gently stay to visit after a social event. Maybe we are struck by his compassion and love. These are absolutely genuine characteristics of the Messiah. We never want to erode the concept of Jesus as God with us.
At the same time we need to remember that he is God. What does this imply? In our reading from Psalm 2 for Sunday of the Transfiguration, we recognize that Jesus, God the Son, is the one who has been given all the nations and will break
the nations. He will shatter evil. He is the one to be served with fear and trembling.
Holding this biblical view of Jesus in his majesty reminds us that he is the one who must be approached with reverence. It also tells us in the clearest terms possible that he is the one who can protect his people. He guards his glory. He will not allow evil to reign forever.
Is this too frightening? The very end of the Psalm reminds us that we can put our trust in him. From that vantage point we are perfectly safe. We are guarded by his mighty hand. This is the love of God.
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