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Today's Lenten Devotion
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A Christian's Reminder
Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
You and your companions who sit before you,
For they are a wondrous sign;
For behold, I am bringing for My Servant the BRANCH
For behold, the stone
That I have laid before Joshua:
Upon the stone are seven eyes.
Behold, I will engrave its inscription,
Says the Lord of hosts,
And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day, says the Lord of hosts,
Everyone will invite his neighbor
Under his vine and under his fig tree.
--- Zechariah 3:8-10
Remarkable. Questionable. Hopeful. Assuring. How one reads and interprets today's reading from Zechariah depends on one's relationship to Jesus. To the believer these are bold comments that reinforce what is known about the birth and death of Jesus, and the salvation He offers. To the skeptic, these are confusing lines. To the one who has made himself his god, his eyes and ears cannot get close enough to these words to attempt to interpret them. However a man does or does not interpret these lines, what God has done, is done. What God will do, is coming — whether man believes it or not.
Jesus, the Branch, came into the world. He died a death that washed away the sins of mankind by His shed blood on Calvary. He rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God and will come again to judge the living and the dead. Jesus has brought peace to people who believe — peace of heart now and peace of mind for later when human death comes. The truth of all Jesus is and all that He did are soothing reminders in a strange and changing world. Lent is that precious time for believers to embrace the truth of Christ's life, remember His suffering at the cross, and KNOW the end of the story is favorable — is exciting — for believers.
In this Holy Week, this reading from Zechariah reminds us of the good to come. Yes, there is pain, sorrow, and death to remember. However, these verses reveal the heart of a mysterious and merciful God. Today God gives His own a Christian reminder; we remember where Jesus walked for us — and that He is still alive and walking at our side for us. Be comforted and encouraged by this truth. Jesus lives. So do we.
Lord, Your Word is our collection of reminders of all You did and all You promise to your own people. Thank you for the precious gift of Your Word, which is Your heart.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Chris Ann Waters
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