The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, May 20, 2019

St. Peter's Church in Antioch
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”
Acts 11:26

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, May 20, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 133

The Blessedness of Unity
A Song of Ascents.
1  How very good and pleasant it is
     when kindred live together in unity!
2  It is like the precious oil on the head,
     running down upon the beard,
   on the beard of Aaron,
     running down over the collar of his robes.
3  It is like the dew of Hermon,
     which falls on the mountains of Zion.
   For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
     life forevermore.

1 Samuel 20:1-23, 35-42

The Friendship of David and Jonathan
20:1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came before Jonathan and said, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin against your father that he is trying to take my life?” 2 He said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why should my father hide this from me? Never!” 3 But David also swore, “Your father knows well that you like me; and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.” 4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 5 David said to Jonathan, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the meal; but let me go, so that I may hide in the field until the third evening. 6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him. 8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?” 9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was decided by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you?” 10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11 Jonathan replied to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field.

12 Jonathan said to David, “By the Lord, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13 But if my father intends to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. 14 If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord; but if I die, 15 never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord seek out the enemies of David.” 17 Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.

18 Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, because your place will be empty. 19 On the day after tomorrow, you shall go a long way down; go to the place where you hid yourself earlier, and remain beside the stone there. 20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 Then I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, collect them,’ then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go; for the Lord has sent you away. 23 As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”
...
35 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him was a little boy. 36 He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is the arrow not beyond you?” 38 Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry, be quick, do not linger.” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” 41 As soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other; David wept the more. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.’” He got up and left; and Jonathan went into the city.

Acts 11:19-26

The Church in Antioch
11:19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

Verse of the Day MONDAY, May 20, 2019

Romans 15:5-6 (NIV) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read all of Romans 15

Listen to Romans 15

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Monday, May 20, 2019

Oración por los hijos del divorcio

El Señor [...] restaura a los abatidos y cubre con vendas sus heridas.

~ Salmo 147:2-3 (NVI)

Ay, Señor, aquí sí que calificamos varias personas. En la actualidad, es muy común ser hijos de padres divorciados. A pesar de eso, hoy vengo a ti como hija afectada por ese mal. Vengo como madre y mujer que pasó por divorcios y, por consiguiente, dejé a mis hijas en un hogar disfuncional.

Padre, acudo a ti porque sé que eres el único que nos puedes sanar esas heridas, porque sé que eres el único que puedes ayudar a pasar este trago amargo a muchas personas que lo viven hoy. Porque tú, mi Dios, das consuelo y eres el único que en medio del dolor no nos abandonas.

Te pido, por favor, que guíes a cada padre y madre involucrados en divorcios en este momento. Permite que tomen decisiones adecuadas a fin de que no solo piensen en ellos y sus beneficios, que dejen a un lado el egoísmo y piensen en sus hijos y en las consecuencias de un divorcio. También te pido por los hijos de modo que mitigues el dolor que están experimentando y puedan creer que no son los culpables de los problemas de sus padres, ni de ese divorcio.

Ten misericordia de cada hijo afectado, desde los pequeños hasta los grandes, porque para todos es doloroso ver partir a mamá o papá de casa. Te pido protección para que cada hijo del divorcio pueda seguir adelante y encuentre su identidad en ti. Que aunque sean hijos de padres divorciados, logren seguir adelante y ser felices cuando los adultos puedan tener hogares sólidos.

Dios mío, sana las heridas de cada familia y bendícelos. En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
En la actualidad, es muy común ser hijos de padres divorciados.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, May 20, 2019

FIGHTING MATERIALISM

Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

~ Luke 18:24 (NIV)

How is the god Mammon conquered? The Bible offers a perspective from which to view all of life’s economic decisions. The Holy Spirit is with us; Jesus is our present teacher. The following are some suggestions:

• Get in touch with our feelings about money. Get in touch with our fear, insecurity, guilt, pride or envy. We are afraid to be short of money. And our fears, though irrational, are real. We need to face up to these feelings before we can apply God’s promises to our financial situation.

• Stop denying our wealth. Instead of seeing the small picture of our situation, let us become world citizens, looking at ourselves in relation to all humanity.

• Create an atmosphere in which confession is possible. Much of our preaching about money has been either to condemn it or to praise it but not to help each other relate to it. Many of us feel isolated and alone. How much better if we could confess our fears and temptations.

• Discover one other person who will struggle with you through the money maze. Together covenant to help each other detect when the seductive power of money is beginning to win. This
needs to be done in a spirit of love and graciousness but also rebuking and prodding.

• Discover ways to get in touch with the poor. One of the damaging results of affluence is allowing us to distance ourselves from the poor so that we no longer see their pain.

• Give with glad and generous hearts. Giving has a way of rooting out the tough old miser within us. The very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, destroys the sin of greed.

Chinese house church leaders met together to discuss their problems. They concluded that their number two problem (after gossip) was money and the lure of materialism. There are two main sources of this. One is the rising standard of living in the coastal areas, which is tempting good teachers into commerce, depriving the church of much-needed leaders. The other is the kind, but often indiscriminate, giving of some wealthier Christians and missions to house church networks.

RESPONSE: Today I commit to living a simple life style and not give in to materialism.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to follow You all the way. And I want to be obedient as You direct and instruct.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

Women of the Bible - Monday, May 20, 2019

The Woman of Endor

Her character: Compassionate to Saul on the eve of his death, she exercised power by acting as a medium.
Her sorrow: To have delivered a hopeless message to Israel's king.
Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 28:3-25

Her Story

It was a night for frightening apparitions. Squinting through the open doorway, the woman stiffened, retreating a step. A face loomed before her, floating on its own like a full white moon in the outer darkness. Before she could close the door, she felt fingers gripping her wrist.

"Please," the voice insisted, "consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one I name."

The large man pushed through the door, followed by two more men. She could smell his fear as he swept past her and sat down on the couch.

"Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?" she replied.

"As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this," he swore.

"Whom shall I bring up for you?"

"Bring up Samuel," he said.

So the woman sat down and yielded herself, making her soul a bridge for the dead to walk across.

Suddenly she screamed, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

The king calmed her, saying, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?"

"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.

Saul bowed down and prostrated himself, his face in the dirt.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"

"I am in great distress," Saul replied. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."

The woman shuddered, the message delivered. Little wonder the king had seemed so desolate. Fear had crushed the life out of his once-strong face, hollowing the eyes, etching deep lines across cheeks and forehead.

Taking pity, she spoke to him: "Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way."

Kindly, she served what may have been Saul's last meal. The next day he was dead. Wounded in battle, he fell on his own sword, determined to finish the job before his enemies could reach him. True to form, Saul, who had always tried to control his destiny, controlled even the manner of his death. But he could not control what happened next. Discovering his body, the Philistines celebrated by severing his head and hanging it in the temple of their god. Then they tacked his naked corpse to the walls of a nearby town as a trophy. Israel's first king had become a gruesome spectacle.

The woman of Endor is a strange character, steeped in the occult yet kind and motherly in her attitude toward the tormented king. For some reason, God allowed her to call up the prophet Samuel even though necromancy (conjuring spirits for the purpose of knowing or influencing future events) was strictly forbidden in Israel.

Perhaps she had become a medium because women in those days had so little power. Or perhaps it seemed an outlet for her helpful nature. But by yielding her soul to spirits, she was abusing herself in the deepest possible way, distorting her dignity as a person for the sake of obtaining power. How fitting that Saul, who had always tried to control the future, spent his last moments consulting her, breaking his own law in the process. Step-by-step, his insecurities had taken control of him, reducing his soul and disabling his ability to depend on God rather than on himself.

That night the woman of Endor had looked into the eyes of the most powerful man in Israel and had seen the terror there. Did the vision shake her? Did she recognize herself in him? Did her encounter with a true prophet cause her to forsake her trade as a medium? We have no idea what became of her. Sadly, her meeting with Saul marks one of the lowest moments in the life of Israel's first king, revealing his disintegration as a man whose future was destroyed by disobedience.

Saul's tragic ending reminds us that the antidote to fear is always trust. Only faith can cure our worst nightmares, and faith is a gift that is either fed by obedience or starved by disobedience. Forsaking our own desire to manipulate and control people and circumstances, we must trust God to use his power on our behalf.

Her Promise

In a backhanded sort of way, the woman of Endor reveals for us our need to trust God. As human beings, many of us are like Saul, afraid of the future, estranged from our loved ones and God, willing to go anywhere for help. But God is our only true source of help and comfort. He has promised to guide and direct us and plan our steps. He doesn't promise to reveal the future to us, but he does promise to go with us as we step into it.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.
It was a night for frightening apparitions. Squinting through the open doorway, the woman stiffened, retreating a step. A face loomed before her, floating on its own like a full white moon in the outer darkness. Before she could close the door, she felt fingers gripping her wrist.

Girlfriends in God - Monday, May 20, 2019

One Tip I've Learned from a Lifetime of Anxiety

Susie Larson

Today’s Truth

Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

~ Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

Friend to Friend

I’ve struggled with anxiety, on and off, since I was a child.

When I was little, I’d worry about things like my friends’ parents being mad at me forever because I spilled an Otter Pop on their floor. Or that the other kids at class would think my presentation was stupid. Or that I’d never get the guts to pull out my loose tooth. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t. My mom had to bring me to the dentist and have them do it for me.)

As I got a little older, it grew into scarier things, like something happening to my mom while she was away, or someone breaking into our house at night.

During each phase, I would waste countless hours worrying, stressing, and working myself up over things that were never going to happen.

And now that I’m a mom and have two beautiful little boys I love so much, it has continued full force. I had a miscarriage shortly before getting pregnant with my first son, so I hold these boys tightly and do my best to protect them. Even so, I know a lot of it is out of my control—and that’s scary!

But I’ve also found that as an adult, with so many things that could go wrong on a regular basis, I don’t have much of a choice but to trust God with my life, and to let go of my grasp bit by bit. Because otherwise I’d have to run around, freaking out, 24/7, at all of the things I could be worrying about.

I think that through a brain tumor, a miscarriage, and two high risk pregnancies (during one of which I lost my job of 5+ years), the Lord has been bringing me to a place of surrender—most of the time at least. He’s been teaching me to come to him first, rather than letting my mind instantly go to the 1,000 “what-ifs.”

I’ve learned to stop and pray, take some deep breaths, and try to think about things more rationally. But when I do start to spiral out of control, it’s amazing how much Scripture can ground me. And sadly, how often I forget about it in moments of stress! Over the past couple of years, I’ve found Psalm 143, particularly verses 8-10, so helpful:

“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”

And the most important piece of advice I’d give to those who deal with anxiety? Teach yourself to do these things before you hit a rough patch. Get into God’s word daily, pray regularly, and preach to your own heart about the Lord’s faithfulness to you—so that when something triggers that anxious reaction, you know how to handle it.

Because I’ve gone through periods when I thought my anxiety had been cured, and sometimes I’d let my guard down. But really, I just wasn’t facing any triggers at the time.

So, fill your mind with Scripture, and remember to ground yourself immediately when fear hits. You won’t be instantly cured, but the more you train yourself to surrender to God first, the easier it will get. The Bible if full of fear-squelching scriptures, so use it!

Let’s Pray

Lord, I pray that I will always turn to You when I feel afraid. This world is full of trials, and so sometimes my worrying can spin out of control. Lead me to the scriptures that will calm my heart and help me trust You with every detail of my life.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

What scriptures have you found helpful in times of worry? Do you have any other tips for those struggling with bouts of anxiety?

More from the Girlfriends

Do you need help learning how to find and do God’s perfect plan for your life? Check out Susie’s book, Your Sacred Yes: Trading Life-Draining Obligations for Freedom, Passion, & Joy and visit Susie’s website: www.susielarson.com.

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

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I’ve struggled with anxiety, on and off, since I was a child.

LHM Daily Devotions - Lord of the Nations

"Lord of the Nations"

May 20, 2019

Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.

~ Psalm 67:3-4 (ESV)

Although there are pockets of peace, the world is more often than not filled with conflict and confusion. As the Lord Jesus foretold concerning these last days before His return, nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom and "because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). There is hardly any good news to be found. Citizens grow frustrated and angry; leaders reveal their failings. We may be tempted to ask, "Who's in charge here anyway?"

Who's in charge? The psalmist knows, and so do we. God reigns over all people, over every nation on earth. Suffering for reasons he did not understand, Job said of the God to whom he remained faithful, "In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Job acknowledged God's sovereign power: "He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away" (Job 12:10, 23). God reigns in wisdom and majesty over the world He created. Leaders and nations rise and fall under His authority.

According to the prophet Isaiah, when the Messiah came, He would bring God's reign to the earth. He would rule with righteousness and judge in favor of the poor and meek; He would destroy the wicked (see Isaiah 11:4). The Messiah has come, our crucified and risen, our ruling and returning Lord. He reigns at God's right hand, and to Him has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. We do not yet see the fullness of His reign. We watch and pray and act with compassion as the poor still suffer oppression and faithful believers endure persecution. The wicked still triumph. We are not required to understand the purposes of the Lord. Kingdoms rise and fall at His command. Conflicts begin and conflicts are resolved. The Lord's purposes in these events are hidden within His majesty and are not for us to know. Like Job, we are called simply to repentant faithfulness, to trust in our risen and reigning Lord.

Our God and Savior rules now. Although His reign in the world is hidden for now, still the psalmist calls on the nations, on all peoples, to praise God. When our Lord returns on the Last Day, we will enjoy the full, revealed glory of His reign. The nations will sing for joy, and we will rejoice with them!

THE PRAYER: Mighty, risen, and reigning Lord, we long for the day of Your return. Until then, we rejoice in Your wise and just rule. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Although there are pockets of peace, the world is more often than not filled with conflict and confusion.

Devocional de la CPTLN del 20 de Mayo de 2019 - Pastor de todas las naciones

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Pastor de todas las naciones

20 de Mayo de 2019

¡Que te alaben los pueblos, Dios mío! ¡Que todos los pueblos te alaben! ¡Que las naciones se llenen de gozo, porque tú juzgas a los pueblos con equidad y eres el Pastor de todas las naciones!

~ Salmo 67:3-4 (RVC)

Si bien hay momentos de paz, el mundo está lleno de conflictos y confusión. Tal como el Señor Jesús pronosticó acerca de estos últimos días antes de su regreso, cuando se acerque el final de los tiempos se levantará nación contra nación y reino contra reino, "y tanto aumentará la maldad que el amor de muchos se enfriará" (Mateo 24:12). Las buenas noticias casi no existen, las personas se frustran y se enojan y los líderes revelan sus fallas, por lo que podemos sentirnos tentados a preguntar: "¿Quién está a cargo?"

¿Quién está a cargo? El salmista lo sabe y nosotros también. Dios reina sobre todas las personas y sobre cada nación en la tierra. Sufriendo por razones que no comprendía, Job dijo del Dios a quien se mantuvo fiel: "La vida de todo ser está en sus manos; ¡él infunde vida a toda la humanidad!" Job reconoció el poder soberano de Dios: "Por él las naciones prosperan o son destruidas; es él quien las dispersa o las vuelve a reunir" (Job 12:10, 23). Dios reina en sabiduría y majestad sobre el mundo que creó. Líderes y naciones se levantan y caen bajo su autoridad.

Según el profeta Isaías, el Mesías habría de traer el reino de Dios a la tierra, gobernaría con justicia, juzgaría a favor de los pobres y mansos y destruiría a los malvados (ver Isaías 11:4). El Mesías ha venido, nuestro Señor crucificado, resucitado y ascendido, y reina a la diestra de Dios con toda autoridad en el cielo y en la tierra, aunque aún no vemos la plenitud de su reinado. Velamos, oramos y actuamos con compasión, ya que los pobres aún sufren opresión y los creyentes fieles persecución, mientras que los malvados triunfan. No estamos obligados a entender los propósitos del Señor. Los reinos se levantan y caen a su orden. Los conflictos surgen y se resuelven. Los propósitos del Señor en estos eventos están escondidos dentro de Su majestad y no son para que los sepamos. Como Job, estamos llamados simplemente a la fidelidad arrepentida, a confiar en nuestro Señor resucitado y reinante.

Nuestro Dios y Salvador gobierna. Aunque su reinado en el mundo está oculto por ahora, el salmista llama a las naciones, a todos los pueblos, a alabar a Dios. Cuando nuestro Señor regrese en el último día, disfrutaremos de la gloria plena y revelada de su reinado. ¡Las naciones cantarán de alegría y nos regocijaremos con ellas!

ORACIÓN: Poderoso Señor resucitado y reinante, anhelamos el día de tu regreso. Hasta entonces, nos regocijamos en tu sabio y justo gobierno. Amén.

Dra. Carol Geisler

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Si bien hay momentos de paz, el mundo está lleno de conflictos y confusión.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Une issue divine

Une issue divine

Lisez : Jean 11.45-53

La Bible en un an : 1 Chroniques 10 – 12 ; Jean 6.45-71

Dès ce jour, ils résolurent de le faire mourir. V. 53

Dans son polar Les Pendules, Agatha Christie présente des antagonistes auteurs d’une série de meurtres. Même s’ils avaient résolu au début de ne faire qu’une seule victime, ils en sont venus à prendre plus de vies pour couvrir leur crime initial. Quand Hercule Poirot l’a confronté, un des conspirateurs lui a confessé : « Il ne devait y avoir qu’un seul meurtre. »

Comme les conspirateurs de ce roman, les autorités religieuses de l’époque de Jésus ont aussi comploté. Après qu’il a ressuscité Lazare (JN 11.38-44),  elles ont convoqué une réunion d’urgence pour machiner son meurtre (V. 45-53). Non satisfaites, une fois que Jésus est ressuscité des morts, elles ont fait campagne pour nier ce qui s’était réellement passé (MT 28.12-15) et réduire ses disciples au silence (AC 7.57 – 8.3). Ce qui a débuté par un complot contre un seul homme dans « l’intérêt » de la nation est devenu un tissu de mensonges et de tromperie faisant de multiples victimes.

Le péché nous plonge dans une voie souvent sans issue, mais Dieu nous procure toujours un moyen d’en sortir. Quand le souverain sacrificateur Caïphe a dit : « [Vous] ne réfléchissez pas qu’il est dans votre intérêt qu’un seul homme meure pour le peuple » (JN 11.50),  il ne comprenait pas la profonde vérité selon laquelle le complot des chefs religieux contribuerait à accomplir la rédemption de l’humanité.

Jésus nous arrache à la poigne cruelle du péché. Avez-vous reçu la liberté qu’il offre à tous ?

Donnez au péché une marge de manœuvre, et il envahira votre vie.

par Remi Oyedele

© 2019 Ministères NPQ
Dans son polar Les Pendules, Agatha Christie présente des antagonistes auteurs d’une série de meurtres.