Lenten Reading - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Scripture Reading: John 12:36–43

Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief

³⁷ Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

⁴⁰   “He has blinded their eyes

and deadened their hearts,

so they can neither see with their eyes,

nor understand with their hearts,

nor turn—and I would heal them.”

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. ⁴² Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 105:1–11, 37–45 (See Monday)

Jeremiah 30:12–22

“This is what the Lord says:

“ ‘Your wound is incurable,

your injury beyond healing.

¹³   There is no one to plead your cause,

no remedy for your sore,

no healing for you.

¹⁴   All your allies have forgotten you;

they care nothing for you.

I have struck you as an enemy would

and punished you as would the cruel,

because your guilt is so great

and your sins so many.

¹⁵   Why do you cry out over your wound,

your pain that has no cure?

Because of your great guilt and many sins

I have done these things to you.

¹⁶   “ ‘But all who devour you will be devoured;

all your enemies will go into exile.

Those who plunder you will be plundered;

all who make spoil of you I will despoil.

¹⁷   But I will restore you to health

and heal your wounds,’

declares the Lord,

‘because you are called an outcast,

Zion for whom no one cares.’

¹⁸ “This is what the Lord says:

“ ‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents

and have compassion on his dwellings;

the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,

and the palace will stand in its proper place.

¹⁹   From them will come songs of thanksgiving

and the sound of rejoicing.

I will add to their numbers,

and they will not be decreased;

I will bring them honor,

and they will not be disdained.

²⁰   Their children will be as in days of old,

and their community will be established before me;

I will punish all who oppress them.

²¹   Their leader will be one of their own;

their ruler will arise from among them.

I will bring him near and he will come close to me,

for who is he who will devote himself

to be close to me?’

declares the Lord.

²²   “ ‘So you will be my people,

and I will be your God.’ ”