First Sunday in Lent

rainbow by Skroski

Every Sunday, I am including this week's readings from the Lectionary.  You can find the reasons why in my post, A Story to Embody.

If you take the time to read through them you will realize why I included a picture of a rainbow.  As I read through the readings, I was once again amazed at the connections through Scripture.  I also was reminded of the invitation we have to rest in the promises and character of God.  Finally, I was in awe of how Jesus embodies the covenant promises of God.  Be blessed.

Genesis 9:8-17

Then God said to Noah and his sons, "Now I am making my agreement with you and your people who will live after you, and with every living thing that is with you—the birds, the tame and the wild animals, and with everything that came out of the boat with you—with every living thing on earth. I make this agreement with you: I will never again destroy all living things by a flood. A flood will never again destroy the earth."

  And God said, "This is the sign of the agreement between me and you and every living creature that is with you. I am putting my rainbow in the clouds as the sign of the agreement between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and a rainbow appears in them, I will remember my agreement between me and you and every living thing. Floods will never again destroy all life on the earth. When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and I will remember the agreement that continues forever between me and every living thing on the earth."

  So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is a sign of the agreement that I made with all living things on earth."

Psalm 25:1-10

Lord, I give myself to you;
  my God, I trust you.
    Do not let me be disgraced;
       do not let my enemies laugh at me.
  No one who trusts you will be disgraced,
       but those who sin without excuse will be disgraced.

  Lord, tell me your ways.
       Show me how to live.
  Guide me in your truth,
       and teach me, my God, my Savior.
       I trust you all day long.
  Lord, remember your mercy and love
       that you have shown since long ago.
  Do not remember the sins
       and wrong things I did when I was young.
    But remember to love me always
       because you are good, Lord.

  The Lord is good and right;
       he points sinners to the right way.
  He shows those who are humble how to do right,
       and he teaches them his ways.
  All the Lord's ways are loving and true
       for those who follow the demands of his agreement.

I Peter 3:18-22

 Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people—eight in all—were saved by water. And that water is like baptism that now saves you—not the washing of dirt from the body, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Now Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God's right side ruling over angels, authorities, and powers.

Mark 1:9-15

At that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. Immediately, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open. The Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with you."

Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert. He was in the desert forty days and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels came and took care of him.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Good News from God. He said, "The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!"

As I read through the verses I was also reminded of Ezekiel 1:27-28 so I am including these verses too:

 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.    This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. 

 In Christ,