January 29, 2024 

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 8:1-23; 2 Timothy 1:1-18

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ (Deuteronomy 18:15-16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord God has the authority of life and death. That was made clear in yesterday’s reading when Jesus cast the unclean spirit out of the possessed man. But that incident was not the first time the Lord declared that He has that authority. When the Lord appeared to His people at Mount Horeb (that’s the same as Mount Sinai), they were afraid and didn’t want to speak directly with God so they wouldn’t be judged and die. The people spoke to Moses and sent him to speak to God. There at Mount Horeb, he served as their representative before God, their intermediary. He stood between God and God’s people.

Later, Moses gave the Lord’s promise to His people that He would raise up another prophet like him.  Another intermediary, another representative would come. But this representative is God Himself.  He doesn’t stand on the top of Mount Horeb, but was crucified on the top of Mount Calvary. There, at the place of death, the Lord Jesus takes that place of death and life.  His death wasn’t permanent, but it was still very real. In His suffering and death, Jesus ensured that you no longer need to fear the Lord’s judgment because He submitted to judgment on your behalf.  He delivers to you the forgiveness of your sins.  Jesus stands in the midst of death and life because He has the authority to bring life to those who should die for their sins, including you.

St Paul teaches that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy that one would arise like Moses in 1 Timothy 2:5-6, where he writes, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”  Jesus is indeed that mediator, and He is also at the ransom for your sins. The Lord has spoken to you.  He calls you to repent of your sin, and He declares that He has forgiven you. Believe in that Lord, your one Mediator, Jesus Christ.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ, the way that leads unfailing  To the Father’s home on high,  Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die. Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest:  Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions,  There to share Your wedding feast. (LSB 540:5)

-Pastor Peter W. Ill is pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Millstadt, Illinois.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.