Lent 4 is also Mothering Sunday in the calendar, and the readings for Mothering Sunday in Year A are 2 Corinthians 1.3-7 and the dedication of Jesus in Luke 2.
In 2 Cor 1, Paul begins this letter by exploring the inter-relation between experience affliction (tribulation), and receiving comfort from the God of all compassion. This leads both to our comforting others, knowing that (in some sense) we are sharing in the affiliations of Jesus himself, but also being formed in patient endurance as we look to him with hope.
For the Mothering Sunday gospel of Jesus’ presentation in Luke 2, the written commentary is here and the video discussion is here.
The gospel reading for Lent 4 is the third of our encounters of Jesus, this one with the man born blind in John 9.1-41. The written commentary is here and the video discussion is here.
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The last word
All the gospels record that Jesus “cried out in a loud voice and gave up the ghost”. There are three things here to note. First that it was a loud cry. To have been suspended by his hands for some time a “loud cry” must have taken terrific effort, so the loudness must be important to be reported. It is only John that tells us what that cry was, he says it was tetelestai. The third thing is that the human body died. There is no question that death did occur. My affection for words now prompted me to look closely at that word tetelestai.
It is not in the dictionary. The nearest there is teleo which means “achieved, accomplished or finally finished”. The fact that the first syllable is reduplicated puts the word into the pluperfect tense, a tense often used in official announcements or orations. So lexicons out, concordance consulted and commentaries examined. Tetelestai is the pluperfect of teleo. The only rational conclusion is that this cry was not a sigh but a shout of victory. Alford puts it “The redemption of man is accomplished”. The Latin equivalent is “plus quam perfectum” or “man made perfect”. Here we must go back to the old sacrificial times when “without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin”. Blood had to be on the doorposts for the Passover or death occurred. Jesus is named as “The lamb of God”. So his voluntary sacrifice gave him the right to forgive those who trust him. “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”.
The use of that pluperfect is unusual. It was as an official announcement. That cry of victory meant that all the old animal sacrifices were obsolete as Jesus had done it all himself for us. It is no wonder that the disciples, once persuaded by a fish breakfast and Pentecost, were confident to go preaching all over the known world.
Just straightforward Perfect tense, passive voice: ‘It has been completed.’
Pluperfect would, I think, be ‘tetelesto’ but would certainly mean, ‘It had been completed.’, which would be absurd.
This comment assumes (and I am inclined to agree) that Jesus was speaking Greek. (N.B. Iesous is a Greek form of Joshua.)
Throughout the Scriptures God reveals His Compassion as foundational in his glory. [Moses]
“They never fail” say the prophets even when the people forsook God and endured His Judgements
“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break into joyful song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.” This passage reflects God’s commitment to restoring and comforting His people despite their suffering and disobedience. Isaiah 49:13
The Psalmist 103:13-14 states, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.” Here, God’s compassion is likened to a father’s tender care for his children, emphasizing His understanding of human frailty.
In our Lord . Mark 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
The Apostle Paul encourages believers to emulate Christ’s compassion. In Colossians 3:12, he writes, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Here, compassion is part of the Christian’s new nature, a reflection of their identity in Christ.
In both the OT and the NT God denounces the lazy indifferent “Hireling Shepherds”, so unlike Paul who travailed in the enduring, pain and labour of “child birth” until Christ was Formed in them quite apart from their sound doctrine.
I have been fortunate to know a mere handful of such travailers
to my great fortune and gratitude.
I have also known those theologians that can identify and broadcast
the faults, failings and shortcomings of folks, being devoid of compassion or travails. Shalom.
Comfort and Compassion stand alongside Mourning and grief
in the Scriptures
As Don Carson remarks “ Those who claim to experience all its joys without tears mistake the nature of the kingdom.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Says Our Lord.
Comforted has the meaning of “urge,” “exhort,” or “encourage.”
In fact, to strengthen as in Jesus strengthening Peter
Luke 22 vs 31 32
It’s not a comfort for the body provided by pillows. It’s a comfort for the spirit.
We speak of “the mark of the Beast” but what is the mark of the Saint?
Ezek 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezek 9:6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
God is the God of all comfort to His saints in the cosmic battle
Blessed be His Name. Shalom
P.S. Recommend John of Ruysbroeck’s “Of Compassion
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage” @ bible hub
And, On good mourning see David Mathis’s
“He Sweetens Our Joys with His Sorrows” @ desiring god .com