Reading: Matthew 12:1-21, Acts 17:1-15, Psalm 27, Exodus 10-12

Recall:
Matthew 12:6 "I tell you, something greater than the temple is here."

I’m asking GOD for one thing,
only one thing:
To live with him in his house
my whole life long.
I’ll contemplate his beauty;
I’ll study at his feet.
Psalm 27:14

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his officials, in order that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I have made fools of the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them—so that you may know that I am the LORD.” Exodus 10:1-2

and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And so they plundered the Egyptians. Exodus 12:36

Reflect:
This was an interesting juxtaposition of passages. As I was reading the beginning of the plagues yesterday, I was enjoying the tale. As I began reading it today, the opening verses of chapter 10 awakened me. What a horrible snapshot of God. Eugene Peterson's paraphrase even brings it our further "and so you’ll be able to tell your children and grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians, like a cat with a mouse." And then God kills the first born of the Egyptians, the Hebrews are allowed to leave and they plundered the Egyptians on their way out.

Exodus 10-12 is all about religion--convincing people their God is the best, convincing people to follow the religious observances, in this case Passover.

And then, bam!, Jesus comes along and says "something greater than the temple is here." Jesus modeled a life of true spirituality, connection with God, and genuine compassion. And we went and built religion around him, trying to convince people that our God is the better God and to follow the rules and festivals.
Respond:
Thank you God, for the gift of Jesus the Christ. I want to know him. I want to experience you the way he did. I want to see the world the way he did, no matter where that leads.