Laetare Sunday

Notes on the Readings

Sabbath years were not respected, this was the last straw and the fruit of evil hearts. Therefore the land must recover the lost sabbaths. This is the great jubilee year, the sabath of sabbaths. Everyone used legal loopholes to get out of their obligaiton to set captives free

Jesus fulfills the sabbath, dying on Friday he rested in the tomb on the sabbath and rose on the third day making hte new day, the 8th day the new creation. So also the church is undergoing the passion until it too rests on the sabbath, sits at the feet of Jesus. Now those who have chosen the better part of sitting att he feat of Jesu will have it.

So must the sun of man be lifted up

-the Israelites were commanded to make and mount on a pole the representaiton of their sin and they were to look at it. Similarly at the incident at mt horeb, Moses melted the golden calf and it was ground into powder and thrown inthe the water. The people had to endure the consecquences of isn. God in his mercy made this the means of salvation. They forshadow the cross.

-From looking at the serpent (rep of sin) the poison of sin is drawn out. It draws out repentence. Similarly, when we view Jesus on the cross our sin and selfishness is revealed.