Scripture for Today | Hebrews 10:5-10 (with Jeff Sholar)

About this Episode

Opening Song: 

There Blooms A Rose in Bethlehem by Neil DeGrade

Lyrics:

There blooms a rose in Bethlehem

From tender stem hath sprung

Of Jesse's line this flower grows

As men of old have sung

Isaiah told us long ago

About this rose we'd find

In virgin arms we shall behold

The Savior of mankind

 

The glories of the heavens

Surrounded shepherds bright

The angels sang a sign was shown

The Christ was born that night

What mystery they came upon

The sign the heralds laud

In manger slept the Holy One

In flesh the Son of God

 

This flow'r in bloom a scent so sweet

That greets us in the air

It has dispelled with hopefulness

The sting of death's despair

Foretold this rose was born to die

But would not see decay

So those who place their faith in Him

Shall blossom from the grave

 

So those who place their faith in Him

Shall blossom from the grave

Passage: 

5   Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body have you prepared for me;

6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings

you have taken no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,

as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

 

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

(Hebrews 10:5–10 ESV)

Musical Reflection: 

Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming (ES IST EIN ROS) by Michael Praetorius

Reflection Notes: 

Praetorius composed this tune in the early seventeenth century while working at various court and church appointments in Germany. The somewhat melancholy nature of the melody reflects the theological tension of the text: the rose of Christ is born to die, but will rise again in resurrection glory. 

Prayer:

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of

darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this

mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in

great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again

in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead,

we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and

reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.