March 3, 2022: Day 48 – Deuteronomy 29-31 and Mark 15-16

We have what could be described as a summary of events in chapter 29 which serves as a renewal of the covenant for the people of Israel.  Probably the most powerful verses in the reading for today is found in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 where we see God tell Moses: Now choose life so that you and your children may live.  This is a powerful verse and it does show the decisions that we make often are decisions which either bring God closer to us or pushes God further away from us.

We then have the peaceful transition of power from Moses to Joshua and God predicts that the people of Israel will rebel.  I can only think of poor Joshua as the power if being passed from Moses to him and God is just going off on how bad the people are and how inevitable it is that they will turn their back on him and on their leader.  But, take heart Joshua, says vs.23, be strong and courageous.  I mean, the people are going to be snakes, but hey, I’ll be there with you to address it.

In Mark we have the crucifixion of Jesus and the burial and then the eventual resurrection.  If you notice, Mark is a bit controversial for some because some of the oldest manuscripts don’t contain 16:9ff.  For many the Gospel ends at verse 8.  Me, I don’t have a problem either way.  I know that Jesus rose from the dead and all of the other Gospels attest to it in a way that settles my faith.