2025-03-09 Promises Promises by the Rev Anders Edstrom

Welcome to the first Sunday of the Season of Lent at Greenfield Presbyterian Church in Berkley, MI. The Scripture Lessons for today are Matthew 27:24-26 & Romans 11:25-36. Matthew 27:24-26 24 Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I’m innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It’s your problem.” 25 All the people replied, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified. Romans 11:25-36 All Israel will be saved 25 I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret, brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in. 26 In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodly behavior from Jacob. 27 This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins. 28 According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but according to God’s choice, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. 29 God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back. 30 Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient. 31 In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too. 32 God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them. 33 God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep! They are as mysterious as his judgments, and they are as hard to track as his paths! 34 Who has known the Lord’s mind? Or who has been his mentor? 35 Or who has given him a gift and has been paid back by him? 36 All things are from him and through him and for him. May the glory be to him forever. Amen.