Daily Devotional
The King’s Holy Way
Famine drives Jacob’s sons back to Egypt, and hunger strips away delay. Men who would live must go where bread is found, though the road is humbling and costly. So too the whole earth, poor under the reign of death, must come to the true storehouse of life. Yet the One who gives bread is no mere steward in Egypt, but the Lord Himself, the King of glory entering His own city to be betrayed.
Justin says, “‘Who is this King of glory?’ And the Holy Spirit, either from the person of His Father, or from His own person, answers them, ‘The Lord of hosts, He is this King of glory.’” If He is the King of glory, then Psalm 24 is no light question: who shall ascend His hill? Not the double-minded, not the man with unclean hands, not the disciple who kisses and betrays, sleeps instead of prays, boasts and then denies.
Yet Isaiah declares that the Lord will swallow up death itself. Methodius speaks of the end for which Christ goes willingly to suffering: “that death may be swallowed up in victory 1 Corinthians 15:54 by life,”. Therefore in Gethsemane the Lord does not flee. He rebukes the swords, accepts the cup, and stands before sinners without deceit. The holy hill is opened not by our presumption but by His obedience; still, those who follow Him must come with repentance, watchfulness, and clean deeds.
Let us not seek the King with hands full of violence and mouths full of falsehood. Let us go to Him as hungry men, confessing our need, keeping watch in prayer, and enduring the bitter cup appointed to us, until death is swallowed up by life.
“‘Who is this King of glory?’ And the Holy Spirit, either from the person of His Father, or from His own person, answers them, ‘The Lord of hosts, He is this King of glory.’”
— Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho
“that death may be swallowed up in victory 1 Corinthians 15:54 by life,”
— Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection
For Reflection & Discussion
What delay in obedience must you end today, as Jacob’s sons had to rise and go for bread, whether by making restitution, confessing a sin, or reconciling with someone you have wronged?
How will you seek clean hands and a pure heart this day in one concrete practice: refusing a lie, putting away lust, giving alms from your goods, or forgiving an enemy by name?
When will you keep watch with Christ today in set prayer, and what suffering or duty will you accept without complaint as your share of His cup?
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