Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me—for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 30:21

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 24, 2017) Jeremiah 30

I have to admit that I love Dana Carvey’s “The Church Lady.” Carvey says that the inspiration for “The Church Lady” arose out of Carvey’s somewhat infrequent church attendance as a child. There was a row of older ladies with blue hair that seemed to look at him a little funny every time his family showed up for church. He could imagine what it was that they were thinking. “Well, I guess some of us feel that it is only good to come to church when it’s convenient.” And there, in Carvey’s childhood Catholic Church, “The Church Lady” was born; always condescending and speaking with the royal we or us and offering a righteous commentary from those stuck in the holy tower that can sometimes be the church. “I see that some of us came to church this morning with some pretty fancy cars. Jesus has heaven; I wonder who wins.”

The poet Alexander Pope satirically wrote that “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” Sounds like something “The Church Lady” might say. But the problem is that there is also no hope for change in “The Church Lady” or Pope’s satirical beatitude.  Everything is as it is, and that is all that it will ever be.

As the worst chapter in Judah’s history continues, Jeremiah offers hope. Things can change. Someone would show up, not because it is convenient, but because he is sent. There are actually a few candidates for the one who would rise from among them. Zerubbabel led the first of the exiles back to Judah. Over 42, 000 people returned with him. He was the grandson of Jehoiachin, the second to last king of Judah. But Zerubbabel never reigned as king. Instead, he served as the governor of Judah, and he was responsible for laying the foundation of the Second Temple, the one that would replace the Temple built by Solomon and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. He was a great leader who was one of their own.

Nehemiah would shun the comfort of the palace and the position as advisor to the king to lead another wave of exiles home. He, along with the Priest Ezra, restored the Law of Moses to the people and the religious life to a nation. He brought order when Jerusalem was in chaos. He encouraged the people to continue the reconstruction of the city. And he was a leader who was one of their own.

But ultimately, this prophecy is not about the leaders that would rise up at the end of the exile, Rather, Jeremiah is speaking of the one who would come to redeem his people – all his people. It was Jesus who would devote himself to come close to God. It was Jesus who would bring the needed change. It was Jesus who would measure up in a world where no one measured up.

The Church Lady reminds us that Jesus has heaven. But the reality is that he gave up heaven in order to save us – at just the moment when we needed it the most. And he was a leader that was also one of Judah’s own.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31