Crossing Over Into Jesus’ Experience
- davidwperk
- Mar 10
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, March 9, 2025
Monday after the first Sunday of Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Crossing Over Into Jesus’ Experience
Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading:
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 952)
AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44
Deut. 8:11-20; Heb. 2:11-18; John 2:1-12
Today we celebrate the Feast of Harriet RossTubman. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
I keep returning to a book by the Catholic theologian John Dunne, A Search for God in Time and Memory, (Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame UP, 1977). Dunne experiments with the idea of “passing over,” of finding resonances between one’s own life and the lives of writers and historical figures. By passing over we enter into the experiences of others and clarify our own humanity and our own experience of self and of time. He works primarily with “passing over” into the life and subjective experience of Jesus as a way of clarifying our own subjective standpoint.
The writer of Hebrews in today’s epistle reading seems to be doing just that, passing over into the subjective experience of Jesus and finding resonance between Jesus’ human experience and his own (and our own as well). I find that happening in phrases like “he himself likewise shared the same things” and “he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect” and “because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”
To put it another way, in Jesus, God has “passed over” into our subjective experience. Jesus became like us in every way. In him, God’s Son, the second member of the Triune Godhead, came to us and took on our human nature. Now, Jesus, the risen human being has “passed over” into the heavenly realm, bringing his (and our) human experience into the presence of God.
“Because he was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” (Verse 18). Could it be that where I am being tested, I have the greatest opportunity to “pass over” into Jesus’ standpoint? Can I find resonance with Jesus’ tests—the attack on his identity in the temptations, the struggle with death in the Garden, or his sense of abandonment on the cross? Are my temptations my way of being with him in the desert and in the Garden? And, does Jesus cross over into my experience, living within me, experiencing my struggle with me?
During Lent, as I reflect on my tests and struggles, by risky imagination, I can seek to “pass over” into Jesus subjective experience. As Dunne put it, “It is only when one sees Jesus as fully and unequivocally human that his lordship and divinity appears for the staggering mystery that it is.”* This is the way it will have appeared to his original disciples, who will have known him first as a person, and only afterward, when he rose from the dead, will have perceived his lordship and divinity. In our culture, by contrast, where Jesus is the archetypal man, the culture hero, it is necessary to move to a position where he can be seen as truly human. We then can share in his subjective experience through the Spirit's activity among and within us.
I find a hint of that in Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 2:5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which you also have in Christ Jesus.” (My translation.) Paul does not appeal for us to imitate Christ’s servant mind; rather, he calls on us to experience that mindset among ourselves through the Spirit’s activity among us. We can experience, or cross over into, Christ’s servant mind within ourselves.
Again, to quote Dunn, “To feel the overwhelming mystery of the incarnation in our time, it is necessary to pass from the initial stage in which we find ourselves, where Jesus is the culture hero, through an intermediate stage, in which he becomes fully and unequivocally human for us, to a final stage, in which we can appreciate the unending wonder of the statement, ‘Jesus is Lord.’”+
*John S. Dunne, A Search for God in Time and Memory (Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame UP, 1969), p. 13.
+Dunne, p. 13.
Collect of the Day, Lent 1
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (BCP, 217)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Harriet Ross Tubman, social reformer (died
Collect of the Feast of Harriet Ross Tubman
O God, whose Spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free: Strengthen and sustain us as you did your servant Harriet Ross Tubman. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Collect for Monday of the first week of Lent Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p. 16)
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
Of the Holy Spirit
Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Epistle, Hebrews 2:11-18
11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ 13And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again, ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given me.’
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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