You Tube Theology

The NT Epistle reading for Lent 5 (sometimes called Passion Sunday) is Paul's account of his 'great reversal'. (The gospel reading is the anointing at Bethany in John 12).

Paul uses the language of 'the flesh' here as he has done in 2 Cor 5 to talk about mere human evaluation of things. On the surface, he appears to be one of the (religious) elite, given his impeccable qualifications.

But these all count for nothing; Paul uses terms of financial accounting to transfer what might be on the 'credit' side and putting it on the 'loss' side. The only credit that he needs or that counts is the righteousness from God that comes through faith in Jesus, who has called him upward to know him.

Paul's extraordinary and passionate commitment includes all the paradoxes of faith—it all comes from God, yet we each need to take hold of it. It is about the hope of resurrection—but also participation in suffering. And there is a decisive change—but the journey is not yet complete. So Paul strains towards the completion of God's work in him.

The commentary on the gospel reading of John 12.1–8 can be found here: https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/why-is-jesus-anointed-at-bethany-in-john-12/

And video discussion of that passage here: https://youtu.be/jDepD5pZLzU