Seasonal Note: I’m beginning a new Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:
http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:
http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com
Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (with God's help), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.
3 Epiphany - Sunday
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Isaiah 9:1b-4 Light in Darkness
Psalm 27:1-9 Light and Salvation
(or) Amos 3:1-8 Judgment
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Unity
Matthew 4:12-23 Prophetic Fulfillment
Isaiah:
In the past the Lord had brought contempt to Zebulun and Naphtali (constituents of Galilee), but the prophet declares that in the future the Lord will glorify (by the coming of the Messiah) “the way of the sea” (the highway from Damascus to the Mediterranean) the “land beyond the Jordan” (the east bank), “Galilee of the nations” (of the Gentiles; a Roman province).
The people have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness (“shadow of death;” KJV), on them has light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The Lord has increased the nation and its joy (of its salvation) as at harvest, or as when an army divides the plunder. The Lord has broken the yoke and burden of oppression and has broken the oppressor’s power, as in the day of Midian.
Psalm:
Those who accept the Lord as their (spiritual) light and salvation and take refuge in him won’t fear anyone or thing. The enemies of the Lord’s people will not prevail in their opposition. Though the enemy greatly outnumbers them and attacks them, God’s people will not fear or loose confidence.
Those who seek, trust and obey the Lord desire one thing above all others; to dwell in the Lord’s house all their days, to see the beauty of the Lord and to learn from him. The Lord will conceal and shelter his people in his tent in the day of trouble, and set them upon a high rock (Jesus), so that they will be above their enemies and they will offer sacrifices with joy and sing and praise the Lord.
God’s Word tells us to seek God’s face. To those who desire in their hearts to see God’s face, God will not hide from them, and will answer them when they cry to him. God will not turn away from his servants in anger. He will not cast off or forsake those who have trusted in him for their salvation. Those whom God has helped in the past can be assured that God will continue to help those who trust and obey him.
Amos:
Through Amos the Lord declared a Word of judgment against his people, the whole family of descendants of Israel whom he had delivered from Egypt. Because God has had a personal covenant relationship with Israel alone, of all the people of earth, God will punish them for their iniquities (disobedience, immorality, idolatry, injustice, and superficial religion).
The prophet uses proverbial wisdom to show that there are consequences to their actions. Two people do not walk together without prior arrangement. Lions don’t roar when they are hungry (or they’d never catch any prey). Birds cannot be caught without setting a snare, and snares do not trip without something tripping it. The watchman doesn’t blow his trumpet unless there’s a reason for warning. Evil does not befall a city unless the Lord allows it.
The Lord makes known to his prophets what he is doing. “The Lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy” (Amos 3:8)?
1 Corinthians:
The Corinthian Church had been founded by Paul’s ministry and Paul was continuing to “disciple” its members by letter. Paul had heard that there was dissension among the members. Some members favored the preaching of Apollos, and others favored Peter. Paul told them that whom they had been converted by or baptized by was not important; the importance was Jesus’ crucifixion, and the Gospel of Jesus, which should unite all believers.
Paul emphasized that he had not baptized many at Corinth, for which he was glad, so that his baptizing would not be a point of division among the members; and Paul hadn’t preached the Gospel with eloquence, either. The power of the Gospel does not depend upon human eloquence or wisdom, but on the power and wisdom of God.
Matthew:
After being baptized by John and being tested in the wilderness, Jesus moved from Nazareth to Ca pern ne um in Galilee (the people in Nazareth had not welcomed his ministry and virtually threw Jesus out (Luke 4:16-31). After John had been imprisoned, Jesus began traveling throughout the villages of Galilee calling people to repent (turn from disobedience to faith and obedience to God), saying that the kingdom of God was imminent.
This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2. Galilee, including the tribal lands of Zebulun and Naphtali was, at the time of Jesus, the Galilee of the nations (Gentiles; i.e., the Roman province of that name). Isaiah had prophesied that the people who had been in spiritual darkness would see the spiritual light of righteousness, and divine revelation, and those living in the shadow of death would see the light of eternal life, which was fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
As Jesus walked on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he encountered two brothers, Peter and Andrew, fishing with a casting net. Jesus invited them to follow him and become fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and came along with Jesus. Further on Jesus encountered two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, in a boat with their father, mending nets. Jesus called them and they immediately left their father and the boat and followed Jesus.
Jesus began going throughout Galilee teaching and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and healing all sorts of diseases and disabilities.
Commentary:
God’s Word is eternal, absolutely true, and trustworthy. What God says, will be fulfilled, over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. God has always intended from the beginning of Creation, to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who would willingly choose to trust and obey God. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and learn to know trust and obey God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s one and only plan of salvation (from sin, i.e. disobedience of God’s Word; and eternal destruction, which is the penalty for sin; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, God’s “anointed” eternal savior and king, from “Galilee of the Gentiles” during the Roman occupation and Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy. God’s Word through Isaiah promised that the Messiah would be the light of righteousness, divine wisdom, and eternal life, and Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy. Those who accept Jesus as the light of enlightenment, righteousness and true eternal life will have nothing to fear. They can be certain that the enemies of light will not prevail.
God’s Word promises that, to those who earnestly and sincerely seek to find and know God, God will reveal himself. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word, lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God’s character and person in this world (John 14:8-10). The gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), which only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17), is the fullest revelation of God the Father and Jesus Christ to us individually and personally. Jesus promised that he would manifest himself, and God the Father, to his disciples who keep Jesus’ commandments (John 14:21, 23).
At the Cross, Jesus won the victory over our spiritual enemy Satan and our slavery to sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus is the high rock which elevates us above our enemy and gives us sure footing.
Through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we have God’s guidance, protection, and teaching; we have daily fellowship with the Lord and the assurance of eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
God’s Word contains great promises but also ominous warnings. God has given us forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ as a free gift to be received by faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9). But for those who refuse God’s gracious gift there will be eternal condemnation and punishment.
Amos was a shepherd who was called by God to proclaim God’s warning of Judgment to the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes of the divided monarchy. The Northern Kingdom was at the height of its prosperity and power, and the people considered themselves God’s chosen and favored people. But Amos denounced them for their disobedience of God’s Word, reliance on their own human ability and resources instead of on God, and of idolatry, immorality, social injustice, and superficial religion.
Amos called them to repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord, but they refused to heed the prophetic warnings. The religious leaders of the Northern Kingdom forbade Amos to prophesy and sent him away. The Assyrians came by “the way of the sea” (Isaiah 9:1), and the Northern Kingdom was completely destroyed and ceased to exist in 733-732 B.C.¹
The Church at Corinth had been established by Paul’s ministry and he continued to “disciple” the members by letter. The Corinthian Church was suffering division, because the members were relying on human strength and resources, and relying too much on their “chosen-ness” and God’s grace (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right) without the commitment of discipleship and obedient trust in God’s Word.
The Lord had brought contempt and condemnation upon the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, but Judah, the remnant of Israel did not learn the lesson of the Northern Kingdom’s punishment. As a result, Judah went into a seventy-year exile in Babylon (from 587-517 B.C.²) and then was restored. But the remnant again forgot the lessons of the Northern Kingdom, and of their own Babylonian Exile, and were unprepared for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When the Lord brought blessing to Israel through Zebulun and Naphtali by the coming of the promised Messiah, Judah rejected Jesus, as Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, had. They missed the spiritual healing, nurture and restoration that only Jesus can give. The result was that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 A.D.³ Israel ceased to exist as a nation, and the Jews were scattered throughout the world, until the nation was reestablished following World War 2. The temple has never been rebuilt.
America and the Church, at least in America, are each, in a sense the New Israel, the “chosen” people of God in the national and spiritual senses. We’re in the same position as Israel at the time of Jesus. In many ways our religious and political leaders regard their office as their private empire for their benefit, rather than as stewardship on behalf of God’s people. We need to hear the prophetic Word of God’s judgment as much today as Israel did in the time of Jesus or of Amos.
Haven’t many Americans and Christians turned away from obedient trust in God’s Word? Haven’t many become immoral and idolatrous? Aren’t there great social injustices in our land? Hasn’t religion become a meaningless ritual for many?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
¹ The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Isaiah 9:1n, p. 833, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
² Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Exile,” digital edition, bibledatabase.org - http://bibledatabase.org/eastons.html
³ ibid, Temple, Herod's
8 Epiphany - Monday
Monday, January 28, 2008
To be used Before Last Epiphany - Transfiguration
Psalm 2:6-13 The Lord’s Anointed King
The Lord declares that he has enthroned his “anointed” (eternal) king on Zion (the temple mount; Jerusalem; the people of God; the Church; the heavenly city), God’s holy hill.
The Lord has declared that the Christ (Messiah; both words mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively) is God’s (only; John 1:14b; 3:16) “begotten” Son [begotten physically by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20, 23; Luke 1:34-35) and spiritually (John 1:32-34; Matthew 3:17) by the Holy Spirit (John 1:33]. God has given all nations and all people to the inheritance of Jesus Christ. God has given the power of physical and spiritual life and death over all the earth and all people to Jesus Christ. Christ’s authority is like a rod of iron against a clay pot.
The kings and rulers of earth are warned to serve the Lord with fear and trembling (having a healthy respect for the power and authority of the Lord), to avoid perishing (eternally) by the wrath of God. Those who take refuge in the Lord will be glad that they did.
The Lord has always been the intended King of God’s people (1 Samuel 8:5-7). When Israel asked for a human king, God allowed them to have one, although he warned them of the consequences (1 Samuel 8:11-18). The king was chosen by the “anointing” of the Lord (1 Samuel 9:15-17; 10:1-9). God has given all power and authority, in heaven and earth, to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus came to be the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s Word; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right) and restoration to fellowship with God and to eternal life, both lost through sin.
Jesus is the righteous Judge, who is coming again, at the end of time (this temporal age; our lifetime), to judge the living and dead in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-29). All who have ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in this temporal lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord (eternal King) and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in God’s kingdom in heaven; those who have refused to accept Jesus as Lord and have not trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1: 5-10).
Jesus is the Lord of lords and King of kings, whether we recognize him as our Lord and King or not. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
8 Epiphany - Tuesday
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
To be used Before Last Epiphany - Transfiguration
Exodus 24:12, 15-18 Moses in God’s Presence
The Lord told Moses to come to the top of Mt. Sinai and wait, and the Lord would give Moses the Law written on stone tablets. Moses did as God commanded and the cloud (and fire; of God’s presence) settled on the top of the mountain. Moses waited and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. The Glory of the Lord appeared as a “devouring fire” on the mountaintop and was visible to the Israelites waiting below. Moses entered the cloud and was on the mountaintop forty days and nights.
Moses and the Israelites were led through the wilderness by God’s presence manifested as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22). When God descended upon Mt. Sinai, he was manifested in a cloud and fire to the Israelites waiting below, but only Moses was allowed to enter into God’s presence.
Jesus came to make it possible, by the blood sacrifice of his body on the Cross, for us to be forgiven and cleansed of sin so that we can enter into God’s presence. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection made it possible for us to be filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit is the manifestation of God’s presence within us, through whom we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is the “pillar of cloud and fire” (Acts 2:3; Matthew 3:11) within us to guide us safely through the “wilderness of the spiritually dark night of this world, and into the eternal Promised Land of God’s eternal kingdom of heaven. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
God calls us to come and enter into his presence through Jesus Christ who is the only way, the only door, to God’s presence and God’s eternal kingdom. We must act at once in faith (obedient trust) in Jesus and God’s Word, and then we must be willing to wait for God’s timing.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
8 Epiphany - Wednesday
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
To be used Before Last Epiphany - Transfiguration
2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) Apostolic Doctrine
The Gospel is not a collection of myths devised by humans, but the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and his power. Peter (and James and John) were present with Jesus on the mountain at Jesus’ transfiguration, when the voice of God from heaven declared that Jesus is God’s beloved Son, with whom God was pleased. They heard and so testified. Their testimony verifies that the Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophecies and the Apostolic testimony should be studied, as a light in the darkness, until we have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. The prophecy of scripture is not man’s insight or interpretation, but humans inspired by the Holy Spirit proclaimed the Word of God.
The Apostle Peter was one of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples who was present at the Transfiguration. He witnessed Jesus' meeting with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop. He saw Jesus become supernaturally radiant (Matthew 17:1-8). Peter heard the voice from heaven declare that Jesus was God’s beloved Son (Matthew 17:5). Peter testified that Jesus had declared that the prophecy of the coming of Elijah before the manifestation of the Messiah had been fulfilled by John the Baptist (Matthew 17:9-13). Peter witnessed that prophecy fulfilled in both events.
This Letter of 2 Peter is part of the Apostolic (as taught by the Apostles, including Paul) Gospel which the Apostles had received directly from Jesus Christ, and were passing on to new believers. New believers are to study the Old Testament and the New Testament as they await “rebirth” through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Old Testament contains the prophecies of the Messiah (Christ) and the New Testament is the eyewitness testimony of their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. New believers are to be trained as disciples of Jesus Christ by “born-again” disciples until the new believers have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19b). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit ends the spiritual night of eternal death and rises as the dawn and the bright morning star (compare Revelation 22:16) to give us the light of Spiritual life and insight within our hearts.
The Apostle Paul is the prototype and example of a modern “born-again” disciple and Apostle of Jesus Christ, as we all can be. Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus) was confronted by the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-4). Paul repented, accepted Jesus as Lord (Acts 9:5), obeyed Jesus’ command to wait for further instructions (Acts 9:6-9), was “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple (Acts 9:10-16), until Paul had received the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18). Then he began proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 9:19-20).
Paul’s example is unique in the speed with which he was born-again and became an Apostle. The original Twelve disciples spent two and a half years with Jesus night and day and still had to wait (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) until the Day of Pentecost when they were “reborn” (Acts 2:1-13). Paul had already been formally educated in the Jewish scriptures (The Old Testament) and was zealous for God. He just needed to be pointed to the Messiah, Jesus.
Once Paul had been “reborn” he was guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and he testified to the risen Jesus of whom he had personal experience and knowledge. He became as much an Apostle as the others.
Jesus comes to his disciples individually and personally as they trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
There is a Day of Judgment coming, at the end of the temporal age, at the end of our individual lifetimes, when Jesus will return to judge everyone who has ever lived (John 5:28-29). Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life with the Lord in the eternal kingdom of heaven, but those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to obey Jesus will receive eternal condemnation and destruction in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). No one knows when Jesus will return, but we have only this lifetime to be spiritually “reborn” and no one can be certain that one will live to see tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation; today is the day to receive Jesus and to begin learning to trust and obey him.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*I believe that Paul is the one the Lord chose to take the place of Judas Iscariot, Jesus’ betrayer, not Matthias (Acts 2:12-26).
8 Epiphany - Thursday
Thursday, January 31, 2008
To be used Before Last Epiphany - Transfiguration
Matthew 17:1-9 Transfiguration
Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, and went up to the top of a mountain. Jesus was transfigured in their presence: his face became bright as the sun, and his clothes became radiant as light. Two figures, Moses and Elijah, appeared with Jesus and were talking with him.
Peter suggested that the disciples should build three booths; one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. While Peter was saying this a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud declared that Jesus was [God’s] beloved Son, that God was well pleased with him, and that the disciples should listen to (hear and obey) him. The disciples were frightened by what they had heard and seen, and prostrated themselves, but Jesus came and touched them and told them not to be afraid.
When they looked around there was no one with them but Jesus. As they came down from the mountaintop Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed “until the Son of Man is raised from the Dead” (Matthew 17:9).
Peter (Cephas; Simon), James and John were the three disciples of Jesus’ inner circle. They had also accompanied Jesus into the home of Jairus, when the daughter was raised from the dead (Luke 8:41-56). The Apostle Paul later stated that they were pillars of the Church in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9). They were chosen by Jesus to witness Jesus’ transfiguration and the presence of Moses and Elijah during that transfiguration.
The scribes (teachers of the Law; the Jewish Scripture) taught that Elijah was expected to return to prepare Israel for the coming of Messiah. The three disciples asked Jesus about this on the way down from the mountaintop, and Jesus told them that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of that prophecy (Matthew 17:10-13). The three disciples had also witnessed the fulfillment of that prophecy on the mountaintop in the appearance of Moses and Elijah.
Peter suggested building three booths. Booths were temporary shelters set up during the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) to commemorate the Israel’s wilderness experience. Booths had become a religious symbol and shrine. Peter wanted to create a memorial to Moses, the “lawgiver,” and Elijah, the great prophet, as well as Jesus, but the voice of God made it clear that Jesus was of greater magnitude than the Jewish patriarchs; Jesus was the beloved (and only begotten) Son of God, and that we are to trust and obey Jesus, rather than being loyal to the Jewish patriarchs and Jewish tradition. The three disciples were witness to the transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah, but were not to testify to that experience until after Jesus had been raised from the dead.
Moses’ face had become radiant after being in the presence of God on the mountaintop (Exodus 34:29-35). Jesus’ face was as radiant as the sun and his clothes were also supernaturally radiant. Jesus’ radiance was a greater order of magnitude.
Jesus is the new spiritual “Moses.” He is not only fully human but fully divine (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus is the new mediator between God and mankind. Jesus is the new leader who brings us through the spiritual wilderness into the eternal Promised Land. Jesus doesn’t just reflect God’s presence; he radiates it.
The three disciples were allowed to witness Jesus’ heavenly glory, and to testify about it after Jesus’ death and resurrection, but Jesus did not demonstrate it publicly, so that people would have the freedom to decide for themselves who Jesus is.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
8 Epiphany - Friday
Friday, February 1, 2008
To be used Before Last Epiphany - Transfiguration
Isaiah 35:3-7 Promise of Salvation
1 Peter 3:18-22 Salvation through Baptism
Take strength, weak hands; be firm, feeble knees; be strong, fear not, fearful heart! Look and see; your God is coming with vengeance and recompense, to save you.
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped” (Isaiah 35:5); then the lame will leap like a [deer] (see Acts 3:8), the mute will sing for joy. Springs of water will arise in the wilderness, and streams will flow in the desert. Dry ground will be transformed into pools of water, and dry wilderness will become a swamp; reeds and rushes will replace grass.
Christ died for sin once for all time and all people, the righteous one for the unrighteous, in order to reconcile us to God. He died in the flesh but was made alive in the spirit. He proclaimed the Gospel to those in prison who formerly did not obey God.
In the days of Noah, God waited patiently during the building of the ark, by which eight people were saved through water. The Flood corresponds to Christian Baptism which now saves us through water, not as the cleansing of physical dirt from our physical bodies, “but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21) who has entered into heaven and sits at the place of honor at God’s right hand, with authority over angels and all powers (in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).
Throughout the Old Testament God has promised to bring forth a Savior, the Messiah. God has designed his plan of salvation into the structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Isaiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah, during the period of the destruction of the northern kingdom of the ten tribes, Israel.
In this text God promises to come and save those who are trusting in him, bringing vengeance on those who do not trust and obey him and who oppress his people. The Lord will come to repay everyone who has ever lived, according to what they have done in life.
One of the signs of the coming of the Messiah will be the healing of the blind, deaf, lame and mute (Isaiah 35:6a). Spiritually dry wasteland will be transformed by the "living water" of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39)
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promised Savior, the Messiah (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). Jesus is God’s “anointed” eternal Savior and King.
Jesus' first coming (advent) was distinguished by the healing of the physically blind, deaf, mute and lame (Matthew 9:2-7, 27-33, Mk 7:31-37; John 5:1-9). Jesus also healed the sick and raised the dead (Luke 17:11-19; Matthew 9:18-26). The purpose of Jesus’ miracles of physical healing and restoration were intended to show that he was the promised Messiah, and that he could also heal those who are spiritually blind, deaf, mute, lame, sick, and dead.
Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus’ words are the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), and have the creative force of God’s Word (Matthew 8:23-26; Genesis 1:3). Jesus manifests God to those who trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 11:27; John 14:6-11 21, 23).
Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment at the end of time, to judge the living and the dead, in both physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5). He is coming with the recompense of God. He will save from God’s vengeance and punishment those who are trusting and obeying Jesus (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right), but he will condemn and eternally destroy those who have refused to accept Jesus and have refused to trust and obey him, who have opposed God and have oppressed God’s people (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Jesus is the one and only blood sacrifice acceptable to God for sin for all time and all people who will accept it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Jesus is the (Passover) Lamb of God (John 1:35-36); the perfect, blemish-free Lamb sacrificed for the Passover Feast, which protected God’s people from the angel of death, when God destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:5-14).
Jesus and God the Father alone are righteous; we are all unrighteous sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). We have been alienated from God because of sin. Jesus is the only way to restore us to fellowship with God and eternal life in his heavenly kingdom (Acts 4:12, John 14:6).
Jesus died in the flesh but was raised from physical death to spiritual, eternal life. In a sense we are all imprisoned by sin and death. Jesus has come to free us from sin and death and give us eternal life (Hebrews 2:14-15; John 10:10).
God once destroyed the earth by the Flood. The people were wicked and didn’t heed God’s Word of warning, but Noah did, and saved his family through God’s provision, by believing God’s Word and following God’s instruction by building the Ark (Genesis 6:5-8:22).
God has given his Word of warning that he is going to destroy the wicked, the rebellious and disobedient; this time by fire in Hell. Jesus Christ is the “Ark” which he has provided to save those who trust and obey God’s Word.
The historical Flood is also a metaphor for the waters of Baptism, through which those who trust and obey Jesus will escape destruction and receive eternal life. We are saved through Baptism by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. In Baptism we have the “promise” of Salvation, but we have to claim and “own” it through obedient trust in Jesus Christ. To all who receive Jesus (Revelation 3:20), who believe (trust and obey) in his name (character and person; i.e. God’s only begotten Son; God’s anointed Savior and eternal King), he gives the *power* (the promise and the ability) to become spiritual children of God, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, the power and will of God (not by flesh or the effort and will of mankind; John 1:12-13).
We must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).
Those who have been “born-again” have been forgiven all their sins, and have a clear conscience in God’s judgment (Hebrews 9:13-14). God attributes to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ and we have eternal life through Jesus’ resurrection.
We who have been “born-again” can be reassured and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the risen Jesus within us (Romans 8:9), as we approach the Day of Judgment. We can be confident that we will receive a share in the reward of Jesus Christ in heaven (Romans 8:17). We need not fear God’s vengeance and condemnation.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
8 Epiphany - Saturday
Saturday, February 2, 2008
To be used Before Last Epiphany - Transfiguration
John 12:23-36 The Hour of Salvation
Jesus declared that his “hour” had come for him to be glorified. Jesus compared his death to the process of sprouting seeds. Seeds must be buried in order to sprout and bear fruit. A person who loves life in this world will lose it, but one who hates his life now will keep it for eternity. Anyone who serves the Lord must follow his example and teaching. His servant will be where Jesus is, and God the Father will honor him.
Jesus’ soul was troubled at the knowledge of what was coming, and his flesh would prefer if God would save him from his crucifixion, but he recognized that this was his purpose in coming. So Jesus instead prayed that God would glorify God’s name. A voice from heaven said “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again” (John 12:28). Some who heard, thought it had thundered; others said that an angel had spoken to Jesus. Jesus said that the voice had come for the crowd’s benefit, not Jesus’.
Jesus declared that now, in Jesus’ hour, was the judgment of the world, and the ruler of this world (Satan) would be defeated and cast out. Jesus declared that when Jesus was lifted up from earth (indicating that he would die on the Cross) he would draw all people to himself. People in the crowd said that according to scripture the Christ would remain for ever, so how could Jesus say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is the Son of man?
Jesus replied that the light was present with them a little longer. So they should walk in the light while they had the light, so that they would not overtaken by the darkness. A person walking in darkness does not know where he is going. While the light is present, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.
The timing of Jesus’ coming and sacrifice were according to God’s will, not the world’s (compare John 2:4). Jesus’ death on the Cross was absolutely essential for our salvation, and would produce eternal fruit for all who receive that salvation by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus.
People who think they have everything in life the way they want it now will lose it all, but people who realize that this life is not as it should be, because of wickedness and sin, will realize that they are just passing through the “wilderness” of this present lifetime and that the destination is the eternal Promised Land of God’s kingdom in heaven. Those who are willing to die to the things of this world will live eternally; those who live for the things of this world will die eternally.
Jesus came to teach us by word and example how to be sons and daughters of God. His followers must follow his word and example. His servants will be doing what Jesus is doing, and be working where Jesus is working. Those who do so will be honored by God the Father.
Jesus was the fullness of God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). He knew what was coming at his crucifixion, and he would have preferred not to go through that agony, but instead of doing what his flesh wanted to do he resolved to trust and obey God’s will.
At Jesus’ death on the Cross, the world has been judged and Satan has been defeated. Jesus’ Crucifixion demonstrates that mankind is sinful. We have all sinned and have made Jesus’ sacrificial death necessary for our salvation (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Jesus died once, for all time and all people who are willing to trust and obey Jesus for their salvation (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Satan is the enemy of God and of our eternal souls, and his power is sin and death. He has been defeated at the Cross of Jesus Christ, because Jesus demonstrated that those who trust and obey God are raised from physical death to eternal life (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Those who trust and obey Jesus are spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). We have the proof within ourselves, by faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).
The voice from heaven is the voice of God. People who trust and obey God can hear that voice, but for those who don’t, explain it away as some other phenomenon, or as for someone else.
People in the crowd continued to doubt Jesus’ testimony. From scripture, they believed that the Christ was to remain forever. They didn’t understand what Jesus meant about being lifted up, and they didn’t understand what Jesus meant by the “Son of man.” They needed to accept and believe what Jesus was saying, but instead they wanted proof.
Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man, which is true, but which allows his hearers to decide for themselves who Jesus is, with a hint from scripture (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus is the “light” of righteousness (John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5, 8:12). Jesus told the people that they should believe and act on that light while they had the opportunity, so that they could become children of light (children of God).
Now is the hour of Salvation! Now is the time to follow Jesus’ word and example in obedient trust. Now is the time to learn to walk in the light of his righteousness, enlightenment and eternal life. Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to and know God; Jesus is divine, eternal truth; Jesus’ word and example is our only opportunity to have real, eternal life (John 14:6). Only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus can we be saved (from our eternal condemnation and destruction by God’s judgment; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
