Week of 4 Easter – May 3 – 9, 2009

This is a 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

Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival Text-to-speech are available at:

Daily Walk 2 Year B Weekly Lectionary

Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), 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.

Podcast: Week of 4 Easter B

4 Easter - Sunday
First Posted May 3, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Sunday B

Psalm 23 – The Good Shepherd
Acts 4:23-33 – Proclaiming the Gospel with Boldness
1 John 3:1-2 – Children of God
John 10:11-18 The Good Shepherd

Psalm:

Those who are willing to be Jesus' “sheep” and allow him to be their shepherd will never lack for any good and necessary thing. Jesus will give them rest in green pastures. He will provide them with with spiritual food and water, and will restore their souls.

Jesus will guide and enable them to live according to righteousness, because that is Jesus' character. They will have no fear of evil or death, because Jesus has the power to protect, preserve and comfort them.

Like a good host, Jesus is preparing a table for them in the midst of their enemies. He anoints them with oil, he fills their cups to overflowing. They can be certain that his goodness and mercy will be with them all the days of their lives, and they will dwell with Jesus as members of God's household in eternity in Heaven.

Acts Background:

Peter and John had healed a lame beggar at the gate of the temple, and the healing had attracted a crowd. So Peter proclaimed the Gospel to them. The Jewish religious authorities were jealous of the apostles' influence with the people, and had them arrested and tried before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious supreme court. The court could find no justification for punishing them, so they ordered them not to preach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John openly refused to obey their command (Acts 4:1-22).

Acts:

When they were released they went to the congregation in Jerusalem and told their fellow believers what the Sanhedrin had commanded. Then the congregation prayed to God, the Sovereign Lord, the Creator of the Universe. The Christians acknowledged that what had taken place was the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Psalm 2:1-2: The Gentiles (heathens) raged and the peoples (nations), believed what is worthless. Kings and rulers of earth were gathered together against God, and his “anointed” (God's chosen and designated eternal Savior and King; Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew). In fact, Herod, a Gentile King and Pontius Pilate, the Gentile Roman ruler, the Gentile nations, and the rulers and people of Israel were united in opposing Jesus Christ, the Messiah. All of them thus fulfilled God's eternal plan prophesied in scripture (the Bible).

Then the congregation prayed that the Lord would remember their enemies' threats and give the Lord's servants boldness to proclaim the Gospel, and to perform signs and miracles through the disciples in the name of Jesus. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

The congregation in Jerusalem entered into a communal lifestyle, and shared everything they had with each other. The apostles proclaimed their (eyewitness) testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and God's grace (favor) was upon all the believers.

1 John:

God loves us so much that he regards us as his children, and has made that possible. The world does not acknowledge us because they don't know God. We are already God's children, but what we will become has not yet been revealed. But we know that when Jesus appears, we will be like him, as he is fully revealed to us.

John:

Jesus declared that he is the good shepherd, who gives his life for his sheep. A hireling doesn't care personally for the sheep because they do not belong to him. When he sees the wolf threaten the herd the hireling flees, allowing the wolf to seize and scatter the flock. Jesus is the good shepherd, who knows his sheep and his sheep know him, just as God the Father knows Jesus, his Son, and Jesus knows God the Father. Jesus is going to lay down his life for his sheep, and his sheep include others (Gentiles; not just Jews), all who heed Jesus' voice. And there will be one flock and one shepherd.

God the Father loves Jesus because Jesus is willing to lay down his life, so that he can take it up again. No one takes Jesus' life from him; he freely surrenders it. God the Father has given Jesus the power to lay his life down, and the power to take it up again.

Commentary:

The meaning and purpose of life in this temporal world is to seek, find, come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator. God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey him. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, 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).

This lifetime is our only opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ, and to learn to trust and obey Jesus. God has intentionally “designed” his one and only eternal Savior and King, Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), into the very structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

We are all born into this Creation physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This life time is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for Creation from the very beginning; first in the beauty and complexity of Creation itself, then in the historical record of his dealing with Israel, from the call of Abraham (Abram; Genesis 12:1-3) in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the fullest revelation of God to the world in human flesh. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God to us individually and personally.

God has been patiently teaching us for thousands of years. God revealed his standard of righteousness to Moses through the Ten Commandments. God taught us that there is no forgiveness of sin except by blood sacrifice. God taught us by the Passover that we can be released from bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world order. Jesus is the ultimate Passover Lamb, sacrificed for us once for all, for the forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal destruction by his blood.

The Last Supper, Jesus' last celebration of the Feast of Passover, is the initiation of the “New Covenant” (Testament) between God and his people (Matthew 26:26-29). Jesus is the “New Moses,” the mediator between God and his people. The “Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; the Eucharist) is the “New Passover” Feast.

God has been teaching us what it means to be his “anointed.” God required Israel to “anoint” with olive oil, the one whom God designated to be their human king. Olive oil was perfumed and used to anoint one's guests.

Jesus is the ultimate host who has prepared a table for us, the “New Passover Feast,” in the midst of the worldly rulers and people who are our spiritual enemies. That table is the “Lord's Supper.” It is a spiritual feast. The material elements are tiny, but the spiritual elements are overflowing.

God's ultimate anointing of us is by the “anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the oil of gladness in the presence of the Lord (Hebrews 1:8-9).

Peter was enthusiastic but weak, before the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit upon him on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). He denied knowing Jesus three times, once to the most menial servant of the high priest, on the night of Jesus' betrayal and arrest (John 18:17-27). But after Pentecost, he preached the Gospel with great boldness (Acts 2:14-41; Acts 3:12-26).

The Bible is the eternal Word of God, and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. God's Word will be fulfilled, whether we trust and obey it or not. The Bible contains both great promises and also ominous warnings. We will either believe and receive the promises it contains, or we will receive the consequences the warnings were intended to help us avoid.

God designed his plan for Creation from the very beginning to allow for sin (disobedience of God's Word). God's will will be done whether we cooperate with it or not. We will either trust and obey God's Word in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life, or we will refuse or fail to trust God's Word and will be condemned to eternal destruction.

The congregation of believers in Jerusalem is what our local congregations can and should be. I have personally been in congregations when the Holy Spirit was so present that the windows seemed to rattle, but I am sad to stay that that experience is much too infrequent.

David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel is intended by God to prefigure Jesus Christ, the son of David, the heir to the throne of David, who is the ultimate good shepherd-king. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Jesus prophesied at least three times recorded in the Gospels, that he would die physically and rise again (Matthew 16:21; 17-22-23; 20:17-19). In this text of John's Gospel, Jesus again declares that he will surrender his physical life and rise again from death to eternal life. (John 10:17-18). Jesus fulfilled that prophecy, and his resurrection was testified to by more than five hundred eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

The test of prophecy is its fulfillment; God's Word is always fulfilled (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

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)?

4 Easter Monday B
First Posted April 4, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Monday B

Psalm 22:24-30

The Lord “has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted” (Psalm 22:24a). He hasn't closed his eyes; he has listened to their cries.

Our praise in the great congregation comes from the Lord. We will pay our vows in the midst of those who fear the Lord. “The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord” (Psalm 22:26). May they live forever!

All the people from the farthest places on earth will turn to the Lord. Every family among all nations will worship him, because the Lord's dominion is over all the earth, and he reigns over all nations.

The proud and mighty of the earth, those who are mortal and cannot keep themselves alive, will be humbled and bow down before the Lord. All future generations will serve him, and fathers will tell their offspring about the Lord. They will tell of the deliverance, which the Lord has wrought, to people yet unborn.

Commentary:

When trouble comes, our friends disappear, as if our trouble were contagious. Worldly people blame poverty on the poor. But not so, with the Lord. The Lord is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is the only one we can truly count on. I have personally experienced and testify to this truth (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right).

God knows our need before we ask. While we were spiritually lost and condemned by sin (disobedience of God's Word), he provided salvation for us through the sacrifice of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross (Romans 3:23). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal condemnation (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

We can't truly praise the Lord in worship until we have personally experienced the deliverance God has wrought for us in Jesus Christ. It is only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can truly call God our spiritual Father (Romans 8:14-15), although in a sense he is the father of us all as our Creator, whether we acknowledge him or not. God's people are those who fear (have the appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) God.

The Lord provides spiritual “bread” to the afflicted, those who know and acknowledge that they spiritually poor and hungry (Matthew 5:3, 6). Those who seek the Lord will praise him, because they will find and come to know him. They will experience for themselves the goodness, love, power and faithfulness of God. They will come to know with certainty for themselves that they are saved by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, and that they will live forever, by the testimony of the Holy Spirit within them (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The Lord's dominion is over the entire Universe (Matthew 28:18). He is above all rulers and authorities of the nations of the earth, but not all have acknowledged him as Lord. There is a day coming when Jesus will return with great glory and power, and in that day, all will acknowledge that he is the sovereign Lord of all the earth (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day the proud and mighty on this earth will be humbled before him. In that day it will be too late to change the eternal destiny of those who rejected Jesus as their Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus.

God has designed this Creation from the very beginning to accomplish his eternal purpose, which is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-17), and to be spiritually “reborn.”

We are all eternal beings in physical bodies (John 5:28-29). We will all die physically. Jesus is the only one who can give us eternal life, and that life is through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:4, 33). This lifetime is our only chance to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8). 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).

On the Day of Judgment Jesus will return, and will separate his “born-again” disciples from the spiritually “unborn.” Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom, but the spiritually “unborn” will enter eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46).

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)?

4 Easter - Tuesday
First Posted April 5, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Tuesday B

Acts 8:26-40

Background:

Philip, one of seven men appointed as Deacons, had gone to Samaria, preaching the Gospel, after persecution of the Christians had arisen in Jerusalem with the stoning to death of Stephen, another Deacon (Acts 8:1b-8).

Paraphrase:

An angel (or Spirit; Acts 12:15; Revelation 1:1) of the Lord told Philip to go on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, which was a lonesome road. Philip got up and went as the Spirit had said. Peter encountered a Ethiopian (Nubian*) eunuch, an administrator in the court of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia (Nubia). The man was in charge of all the queen's treasure, and he was returning from Jerusalem where he had come to worship (he was a Jew or a convert to Judaism). The man was reading from the book of Isaiah aloud, as was the common practice at the time. The Spirit told Philip to join the chariot, so Philip ran and recognized that the man was reading from Isaiah. He asked the man if he understood what he was reading, and the man said that he needed someone to guide him in order to understand. He invited Philip to get into the chariot and sit with him.

The passage the man was reading was Isaiah 53:7b-8a, and he asked Philip who Isaiah was describing, so Philip began with that scripture to tell the man the “good news” (Gospel means “good news”). As they traveled on, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian asked Philip if there was any reason the man could not be baptized there, so they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up from the water, Philip disappeared from the Ethiopian, who continued on his way home, rejoicing. The Spirit of the Lord had caught Philip up and transported him to Azotus (near the Mediterranean coast, west of Bethlehem). From there he went north to Caesarea, proclaiming the Gospel to all the towns on the way.

Commentary:

The word for angel used in Acts 8:26, is the same word used in Acts 12:15, and Revelation 1:1, where the context implies “spirit.” In Acts 8:29, a different word is used which means “spirit.” In the context of this passage the words seem to be used interchangeably.

Philip was not one of the Twelve of Jesus' original disciples, but was a follower of Jesus who was “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) on the Day of Pentecost, the “birthday” of the Church, when the believers were all gathered together (Acts 2:1-13). The Holy Spirit continues to be poured out upon all who truly seek 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).

Jesus had told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). Then they were to proclaim the Gospel beginning from Jerusalem, throughout Judah, outward through Samaria and ultimately to the farthest places on earth (Acts 1:4-5, 8), guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Philip was not one of the Apostles (“messengers;” pastors and preachers). He had been chosen to administrate the daily program of the Church, but he, like Stephen, the first martyr, was also an evangelist (“missionary”). This is the roll of all “born-again” believers, and the mission of the Church is to make “born-again” disciples. The mission of Christ and the Church, to bring forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation from eternal destruction, cannot be carried out except by the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples.

The Church is to carry on the role of John the Baptizer: to call people to repent of sin and to be baptized with water in preparation to receive Jesus Christ through the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 3:3-4; John 1:33). In too many instances the nominal Church today (as distinct from the true Church, which consists of truly “born-again” members and leaders) is failing to make “born-again” disciples and teaching them to trust and obey Jesus' teaching and example (which is the essence of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Some mainline denominations are actually teaching that the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by the Church by “water baptism.” This is not in accordance with the Bible, nor according to my own personal experience. The Apostle John taught that believers who receive (accept) Jesus as Lord are given the power to become God's children (John 1:12-13). We receive the promise, but we must claim it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. By teaching that the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by church ritual, water baptism, they discourage and impede their members from seeking and receiving spiritual “rebirth.” By teaching that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor) alone, without the requirement of discipleship and obedient trust, they discourage obedient trust in Jesus' teaching and example (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

Believers are to stay in the Church (the modern equivalent of “Jerusalem”) until they have been spiritually “reborn” by the indwelling Holy Spirit, before being sent out into the world to proclaim the Gospel Luke 24:29). By failing to make “born-again” disciples these Churches have no “spirit-filled” leaders to lead the Church and no “spirit-filled” members to go into the world. One cannot testify to what one has never personally experienced, nor to lead others to receive what one has not personally received.

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)?

4 Easter - Wednesday
First Posted April 6, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Wednesday B

1 John 3:18-24 – Christian Assurance

John urges believers to love one another, not just professing to do so, but truly, expressed in our actions. By living according to the commandment of love (John 13:34; Matthew 22:36-40), we can know that we are living according to truth, and we can be assured when we are discouraged or depressed. God knows our innermost thoughts and motivations and he can help us overcome our human weakness. So we have assurance and confidence in God's presence, and receive what we ask from him, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. The commandment he has given us is to believe in the name of Jesus Christ, God's Son, and to love one another, as Jesus has said. The Lord abides in every one who keeps his commandment and they abide in him. And the Holy Spirit which he has given us is the assurance that he abides in us.

Commentary:

It is easy to say that we love others, but it is more difficult to act accordingly. Love is expressed by deeds. We must be doers of God' Word, and not merely “hearers” only (James 1:22).

The New Covenant of grace (unmerited favor) which Jesus initiated on the night of his betrayal at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28), makes it possible for us to serve and please God, not by fear of punishment under the Old Covenant of Law, but by our love for God, for the love he has shown us in Jesus' sacrificial death for us on the cross. Jesus' sacrifice made it possible for us to receive forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word), salvation from eternal condemnation, and eternal life as a free gift, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus taught his disciples that if they truly love Jesus they will keep his commandments (John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24). Those who live according to the law of love, through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-9), are freed from the law of sin and eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23). Those who obey Jesus' teaching and example abide in him and he in them through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The commandment that Jesus has given us is to trust in the name (the whole person and character) of Jesus Christ, and to love one another. If we love and trust Jesus we will obey what he teaches.

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). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the love of God and the joy of his presence within us. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (1 John 3:24b; compare 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one can come to God except through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to find and know God, he is the only way to know divine, eternal truth (1 Corinthians 1:17-31), and the only way to have eternal life.

Jesus is divine eternal truth, and we must live according to divine eternal truth in order to abide in him and he in us. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we are comforted and reassured in times of trial. Through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to overcome our human weakness. We have access to God's presence and the assurance that he hears and answers our prayers. God wants to hear and answer our prayers when we earnestly seek, know, and obey his Word (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right).

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)?

4 Easter – Thursday B
First Posted April 7, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Thursday B

John 15:1-8 – The True Vine

Jesus declared that he is the true vine, and God the Father is the vinedresser. God removes unfruitful branches, and he prunes the branches that bear fruit so that they will be more productive. Jesus' disciples have been purified by the word Jesus has spoken (the Gospel). But they must abide in Jesus and Jesus in them (by the indwelling Holy Spirit) in order to bear fruit. A branch must be connected to the vine in order to bear fruit, and so it is with the disciples of Jesus. Those who abide in Jesus and have Jesus abiding in them will bear much fruit. Apart from Jesus they cannot accomplish anything. Anyone who does not abide in Jesus is cut off and withers. And the cut-off branches are gathered together and thrown into the fire and burned. “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7; see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right). God the Father is glorified through those who prove to be Jesus' disciples by producing much fruit.

Commentary:

Israel was called to be the spiritual vineyard and branch of God's vine (Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 19:10). Jesus is the true vine of God's vineyard, which God promised to plant in his vineyard (Genesis 49:10-11; Shiloh is Messiah; compare John 12:12-16). Israel was cut off because they did not abide in Jesus and allow Jesus to abide in them.

Jesus abides in his disciples and his disciples in Jesus by the indwelling Holy Spirit. 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). 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).

Jesus warns us that we cannot accomplish the mission of Christ without the indwelling Holy Spirit. He told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). The Church is the New Jerusalem and the New Israel.

Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) within them. We must accept the guidance and discipline of the Lord in order to accomplish his will and produce the fruit of his kingdom.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the “good news” that we can be forgiven our sin (disobedience of God's Word) and saved from eternal condemnation by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus is the only blood sacrifice, offered on the cross, which is acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 4:12). Jesus' blood, shed for us on the cross cleanses all who are willing to accept him as Lord and Savior. Only by being spiritually cleansed by Jesus' blood, are we individually able to be temples of the presence of God within us by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19).

At the time of Jesus' physical coming and ministry, Judaism was being administered, not as a stewardship from God on behalf of God's people, but as the leaders' personal “empire” to be administered and exploited for their personal benefit (Matthew 23:3-10). Parts of the nominal Church are in the same circumstance today. Christian ministry is seen as a “career choice” where the minister has social status, power, and influence over people. They are trained theologians who know a lot about God, but don't know God personally. Instead of making disciples the nominal Church makes members and supporters of the pastor.

Parts of the nominal Church not only don't make “born-again” disciples, but actually prevent spiritual rebirth among their members by telling them the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by some church rite, such as water baptism. Some are teaching salvation by grace (a free gift; unmerited favor; which is true) without the requirement of discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus Christ (false; see False Teachings: “Cheap Grace,” sidebar top right). It is time for judgment to begin with the Church (1 Peter 4:17).

It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples. In too many instances in the nominal Church, the leaders are unregenerate (not “born-again”), so their members and their candidates for leadership are unregenerate too. Unregenerate members are sent into the world as evangelists without the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. One cannot testify to what one has not personally experienced. What passes for evangelism is members inviting their neighbors to attend church, for great music, for programs catering to secular interests, and entertaining preaching.

The place for reform to begin is with us, individually, making a commitment to be disciples of Jesus Christ, and to seek spiritual “rebirth.” We must read the Bible completely for ourselves, and then read it daily, with prayer and meditation, seeking to know and do God's will daily, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). The Bible can easily be read in one year, and there are numerous 1-year Bible reading plans (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right).

Israel has been cut off as a branch, by their refusal to accept Jesus as their Messiah, but I don't believe that they are irrevocably lost (Romans 11:1-32). They can be grafted into the vine again, but that vine is Jesus Christ, and no one comes to God except through Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus warned that they will not be saved until they receive Jesus as Lord and Savior (Matthew 23:37-39)

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)?

4 Easter - Friday
First Posted April 8, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Friday B

Isaiah 55:6-11 – Seek the Lord
James 1:22-27 Doers of the Word

Isaiah:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Let the wicked stop doing wickedness, and the unrighteous stop their unrighteous thinking. Let them return to the Lord so that they may receive abundant mercy and pardon.

The Lord's thoughts and ways are not like ours. His ways and thoughts are as much higher than ours as the heavens are high above earth.

Rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, and causing it to bring forth seed for sowing and bread for eating. Likewise God's Word will not go forth from his mouth and return without accomplishing his purpose, but will succeed in the purpose for which God sent it.

James:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). One who hears without doing is like a person who looks in a mirror; he observes his face, but as soon as he turns away he forgets what he looks like. But one who looks into perfect law of liberty, and applies it in his life daily will be blessed.

Religion is in vain for anyone who does not control his tongue, and he is only deceiving himself. Religion which is applied by caring for widows and orphans, and keeping oneself unstained by sin (disobedience of God's Word), is pure and unstained in God's judgment.

Commentary:

The meaning and purpose of life is to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to be forgiven of our sin, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life. No one can come to God except through Jesus (John 14:6).

Those who trust and obey Jesus will be spiritually “reborn” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift (“baptism”) of the Holy Spirit 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 only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have daily fellowship with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21, 23).

God's thoughts and ways are revealed to us in his Word, the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” God's Word fulfilled, embodied, and demonstrated in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).

The normal worldly person is only concerned with accomplishing his own desires now in this present world. People spend a lot of time trying to keep their physical bodies young and healthy. No matter how they try, they will ultimately die physically. Most give no thought to their eternal spiritual being.

God's intention for this Creation is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God, and be spiritually reborn, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God wants us to seek him, and he promises to be found by us if we earnestly seek him, with the intention of trusting and obeying him (Deuteronomy 4:29).

It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can understand God's Word (Luke 24:45) and know God's will for us personally and individually. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are equipped and empowered to fulfill his purpose for us.

God's Word has creative power. God spoke this Creation into existence (Genesis 1:3). Jesus was designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41).

God's Word contains both awesome promises and ominous warnings. God's Word is always fulfilled; fulfillment is the defining characteristic of God's Word (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word will accomplish God's will, whether we obey it or not, but the choice of whether to obey or not will have eternal consequences for us personally and individually.

It isn't enough to know God's Word; we must trust and obey it daily. Satan knows God's Word and tried to tempt Jesus, the fullness of God in human flesh and the embodiment of God's Word, with the Word of God, and Jesus used the Word of God to defeat Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).

Christians need to read the entire Bible, and we need to read a portion daily, with prayer and meditation, with the purpose of knowing God's will for us personally and daily, with the commitment to living each day according to God's Word (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right).

Christianity is not a “religion;” it is “discipleship” (Acts 11:26c), with Jesus as our teacher and master. Religion is man's attempt to manipulate God to do man's will. Christianity is our attempt to know and live according to God's will. But nominal Christians regard it as a “religion” instead of discipleship. Church membership and attendance is in vain for those who do not trust and obey God's Word by daily application (Matthew 7:21-27). Saving faith is not in calling ourselves Christians and calling Jesus our Lord (Luke 6:46). Salvation is not by church ritual, such as baptism.

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)?

4 Easter - Saturday
First Posted April 9, 2009
Podcast: 4 Easter Saturday B

Mark15:21-39 -- Jesus' Crucifixion

Jesus was on his way to his crucifixion. They made a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus,who was returning to Jerusalem, to carry Jesus Cross. They took Jesus to Golgotha meaning “place of the skull.” They offered Jesus a sedative, wine with myrrh added, but Jesus declined. There they crucified Jesus, and then divided his garments among them by casting lots (like throwing dice). It was the third hour (9:00 AM), when they crucified Jesus. They placed a sign on the cross, citing the charge for which Jesus was crucified, “The King of the Jews.”

On either side of Jesus, they crucified two criminals. Passers-by ridiculed and taunted Jesus, saying that he had claimed he could destroy the temple and raise it in three days (Mark 13:2; 14:58; John 2:19). The priests also mocked Jesus saying that they would believe in him if Jesus could come down from the cross and save himself as he had saved others. At least one of the criminals crucified with Jesus also reviled him.

At noon there was a solar eclipse which lasted until 3:00 PM; the entire land was darkened. At the 6:00 PM Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani? Translated this means, “My God, my, God, why hast thou forsaken me (Mark 15:34; compare Psalm 22:1). Some of the spectators thought he was calling Elijah, and gave Jesus a drink of soured wine in a sponge on a stick, to prolong him until they could see if Elijah would come. Jesus made a loud cry and died. “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). A Centurion (a Roman soldier) standing by and witnessing Jesus' death, declared that surely Jesus was the Son of God.

Commentary:

Simon of Cyrene was probably well-known by the Christians in Jerusalem. He may have been one of the men who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Greeks in Cyprus and Cyrene (Acts 11:20). He was conscripted to carry Jesus' cross. Jesus had not slept on the night of his arrest, and had been beaten and abused, and was physically unable to carry it himself.

Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies of God's suffering servant. Jesus' clothing was divided among the Roman soldiers by lot, fulfilling Psalm22:18. The passers-by and the priests fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 22:7-8). Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1 in Mark 15:34. Psalm 22, attributed to David, the great shepherd-king of Israel, who reigned from around 1000 to 961 B.,C., is a description of crucifixion, a form of execution not practiced in Israel until Jerusalem was captured by Antiochus Epiphanes in 164 B.C. The common Jewish means of execution was by stoning.

The Jewish religious leaders continued to demand a sign (“proof;” a miracle) that Jesus was the Christ (Matthew 12:38-39; 16:1-4; John 6:30). Jesus had performed miracles in their presence, even in the temple, but they refused to see the signs.

Jesus told them that the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:38-39). As Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days, so would the Son of man (Jesus) be three days in the tomb (and then would be resurrected, as Jonah was returned from the whale's belly).

The ultimate sign was not Jesus coming down from the cross; it was jesus' resurrection from the grave. If Jesus had come down from the cross they wouldn't have believed, and they didn't believe that Jesus arose from the dead (Matthew 28:11-15). They had posted a guard to insure that Jesus' body was taken from the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).

Jesus' kingship was not of this world, as Jesus had told Pilate at Jesus' trial (John 18:36). Jesus had made no overt claim to be King of the Jews. It was the Jewish religious leaders who made that claim (John 18:37) in hope that the Roman governors would find justification for Jesus' execution. Jesus did not deny his kingship.

The Jews falsely accused Jesus of saying that he would destroy the temple and raise it again in three days (Mark 14:58; John 2:19-21). By crucifying their Messiah (Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word, “Messiah,” meaning God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King), the Jewish religious leaders precipitated the destruction of the temple, only completed in 65 A.D., by the Romans in 70 A.D. The temple that Jesus was referring to was the temple of his body (John 2:21). But the actual temple building was also destroyed in the fulfillment of this prophecy (Mark 13:2).

The destruction of the temple demonstrated that Judaism and the Old Covenant of Law had ended at the cross of Jesus Christ. At Jesus' crucifixion, the veil of the temple which separated the congregation from the holy-of-holies of God's presence was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38), symbolizing that Jesus had opened a new and better way into God's presence, through the New Covenant (Testament) of Grace, which he established on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Mark 14:22-24; RSV: see note “g;” Hebrews 8:13; 12:24; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

By-standers heard Jesus quoting Psalm 22:1 (Mark 15:34), but thought he was calling Elijah. They attempted to prolong Jesus' life (and suffering), but Jesus gave up his life. A Gentile Roman soldier who witnessed the death of Jesus was convinced that Jesus was the Son of God, but the Jews were spiritually blind and couldn't see for themselves.

Humans did not take Jesus' life from him; he surrendered it himself, according to God's timing (John 2:4; 10:17-18; 12:23). The Jewish authorities were unable to arrest Jesus until it was God's timing (Mark 14:49). Jesus was the fulfillment of God's plan from the very beginning of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14).

For those who need to see “proof” in order to believe, there is none; but for those who believe, there is abundant “proof” (John 6:68-69). The Lord doesn't force anyone to believe in him. The meaning and purpose of life is to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27). If we earnestly seek God he will allow himself to be found by us (Deuteronomy 4:29), but this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives (“baptizes” with; “anoints” with) the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only 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).

The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event; anyone who isn't sure, hasn't been (Acts 19:2)! Nominal “Churches” teach that one automatically receives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit by some Church rite, such as baptism. This not only doesn't help their members but actually prevents them from seeking spiritual “rebirth.” Faith in Jesus gives us the “power” the “authority” to seek “rebirth” (John 1:12-13), but we must claim that promise by faith (obedient trust; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

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)?