Week of 21 Pentecost C
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://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).
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:
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Podcast Download: Week of 21 Pentecost C
Sunday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 17, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 21 Pentecost C
Ruth 1:1-19a - Ruth's Courageous Decision;
Psalm 111 – The Lord's Great Deeds;
2 Timothy 2:8-13 - Exhortation to Endurance;
Luke 17:11-19 – Ten Lepers;
Ruth Background:
The story is set in the time of the judges (before the United Monarchy; before 1020 B.C.¹), but was probably written after the Exile (after 721 B.C.¹). Ruth became the great-grandmother of David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel (Ruth 4:13-22).
Ruth Paraphrase:
There was a famine in Israel, and a man named Elimilech, of Bethlehem (the birthplace of King David, and later, Jesus) in Judah, went to Moab (the Land directly east of the Dead Sea) to sojourn (live temporarily, until the famine abated) with his wife, Naomi, and two sons Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites (Ephratah was the ancient name for Bethlehem). Naomi's husband, Elimiech, died. Her sons, Mahlon and Chilion, took Moabite wives, named Orpah and Ruth. After ten years in Moab both sons died, and Naomi was left with only her two daughters-in-law.
She started to return to Bethlehem in Judah, because she had heard that the Lord had provided food for his people. They started on the way, but Naomi suggested that her daughters-in-law return to their families in Moab. Naomi prayed that the Lord would deal kindly with them as they had dealt kindly with Naomi's husband and sons. She also prayed that Orpah and Ruth would each find homes and husbands of their own. Then Naomi kissed them, and they wept loudly.
Orpah and Ruth said they wanted to go to Bethlehem with Naomi, but Naomi said that there was no hope that she would have further sons for them to marry. Would they remain widows? Naomi was sad that the Lord's will seemed to be against her. They wept loudly again, and then Orpah returned to her family in Moab, but Ruth clung to Naomi.
Naomi again urged Ruth to return to her family, but Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17). Naomi saw that Ruth was determined, and said no more. So the two went on to Bethlehem.
Psalm 111 Paraphrase:
Give the Lord praise (Hallelujah)! In the congregation of God's people, with my whole heart, I will give him thanks.
The works of the Lord are great! All who delight in them will study them. His work is full of majesty and honor, and his righteousness never ends. The Lord is gracious and merciful, and has caused his wonderful works to be remembered.
For his people who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) the Lord, he provides food; he never forgets his covenant. In giving them the heritage of the nations, he has revealed the power of his works to his people.
He is faithful and just in all his works. Trustworthy and eternal are all his precepts (laws; commandments) to be performed faithfully by the upright.
The Lord has sent redemption to his people. His covenant with them is eternal. His name (his whole person and character) is holy (free of unrighteousness) and terrible (awesome).
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures forever” (Psalm 111:10).
2 Timothy Paraphrase:
Paul urged his hearers to remember the example of Jesus Christ, the descendant of King David, and who has risen from the dead, as the Gospel message was preached by Paul. Paul was then in prison in bonds for preaching that Gospel. But the Gospel cannot be restricted by bonds. Paul was willing to endure persecution, imprisonment and every hardship for the sake of the elect (those chosen for salvation; not yet having received the award), so that they can receive the salvation through Jesus Christ which comes with eternal glory.
Paul quotes what may be an early Christian hymn, to the effect that those who “crucify” their own wills to do the Lord's will will also be raised to eternal life as Jesus was. Those who persevere in this world will share in Jesus' reign in Heaven, but he will deny those who have denied him. He remains faithful even if we are faithless, because faithfulness is his character and nature.
Luke Paraphrase:
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem with his disciples. Passing from Galilee (Northernmost Roman Province of Israel) into a village of Samaria² (the central Roman Province of Israel), where he was accosted by ten lepers from a distance, since lepers were not allowed to mingle with healthy people. They asked Jesus to have mercy on them, and Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests. (Priests had to certify them leprosy-free before they could rejoin the community and congregation.) “And as they went they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14b). One of them, a Samaritan, when he saw that he had been cleansed, returned to Jesus praising God and giving thanks to Jesus as he knelt at Jesus' feet.
Commentary:
Ruth is an example of faithful love. She gave up her seemingly best interest (by leaving her homeland and family) to go with Naomi to a “foreign land,” accept the Israelites as her “family,”and to accept the God of Israel as her God. She was willing to give up the prospect of remarriage.
God did deal kindly with Ruth, as Naomi had prayed (Ruth 1:8b-9). Ruth remarried Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi and Mahlon (Ruth's first husband), and wealthy Bethlehemite (Ephrathite; Ephratah was the ancient name for Bethlehem). And Ruth became the great-grandmother of David, the great human shepherd-king who prefigured, and was the ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:17), the Christ [Messiah; both words mean (God's) “anointed” (eternal savior and king; Matthew 1:5-6a)].
It is not just the Jews who God loves faithfully, but all people who accept him as Lord (Isaiah 49:6, 22). All who trust and obey his Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified, in this world, in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14), are acceptable to the Lord. Those who don't fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) the Lord, haven't yet learned anything eternally important and useful.
Paul asks his hearers to remember the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave up his own will to do God's will (Matthew 26:42b; “cup” means his “destiny” to be crucified). We must figuratively “die” to our own wills, in order to do the Lord's will, but, like Ruth, we will be blessed beyond our own expectations in so doing.
Jesus did miracles of healing, feeding, and resurrection to demonstrate that he has the power to heal, feed, and resurrect spiritually. Many people were coming to Jesus for only the physical healing, feeding and resurrection only Jesus can provide.
The ten lepers asked Jesus for physical healing for their leprosy. In faith in Jesus' word, they did as he commanded and were healed as they did so. But only one, a Samaritan, regarded by Jews as racially and religiously impure,³ recognized Jesus as the Messiah, returned to Jesus giving thanks to him and praising God. The others got physical healing but missed the spiritual healing they could only received from Jesus. Only the healed Samaritan leper also got spiritual healing (Luke 17:18-19).
Many people today are seeking miracles of physical healing in themselves or others, and are attracted to “healing services” in the “nominal” Church. Physical healing only lasts until the next physical ailment. What is more important and eternally necessary is spiritual healing.
One can come to Jesus personally and directly in faith, and ask for and receive spiritual healing and eternal life (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home). All one needs to do, in faith (commitment to ongoing obedient trust in his teachings; lovingly faithfulness), is invite Jesus to come in to their lives and heal them spiritually (Revelation 3:20).
Only Jesus gives the “baptism” (gift; anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is spiritual “rebirth” to eternal life (John 3:3, 5-8). 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 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 one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).
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, Chronological Table of Rulers, p1532, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
² Samaria was the former capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
³ The Samaritans were the old, sick, and disabled remnant of the Northern Kingdom who were allowed to remain in the land and intermingled racially and religiously with aliens brought in to pacify the land. The rest of the ten northern tribes of Israel were deported by the Assyrians, in 721 B.C., to other conquered lands, and ceased to exist.
Monday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 18, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 21 Pentecost C
Psalm 121 – The True Source of Help;
Background:
Psalms of Ascent may have been pilgrim songs sung on the way up to Jerusalem. The temple was built on the temple mount surrounded on three sides by deep valleys.
Hills were high places where Baals, local fertility idols, were worshiped.
Psalm Paraphrase:
The psalmist asks rhetorically where our help comes from: from the hills (idol worship)? No! Our help comes from the Lord, the creator of the universe.
The Lord will not let us stumble or be shaken. Our Lord won't be sleeping when we need his help.
The Lord provides shade so that the sun will not afflict us by day, or the moon by night.
The Lord will protect us from evil and preserve our lives. The Lord will keep us safe on our journeys and bring us home safely for evermore.
Commentary:
In one sense, the Lord is enthroned in his temple in heaven. Our prayers ascend to him. Our life is a pilgrimage toward his temple in the eternal city in heaven.
On our pilgrimage to the eternal “Promised Land,” we must realize that the only true source of help is from the Lord. We must not turn aside from our journey to seek help from the false “gods” of this world. How can the high places of this earth compare to the heights of heaven?
The “gods” of this world seem to offer help, but fail to deliver. When we need help they seem to be sleeping. When we call to them they do not answer.
The Lord God is the only true God. Idolatry is man's attempt to create his own “gods” who will do his own will. Only the Lord God can protect us from evil and preserve our lives for eternity
Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word), the only way to restoration to fellowship which was broken by sin, the only way to know divine, eternal truth (Luke 24:45), and the only way to have true, eternal, life (John 14:6).
By the “baptism” (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), Jesus' disciples are spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9) dwells within born-again Christians, goes with us wherever we go, and brings us safely to our eternal home in heaven with the Lord. The “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2). 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).
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)?
Tuesday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 19. 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday - 21 Pentecost C
Genesis 32:22-30 – Jacob' Flight from Laban;
Background:
Laban was Abraham's brother's son, living in Haran in Mesopotamia. Jacob went to Laban to find a wife from his grandfather's people.
Laban agreed to give his daughter Rachel to Jacob in return for seven year of labor. But Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Rachel's sister, Leah, instead. So Jacob had to work another seven years for Rachel.
Rachael and Leah agreed to return to Jacob's family in Canaan (the Promised Land) with Jacob and the animals which were Jacob's wages. When Laban found out, he pursued them and caught up with them in the hill country of Gilead (east of the Jordan River between Bashan and Moab). The Lord had warned Laban not to say anything either good or evil to Jacob.
Laban accused Jacob of sneaking off with Laban's daughters and grandsons, without allowing Laban to kiss them goodbye or give them a farewell party. And Rachel had stolen Laban's household gods.
Genesis Paraphrase:
On the third day of Jacob's departure, Laban was told, and Laban pursued Jacob's caravan for seven days. God warned Laban not to say anything good or bad to Jacob.
Laban caught up with Jacob in the hill country of Gilead, and pitched his tent near Jacob's. Laban accused Jacob of cheating him, kidnapping his daughters and grandchildren, and depriving Laban of the opportunity to provide a farewell party and the opportunity to kiss his daughters and grandsons goodbye. Laban accused Jacob of stealing Laban's household gods.
Commentary:
The daughters and grandchildren were legally part of Laban's household. Rachel stole her father's household gods because they were the symbols of a man's leadership of his family and proved his legal possession of the property.
Laban accused Jacob of cheating him and fleeing from Laban secretly, whereas it was Laban who had cheated Jacob numerous times, and had refused to allow Jacob and his family to leave.
It wasn't Laban's household idols who prevented Jacob's flight or preserved Laban's household and property. It was the Lord God who had prospered Jacob in earning his wages through livestock breeding, who encouraged Jacob to leave, and who prevented Laban from prevented their leaving and reclaiming his daughters and grandchildren, and the livestock which Jacob had earned.
In our societies today, people try to use modern idols, like wealth and power, to uphold their legal claims to their household and possessions, but the only true security is in the Lord. The Lord can hinder our adversaries from accomplishing their intentions, and help us receive justice, through obedience to his Word. Idols can be carried off and manipulated to accomplish our own agendas, but God cannot. God's justice is impartial and cannot be manipulated. He cannot be possessed; we must allow him to possess us.
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)?
Wednesday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 20, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 21 Pentecost C
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 – The Word of God;
Paraphrase:
Paul urged Timothy (and all Christian disciples) to continue in the Gospel which they have learned and firmly believed, remembering from whom they have learned it. Timothy, and many Christians) were acquainted with the Bible scriptures, from their youth, which are able to instruct us for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Paul charged Timothy and all Christian disciples, by the presence of God and of Jesus Christ, who has been appointed to judge the living and the dead (in both physical and spiritual senses), by his incarnation (coming in human flesh), and the revealing of his kingdom, to preach the Word urgently, whether popular or not. We are to convince, rebuke and exhort, with unfailing patience and teaching. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having 'itching ears' they will accumulate for themselves to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). As for us, we are to be unwavering in faith, patiently enduring suffering, fulfilling our ministry of evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20).
Commentary:
Paul's discipling of Timothy is the example of the fulfillment of the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), to be carried out after they had been “baptized” by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, &8), which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Paul was intended by God to be the prototype and example of a modern, post-resurrection, “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) as we all can be.
After his conversion, most of the rest of the New Testament (Covenant) is by or about Paul, so, in a sense, we have learned the Gospel from or through Paul. The Old Testament is full of illustrations and promises of the Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively) to come. The Old Testament is not rendered irrelevant by the New Testament, but must be read from the New Testament perspective. Christian disciples must read entirely, and portions daily, of the Bible in order to for Christians to be effective in the ministry of evangelism, which is every believer's calling.
Jesus is the example of God's Word, lived in human flesh, without sinning (Hebrews 4:15), so Jesus has been appointed by God as the standard of judgment and judge of the living (“quickened”) and dead (Acts10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5) in both the physical and spiritual senses.
Everyone who has ever lived in this creation will be judged by the same standard. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, and have believed in (trusted and obeyed) Jesus will have been born-again by the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this lifetime, and will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and has refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Born-again disciples of Jesus Christ are to proclaim the Gospel, whether people want to hear it or not. We must be willing to endure persecution, because many people hate the Gospel and Jesus Christ.
The time has long since come when people don't want to hear sound doctrine, but choose preachers who will tell them what they want to hear. People don't want to hear about sin, eternal condemnation and hell. They want preachers to tell them they're good people and that they're going to a “better place” when they die. They want salvation by grace (as a free gift) without the requirement of obedience and discipleship (see “Cheap Grace,” False Teachings, sidebar, right, home).
The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily event (Acts 19:2). It is impossible to be born-again without being aware and certain of spiritual rebirth through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 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 isn't true that we can't know our eternal destiny until we die. The only ones who don't know where they will spend eternity are the spiritually “lost” and eternally perishing.
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)?
Thursday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 21, 2010
Podcast: Thursday 21 Pentecost C
Luke 18:1-8a – The Unjust Judge;
Paraphrase:
Jesus told his disciples a parable (a story of common earthly experience to teach spiritual truth) to teach them to keep praying without becoming discouraged. There was a judge who didn't fear God or respect people. There was a widow who kept coming to him for justice against an adversary. For a while the judge refused, but he realized that if he continued to refuse, the widow would keep coming, annoying and wearing out the judge. If the unrighteous judge grants the widow her petition simply for his own selfish reason, won't God be even more willing to vindicate his people who cry out to him in prayer day and night? Yes! And he will vindicate them promptly!
Commentary:
For many people, the only reality they know is physical. What is spiritual seems unreal, because they can't see or touch it. Paul says that the “natural” person (one who is living in the flesh and not in the spirit -not “born again” by the indwelling Holy Spirit-) cannot understand spiritual things because they are only spiritually discerned (by the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit; 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, 16).
Jesus taught in parables for several reasons. One was to convey spiritual truth in analogies to physical realities which “natural” people could understand. The other reason was to present the Gospel in a way that people were free to understand or not.
The purpose of this present Creation is to allow people to choose for themselves, whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, and to learn by trial-and-error that God's will is our best interest. Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1: 9). He was careful not to tell people what to believe, and instructed his disciples to do likewise (Matthew 16:20).
Each person must decide for himself who Jesus is. Furthermore, Jesus knew that without making it a command that one must obey, simply telling unbelievers who he was, would not change their unbelief. The Jewish religious authorities had the Scriptures (the Bible) and saw the fulfillment of them in Jesus in the works he was doing before their very eyes, and yet refused to accept him as the Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively).
The difference between “religion” and Christian faith is that religion is man's attempt to manipulate God's favor to do our will, while Christian faith is our attempt to know and do God's will. God alone is the just and righteous judge. But we cannot expect to influence his judgment on unrighteous, unjust petitions. There are conditions to be met, in order to receive favorable answers to our prayers (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home).
We must be persistent in prayer, and willing to wait for an answer. Some people pray about an issue and then go ahead and do what they want, believing that they have God's approval. God is not going to reveal his will to people who are not really trying to know and do it.
In our culture, we're used to getting immediate answers. We can pick up the phone or go on the Internet and get immediate (but not necessarily the right) answers. The Lord could answer immediately, and does, when the need is immediate. But often he delays in answering to test our commitment to obedient trust in his Word.
God's answer is not always “yes;” not necessarily what we want to hear. His answer can be “no” or “wait.” When he asks us to wait, we may finally be granted our petition as we continue to pray; or continued prayer may change our own minds and our petitions to be more in harmony with God's will.
We can be assured that God's answers to our prayers are not for his own selfish interests, because he alone is completely righteous and just. His answers are in our own very best interest and timing, even though we may not think so at the time. Often it is our petitions that are unrighteous and unjust.
Often the delay in the Lord's answer is our fault; we haven't put in the adequate preparation to receive the answer we want. We can be certain that God's answers will come in just the right time. For example, I was seeking an opportunity for evangelistic ministry for a number of years. When the opportunity for an Internet ministry arose, I was just then (barely) able to accomplish it. I had just then reached the level of spiritual maturity required, and had been given the lectionary (schedule of Bible readings) and idea. When I prayed about it, the Lord gave immediate approval, helped me find Internet hosts, and helped me set it up. After all, he had given me the idea and resources.
As we persist in prayer, we will grow spiritually. We will learn what God's will for us is, and will grow spiritually to the level necessary to receive the resources and ability to accomplish his will.
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)?
Friday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 22, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 21 Pentecost C
Ephesians 6:10-17 – Whole Armor of God;
Paraphrase:
We should be strengthened by the Lord's might, so that we can stay strong. We must be clad in the whole armor of God, so that we can withstand the strategy of deception of Satan. This is a spiritual battle against supernatural beings with powers of evil and wickedness. So we must have the whole armor of God in order to withstand the powers of evil and survive. The whole armor consists of the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our shoes are the equipment of the gospel of peace. Most importantly, we need the shield of faith to protect us from the flaming arrows of Satan. Our helmet is salvation, and our sword is the Word of God (the Bible, and Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14).
Commentary:
In this world we are engaged in a spiritual battle against the forces of evil. The present world ruler is Satan. He is in power because we have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10).
God foresaw that, given the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's will or our own, we would choose our own. He built a savior into Creation from the very beginning: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our forgiveness for our sin and salvation from eternal destruction which is the penalty for unforgiven sin (Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8; John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, home).
Jesus is the only way to be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, the only way to know divine, eternal, truth, and the only way to have true, eternal, life in paradise restored in Heaven, instead of eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (John 14:6). Jesus is truth, and we can only come to him in truth (John 4:23-24). Righteousness is doing what is right, good and true in accordance with God's Word (in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (see above). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of truth; the gospel of peace with God, which was broken by sin. The “baptism” (anointing; infilling) of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-17).
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and become his disciples, we can expect opposition and attack from the demonic forces of this present world order. Jesus was opposed and crucified by the leaders of the world in his days of physical manifestation, and we cannot expect the world to treat us any better. It's easy to be Jesus' disciples until we face trials and persecution by the forces of evil. To survive we're going to need the shield of faith.
It is not a question of how much faith; it is sufficient to have any sincere faith at all, even as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). Sufficient faith is simply our “yes” to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we walk in faith (obedient trust) in God's Word, the Lord will cause our faith to grow to maturity as we personally experience his power and faithfulness.
Motorcycle riders who don't wear helmets are called “organ donors.” Our helmet is salvation, which we have through faith in Jesus Christ. His death on the cross is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sin.
The “baptism” (infilling; anointing; gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit is our seal and guarantee that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). Our salvation cannot be taken from us (John 10:28; Romans 8:35-39).
Disciples of Jesus are to stay within “Jerusalem” (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they have been empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit before going into the world (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Only then are we to take the “sword” of the the Word of God into the world, relying on it to defend ourselves and to gain the release of the captives of evil forces.
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)?
Saturday 21 Pentecost C
First Posted October 23, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 21 Pentecost C
John 4:46-54 – Jesus Heals the Sick;
Background:
Returning from celebrating Passover at Jerusalem in Judea (John 2:13, 23), through Samaria (John 4:1-4), Jesus came to Cana in Galilee.
John Paraphrase:
At Cana, where he had changed water into wine (John 2:1-11), an official (a Gentile -non-Jew- military officer), when he heard that Jesus was there, came to Jesus from Capernaum. The official's son was ill and at the point of death, and he begged Jesus to come to the official's home and heal his son. Jesus told the official that “you” (plural; all those whose faith is only based on miraculous “proof”) would need to see miracles in order to believe. The official simply implored Jesus to come and heal his son before the boy died. Jesus told him to go his way; the official's son would live.
The official believed Jesus' word, and went on with his business (he did not immediately return to his home to check on his son). As the officer returned home the next day his servants met him and told him that his son had been healed. The officer asked at what time the son had begun to be healed and they told him that it was the previous day at the seventh hour, which the officer knew was the time that Jesus had pronounced the son's healing. The official and all his household believed in Jesus. This was the second miracle Jesus had done when he returned from Judea to Galilee (the first: changing water to wine at the wedding at Cana; see above).
Commentary:
The official's only true hope for his son was Jesus. He believed that Jesus could come to his home and heal his son. When Jesus told the officer to go about his business, the officer believed Jesus and did as Jesus had said. The officer didn't rush home to see if the son had been healed.
For people who need to see “proof” (signs; miracles) in order to believe, there is none; but for those who believe without proof, there will be plenty. The official believed without “evidence” and as a result he and his entire household had plenty of evidence to increase and strengthen their faith.
Saving faith is obedient trust in Jesus Christ, the one who, alone, is trustworthy, has the power to answer our prayers, and is worthy of our obedience. There are conditions for answered prayer (which see, sidebar, top right, home). The officer personally came to Jesus in faith (obedient trust).
It is God's will to heal us (not necessarily physically, but spiritually) when we come to Jesus in faith. Why didn't Jesus just pronounce healing and restoration of life to everyone, physically? Jesus' miracles of healing and restoring life physically were intended to be “signs” that he can also heal and give life to us spiritually, and the miracles of physical and spiritual healing and life must be received by faith (obedient trust). Those who need “signs” (proof) in order to believe get none.
Spiritual healing, feeding and new life through “rebirth” by the “baptism” 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), are spiritually discerned. Spiritual healing, feeding and rebirth are visible in changed lives now, in this world, but cannot be discerned by non-spiritual people (1 Corinthians 2:13-14). The Jewish religious leaders saw plenty of “signs” that Jesus was the expected Messiah (Christ; Hebrew and Greek respectively, meaning “anointed”), and yet rejected him (Luke 22:67-68; John 12:37-40). Jesus' physical miracles leave us free to understand and receive spiritual miracles or not.
Faith is not like “wishing on a star;” we won't get whatever we believe if we believe “hard enough.” It is not enough to simply “believe” if we don't act in obedience to Jesus, trusting in his Word.
Elsewhere (Mark 7:35-36), Jesus healed a deaf and mute person and commanded him not to tell anyone, but the healed deaf-mute didn't obey Jesus' command. Mobs of people were coming to Jesus only for what he could do for them physically. Jesus commanded the healed man (and those who had brought him to Jesus) not to tell anyone about his physical healing, because Jesus didn't need more crowds seeking only physical healing (John 6:25-35).
People who come to Jesus only for what he can do for them physically and don't obey his command, receive nothing, or only the physical healing or food they sought, but miss the spiritual healing, feeding, and restoration of true, eternal life, which only Jesus can provide, and which we need much more than physical results.
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)?
