Week of 8 Epiphany A (variable)
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:
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Podcast Download: Week of 8 Epiphany A
Sunday 8 Epiphany A
First Posted 2/27/2011
Podcast: Sunday 8 Epiphany A
Isaiah 49:13-18 – God's Love for Zion;
Psalm 62 – Confidence in the Lord;
I Corinthians 4:1-13 – Servants of Christ;
Matthew 6:24-34 – Serving One Master;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
Let the heavens and the earth rejoice, and may the mountains break forth in song, because the Lord has had compassion on the afflicted and has comforted his people.
Zion (God's people; the Holy City, by extension: the Church) thought the Lord had forgotten and forsaken them. But the Lord assured them that he can no more forget them than a mother can ignore her suckling child; than that she could not have compassion for the child she has birthed. Earthly mothers might possibly forget their children, but God will never forget us. It is like we are “tattooed” upon the Lord's hand; like there is nowhere the Lord can go where our city is not in his sight. Those trying to destroy us can't keep pace with our builders. Those who besiege us are forced to give up. Look and see; pilgrims are coming from everywhere to gather with us. They will be our adornment, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Psalm Paraphrase:
My soul waits in silence for the Lord; he is bringing my salvation. The Lord is the source of my salvation; he is like a solid rock on which to stand above the enemy, a fortress of refuge for me so that I may not be shaken. Our enemies are like a leaning wall or a tottering fence, ready to fall upon us without warning. They hope to thrust us down from prominence. They take pleasure in lying; they praise us with their lips, but inwardly they curse us.
My only hope is in the Lord, and my soul quietly awaits him. The Lord is my mighty rock and refuge, my salvation and fortress. My honor and deliverance are secure in him alone.
Regardless of their status in society, whether high or low, people are all insignificant compared to the Lord. Let us not put our hope in riches or in worldly schemes like extortion or robbery. God has said, and we have heard him more than once: the Lord possesses power, and is worthy of our steadfast love. He will repay everyone according to what each has done in this lifetime.
1 Corinthians Background:
The congregation at Corinth was in danger of becoming divided over loyalty to various teachers, such as Paul, Apollos, and Peter (Cephas; 1 Corinthians 1:12-13).
Paraphrase:
Teachers of the Gospel are servants of Christ. They are stewards, entrusted with the preservation and distribution of the truth of the mysteries of God. Stewards are required to be worthy of trust. They are not accountable to any human person or judge. Paul was not aware of any shortcoming on his part, but that didn't insure that he was blameless. It was not Paul who had the authority to judge himself, but the Lord. Only the Lord knows inner condition of the human heart, and things which have not yet been known or understood. Everyone will be accountable to God's judgment.
As examples of stewardship of the Gospel, Paul used himself and Apollos, an evangelist of the Gospel, who was mentored by Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus (Acts 18:24-26) and then by Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:24-27; 19:1a). Apollos was helpful in building up the Church at Corinth which Paul had founded (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4-7, 22). Paul was teaching the congregation not to be divided over loyalty to one teacher over another. What did the members think made them special? The Gospel message had been given to them as a gift. The gift of the Gospel message was what was important; not the messenger. Why should the recipients boast of the gift as though it were their own accomplishment, and not a gift?
Already the new Christians at Corinth thought they were fully spiritually mature: filled and rich and exalted in authority because they had received the Gospel. Paul wished that were true, so that he might share in their exaltation, but the truth is that apostles (teachers; messengers; of the Gospel), are regarded as weak and disreputable by the world; they are regarded as prisoners under condemnation of death, displayed as trophies by conquering armies.
The Corinthian Christians thought themselves regarded by the world with honor, whereas genuine apostles suffered dishonor, abuse, hunger and thirst, were poorly clothed and homeless. The Corinthians wanted to be served and provided for, whereas apostles were required to serve others and provide for themselves. True apostles bless those who revile them, endure persecution, offer reconciliation to those who slander them, and are regarded as worthless “garbage” by worldly people.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus declared that no one can serve two different masters. He will love and be devoted to one, and will despise and neglect the other. Therefore one cannot serve both God and Mammon (“Wealth;” the idol of material possessions). So we should not worry about daily necessities such as food, drink, and clothing. Birds don't worry about these things; they just gather up what the Lord provides. They don't have to grow and store their resources.
Can we add even a small fraction to our lifespan by anxiety over it? Clothing is not as important as we imagine, either. Flowers don't make or buy clothing for themselves; but they are as finely arrayed as any earthly king. If God provides for flowers and grass, which live only a few days, can we trust him to provide for us, who are of much more consequence than they? Let us not worry about food and clothing. Worldly people worry about such things, and God, our Creator knows what we need in order to exist and survive. But instead, let us seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, and then we will have the material things we need as well.
Commentary:
We are born into this material world, and with physical needs. It is human nature to secure food and clothing and the other necessities of physical life. It goes against “common sense” to not try to secure these physical necessities before worrying about anything else. It is difficult, in the modern world of cell phones and computers and “instant gratification,” to learn to wait on the Lord to provide the answer, rather than trying to secure the answer by our own efforts.
But I believe that the central meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek and find and have fellowship with God our Creator. Life is really all about learning to trust and obey God.
God has promised in his Word that he will never fail or forsake us. When we are in the midst of trouble and need, it feels like the Lord has forgotten us, but if we trust in his ability to bring us through, we will discover that the Lord is faithful and abundantly able to deliver us and provide for us.
Isaiah is a prophet of the Lord who learned by experience, and testified to the Lord’s faithfulness and providence. We can see our enemies attacking and tearing us down, but the Lord is able to lift us up and rebuild us faster than the enemies can destroy.
By trusting and obeying God’s Word we can learn to wait for the Lord to provide the help and support that we need. And we can be sure that ultimately faith will be rewarded and that evil will be punished.
Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9). No one knows Jesus as well as God does, and no one truly knows God except Jesus and those to whom Jesus chooses to reveals God (Matthew 11:27; compare John 14:8-10, 21, 23).
Jesus declares that we cannot pursue and serve wealth and possessions and also pursue and serve God. We will either let go of our desire for material possessions and physical security or we will be thwarted from finding spiritual treasure and eternal security.
Material possessions and physical security are a mirage. Real security always requires just a little more than we have. If we accumulate material resources which we may never need and then we die without securing eternal life, someone else will inherit our worldly estate, and we will die, eternally apart from God’s favor and providence, instead of living eternally in paradise with the Lord in Heaven.
We are all born into this life physically alive but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be “reborn” spiritually to eternal life (John 3:3, 5-8). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God; the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9; John 14:21, 23). Only Jesus gives spiritual rebirth through the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is possible to know with certainty if one has been spiritually “born-again” (Acts 19:2). The indwelling 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).
Paul's letters to the first-century Church addressed issues that still trouble and divide the Church today. They were recorded and preserved to help and guide us now, and are as relevant as ever.
There are many examples today of congregations divided over loyalty to one teacher over another. I personally have witnessed several congregations split over loyalty to an associate minister over another. Denominationalism is the result of adherence to one teacher over another. In too many instances, members pick churches based on preferences to a particular pastoral personality, and congregations pick pastors who preach what the members want to hear (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
I have been involved in one-on-one “discipling” and have seen new believers who have thought they were spiritually mature after finishing reading the Bible once through. Several though they were ready to teach or write a book, without any experience applying God's Word in their own lives.
Receiving the Gospel in faith (obedient trust) is not the end of discipleship; it is just the beginning. New disciples need to be discipled by mature disciples until the new disciple has received the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then the Holy Spirit will disciple the new disciples as they begins to live daily in obedience to God's Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ.
Jesus warned his disciples to stay in Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had been filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going into the world as apostles of the Gospel (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Only then were they to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to go into the world to proclaim the Gospel and to make “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught.
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and example of a modern, post-resurrection, born-again, disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we can and should become. After Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20), he was discipled by a born-again disciple, Ananias, until Paul was reborn Acts 9:10-18), and then Paul began making disciples and teaching them to repeat the process (Acts 9:20-22; 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 2:2).
There is a Day of Judgment coming for all who have ever lived in this world (John 5:28-29). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus as their Lord and Savior will enter eternal life in Heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and Savior, or have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Monday Before Last Epiphany - A
To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration.
First Posted 2/28/2011;
Podcast: Monday 8 Epiphany A
Psalm 2:6-13 - The Lord’s Anointed King;
Paraphrase:
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.
Commentary:
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 ("quickened") 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 (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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 Before Last Epiphany - A
To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration.
First Posted March 1, 2011;
Podcast: Tuesday Before Last Epiphany A
Exodus 24:12, 15-18 - Moses in God’s Presence;
Paraphrase:
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.
Commentary:
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.
Wednesday Before Last Epiphany - A
To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration.
First Posted March 2, 2011;
Podcast: Wednesday 8 Epiphany A
2 Peter 1:16-19 (20-21) - Apostolic Doctrine;
Paraphrase:
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 Elijah coming 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) 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, when Jesus will return to judge everyone who has ever lived (John 5:28-29). Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have 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.
*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).
Thursday Before Last Epiphany - A
To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration.
First Posted March 3, 2011;
Podcast: Thursday 8 Epiphany A
Matthew 17:1-9 - Transfiguration;
Paraphrase:
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 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 (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).
Commentary:
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.
Friday Before Last Epiphany - A
To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration.
First Posted March 4, 2011;
Podcast:Friday Before Last Epiphany A
Isaiah 35:3-7 - Promise of Salvation;
1 Peter 3:18-22 - Salvation through Baptism;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
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.
1 Peter Paraphrase:
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).
Commentary:
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, Mark 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 ("quickened") 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, by 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 (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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 Before Last Epiphany - A
To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration;
First Posted March 5, 2011;
Podcast: Saturday Before Last Epiphany A
John 12:23-36 - The Hour of Salvation;
Paraphrase:
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.
Commentary:
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 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 (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
