Week
of 1 Christmas - B
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 1 Christmas - B
Sunday
1 Christmas - B
First Posted December 28, 2008;
Podcast: Sunday
1 Christmas - B
Isaiah 45:22-25 - Turn to the Lord;
Psalm 111 - Praise the Lord;
Colossians 3:12-17 - New Life in
Christ;
Luke 2:25-40 - Presentation of Jesus;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
The Lord is the only God. He invites everyone, to the farthest parts
of the world, to turn to him and be saved. The Lord has declared and sworn in righteousness that every knee
shall bow and every tongue shall swear.
Righteousness and strength are in the Lord alone. All his enemies
shall come to him and be put to shame. The children of Israel
will be vindicated and glorified in the Lord.
Psalm Paraphrase:
Praise the Lord! With my whole heart I will thank the Lord in the
congregation of the righteous. The Lord has done great things, and
those who study them will take pleasure in them. The Lord is
honorable and majestic in everything he does, and his righteousness
will never end. He has done great things so that they will be
remembered, because the Lord is gracious and merciful.
The Lord continually remembers his covenant; he provides sustenance
for those who fear him. In all his works he reveals his power to his
people and gives them a share in the inheritance of the nations. He
is faithful and just in all his deeds, and all his teaching are
trustworthy and eternal; they are to be carried out with
righteousness and faithfulness. He has declared that his
covenant is eternal. "He sent redemption to his people" (Psalm
111:9a). His name is awesome and Holy (reverenced; venerated). "The
fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority) of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all
those who practice it. The Praise of the Lord endures forever" Psalm
111:10).
Colossians Paraphrase:
Since we have been chosen and beloved by God, we should endeavor to
be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient and forbearing and
forgiving of one another, if anyone has a complaint. Remember
how much the Lord has forgiven us, and be forgiving of others also
as we have been forgiven. Above all we must be loving, because love
binds everything together in complete harmony. Allow the peace of
Jesus Christ reign in our hearts since that is the hope in which we
were called into the body of Christ, the Church. "Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish (caution) one
another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians
3:16). Let us do everything that we do in the name of the Lord
Jesus, in thanksgiving to God through him.
Luke Paraphrase:
At the time for their purification according to the Law of Moses (on
the eighth day after the birth; Leviticus 12:2); Mary and
Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be circumcised (Genesis
17:12), and to present him to the Lord as their first-born son (Luke
2:22-23).
A man named Simeon, who was righteous and devout, lived in
Jerusalem. He was looking for the consolation of Israel (the coming
of Messiah), and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the
"Lord's Christ" (God's promised "Messiah"). "Inspired by the Spirit,
he came into the temple" (Luke 2:27), where he encountered Jesus and
his parents, who had brought Jesus to fulfill the custom of the law.
Simon took the baby Jesus in his arms and said: "Lord, now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy Word; for mine
eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the
presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and
for glory to thy people, Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).
Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon had said about their
baby; and Simeon blessed them and said, "Behold, this child is set
for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is
spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),
that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34b-35).
There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel (who is
otherwise unknown) of the tribe of Asher, the descendants of Jacob's
eighth son. [The tribe of Asher was the only tribe west of the
Jordan River (except the tribe of Simeon, second son of Jacob by
Leah, not the Simeon of Luke 2:25) which produced no hero or judge
for the nation]. Anna had been widowed after only seven years of
marriage, and remained a widow to age eighty-four. She was in the
temple, never leaving; worshiping, fasting, and praying day and
night. At the very hour that Jesus was presented, she came up and
gave thanks to God; and she spoke about Jesus to everyone who was
seeking the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Mary and Joseph had fulfilled the requirements of the law, they
returned to Nazareth in Galilee. And the child grew up and became
strong, and God's favor was upon him.
Commentary:
The Lord is the one and only true God. He is Lord and God, whether
we acknowledge and accept him as our Lord and God or not. God has
given us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey him or not,
but there is a day coming when we will face the final judgment and
be accountable to him for what we have done in this lifetime. In
that day, everyone who has ever lived will acknowledge him as Lord
and God, and everyone will bow before him in obedience; but then it
will be too late to change our eternal destinies.
Those who have rebelled and opposed the Lordship of God in this
world will be put to eternal shame, but those who have become his
children by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ will be
vindicated and glorified in the Lord. "Born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8)
Christians are the adopted children of the "New Israel," the Church.
In that day the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed (Luke
2:35b). There are many who claim to be Christian, and who even claim
to be "born-again," who are not "saved" from eternal destruction,
and are not spiritually "born-again." Not everyone who calls Jesus
"Lord" is a Christian (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).
The Lord never forgets his covenant with his people, the New
Covenant of grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) through faith (obedient trust)
in Jesus Christ, initiated by Jesus on the night of his betrayal,
the eve of his crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-28). God sustains those
who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and
authority of) God, physically and spiritually, through 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). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit
sustains us to eternal life.
Through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit the Lord reveals his
power to his people and gives them a share in the inheritance of
eternal life. Jesus is the one and only Redeemer ("Savior;" Acts
4:12; John 14:6), the redemption which God has provided for his
people who trust and obey the Lord. Jesus is the name of the Lord.
Those who do not believe in God and the concept of God won't fear
him, because they are spiritually ignorant and eternally "lost."
Until one one understands that God exists, that he is all-powerful
and all-knowing, and that he has the power of eternal life or
eternal death over us individually, we don't know anything of
eternal spiritual value.
We have all been chosen and beloved by God, but not everyone
realizes and acknowledges this. Unless we understand ourselves in
relationship with God, we cannot receive the healing and
"redemption" God offers us in Jesus Christ.
In comparison to God, he alone is righteous (doing what is right,
good, and true, according to God's Word), and we are unrighteous ;
he is sinless (sin is disobedience of God's Word), and we are
sinful; he is strong and we are weak; he is wise and we are
spiritually ignorant. We should seek to know and apply God's Word in
our daily lives. Only then are we able to teach and caution others.
We cannot comprehend what God has done for us in Jesus Christ until
we recognize our own unrighteousness and sinfulness, and our need
for redemption and salvation. When we realize who Jesus is and what
the Lord has done for us in Jesus Christ, we will want to give
thanks to God and to glorify the name of Jesus.
Simeon was looking for the consolation, redemption and salvation of
Israel, and as he was instructed and guided by the Holy Spirit, he
received what he had prayed for; he saw the fulfillment of God's
promise of a Savior, the Messiah. Before the coming of Jesus Christ
only a few individuals were chosen by God to have fellowship with
God by the Holy Spirit. Simeon and Anna are examples.
Jesus is the promised Savior provided by God for all people, to be
received by faith (obedient trust). Jesus is intended to be the
revelation of God and God's purpose to the Gentiles, and the
fulfillment of God's promise to glorify Israel.
Jesus is "good news" to those who are God's people, who accept Jesus
as their Lord and choose to trust and obey Jesus, and "bad news" to
those who reject Jesus as Lord and refuse to trust and obey Jesus.
Jesus is the stone which the "builders" (Israel; and the World)
rejected, which has become the "cornerstone," the "keystone" which
creates the solid foundation, and locks the construction of God's
eternal kingdom in place (Luke 20:17-18).
Anna is the example of a child of God; a believer in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. She was constantly in the temple praying for and
looking for the fulfillment of God's promise of a Messiah, the
Savior of the World. As she was obedient to the Holy Spirit, the
Lord led her to encounter the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus
Christ at his circumcision in the temple.
After she had encountered the Christ, she spoke of him to everyone
who was looking "for the redemption of Jerusalem. We can long for
the coming of the Messiah, and if we truly do, and become obedient
to God's Word, he will reveal himself to us (John 14:21). But unless
and until we have personally experienced Jesus, by the indwelling
Holy Spirit, we cannot be witnesses testifying to that spiritual
reality.
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
January 2 - B
First posted
01/02/2009
Podcast: January 2 - B
John 1:1-18 - Prologue of John;
Paraphrase:
The Word of God was with God at the beginning of Creation, and is
God, divine, eternal, and powerful. Through him all things were
made, and nothing that exists was made without him. "In him was
(true, eternal) life, and the life is the light of men" (John 1:4).
"The light (of righteousness, divine enlightenment, and eternal
life) shines in the darkness (of unrighteousness, spiritual
ignorance, and spiritual death), and the darkness has not overcome
it" (John 1:5).
John, the Baptizer was sent by God. He came to testify to the light
so that everyone might believe by his testimony. He made it
clear that he, himself, was not the light, but he bore witness to
the light.
"The true light that enlightens every [person] was coming into the
world" (John 1:9).
He was in the world, which had been made through him, but the world
didn't recognize him. His own home and people didn't recognize,
accept, and welcome him. "But to all who received him, who believed
in his name, he gave the power to become children of God; who were
born, not of blood nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God" (John 1:12-13).
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and
truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the
Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
John testified that this was the one who was coming after John, but
who ranks above John and existed before John. In him is
inexhaustible grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) for all, to be
received, grace upon grace. The law came through Moses; grace and
truth come (only) through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God;
only Jesus, who is in perfect communion with God, has revealed
him.
Commentary:
Jesus is fully God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28).
Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning; he's
not an after-thought, "Plan B," added after mankind introduced sin
(disobedience of God's Word) into Creation.
God designed Creation so that we would have the freedom to choose
whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, and the opportunity to
learn by trial and error that God's will is our best interest. God
knew that given that freedom, we would all sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John
1:8-10), and fall short of God's righteousness (doing what is right,
good, and true in accordance with God's Word). The penalty for sin
is (eternal, spiritual) death (Romans 6:23; the "second death:"
Revelation 20:14; 21:8). Jesus is God's only provision for the
forgiveness of our sins, salvation from eternal destruction, and
restoration to fellowship and eternal life with God which was broken
by sin (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar,
top right, home).
Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and demonstrated in
human flesh in this world (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus' word is the Word
of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark
4:41; compare Genesis 1:3).
Only in Jesus is true, eternal life. He existed with God from the
beginning of Creation. He is God who became human (not a man who
became God). He died physically on the cross as the only sacrifice
acceptable to God for the forgiveness of the sins of all people for
all time who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in
Jesus. His resurrection from physical death to eternal life
demonstrates that there is existence after physical death (not
"nothingness;" not reincarnation: Hebrews 9:27).
We are eternal beings in physical bodies. We were born physically
alive but spiritually dead because of sin. Jesus came to make it
possible for us to be forgiven and cleansed, so that we could
receive the gift of eternal life through 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).
In order to live eternally in God's heavenly kingdom, we must be
spiritually "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8). This lifetime is our only
opportunity to be "reborn.;" the moment we die physically, our
eternal destiny is eternally fixed and unchangeable. 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 is the light of the World (John 1:4, 8:12); the light of
righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), the light of spiritual
enlightenment (John 1:9), the light of eternal life (John 8:12).
John the Baptist was the fulfillment of God's Word, prophesied four
or five hundred years earlier, of a prophet like Elijah who would
herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1, 4:5; Matthew
17:10-13). John did not claim to be a great prophet like Elijah; he
just considered himself a voice crying in the wilderness, calling
people to repent and prepare to receive the Messiah, in fulfillment
of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 40:3). John was not a failed attempt to
become the Messiah (John 1:8, 20).
God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation from
the very beginning. God wasn't surprised by the fall of man through
sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus had already been designed into
Creation.
"Messiah" is the Hebrew word meaning (God's) "anointed" ("Christ" is
the Greek equivalent). With the giving of the Law, God commanded
Moses to "anoint" Aaron and his sons with oil to consecrate them as
priests of God (Exodus 28:41), prophets (and Kings (1 Kings 19:16; 1
Samuel 9:16; 16:3; 2 Samuel 12:7).
So from the very beginning of the Bible, God had been preparing
Israel for the coming of the Messiah who would be the eternal
prophet, priest and king of God's people. Jesus is the ultimate
eternal prophet who declares the Word of God (Deuteronomy 18:15;
John 14:10, 24), he is our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14; 5:5-6;
9:11-14; Psalm 110:4), and he is God's "anointed" eternal King above
all kings (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14).
Jesus is the promised Messiah who came into the world in human
flesh, but although the Jews were expecting the Messiah, they did
not recognize and accept Jesus. His own hometown and his own family
didn't recognize and accept him (Mark 3:21; John 7:1-5; Luke
4:16-30).
To everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God
(and trusts and obeys Jesus) he gives the power (the ability; the
authority) to become children of God, but note that we must claim
and appropriate the promise for ourselves by obedient trust in
Jesus. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is our "rebirth" by
God's will and power as God's "adopted" Children.
Jesus is the only "begotten" Son of God, begotten of Mary, by the
power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:31-35). Jesus
existed before John or before anyone in Creation because he was
eternal with God and is eternal God (John 1:1, 8:56-58).
Jesus is the "New Moses." Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant
of law. Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant of grace
(unmerited favor; the free gift of salvation) by faith (obedient
trust) in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus we have an
inexhaustible source of grace.
No one was ever able to fulfill the requirements of the law; to be
righteous as God is righteous (Romans 3:23; Galatians 2:16;
Ephesians 2:8-10). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit makes it
possible for us to fulfill the requirements of the righteousness of
God's law through obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans
8:1-9 Galatians 3:3-14) through faith in Jesus.
God is Spirit. He is invisible. Jesus existed with God from the
beginning of Creation, and is, in his very nature, God (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus is the
ultimate revelation of God to the world in human flesh.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans
8:9). The Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us
individually and personally (John 14:21-23). Jesus is the only way
to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (John 14:6), and
Jesus reveals himself and God the Father to us through his
indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21, 23). The Holy Spirit is the
Spirit of (divine, eternal) truth (John 14:17).
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
January 3 - B
First
posted 01/03/2009
Podcast: January 3 - B
Psalm 72 - Bless the King;
Paraphrase:
O God, give the king thy justice and righteousness, that he may
judge your people in righteousness and give justice to the poor. May
the mountains and hills produce prosperity and righteousness. May
the king "defend the cause of the poor of the people, give
deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor" (Psalm 72:4)!
May the king live as long as the sun and moon, throughout all
generations. Let him be like rain showers that refreshes mown grass,
and waters the earth. May righteousness and peace abound in his day,
until the moon ceases to exist.
"May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the
ends of the earth" (Psalm 72:8). May his foes grovel in the dust in
his presence. May the kings of Tarshish (in the western
Mediterranean), Sheba and Seba (in south Arabia) pay him tribute and
bring him gifts. "May all kings fall down before him, all nations
serve him" (Psalms 72:11)!
When the needy, the poor and helpless call upon him he delivers
them; he has pity on them and saves them. He regards their blood as
precious, and redeems their lives from oppression and violence.
May he live long, may the gold of Sheba be given to him. Let prayers
be offered for him continually, and blessings invoked for him daily.
May the land overflow with an abundance of grain and fruit, and may
the people fill the land like grass of the field. May his name
endure forever, and his fame be known as long as the sun exists. May
all people and nations bless themselves by him and call him blessed.
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous
things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill
the whole earth! Amen, and Amen" (Psalm 72:18-19).
Commentary:
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm. Jesus is God in
human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28), and possesses the
character of God. He has been given God's righteousness and justice,
which is far above human ability.
He alone is righteous. In his physical lifetime, he was tempted just
as we are, but he was sinless: perfectly obedient to God's Word,
unto a terrible death on the cross.
Jesus is the righteous judge, who will return on the Day of
Judgment, and judge all people with the justice of God. He will not
judge us by the world's standard of justice. In this world's
justice, the rich and powerful are favored and the poor, weak
and needy are oppressed and exploited.
Jesus will be the standard of judgment, against which all will be
judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their eternal Lord and
King, and have trusted and obeyed him will have been "born-again"
(John 3:3, 5-8), and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly
kingdom. But those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or
failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal
destruction in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Jesus is the eternal King who will reign in God's kingdom forever.
The sun and moon of this Creation will pass away, but his kingdom
will endure forever.
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His dominion is over all
Creation, but not everyone acknowledges and accepts his dominion.
This is the age of God's grace and salvation. He allows us the
freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God's Word, and
to learn by trial and error that his Word is good, feasible, and
perfectly in our best interest (Romans 12:2). But God isn't going to
tolerate rebellion for ever, or at all in his heavenly kingdom, or
it wouldn't be heaven!
The Day of Judgment is coming, at the end of our individual lives,
when God's grace and salvation will no longer be available. When we
die, time stops for us, and our eternal destiny is fixed and
unchangeable. In that Day, the Lord will command and we will have no
choice but to obey. Those who are saved by faith (obedient trust) in
Jesus will rejoice, but the enemies of Jesus who rejected and
disobeyed him will be in eternal misery and destruction in Hell.
Jesus is the "son of David" (Matthew 1:1-17; 21:9) the fulfillment
of God's promise to David that his descendant would inherit his
throne eternally (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). The Queen of
Sheba brought gold and gifts to King Solomon, the son of David. The
magi (wise men; "the three kings") brought gifts and gold to Jesus
at his birth (Matthew 2:1-12). Jesus is the eternal heir to David's
throne.
The Lord helps the poor, weak and needy when they call to him in
faith. He also withholds blessings from the rebellious and
disobedient, in the hope that they will turn to the Lord and
acknowledge that he is the provider of every good thing (Psalm
39:10-11 RSV; Deuteronomy 28:38-42; Malachi 3:10-11; 2 Chronicles
7:13-14).
I think America today is experiencing God's corrective discipline.
People work longer and harder and have less to show for it. It now
takes two incomes to maintain the same standard of living which used
to be provided by one income. Fires and floods are ravaging the
land. America needs to wake up and return to obedient trust in God's
Word, so that the Lord will again bless us with prosperity.
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)?
Wednesday January
4 - B
First Posted
01/04/2012
Podcast: January 4 -B
Isaiah 60:1-6 - Arise and Shine!
Paraphrase:
Arise and shine, your light has come and the Lord's glory has risen
upon you.
Look and see! Thick spiritual darkness covers the earth and the
peoples, but the light of the Lord will rise upon you and and all
people will see God's glory upon you. All nations and peoples will
be attracted to that light.
Look around and see; your sons and daughters will return to you
carrying their children in their arms. The abundance of the seas and
the wealth of nations shall come to you; you will be radiant and
your hearts will rejoice. "A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian (on the east bank of the Red Sea) and
Ephah (northeast bank of the Red Sea; both in what is now Saudi
Arabia) all those from Sheba (Saba, in Southern Arabia, south of
Midian) shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and
shall proclaim the praise of the Lord" (Isaiah 60:6).
Commentary:
This text was probably written right before the fall of Babylon
(Chaldea) to Cyrus of Persia (October 29, 539 B.C.*), where the
remnant of Israel was in exile. During the following generation,
Cyrus allowed the exiles to return to their Promised Land,
fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah 25:12, of return after seventy
years, counted from the destruction of the temple to the rebuilt
temple's dedication. Israel's children did return from exile in
fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
During the reign of Solomon (961-922) the Queen of Sheba visited
King Solomon of Israel, known for his divine wisdom, and as the son
of David. David was the great "shepherd-king" of Israel. She brought
gifts of gold, spices and precious stones (1 Kings, 10:1-13). These
three regions, Midian, Sheba, Ephah, were famous for raising camels.
Jesus is the ultimate son of David, the eternal heir to the throne
of David, and the ultimate great "shepherd-king" of Israel (John
10:11-15). The prophecy of this portion of Isaiah was fulfilled at
Jesus' birth by the Magi (the Wise Men; the Three Kings; Matthew
2:1-12) from the east, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh (a resin produced in Arabia, used in preparation for burial of
the dead).
Jesus is the light of the world; the light of righteousness (John
3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9; Luke 24:45) and eternal
life (John 1:4; 8:12).
The Church is to be the "New Israel" and the "New Jerusalem" on
earth. We are to be the light of the world, too, as we have Jesus'
example and teaching (Matthew 5:14-16). We are to reflect the light
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a spiritually lost and eternally
dying world. We are to live in obedience to Jesus' teachings and to
be "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).
It is the Holy Spirit within us who leads us into divine, eternal
truth, teaches us all things, and gives us eternal life (John 14:6,
14:17, 26). The Holy Spirit gives Jesus’ disciples what to say in
testimony at the moment it is needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12).
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 the power of the Holy Spirit, working in and through Jesus'
"born-again" disciples, who reveals the light of the Gospel, and
attracts the lost to Jesus Christ. We cannot accomplish Christ's
mission of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and
salvation (from our eternal condemnation and destruction by God) to
the world in our own human resources (Zechariah 4:6).
Jesus warned his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had
received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going into
the world to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). We must be "born-again" disciples (students;
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) before we can be apostles
(messengers; of the Gospel). It takes "born-again" disciples to make "born-again"
disciples).
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)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Isaiah, p. 822) New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Thursday January 5 - B
First Posted 01/05/2009
Podcast: January 5 - B
Ephesians 3:2-12 - Prayer for wisdom;
Paraphrase:
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was a prisoner for preaching the Gospel. He was "discipling" new Christians by letter. Paul had been given the stewardship of God's grace on their behalf. The mystery (of God's plan for creation) which had not been known in previous generations had now been revealed to the apostles (messengers; of the gospel) and prophets (those who proclaim God's Word revealed to them by the Holy Spirit). The mystery had been revealed to Paul personally by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9), as Paul had written elsewhere (Acts 9:3-6; Galatians 1:12). Part of the mystery was that God intended salvation for all people, not just the Jews; the Gentiles are fellow heirs, part of the same body, and partakers of the same promise in Jesus Christ through the Gospel.
Paul had been made a minister (servant) of the Gospel by the grace of God given to him by God's power. Paul considered himself the least of the saints (believers; consecrated to God's service), because Paul had formerly persecuted Christians (1 Corinthians 15:9). But by God's grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), Paul had been given the ministry of the Gospel to preach the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul's ministry was also to make all people aware of the of the mystery of God's plan, which had been unknown for ages past, by God who is the creator of all things, so that through the Church the great boundless wisdom of God might be revealed to all powers and authorities in the universe, according to God's eternal purpose which he accomplished in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commentary:
Paul was, by God's intention, the prototype and example of a "modern," "post-resurrection," "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8), disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we all can be. I believe that he was also God's choice of the disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, Jesus' betrayer (Acts 1:15-26).
Paul was on his way to persecute Christians when he was confronted by the Spirit of the risen Jesus. Paul accepted Jesus' rebuke, he repented and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:1-9). Paul was "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, Ananias until Paul was "reborn" (Acts 9:10-18), and then, led and empowered by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, he began fulfilling the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:19-20), which Jesus gave his disciples to be carried out after they had been "reborn" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Paul was a "born-again" disciple making "born-again" disciples (2 Timothy 1:6), and teaching them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2) as was Paul. He was continuing the process of discipling new Christians, at Ephesus, and elsewhere, by letter, since he was in prison.
Paul was as much an apostle as Peter or the others of the eleven remaining of Jesus' original Twelve, although Paul hadn't known Jesus personally, during Jesus' physical ministry. Paul had a personal relationship with Jesus through 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 promised that he would manifest (reveal) himself to his disciples (John 14:21). Jesus promised that the indwelling Holy Spirit would teach them all things and recall to their minds all that Jesus taught (John 14:26). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would equip and empower his disciples to carry on the mission of Christ (Luke 21:14-15). Jesus' disciples are prophets, because they proclaim God's Word fully and accurately, as they have received it from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
But note that not every person is what he or she claims to be. There are many nominal "Christians" who are not disciples of Jesus Christ. Many claim to be "born-again" who do not know and are not obedient to Jesus' teachings. There are many nominal "Churches" that aren't spirit-filled and spirit-led. There are many false teachers and false prophets in the world and in the "Church" today.
How is a person to know? By reading the whole Bible, and reading portions of it daily. The Bible is the standard by which all Church "doctrine" and all teaching must be judged. Any average reader can read the Bible in one year, and there are many plans available (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home).
God wants us to know his Word so that we can trust and obey it. If we are willing to understand, so that we can apply it daily in our lives and seek his guidance from his Word, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11; 34), he will open our minds to understand his Word (Luke 24:45).
But remember that the Bible must be understood in context, in relationship to the whole, and from the perspective of the New Testament. Those who are "born-again" are in the Holy Spirit, and are no longer obligated to keep the Jewish Law (Romans 8:1-9). They fulfill the demands of the Law from love by the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than by fear of condemnation. In Paul's day, Jewish Christians wanted to force Gentile Christians to keep Jewish Law, and Paul vigorously opposed that "legalistic" faction (Galatians 5:1-6; Acts 15:1-31).
Paul's Gospel, received from revelation by the Holy Spirit, was no different than the Gospel of Peter and the other remaining original disciples. It is the Biblical (recorded in the Bible) apostolic (as taught by the apostles including Paul) doctrine, and Paul suffered in order to preserve it fully and accurately.
In the first century Church, false doctrines and false teachers and false prophets were already occurring in the Church and are refuted in the New Testament; and they are still present in the Church today (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home).
Ministry is stewardship of the "Gospel of Grace through Faith" (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Ministers are to be shepherds of God's "flock." At the time of Jesus' physical ministry, the religious leaders of Judaism had departed from that stewardship. For example, they cared nothing for Judas Iscariot's spiritual condition (Matthew 27:3-5). They conducted their office as their personal empire (Matthew 23:13-16; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:46-47). In too many instances, the nominal "Church" today, particularly in America, is in the same situation as Judaism at the time of Jesus' first advent (coming) When Christ returns will he find faith (Luke 18:8b)?
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)?
Friday - Epiphany
First Posted 01/06/2009;
Podcast: Epiphany - January 6 - B
Isaiah 60:1-6 - Restoration;
Psalm 72 - Coronation;
Ephesians 3:2-12 - Mystery Revealed;
Matthew 2:1-12 - The Wise Men;
Epiphany means "manifestation." The Church commemorates the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles (non-Jews), at the coming of the Magi ("Wise Men").
Isaiah Paraphrase:
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). Isaiah prophesied that the darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance covers the earth, but the light of righteousness John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5; 8:12) of the Lord shall be seen upon God's people. Nations and kings will be drawn to that light.
Look and see; the sons and daughters of Israel shall return from afar. Then God's people will rejoice and be radiant with joy. "The abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, and the wealth of nations shall come to you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord" (Isaiah 60:4-6; compare Matthew 2:10-11).
Psalms Background:
This psalm was probably composed for the coronation of the earthly king of Israel. It is prophetic and applies to the Messiah, the eternal king also.
Psalm Paraphrase:
The Psalmist prays that God will give the king God's justice, and God's righteousness to the royal son. May he give judge God's people with righteousness, and give justice to the poor. May the land be fertile and prosperous, and bear the fruit of righteousness. May the king defend the rights of the poor, deliver the needy and crush the oppressors of God's people.
Let the king live and reign as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. May his government be like the rain which refreshes mown grass, and like showers which refresh the earth.
May righteousness flourish and peace abound during his reign, until the moon ceases to exist.
Let his dominion be from sea to sea, and from the river (Euphrates; the cradle of civilization) to the ends of the earth. May his enemies and foes be utterly defeated and subjugated to him. May the kings of Tarshish (the seacoast; ships from afar; the Phoenician port in Spain), pay tribute, and Sheba and Seba (the kingdom of Southern Arabia; the Queen of Sheba -queen of the south- brought gold and jewels to King Solomon; 1 Kings 10:1-13) bring gifts. "May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him, all nations serve him" (Psalm 72:11).
When the poor, the needy and helpless call upon him, the king helps and delivers them. He redeems them from oppression and violence. He regards their lives as precious.
Long may the king reign. "may gold of Sheba be given to him" (Psalm 73:15). Let us pray for him and bless him at all times. May the land be fruitful and bring forth grain in abundance. May the people thrive and prosper. "May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May [people] bless themselves by him and all nations call him blessed" (Psalm 72:17).
Ephesians Paraphrase:
Paul was given the stewardship of the Gospel of God's grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) for the benefit of believers. The mystery of God's plan for Creation, to be accomplished through Jesus Christ, has been revealed. Paul had been given insight into the mystery by revelation (by the Holy Spirit). This mystery had not been made known to earlier generations, as now made known through the Holy Spirit to the apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) and prophets (those who proclaim God's Word by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit). That is, how Gentiles (non-Jews) share in the inheritance, are fellow members of the body (of Christ; the Church) and partake in the same promises of Christ Jesus, through the Gospel ("good news;" of forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal destruction by grace, through faith -obedient trust- in Jesus Christ).
Paul was made a minster of that Gospel by the grace of God which Paul received by God's power. Although Paul considered himself the least of the saints (consecrated to God's service), he had been given the call to preach to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to reveal to all people God's previously unknown plan for Creation. Through the Church, the great wisdom of God, the Creator of all things, is made known to all authorities and powers in the universe. God's eternal purpose has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we are able to have boldness and confidence of access to God.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus was born in Bethlehem (the "City of David;" The great human shepherd-king's birthplace) in Judea during the reign of Herod the King. Wise men (astrologers from Persia -present-day Iran-) came to Jerusalem seeking the king of the Jews who had been born. They had seen his star in the east and had come to worship him.
When Herod the King heard, he was troubled and all Jerusalem too. Herod assembled the Jewish religious authorities to find out from Bible prophecy where Jesus was to be born. They told the King that the birthplace was Bethlehem in Judea, according to the prophecy of Micah 5:2.
Herod secretly summoned the wise men and told them to search thoroughly for the child, and when they had found him, to tell Herod where he was, saying that Herod wanted to go and worship him also. Then they left and the star that they had seen in the east led them to where Jesus was. Seeing this, they rejoiced with great joy and entered the house, where they saw Mary, his mother, with the baby. They fell down and worshiped him. Then they gave gifts of their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to return to Herod, so they went home by another way.
Commentary:
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12; 12:46); the light of real, spiritual, eternal life (John 1:4-5); the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21). Jesus is the glory of God, risen upon us. The followers of Christ are called upon to reflect his light in the spiritual darkness of this world.
"Nations (Gentiles; non-Jews) and kings will be drawn to that light" (Psalm 60:3). That text was fulfilled when the Magi (Wise Men; astrologers; from Persia) observed the brightness in the sky, the Christmas Star, (probably the conjunction of several bright planets; Numbers 24:17). They came, seeking the newborn king (Matthew 2:2), bringing gifts for a king, of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They came on camels. They brought the wealth of nations (Isaiah 60:5d), as the Queen of Sheba had, when she visited King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-2).
Jesus is the righteousness and justice of God (Romans 1:16-17). Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we are robed in God's righteousness (Romans 3:21-22; not any righteousness of our own). Jesus is the royal Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). Jesus is the King who defends the rights of the poor, delivers the needy and crushes the oppressors of God's people.
Jesus is the eternal king who reigns forever. His reign is that which revives and refreshes us. When we accept him as our Lord, and trust and obey him, he gives us new spiritual life, through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). His kingdom is characterized by righteousness and peace.
The Magi are the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of this psalm. This is the beginning of the time when all worldly authorities will fall down before him and serve him. The wealth of nations will come to him. It will climax on the Day of Judgment (Philippians 2:9-11).
Jesus is God's plan for Creation, which God made at the beginning of Creation. Jesus has been designed into this Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. This Creation has been designed to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), but God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal heavenly kingdom (or it wouldn't be heaven). This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.
God has gradually been revealing his plan for Creation, first through Creation itself; then, beginning with God's call to Abraham, he has been revealing it through his people, as recorded in the Bible. When Jesus Christ appeared, he was the ultimate revelation of God and God's plan for all the world to see.
Those who accept, trust and obey Jesus, like Paul, receive the ultimate revelation of God and his plan, personally and individually through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's plan has been made known to, and experienced by, the "born-again" disciples of Jesus Christ, who are to be apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) to the world. The Gospel of forgiveness and salvation is for all people, to be received as a free gift from God by grace (unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. By the gift of the Holy Spirit we have bold and confident access to God.
Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). All of the promises of God's Word are fulfilled in Jesus.
The Magi had worldly knowledge and wisdom. They became aware of the advent (coming) of the Messiah through astrology ("Creation"), but they needed to know the Bible scriptures to know where to look. The Jewish religious authorities had the knowledge of the Bible scriptures, but they didn't benefit, because they didn't apply the Biblical knowledge they had to seek the Messiah.
Worldly authorities and powers are unable to prevent God's plan from being fulfilled. God knows our innermost thoughts and motives.
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 January 7 - B
First Posted 01/07/2009
Podcast: January 7 - B
Psalm 45:7-9 - The Bridegroom;
Paraphrase:
The Bridegroom loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Because of that, he has been anointed with the oil of gladness, above his peers (quoted in Hebrews 1:9). His clothes are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia (spices used to perfume olive oil for anointing and also in embalming. Myrrh was also used as an opiate; Mark 15:23). His palace is decorated in ivory; he has music provided by stringed instruments; the daughters of kings are among his courtiers; his queen stands beside him at his right hand, adorned with gold from Ophir.
Commentary:
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Bridegroom, and his Church is his bride. He is God's "anointed," above all people. Christ and Messiah both mean "anointed" in Greek and Hebrew, respectively. Jesus was perfectly obedient to God's Word (sinless; Hebrews 4:15; sin is disobedience of God's Word), even unto death on the cross.
He and the setting are described in terms of earthly experience. He is worthy of a lavish palace, and his bride, the Church, is richly adorned, which he supplied at great cost: his life, sacrificed on the cross.
Priests (Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15) and kings (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4) were "anointed," at the command of God, to consecrate them to God's service, and were referred to as "the (Lord''s) anointed." Olive oil, commonly perfumed, was used. Anointing was an act of celebration, and also an act of hospitality. Jesus Christ is the promised deliverer, the Messiah (Psalm 2:2; John 1:41; Acts 9:22; 17:2-3; 18:5, 28), God's anointed eternal Savior and King.
The "anointing" ("baptism;" "gift;" "infilling") with the indwelling Holy Spirit is the "oil of gladness." (1 Samuel 16:13; Isaiah 61:1) Only Jesus "anoints" with the 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).
Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the "New Jerusalem," the "City of God" on earth) until they had received the "anointing" of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13), and then they were to go into the world and make spiritually "born-again" disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus taught; discipling them until they had been "anointed" with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20), and teaching them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 1:6, 2:2).
The anointing with the indwelling Holy Spirit is a definitely discernible and ongoing event. Anyone who has to ask some religious authority whether one has been "reborn," hasn't been (Acts 19:2)!
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)?
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