Week
of 2 Epiphany - 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
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Podcast Download: Week of 2
Epiphany B
Sunday
2 Epiphany B
First Posted
01/15/2006;
Podcast: Sunday 2 Epiphany B
1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- The Call of Samuel;
Psalm 67 -- Let All People Praise the
Lord!
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Warning Against Unrestraint;
John 1:43-51 -- Philip and Nathanael;
Samuel Background:
Samuel was the son God had given Hannah, who had been barren, in
answer to her prayer. She had promised to "lend" him to the Lord's
service all his life (1 Samuel 1:1-28). When the child was weaned,
she brought him to the temple at Shiloh to serve under Eli the
priest. The temple (tabernacle) had been located in Shiloh, about
ten miles north of Bethel, after Israel had gained territory in the
Promised Land (Joshua 18:1-10).
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
In this period of Israel's history, the revelation of God's Word and
"visions" were rare. Eli's sight had begun to fail. He was sleeping
in his customary place, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple where
the ark was, and the lamp of the Lord's presence, which burned
through the night, had not yet gone out (so it was before dawn).
The Lord called to Samuel, calling him by name. Samuel got up and
went to Eli, thinking that Eli had called him. Eli told him that he
had not called, and Samuel returned to his bed. This happened
a second time with the same results.
A third time, the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel again went to Eli.
Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel, and told Samuel to
return to his bed. When the Lord called, Samuel was to say, "Speak
Lord, for your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:9). Samuel did as Eli
instructed and answered as he had been told, when the Lord called
again.
Psalm Paraphrase:
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine
upon us" (Psalm 67:1), so that all the peoples and nations of earth
may know God's ways and his power to save. May all peoples praise
the Lord!
May all nations rejoice and sing, because the Lord judges all
peoples with perfect fairness. The Lord guides the nations of earth.
Let us all praise the Lord!
"The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God has blessed us.
God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear (have
appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) him"
(Psalm 67:6-7).
1 Corinthians background:
False doctrines were arising in the Corinthian congregation Paul had
founded. He was continuing to "disciple" the new Christians by
letter. One of the false teachings was abuse of God's grace.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Libertines in the congregation asserted that all things were lawful,
since they were not under the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law, but
the New Covenant of Grace. Paul replied that not all things were
beneficial spiritually to them, and that believers must not become
enslaved to anything. Libertines asserted that food and the physical
body were made for each other (and that the same was true for sex),
but Paul replied that both would be subject to God's judgment. God
did not create the body for immorality. The Lord Jesus gave himself
for us, and we should give ourselves for him. God raised Jesus (from
death to immortality), and he will raise us up also by his power.
We must remember that our bodies are members of Christ through the
indwelling Holy Spirit. How then can we make them members of a
prostitute. Let that never happen! When we join another in sexual
union we become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). One who is united with the
Lord (by his indwelling Holy Spirit) becomes one spirit with the
Lord.
We must shun immorality! All other sins are committed unto others,
but immorality is a sin which damages our own bodies. Our bodies are
the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which God has given us.
Remember that we have been redeemed (purchased from sin and eternal
death) by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, so let us glorify God
in our physical lives.
John Paraphrase:
Two days after Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River in Judea the
southernmost of three divisions of Palestine, by John the Baptizer,
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip (who may have been
one of two disciples of John who had heard John's testimony and
followed Jesus the preceding day; John 1:35-37), and invited him to
follow Jesus.
Philip lived in Bethsaida in Galilee (the northernmost division of
Palestine), the city of Andrew and Simon Peter. Philip went to his
friend Nathanael, and told him that Philip had found the promised
Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael was skeptical that anything
good could come from Nazareth, but Philip urged him to come and see
for himself.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming, and declared that Nathanael was an
Israelite without guile (unlike Jacob, also known as "Israel," the
father of the heads of the Twelve Tribes; Genesis 25:29-34;
27:1-46). Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, and Jesus told
Nathanael that he had (supernaturally) "seen" him under a fig tree
before Philip had come to him.
Nathanael was amazed, and declared that Jesus was more than a
teacher; he was the Son of God and King of Israel (the promised
Messiah). Jesus replied that Nathanael had believed because Jesus
had revealed his supernatural knowledge, but Nathanael would see
even greater things: he would see the fulfillment of the dream of
Jacob's ladder in the "Son of man" (Jesus; the Son of God).
Commentary:
God knows our needs before we ask (Mathew 6:8b), but God is not
obligated to answer prayer, or to be everything that a loving and
merciful, all-powerful God implies, unless we are willing to be his
obedient, trusting people (Jeremiah 7:23; see Conditions for
Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home). Hannah subjugated her
will to the Lord's. She wanted a son, but she committed that son to
serve the Lord.
God knows us and calls each of us, personally, by name, but we have
the freedom to respond or not. God has blessed us with his grace
(unmerited favor; a free gift); the forgiveness of sins
(disobedience of God's Word), and salvation (from eternal
condemnation, destruction and spiritual death, which is the penalty
for sin; Romans 6:23) in Jesus Christ, but we have the freedom to
accept or reject him (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top
right, home).
God has designed this Creation to allow the possibility of sin, so
that we have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's
Word or not. God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and
disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, so he has
limited this Creation and we ourselves by time. This Creation is
God's "seedbed," to grow an eternal kingdom of God's people who
willingly choose to trust and obey him.
This Creation is and will yield God's increase; God's harvest of his
eternal people. Worldly people think that this lifetime is their
opportunity to indulge themselves, to accumulate material resources,
and gratify their physical appetites. But God's purpose for this
Creation is to be united with his people by the indwelling Holy
Spirit, in spiritual "marriage."
This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God our
Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be
spiritually reborn to eternal life in God's kingdom in paradise.
This lifetime is our only opportunity to "come and see," and
to learn by trial and error that God's will is our best good,
perfectly feasible, and our very best interest (Romans 21:2c).
This Creation has been designed from the very beginning to
accomplish God's eternal purpose which is to establish an eternal
kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. God has
designed Creation in such a way that no one is sinless, and that no
one is deserving of forgiveness or salvation, so that he can give us
forgiveness and salvation as an undeserved free gift.
Jesus is God's only provision of forgiveness and salvation (Acts
4:12), and has been designed into the very structure of Creation
(John 1:1-5, 14). No one can come to know and have fellowship with
God except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the
fulfillment of Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching to heaven, through
whom we receive the blessings of heaven, and by whom we can ascend
to heaven.
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 2
Epiphany B
First Posted
01/16/2006;
Podcast: Monday 2 Epiphany B
Psalm 62:6-14 -- My Salvation;
Paraphrase:
The Lord is my only rock, my fortress and salvation; I will not be
shaken. My deliverance and honor rest upon the Lord. God is my
mighty rock of refuge.
Let us always trust in him, everyone. We can pour out our hearts to
him. In him we can find refuge.
Worldly status is a vain hope, a delusion. In the scales of justice
both low and high estate are but a puff of air, lighter than a
breath. Don't practice extortion or robbery in order to gain wealth.
Do not allow your heart to desire riches. God has declared that
power belongs to him. God is also merciful; he will reward every
person according to his deeds.
Commentary:
There is no genuine security in this world except in the Lord.
Worldly security is a delusion. The more we have the more we have to
protect, and security always requires just a little bit more.
Everything we've worked for and accumulated can be lost in an
instant.
If we seek worldly security before we seek the Lord and his eternal
kingdom, we'll never get around to it. Jesus tells us to seek the
Lord and his righteousness and we will have all the material things
we need as well (Matthew 6:33).
I'm convinced that the meaning and purpose of life in this world is
to seek and find God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is
our opportunity to be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to
eternal life. All this can only be accomplished through faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the only way (John 14:6) to know divine, eternal truth, the
only way to be forgiven our sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), to be saved (from God's eternal condemnation
of us to destruction in hell; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17);
the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken
by sin (John 14:23), and the only way to have eternal life by
spiritual rebirth through the gift of the indwelling Holy
Spirit (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Only Jesus gives the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling
Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey
Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee
that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22;
Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
There is a Day of Judgment coming when Jesus will return in glory
and power to judge everyone who has ever lived in this world. Jesus
is the righteous judge, and the standard of judgment against which
all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord will have
been spiritually "born-again" in this lifetime, and will enter
eternal life in God's kingdom in paradise. Those who have rejected
Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be
condemned to spiritual eternal death and destruction in hell with
all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
In that Day of Judgment worldly social rank and material wealth will
be of no value whatever. The only thing which will matter at all is
a personal relationship with the Lord through his indwelling Holy
Spirit.
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 2
Epiphany B
First
Posted 01/17/2006;
Podcast: Tuesday 2 Epiphany B
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Jonah's Second Call;
Paraphrase:
After fleeing from God's first call to preach God's Word of Judgment
against Nineveh, Jonah reluctantly obeyed the second call.
The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim the message God
gave him. So Jonah did as God had commanded. Nineveh was so large
that it would take three days to travel through. Jonah entered the
city and went a day's journey. Jonah began to proclaim that in forty
days the city would be destroyed. Nineveh's people believed God.
They proclaimed a fast and everyone put on sackcloth (the ritual
mourning garb).
Seeing the Ninevites repent and change their ways, God relented, and
renounced his intention to destroy them as he had said.
Commentary:
God's Word, the Bible, contains both great promises and ominous
warnings. The warnings are given to us to help us avoid the
consequences of disobedience of God's Word (which is the definition
of sin).
The penalty for unforgiven sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). We
are all sinners who fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23;
1 John 1:8-10), and Jesus is God's only provision for our
forgiveness and salvation (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar top
right, home).
It isn't pleasant for the messengers of God's Word to rebuke sin and
call people to repent. It isn't pleasant for the hearers to listen
to, either.
In today's world, particularly in the American culture and the
American Church, there are many instances where messengers of God's
Word are avoiding preaching about sin and eternal destruction in
hell, because people don't want to hear it. They want to hear only
the parts of God's Word which make them feel good. They want God to
bless their sinful ways, instead of repenting and living according
to God's ways.
Messengers of God's Word aren't doing sinners any favor if they
don't confront sin and point out the need for salvation. By false
assurance of church "membership," people feel no shame for sin, and
no need for confession and repentance.
Throughout the history of God's dealing with Israel recorded in the
Bible, God sent prophets to warn his people to repent and change
their ways, and the people refused to heed the prophets until it was
too late to avoid the consequences. The destruction of the Northern
Kingdom of the ten tribes by the Assyrians in 721 B.C., and the
exile of Judah, the remnant of Israel to Babylon for seventy years,
from 587-517 B.C., are examples.
God loves us and doesn't want any of us to perish eternally (Romans
5:8; John 3:16-17). He wants us to hear his Word fully and
accurately proclaimed, so that we can repent, be forgiven, and live
in accordance with it.
Thank God for the time and opportunity to hear his call to repent
and be saved. Notice that the Ninevites didn't put off repentance
and fasting until the last moment; their response was immediate.
Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
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)?
Wednesday 2
Epiphany B
First Posted 01/18/2006;
Podcast: Wednesday 2 Epiphany B
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Time is Short;
Mark 1:14-20 -- God's Kingdom is at Hand;
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Christians should live as though the Lord will come back at any
moment. Those who are married should not become preoccupied with
their wives (and families). Those who mourn should not focus on
their mourning, and those who rejoice should not focus on their
rejoicing. We must continue shopping for things we need, but we
should live as though we have no possessions. We still must have
dealings with the world but we must not become distracted, always
keeping in mind that the things of this world are passing away.
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus' began his public ministry by announcing that the kingdom of
God is at hand, and he urged his hearers to repent and believe in
the Gospel (the "good news" of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace
with God; salvation from his eternal condemnation).
As Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon
(whom the Lord named Peter) and his brother Andrew fishing with a
casting net, and invited them to follow Jesus and become "fishers"
of men. They immediately left their nets, and followed Jesus. A
little farther on, Jesus saw James and John in a boat with their
father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them and
immediately they left their father and followed Jesus.
Commentary:
Since Jesus' first appearance, the kingdom of God has been coming
and is near to us. He invites those who encounter Jesus to follow
him and as they do so, they enter God's eternal kingdom, which
begins now in this world.
To those who follow Jesus in faith (obedient trust) he gives
spiritual "rebirth" (John 3:3, 5-8) 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).
Today is the day of Salvation. Yesterday is passed, tomorrow may
never come; today is the only day we can be certain of, and
our only opportunity to respond to Jesus' call (Hebrews 3:8, 15).
Today Jesus is calling, and to follow him we must leave our
preoccupation with worldly affairs. We must be willing to leave
family, career, and possessions, if necessary, and become his
disciples.
Jesus began his ministry by calling people to become his disciples.
Jesus established and mediates a New Covenant ("Testament") of
salvation (from sin, which is disobedience of God's Word, and
from eternal destruction, which is the penalty for sin) by God's
grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of
Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus established the New Covenant, in the "New Feast of Passover"
(the Lord's Supper; Holy Communion; the Eucharist) which he
instituted on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-29
RSV note "g;" Hebrews 8:8; 9:20;12:24; Jeremiah 31:31-34). Jesus'
disciples are to continue Jesus' mission to proclaim the the Gospel,
"good news" of the New Covenant between God and mankind, to be
received through faith in Jesus.
Jesus modeled the ministry of the Church, to become Jesus'
disciples, to learn to trust and obey his teachings, to seek, wait
for (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) and receive spiritual "rebirth,"
guidance and empowerment through the gift ("anointing;" "baptism")
of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and then to make ("born-again")
disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) and teach them to
repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).
A Christian is a "born-again" disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts
11:26c). Sadly, in too many instances the "nominal" Church today has
failed to make "born-again" disciples, and has settled for building
buildings and making "members:" nominal ("fair-weather") Christians.
In order to make "born-again" disciples we must be willing to be
"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)?
Thursday 2
Epiphany B
First
Posted 01/19/2006;
Podcast: Thursday 2 Epiphany B
Romans 12:16b-21 -- Christian Life;
John 1:29-34 -- John the Baptizer's Testimony;
Romans Paraphrase:
Christians are to live in harmony with each other; to avoid
arrogance, conceit, and social distinctions. Instead of repaying
evil with evil, let us do what everyone will consider noble. As best
we can, we are to live peaceably with all. Let us never seek
vengeance ourselves, but leave vengeance to the wrath of God; God's
Word declares that vengeance is God's prerogative, not ours
(Deuteronomy 32:35). Instead let us show kindness to our enemies;
give them food if they are hungry, and drink if they are thirsty. In
so doing they will be ashamed of their behavior. We will "not be
overcome by evil, but will overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
John Paraphrase:
John the Baptizer testified that Jesus is the "Lamb of God" (the
sacrificial lamb of Passover; Ex 12:1-14; Isaiah 53:7) who takes
away the sin of the world. John had preached that one was coming
after John who ranks before John and existed before John (John
1:1-3, 14; John 8:58). John hadn't known who that one was, until it
was revealed to him by God, who had called John to his ministry,
which was to reveal that one (the Messiah) to Israel.
God had directed John to preach baptism with water for repentance to
prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, who would
"baptize" them with the Holy Spirit. God had given John a sign, the
Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove, when John
baptized him, and John testified that he had seen this, and that
Jesus is the Son of God.
Commentary:
Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been
baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. The Church is the heir to the
role of John the Baptist: to baptize with water for repentance in
preparation for the coming of Jesus in the baptism with the Holy
Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples
who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
The Church was "born" on the Day of Pentecost, with the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:1-13). The "baptism"
with the Holy Spirit is the spiritual "rebirth" (John 3:3, 5-8) of
the disciple. It is a discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2). One
does not need to consult a religious authority and take their word;
if one is uncertain, one has not been reborn. Instead of the
believer asking the Church, the Church should be asking the
believer.
Rebirth is a personal relationship with the risen and ascended Jesus
Christ. 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 new believer is to be discipled in the Church (the "New
Jerusalem") by a "born-again" disciple of Jesus Christ, until the
new believer is "baptized" with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Then the indwelling Holy Spirit will guide
the believer to spiritual maturity.
Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the author of the letter to the Romans, is
the prototype and example of a "modern," "post-resurrection,"
"born-again" disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we all can be.
He had been "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, Ananias, until
Paul had been "reborn" (Acts 9:1:22). Paul was "discipling" the
Roman congregation; he was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew
28:19-20), which Jesus gave to his disciples to be carried out after
they had been "reborn" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul was
teaching believers to trust and obey all that Jesus taught by Jesus'
by word and example.
Christians are to be transformed (Romans 12:2) from the ways of the
world to the ways of the Lord; from our former manner of living to
the example and teaching of Jesus. We need to be informed by the
Bible to know what Jesus taught and to begin living accordingly. As
we do so we will be "baptized" and filled with the indwelling Holy
Spirit.
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 2
Epiphany B
First Posted 01/20/2006;
Podcast: Friday 2 Epiphany B
2 Kings 5:1-15 -- Naaman's Leprosy Healed;
Background:
Elisha was a prophet in Israel for sixty years (892-832 B.C.*).
Samaria was the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel built
by King Omri (880-876**). The Northern Kingdom of Israel was under
military domination of Syria from about 840-800 B.C. ** Samaria fell
to the Assyrians in 721 B.C,** and the Northern Kingdom ceased to
exist.
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria. The king
of Syria thought highly of him, because Naaman had given Syria
victory. He was a powerful man of great courage, but he had leprosy.
During a raid on Israel, the Syrians had captured a young girl from
Israel who became the slave of the wife of Naaman. The girl told her
mistress that she wished Naaman could go the prophet (Elisha) who
was in Samaria, because the prophet would cure Naaman's leprosy.
Naaman told the king what she had said, and the Syrian king wrote
the king of Israel and sent it with Naaman to Samaria.
Naaman took with him ten talents (seventy five pounds each) of
silver, and six thousand gold shekels and ten festal garments.
When the king of Israel read the letter commanding him to heal
Naaman's leprosy, he tore his clothes (an indication of mourning),
thinking that only God has the power of life and death. The king
thought that Syria was provoking a fight with Israel.
Elisha, the prophet of the Lord, heard that the king had torn his
clothing, and sent word to the king asking why the king was upset;
he should send Naaman to Elisha, so that Naaman might know that
there was a prophet in Israel. Naaman came to Elisha's door and
Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman, telling him to bathe in the
Jordan river seven times and he would be healed.
Naaman was angry and left, telling his servant that if he could be
healed by washing in a river, he could have done so in the
rivers of Syria. Naaman was angry that Elisha had sent a servant
with a message and had not personally come out to Naaman. Naaman had
expected Elisha to do some sort of ritual and invoke God's name. But
Naaman's servants urged him to do as the messenger had said. They
suggested that if Elisha had asked Naaman to do some difficult
thing, Naaman would have done it. Why not do the relatively simple
thing as Elisha had said? So Naaman went and dipped himself into the
Jordan seven times and his leprosy was healed, and his skin was
restored to that of a young child.
Commentary:
The reason for the ultimate collapse of the Northern Kingdom was
because its political leaders were not trusting and obeying God's
Word; they were living according to their own will; they were doing
what they thought was right in their own judgment. God had raised up
prophets who proclaimed God's Word, calling them to repent and
return to obedient trust in the Lord. Instead they turned to worldly
alliances.
The king of Israel described here illustrates that lack of faith. He
was frightened by the king of Syria's request, and was seeking
worldly help. He knew that he on his own couldn't heal Naaman. It
didn't occur to him to get spiritual advice. Elisha had to contact
him.
Elisha suggested to the king of Israel to send Naaman to him, so
that at least one person, even a Gentile, would know that there was
prophet, a man of God, in Israel, as apparently the king of Israel
did not.
Naaman nearly missed his healing, because he was expecting Elisha to
come out to him in person, and do some sort of religious ritual,
invoking God's name. Naaman was a man of great worldly power and
authority. He had great influence with the king of Syria, but it
took the faith of a Jewish slave girl to point him to the source of
true healing. He felt the equal of the king of Israel, and therefore
equal with the prophet, but the prophet had sent the message through
his servant.
God's Word comes to us through his servants. Jesus is the ultimate
fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this
world in human flesh (John 1:1-5; 14). Jesus is the ultimate servant
of the Lord, perfectly obedient to God's Word.
Israel was looking for the Messiah, but they were expecting a
worldly concept of a king, a political savior who would restore the
kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6; John 18:36). They rejected Jesus and
his message, and they missed the spiritual healing that only Jesus
can provide.
Salvation (from bondage to sin and death; from eternal condemnation)
is not through religious ritual, but through faith (obedient trust)
in Jesus. Many people today are seeking "signs and wonders," as was
Israel at the time of Jesus' physical ministry on earth (Matthew
27:42; John 6:30). The signs were all around them but they did not
see them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians
2:14).
Salvation is not by some work that we do to earn and deserve it
(Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus has already done the work for us on the
cross. All we have to do to receive it is to say yes to Jesus'
lordship over our lives, and to begin to know, trust and obey Jesus'
teachings (Matthew 7:21-27).
Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding and raising the dead
were intended to reveal that he has the power to heal and feed
spiritually, and to raise us from physical death to eternal life,
through the gift (baptism; anointing) with his 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).
We have the eyewitness testimony of the disciples in the New
Testament, that Jesus was raised from physical death to eternal life
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Every truly "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8)
believer can personally testify that Jesus has risen and is
eternally alive through the indwelling Holy Spirit within him. We
have the promises of scripture; all we have to do to receive them is
to act in faith (obedient trust) on them. As we do so he will reveal
himself to us (John 14:21)
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)?
*Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Elisha" digital edition, SwordPROJECT BibleTime 1.6.4 (for Linux KDE 3.5.7) http://wwwbibletime.org
**According to The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Chronological Tables of Rulers , p. 1532-1533, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Saturday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/22/2006;
Podcast: Saturday 2 Epiphany B
Matthew 8:1-13 -- Our Healer;
Paraphrase:
After the Sermon on the Mount, large crowds followed Jesus. A leper came to Jesus and knelt before him, addressing him as Lord, and declaring that Jesus could heal him if Jesus was willing. Jesus told him he was willing, and commanded his healing. Jesus told the healed leper not to mention his healing to anyone, except to present himself to the priests and give the offering specified in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14:2-32), for proof to the people.
Jesus entered Capernaum (in Galilee), and a Centurion (Gentile; Roman soldier) came to Jesus asking Jesus to heal the Centurion's servant, who had suffered paralysis and was in great distress. Jesus told the Centurion that Jesus would go with him to his home to heal his servant, but the Centurion replied that he was not worthy to have Jesus to enter his home. Since the Centurion was used to exercising authority in the military and in his own household, and he declared his faith that Jesus could just say the command, and it would be done as he commanded.
When Jesus heard the Centurion's declaration, he was amazed, and he said to the crowd that he had not found such faith in all of Israel. Jesus said that in eternity, people from all over this world and from every nation will have fellowship with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while the sons of the kingdom (the heirs of the patriarchs; the Jews who rejected Jesus) will be excluded from the kingdom of God, in torment and mourning in the outer darkness. Then Jesus said that the Centurion could go on his way; what he had asked of Jesus in faith had been done for him. And the Centurion's servant was healed at that very moment.
Commentary:
Jesus is God's "anointed" eternal Savior and King of God's eternal kingdom ("Messiah" and "Christ;"each mean "anointed" in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). The leper acknowledged his faith in Jesus as Lord, and Jesus' power to heal him, and he received what he asked of the Lord.
The Roman Centurion was a Gentile (non-Jew), but he acknowledged that Jesus had authority over him, and over physical infirmities, and because he asked in faith, he received what he requested of the Lord. But many Jews, the chosen people of God, missed the inheritance intended for them through the patriarchs, because they didn't accept Jesus as their Messiah and Lord.
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promises of God's Word (John 1:1-5, 14), but the fulfillment of those promises is only by faith, which is obedient trust in Jesus. Forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word), salvation from God's eternal condemnation, and eternal life are only possible through obedient trust only in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
In order to have eternal life we must be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8), which is only possible through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The only way Jews or anyone else will be saved is through acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Mathew 23:37-39).
God is God, whether we acknowledge him or not, but God is not obligated to be all that an all-powerful, loving God implies unless we are willing to be his obedient, trusting people (Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 11:20; Leviticus 26:3; see also Jeremiah 11:4c-5a). There are conditions which we must meet in order to expect God to listen to and answer our prayers (see Conditions for answered prayer, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus is God, God, the Son of God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28), and (God the) Son of man, which is how Jesus usually referred to himself. It is true, and it allows us to decide for ourselves who he is, with a hint from Daniel 7:13.
Jesus is Lord, whether we acknowledge him or not. Right now we have the freedom to choose or reject him as Lord, but in the Day of Christ's return in glory and power to judge the living ("quickened") and dead (1 Peter 4:5; in both physical and spiritual senses), "every knee should (shall) bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). In that Day he will command and we will have no choice but to obey (Matthew 25:31-46). In that Day, those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused to trust and obey Jesus will be cast into outer darkness of eternal torment and misery (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Jesus came to give us spiritual healing and true, eternal life. Jesus did miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection, to demonstrate that he also has the power to spiritually heal, feed and raise to eternal life. Our real needs are spiritual; we will all face physical death, but where will we spend eternity?
Many people were attracted to Jesus for the physical healing and feeding he could offer, but people who came only for that missed the spiritual healing only he can provide. Jesus didn't want the leper to publicize his physical healing so as not to attract those who are only interested in physical benefits.
Being born into God's chosen people (the Church is the New Israel) does not guarantee us salvation and eternal life. Church membership and religious ritual won't save us. The Jews thought they were saved because they were the children of Abraham, but it is the followers of Jesus Christ who trust and obey Jesus who are the true children of Abraham (Matthew 3:7-9; John 8:37-59; Galatians 3:6-9). Jesus warns us that it is not those who call themselves Christians who will be saved, but those who trust and obey God's Word (do God's will; Matthew 7:12-27; Luke 6:46).
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)?
