Week
of 5 Lent - 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 5 Lent - B
Sunday
5 Lent - B
First Posted
March 29, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 5 Lent - B
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant;
Psalm 51:11-16 - A Clean Heart;
Hebrews 5:7-9 - Eternal Salvation;
John 12:20-33 - Gentiles' Inclusion;
Jeremiah - Background:
Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem (the remnant of
Israel) from 627 B.C., to sometime after 580 B.C., the period
leading up to the conquest of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C.,*
and Judah's subsequent exile to Babylon. He was allowed by
Nebuchadnezzar to leave Judah and live in Egypt, from where he sent
messages of hope and restoration, including this text, to the exiles
in Babylon.
Jeremiah Paraphrase:
Jeremiah told the exiles that God had declared that God would make a
new covenant (“testament”) with the remnant of Israel, the people of
Judah. It would be different from the (Old) Covenant of Law, which
God had initiated when he had led them out of bondage in Egypt. They
had continually broken the Old Covenant, although God had been a
husband to them. In the New Covenant the Lord promised to put his
Law within them, writing his Law upon their hearts (instead of
tablets of stone). Then God will be their God and they will be his
(obedient, trusting) people. It will not be necessary to teach one
another about God, because they will all know him (personally),
because God will forgive their sins (disobedience of God's Word) and
remember their sins no more.
Psalm - Background:
This penitential psalm was ascribed to David, the great
shepherd-king of Israel, after Nathan, the prophet, had convicted
David of adultery and murder for taking the wife and life of Uriah,
the Hittite (2 Sam. 11:2-12:26).
Psalm Paraphrase:
The petitioner asks the Lord to create a clean heart within him and
give him a new and right spirit. He asks the Lord not to take God's
Holy Spirit from him or banish him from God's presence. He asks the
Lord to restore to him the joy of God's salvation and uphold him by
God's sovereign, willing, Spirit.
Then the psalmist will teach those who transgress God's commands,
and sinners will be restored to obedient trust in God's Word. He
asks God to deliver him from God's eternal condemnation and from
eternal death, because God is the psalmist's God; his Savior. Then
the psalmist will testify loudly of God's deliverance.
The petitioner asks God to give opportunities for him to testify and
he will declare aloud God's deliverance. God doesn't take pleasure
in animal sacrifices. The sacrifice God desires is our repentance
and our humility (our obedience and trust).
Hebrews Paraphrase:
During Jesus' physical earthly ministry Jesus prayed earnestly that,
if possible, God would spare him from agonizing, prolonged physical
death on the cross, and his prayer was heard by God, because of
Jesus' godly fear (awe and respect for the power and authority of
God). Although he was God's (only begotten) Son he had to learn
obedience of God's will by suffering, as do we. And as he so
learned, he became spiritually mature, “so that he could become the
source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).
Jesus has been designated by God to be our eternal high priest of
the priesthood of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:17-20).
John Paraphrase:
Jesus and his disciples had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast
of Passover, the Last Supper, where Jesus knew that he would be
crucified. Some Greeks (Gentile proselytes of Judaism) were there
and asked Philip, who they knew was a disciple of Jesus, to see
Jesus. Philip and Andrew were from Bethsaida in Galilee (As was
Simon Peter). Philip went to Andrew, and he and Andrew went to tell
Jesus.
Jesus told them that the hour of the Son of man (Jesus) to be
glorified had come. Jesus used the analogy (a parable) of a seed to
teach spiritual truth. A seed seems dead, until it is buried. Then
it sprouts and bears many times the original seed in produce.
Jesus also said that if a person loves his physical life in this
world, he will ultimately lose it (and eternal life also), but one
who hates his life (recognizes the fallen nature of this Creation
and his own fallen physical nature) in this world, will find and
keep his life for eternity.
Jesus said that he was troubled in his soul. His human nature
tempted him to ask God to save him from his hour, but he
acknowledged that the purpose for his coming was to accomplish this
hour of his destiny. Instead Jesus prayed that God's name (his
character and reputation) would be glorified.
A voice from heaven declared that God had glorified his name and
would do so again. The crowd around Jesus heard it but many thought
it was thunder; others thought an angel had spoken to Jesus. Jesus
told them it was not for Jesus' benefit that the voice had spoken,
but for the benefit of the people gathered around Jesus.
Jesus said that now, in Jesus' hour, the world was judged, and the
ruler of this world (Satan) was overthrown. Jesus declared that when
he was lifted up (on the cross) he would draw all people to himself.
Jesus' words revealed that he would die by crucifixion.
Commentary:
Hundreds of years before, God had promised to initiate a New
Covenant. The Old Covenant of Law was written on stone tablets. That
covenant was constantly broken because no one could keep all God's
law all the time. Animal sacrifices could not cleanse us of sin, so
they had to be repeated over and over.
The New Covenant which the Lord promised was by the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit, written upon our hearts. We are freed from
the burden of Law, provided that we live in obedience to the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:1-9). The
only way to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is by
faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift of
the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who
trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and
has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans
8:9b, 11, 15-16). The infilling with the gift of the indwelling Holy
Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing event (Acts 19:2). It is
impossible to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit without
knowing and experiencing it personally with certainty.
God is God whether we acknowledge him as our God personally or not,
but God is not obligated to be all that a loving, faithful,
all-knowing and all-powerful God implies unless we are willing to be
his obedient, trusting people. God is not obligated to hear and
answer our prayers, unless we are willing to trust and obey his Word
(see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home). Just
adding Jesus' name at the end of our prayers does not obligate God
to hear and answer them.
Under the New Covenant, it will not be necessary to teach people
about God because they will have been spiritually reborn to a
personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ. It is necessary for
the true Church of “born-again” disciples, to testify to the Gospel
and lead people to the point of spiritual rebirth. Our purpose is
not to make them “our” disciples, but to lead them to the point that
they can be discipled by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.
We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of God's
righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true according to
God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is
eternal death (Romans 6:23). Only Jesus can give us a new, clean
heart, unblemished by sin. Only Jesus can give us a new and right
spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit
(Romans 8:9).
Only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit are we able to have
personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father, and our
Lord Jesus Christ. God's Spirit is sovereign; he can do what ever he
chooses! But he chooses to be willing to be our God if we are
willing to be his obedient trusting people. By the indwelling Holy
Spirit, we personally experience the joy of being in God's presence,
and the joy of his forgiveness and salvation.
God used the Old Covenant of Law, requiring blood sacrifice for the
forgiveness of our sins, to teach us God's standard of righteousness
and its cost. God has been preparing us for his plan of salvation in
Jesus Christ. Jesus fulfilled the requirement for blood sacrifice on
the cross, once for all time, and for all people who are willing to
receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. God doesn't
want animal sacrifices; he wants our obedient trust. He wants us to
submit our wills to him and accept and do his will.
Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, but he allowed himself to
become like us, suffering the same weakness and temptations, so that
he could show us the way to eternal salvation.
Jesus is not of the priesthood of Aaron, the human priesthood. He
doesn't have to offer animal sacrifices constantly for his own sins
as well as ours. Melchizedek foreshadowed and illustrated the
priesthood to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Abraham (Abram) had won
a spiritual victory over the secular kingdoms of Chedolaomer and his
confederates in the “King's Valley” (Genesis 14:14-20). Melchizedek,
king of Salem (his name means king of righteousness, and his title,
king of Salem means“King of Peace;” priest of God most High, the God
of Abraham; Hebrews 7:1-3; Genesis 14:18-20), came to Abraham
bringing bread and wine (the elements of Christian Communion;
Eucharist; “Last or Lord's Supper,” which it foreshadowed) and gave
Abraham God's blessing. Abraham gave the tithe (10%) to him (Genesis
14:20b).
Melchizedek is the forerunner and illustration of Christ who was to
come to be our King of Peace and righteousness, and our high priest.
Melchizedek symbolizes Christ's eternal kingship and priesthood,
because there is no recorded birth or death of Melchizedek, and he
seems to have no father or mother, or any genealogy recorded in the
Bible.
Jesus had focused his Gospel ministry on the Jews (Matthew
15:22-28), but now Jesus' hour to be glorified had finally come.
Philip wasn't sure whether Jesus would want to see the Greeks who
were inquiring. He checked with his home-town friend, Andrew, and
they went to Jesus together. Because Jesus was about to be
crucified, he told his disciples that when he was lifted up (on the
cross), he would draw all people to himself. The Greeks seeking
Jesus was the beginning of that fulfillment.
Crucifixion as a criminal is not what the world considers being
glorified, nor is dying in order to live and give life. But in the
kingdom of God worldly values are reversed. The greatest is the
servant of others, and the humble will be exalted.
If we love our worldly lives we will die and lose them physically
and eternally. Woe to those who are satisfied and comfortable now
(Luke 6:24-26); but those who know that they are spiritually poor
will be blessed (Matthew 5:3). Those who mourn now, who are humble,
merciful, who long for righteousness will be blessed (Matthew
5:4-7). If we long for a better place, Creation restored to
paradise, uncontaminated by sin, where God's will is fully carried
out (Matthew 6:10), we will seek God's kingdom as our greatest
priority (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus died to give us eternal life. Jesus died to cleanse us of sin
by his blood sacrifice and to make it possible for us to receive the
gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 16:7). It is the indwelling
Holy Spirit within us by which we are reborn to spiritual eternal
life. 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 infilling of the Holy Spirit is a
discernible ongoing event; if you're not sure, you haven't been
reborn (Acts 19:2).
It is the indwelling Holy Spirit within us which gives us clean
hearts. The indwelling Holy Spirit teaches all divine eternal truth
to his disciples, and reminds us of all that Jesus teaches (John
14:26). This is the fulfillment of God's Word to put his Law within
us, written on our hearts. It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit
within us that we experience the love of God, the joy of his
salvation and his presence.
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 Jeremiah, p. 908, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Monday 5 Lent - B
First posted March 30, 2009;
Podcast: Monday 5 Lent - B
Psalm 31:1-5, 9-16 - A Cry for Help;
Paraphrase:
O Lord, you are my refuge; may I not be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Hear my cry and rescue me soon. Be a rock of refuge; a strong fortress to save me.
Yes, you are my refuge and fortress; lead me and guide me for your name's sake. Release me from the net which is hidden for me; you are my refuge. “Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God” (Psalm 31:5).
O Lord, be gracious to me, because I am in distress. My eyes are worn out with grief, as are my body and soul. My life has been filled with sorrow and sighing. I am exhausted with misery to my very bones.
My adversaries scorn me, and my neighbors flee from me in horror. Like those long-dead I'm forgotten; I am broken like a clay pot. “Yea, I hear the whispering of many- terror on every side!- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life” (Psalm 31:13). But you are my Lord and God in whom I trust. My situation is in your control; save me from my enemies and persecutors. I am your servant; look with favor upon me and in your steadfast love save me.
Commentary:
People seek security from the troubles of this world in all sorts of worldly ways and things. We live in gated communities; we build levies to protect us from floods; we store food and water for disaster preparedness; we buy insurance. But security is always beyond our reach; it always takes just a little more than we have.
There is no other real security in this world except in the Lord. Trusting in any other thing or person will ultimately fail and disappoint us (Psalm 146:3). When our security is in the Lord we can endure any trial knowing that ultimately we are safe.
When we trust in the Lord we will learn from experience that he is faithful and able to guide us, and to protect us from our enemies and deliver us from every difficulty. Even death will not prevail over us (Hebrews 2:14-15).
This psalm was quoted by Jesus from the cross (Luke 23:46). The psalm was describing Jesus' situation, and Jesus was claiming the promise of this Psalm, and fulfilling God's Word at that moment.
God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. When we face trials we can claim the promises of God's Word, if we know what they are. When we are in the midst of trouble, we can't always pull out the Bible and start looking for God's promises. In the midst of trouble we aren't always able to think clearly. We should take the opportunity now to store up God's Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11), so that the Holy Spirit will be able to recall it to our memory at the time it is needed (John 14:26). In order to have the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit we must seek spiritual rebirth.
Jesus warns us to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, and we will have the physical necessities of life as well. But if we seek earthly security first we will never have it, and will never get around to securing our spiritual necessities for eternal life.
I believe that the meaning and purpose of life in this Creation is to seek, find and know God (Acts 17:26-27). We should seek the Lord while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6; Deuteronomy 4:29). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to to be spiritually reborn and have true, spiritual, eternal life (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus warns us that we must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) in order to see God's eternal kingdom which is all around us now, and to see and enter it in eternity. This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually reborn to eternal life. Only Jesus gives the gift of spiritual rebirth through his 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). The gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event; if you have to ask a theologian or pastor, you haven't been (Acts 19:2). We should seek spiritual “rebirth” now while it is available.
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 5 Lent - B
First posted March 31, 2009;
Podcast: Tuesday 5 Lent - B
Zechariah 9:9-10 (11-12) -- Messiah Foretold
Background:
Zechariah's prophecies are dated around 520-518 B.C. Chapters 9-14 are thought to have been written later by a spiritual disciple of Zechariah in the 4th or 3rd Century* (400 B.C. – through 201 B.C.). In any case, the Messianic prophecy is hundreds of years before Jesus' coming.
Zechariah Paraphrase:
Israel, the daughter of Zion (the people of Israel; the temple mount; Jerusalem; the Church; the heavenly city), the daughter of Jerusalem should rejoice! “Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9b). The Lord will eliminate the chariot, war horse and battle bow from Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom of Israel -the ten tribes of the divided kingdom) and Jerusalem (the Southern Kingdom of Judah). The Messiah will command peace to the nations (Gentiles). He will reign from sea to sea, and from the River (the Euphrates; “the cradle of civilization”) to the ends of the earth” (Zechariah 9:10c).
As for the people of God, because of the blood of his covenant (the New Covenant), those who were in bondage to sin and eternal death are “set free from the waterless pit” (the grave; hell; eternal destruction). The Lord declares that he will restore to us, who are “prisoners of hope,” double our compensation.
Commentary:
Jesus is the fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy by Jesus' entry into Jerusalem the week (“Holy Week”) of his crucifixion, which the Church celebrates as “Palm Sunday” (Matthew 21:1-11). Jesus didn't “volunteer” to die by crucifixion (Mark 14:35-36), but was obedient to God's Word and purpose.
Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:14; John 14:27. Peace is only possible in Jesus Christ (John 16:33).
Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings (I Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14). Jesus is the “Son of David, the heir to the throne of David (Matthew 21:9; Matthew 1:1, 20; Luke 2:4).
Jesus instituted the New Covenant (Testament) of salvation (from eternal condemnation and death) by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift; to be received by faith, which is obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9) on the night of his betrayal and arrest, at the “Last Supper” (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note “g;” Hebrews 8:8-10, 13). This Covenant was sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:20-22), shed on the cross, as the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and for all people willing to accept it by faith, for the forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word).
We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of God's righteousness manifested in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10; Hebrews 4:15). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want any of us to perish eternally (Romans 8:5; John 3:16). Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12).
God has designed Jesus Christ into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal, unchanging truth, the only way to know and have fellowship, with God our Creator, which was broken through sin, and the only way to receive what is truly and eternally life (John 14:15-17; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
We have all been born physically alive but spiritually dead. What is physical and material seems so real and permanent, and what is spiritual seems so “imaginary,” but the truth is the reverse. Only what is spiritual will remain for eternity. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find fellowship with our God, our Creator, and the only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to true, eternal life. Obedient trust in Jesus is the only way. Only Jesus gives spiritual re-birth through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
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)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Zechariah, p. 1148, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Wednesday 5 Lent - B
First posted April 1, 2009;
Podcast: Wednesday 5 Lent - B
Philippians 2:5-11 -- Obedience;
Paraphrase:
Since we are in Christ Jesus, let us think according to his example. He was, in his nature, God, but he didn't attempt to use or receive the prerogatives of God. Instead, in human flesh, he emptied himself, he surrendered his will completely to God and became obedient to God's will, even unto death on the cross. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Commentary:
Jesus was fully God and fully human (Colossians 2:8-9). He had the same temptations that we have, but he was perfectly sinless (Hebrews 4:15). But he knows our temptations and can help us in our weakness.
Sin is disobedience of God's Word. We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true according to God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus is the name above all names in heaven and on earth. Jesus is the only name in heaven or on earth by which we can be saved from eternal death which is the penalty for sin (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin; Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6).
Jesus' name is not a supernatural incantation; we cannot be saved by invoking Jesus' name. Jesus warns that it not those who call themselves Christians or who call Jesus their Lord who will be saved, but only those who do God's will (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).
Jesus warns that we must be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), and this is only possible 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).
The world claims that there is more than one way to find God. No, there isn't! Jesus is the only way! Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).
Even within the nominal Church there are false teachers who teach salvation by grace (as a free gift, which is true), but without the requirement of discipleship and obedience to Jesus' teachings (which is false; Ephesians 2:8-9; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).
There are nominal Churches that teach that the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by Baptism or some other church ritual. God's Word says that, to those who believe (trust and obey) Jesus, he gives the power (the privilege, the opportunity, the right) to become children of God (John 1:12-13; through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit), but we must claim and seek the fulfillment of that promise individually and personally by trusting and obeying Jesus.
The “baptism” (“anointing,” “infilling,” “gift”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a discernible ongoing event. It is impossible to receive the Holy Spirit without consciously knowing (Acts 19:2). Anyone who has to take the word of a pastor or theologian hasn't received the Holy Spirit; in fact the religious authorities should be asking us if we have been “born-again.” And Christians should be seeking Church leaders who are “born-again.”
After his resurrection Jesus gave the Church his “Great Commission,” his parting instructions before he ascended into heaven. Jesus told them that he had now received all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). So he was commissioning his disciples to go into all the world, making (born-again) disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to know and obey all Jesus' teachings (Matthew 28:19-20). But first they were to stay in Jerusalem (the Church is the “New Jerusalem”) and await the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) before carrying out this commission. The promise of the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit began to be fulfilled on Pentecost, the “birthday” of the Church (Acts 2:1-13).
It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples. The Great Commission can only be accomplished by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within us (Zechariah 4:6).
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 5 Lent - B
First posted April 2, 2009;
Podcast: Thursday 5 Lent - B
Mark 15:1-20 -- Jesus' Trial;
(Mark 14:1-15:47)
Background:
Jesus had been arrested by the Jewish religious authorities at night in the garden of Gethsemane, and was taken to the house of the high priest. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, whose capital was Caesarea, was in Jerusalem to keep order during the Passover.
Paraphrase:
Early in the morning the Sanhedrin (the Jewish supreme court of seventy men of the priests and elders of Israel) met for consultation, and they bound Jesus and took him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate asked Jesus if Jesus was the King of the Jews, and Jesus replied that it was Pilate (and his accusers) who said so. The Jewish leaders accused him of many things, and Pilate asked why Jesus didn't respond to their many charges, but Jesus made no further answer, which puzzled Pilate.
It was Pilate's custom to release one prisoner at the Passover festival, as an act of political patronage. Among the prisoners there was a man named Barabbas, who had committed murder in an insurrection. The crowd came to Pilate to ask for the release, as he had in the past.
Pilate asked them if they would like to release to them their “King of the Jews.” Pilate realized that it was because of jealousy that the Jewish leaders had brought charges against Jesus to Pilate. But the leaders of the Jews stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead.
So Pilate asked them what they wanted Pilate to do with Jesus, and the crowd demanded Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate asked them what reason they had justifying Jesus' crucifixion, but the crowd just kept shouting “Crucify him.” So in order to pacify the crowd Pilate released Barabbas, and had Jesus whipped and then turned over to the soldiers to be crucified.
The soldiers led Jesus into the palace to a large hall, and they assembled the whole battalion. They put a purple (purple was the symbol of royalty) cloak on Jesus and crowned him with a crown of braided thorns. They struck Jesus on his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down before Jesus in mock homage. Then they put Jesus' own clothes back on him and lead him out to be crucified.
Commentary:
The Jewish Council had already met during the night, and come to their verdict (Mark 14:53-65), but it wasn't legal for them to meet at night,* so they came together in the early morning to give their verdict the stamp of legitimacy. The verdict required the agreement of two or more witnesses, which they couldn't find (Mark 14:55-59), but they charged Jesus with blasphemy for honestly answering the high priest's direct question whether Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish method of execution was by stoning; crucifixion was unknown in Israel until they came under Roman domination around 37 B.C., when the Roman Senate made Herod the Great, king of Judea.** The subject of a crucifixion was cursed according to Jewish Law (Deuteronomy 21:23).
Jesus knew and prophesied his own death and resurrection at least three times to his disciples (Mark 8:31; 9:30-32; 10:33). Jesus didn't attempt to dispute the charges the Jews made against him or defend himself, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7.
It was the Sanhedrin who charged Jesus before Pilate of claiming to be King of the Jews, so that the threat of a rival would motivate the Roman governor to crucify Jesus. Pilate recognized that this was the motive of the Jewish leaders.
Jesus did not claim to be the king of the Jews, but he did truthfully answer the high priest when asked the direct question (Mark 14:61-62). Jesus usually referred to himself as the Son of man, which is true, but allows his hearers to decide for themselves who he is (Matthew 16:15-16, with a hint from Scripture (Daniel 7:13).
Who we decide that Jesus is will have eternal consequences for us personally and individually. The Sanhedrin members were experts in the Biblical scriptures, but they failed to see their fulfillment in Jesus. They wanted to rule over God's people themselves, and didn't want to submit themselves to Jesus' authority.
The Jewish people themselves were too easily motivated and influenced by circumstances of the moment. They were aroused to celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, when they thought he would lead them to establish a new independent Israel, free from Roman dominance, with free food (John 6:1-15) and health care (John 9:1-12), but they quickly grew disenchanted with his call to spiritual reform and discipleship. By the end of the week they chose to destroy their Messiah and preserve the life of a murderer.
It isn't only the Jews who are guilty; in a sense we are all guilty of causing Jesus' crucifixion, because we have all sinned and made his sacrificial death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins necessary. I don't believe that the Jews are irrevocably “lost” spiritually, but I believe that no one can be saved except through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Matthew 23:39).
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, Matthew 27:1-2 n, p. 1209 , New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
** ibid, Survey of Bible Lands, Rome's order, p.1128
Friday 5 Lent - B
First posted April 3, 2009;
Podcast: Friday 5 Lent - B
Matthew 21:1-9 -- Entry into Jerusalem
Background:
Jesus and his disciples were going to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover. Jesus knew that he was going to be crucified at the end of the week.
Matthew:
When they came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus told two of his disciples to go into the village, and immediately they would see a donkey, with a colt, tied. They were to bring the animal(s) back to Jesus. If anyone questioned them, they were to say that the Lord had need of them, and would promptly return them. This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 (Matthew 21:4-5).
The disciples did as Jesus had told them. They put their cloaks on the donkey(s) and Jesus sat on them (it). Most of the people in the crowd following Jesus put their clothing on the ground before Jesus, and others cut branches and spread them on the ground. The crowd surrounding Jesus shouted “Hosanna (meaning “O save,” “or save, we beseech”) to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26a)! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9).
Commentary:
Jesus had told his disciples at least three times that Jesus was going to Jerusalem where he would be killed and rise again on the third day (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19). His disciples didn't understand what he was saying until after Jesus' resurrection.
The Gospel accounts differ about the number of donkeys: whether it was one or two animals. It was probably one young animal (Mark 11:4; Luke 19:30; John 12:14-15).
Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Genesis 1:3, 9).
God's Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ is absolutely trustworthy. The test of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word is eternal; it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.
When Jesus asks his disciples to do something, they will find the situation exactly as the Lord described. When we trust and obey Jesus, we will grow to spiritual maturity as we experience the truth and reliability of his word. All we have to do is say “yes” to Jesus; that's the “mustard seed” (Matthew 13:31-32) of faith. As we trust in Jesus he will cause it to grow larger than we can imagine.
God designed this Creation to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we could be free to choose whether to trust and obey him or not. The fallen nature of our world and ourselves is because we choose to do our own will instead of God's will.
We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). We've all been born physically alive but spiritually dead (unborn). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life, and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. We are spiritually reborn 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. Jesus is God's one and only provision for our salvation from eternal condemnation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). The Bible has foretold God's “anointed” (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed, in Greek and Hebrew respectively) Savior and eternal King from the very beginning (Genesis 3:15). The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, Jesus' “adoptive” father, and told him to name him Jesus which means “Savior,” because “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is the long awaited Son of David (Matthew 1:1, 20), the fulfillment of God's promise of a descendant of David who would inherit the throne of David to be the eternal king of God's Kingdom (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).
In order to receive salvation we must recognize and acknowledge that we need it. There is a Day of Judgment coming at the end of our lifetimes. Each one of us will be accountable to Jesus Christ, the righteous judge, for what we have done in this lifetime (John 5:28-29).
The standard of judgment is not how we compare to other people. Being “good” people is not going to save us. The standard by which we will be judged is God's Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ John 1:1-5, 14). If we have rejected Jesus Christ as Lord, and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus, he will not know and acknowledge us as among his redeemed people (Matthew 7:23). We will not have been spiritually reborn by the indwelling Holy Spirit and we will not have had a personal relationship with Jesus which is only possible through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We will be condemned to eternal death in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment. He will come, not humbly on a donkey, but with great glory and power. Will we be putting out the “Welcome” mat; rolling out the “red carpet,” in celebration of his coming, or will we be looking for someplace to hide (Luke 21:25-27; Luke 23:28-30)?
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 5 Lent - B
First Posted 03/31/2012;
Podcast: Saturday 5 Lent - B
Mark15:21-39 – Jesus' Crucifixion;
Paraphrase:
After the Roman soldiers had beaten and mocked Jesus they led him out to be crucified. They made a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, carry Jesus' cross. They took Jesus to Golgotha (“the place of a skull;” a hillock outside the wall of Jerusalem resembling a skull). They offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh (as a sedative), but Jesus didn't take it. Then they crucified Jesus and divided his garments among themselves by casting lots (like rolling dice) to determine who got what.
It was the third hour (9:00 A.M.). There was a sign on the cross indicating his “crime,” which was “The King of the Jews.” Two robbers were also crucified, one on each side of Jesus. Passers-by mocked Jesus, ridiculing Jesus' claim to rebuild the temple in three days, and challenging him to save himself and come down from the cross. Likewise the priests and scribes mocked Jesus among themselves, saying that Jesus saved others but could not save himself. They said “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come now down from the cross, that we may see and believe” (Mark 15: 32). At least one of the criminals (according to Luke 23:41-43) reviled Jesus also.
There was darkness over the whole land from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.). Then Jesus cried out “with a loud voice 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-tha ni,' which means 'My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me'” (Mark 15:34). Some of the bystanders thought Jesus was calling Elijah. One of them gave a sponge saturated with vinegar (soured wine) on a reed for Jesus to drink, saying that they should wait and see if Elijah would come to take Jesus down from the cross. Jesus cried out loudly and stopped breathing. “And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). The centurion (Roman soldier), standing nearby said “Truly this man was the Son (or a son) of God” (Mark 15:39).
Commentary:
The names of Simon of Cyrene, Alexander, and Rufus were mentioned because they would have been recognized by the first readers of Mark's Gospel. Rufus may have been the same one mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:13, although there is no evidence to confirm that.*
The Messiah, Jesus, has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). God has been progressively revealing his plan in his Word, the Bible, from the very beginning (Genesis 3:15). The test of prophecy and the defining characteristic of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word is always fulfilled; and because it is eternal, it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.
Psalm 22, attributed to David, the great shepherd-king of Israel is an example of Messianic prophecy. David is the forerunner, the “illustration,” of the promised Messiah who is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-14) and eternal king, the Son of David (the promised heir to the throne of David; 2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29; Matthew 1:1, 17, 20; 21:9; Luke 2:1-5), who was to come.
Stoning to death was the only form of execution allowed under Jewish Law. Crucifixion was unknown in Israel until they came under Roman dominance around 63 B.C.** Psalm 22 is an example of the Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament.
Psalm 22:6-18 is a “picture” of Jesus' crucifixion, prophesied a thousand years before (David reigned from 1000 to 961 B.C.). Jesus was fulfilling that prophecy at the time of his crucifixion. He was scorned and despised by the people (Psalm 22:6). He was mocked (Psalm 22:7). The people challenged God to rescue him (Psalm 22:8).
Psalm 22:14-17 describes what it feels like to be crucified. At Jesus' crucifixion the soldiers fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 22:18 (compare Mark 15:24). Jesus was quoting and simultaneously fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 22:1 (compare Mark 15:34). Jesus was crucified with the wicked (Mark 15:27; compare Isaiah 53:9).
Jesus' statement about rebuilding the temple was misunderstood. He was prophesying his resurrection (John 2:19-21), but his adversaries interpreted it as against their physical, material, worldly, interests. Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled; he was raised from physical death to eternal life on the third day.
Jesus' enemies challenged him to come down from the cross (which would have destroyed God's Plan of Salvation; which see, sidebar, top right), but instead Jesus rose from the grave! The Jewish authorities had seen plenty of Jesus' miracles and still didn't believe, because believing wasn't in their self-perceived best interest. Jesus' resurrection from the dead didn't convert them to believers.
The three synoptic evangelists (authors of the Gospels of Matthew Mark and Luke, writing from the same point of view; John's Gospel has a different viewpoint and purpose), in Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45, record that the curtain of the temple (separating the people from the “holy-of-holies,” the presence of God, where the Ark of the Covenant was) was torn in two from top to bottom, symbolizing that a new access into the presence of God was opened by Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Jesus' death on the cross was the blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:13-14, 22), shed once for all time and all people who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, cleanses us spiritually so that we can receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit causes our spiritual “rebirth” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus' crucifixion was necessary for us to be “baptized” with (“anointed;” “infilled;” given the gift of) the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 16:7; John 14:15-17, 21). It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:23).
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, Mark 15:21n, p. 1237, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
**from the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
http://www.answers.com/topic/63 B.C..
