Week
of Pentecost 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
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Podcast Download: Week of Pentecost B
Sunday
Pentecost B
First Posted May 31 , 2009;
Podcast: Sunday Pentecost B
| Psalm 104:25-34 -- Creation and
Renewal by God’s Spirit; Ezekiel 37:1-14 -- Dry Bones; Acts 2:1-21 -- Birthday of the Church; John 7:37-39a -- The Feast of Tabernacles; Psalm Paraphrase: Consider the great diversity of Creation, from microscopic one-cell organisms to huge dinosaurs; from the inner-space within the atom to the vastness of the cosmos. God has brought forth an orderly Universe from primordial chaos (Genesis 1:2). All Creation has been created by and bears witness to God’s divine wisdom. All Creation has been brought into existence, is sustained, and comes to an end by God’s will. God has given every living thing the “breath”* of life, but God’s intention for mankind is for more than the breath of physical life. God has created us to be eternal beings. (We are all eternal; the question is where we will choose to spend eternity; John 5:28-29.) God wants to fill us with his Spirit,* through whom we receive eternal life and fellowship with God. God wants to renew us spiritually, similarly to the way God constantly renews his Creation physically. God’s glory is beyond what we can imagine! He uses the awesome power of his Word, by which the Universe was created, to give us physical and spiritual life! When we begin to understand God’s nature and character we will rejoice and praise him and seek to please him.
Ezekiel Background:
Ezekiel was a priest and prophet in Judah, the remnant of Israel, from before the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, and during the Exile. This is a word of hope from God that although Israel feels lost beyond all hope of recovery, that God is yet able to restore them. Ezekiel Paraphrase: God gives the “breath*” of life to all living things in this Creation. To mankind he has given more than just physical life; he has given us an eternal soul, and through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ he gives us the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We’re living in the physical sense and existing in the eternal sense, but without the gift of the Holy Spirit, we’re spiritually dead. Background: Jesus had told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts1:4-5, 8), and that promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was originally the Jewish Feast of Weeks (a “week” of weeks; seven weeks; forty-nine days). Thus Pentecost was the fiftieth day after the offering of firstfruits at the beginning of the grain harvest (Leviticus 23:15-16). Acts Paraphrase: On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were gathered together (probably in the upper room where they had celebrated Passover; The Last Supper). The sound from heaven of a mighty rushing wind filled the place. Tongues (flames) of fire appeared and were distributed and resting upon each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different foreign tongues (languages) as the Spirit moved them. There were Jews in Jerusalem from all over the world and they heard the "commotion" and came to see what was happening. Each was amazed to hear their own language being spoken. They realized that the disciples were from Galilee, and couldn't understand how they were able to speak in the native languages of Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, and those from Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phyrigia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene. There were also Jews and converts to Judaism from Rome, and Cretans and Arabians, each hearing in their own language the mighty works of God. They were amazed and wondered what was happening. But some mocked the disciples and suggested that they were drunk. But Peter stood up and began to address the multitude, saying that the disciples weren't drunk as some supposed, because it was only 9:00 A.M.. What was happening was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32. God had declared through the prophet that in the last days (after the physical coming of Jesus) God would distribute his Spirit upon all people. In that day the descendants would (all) prophesy, young and old would have prophetic visions and dreams. All the servants of the Lord would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and would prophesy. God declared that, as the coming Day of the Lord (the Second Coming; The Day of Judgment; the End of the Age) approached, he would cause wonders to be seen in the heavens, and disturbances of nature on earth, like blood, fire, and smoke. The Sun will be darkened and the moon will become blood-red. In that Day it will be those who call on the name of the Lord who will be saved. John Background: The Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of Booths, or Ingathering) was a commemoration of the wilderness wandering which began on the fifteenth of the seventh month (September-October) and lasted for seven days.* Temporary shelters were built in the fields, and in latter times, in Jerusalem by pilgrims to the festival. It was associated with the harvest of olives and grapes for oil and wine.*** During the seven days of the festival, water was carried in a golden pitcher from the Pool of Siloam and poured out on the altar in the temple as a reminder of the water from the rock in the wilderness (Numbers 20:2-13).** Please visualize water pouring down over the altar, onto the floor, flowing over the threshold and out into the world (compare Ezekiel 47:1-5). John Paraphrase: It is in this context that Jesus declared at the climax of the festival that he is the source of living water which quenches spiritual thirst. To those who come to Jesus for living water Jesus gives the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit who will become in them an (artesian) spring of living water overflowing into the world around them bringing life to others and welling up to eternal life. Commentary:
God, our Creator, has breathed on us
and given us the breath* of (physical) life (Genesis 2:7).
Everything in Creation exists by the will and providence
of God. God’s purpose for this Creation is to establish an
eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey
him. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to
knowledge of, and fellowship with, God (Acts 17:26-27),
which is only possible through Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12;
John 14:6). Jesus has been God’s plan from the beginning
of Creation and has been built into the structure of
Creation (John 1:1-5, 14).
Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice
for the forgiveness of our sins, so that we could receive
the breath* of spiritual life, through the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only one who baptizes
(anoints) with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(John 1:31-34), which Jesus gives only to his disciples
who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Lord sends
forth his Spirit to give spiritual “rebirth” (John 3:3,
5-8) and renewal to his disciples, individually, and to
his Church collectively.
The Church today, particularly the
American Church, is full of a lot of “dry bones.” In many
cases the Holy Spirit departed long ago, but the people
haven’t noticed. The Church and its members need to see
and realize their need for spiritual rebirth and renewal.
We need to be willing to see the true situation and to
hear the prophetic Word of God proclaimed. God is willing
and able to revive the driest of bones if we are willing
to see and hear God’s prophetic truth.
The first “New Testament” Pentecost was
the birthday of the Church. Peter, who had been afraid to
admit his relationship to Jesus to a menial servant girl
on the night of Jesus’ betrayal (John 18:15-27), was
immediately transformed into a bold and powerful
evangelist when he had been filled with the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:14-41). Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the prototype and
example of a modern, “post-resurrection” “born-again”
disciple of Jesus Christ, was immediately transformed from
a persecutor of the Church and Christians, into the great
evangelist, ultimately, to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-22).
The same Hebrew word can be translated
as “wind,” breath,” or “spirit.”** Ezekiel’s prophecy
involved a play on these words. On the Day of Pentecost,
the anointing of the Holy Spirit was manifested as the
sound of a mighty wind (Acts 2:2), and as tongues of fire,
in fulfillment of John the Baptizer’s testimony that Jesus
would “baptize” with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (The
“fire” also referred to “refining” the faith of disciples
through testing as metal is refined by fire.) Jesus
described spiritual rebirth to Nicodemus using the same
play on the word for wind and Spirit (John 3:6-8).
The Feast of Tabernacles was originally
established by God’s Word as a commemoration of Israel’s
wilderness wandering. It began on the fifteenth of the
seventh month (September-October) and lasted seven days.
The last day was apparently the greatest. It was
associated with the harvest of olives and grapes, for oil
and wine. *** Olive oil was used to anoint kings of
Israel. [Christ and Messiah mean (God’s) anointed, in
Greek and Hebrew, respectively.] Wine, the “blood” of
grapes, was used as an element of the “Lord’s Supper,”
(Holy Communion; the Eucharist). “Blood” symbolized the
“life-force:” the “spirit.” Israelites were forbidden to
drink the blood of any animal. God wanted us to
participate in his Holy Spirit; not in the spirits of
animals or demons.
After the Exile, two rituals had been
added: the lighting of great golden lamps in the temple
courtyard, as a commemoration of the leading of the pillar
of fire by night (Exodus 13:21), and a water ritual, where
golden pitchers of water from the pool of Siloam were
carried daily and poured on the altar. This ritual
symbolized the water from the rock in the wilderness
(Numbers 20:2-13) and also the Messianic deliverance.
This is the context in which Jesus
declared that he is the source of water which quenches
spiritual thirst, and the giver of the Holy Spirit, which
becomes a spring of life-giving spiritual water in the
believer, flowing outward and giving spiritual life to
others. Please visualize water pouring down over the
altar, onto the floor, flowing over the threshold and out
into the world (compare Ezekiel 47:1-5). Jesus’
declaration on the last day of the Feast was the
fulfillment of God’s prophetic Word.
This is the Day of commemoration of the
birthday of the Church. 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 same word is translated both
“breath” and “Spirit;” RSV, Psalm 104:30a note “s.”
**The same word in Hebrew means
“breath,” “wind,” and “spirit.” This text involves a play
on these three words. RSV Ezekiel 37:9 note “f”
***Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible,
David Noel Freedman, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
Feasts, Festivals, p 458, Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000,
ISBN 0-8020-2400-5
|
Monday Pentecost B
First Posted June 1, 2009;
Podcast: Monday Pentecost B
Psalm 149 -- Sing a New Song;
Paraphrase: Let us praise the Lord! Let us sing a new song to him and praise him in the gathering of his saints (those who are committed to serving the Lord). Let us rejoice in our Maker, O Israel (the people of God; Christians) and rejoice in our King, O Zion (the Church). Let us praise his name with dancing and music-making with tambourine and harp. The people of the Lord are his delight; he gives victory to the humble. Let his saints rejoice in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. Let there be great praises of God in their throats, and and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance upon the nations (Gentiles) and chastisement on the peoples. God's people are called to bind the kings of earth with iron chains, and restrain the rich and powerful with bars of iron. To execute the written judgment upon them is our glorious honor. Let us glorify the Lord! Commentary:
God’s people are called to praise the
Lord with music, singing and dancing, because the Lord
takes pleasure in his people and gives victory to the
humble. We sing a new song, inspired by God’s blessings to
us. The Church is the new Israel and the new Zion, the
City and stronghold of God on earth, which foreshadows and
points to the eternal City of God in heaven. Jesus is the
eternal king, who has already begun his reign in the
hearts of his disciples.
We are called to praise the Lord, but
we are also called to join the spiritual battle which is
being waged on earth. The Word of God is the sword of the
Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). Christians are called to equip
themselves with the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of the
Bible so that we are able to fight the spiritual battle.
Knowing the Bible is important and necessary, but we must
also be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit who opens our minds to understand the Bible (Luke 24:45), who recalls to our memory the appropriate Word as needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12), and sends us into the place in the battle where we can be effective. The spiritual battle cannot be won in our own human strength. It is only by the Holy Spirit that we can win the victory (Zechariah 4:6).
We’re willing to sing, dance and
celebrate, but are we willing to participate in the
struggle and join the battle? 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 Pentecost B
First Posted June 2, 2009;
Podcast: Tuesday Pentecost B
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -- The Great Commandment;
Deuteronomy Paraphrase:
Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. With all your heart, soul and strength, you shall love the Lord! The Lord's commandments, which have been given to you are to be engraved upon your hearts. You shall diligently teach them to your children. You shall talk of them in daily conversation, and shall meditate on them as you walk, as you lie down, and when you awake.You shall remember them as though a string tied around your finger. They shall be as a frontlet tied to your forehead above and between your eyes (a phylactery). You shall write them on your doorpost and gatepost, to remind you as you leave and return to your home.
Commentary:
The Lord is the one true God, our Creator. Every other so-called “god” is the creation of human imagination. God created us and gave us this good Creation (Genesis 1:31) because he loves us, and wants to give us eternal life in fellowship with him in his heavenly kingdom.
This Creation was very good in the beginning (Genesis 1:31), but God created it with the possibility for sin and evil, because he wants us to have a real choice of whether to trust and obey him or not. This present Creation is temporal, and our physical lifetimes are limited; God will not allow sin and evil to go on forever. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek God (Acts 17:26-27), and he will allow himself to be found by those who seek him (Jeremiah 29:13-14a; Deuteronomy 4:29) .
This lifetime is our opportunity to learn that God is good and loving, and that his will is our best interest (John 3:16-17).
When we realize how much God loves us and how much he’s done for us in Jesus Christ, we will love him and try to please him, and we will receive eternal life in his kingdom, beginning now with 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). That is the purpose of this Creation.
God is the one true God; he is God alone. God is Spirit and invisible. Jesus is God incarnate, in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God; the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). This is the Trinity;* one God in three expressions (persons). Jesus and God the Father are one (John 14:8-11).
No one can come to God and know God except through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Those who love Jesus will keep his commands, and Jesus will love them and reveal himself to them (John 14:21, 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 word “Trinity” is not found mentioned in the Bible but the concept clearly is. See Romans 8:9, Matthew 28:19-20, for example.
Wednesday Pentecost B
First Posted June 3, 2009;
Podcast: Wednesday Pentecost B
Romans 8:14-17 -- Led by the Spirit;
Paraphrase:
Paraphrase:
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons (and daughters; children) of God” (Romans 8:14). The Spirit
is given to not make us slaves through fear, but sons (and
daughters). When we address God as Father in ecstatic praise, it
is by the Spirit, who bears witness within us that we are God’s
children, and as his children we are his heirs, and share his
inheritance with Christ, provided that we suffer with Christ so
that we may share in his glory.
Commentary:
“All who are led by the Spirit are sons (and
daughters) of God” (Romans 8:14). Only Jesus "baptizes" with
(gives the gift of) the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34),
only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17; Isaiah
42:5e). Disciples who are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) are no
longer slaves to God by the Covenant of Law. They no longer have
to fear God’s wrath and punishment, provided that they live daily
according to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-9).
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). When we pray to God
our Father by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit within us, our
experience of the presence of the Holy Spirit bears witness to us
that we are children of God. Because we are (adopted) children of
God, we share with Jesus in the inheritance of our Father,
provided that we share in Jesus’ suffering (in ministry, for the
Gospel) as Jesus suffered for us, with the assurance that we will
also share in his glory.
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 Pentecost B
First Posted June 4, 2009;
Podcast: Thursday Pentecost B
John 3:1-17
-- New Birth;
Paraphrase:
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a Jewish religious leader (a member of the Sanhedrin: the Jewish religious court). He came to Jesus at night (because his fellow Pharisees would not approve). Nicodemus told Jesus that he knew that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God, because of the "signs" (miracles) which Jesus was doing.
Jesus told Nicodemus that, in all truth, one cannot see the kingdom of God (all around them now; and ultimately in Heaven) unless one had been "born-anew" ("born-again"). Nicodemus asked how a person could be born a second time; could a mature individual re-enter his mother's womb and be born again?
Jesus replied that, in total certainty, one cannot enter the kingdom of God unless one has been born of water (water baptism into Jesus) and the Spirit ("anointing;" "baptism;" "gift;" of the indwelling Holy Spirit). Those who are born of the flesh are flesh (perishable). Those who are born of the Spirit are spiritual beings (imperishable) in human flesh.
Jesus told Nicodemus not to be incredulous that Jesus had told him that one must be "reborn." One does not have to understand where the wind* comes from or where it goes, but one hears the sound of it. It is like that with the Spirit;* One can experience it without fully understanding it.
Paraphrase:
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a Jewish religious leader (a member of the Sanhedrin: the Jewish religious court). He came to Jesus at night (because his fellow Pharisees would not approve). Nicodemus told Jesus that he knew that Jesus was a teacher who had come from God, because of the "signs" (miracles) which Jesus was doing.
Jesus told Nicodemus that, in all truth, one cannot see the kingdom of God (all around them now; and ultimately in Heaven) unless one had been "born-anew" ("born-again"). Nicodemus asked how a person could be born a second time; could a mature individual re-enter his mother's womb and be born again?
Jesus replied that, in total certainty, one cannot enter the kingdom of God unless one has been born of water (water baptism into Jesus) and the Spirit ("anointing;" "baptism;" "gift;" of the indwelling Holy Spirit). Those who are born of the flesh are flesh (perishable). Those who are born of the Spirit are spiritual beings (imperishable) in human flesh.
Jesus told Nicodemus not to be incredulous that Jesus had told him that one must be "reborn." One does not have to understand where the wind* comes from or where it goes, but one hears the sound of it. It is like that with the Spirit;* One can experience it without fully understanding it.
Nicodemus asked how this could be. In reply, Jesus asked how Nicodemus could presume to be a teacher of Israel without understanding what Jesus had said. Jesus told him that Jesus ( and all "born-again" Christians) were testifying to what they knew and had experienced, but Nicodemus wasn't accepting his testimony. If Nicodemus couldn't understand what Jesus was teaching in worldly experience, how could he believe what Jesus would teach about heavenly things.
Commentary:
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, the strictest sect of
Judaism, and he was a member of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish
religious court). Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. He was curious
about Jesus, but unwilling to risk his status in the Jewish
religious community by being seen openly with Jesus. He realized
that Jesus was a teacher by the will and authority of God, or
Jesus could not do the signs (miracles demonstrating who Jesus is)
that Jesus was doing.
Jesus told Nicodemus “…unless one is born anew
(i.e., “born-again;” ”born from above*) one cannot see the kingdom
of God” (John 3:3). The kingdom of God is all around us, but we
cannot see it now, nor will we ever experience it in eternity,
unless we’re “born-again,” now in this temporal lifetime. Jesus
was describing the spiritual birth which is only by the anointing
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; 21, 23).
John (and Jesus’ disciples; John 4:2) baptized
with water, for repentance and forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38;
Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit). John came baptizing with
water to call and prepare people to receive Jesus, and Jesus’
disciples, then and now, baptize with water for the same purpose.
When we truly repent and prepare to receive Jesus by faith
(obedient trust) we will receive the gift of the indwelling Holy
Spirit (Acts 2:38).
The same word in both Hebrew and Greek can be
translated “breath,” “wind,” or “spirit.” Jesus used this play on
words to describe the Holy Spirit. Flesh cannot inherit eternal
life; only those who are spiritually alive (reborn) can inherit
eternal life. We don’t need to understand what causes the wind to
blow in order to see and experience the effect of the wind, and so
it is with the Spirit.
Nicodemus asked how this could be, and Jesus
asked Nicodemus how Nicodemus could be a teacher of Israel without
understanding and experiencing this reality. To be a teacher of
God’s people, one must believe (trust and obey) Jesus and come to
a personal relationship with Jesus through the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit. It takes born-again disciples of Jesus
Christ to make born-again disciples of Jesus Christ. The
unregenerate (i.e., not born-again), can’t make born-again
disciples, because if they knew how, and what they’re missing,
they wouldn’t be unregenerate. The Church needs to be careful to
make born-again disciples, or there won’t be any from which to
select leaders, and the Church must be careful to select only
born-again disciples to leadership. In all too many nominal
“churches” that is not the case.
Jesus’ message was proclaimed in “earthly”
terms and examples. He healed physical illness, and provided
physical bread, so that people could realize that he could also
heal and nourish them spiritually, and he warned them that
spiritual things are more important than physical things, because
only spiritual things are eternal.
Jesus taught in parables; stories of common everyday earthly experiences of physical life, to illustrate and teach spiritual truths. Jesus’ use, here, of the word play on the Spirit and wind is an example. If we realize that Jesus has come from eternity in heaven to physical life in this temporal world we will believe (trust and obey) what he says about spiritual things; he is the only human being in Creation who has knowledge and experience of spiritual, eternal things.
Jesus taught in parables; stories of common everyday earthly experiences of physical life, to illustrate and teach spiritual truths. Jesus’ use, here, of the word play on the Spirit and wind is an example. If we realize that Jesus has come from eternity in heaven to physical life in this temporal world we will believe (trust and obey) what he says about spiritual things; he is the only human being in Creation who has knowledge and experience of spiritual, eternal things.
In the wilderness, when the Congregation of
Israel was beset with fiery serpents, God instructed Moses to
create a bronze image of a fiery serpent and place it on a pole,
to lift it above the heads of the people. So anyone who was bitten
could look up and see the serpent and he would survive and not die
(Numbers 21:6-8). Imagine an undulating image of a serpent
attached horizontally to a pole by a socket or a hole in the
middle. The image was cross-shaped!
Jesus used the collective experience of the
fiery serpents by God’s people as a parable and a metaphor for
what Jesus does for us. God’s people are wandering through the
wilderness of this lifetime, led by the Holy Spirit, as Israel was
led by the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21). The fiery
serpent is the enemy of our souls, Satan, and the power of sin and
death. Jesus is our Savior, lifted up on a cross, so that anyone
who is “bitten” by sin and (eternal) death, can look to Jesus
lifted up on the cross, and be saved and have eternal life by
faith (obedient trust) in Jesus.
God loves us. God’s purpose for this present
temporal Creation is to create an eternal kingdom of his people
who willingly trust and obey him. God designed this Creation with
the possibility of sin (disobedience of God’s Word), so that we
could have genuine freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God
or not, but God has limited sin and disobedience by time. This
Creation will pass away, and each of us is limited by our physical
lifetime.
Jesus Christ has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). The reason and purpose of life in this world is to allow us to seek and find a personal relationship with God (Acts 17:26-27). Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sin, restoration to fellowship with God, and salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death (Acts 4:12; 14:6).
Jesus Christ has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). The reason and purpose of life in this world is to allow us to seek and find a personal relationship with God (Acts 17:26-27). Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sin, restoration to fellowship with God, and salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death (Acts 4:12; 14:6).
God sent his beloved only begotten (Matthew
1:20; Luke 1:31-35) Son, Jesus Christ to die on the Cross as the
only sacrifice acceptable to God for our forgiveness and
salvation. His salvation is a free gift, unmerited favor, to be
received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. We are “sin- and
eternal-death-bitten.” To be saved, all we have to do is look to
Jesus on the Cross, in faith (obedient trust; see God’s Plan of
Salvation, sidebar top right, home).
Jesus also died on the Cross so that he could
demonstrate by his resurrection that there is existence beyond
physical death, and he opened the way to eternal life so that we
could follow him. Jesus’ death made it possible for us to be
spiritually cleansed by his blood, so that we could receive the
indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee
that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22;
Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
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)?
*RSV John 3:3, note “e”
Friday Pentecost B
First Posted June 5, 2009;
Podcast: Friday Pentecost B
Matthew 28:18-20 -- The Great Commission;
Paraphrase:
Jesus came to (his disciples, in Gallilee, after his resurrection; Matthew 28:10) and told them that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 11:27a; Luke 10:22a; Ephesians 1:20-22). Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples (of Jesus Christ) in all nations, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (the Holy Trinity), and teaching them observe (i.e. obey) all that Jesus had commanded his disciples, and as they did so, Jesus promised to be with them always, “to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:20b; the “Second Coming,” the Day of Judgment).
Commentary:
After Jesus’ Resurrection, he had told his
disciples, (the eleven of the original Twelve, minus Judas, who
had betrayed Jesus) to return to Galilee where the risen Jesus
would meet them (Matthew 28:10). When Jesus came to them in
Galilee, on the mountain, as he had told them, Jesus declared that
he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus told
his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit [notice the Doctrine of the Trinity], teaching them to
observe (i.e. obey) all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus has come into the world with a message,
the Gospel (which means “Good News”) of forgiveness of sin
(disobedience of God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:6-8), salvation
from God’s condemnation and eternal death (the penalty for sin;
Romans 6:23), and restoration to fellowship with God which was
broken by sin (John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar,
top right, home). Jesus is God’s only provision for our
forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12)
Jesus taught by word and by example. Jesus
demonstrated the method, “discipleship,” by which his disciples
were to carry out The Great Commission. Jesus had begun the
mission of preaching the Gospel of repentance, forgiveness,
salvation and eternal life to the lost and dying world, he began
making disciples, and his disciples were to continue and complete
that mission of proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples.
But Jesus warned his disciples to stay in
Jerusalem until they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit
before carrying out that mission (Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
Jesus began his ministry with water baptism by John the Baptist,
and the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit from God, testified to by
John (John 1:31-34). Jesus promised his disciples a similar
“anointing” by the Holy Spirit, which his disciples were to
receive before continuing Jesus’ ministry. The Church is the
modern equivalent of “Jerusalem,” the City of God on earth and the
place of the Temple of God, which is in his people.
His disciples did as Jesus had commanded, and
they received the “anointing” with the Holy Spirit on the Day of
Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21). Peter is an example of the transforming
power of the Holy Spirit on a “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
disciple of Jesus Christ. At Jesus’ betrayal, Peter had denied
knowing Jesus three times, once to the menial servant of the high
priest (John 18:15-27). But on the Day of Pentecost, Peter was
filled with the Holy Spirit and declared the Gospel boldly in one
of the greatest sermons in the Bible (Acts 2:14-36).
Jesus had told his disciples to begin their
witness in Jerusalem, and they would be led by the Holy Spirit to
witness in Judea (the remnant of Israel) and then Samaria (the
neighboring region, once the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes of
Israel, but then racially and spiritually “adulterated” by the
conquest and occupation by the Assyrians), and then to the ends of
the earth (Acts 1:8).
This promise was fulfilled. In the persecution
of Christians following the martyrdom of Stephen, the disciples
were scattered. Philip went to Samaria (Acts 8:1) where he
proclaimed the Gospel and Samaritans were converted. Philip was
then led by the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:26; note “angel” can mean
‘spirit;” compare Acts 12:15; Revelation 1:1) to take the road to
Gaza, where he shared the Gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch, an
official of Ethiopia, who was converted and baptized (Acts
8:26-38).
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was converted by an
encounter with the risen (and ascended) Jesus on the road to
Damascus, and subsequently discipled by Ananias, received the Holy
Spirit, and then immediately began preaching the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and fulfilling The Great Commission (Acts 9:1-22. Paul is
the example and prototype of the “modern,” “post-resurrection,”
“born-again” disciple of Jesus Christ, which we also can be!
Jesus’ promise to be with his disciples
“always, to the close of the age,” (Matthew 28:20b) is fulfilled
by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to come
to his disciples and reveal himself to them in the Holy Spirit
(John 14:15-17, 21, 23), the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God
(Romans 8:9). Only Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John
1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (Acts
14:15-17). The “anointing” with the Holy Spirit is a personally
discernible event which the recipient can experience for himself
and know with certainty (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal
and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Is Jesus your Lord (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 Pentecost B
First Posted June 6, 2009;
Podcast: Saturday Pentecost B
Romans 11:33-36 -- God’s providence;
Paraphrase:
“O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11:33)! Who among humans knows God’s thoughts; who is qualified to give God advice? Who is able to repay for God’s great deeds? God is the origin, the means, and the objective of all things. Amen!
Commentary:
Paraphrase:
“O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” (Romans 11:33)! Who among humans knows God’s thoughts; who is qualified to give God advice? Who is able to repay for God’s great deeds? God is the origin, the means, and the objective of all things. Amen!
Commentary:
When we come to know and realize God’s plan for
his Creation and for us, we will agree with Paul that the
spiritual riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God far surpass human
ability and understanding, and are worthy of all our praise!
God’s judgements are flawless, and his ways are far above our
ways. We cannot know or guess God’s ways unless he chooses to
reveal them to us.
God has revealed his ways and his purpose for this Creation in his Word, the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, God’s Word fulfilled, embodied and demonstrated (John 1:1-5, 14). God’s fullest revelation of himself to us is by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17).
God’s intention from the very beginning of this Creation was to create an eternal kingdom of his people who trust and obey him. Jesus has been God’s only plan and provision (Acts 4:12) for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), salvation from condemnation and eternal death (the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23), and restoration of fellowship with God (John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation; sidebar, top right, home).
This present Creation is our opportunity to
seek and come to knowledge of and fellowship with God (Acts
17:26-27). God wants to be found by us, and to have fellowship
with us. Are we seeking to know and do God’s will? Have we read
the Bible completely, and do we read it daily, seeking the
guidance of God’s Word? Have we come to experience a personal
relationship with God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus
Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit?
Through the Holy Spirit we have the mind of
Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Through the Holy Spirit we can know
God’s mind, and we can understand his Word (Luke 24:45) and know
his will for us personally.
God doesn’t need our counsel; we need his, and
he gives us his Counselor, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth
(John 14:15-17 RSV) through Jesus Christ (compare Isaiah 9:6).
Our forgiveness and salvation is by grace, the
free gift of God, to anyone will receive it by faith (obedient
trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). No one can earn, buy, or
take, by force or deception, God’s favor and gift of forgiveness,
salvation, and eternal life.
Are we seeking to know and do God’s will, or
are we only interested in getting God to do our will? God’s will
shall be done, whether we cooperate with God or not. Our choice
will determine where we will spend eternity.
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)?
