Week of 2 Epiphany -
C
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,
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Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship.
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Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
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Podcast Download: Week of 2 Epiphany - C
Sunday 2 Epiphany - C
First posted January 17, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday
2 Epiphany - C
Isaiah 62:1-5 – Vindication of Zion;
Psalm 36:5-10 – The Lord's Steadfast Love;
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 – Spiritual Gifts;
John 2:1-11 – Wedding at Cana;
Isaiah Paraphrase::
The prophet will continue to proclaim Zion's (Jerusalem; Israel; the
Church) vindication without rest or silence until her vindication is
seen as brightness, like a blazing torch. All kings and nations of
the earth will see her vindication and glory (honor; distinction).
Israel will be given a new name by the Lord, by which she will be
known. She will be a crown of beauty, a royal diadem (crown) in the
hand of the Lord her God. No more will she be called Forsaken and
her land Desolate. Instead she will be knows as Hephzibah (my
delight is in her) and her land called Beulah (“married”).
Israel's sons will be committed to the land as a young man who has
married a virgin. And God will rejoice over Israel as a bridegroom
rejoices over his bride.
Psalm Paraphrase::
The steadfast love of the Lord is as high as the heavens; as high as
the clouds is his faithfulness. His righteousness looms above us
like the mountain of God. His judgments are deeper than the sea. The
Lord saves man and beast.
The steadfast love of God is most precious. Our earthly children
find refuge in the shade of his wings. On the abundance of his house
they feast, and he provides drink from the river of his delights.
The fountain of life is with him, and we see light by his light.
May his steadfast love continue for those who know him, and to those
who are upright in heart may they continue in his salvation. Let not
the arrogant wipe their feet on me, nor let the hand of the wicked
drive me away. May evildoers be struck down and unable to arise.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase::
New believers need to know that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is
not simply an emotional response. People can respond emotionally to
pagan worship. The test of the motivation of the Holy Spirit is the
result it produces. No one motivated by the Holy Spirit will ever
curse Jesus, and no one can truly praise Jesus except by the Spirit.
The one Holy Spirit apportions diverse spiritual gifts. There are
various ways of serving, but the same Lord. The one God works in
various ways. Each believer uses his gift for the good of the
Church. One speaks wisdom by the Holy Spirit, another uses knowledge
by the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit gives some, faith; to
others, gifts of healing, the working of miracles. Some are given
the gift of prophecy; others, the ability to distinguish true
prophecy and doctrine from false. Some may be given “speaking in
tongues,” and to others, the ability to interpret “tongues.” All
these are various gifts given by the motivation of the one Holy
Spirit, who gives them to each, according to God's purpose.
John Paraphrase::
On the third day (after Nathanael came to Jesus) Jesus and his
disciples were in Cana in Galilee, to attend a wedding, and Jesus'
mother, Mary, was also invited. When the host ran out of wine, Mary
told Jesus. Jesus replied (“O woman;” which was a respectful form to
address in that culture), asking her why she was telling Jesus;
Jesus' hour (of self-revelation) had not yet come.
Mary told the servants to get ready to do whatever Jesus would say
to them. Six stone jars, each holding twenty or thirty gallons were
standing nearby for the Jewish ritual purification. Jesus told the
servants to fill the jars to the brim, and they did as Jesus had
said. Then Jesus told them to take a sample to the steward
(supervisor of the banquet).
When the steward tasted the water, which had become wine, he didn't
know the source of the wine, although the servants did. He called
the bridegroom and said that normally hosts serve the best wine
first, and then the lesser wine, after the guests had drunk freely,
but apparently the host had kept the best wine until then. This was
the first “sign” (miracle showing who Jesus is) Jesus did, revealing
his glory (his supernatural power; his divine origin), “and his
disciples believed in him” (John 2:11b).
Commentary:
This text from Isaiah is thought to have originated right before the
fall of Babylon to Cyrus of Persia, in 539 B.C., and the generation
following, during which Judah, the remnant of Israel exiled in
Babylon, was permitted to return to their Promised Land and rebuilt
their temple and walls of Jerusalem. This fulfilled the prophecy of
Jeremiah 25:11-12, in which God promised, before the fall of
Jerusalem and the exile, to bring the exiles home after seventy
years, calculated from exile in 587 B.C., to the dedication of the
rebuilt temple in 517 B.C.. Isaiah kept prophesying vindication and
restoration to keep the exiles holding on to the promise of God
until they were restored to their Promised Land.
God's Word is eternal and eternally true, and is fulfilled over and
over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Isaiah's
prophecy of vindication applied to the restoration of the exiles to
their Promised Land. It ultimately applies to the restoration and
vindication of the Church, which is New Israel, the New People of
God, the New Jerusalem to the New Promised Land of God's eternal
kingdom in heaven.
Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is like a wedding feast
(Matthew 22:2-14). Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is his
bride (Israel 62:5b). We are all invited to the wedding, but we must
wear the garment of salvation which the host provides. The Holy
Spirit is the wedding garment we must have to enter the marriage
feast. Jesus purchased the wedding garments by his blood shed for us
on the cross. Only Jesus “anoints” (“baptizes”) with the indwelling
Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey
Jesus (John 15:15-17). 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 Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; Eucharist) is the foretaste of
the wedding feast to come in the eternal kingdom in heaven (Matthew
26:29). The Lord's Supper is a spiritual feast. The portions of the
elements of bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, are
small but the spiritual feast is great. Jesus is the source of the
fountain of life, the Holy Spirit (Psalm 36:9a; John 4:10-14;
7:37-39).
Paul was discipling new believers. He was teaching them about the
“baptism” and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The anointing of the Holy
Spirit is not just “enthusiasm,” as some would say. People can work
themselves up into a frenzy, even to hysterics. We can discern
between “enthusiasm” and true “anointing” by the results produced.
Does it truly glorify God, or is it used to enhance the person's
appearance of spirituality?
I knew a pastor, who had come from a sports background, who thought
his job was to be like a “cheerleader,” to coerce his congregation
to “enthusiasm.” An “anointed” preacher who is preaching by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit won't have to resort to histrionics
(exaggeration; dramatics). Anyone in the congregation who is
spiritually alive will respond to simple statements of spiritual
truth). I have personally experienced that “anointed” preaching, but
not nearly often enough.
I don't believe that one need take some sort of personality test to
seek one's spiritual gifts, although I've known people who wanted to
approach it that way. I think that all one needs to do is seek God's
will through daily personal Bible reading, with mediation and
prayer. In my experience it is a discipleship process to learn to
hear the “still, small voice.” The Lord wants us to learn how to be
led by his Word and his Holy Spirit, one day at a time.
In my experience I've found that God's will changes according to my
level of spiritual growth, and the opportunities for ministry
according to my circumstances. I started out as a student in
congregational weekly Bible study and adult Sunday School. I was
learning the Bible and to hear and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
I was led into Social Ministry (organizing and providing care and
assistance for the poor and needy in the community) in my
congregation. When that door closed I went into Evangelism in
my local congregation. At each step, the Lord was teaching me, and
he was also providing the empowerment and resources I needed to do
his will with the opportunity I had at the time.
Jesus' public ministry began with a wedding. He was ready and
waiting for God's call to begin. He didn't look to his mother for
guidance. Jesus had already established a relationship with God and
God's Word, and he waited for it.
I think this is an important point. When we first begin in
discipleship, we're used to instant answers in our digital world
today. We can just dial our cellphone and ask our mother, or our
pastor or other spiritual mentor what they think, but, although they
mean well, they are blessed if they know God's will for themselves;
they have no idea what God's specific individual will is for us.
Alternatively, we pray to the Lord for guidance and then go ahead
and do what we think the Lord would want us to do. We must learn to
wait on the Lord and listen. When we think we hear him we must pray
it back to make sure we've understood.
Jesus began his public ministry at a wedding feast in Cana, and he
ended it at a wedding feast in the upper room in Jerusalem on the
eve of his betrayal and arrest. It was the celebration of the
Passover Feast, commemorating the great saving act of God,
delivering Israel from the final plague of the death of the
firstborn of the Egyptians. The perfect unblemished lamb was
sacrificed for the main course of the feast, and the blood of the
lamb marked the doors of the Israelites, to protect them from the
destroying angel.
During the feast, Jesus instituted the New Passover feast, the
Lord's Supper, securing the New Covenant of Salvation from eternal
death by grace (undeserved favor) to be received by faith (obedient
trust) in Jesus. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of the New
Covenant. His blood shed on the cross marks his disciples to be
“passed over” by eternal death, by faith in Jesus as Savior and
Lord. The Lord's Supper is the foretaste of the wedding feast of the
Lamb which his disciples will share with Jesus in heaven.
Jesus' miracle of changing the water to wine at the wedding in Cana
is metaphor for the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the fountain
of eternal life. Alcohol in wine makes it an apt metaphor for the
Holy Spirit. Jesus can take our “plain water” physical life, and
transform it into spirit-filled eternal life. The host at Cana had
provided the best wine he could afford, but it couldn't compare with
the New Wine of the Holy Spirit which Jesus provides. Worldly people
who reject Jesus, who think that this life is all
there is, are settling for only what they have now, and are missing
the joy Christians will have for all eternity in paradise restored
in the kingdom of heaven.
It isn't true that no one can know for certain until we die; only
those who are perishing spiritually don't know where they will spend
eternity. Those who are “born-again” have the Holy Spirit who is the
foretaste of the life to come.
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 - C
First posted
January 18, 2010;
Podcast: Monday
2 Epiphany - C
Psalm 113 -- Helper of the Humble;
Paraphrase:
Let us praise the Lord! Let all his servants praise the name
(character and person) of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed now and forever! Let us praise
the name of the Lord from sunrise to sunset! The Lord is great above
all nations and his glory is higher than the heavens.
Who can compare to the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high, but
sees far down upon the heaven and the earth? He lifts up the poor
and needy from dust and ashes, and makes them sit with the princes
of his people. He gives the barren woman a family, making her a
happy mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Commentary:
The Lord defends, protects, and provides for those who are humble,
the poor, weak, and needy. The world, in contrast protects and
rewards the rich and powerful.
The Lord designed Creation to be shared by all. There are enough
resources for all; the reason for the great inequities in the
distribution of those resources is sin (disobedience of God's Word).
Worldly people do not know and trust God, and think they can and
must hoard resources for hard times. The problem is that if we seek
to provide our own security by material resources, we will never
achieve real security. We may feel secure, until trouble strikes,
but ultimately, security takes just a little bit more than what we
have.
Worldly people not only seek security in material possessions, but
also seek comfort and luxury. Children go hungry while the rich and
powerful indulge themselves. Worldly people believe that this
lifetime is all there is, and want to live lavishly now while they
can. God's Word tells us that there is existence after physical
death (Hebrews 9:27), and Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that
truth.
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God.
This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and learn to trust and obey
God (Acts 17:26-27). We have been born physically into this world,
but we are spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to
be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8).
Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, the only way to
be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the
only way to have eternal life (John 14:6). To have eternal life, we
must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), and this is only
possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus
gives the gift of (“baptizes;” “anoints” with) the indwelling Holy
Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus
(John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one
is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians
1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
God has designed Creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether
to trust and obey God or not, and the opportunity to learn by trial
and error that obedient trust in God's Word is our best interest.
God knew that in giving us freedom, we would choose to do our will
instead of God's. But God is not willing to allow rebellion and
disobedience forever, or at all in his heavenly kingdom, or it
wouldn't be heaven. So God has limited this Creation and we
ourselves by time.
We are all sinners who fall short of God's righteousness (Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans
6:23). God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally
(Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus Christ is God's one and only
provision for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation from eternal
condemnation (Acts 4:12).
Every truly “born-again” Christian has daily personal fellowship
with Jesus Christ and God the Father through the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit, and personally testifies that Jesus lives;
that he is risen from physical death to eternal life!
Jesus warns us to seek first God's eternal kingdom and his
righteousness, ahead of material things (Matthew 6:33). Otherwise
we'll never get around to seeking God's kingdom. Jesus warns that
those who pursue wealth, comfort, and luxury now in this lifetime,
are trading eternal life in paradise for it (Luke 16:19-31).
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 - C
First posted January 19, 2010
Podcast: Tuesday 2 Epiphany - C
Isaiah 61:1-6 – The Spirit of the Lord;
Paraphrase:
The Lord has anointed his servant with the Spirit of the Lord so
that his servant can bring good news to those who are afflicted (or
“poor”), to mend the brokenhearted, to free the captives, to release
the imprisoned. The Lord's servant proclaims the year of the Lord's
favor, and the day of God's vengeance.
The Lord's servant comforts those who mourn and gives them “a
garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit” (Isaiah 61:3). They
will be called oaks of righteousness that the Lord has planted, to
his glory. They will rebuild what was formerly devastated; they will
repair the cities that were in ruins for many generations.
Aliens and foreigners will be their laborers, to feed their flocks,
plow their fields, and be their vinedressers. The Lord's people will
be priests of the Lord, ministers of God. They will feast on the
finest foods of the nations and will delight in their wealth.
Commentary:
This text is believed to have been written before the fall of
Babylon to Cyrus of Persia, in 539 B.C., and in the generation
following, when Cyrus allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their
Promised Land. Before the exile of Judah to Babylon, God had
promised that the exiles would be restored to Palestine after
seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12). This prophecy was fulfilled. The
seventy years is generally counted from the destruction of the
temple in 587 B.C. to the dedication of the restored temple in 517
B.C..
God's Word is eternal, and eternally true; it is fulfilled over and
over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.
Isaiah was the servant of the Lord who was “anointed” with the
Spirit of the Lord to proclaim good news to the afflicted exiles of
Judah, the remnant of Israel, in Babylon. The Lord freed the exiles
from captivity.
Cyrus of Persia not only released the exiles; he returned the sacred
vessels of gold, silver and bronze which had been looted from the
temple by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Cyrus also gave money and
provincial assistance in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple.
The Lord had taught the Israelites to “anoint” prophets, priests and
kings with olive oil as a sign of God's approval. God had promised
to raise up the Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed,” in
Hebrew and Greek, respectively), the eternal Savior (from God's
eternal condemnation) and King of God's eternal kingdom. Anointing
with perfumed olive oil was also a sign of celebration and
hospitality. “The oil of gladness” became a symbol for the
“anointing” of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 61:1, 3).
Isaiah was a fulfillment of the prophecy of the Lord's Servant, but
Israel was also intended to fulfill the prophecy. Israel turned away
from the call of God to be his servant, by rejecting Jesus as the
Messiah. At the crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus was the last faithful
servant of the Lord in Israel.
The Church is the New Israel, the New People of God, the New
Jerusalem, the New Promised Land on earth. The Church and its
“born-again” members are called to be the New Servants of the Lord.
Christians are disciples of Jesus (Acts 11:26) who have been
“born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Disciples of
Jesus are to remain within the Church (the New Jerusalem) until they
have been filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going into
the world with the Gospel, to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4-5 &8).
Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord's servant (Luke
4:16-21). Jesus fulfilled God's mission to bring the Gospel (meaning
“good news”) to the poor and afflicted. Jesus' sacrificial death on
the cross frees the captives of sin and death from the power of
Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15), by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus.
Jesus is the only one through whom we can be spiritually
“born-again” John 3:3, 5-8) by the “anointing” (“gift;” “baptism”)
of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “anoints” with the
indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust
and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians
1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
We are living in the “year” of the Lord's favor (grace: unmerited
favor). Now is the “day” of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). We've
been given a relatively long time in our lifetime to seek God and
learn to trust and obey him. But today is the only day of
which we can be sure; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never
come.
The “year” of God's favor will suddenly end, on the Day of Judgment
when Christ returns. In that day, everyone who has ever lived will
be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this lifetime.
Those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord (King), who have
trusted and obeyed Jesus, will have been “born-again” by the
indwelling Holy Spirit, and will enter eternal life in God's
heavenly kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus, who have refused or
failed to trust and obey Jesus, will be condemned to eternal death
and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2
Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus'
disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John
14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first
truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ
and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew
28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity
(1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Wednesday 2 Epiphany - C
First posted January 20,
2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 2 Epiphany - C
I Corinthians 12:12-21, 26-27 – The Body and Members;
Paraphrase:
Paul used the analogy of a physical body to describe the Church,
which is the “body” of Christ. Just as the physical body has many
different members, and all members are one body, so also is Christ.
We are all baptized by the one Spirit into one body, Jews and
Greeks, slaves and free, and all share in the one Spirit.
The body does not consist of one member but many. Each member is
part of the body, even though various members have different
functions. Each member's function makes him no more or less
important than another. God designed the members of the body to
function together as he chose. Each member is necessary to the
function of the whole body. Any missing member diminishes the
function of the body.
The members of the Church are connected to one another, so that all
share the suffering of any individual member, and all rejoice if an
individual member is honored. So the Church is the body of Christ
and each member is an organ of the body.
Commentary:
A Christian is by definition a “born-again” (John 3:3, 6-8) disciple
of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). The Church is to be a
“disciple-making” organization (Matthew 28:19-20). The Church has
inherited the role of John the Baptizer, to call people to repent
and be baptized with water for spiritual cleansing, to prepare
them to receive Jesus Christ. The Church is to “disciple” new
believers by “born-again” disciples until the new believers have
been spiritually “reborn” by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. Only
Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his
disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit
is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life
(2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Unfortunately, this is not happening in the nominal Church today.
Instead of making disciples and building up the body of Christ, many
“Churches” have settled for building buildings and making “members,”
“fair-weather Christians” who will participate if it suits them.
Some mainline denominations are teaching that the baptism with the
Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by water baptism, or
“affirmation” of (infant) baptism. The reason is that the leaders
are not “born-again,” themselves, and don't know better.
Unregenerate (unreborn) leaders cannot make “born-again” disciples;
they don't know how, or they wouldn't be unregenerate.
This teaching is not just not helpful to its members, but actually
causes spiritual harm, by discouraging them from seeking the baptism
of the Holy Spirit (see False Teachings: Spiritual Rebirth, sidebar,
top right, home). This situation reminds me of the folktale, “The
Emperor's
New Clothes, a story written by Hans Christian
Anderson. Not only are the leaders strutting around naked, supposing
themselves well-clad, but have also misled their members to do the
same.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing personally discernible
event (Acts 19:2); anyone who isn't certain from personal
experience, or has to rely on the word of a religious authority
hasn't been “reborn.”
I attend a large congregation, and because of my online ministry I
haven't had time to be involved in any other activity except
worship. I'm following the guidance and inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, and so is my Pastor. I'm so delighted to see how much our
independent efforts coincide. This is the way the Church should be
working; each member independently guided and empowered by the Holy
Spirit to work together to accomplish the mission of the Church.
New believers should begin discipleship training by reading the
Bible in entirety. I recommend a “Bible in one year” study plan with
daily portions from both Old and New Testaments (see Free Bible
Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home). One should set aside a
specific time each day for Bible reading, meditation and prayer.
After reading the entire Bible one should continue the daily habit
of Bible reading, using some Bible reading schedule (lectionary).
Most denominations publish quarterly booklets for personal devotions
which may be a good place to start. One based on the Revised Common
Lectionary* would be helpful for denominations which use it for
corporate worship, such as the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian,
and Methodist Churches. It is also of benefit for any believer,
because it follows the seasons of the Church calendar (see Bible
Study Tools, and Thoughts on Bible Study, sidebar, top right, home).
There is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived
in this world will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done
in this lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord,
who have trusted and obeyed Jesus, will have been spiritually
“born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit and will
enter eternal life in God's kingdom in heaven. Those who have
rejected Jesus, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus
will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in hell with all
evil. The Day of Judgment is not far off; it will come for each one
of us within our lifespan, and no one can be sure of tomorrow. At
the moment of physical death our eternal destinies are fixed and
unalterable. 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)?
*http://www.commontexts.org/
and:
http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html
Thursday 2 Epiphany - C
First posted January 21, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 2 Epiphany - C
Luke 4:14-21 -- Teaching in Nazareth;
Paraphrase:
After his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee, in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the region. Jesus taught in the synagogues throughout Galilee, and the people glorified (gave honor to) him.
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been raised, and on the sabbath he went to the synagogue, as he was accustomed to do. He stood up to read the Scriptures, and was given the book (scroll) of Isaiah. Jesus opened the book to Isaiah 61:1-2, and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Jesus closed the book and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was looking at him. And Jesus began by telling them that they had witnessed the fulfillment of that passage that very day.
Commentary:
One of many reasons Jesus came was to show us what living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit in obedience to God's Word is like (John 1:1-5, 14), and to make it possible, by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for us to follow his example. The fact that as we follow Jesus' example we will encounter the same persecution is daunting, but Jesus' crucifixion is the example of the very worst way to die. His resurrection demonstrates that there is existence after physical death, and through Jesus' death we no longer need to fear physical death (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Jesus came to his hometown synagogue and declared to them that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of the Lord's servant (Messiah; Christ; both mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Jesus had been “anointed” with the Holy Spirit at his baptism by John the Baptizer (John 1:31-34). Jesus had begun his public ministry, and his activities demonstrated his fulfillment. He was preaching the Gospel (meaning “good news”) of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word), restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and salvation from eternal death which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; John 14:6 see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus' mission was to proclaim release to captives of sin and Satan, restoration of sight to the spiritually blind, freedom to those who are oppressed, “and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:19). His miracles of physical feeding, healing and resurrection, were intended to show that Jesus could also, and more importantly feed, heal and resurrect spiritually.
We are eternal people (John 5:28-29) living in physical bodies in a physical world. We understand things which are physical, but can't understand what we cannot see or feel. Jesus is trying to teach us about the spiritual realm, but in worldly experiences with which we're familiar (John 3:12). That was part of the reason Jesus taught in parables, which are common earthly experiences used to teach spiritual truth. The miracles he did were physical, but were also intended to reveal spiritual truth.
Miracles of spiritual feeding, healing and resurrection can be seen by the effect they have on the people who experience them, but they are open to interpretation of the observer. Likewise the hearer of a parable is free to not understand if he chooses.
We are living in the acceptable year of the Lord. Now is the acceptable time, now is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). The Lord has given us a relatively long period of grace (unmerited favor) while he withholds judgment. He gives us a relatively long time to learn by trial-and-error to know, trust and obey his Word, in the Bible, and in the “living Word,” Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).
There is a Day of Judgment coming when Christ returns. Everyone who has ever lived in this world will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in this lifetime. Jesus is the standard of judgment, and the righteous judge. He will judge the living (“quickened”) and dead, in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5).
Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus, will be condemned to eternal death in hell with all evil. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “born-again” by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, whom 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 past is gone and tomorrow may never come. Today is the only day of which we can be sure. The Day of Judgment will come for each of us at the moment of death, unless Jesus returns first. At that moment our eternal destiny will be fixed and unalterable.
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 - C
First posted January 22, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 2 Epiphany - C
Romans 12:16-21 – Christian Duties;
Paraphrase:
Christians are to live in harmony with one another; we are not to be conceited or haughty, but to associate with those who are lowly. We must not return evil for evil, but instead do what is noble in everyone's judgment. Let us live peaceably with all, as far as it depends upon us. We must never avenge ourselves, but leave it to the Lord, because God has said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35). Instead, let us give our enemy food if he is hungry, and something to drink if he is thirsty. That way he will feel guilty for his evil against us. So we will overcome evil with good, rather than being overcome by evil.
Commentary:
Evil can be defeated and overcome by not returning it. Otherwise it is a never-ending cycle of evil.
God designed this Creation to be very good, and that's the way it started (Genesis 1:31), but God also designed it to allow for evil (sin; what is contrary to God's Word), so that we could have the freedom to choose whether to do God's will or not. But God is not willing to allow rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, so he has limited this Creation and we ourselves by time.
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This lifetime is a training ground to give us the opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God; to discover that his Word is good, possible for us to do, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2). This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life.
All those goals are fulfilled only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “living Word,” God's Word fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, the only way to be saved from eternal death which is the penalty for sin, and to be spiritually reborn to eternal life (John 14:6).
God designed this Creation knowing that by giving us freedom to choose whether to trust and obey his Word, we would choose to do our will rather than God's. We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). God consigned all to sin so that he could give forgiveness and salvation as a free gift to all who believe in (trust and obey) Jesus. (Galatians 3:22).
The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from eternal condemnation (Acts 4:12). Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus warns that we must be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to see the kingdom of God that is all around us now, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity. We have all been born physically into this world but we are “unborn” spiritually. Spiritual “rebirth” is only possible by the gift (“baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Romans 11:26) who have been “born-again” (Romans 8:9b). By the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within us, we can live in peace and harmony with others, so far as it depends on us. The Holy Spirit is our comforter to comfort and reassure us when we're assailed by evil. We can leave vengeance to the Lord, knowing that we will ultimately be vindicated. We can overcome evil with good.
God is merciful. He doesn't strike an evildoer dead immediately. He is willing to allow the evildoer a lifetime in which to learn to refrain from doing evil, which human vengeance would not allow. But ultimately God will punish evildoers who have not repented of evil.
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 2 Epiphany - C
First posted January 23, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 2 Epiphany - C
Matthew 8:1-13 – Jesus' Ministry in Galilee;
Paraphrase:
Great crowds were following Jesus. A leper came and knelt down before him, and addressing him as “Lord,” declared his faith that Jesus could heal him if Jesus chose. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched the leper, saying that he would, and commanding him to be healed. The man was immediately healed, and Jesus told him not to tell anyone, but to show himself to the priest and give the offering Moses commanded as proof to the people (see Leviticus 14:2-32).
As Jesus was entering Capernaum, a Roman Centurion came to Jesus and said that the Centurion's servant was paralyzed and in great distress at the Centurion's home. Jesus said he would come with the Centurion to his servant, but the Centurion said that he was unworthy to have Jesus as a guest in his home. But the Centurion believed that Jesus only needed to say the word, and the servant would be healed. The Centurion was familiar with authority, being under authority himself, with men under his command. When the Centurion commanded, those under him did as he commanded.
Jesus was amazed and said to those around him that he had not found such faith even in Israel. Jesus declared that many people would come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness where people will weep and gnash their teeth. Jesus told the Centurion to go; what the Centurion had believed had been done for him; and the Centurion's servant was healed at that moment.
Commentary:
Jesus' mission was not physical healing. Physical healing was intended to show that Jesus is able to heal spiritually. We have to be aware that we need spiritual healing, and we need to believe that Jesus is the only one who is able to heal us spiritually.
Jews wouldn't even walk on the same side of the street as a leper, much less touch one. A leper was an outcast who was not allowed to participate in temple worship or in synagogue. The leper asked Jesus to heal him physically, but also to restore him to spiritual community activities.
The leper accepted Jesus as Lord and declared his faith that Jesus could heal him, if Jesus chose to do so. Jesus is always ready to heal us, if we recognize that we need spiritual healing that only he can provide, and if we are willing to accept him as our Lord and trust and obey him.
Great crowds were following Jesus because of the miracles of physical healing that he did. Jesus usually told the individuals that he healed physically not to tell anyone about Jesus' healing. Jesus was not trying to attract crowds of people seeking physical healing. People who came to Jesus seeking only physical healing received only that. Physical healing only lasts until the next illness. Ultimately physical death will claim us all.
This lifetime is not about living physically. The meaning and purpose of this life is to seek and find God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). We are all born into this world physically alive, but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life.
Jesus is God's only provision for spiritual healing, spiritual rebirth, and eternal life. Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth; the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin; the only way to have true, eternal life (John 14:6). Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
A Roman Centurion is about as far from God's “chosen people” as one can be. The Centurion's servant was healed because of the Centurion's faith in Jesus. The Centurion didn't need to see confirmation of the servant's healing. The Centurion recognized Jesus' authority.
Jesus is the Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed” eternal Savior, Priest, and King), which God promised to provide for Israel. The Jews are heirs of the promise of God's Word; they are the sons and daughters of the eternal kingdom, but they will not inherit that kingdom unless and until they acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 13:34-35). Spiritual healing is available, in an instant, to those who claim it by faith.
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)?
