Week of 1 Epiphany - C - 01/13 - 19/2013

Week of 1 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, 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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To get the most from these studies, it is suggested that you first read the scripture texts for the entry, and then the paraphrase and commentary. It is also recommended that you look up the scripture references, unless you recognize and recall them from memory.

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Podcast Download: Week of 1 Epiphany - C
Sunday 1 Epiphany- C   
First posted January 10, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 1 Epiphany - C 

Isaiah 42:1-7 – The Lord's Servant;
Psalm 45:7-9 – The King's Wedding;
Acts 10:34-38 – The Gospel to the Gentiles;
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Jesus' Baptism;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

The Lord upholds his servant whom he has chosen and in whom he delights. The Lord has given him God's Spirit. God's servant will establish justice for all nations. “He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench” Isaiah 42:2-3). He will faithfully enact justice. He will not fail or become discouraged until justice has been accomplished in the world, and distant lands await his law.

The Lord God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He “gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk in it. He is the Lord and in righteousness he has called his servant; he has guided and protected his servant. God has given his servant to the people of the world as a covenant, and a light to the nations, to heal the blind, to release the prisoners from the dungeon and darkness.

Psalm Paraphrase:

The Psalmist says of the king on his wedding day that because the King loves righteousness and hates wickedness God has anointed the king with the oil of gladness above his subjects. The king is dressed for his wedding in robes perfumed with myrrh, aloes and cassia. The music of stringed instruments comes forth from ivory palaces in celebration. The ladies of honor in the wedding party are daughters of kings, and the queen is adorned with jewelry of Gold from Ophir (possibly India; a region famous for gold jewelry).

Acts Paraphrase:

The Lord had led Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile Roman Centurion, to send for the Apostle Peter to tell Cornelius and his household the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:1-8). Meanwhile God also prepared Peter to proclaim the Gospel to Gentiles by giving him a vision and declaring that the Jewish dietary laws no longer applied (Acts 10:9-16).

When Peter arrived at Cornelius' home, he began his message by saying that he had learned that God does not show partiality to anyone. Instead, in any nation, anyone who does what is right is acceptable to God. Peter summed up the Gospel by saying that after his water baptism which John the Baptizer preached, Jesus began to go throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, preaching the “Good News” (the definition of “Gospel”) of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Jesus had been anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and supernatural power. Jesus had traveled throughout Galilee and Judea doing good and healing all who were in bondage to Satan, by the presence of God with Jesus.

Luke Paraphrase:

The people of Israel were expecting the coming of the Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed”), and they wondered if John the Baptizer was the Christ. John answered them by saying that John baptized with water (for repentance and spiritual cleansing, to prepare the people to receive the Messiah). John told them that the Messiah was coming. The Messiah is so much greater than John, that John was unworthy to be the Messiah's most menial servant. The Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Messiah's coming will be like threshing grain at the harvest. He will separate the grain from the chaff, and will gather the grain into his granary, but will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

After Jesus was baptized he was praying, when heaven was opened and the the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven declared that Jesus was God's beloved Son, with whom God was well pleased.

Commentary:

God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Israel was called to be the Lord's servant but they turned away from that call, by rejecting Jesus as the promised Messiah. At his crucifixion, Jesus was the last faithful person in Israel. Even his disciples had fled from Jesus (Matthew 26:31). Beginning on Easter morning, with Jesus' resurrection, the Church became the New Israel, the New people of God. The Church is the heir to the call of God to be the Lord's servant. The ultimate fulfillment of the Lord's servant is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the example of the Lord's servant that we are to follow.

God has designed this Creation to accomplish his ultimate purpose of establishing an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him and thus become his servants. We are all called to be the Lord's servant. There is no greater thing we can do in this lifetime than serving the Lord.

We are born into this world physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find, and come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), through whom we have personal fellowship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life, which is only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Notice in the text from Isaiah, that the Lord gives the breath (of physical life) to those who live on this earth, and Spirit to those who walk in obedient trust in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-14). (The Hebrew word means breath or wind, thus: the breath of spiritual life; Notice in John 3:3, 5-8, the same play on words for wind and spirit in Greek).

At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, God visibly “anointed” Jesus with the Holy Spirit. It was the “sign” God had given John the Baptizer to reveal the Messiah to him and to Israel (John 1:31-34). Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit so that he could “baptize” his disciples with 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). Jesus didn't baptize anyone with water; only his disciples did (John 4:2).

The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event; if one is not certain, one hasn't been (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).

God taught the people of Israel that priests, prophets and kings were to be anointed with oil to consecrate them to God's service. They were thus known as “the Lord's anointed.” Anointing the king was the equivalent of crowning him. The titles of Messiah and Christ each mean (God's) “anointed,” in Hebrew and Greek respectively. The Messiah (Christ) is the Lord's anointed Savior and eternal King.

The Lord's anointing also refers to the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Isaiah 61:1). The “anointing” of the Holy Spirit is also figuratively described as “the oil of gladness” (Psalm 45:7, which is quoted in Hebrews 1:9).

Peter testified to Cornelius, in the first presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, that Jesus was the one anointed by God with the Holy Spirit to heal spiritually. Jesus' physical healings, feedings and resurrections were intended to show that Jesus could also and more importantly heal, feed, and resurrect spiritually.

Jesus is the New Moses, the mediator of the New Covenant (Testament) of grace, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Jesus initiated the New Covenant at his celebration of Passover on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28).

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), the light of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4).

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 1 Epiphany- C 
First posted January  11, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 1 Epiphany - C 

Psalm 36:5-10 – Steadfast Love and Faithfulness;

Paraphrase:

The Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness are as high as the heavens and the clouds in the sky. Like the mountain of God is his righteousness. His judgments are as deep as the ocean depths. The Lord saves man and beast.

Most precious is God's steadfast love. In the shadow of his wings the children of men find refuge. In the Lord's house they feast on his abundance, and from the river of his delights he provides drink. “For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).
“O continue thy steadfast love to those who know thee, and thy salvation to the upright of heart” (Psalm 36:10).

Commentary:

I'm convinced that the meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find, come to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. 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 be “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life (John 14:6).

We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually reborn. Spiritual rebirth is only by the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) 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).

God wants us to seek and find him. He has been progressively revealing himself to us from the beginning of Creation, first in the goodness and complexity of Creation itself; then in the Bible record of his dealings with Israel. Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to the world. We first know Jesus through the New Testament witness, and as we begin to trust and obey Jesus we will come to know Jesus and God the Father personally through the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), the risen Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of Jesus Christ and God the Father to us personally and individually.

We first learn about God's steadfast love and faithfulness, and the other aspects of his character, like being all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipresent (being in all places at all times), and perfectly righteous, in the Bible. Then when we learn Jesus' character from the New Testament account, we can recognize that Jesus is God's Son, with the attributes which only God has; Jesus is fully God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28).

Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24) with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus' miracles of healing, feeding and raising the dead, demonstrate supernatural power only God possesses. Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge (John 1:47-50; 4:16-19, 28-29).

Jesus is the “living Word,” the Word of God fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh in this world. God wants us to learn to know, trust and obey God's Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, so that he can show us that his Word is absolutely true and reliable. His faithfulness of his Word causes our faith it him to grow through experience.

By the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience God's steadfast love personally. We experience his presence with us through times of trial and learn that he is our only true refuge. The Holy Spirit is the fountain of life (John 7:37-39), and the light of divine enlightenment (John 1:9; 14:26) and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).

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 1 Epiphany- C 
First posted January 12, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 1 Epiphany - C 

Isaiah 62:1-5 – Vindication of Zion;

Paraphrase:

The Prophet must speak and must not rest, for the sake of Zion (Israel; the Church; the people of God), for Jerusalem's sake, until her vindication and salvation are seen as brightness, as a blazing torch. The nations will see the vindication of God's people and all the kings will see her glory. God's people will be given a new name by the Lord. They will be a crown of glory in the Lord's hand; a royal diadem (a headband; another name for "crown").

No more will God's people be called Forsaken and their land be called Desolate. Their new name will be “My delight is in her” (Hephzibah) and their land will be called “Married” (Beulah) because the Lord delights in them and their land will be married. The sons of God's people will be married to the Promised Land as a young man marries a virgin, and God will rejoice over her as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

Commentary:

This portion of Isaiah is thought to have been written between 530 and 510 B.C.. Judah, the remnant of Israel was in exile in Babylon for seventy years between 587 and 517 B.C., dated from the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem to the dedication of the restored temple. Babylon was conquered by Cyrus of Persia in 539 B.C., and he allowed the exiles to return to their own land in the following generation.

The Prophet foresaw the fulfillment of God's promise to bring Judah back from exile after seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), and God's promise was fulfilled. The Prophet kept exhorting Judah to wait for the Lord to bring them back from exile, and their return was their vindication.

God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Israel didn't remember the lessons learned in the exile, and was unprepared for the coming of their promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. Because they rejected and crucified Jesus, Judaism and Israel effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, indicating that Jesus had opened a new and better way into God's presence (Luke 23:45b). Jerusalem and the third (Herod's) temple, which Herod had built for them, was destroyed in 70 A.D., by the Romans, and Israel effectively ceased to exist as a nation, until the Jews began returning after World War II.

At Jesus' crucifixion, he was the last faithful Jew in Israel. Even his disciples had been scattered (Mark 14:27; Zechariah 13:7). The Church began to gather after the resurrection,  but wasn't “born” until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). The Church is the New Israel, the New Jerusalem. Jesus is the one and only way to come to God (John 14:6). There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews will not be restored to God's kingdom until they accept Jesus as God's “anointed” Savior and eternal King (Luke 13:34-35).

“Christian” is the new name of God's people. Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ ( Acts 11:26c) who have been spiritually “reborn” by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Church is founded on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). Jesus promised that his disciples would be “baptized” (“anointed”) with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17) and were to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the New Jerusalem) until they had received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) before going into the world with the Gospel to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

Only Jesus gives the “baptism” (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 “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is a discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2). It is impossible not to know with certainty for oneself if one has received the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (see False Teachings; Spiritual Rebirth).

In a sense the (true, “born-again”) Church (as distinct from the nominal “Church” is in exile in this world awaiting Jesus' return to lead us to our eternal Promised Land in Heaven. That will be the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Christ will return on the Day of Judgment. 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, and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “born-again” during this lifetime and will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

The Day of Christ's Second Coming, will be the day of vindication and salvation of the Church. Every eye will see Christ return (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-31), and every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). The unsaved will be terrified of what is coming, but “born-again” Christians will be rejoicing in their vindication and salvation (Luke 21:25-28).

Jesus Christ's Second Coming will be like a wedding for his Church (Matthew 25:1-13. Jesus is the bridegroom and his Church is his bride. The “oil” for the lamps of salvation is the Holy Spirit.
God established a ritual of anointing with oil. Prophets, Priests, and Kings were anointed with oil for consecration to sacred use. They were referred to as “the Lord's Anointed.” Anointing the King was the equivalent of coronation. Anointing was also an act of hospitality, and for healing. The dead were sometimes anointed for consecration.

Jesus is the ultimate “anointed” eternal Savior and King. Christ and Messiah each mean (God's ) “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively. Jesus was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove at his baptism by John the Baptizer (Luke 3:21-22).

The Holy Spirit is described as the “oil of gladness” (Psalm 45:7; quoted in Hebrews. 1:9). “Born-again” Christians are “anointed” with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the love and joy of the Lord's presence individually and personally. By the fellowship we have with the Lord through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we know and personally testify that Jesus is risen and eternally alive.
The Holy Spirit is the oil we must have for our lamps of salvation. We should seek the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit now, while there is time. No one can count on tomorrow, and the Day of Judgment isn't far off. Each of us will be at the throne of Judgment at the moment of our physical death.

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 1 Epiphany- C 
First posted January 13, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 1 Epiphany - C 

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 – Spiritual Gifts;

Paraphrase:

Paul taught new believers that emotionalism is not proof of the influence of the Holy Spirit. People can become emotionally moved by secular or pagan rites. No one can curse Jesus by the motivation of the Holy Spirit; one who is speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will testify that Jesus is Lord.

All believers share in the same Holy Spirit but have different spiritual gifts; and there is one Lord but different ways of serving him, just as God works in many ways, but he is the one true God who does them. A manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given to each believer, for the benefit of all. Some will be given wisdom, some will be given knowledge, some will be given the ability of healing, some will be given the power of working miracles, some will be given the gift of prophecy, some will be given the ability to discern whether spirits are of God or not, some will be given ability to speak in various languages, and some will be able to interpret those who speak in spiritual tongues. There are a variety of gifts, but all are given by the one Holy Spirit, apportioned by his will.

Commentary:

There are two types of “speaking in tongues” in the New Testament. One is the phenomenon on the first Day of Pentecost, when the disciples spoke in various languages (Acts 2:5-11). People from throughout the world were in Jerusalem, and a crowd gathered because of the commotion among the disciples. Each observer heard in their own language the testimonies of God's mighty workings. This was a reversal of the confusion of language at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).

It was also a practical gift for disciples who were about to go into the world with the Gospel. The disciples had been told to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the gift (“baptism,” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit before beginning to carry out the Great Commission to go into the world to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity) and teaching them to trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).

The other form of “speaking in tongues” is an ecstatic verbal expression which is unintelligible to others. Paul taught that this form was not a sign for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is for believers rather than for unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22). But prophecy is more likely to convict and convert unbelievers than speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:23-25). Paul didn't want to forbid this form of tongues, but he didn't want it to disrupt worship (1 Corinthians 14:26-28). Believers seeking a manifestation of the Holy Spirit should seek the gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).

Note in today's text the reference to the Trinity (Spirit, Lord, God; 1 Corinthians 12:4-5). Note the reference to the Trinity in the Great Commission also (Matthew 28:19-20). The word Trinity is not used in the Bible, but the concept is clearly evident.

Remember that Jesus told his disciples not to start carrying out the Great Commission, until after they had received the indwelling Holy Spirit. So first we must be discipled in God's Word. We should be discipled by a “born-again” disciple, until we receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We need to read the entire Bible, and we need to establish a regular daily “quiet time” (devotions: Bible reading with meditation and prayer). We should be seeking to receive the Holy Spirit.

I personally testify that the Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual gifts that we need to carry out what he leads us to do, and that may change over time, as we grow in faith, and as our circumstances change. We should seek the guidance of the Lord daily in Bible reading with meditation and prayer. If we are willing to seek God's will so that we can do it, he will reveal his will to us. When we think he's saying something to us in his Word, we should pray it back to make certain we've understood.

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 1 Epiphany- C 
First posted January 14, 2009;
Podcast: Thursday 1 Epiphany - C 

John 2:1-11 Wedding at Cana;

Paraphrase:

On the third day (after meeting Nathanael; John 1:45-51) Jesus and his disciples attended a wedding in Cana in Galilee; about twelve west of Tarichea, also known as Magadan, or Dalmanutha, on the westernmost point of the Sea of Galilee). Jesus' mother was also there. When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother mentioned it to Jesus, and Jesus answered, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4). His mother told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them.

There were six jars nearby for the Jewish ceremonial purification ritual, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants to fill them to the brim with water, and they did so. Then Jesus told them to draw some out and take it to the steward (the supervisor of the wedding feast). The servants did so and the steward tasted the water which had become wine.

The steward didn't know where the wine had come from although the servants did. The steward called the bridegroom and told him that the host usually serves the good wine first, and then poorer wine, but the host had apparently kept the good wine until this moment. This was the first “sign” which Jesus did, manifesting his glory, and his disciples' faith in Jesus was strengthened.

Commentary:

Nathanael was a resident of Cana (John 21:2). This was the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, and the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus to Nathanael that he would see greater things than Jesus' foreknowledge of Nathanael (John 1:50). Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob's dream of a ladder extending into heaven, upon which the angels of God ascend and descend (John 1:51; Genesis 28:10-12). Jesus is the one by whom the blessings of God descend upon God's people, and the only way by whom God's people can ascend into heaven (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus' reply to his mother sounds harsh to us, but addressing her as “woman” was a term of respect in that culture. But Jesus' manifestation was to be according to God's timing, not his mother's. The miracle was a “sign” intended to reveal Jesus' glory, the attributes of morality, honor and and majesty of God in Jesus (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 2:8-9).

Mary, Jesus' mother, already believed that Jesus would do miracles, before she saw him do the first one. Although Jesus seemed to decline her request, she continued to believe that he would do it, and she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them. When Jesus did the miracle God fulfilled the need abundantly, all six jars, full to the brim, with better wine than the host's best.

Jesus described the kingdom of heaven as a wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14). Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride. The Holy Spirit is the finest of wine. We are all invited to the wedding. Jesus has provided the wedding garment of salvation (from eternal death; eternal destruction in hell).

The wedding garment is the “baptism” (“anointing;” “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 says that one must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), to see the kingdom of God which is all around us now, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity.

Wine makes a good symbol for the Holy Spirit. Wine (if not consumed in excess) causes most people to feel happy and adds to the mood of celebration. The alcohol content gives liveliness to what would otherwise be ordinary grape juice.

Wine is a good symbol for blood. Blood was believed to contain the spirit, the life force, of the person or animal. Jews were forbidden to drink blood or consume meat with its blood (Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:23; Leviticus 17:10-14). The animal had to be bled out at its slaughter.

The blood of the Passover lamb marked the houses of the Jews in Egypt so that the destroying angel would “pass over” them when the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed. Jesus is the New Passover Lamb. His blood marks us as God's people, and saves us from eternal death and destruction, by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus.

Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (Testament) of grace (a free gift; unmerited favor) to be received by faith (obedient trust), the Lord's Supper (Last Supper; Holy Communion; Eucharist), which Jesus initiated on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus declared that the wine of Communion is his blood, shed on the cross, and the bread is his flesh, the Lamb of the sacrificial New Passover feast.

God doesn't want us to be filled with the spirits of animals; he wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit. But note that partaking of the wine (or grape juice) of Holy Communion does not automatically confer the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus performed many miracles of physical healing, feeding and resurrection. His physical miracles were intended to show that he could also provide spiritual healing, feeding and resurrection, just as his parables, stories of common earthly experience, were intended to teach spiritual truth. As we begin to walk in obedient trust in Jesus, he will cause our faith to grow by fulfilling his supernatural promises, as recorded in the Bible.

The Church has inherited the role of John the Baptizer, to call people to repent and be baptized with water for cleansing of sin in preparation to receive Jesus, the promised eternal Savior and King of God's eternal kingdom, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Church is to disciple believers, by “born-again” disciples, until they have been “born-again.” The Church is not to send out Apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) until they have been “born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Friday 1 Epiphany- C 
First posted January 15, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 1 Epiphany - C 

Romans 12:6-16 – Christian Lifestyle;

Paraphrase:

By the indwelling Holy Spirit, “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians have various different spiritual gifts by God's grace (unmerited favor), so we are to use them: If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; if service, let us serve; if teaching, let us teach; if exhortation, let us exhort; if contribution, let us be generous; let those who give aid do so with zeal; let those who do acts of mercy, do so cheerfully.

Let us be genuine in our love; let us hold on to what is good and hate what is evil. Let us love each other with brotherly affection; let us try to outdo one another in showing honor. Let our zeal not grow tired; let us glow with the Holy Spirit, always serving the Lord. Let us always rejoice in our hope; in tribulation let us be patient, and let us pray constantly. Let us contribute to saints (believers in Christ; consecrated to God's service) in need, and show hospitality to all.

Let us bless rather than curse our persecutors. Let us rejoice with the joyful, and weep with those who mourn. Let us live with one another in harmony. Let us never be conceited or haughty; instead, let us associate with the lowly, and be willing to do humble tasks.

Commentary:

In my experience, I have found that the Holy Spirit gives us different gifts at different times, according to our spiritual growth and opportunity for ministry. As a new “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian, I began as a student in Adult Sunday School and in weekly Bible Study. I had read the entire Bible, but I was just beginning to grow spiritually. In preparation for each session the Lord opened my mind to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45), and gave me great revelations from his Word.  I was able to contribute and to grow spiritually.

I have found that if we seek to know, with the intention of doing, God's will for us at a particular time and situation in life, that he will reveal it to us. The Lord wants to lead us, one day at a time, (Matthew 6:11; 33-34).

It is important to set aside a specific time each day to read the Bible with prayer and meditation (perhaps the first thing in the morning or the last thing at night). When God begins to show us things from his Word, we can pray them back, to make sure that we have understood. But remember that the Lord will not ever tell us anything contrary to his Word, or that will harm ourselves or others.

Jesus said that one must be “born-again” in order to see the kingdom of God which is all around us now, and ultimately to see and enter it in eternity (John 3:3, 5-8). I believe that the Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer, to call people to repent, to turn them to obedient trust in Jesus, to baptize them with water in preparation to receive Jesus, and to disciple new believers until they have been “born-again.”

The Church was intended to be a “disciple-making” organization. Unfortunately, in too many instances the nominal Church has settled for making “members” and building “buildings.” In too many instances the nominal Church is being led by “unregenerate” (not “born-again”) leaders. But the situation isn't hopeless; what the Church needs is revival and reformation.

The new believer should make reading the Bible in entirety the first goal. Setting aside a time each day to read, meditate, and pray will establish an ongoing daily devotion or “quiet time” which we can follow for the rest of our lives. The Bible can easily be read by the average reader in one year, and there are a number of plans to choose from. My preference is one that includes Old Testament and New Testament portions each day (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home). The knowledge of the Bible will help us avoid false teaching and false doctrine. Then one should find a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching Church.

Jesus told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had been “reborn” by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13) before going into the world with the Gospel to make disciples of Jesus and to teach them to know and obey all Jesus' teachings (The Great Commission: Matthew 28:19-20). We cannot complete the mission of Christ without the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Faith is one of the most misunderstood words in the nominal “Church” and in the world today. Faith is not “wishing on a star,” or like making a wish as we blow out birthday candles. Faith is not getting what ever we want if we believe “hard enough.” Saving (from eternal condemnation) faith is obedient trust in Jesus Christ, who alone is God's “anointed” (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively) eternal Savior and King of God's eternal kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Saving faith begins as a tiny “mustard seed” (Matthew 13:31-32), our “yes” to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and our commitment to learn, trust and obey Jesus' teachings.  When I had finished reading the Bible from cover-to-cover, I believed that Jesus was the way, truth and life, as he said (John 14:6), and I asked him to be my Savior and Lord. I realized that I needed to begin applying Jesus' teachings in my life, so I decided to read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:28; representative of Jesus' teachings). I had no problems with some teachings, but was guilty of others; some were things I couldn't deal with right away, but I picked one that I could work on and began there.

Jesus doesn't immediately give the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We need to demonstrate commitment to discipleship, and to learn to hear, trust and obey Jesus. Premature “rebirth” would be spiritual disaster (Hebrews 6:4-6). As we trust and obey Jesus we will learn that Jesus' teachings are good, not too difficult, and our very best interest; and such experiences will cause our faith in Jesus to grow.

Prophecy is not foretelling the future. Prophecy is declaring God's Word; the fact that it is God's Word means that it will be fulfilled, over and over, as the conditions for fulfillment are met (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). The Bible contains both wonderful promises and ominous warnings. Anyone who doesn't trust and obey the conditions for the fulfillment of the promises will receive the consequences the ominous warnings were intended to help us avoid.

There are several hazards to discipleship. One is that once one has read the Bible, one thinks one is ready to teach others. Reading the entire Bible is just the place to start. It's the equivalent of a new born baby who cannot digest anything except Mother's milk. The other is that one thinks that prophecy is that one can predict the Second Coming and the Day of Judgment. The new believer spends all his time speculating about “End Times” and never grows to spiritual maturity. I testify that I have seen both happen to new “disciples.” Jesus said that it is not for us to know (Acts 1:6-7). We need to be focused on discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus.

Instead of trying to determine our spiritual gifts, we should try to determine our current ministry opportunity. My first opportunity was weekly small-group Bible study and Adult Sunday School. Then I became Chairman of the Social Ministry Committee (aid and mercy for the lowly; hospitality). When those doors closed I began to seek other opportunities. As we identify the opportunities, the Lord will provide what we need to pursue them.

I felt that the lack of support of Social Ministry in the congregation indicated a need for Evangelism, so I became the chairman of the Evangelism Committee. The congregation regarded Social Ministry as an inreach (service to members) and Evangelism as an outreach (service to non-members) whereas I regarded them as the opposite. I hope you can understand the difference.

For a while, the only opportunity I had was “friendship evangelism.” I walked my youngest daughter to elementary school and met other parents there. I had a number of opportunities to share the Gospel with parents.

An opportunity opened to testify in another denominational church, and I had several great opportunities. But ultimately I had to go on to another denominational  congregation. My current congregation provides spiritual support. The Lord gave me an Internet ministry which is not dependent upon a denomination or congregation. The Internet ministry suits my circumstances and abilities right now.

I had been looking for a way to feed myself in God's Word daily, and the Lord led me first to a lectionary in my (ELCA) Lutheran Hymnal intended for personal devotions. Before I finished I realized that it should be published online so that others could use it. I asked the Lord and he approved. I searched for a 'blog host, and found journalspace. Gradually it grew to what it is today.

My focus has been on discipleship from early on. I had introduced discipleship in my home congregation. When that opportunity closed, and I went to a new denomination, I allowed them to teach me in discipleship, and was able to testify to my experiences. Sometimes we can teach best by being students.

I'm convinced that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, who alone baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life.

There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to God for what we have done in this lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus' teachings, will have been spiritually “reborn” to eternal life, and will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus as Savior and Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus' teachings, will be cast into eternal 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)?

Saturday 1 Epiphany- C  
First posted January 16, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 1 Epiphany - C

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 – Spiritual Wisdom;

Paraphrase:

To the spiritually mature, the apostles (messengers; of the Gospel), including Paul, the author of this letter, do teach wisdom, not of the world nor the worldly rulers whose fate is to pass away. The apostles teach the wisdom of God which was a secret, hidden wisdom, which God commanded at the beginning of Creation, so that his people would be glorified. Worldly rulers did not know this or they would not have put the Lord of glory to death. Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4, saying that man has not seen or heard, nor has he imagined in his heart, what God has prepared for those who love him. But now he has revealed it to his “born-again” people by the Holy Spirit.

As no one can know the innermost thoughts of a person except his own spirit. Likewise, no one knows the innermost thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but God's Holy Spirit, so that we might understand the spiritual gifts God has given us. By the indwelling Holy Spirit apostles teach what they have learned by the Holy Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those to who possess the Spirit.

The unspiritual (unregenerate; un-born-again) person has not received the gifts of the Spirit and cannot comprehend them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person can judge everything, because he has the mind of Christ, but cannot be judged by the unspiritual person. Who is able to direct  God's Spirit or counsel or teach him?

Commentary:

God's wisdom is unlike what the world falsely calls wisdom. Man's wisdom seems right for a time, but often later is found to have been wrong. Pollution is one example. Another is the health benefits or risks of certain foods or preparations of food, which seems to change from day to day. God's wisdom is eternal and eternally true. When we trust in God's wisdom we can be sure that it won't ever change.

God's wisdom has been hidden because we aren't able to know and understand his purpose until he reveals it to us. God has been gradually revealing his purpose for this Creation from the very beginning, so that his people would be glorified (honored; experience the joy of heaven). God reveals himself first in the goodness and complexity of Creation. Then he began to reveal himself to individuals who trusted and obeyed him and became the people of Israel.

The Old Testament (Old Covenant) of the Bible is the history of God's dealing with Israel. It is a series of word-pictures, metaphors revealing the meaning and purpose of life in this Creation: The release from slavery to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world, though baptism into Jesus in the Red Sea; the wandering in the “desert” for forty years learning to trust and obey God's Word and guided by the Holy Spirit who is the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22). Jesus is the “Joshua” who will lead us through the “river” of physical death and into the eternal Promised Land of God's kingdom in heaven. The history of Israel is written for our instruction so that we can avoid the mistakes of the Israelites (1 Corinthians 10:11).

In God's perfect timing, he revealed himself in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus is God made visible in human flesh in this world. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus it the fullest revelation of God to the world.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (note the Trinity; Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God to us individually and personally through the “baptism” (“anointing;” “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). By the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal daily fellowship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the joy of the Lord's presence and his love for us. 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 indwelling Holy Spirit teaches “born-again” Christians all things and reminds us of everything Jesus' teaches (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit guides, empowers and equips us to be apostles, proclaiming God's Word in the world (Matthew 10:19-20).

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had received the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) before going into the world with the Gospel, to make disciples and teach them to know and obey all Jesus' teaching (Matthew 28:19-20). The Church is intended to be a disciple-making organization, following the example of Jesus.

Paul (Saul of Tarsus), is intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we all can be. Paul demonstrated the method of making disciples that we should follow. Paul was discipled by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10), until Paul received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). Then Paul began to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. Timothy is a good example (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Then he taught Timothy to repeat the process with others who would be faithful to repeat the process again (2 Timothy 2:2).

Unfortunately, many nominal Churches have failed to make “born-again” disciples, because they're led by “unregenerate” leaders. If the Church doesn't make “born-again” disciples there won't be any to be recruited for leadership. Doesn't this text make clear what is wrong with nominal Churches today? It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples. The unregenerate don't know what they're missing or how to get it; otherwise they would be “born-again” too.

Some mainline denominations are teaching that the indwelling Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by some Church rite such as water baptism. This false doctrine not only doesn't help its members, but actually causes spiritual harm, by discouraging them from seeking the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see False Teachings, Spiritual Rebirth, sidebar, top right, home).

Many worldly people today are seeking spirituality in all the wrong places. Many others try to keep their physical bodies well and fit, with no thought to their spiritual health and fitness. Many refuse to believe anything they can't see or touch. Many believe in demonic spirits but not in God. Many believe in worldly religions, which are mankind's attempt to manipulate God to do their will.

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)?