2 Epiphany Even 01/19-25/2014

2 Epiphany Even

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It is based on the Lutheran Book of Worship two-year Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978.
 
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2 Epiphany - Sunday - Even

First posted 01/17/04;

Genesis 7:1-10, 17-23   -  The Great Flood;

Ephesians 4:1-16    -  Christian Maturity;

Mark 3:7-19    -   Jesus appoints The Twelve;

Genesis Summary:

God decided to destroy all living things on the earth because of the wickedness of mankind. But God spared Noah and his family because Noah did what was right in God’s judgment. God instructed Noah to build a houseboat and load it with breeding pairs of animals, along with his family, and with food for all to sustain them during the flood. The Lord told Noah, seven days before the flood came, to load the ark, and Noah did all that the Lord said. The flood continued forty days and nights, as the Lord had said, and covered the whole earth so that the tops of the mountains were under water. All flesh died; only Noah and those with him in the ark were left. The waters covered the earth for one hundred and fifty days.

Ephesians Summary:

Paul, writing from prison, exhorts believers to live lives of lowliness, meekness, patience, forbearance, love, unity, and peace. We should be united in the faith, since all share in the same body (Christ’s Church), Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father, even though we have received diverse gifts in the Holy Spirit. Some are called to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. All these are “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (the Church) until we all attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:12-13), to Christian maturity, to the likeness of Christ.

We are to grow in spiritual maturity so that we are no longer babes and children in faith, who are easily led astray by shifting winds of doctrine, by the cunning and deceit of men. Instead we are to grow in maturity into the likeness of Jesus, speaking truth in love, so that, like a physical body, the Church makes progress and grows and upbuilds itself in love, with each part working properly.

Mark Summary:

Jesus’ reputation as a healer had grown to such proportions that he was forced to preach on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, with a boat nearby, to avoid being crushed by the crowds seeking healing. Whenever he cast out unclean spirits, the unclean spirits declared, “You are the Son of God,” and Jesus strictly ordered them not to make him known. Then he went into the hills and appointed The Twelve from among his followers, to be with him and to be sent out to preach and heal: Simon Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,  Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot (Jesus’ betrayer).

Commentary:

Noah was saved from God’s judgment and condemnation of sin because Noah trusted and obeyed God. He followed the Lord’s instructions and built the ark and loaded it. As a result of his obedience, a remnant of God’s creation was spared from destruction. In a sense, the Body of Christ is our ark. The Lord has given us plenty of warning that he is going to judge and condemn to eternal destruction the wickedness of this world (Matthew 25:31-46). Only those who trust Jesus, who believe what he says and obey what he commands, are going to be saved (Acts 4:12).

Paul was in prison for his proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was still working to build and furnish the “ark,” the Body of Christ, so that as many as possible might be saved from  eternal condemnation. (Paul represents the modern Christian disciple as the example of the first and foremost apostle who had not known Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry; Paul had been converted after Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven (See Acts Ch. 9).

Believers are called to be disciples; to grow in faith to spiritual maturity so that they can join in the work of ministry. Believers are called to join in the work of Noah and Paul and The Twelve; to grow to Christian maturity so that we can join in the work of saving others from God’s Day of Judgment.

Jesus’ mission was to save us from God’s condemnation of sin (John 3:16-17). He began to free people from spiritual bondage to Satan and sin (Mark 3:10-11). He recruited others to help him meet the overwhelming need. He took twelve faithful men, who had grown to spiritual maturity through constant fellowship and training by Jesus himself (Mark 3: 14), and sent them out with the same mission to which Jesus had been called: to save us from our sin and condemnation. Those Twelve presented the Gospel and made disciples (see Acts 2:14-42), who grew to Christian maturity and repeated the process (see also 2 Timothy 2:2).

After Jesus’ Resurrection and immediately before his Ascension into heaven, Jesus gave his disciples his last instructions, known as The Great Commission: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe (learn and obey) all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Notice that his instructions are to his disciples. One must be a disciple of Jesus in order to make disciples. Notice that the command is to make disciples; not merely “professors,” “Sunday Christians,” who claim to believe in Jesus but who don’t do what he says. Notice that converts are to be taught Jesus’ commands and taught to obey Jesus’ commands.

Too often in churches today, the call to make disciples is overlooked. The goal to make disciples has been replaced by the goal to build buildings, and make “members.” Membership classes are very brief and cover the ‘winds of doctrine’, the distinctives that characterize the particular denomination (emphasizing disunity, rather than the unity of faith of the basic Christian Gospel). As soon as people become members they are urged to go out into the world and make more “members;” to tell their friends about the wonderful Church facilities (the physical buildings), that the Preacher is entertaining, that the people are friendly.

This is not what Paul did. In Paul’s churches, converts were to grow in unity of faith (the basic Christian beliefs) and in (personal) knowledge of the Son of God, to (spiritual) maturity, so that they could be able to join in the work of ministry and the building up of the Body of Christ. Jesus commissioned and sent out The Twelve to carry on his mission of making disciples.

Before he left them and ascended into heaven, he instructed them to “stay in Jerusalem until they had received the “power from on high,” the Holy Spirit, “the promise from the Father” which Jesus had told them he would send (Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). New believers should stay within the Church, actively, deliberately learning Jesus’ teachings and growing in spiritual maturity until they have a personal relationship with Jesus through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. One cannot bear witness to that which one has not experienced. One cannot make disciples unless one is a disciple. 

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)?

2 Epiphany - Monday - Even

First posted 01/18/04;

Genesis 8:6-22    -  Noah leaves the ark; Hebrews 4:14-5:6  -   Jesus our High Priest; John 2:23-3:15    -  Nicodemus; Genesis Summary: At the end of the forty days of rain, Noah released a raven, which went back and forth until the waters subsided and the raven did not return. Then Noah released a dove which kept returning until the land was dry enough for her to land. After she returned with an olive branch, Noah released her one more time, and she did not return, so Noah knew that it was safe to disembark. In the six hundred and first year (of Noah’s life; see Genesis 7:11) God directed Noah to leave the ark. Noah built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed an animal as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Lord promised never again to curse the ground because of man’s wickedness; that the natural cycle of seedtime and harvest would not be disrupted. He also promised never again to destroy the earth by flood [Genesis 9:11; this present world will be destroyed by fire, not by water (2 Peter 3:5-7, 10-13]. Hebrews Summary: Jesus, the Son of God, is our High Priest. He came down from heaven and ascended again into heaven. Let us hold fast to our faith, trusting in him for the forgiveness of our sins. He can understand our temptation, because he himself shared our nature and was tempted with the same temptations, and yet he didn’t sin. Let us draw near to him; he is able to help us resist temptation, and to forgive us when we fail. Human High Priests are appointed to act as intermediaries between men and God; to offer sacrifices for sin. Since human High Priests are not sinless they must offer sacrifices for their own sins as well as the sins of others, and they are not self-appointed, but are called to this ministry by God. Christ did not presume to appoint himself, but was appointed by God to this ministry. [The Aaronic priesthood was temporal and provisional; the Melchizedek priesthood is eternal (See Hebrews 7: 1-17; Ps 110:4)]. John Summary: Jesus went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. Many believed in him “when they saw the signs which he did, but Jesus did not trust himself to them because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness to man; for he himself knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25). Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a Jewish religious leader (a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious court), came to Jesus by night (so as not to be seen). Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus to be “a teacher come from God,” because of the signs (miracles, which indicated who Jesus was) that Jesus was doing, since one could not do those things except by God’s power. Jesus replied that one cannot see the Kingdom of God unless one is “born again” (anew; from above). Nicodemus asked how one could be born a second time. Jesus replied that one cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless one is born of water (in Baptism into Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (the infilling of the Holy Spirit which is promised to those who are Jesus’ disciples; those who trust and obey Jesus). Jesus said that one can see the effects of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, even if one cannot understand the mechanism, just like one can see the effect of the wind without fully understanding what causes it (the same word is used for both wind and spirit). Nicodemus was incredulous and asked how this could be. Jesus asked, in response, how Nicodemus could presume to be a teacher of the people of God without understanding this; Jesus was speaking from his firsthand understanding, but Nicodemus was apparently unwilling to accept it. If Nicodemus was unable to understand the parable of the wind as it related to the working of the Holy Spirit, how would he understand the truly deep spiritual things? Jesus alone has personally experienced heaven. Jesus equates himself, lifted up, with his arms outstretched on the arms of the cross, to the symbol of the bronze serpent, which was lifted up on a pole with a crossbar in the wilderness, during the wanderings of Israel under the leadership of Moses (John 3:14). [In Moses time the Israelites were being killed by the “fiery serpent” (representing sin) and God told Moses to make a bronze likeness of a serpent and place it on a pole (with a crossbar) so that if an Israelite was bitten by a fiery serpent, he could look at the bronze serpent, and if he did, he would survive! See Numbers 21:6-9.] Commentary: Noah and his family were saved from God’s condemnation and destruction of the wicked because Noah believed and obeyed God. When Noah realized that God had saved him from destruction, he built an altar and worshiped God, and made an offering to God of a portion of what God had given to him. Noah performed the duties of a High Priest as an intermediary between God and the remnant of the people, whom God had saved. Jesus is our eternal High Priest. He offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins. He knows our temptations. He alone is able to help us resist temptation. Only through him are we forgiven. He is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). This isn’t something that Jesus decided to do; it was God’s plan from the beginning. God knows what is in the hearts of men (Genesis 8:21b; John 2:25), and yet he loves us and does not want us to perish (John 3:16-17). The Kingdom of God is all around us, but we cannot see it unless we have been baptized into Jesus and have been filled with his Holy Spirit. [The infilling of the Holy Spirit can be experienced. In Acts 19:2, Paul asked disciples of John (the Baptizer) if they had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and they declared that they had not heard of the Holy Spirit. The point is that if one could not experience the Holy Spirit and therefore know whether one had been filled with the Holy Spirit, there would be no point in asking them if they had received the Holy Spirit. Notice that their answer did not depend on what someone might have told them, but on what they themselves had (or had not) experienced.] Jesus said that the infilling of the Holy Spirit can be verified by works. In other words, if a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, the works of the Holy Spirit will be apparent through him. Jesus is the remedy for those who are “sin-bitten” and therefore doomed to die. Imagine the similarity between Jesus' outstretched on the arms of the Cross and the bronze serpent horizontally outstretched on the crossbar of the pole. Notice also that Jesus asked Nicodemus how one could presume to teach God's people without himself having been "reborn" by the "baptism" ("gift;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And yet, sadly, there are many nominal "Churches" that are teaching that spiritual "rebirth" occurs (automatically) at water baptism (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home). Many of their members claim to have been reborn, by church doctrine, rather than by personal experience. These "Churches" actually prevent members from seeking true spiritual rebirth. As a result many of their leaders are "unregenerate" (un-reborn). God loves us and doesn’t want us to die for our sins. He sent his Son, who was sinless, to die for our sins, in our place, on the Cross (John 3:16-17). We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). The punishment for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23) Only Jesus is the antidote for the deadly poisonous bite of sin (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Noah and his family were saved from God’s condemnation by Noah’s trust in God and his obedience to God’s commands. 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)?

2 Epiphany - Tuesday - Even

First posted 01/19/04;

Genesis 9:1-17  -  God’s covenant with Noah; Hebrews 5:7-14  -  Christian maturity; John 3:16-21  -   God’s saving purpose; Genesis Summary: When Noah and his family had come out of the ark after the flood, God blessed them with the renewal of the blessing which he had given at creation (Genesis 9:1-2, 7; see Genesis: 1:28). God permitted them to eat meat, but not with blood [not “flesh with it’s life” (Genesis 9:4)], and God forbade murder. God promised that he would never again destroy all flesh and the earth by waters of a flood. The rainbow in the sky was established as a sign of God’s promise not to destroy the world again by flood. Hebrews Summary: Jesus is our High Priest. During the time he was in the flesh on earth, Jesus offered up prayers to God to save him from death, and God answered his prayers (raising him from the dead) because Jesus truly trusted and obeyed God. Although Jesus was God’s Son, he had to suffer and learn to be obedient. Having been made perfect through what he suffered, he became the source of salvation for all who obey him. God has designated him high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The author warns his hearers not to become “dull of hearing.” He rebukes those who have not matured in their faith, but instead have been content to stay where they began. John Summary: God loves the world and sent his Son into the world to die for our sins, so that whoever believes in him (Jesus) might not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn the world, but rather to save it. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe in Jesus are condemned already by their unbelief. Jesus, the light of righteousness, came into the world, but men loved the darkness of unrighteousness because they were evil. Those who do evil hate the light, because they don’t want their deeds to be exposed; but those who do what is right come to the light so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds are in accord with God’s righteousness. Commentary: God’s creation was good. God loves us and has given us dominion over his creation. He has blessed us. He doesn’t want to destroy us. Jesus came to save us from the penalty of death for our sins (Romans 6:23). He is our High Priest, interceding with God for our forgiveness and salvation. Jesus offered himself on the Cross as the sacrifice for our sins, through which we are forgiven. [Jesus sacrificed his flesh with his blood on the Cross for our salvation. In the “Sacrament of the Altar” (or “Communion” or the “Eucharist” which Jesus instituted at The Last Supper on the night before his crucifixion) believers, through faith and obedience to Jesus, receive the life of Jesus through the elements of bread and wine, representing his flesh and blood.]    We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We’re all under the condemnation of eternal death for our sins (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness (Acts 4:12). Those who believe and obey Jesus are not condemned; those who reject Jesus show that they are condemned, because they reject Jesus.  We have a tendency to become “dull of hearing.” Believers, and most non-believers as well, have heard the story of Noah and the Flood, and the Gospel, many times. There’s much to learn in the scriptures, but how many actually spend time regularly reading and studying the Bible? Spiritual growth is largely overlooked in many congregations. Some individuals think that as long as they believe in Jesus (in the abstract; without a personal knowledge and relationship) that they don’t need to even go to church; perhaps they think they accepted Jesus years ago at some altar-call or affirmation rite, settling the issue once and for all, and that they can go about life without further thought. Are you feeding on spiritual meat, or are you still trying to survive on something less? 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)?

2 Epiphany - Wednesday - Even

First posted 01/20/04;

Genesis 9:18-29   -   Noah’s curse upon Canaan; Hebrews 6:1-12   -   Exhortation to fruitfulness in the Gospel; John 3:22-36    -   John the Baptizer’s further testimony; Genesis Summary: Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan, the grandson of Noah. From them came all the people of earth. Noah was the first tiller of soil. He planted a vineyard and made wine and became drunk and lay naked in his tent. Ham saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. Shem and Japheth went in, walking backwards so as not to see their father naked, and covered him. When Noah awoke and discovered what had happened he cursed Canaan to be a slave to his brothers. Noah blessed Shem and Japheth, and prophesied that Japheth would dwell in the tents of Shem. (The sons of Japheth became the Philistines, who conquered the coastline, i.e. the “tents of Shem;” see Genesis 10:2-5.) Hebrews Summary: The author of Hebrews urges his hearers to go on toward spiritual maturity. He does not want to have to lay again the foundation of elementary Christian doctrine. He realizes that trying to lay the basic foundation again is useless to those who have already been enlightened and experienced the goodness of God’s Word and the spiritual gifts, and then turn back and abandon their faith. Those who have experienced the rewards of faith but fail to produce the fruit of their faith are worthless and in danger of being cursed, like worthless land that produces only thorns and thistles. The author hopes for a better outcome in the case of his hearers. He affirms God’s fairness and mercy, and urges his hearers to be diligent and to persevere in the faith, so that they will grow to maturity and receive the fulfillment of the hope and promise of the Gospel. John Summary: Jesus was baptizing in Judea, and John the Baptizer was also baptizing at Aenon, near Salim (in Samaria, south of the Sea of Galilee in north Central Israel). John’s disciples spoke to John about the fact that Jesus was baptizing nearby and that everyone was going to Jesus for baptism, rather than coming to John. John told them that Jesus’ call to baptize was from God. John reminded them that he himself had acknowledged that he was not the Christ, but had come to prepare the way for the Christ and to point to him. Jesus is the “bridegroom”, and he is entitled to the “bride” (God’s people; the Church). John loved the bridegroom and rejoiced that he had come; he was glad to give the bridegroom the place of honor and attention. Jesus is above all because he is from God (Jesus is God in the flesh; Colossians 2:9; John 20-28); John is just an ordinary mortal. Jesus alone has seen God the Father, and he alone can reveal him (John 3:31-32; see Matthew 11:27). Jesus bears witness to what he has seen and heard from the Father, and he speaks the Word of God. The fullness of God’s Spirit dwells in Jesus (John 3:34; see Colossians 2:9). God the Father has given all authority to Jesus. “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him (John 3:36). Commentary: Ham saw his father Noah helpless and vulnerable, and humiliated him in front of his other sons. His other sons showed respect for their father by averting their eyes so that they did not stare on their father’s humiliating situation, but instead covered him up so that his dignity was restored. The fact that Noah was drunk and naked does not justify Ham’s behavior. Noah was a human father and in the privacy of his own tent. Ham chose to ridicule Noah and hold him up to contempt in front of Seth and Japheth, rather than trying to protect his honor. The passage of Hebrews should be a warning to those who profess to be Christians, but who do not live in accordance with Jesus’ teachings; they receive the basic promises of the Gospel, but do not bear fruit for the Gospel by diligent and persevering application of its principles in their lives. Such so-called “Christians” dishonor their Heavenly Father and crucify Christ in their own way, by holding Jesus’ name up to ridicule and contempt (Hebrews 6:6) They are like land which receives the “rain” of God’s grace and mercy, and the “cultivation” of the gospel, but bears only thorns and thistles. They are like land that is “worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:8). John the Baptizer was not jealous of Jesus’ rising fame and popularity. John loved Jesus and was glad to give him honor and praise. John was willing to be diminished himself, so that Jesus could be glorified. Our Heavenly Father is totally good and righteous; there is no unrighteousness in him (1 John 1:5). He has done nothing to deserve our ridicule and contempt. Jesus is the sinless Son of God who came from God to die in our place for our sins. He has done nothing to deserve our ridicule or contempt. Those who by their words or actions ridicule God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and hold them up to contempt will be subject to God’s wrath (John 3:36). Both those who hate and reject God and Jesus, and those who bear the name of Jesus and profess to know and love God, but act contrary to the will of God are in danger of condemnation. Congregations and Church denominations as well as individual Christians should focus on preaching the Bible and glorifying the name of Jesus, and avoid proclaiming ridicule and contempt for other denominations based on varying teachings on such things as “ablutions (washing), the laying on of hands,” etc. (John 6:2; arguments over how much water is necessary for “proper” baptism, or wine versus grape juice as a sacramental element, for example. Scriptural preaching does require teaching against false doctrine, however.) Do we recognize God as our Heavenly Father, and Jesus as his Son and our Savior and Lord?  Do we seek to exalt Jesus, or are we trying to promote ourselves or our own brand of “churchianity?” Do our words and actions honor and glorify our Lord? 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)?

2 Epiphany - Thursday - Even

First posted 01/21/04;

Genesis 11:1-9    -  The Tower of Babel; Hebrews 6:13-20   -   The certainty of God’s promises; John 4:1-15   -   The Samaritan woman at the well; Genesis Summary: All the people of the earth descended from the sons of Noah, and originally had one language. As they multiplied and spread out over the earth their culture and technology advanced. In the Tigris-Euphrates basin, men developed brick and mortar construction and began building pyramidal temple towers called ziggurats, believed to be gateways to heaven. The construction was motivated by mankind’s desire to memorialize his accomplishments and achieve a kind of immortality [“let us make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4)] working together to achieve more than they could accomplish individually. God judged and condemned them for their pride and arrogance. They were pursuing selfish goals to glorify themselves, without regard for God’s will. So God confused their language, so that they couldn’t communicate with one another, and scattered them over the face of the earth, so their plans were thwarted. Hebrews Summary: The author of Hebrews reminds his hearers that God’s promises are utterly reliable. He cites the example of God’s promise to Abraham. When mankind makes promises they need to swear by someone greater than themselves because they’re human and not reliable. When God promised Abraham, he reassured Abraham with an oath attested to by himself, since there is no greater one than he. Both God’s promise and his Word affirming that promise are utterly reliable and unchangeable. Therefore we should be encouraged to hold on to the hope and promise of the Gospel. We should have unshakable faith in the promise that we have access to God’s presence through Jesus, who has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, as our eternal high priest of the line of Melchizedek. John Summary: Returning to Galilee from Judea, Jesus passed through Samaria. He came to Sychar, around noon, and sat down beside Jacob’s Well. His disciples had gone into the city to buy food. A Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well, and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised that a Jew would initiate any contact with her, since Jews regarded Samaritans with contempt as having turned away from true faith, and Rabbis also avoided speaking to women in public. Jesus replied that if she knew the gift of God, and who she was speaking with, she would ask him for “living water.” The woman asked Jesus where he proposed to get that living water to give her, since he didn’t have any apparent supply or any visible means of drawing water from the well. Jesus replied that those who drink the water from earthly wells will continue to get thirsty, but the living water which Jesus offers will truly satisfy spiritual thirst; it will become a spring, welling up to eternal life. The woman asked Jesus to give her the water of which he had spoken, so that she would not thirst or have to keep returning to the well to draw water. The people at Babel tried to devise their own salvation, without God. They thought that they could use their own technology and intellect to get to heaven on their own. They thought they could achieve immortality through their works. They thought that through communal effort that they could achieve their goals without God. God saw what they were trying to do. He frustrated their efforts to work together to achieve their goals without God, and they were forced to leave off their project which they hoped would give them access to heaven and immortality. Only through Jesus can we have access to God. Only through Jesus can we have immortality in heaven in God’s presence. Jesus is our High Priest; he opened the way for us into the presence of God (which is represented by the architecture of the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies). God has promised us eternal life through Jesus, and we have his unfailing Word guaranteeing that promise. Jesus demonstrated the fulfillment of that promise through his death and resurrection. All we need to do is trust in Jesus and follow his leading. The woman came every day to the well to draw water for her household. It was a never-ending task. All our efforts to “get ahead” in this world are like that, no matter how effective they seem. Apart from Jesus, we will spend every day of our lives trying to produce something lasting, but we will never succeed. Everything in this world eventually passes away. Everyone will face the Day of Judgment before God (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with God; those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to obey him will receive eternal death in Hell with Satan and his demons. [There is no such thing as reincarnation. It is appointed man to die once (not over and over) and after that comes judgment (not reincarnation; Hebrews 9:27)] Jesus is the gift of God, the living water that alone will satisfy our spiritual thirst and give us eternal life. Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). The living water that Jesus offers is his Holy Spirit, which becomes the source of eternally life-sustaining spiritual water within us. His Holy Spirit offers us God’s presence within us now and eternally.  His Holy Spirit will sustain us now and eternally, and will flow from us to others. Mankind continues to try to build our own way to reach heaven and immortality. We continue to hope that our own ingenuity and technology will succeed without God. We keep trying to work our way up to heaven; God has sent his “Way” down from heaven. God promises, and his Word guarantees, that there is only one way to God and immortality in Heaven, and Jesus is that way (John 14:6). Have you said yes to God’s way, or are you still trying to do it your way? 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)?

2 Epiphany - Friday - Even

First posted 01/22/04;

Genesis 11:27-12:8  -  The Call of Abraham; Hebrews 7:1-17  -  The priesthood of Melchizedek; John 4:16-26  -  True worship; Genesis Summary: Abraham (known as Abram until God changed it; see Genesis 17:5) came from Ur (in present day Iraq) and went with his father, Terah, and all his family, to Haran (in present day Syria) and settled there.  God called Abraham to leave his father’s house and go to the land which the Lord would show him, and the Lord  promised to make of Abraham a great nation, and to bless him and through him to bless all the families of earth. Abraham went, as the Lord had directed him, taking his wife Sarah (known as Sarai until the Lord changed her name; see 17:15) and Lot, his brother’s son, and all their households, to the land of Canaan. Abraham came to Schechem to the oak of Moreh. There the Lord promised to give all that land, which was then occupied by Canaanites, to Abraham and his descendents. Abraham built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. Then he camped on the mountain east of Bethel, between Bethel and Ai, and worshiped the Lord. Hebrews Summary: The author compares the Levitical priesthood (from the line of Abraham’s descendent, Levi) with the priesthood of Melchizedek. [Melchizedek is a mysterious priest-king. Melchizedek was king of Salem (which means “Peace”) and “Priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18); Priest of God, the “maker of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19). As Abraham returned victorious from battle with regional kings, Melchizedek came out, bringing bread and wine, and blessed Abraham; and Abraham gave him a tithe (a tenth) of his possessions. Melchizedek's name means “King of Righteousness.” “He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever” (Hebrews 7:3). Melchizedek is regarded as superior to the Levitical priesthood because he was worthy to receive a tithe from, and give a blessing to the patriarch of the Priests and Levites. [Melchedizek’s order is also superior because it is eternal, and appointed by divine oath (Psalm 110:4).] If perfection had been attainable under the Levitical priesthood which administered the system of religious Law, there would be no need for another priesthood. A change in the priesthood would require a change in the law since the law designates the physical line of descent of priests. A priesthood like Melchizedek arises not on the basis of legal requirement of lineage but by the power of an “indestructible life” (i.e., immortality), fulfilling the scripture that the Messiah is a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). John Summary: Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well at Sychar (see journal entry for yesterday, directly above). Jesus told her to go get her husband and bring him back. The woman said that she had no husband. Jesus revealed that he had supernatural knowledge of the details of her life; that she had been married five times, and that she was currently living with a man to whom she wasn’t married. The woman realized that Jesus must be a prophet, and took the opportunity to ask him to settle a religious controversy about where one should worship. Jesus replied that it is not "where", but "how" one worships. God is Spirit and those who desire to worship him must worship in Spirit and truth. The woman said that she firmly believed that Messiah (Christ) would come, and that he would reveal all things. Jesus told her that he is the Christ. Commentary: Abraham heard and obeyed God’s call, willingly leaving his home and family to follow God’s leading. God showed him a land already occupied by others and promised to give it to Abraham. God promised to make Abraham’s name great, and make from his household a great nation. God promised to bless Abraham, so that he could be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. Abraham believed God’s promises, even though there was no evidence to suggest that any of this was possible. Abraham acted on his faith in God’s promises; he built an altar and worshiped the Lord, then he picked a spot and set up his campsite, built another altar and worshiped the Lord. The Lord made promises to Abraham that took a long time to be fulfilled. The Bible is the record of God’s promises and their fulfillment. God promised to send the Messiah to be our King of Righteousness; our King of Peace; our Eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The author of the Book of Hebrews saw Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic oracles of Genesis 14:18-20, and Psalm 110:4. As Abraham lived out his faith in God’s promises, struggling at times against the rulers of this world and against injustice, represented by “the kings of the east” (Genesis 14:1-16), God gave him victory, and blessed him through the priesthood of Melchizedek. In the images of the Sacrament of Holy Communion (the Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper), I see the King of Righteousness, King of Peace, the eternal High Priest of God Most High, coming to meet us, bringing the elements of bread and wine - his body and blood shed for us as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins - blessing us and giving us victory over sin and death. Abraham worshiped God Most High in thanksgiving for the victory over his enemies and for the blessing, offering the tithe to God through Melchizedek. The Samaritan woman recognized that Jesus was a prophet, and she asked him to settle a question she had about where to worship God. Jesus replied that “where” is not the important issue, but “how.”  God is Spirit (and truth). God desires us to worship him in Spirit and in truth (not just putting on a display to impress others, or professing something we don’t truly believe). If we seek to worship God, we must approach him earnestly and sincerely. The Samaritan woman declared that she trusted in God’s promise to send the Messiah and that the Messiah would reveal all things. Jesus replied by declaring himself to be the Messiah, and fully revealing himself to her. If we are willing to trust in God’s promise of Salvation through Jesus Christ and act on that promise, the Lord will bless us and give us victory over sin and death; he will manifest himself to us (John 14:21) and reveal all things to us.  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)?

2 Epiphany - Saturday - Even

First posted 01/23/04;

Genesis 12:9-13:1  -  Abraham sojourns in Egypt;

Hebrews 7:18-28    -   A better covenant;

John 4:27-42    -  The Samaritan woman’s testimony;

Genesis Summary:

There was a famine in the land, so Abraham (Abram) went down to Egypt. His wife Sarah (Sarai) was beautiful, and Abraham was afraid that the Egyptians would kill him so that they could have his wife, so he told her to say that she was his sister. (She was his half-sister; see Genesis 20:12.)

When they entered Egypt the Egyptians did find Sarah beautiful; they praised her to Pharaoh and she was taken into his house. Because of her, Pharaoh dealt generously with Abraham and gave him livestock and servants. This jeopardized God’s promise to bring forth a great nation from Abraham through Sarah, so God afflicted Pharaoh’s house with great plagues because of Sarah. Pharaoh discovered that Sarah was Abraham’s wife and he returned her to Abraham, and sent him away. Abraham and his entire household, including Lot, went from Egypt into the Negeb.

Hebrews Summary:

In Jesus, as our eternal High Priest in the manner of Melchizedek, the former law is set aside because it was ineffective, because the law was incapable of making us perfect. In Jesus we have a new and better hope through which we draw near to God. The Levitical Priesthood was by statute rather than by oath. But we have God’s oath that Christ is our eternal High Priest, so Jesus is our guarantee of a better covenant.

Jesus’ priesthood is eternal, so he is able to save all who draw near to God through him. Jesus is “holy and blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). Unlike Levitical priests, he does not continually need to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as the sins of the people. Jesus’ sacrifice of himself in death on the Cross was offered once for all time. Priests under the old covenant of the Law were not sinless; but under the new covenant of promise (the oath) our High Priest has been made perfect forever.

John Summary:

Jesus had an encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well in Sychar in Samaria. His disciples returned from shopping for food in the city and found them talking. The woman left and went into the city and told the people that she had encountered “a man who told me all that I ever did” (John 4:29) who might be the Christ, and invited them to come see for themselves.

As they were coming to Jesus, his disciples urged him to eat, but Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (John 4:32). The disciples wondered if someone had already brought him food, but Jesus told them that his “food” was to do the will of God who had sent him; to do the work he had been sent to accomplish.

Jesus compared his mission to a harvest. The time of the harvest is now; not sometime off in the future. The reaper receives the reward of gathering believers. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection constitute the seed which has been sown and the labor from which the harvest is reaped.

Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, and they invited Jesus to stay with them so Jesus stayed there two days. Many more came to believe in Jesus because of his words; their faith was no longer based on the woman’s testimony, but their own personal experience.

Commentary:

Abraham did not trust God to protect him, so he tried to save himself, and he put Sarah and God’s promise in jeopardy. God was able to do far more that Abraham could imagine. God caused plagues within Pharaoh’s household and as a result Pharaoh returned Sarah to Abraham so that God’s promise could still be fulfilled.

Humans are imperfect. Abraham tried to create his own plan of salvation, based on a lie. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through him (John 14:6). All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). The old covenant of the Law was incapable of restoring us to full fellowship with God.

God’s plan to restore us to fellowship with him is based not on Law, which we can never fulfill, but on grace (unmerited favor; free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). Jesus is our High Priest who mediates the New Covenant based, not on Law, but on God’s unfailing promise. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the Cross once for all people for all time. Those who trust in Jesus and obey him are restored to full, intimate fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit, now and eternally.

As the Samaritan woman heard the words of Jesus, she came to realize who he was. First she discerned that he was a Jew (John 4:9); then in growing awareness she addressed him as “Sir” (John 4:11; a title of respect). When Jesus revealed his foreknowledge of the details of her life she realized that he was a “Prophet” (John 4:19). Finally she began to be aware that he is the Christ (John 4:29; Messiah); the Savior of the world (John 4:42). As her faith grew, she shared her personal testimony with others and invited them to come and decide for themselves. They came, and as they heard Jesus’ words they came to believe in Jesus on the basis of their own personal experience, rather than on someone else’s testimony.

Jesus sowed the seed of the Gospel by his life, death and resurrection. His disciples are those who have come to him and learned from him, and then participate in the harvest. The Samaritan woman joined in that process. She came to Jesus, heard his word, grew to a personal understanding of who Jesus was, shared her testimony with her fellows and invited them to repeat that process by coming to see for themselves. She participated in the harvest; many more in the village came to believe that Jesus was the Savior of the world. Believers testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world whom God promised to send. Come to Jesus; listen to his words; decide for yourself. Learn from him and then go and tell others.

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)?