Week
of 2 Christmas - 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
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Podcast Download: Week of 2 Christmas - C
Sunday 2
Christmas - C
First Posted
January 3, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 2 Christmas - C
Isaiah 61:10-62:3 –
Vindication of Zion;
Psalm 147:13-20 – God's Relationship with Israel;
Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 – Spiritual Blessings;
John 1:1-18 – The Word Made Flesh;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult
in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he has covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a
garland, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels”
(Isaiah 61:10). The Lord will cause righteousness and
praise to come forth like a garden causes seed sown in
it to sprout and grow.
For the sake of Jerusalem the prophet will not be silent
or rest until Zion's vindication and salvation comes
forth as brightness like a blazing torch. Zion's
vindication will be seen by all nations, and her glory
will be seen by all the kings. Zion will be given a new
name by the Lord. Zion will be like a beautiful royal
crown in the hand of the Lord their God.
Psalm Paraphrase:
Let Jerusalem praise the Lord! Let Zion praise her God.
It is the Lord who strengthens her gates; it is he who
blesses her sons. The Lord gives peace within her
borders, and satisfies her hunger with the finest wheat.
His command goes forth to all the earth; his Word is
swift. It is the Lord who calls forth snow, hoarfrost
and ice; who can prevent it? With a Word he melts them.
He causes wind to blow and water to flow. The Lord
declares his Word to Jacob; he has given his statutes
and ordinances to Israel. The Lord has dealt with no
other nation like he has dealt with Israel; his
ordinances they do not know. Praise the Lord!
Ephesians Paraphrase:
Let us bless God the Father of Jesus Christ our Lord,
because in Christ he has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in heaven. He chose us in Christ to be holy and
blameless in his presence before the world was created.
In love he destined us to be his sons and daughters
through Jesus, according to his purpose. Let him be
praised for his glorious grace which he gave us freely
in the Beloved (Jesus Christ).
The Apostle Paul had heard of the faith (obedient trust)
in Jesus Christ and the love of their brethren (saints;
consecrated to God's service) and so he constantly
praised and gave thanks to God for the congregations of
new believers such as the Ephesians. Paul was praying
constantly that God the Father of Jesus Christ would
give them “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the
knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17), that their spiritual
eyes would be enlightened and that they would know with
certainty the hope to which they had been called, the
richness of the inheritance they had among the saints.
John Paraphrase:
At the beginning of Creation was the Word, the creative
power of God, present with God, and in very nature God.
The Word was present in the beginning and every
created thing was made through him; there was nothing
created that was not made through him. In the Word was
life, and the life was the light of mankind. That light
shines in the spiritual darkness of this world, and has
not been overcome by the darkness.
John (the Baptizer) was sent by God to testify to the
light (of God's righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21),
spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9); and eternal life
(John 1:4; 8:12). John was not that light, but he came
to point to the light.
“The true light that enlightens every [person] was
coming into the world” (John 1:9). He was the Creator of
the world who had come into the world but the world did
not recognize and know him. Even his own home and people
didn't recognize and welcome him. But to all who
received (welcomed and accepted) him, he gave the power
to become children of God. God's children are not born
of flesh and blood, carnal desire or the will of man,
but only by God's will.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of
grace and truth; we (“born-again” disciples) have beheld
his glory, glory as of the only (“begotten,” KJV;
Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35) Son from the Father. (John
had testified that Jesus was the one John had been
talking about when he said that one was coming after
John, chronologically, but who ranked before him,
because he was before John -from eternity- and above all
people and authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew
28:18; Philippians 2:8-11). From the fullness of the
grace (unmerited favor) of God which is (only) in Jesus
Christ, we receive grace upon grace. The Law came
through Moses, but through Jesus comes grace and truth.
No person has ever seen God, but Jesus who is in
complete communion with God the Father has made God
known.
Commentary:
God's Word is eternally true and is fulfilled over and
over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. This
portion is believed to have been written around the time
of the fall of Babylon to Cyrus of Persia in 539 B.C.
and 510 B.C.. It prophesies the the salvation and
vindication of Judah, the remnant of Israel which had
been in exile in Babylon for seventy years as foretold
by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11-12 from 587 to 517 B.C.,
counting the time from the destruction of the temple in
Jerusalem until its re-dedication.
God's Word was fulfilled. Judah was allowed to return to
their Promised Land. Cyrus even returned the gold,
silver, and bronze temple vessels which had been looted
by Nebuchadnezzar, gave them money to rebuild the temple
and authorization and help from the provincial
governors.
But Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of this
prophecy. He is the one who has supplied the garment of
salvation and the robe of righteousness (Philippians
3:9; Matthew 22:11-14).
The Church is the New Zion, the New Israel, the New
Jerusalem on earth. It is the Lord who strengthens her
gates against her enemies, blesses her sons, gives peace
within her borders and satisfies those who are
spiritually hungry. Unfortunately in too many instances
the nominal Church, particularly in America, has turned
to self-reliance and self-fulfillment.
Instead of making disciples and teaching them obedience
to Jesus' teaching (Matthew 28:19-20), the nominal
Church has settled for making “members,” who are loyal
to the denomination or the pastor, instead of seeking
the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. They've
settled for building buildings instead of building the
kingdom of God.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it
labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you
rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of
anxious toil for he gives to his beloved [in] sleep
(Psalm 127:1-2). If we are concerned with pleasing our
Lord instead of ourselves, we would let him do the
building and watching, and the providing for our needs
(Matthew 6:25-34), and we could sleep soundly.
Those who believe in (trust and obey) Jesus will receive
the “baptism” (gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit,
through whom we receive all spiritual blessings of
heaven. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy
Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and
obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the
garment of salvation, the robe of righteousness. 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 Holy Spirit is our Counselor and consoler, our
teacher, and our enabler. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of
the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9) will open our minds to
understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45), lead us into all
truth (John 16:13), teach us all things, bring to mind
all Jesus' teachings (John 14:26), and give us what to
say at the moment we are called on to testify (Matthew
10:19-20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11; 21:14-15). I
personally testify to these truths!
Paul's prayer for new believers was that they would
receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of
wisdom, revelation, personal knowledge of the Lord, and
spiritual enlightenment. That by the indwelling Holy
Spirit they would know with certainty the hope of
eternal life to which they had been called and the
richness of the inheritance waiting for them, through
the joy of the presence of the Lord through the
indwelling Holy Spirit within them.
Jesus is the light of the world, the light of eternal
life (Romans 8:12). Jesus is the light of righteousness,
spiritual enlightenment and eternal life. To all who
welcome and accept him he gives them the power (the
opportunity, the authorization, the promise) to become
children of God. That “adoption” is not automatically
received by Church membership or ritual such as water
baptism or affirmation of faith. We must lay hold of the
promise and claim it for ourselves, through faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus.
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
January 4 - C
First Posted January
4, 2010;
Podcast: Monday January 4 - C
Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Restoration
of Jerusalem;
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Isaiah, p. 822, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Tuesday January 5 - C
First Posted January 5, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday January 5 - C
Ephesians 3:2-12 – Inclusion of Gentiles;
Paraphrase:
Paul assumed that the Galatian congregation had heard that Paul had received God's grace (unmerited favor) as a steward on behalf of the Gentiles (non-Jews). The mystery of Christ, which had not been known in former generations, had been made known to Paul by revelation by the Holy Spirit, as it had also been revealed to the holy apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) and prophets. The revealed mystery was that through the Gospel the Gentiles share in the inheritance as members of the same body (the Church) and through the Gospel, they partake of the same promise in Jesus Christ.
Paul had been given the ministry of that Gospel as a gift by God's grace through God's power working in and through Paul. Paul felt unworthy, the least of the saints (those consecrated to God's service), to preach the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul and the other apostles had been given the opportunity and privilege to make known to all the people of the world the mystery of God's plan, which had been hidden for ages in God, the creator of all things. Now through the Church, all people and angelic beings in the universe can know the great wisdom of God of the eternal purpose God has accomplished in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Through our faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we have boldness and confidence of access to God.
Commentary:
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) felt less worthy than the original apostles, the remnant of the Twelve (minus Judas Iscariot, Jesus' betrayer) because Paul had persecuted Christians, before his confrontation by the Holy Spirit, the risen Jesus, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20).
Paul was as much an apostle as the original eleven. He was filled with, guided, and empowered by the same Holy Spirit, and proclaimed the Gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had done to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:9-48; 15:4-29).
I believe that Paul was 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 can and should be. I believe that Paul was the one God intended to take the place of Judas Iscariot.
The Eleven had been told to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). While they were waiting, they decided to choose a replacement for Judas. Since they didn't yet have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they chose Matthias by lot (by chance; like throwing dice; Acts 1:15-26). Matthias is never heard of in the New Testament thereafter, but after Paul's conversion most of the rest of the New Testament is by or about Paul.
Paul loved his fellow Jews and wanted to share the Gospel with them, but they refused to hear it and had imprisoned Paul at the time of Paul's writing this letter (Ephesians 3:1). The Jews knew the Bible scriptures had promised the Messiah (Christ; both mean God's “anointed), the eternal Savior and King of God's kingdom. But they didn't realize that the Savior had been given for the Gentiles also (note Isaiah 49:6). They considered themselves righteous by keeping the Law of Moses, and couldn't accept that Gentiles (unrighteous pagans) could receive the same forgiveness and salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ by faith (obedient trust).
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. From the very beginning he has designed this Creation for that purpose, to allow us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God, and the opportunity to learn by trial-and-error that God's will is our very best interest.
God knew that given freedom, we would all choose to do our will rather than God's will. Disobedience of God's Word is the definition of sin. God has limited this Creation and we ourselves by time, because he doesn't intend to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. God has designed the Savior, Jesus Christ into the structure of this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
We are all sinners who fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
God's wisdom has been progressively revealed to the world, first in the goodness and complexity of Creation, then through God's Word, the Bible, then through Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).
God's wisdom is unlike what mankind falsely calls “wisdom.” Worldly wisdom is incomplete and constantly changing; God's wisdom is complete, eternal and unchanging (1 Corinthians 1:17-29; 2:1-8). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to have real, eternal life (John 14:6).
The Church has received the stewardship of God's wisdom to proclaim it to the world. The Church is composed of “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. Believers are commanded to stay within the Church (the New Jerusalem; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) until we have received the promised gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit before going into the world to proclaim the Gospel and to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
Through our faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are spiritually “reborn” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). 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 Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel (guidance), might (empowerment), knowledge of and fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). By the Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of, and fellowship with God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
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)?
Podcast Download: Week of Epiphany - C
Epiphany - Wednesday - January 6 C
First Posted January 6, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday Epiphany January 6 - C
Isaiah 60:1-6 – Jerusalem Restored;
Psalm 72 – The Lord's Anointed King;
Ephesians 3:2-12 – Stewardship of the Gospel;
Matthew 2:1-12 – The Wise Men;
Epiphany is the day the Church celebrates the coming of the Wise Men at the birth of Christ; the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Wise Men (Magi; the “Three Kings”) were members of the educated, priestly class in Persia.
Isaiah Paraphrase:
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). The world and its people are covered in thick darkness, “but the Lord will arise upon you (Zion; the people of God) and his glory will be seen in you” (Isaiah 60:2b). All nations and kings of earth will come to the brightness of Zion's rising.
Watch and see, the children of Zion are gathered together and returning to their Promised Land. The sons of Israel shall come from afar, bringing the daughters of Israel on their arms. Then Israel will be radiant with joy, and their hearts will rejoice and celebrate, because they will receive bounty from the sea and wealth from the nations. “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian (people related to Israel through Keturah, one of Abraham's wives; Genesis 25:2; east of the Gulf of Aqabah) and Ephah (an Arab tribe east of the Gulf of Aqabah). “And those from Sheba (southern Arabia) shall come bringing gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6c).
Psalm 72 Paraphrase:
May the king be endowed with the justice and righteousness of God. May he judge God's people with righteousness, and give justice to the poor and helpless. May the mountains and hills produce prosperity and righteousness for God's people. May the king protect the rights of the poor and helpless, and defeat their oppressors. May he reign for all generations until the sun and moon cease to exist.
May the king be as gentle as gentle rain that waters mown grass and earth. Let righteousness flourish and peace abound as long as the moon exists. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river (Euphrates; the “cradle of civilization,” the Garden of Eden; Genesis 2:10, 14) to the end (cessation; also most distant parts) of the earth.
May his enemies bow to him and lick dust. “May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles (western Mediterranean) render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba (in southern Arabia) bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him , all nations serve him” (Psalm 72:10).
The king of God's people hears and delivers the poor, weak, needy and helpless when they call upon him. He has pity upon them and saves their lives. He redeems their lives from violence and oppression. Their blood is precious in his sight.
May the king have long life. May he receive the gold of Sheba. May prayer be made for him and blessings invoked upon him continually. May the land produce grain abundantly; may it wave from the mountaintops. May its fruit be as great as Lebanon (the highest mountain in Syria; the northern boundary assigned to Israel, but never conquered). May population increase and come forth from the cities to fill the land like grass in a field. May the name of the king and his fame endure forever.
“May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 72:17b-19).
Ephesians Paraphrase:
By the grace (unmerited favor; undeserved gift) of God, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was given the stewardship of the Gospel on behalf of the Gentiles. The mystery of Christ (to include Gentiles; Ephesians 3:6) was made known to Paul by revelation (by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus; Acts 9:1-20). Paul's insight into the mystery was not revealed to previous generations of Israelites, as it had now been revealed to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit: that Gentiles are “fellow heirs and members of the same body (the Church), and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Because of God's gift of grace, Paul received a ministry of the gospel by the working of God's power (in Paul by the indwelling Holy Spirit). Although Paul considered himself (because he had persecuted the Church) the least of all of the saints (those consecrated to God's service), by the grace of God, Paul was given the ministry to preach the great spiritual riches in Christ, and to make all people aware of the plan of the mystery hidden in God for ages.
But now the wisdom of God has been revealed through the Church to all authorities on earth and in heaven. This revelation was in accordance with God's eternal purpose which God has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus we now boldly and confidently have access to God.
Matthew Paraphrase:
During the reign of King Herod (the Great; which ended with his death in 4 B.C.), Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Wise men (Persian astrologers) came to Jerusalem seeking the new-born king of the Jews, whose star they had seen from their homeland, and had come to worship him. When Herod heard of a newborn rival, he was disturbed, and when Herod was troubled, all Jerusalem was troubled too.
Herod assembled all the Jewish priests and scribes (Bible teachers; authorities of the scriptures). When they were asked, they said that the Christ (Messiah; God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King), was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, citing Micah 5:2: “And you O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel. (Not quoted: “whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.)
Herod summoned the Wise Men and asked them when the star had appeared. Then he told them to go to Bethlehem and search for the child, and to bring back word to Herod. Herod told them that he wanted to worship the child too. Sent on their way they were guided by the star until it came to rest over the house in which the child was.
Seeing this the Wise Men rejoiced with great joy, and entering the house they saw the child with his mother, Mary. The Wise Men fell down in humility and worshiped him. Then they unpacked and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then they returned to their homeland by another route, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
Commentary:
The theme of these four texts is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.
The text from Isaiah is thought to have originated around 530 – 510 B. C., just before Judah, the remnant of Israel in exile in Babylon, was allowed by Cyrus of Persia to return to their Promised Land. Cyrus had conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.. The prophecy referred to Judah's restoration from exile, but also to the coming of the Messiah five hundred years later.
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the light of the glory of the Lord rising upon Israel, the light of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9 and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12). God's people are to reflect the light of the Lord's glory so that it may be seen by others.
There are two varieties of camels: the dromedary or one-humped variety, and the Bactrain, or two-humped variety. The Bactrain originated in central Asia but had spread to Assyria by 1100 B.C.. Camels were used by the returning exiles from Babylon (Ezra 2:67; Nehemiah 7:69). They were used extensively in Arabia south of Israel, in Sheba and Seba, and east of Israel east of the Gulf of Aqabah in Midian and Ephah. The popular imagery is of the three Wise Men traveling to Bethlehem on camels.
The Queen of Sheba had visited King Solomon, who reigned from 961-922 B.C., and had brought gold, jewels and spices by camel (1 Kings 10:1-2). She recognized the wisdom of Solomon and was drawn to him. She prefigures the coming of the Magi at the birth of Christ, bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Psalm 72 was originally composed for a coronation or its commemoration, but it is also Spirit-inspired prophecy. It prefigures the fulfillment and coronation of the ultimate, eternal God-anointed king, Jesus Christ (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew respectively). Jesus Christ is the only one who is truly endowed with the justice and righteousness of God (because he is God in human flesh; Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28).
Jesus is the only king who will truly defend the rights of the poor, weak, needy, and helpless. He's the only one who can help them when they call out to him.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to raise up an eternal king who will have dominion over all the earth. Only in his reign will righteousness flourish and peace abound.
The visit of the Wise Men (the “Three Kings”) is the beginning of the fulfillment of God's Word that all kings and nations will bow before him and serve him. There is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived in this world will be accountable to the Lord Jesus for what they have done in this lifetime.
Those who willingly choose to serve him now, who trust and obey Jesus, will be spiritually “born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus. Those who reject Jesus as Lord, who refuse or fail to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). When we die physically, or at the Day of Christ's Second Coming, our eternal destinies are fixed and unchangeable.
At the Day of Judgment, every one will bow before him, and confess that Jesus is Lord. In that day Jesus will command and no one will have any choice but to obey (Philippians 2:10-11).
God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for this Creation from the very beginning; first through the goodness and complexity of Creation itself. Then in the Word of God in the Bible. God already had a Savior designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). God wasn't surprised when Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God's Word, and Jesus isn't an afterthought, or “Plan B.”
Jesus Christ is the fullest revelation of God and his plan for the world, and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God and his purpose to his disciples individually and personally.
Paul is the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can and should be. We are all sinners (disobedient of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and fall short of God's righteousness. The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
By the indwelling Holy Spirit the Lord opens the minds of his disciples to understand the Bible scriptures (Luke 24:45), teaches us all things and helps us recall all Jesus' teachings (John 14:26). Every truly “born-again” disciple personally experiences, has fellowship with, and testifies that Jesus is risen from physical death and is eternally alive. 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 Jews had the promises of the Bible scriptures that promised the coming of the Messiah, and the directions where to look, but they didn't welcome his coming. Herod saw him as a political rival, and the Jews were afraid that he would upset the status quo. They had accommodated themselves to the political situation and didn't want to risk change. The Wise Men were Gentiles (non-Jews). They didn't have the benefit of the Bible scriptures but were able to interpret the signs in nature, a star (probably a comet) that led them to the place where Jesus was.
The Jews all fell away from the Lord until at the Crucifixion Jesus was the last faithful Jew. Even Jesus' disciples had scattered from him (Matthew 26:31). At the moment of Jesus' death, the temple veil (curtain) was supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) signifying that Jesus had opened a new and better way into God's presence. Jesus has become the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to have real, eternal life (John 14:6). The Church is the New Israel, the New Jerusalem.
In too many instances the nominal Church today is in a similar situation as the Israel and Judaism at the time of Jesus' first coming. Church members have the Bible scriptures but don't read them completely or daily. They know a lot about “religion,” but don't know the Lord personally. They have carved a comfortable niche for themselves in the Church and they don't want their status quo disrupted.
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 January 7 - C
First Posted January 7, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday January 7 - C
Psalm 45:7-9 – A Royal Wedding;
Background:
This Psalm may have been written by a professional court poet (“a ready scribe:” Psalm 45:1c) for the wedding of King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (“ivory palaces:” Psalm 45:8b; see 1 Kings 22:39; Amos 3:15) and his Queen, Jezebel, a heathen Phoenician princess (note mention of Tyre: Psalm 45:12). This was the first instance of a king of Israel allying himself by marriage with a pagan princess (she was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; of Sidon; one of the two major cities, with Tyre, of Phoenicia).
Israelites were strictly warned not to enter into covenants with pagan people of Canaan or to marry pagan women (Exodus 34:12-16), because of the likelihood that foreign wives would introduce pagan religions, which is exactly what happened (1 Kings 16:31; 18:19). Ahab became the archetype of a wicked king, the most wicked of all the kings of Israel (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 22:3; Micah 6:16). Jezebel was the archetype of a wicked woman.
The introduction of Baal worship by Jezebel through her marriage to Ahab led to the complete destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The leaders and people did not listen to the prophets calling for repentance and return from idolatry to obedient trust in God, until it was too late. The siege of Samaria begun by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, ended the Northern Kingdom at the fall of Samaria in 721 B.C..
The Northern Kingdom and the ten tribes effectively ceased to exist because of the Assyrian policy of subduing conquered territories by resettling the people in other conquered territories. The poorest, oldest and least healthy people were allowed to remain, and intermingled racially and religiously with imported aliens to become the Samaritans at the time of Jesus' first coming.
Psalm Paraphrase:
The King's throne is divine and eternal. Equity is his scepter. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. That is why the Lord your God has exalted you above your brothers and has anointed you with the oil of gladness. Your robes are fragrant with finest spices: myrrh, aloes, and cassia. The music of stringed instruments comes forth from ivory palaces to make you glad. Your ladies of honor include daughters of kings, and your queen is at your right hand, in gold of Ophir (perhaps India; a gold-producing region).
Commentary:
The fact that this text was composed by a poet paid to say flattering things about the most wicked king of Israel on the day he was overtly disobeying God's Word by marrying a pagan princess to form an alliance with a pagan nation, doesn't mean that it isn't also Biblical prophecy. The accounts in the Bible deal with God's relationship with Israel, and are recorded for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). Ahab was at the opposite end of the spectrum from these words. Only Jesus Christ fulfills them.
Jesus is the Son of David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel (Matthew 1:1, 20, 21:9, 15). Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). Jesus is the heir to the eternal throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). Only Jesus rules with equity, in righteousness, giving justice for the poor, weak and helpless (Psalm 72:1-2, 4). So God has anointed him with the oil of gladness above all others (compare Psalm 45:7b; compare Hebrews 1:9; Matthew 28:18).
After his crucifixion, Jesus' body was placed in a new, never-used tomb, and was prepared with about a hundred pounds of spices: Myrrh and Aloes (Psalm 45:8a; compare John 19:39-42).
Ahab's bride was a pagan princess, but Jesus' bride is the Church (Revelation 21:9-11), and her robes have been cleansed in the blood of Jesus (Revelation 19:7-9), the sacrificial lamb of the New Passover (New Covenant; New Testament) (John 1:29; Matthew 26:26-28 KJV).
Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? 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)?
*Many thanks for annotations from The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Friday January 8 - C
First Posted January 8, 2010;
Podcast: Friday January 8 - C
Isaiah 42:1-7 – The Lord's Servant;
Paraphrase:
The Lord God upholds his servant and delights in him. God has given him God's Spirit, and the Servant will cause justice to come forth from the 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; in faithfulness he will bring forth justice. He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth, and the coastlands wait for his law” (Isaiah 42:2-4).
The Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth and spread them out, “who gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk in it” (Isaiah 42:5), declares that he is the Lord and in righteousness he has called his servant, has led him, provided for, protected and prospered him. God's servant is to establish God's covenant to all people, to be the light (of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12) to all nations. The servant will give sight to the blind, and free prisoners from their dungeons and darkness.
Commentary:
God's Word is eternally true and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment and example of the Lord's servant. The nation and people of Israel were called to be the Lord's servant, but they turned away from that call, because they refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and follow his example and teaching. The Church is the New Israel, the New people of God, and is called to be God's servant, individually and collectively.
God put his Spirit upon Jesus, beginning with Jesus' baptism by John the Baptizer, as John testified (John 1:31-34). Jesus was fully God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28).
Many people in Israel were looking for the coming of the Messiah to be a political champion who would free them from Roman domination and restore sovereignty to Israel (Acts 1:6-7), but Jesus didn't come to be a political king (John 18:36). Jesus didn't come to be a firebrand or a political revolutionary. He came to heal spiritually bruised reeds, not break them, and dimly burning candles, not quench them.
What the world falsely calls justice is very different that God's justice. Worldly justice tends to preserve and enforce the right of the wealthy and powerful to oppress the poor and helpless. The Lord works for justice and equality for all. He preserves and upholds the rights of the poor, the hungry, the sick and powerless (Psalm 82:2-4).
Jesus came to demonstrate what obedience to God's Word looks like in human flesh in this fallen world, and the eternal reward it produces. The world hated Jesus and treated him horribly, but Jesus rose from physical death to eternal life. Every truly “born-again” Christian, including myself, personally testifies that Jesus has risen from physical death and is eternally alive.
Jesus came to demonstrate the Spirit of God in human flesh, and to make it possible for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. By faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we are spiritually cleansed by his blood, sacrificed on the cross, so that we are able to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Spiritual “rebirth” is a discernible, ongoing event; it is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether one has been “reborn” or not (Acts 19:2).
God has given us the breath of physical life; we have all been born physically alive, but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life, which is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). The Lord only gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who will live in obedient trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 42:5c; Romans 8:1-11).
Jesus came to establish a New Covenant (Testament) of Grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9). He established the New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28) as he celebrated the Passover feast with his disciples, on the night of his betrayal and arrest. The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; the Eucharist) is the New Passover feast. Jesus is the Passover lamb, whose flesh, the “bread” of eternal life (John 6:32-35), provides the feast and whose blood marks us as God's people, so that we are “passed over” by the destroying angel (Exodus 12:1-14).
Jesus came to heal the spiritually bruised and “dimly-burning.” Jesus came to heal the spiritually blind, and to set free the spiritual prisoners of Satan and eternal death (Hebrews 2:14-15; Luke 4:16-21). Jesus' miracles of physical feeding, healing and resurrection were intended to demonstrate that Jesus can also heal, feed and raise us spiritually to eternal life. For the same reason, Jesus taught in parables, ordinary worldly experiences used to teach spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:12-14).
Jesus came to call us to follow his teaching and example, to become his disciples and learn to trust and obey him, to become the Lord's servants.
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 January 9 - C
First Posted January 9, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday January 9 - C
Acts 10:34-38 – No Partiality;
Paraphrase:
By the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Peter first preached the Gospel to Gentiles. Peter said that God is not partial to anyone. Regardless of nationality, anyone who fears (who has the appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) God and does what is right (according to the standard of God's Word) is acceptable to him. God sent his Word to Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Beginning in Galilee, Jesus preached this Word (the Gospel) throughout Judea, after he had been baptized by John the Baptizer. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and supernatural power. Jesus traveled throughout Judea and Galilee doing good and healing all who were oppressed by Satan.
Commentary:
Cornelius was a Roman soldier (a Gentile; non-Jew) stationed at Caesarea, the capital of the Roman Province of Judea, to enforce Roman government. He was God-fearing, he did what was good, he gave alms, and he prayed to God constantly. The Holy Spirit (“angel” can be understood as spirit) told Cornelius to send for the Apostle Peter and gave him specific instructions to the house where Peter was staying (Acts 10:1-8).
Meanwhile the Holy Spirit was working in Peter to prepare him to preach the Gospel to Cornelius (Acts 10:9-23). Peter went to the home of Cornelius (Acts 10:23b-33), and began to preach the Gospel to Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:34-38).
The Jews had come to believe that they were God's special people, and that they were worthy of God's special treatment because they obeyed the Law given to Moses (the Jewish Bible). The Lord had shown Peter, in a vision, that the Jewish dietary laws no longer applied.
Jesus came to demonstrate the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and to make it possible for us to be filled with, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, so he is the only “begotten” Son of God; at Jesus' water baptism for repentance that John the Baptizer preached (Luke 3:3-6), to prepare the people to receive the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Jesus was given the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34) so that he could “baptize” with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus' blood, shed on the cross is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word). Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we are spiritually cleansed of sin and unrighteousness so that we can become temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer. The Church is to call people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) to prepare them to receive Jesus through the “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) of the Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
The Church is called to proclaim the Gospel (the “Good News”) of peace with God through Jesus Christ, to make disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:19-20), and teaching them to seek the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can and should be. Paul had been persecuting the Church, and the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus, confronted Paul on his was to Damascus to persecute Christians (Acts 9:1-5b). Paul repented of his sin (Acts 9:9), accepted Jesus as his Lord (Acts 9:5), became obedient to Jesus' command (Acts 9:8), was "discipled" by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-17), until Paul received the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:18), and then Paul began preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:20).
The only thing remarkable about Paul's conversion is its speed. But remember that Paul was already formally educated in Judaism and loved God. All he needed was to be pointed to Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus came to show the Church the discipling ministry of the Gospel which the Church is to follow: the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul was fulfilling Christ's command to make disciples and to teach them to obey all that Jesus teaches, only after the the teacher of discipleship has been “born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born again” disciples.
Timothy is an example of Paul's discipling ministry. Paul taught Timothy discipleship until Timothy was “born-again” (2 Timothy 1:6-7) and then taught Timothy to repeat the process with others who would repeat the process again (2 Timothy 2:2).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
