Week of 4 Advent A - 12/18 - 24/2016

Week of 4 Advent A 

This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html

The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
  
The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:

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

I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.

Podcast Download: Week of 4 Advent A
Sunday 4 Advent A
Variable; use until Christmas Day.
First Posted Dec. 20, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 4 Advent A

Isaiah 7:10-14 (15-17) The Sign of Immanuel ;
Psalm 24 King of Glory;
Romans 1:1-7 Apostleship;
Matthew 1:18-25 Announcement ;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

In 734-733* B.C., when Ahaz was king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and Pekah was king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Pekah allied with the king of Syria to attack Jerusalem. God sent Isaiah, the prophet of Judah, to Ahaz, to tell him not to fear but to trust and obey God. God assured Ahaz that the enemies would not prevail. God told Ahaz to ask for a sign, no matter how seemingly “impossible,” which God could give him, in order for Ahaz to trust and obey God, But Ahaz said that he would not put God to the test.

Then Isaiah said to Ahaz, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman (a virgin) shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:13-14). Isaiah prophesied that before the child was old enough to eat solid food he would know right from wrong, and before that, the lands of the kings who threatened Judah would be deserted. The Lord declared that he would also bring tribulation on Judah greater than that of the time Ephraim split to create the divided monarchy (i.e. the Northern Kingdom).

Psalm Paraphrase:

[The psalm, which is attributed to David, may have been used as a processional, led by the Ark of the Covenant (representing the presence of God), ascending to the temple gates.]

Remember that the earth and everything and everyone in it belongs to the Lord, who has established solid ground from the primordial flood (watery chaos; Genesis 1:9-10). Only those who are cleansed of sin and pure in heart, who do not desire what is false or practice deceit, can ascend the hill of God and stand in his temple. They are the ones who will be blessed and vindicated by God who has provided their salvation. They are the ones who seek God and a personal knowledge of and fellowship with him.

The Psalmist cries out, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in! Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle! Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7-10 KJV)!

Romans Paraphrase:

Paul was writing to the Roman Church which had already been established by others. He was writing to introduce himself, to announce his intention of visiting them, and to set forth his understanding of the Gospel.

Paul was a servant of Jesus Christ who had been called and set apart for the Gospel (the “Good News” of God’s Plan of Salvation, which see: sidebar, top right), which God had revealed beforehand by his prophets and recorded in the Holy Scriptures (the Bible). This Gospel was fulfilled in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who was, by his earthly family, the descendant of David, the great shepherd-king, and revealed as the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Through Jesus we have received grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) and apostleship (the call to be a messenger; of the Gospel), to bring about the obedience of faith (faith is obedient trust) for the sake of his name among all the nations” (Romans 1:5b), including the Roman Christians and all who have responded to the call to belong to Jesus.

“To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7).

Matthew Paraphrase

Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of David, but the marriage had not yet been consummated, when Mary was found to be pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph knew that the child was not his, but he didn’t want to cause Mary public shame, so he decided to divorce her quietly. While Joseph was contemplating this, he had a dream in which an angel of the Lord told him not to be afraid to marry Mary, because the child had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. She would give birth to a son, who was to be named Jesus (his name means “savior”) because he would save his people from their sins (disobedience of God’s Word). This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 that an “[unmarried] young woman” (a virgin), would conceive and bear a son who would be called “Emmanuel” (Immanuel) which means “God with us.”

Commentary:

God’s people were under attack from their enemies, and Isaiah, a prophet of God, was sent to declare God’s Word, telling Ahaz, their leader, not to worry, because God promised them that their enemies would not prevail. God offered to give Ahaz a sign so that Ahaz would trust and obey God’s Word, but Ahaz said he didn’t want to put God to the test.

His reply seemed “pious,” but Ahaz did not actually trust and obey God’s Word. Instead he sought worldly alliance with Assyria, paid for out of the temple and palace treasury, and Judah became a vassal of Assyria (2 Kings 16:1-20) initiating the decline that led to Babylonian exile, and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:17. Ahaz literally sold God’s people into slavery and exile with the treasure of the temple and king (2 Kings 16:7-8).

God’s promise that Judah’s attackers would not prevail and would be wiped out didn’t do Judah any good because their “king” didn’t trust and obey God’s Word. Instead his disobedience caused them to receive the punishment that God’s Word of assurance and warning was intended to prevent.

Ahaz put his trust in human “kings” instead of the King of Glory, and it led to disaster. The people of Judah put their trust in their earthly leader, Ahaz instead of the Lord and they suffered tribulation and exile. In contrast, Jesus is the true Savior and King of kings. Those who put their trust in Jesus will not be sold into, but rather redeemed from exile and slavery.

In one sense all are God’s people because God is our Creator. In another sense God’s people are those who choose to trust and obey God. If we will be God's People, he will be our God (Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 11:20; Leviticus 26:3, 12; Jeremiah 11:4c). This lifetime is an “ascent” of the people of God to the gates of the eternal heavenly temple of God, the Creator and Lord of Creation. This lifetime is our opportunity to “assent” to the Lord as our King.

Only those who are cleansed of sin and pure in heart, who do not pursue what is evil or practice deceit, will be able to enter his gates and stand within God’s temple. On our own merits not any one of us qualifies! All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (doing what is right according to God’s standard, his Word; Romans 3:23).

Only by the power 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) can our sins be cleansed and our hearts purified; only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we be freed from slavery to sin and be able to resist temptation.

This Creation has been designed to allow us the opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through obedient trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s one and only provision for our forgiveness (of sin) and salvation (from eternal condemnation and destruction; Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Those who seek God will find him, and those who find him and learn to trust and obey him will be blessed and vindicated by God who has provided their salvation through Jesus Christ.

God’s Word calls us to prepare for and await the coming of the eternal Savior and victorious almighty King of glory! Let us unbar the gates of our hearts and open the doors of our souls to receive him (John 1:12; Revelation 3:20)!

God’s Plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14), and God has been progressively revealing it by his prophets as recorded in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of scripture and prophecy, the eternal Savior and heir to the throne of David.

Jesus is the revelation of God’s person and character in human flesh. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word lived in this world by human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus’ resurrection is the demonstration of the truth and power of God’s Word, and the fact of existence beyond physical death.

Those who trust and obey Jesus receive the promised indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9), through whom we have personal fellowship, and the assurance that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ. He was convicted by the Holy Spirit of the risen, ascended Jesus, on the Road to Damascus (Acts (9:1-9), repented and accepted Jesus as his Lord (Acts 9:5-9), was “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-17), until Paul was “re-born” (Acts 9:18-19) and then Paul, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, began fulfilling (Acts 9:20) the Great Commission, which Jesus gave to his “born-again” disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8), making “born-again” disciples and teaching them to repeated the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

Paul taught that Christians have received grace (the free gift of forgiveness and salvation through faith, i.e., obedient trust) in Jesus, and apostleship to bring all “believers” to obedience of faith in Jesus. All of us are called to be “saints” (set apart for God’s use). Grace (God’s unmerited forgiveness and salvation) and peace (with God and other people) are only from God, only through Jesus Christ 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)?

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*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Isaiah 7:21-8:15n, p. 830, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

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Monday 4 Advent A
Variable; use until Christmas Day.
First Posted Dec. 21, 2009;
Podcast: Monday 4 Advent A

Psalm 96 - The Lord Reigns!

Paraphrase:

Let all the earth sing to the Lord a new song; let us bless his name and tell of his salvation every day. Let us declare his glory and his marvelous works to all people and all nations. The Lord is great and worthy of great praise. He alone is the one true God, to be feared (having proper reverence and respect for his power and authority) above all (“so-called”) gods (idols), for the Lord is the maker of the universe. Honor and majesty are his character and there is strength and beauty in his sanctuary.

Acknowledge the Lord, all people. Acknowledge his glory and strength. Give him the glory due his name (his character and person). Bring offerings to him and worship him, trembling before him, all people of earth.

Proclaim the Lord’s reign among all nations. The world has been established and cannot be changed; the Lord will judge the people of earth with equity. Let all Creation rejoice: Earth, heavens, sea and field and everything in them, rejoice, for the Lord comes to bring justice to the earth; he will judge the world with righteousness and all people with his truth (divine truth; God’s Word; the Bible), fulfilled embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ, the living Word (John 1:1-5; 14).

Commentary:

God is the Creator of the Universe. God has always intended from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. He has designed this Creation to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) but he will not tolerate disobedience forever. He has set a time limit on this temporal world and our own lifetimes. He won’t allow the disobedient and rebellious to enter his eternal kingdom, or it wouldn’t be heaven.

Jesus has been designed into the very structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). God’s Word declares that we have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and that the penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s one and only provision for forgiveness of our sins, salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction in Hell, restoration to fellowship with God, and eternal life (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Forgiveness and salvation are by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (Acts 14:15-17).

The meaning and purpose of life in this world is the opportunity for us to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn by trial and error to trust and obey God’s Word.

God wants us to seek and find him. He has been incrementally revealing himself to us throughout history, first in Creation itself; then in the record of his dealing with Israel recorded in the Bible. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of his revelation to us in human flesh, and the indwelling Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of himself to us personally and individually.

God is Lord of the Universe, whether we know and acknowledge him or not. Jesus is God’s promised eternal Savior and King. Jesus came in the flesh to become the one sacrifice acceptable to God, for all people and all time, for the forgiveness of our sins, to those who accept him in faith (obedient trust).

Jesus began his reign over his eternal kingdom on the day of his resurrection from physical death to eternal life. Jesus has promised that he will return to this earth to judge “the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:5), in both physical and spiritual senses. Everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to him for what we have done in this life (John 5:28-29). In that day “…at the name of Jesus every knee should (shall) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11; Isaiah 45:23).

Jesus Christ is the Judge, and the standard of judgment, by which we will all be judged. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “re-born” and will live eternally in God’s heavenly kingdom. Those who have refused to accept Jesus’ Lordship and trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus’ disciples come to a personal fellowship with Jesus Christ and God the Father through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21, 23). We testify to the truth of God’s Word, the reality of spiritual rebirth, and personal fellowship with the Lord. We testify to what we have personally experienced and know to be true. Jesus reigns as Lord in his “born-again” disciples who trust and obey Jesus.

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).

As his “born-again” disciples we are commissioned to proclaim God’s Word, the Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ, to a lost and dying world.

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

Tuesday 4 Advent A
Variable; use until Christmas Day.
First Posted December 23, 2008;
Podcast: Tuesday 4 Advent A
Isaiah 9:2-7 – The Messianic King;

Paraphrase:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The Lord has enlarged the nation and magnified its joy; their joy is like the joy of a great harvest; as when men divide the spoils of war. The Lord has broken the oppressor's rod and removed the burden of the oppressor, like the day of Midian (the great victory of God over Midian; Judges 7:15-25). Every boot of marching soldiers and every uniform with the blood of war on it will be burned with fire. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). His government and peace will be over all and will never end. His kingdom will be established on the throne of David and upheld with righteousness and justice from now on through eternity. God will accomplish this because it is his great fervent desire.

Commentary:

This is the prophetic vision foretelling the Messiah, the ideal king. The world is in spiritual darkness, and Jesus is the the light of the world (John 8:12); the light of righteousness (John 1:4, 3:19-21), the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and the light of eternal life (John 1:4).

The Lord has enlarged his nation to include all Gentile believers over time since the first coming of Jesus, in human flesh. The Church is the “New Israel” and all who believe (trust and obey) Jesus are the children of Abraham and the children of God (Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:7, 14).

“Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians (disciples of Jesus Christ; Acts 11:26c), have the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which testifies with our spirits that we are children of God (Romans 8:16-17), that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we experience the love of God and the joy of our salvation. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are able to worship and praise our Lord (Romans 8:15; John 4:23-24). It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21, 23), and can testify that Jesus is risen from physical death to eternal life.

Spiritual “rebirth” is the great spiritual harvest in which we rejoice. The world is in great need of spiritual truth, spiritual healing, and spiritual “birth” today. The only source of genuine spiritual truth (John 14:17), healing and rebirth is in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14:6, 17). Only Jesus gives the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

“Born-again” Christians are called to join in the spiritual harvest; to complete the mission of Christ at the Day of Judgment at the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus came to bring the “Good News” (“Gospel”) of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to have peace and restoration of fellowship with God that was broken by sin, and the only way to have restoration to eternal life (John 14:6) from eternal death which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Gideon was a Judge, a leader of Israel in lieu of a human king (God was the King of Israel), before the monarchy. God raised Gideon up from the people to free them from the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon selected his army according to God's guidance. Some thirty thousand men mustered, and from that Gideon selected only three hundred (Judges 7:2-8).
Gideon's three hundred men surrounded the enemy camp of uncountable thousands during the night, carrying lamps concealed in jars, and trumpets (their hands were full of non-weapons). When Gideon blew his trumpet all his men did the same, and broke the jars, holding the lamps in their left hands. The vast army of the enemy erupted with confusion, and the enemy turned their weapons against their own fellow soldiers. The remainder of the enemy was routed and the Israelites pursued them and captured their kings and killed them. The enemy was completely destroyed.

Christians are involved in a spiritual battle, and the enemy is Satan and his demons. We cannot fight the battle in our own strength; we must be equipped, empowered and guided by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Jesus warns his disciples to stay in Jerusalem (the modern equivalent is the Church) until they have received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going into the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Jesus is the child who was born; the Son who was given. He is the Lord's “anointed” (designated) Savior and eternal King. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (the Spirit of God; Romans 8:9), the wonderful “Counselor” (“Paraclete”; John 14:26 RSV), Mighty God (the Spirit of God; Romans 8:9; Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28), Eternal Father (Romans 8:15-16), and Prince of Peace (following the order of Melchizedek: the name means “King of Righteousness;” Melchizedek was king of Salem; which means “King of Peace”).

Since Melchizedek has no genealogy and no date of birth or death recorded in the Bible, he symbolizes and foretells an eternal kingdom. Jesus has been given eternal dominion over all Creation (Matthew 28:18); he has been appointed the Righteous Judge of the Universe (2 Timothy 4:8; Acts 17:31). Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Luke 2:14; Acts 10:36; Romans 5:1). Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of God of an eternal kingdom founded upon the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).

From the very beginning of Creation God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who would trust and obey God. This Creation is a “seedbed” intended to grow obedient people of God. This Creation allows the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), but is limited by time, since God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek God, to grope for him in our spiritual blindness, to find him and be spiritually enlightened (John 1:9; Luke 24:25, 32; 2 Corinthians 3:13-16) and have fellowship with him (Acts 17:26-27).

This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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

Wednesday 4 Advent A
Variable; use until Christmas Day.
First Posted Dec. 23, 2009;
Podcast: Wednesday 4 Advent A

Titus 2:11-14 – Our Salvation;

Paraphrase:

God's grace has been revealed for the salvation of all people, teaching us to renounce irreligion and the passions of this world, and to live sober, godly, upright lives in this world as we await our blessed hope, the appearance with glory of our great savior and God, Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us so that we can be redeemed from all sin and to purify people for himself who are zealous for good deeds.

Commentary:

It has always been God's plan, from the beginning of Creation, to create people who would willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

This world is God's seedbed, to grow disciples of Jesus Christ. We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find and have daily fellowship with our Creator, and this is only possible through the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus. 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). It is possible to know with certainty for oneself that one has been “born-again” (Acts19:2).

God has given us the freedom to choose for ourselves whether to trust and obey God in this world, but God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, or it wouldn't be Heaven; Paradise restored.

Jesus is God, with the whole fullness of God dwelling within him (Colossians 2:8-9, John 20:28).

God has taught the Israelites over a long period of time that blood sacrifices are required for the forgiveness of sin. Animals were sacrificed on the altar, and then the worshipers had a feast of the remains. Jesus has become the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people who will receive it by faith.

His flesh provides the perfect unblemished “lamb” of the New Passover, the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, the Eucharist. His blood, shed on the cross, marks us as his people, to be passed over by the destroyer.

Israelites were forbidden to drink the blood of animals, or consume meat with it's blood. Blood was thought to contain the spirit of the animal. God doesn't want us to be filled with the spirits of animals, but with the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

The New Passover, Holy Communion, is a spiritual feast. The elements of Communion (bread and wine) with his pronouncement accomplish what he promises (his body and blood). It isn't the amount, but the faith in his promises, which accomplish the miracle.

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 4 Advent A
Variable; use until Christmas Day.
First Posted December 23, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 4 Advent A

Luke 2:1-20 – The Birth of Jesus;

In about 6-5 B.C., Caesar Augustus decreed a census of the world (the Roman Empire). Quirinius was governor of the Roman province of Syria (and Augustus appointed him to replace Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, as governor of Judea, after Archelaus' removal in 6 B.C.*). Everyone was required to return to their ancestral home to be registered.

Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, was a descendant of David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel. Joseph lived in Nazareth, but was required to go to the city of David, Bethlehem (David's birthplace), to be enrolled with his betrothed, Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-38).

While in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor and Jesus, her first-born son, was born. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths (strips of cloth, as was the practice, in much the way that newborns are wrapped tightly with a blanket today). Then she laid him in a manger (a cattle feeding trough, which was unusual, but at hand because of the circumstance). All the inns were crowded and Mary and Joseph had to make do by staying in a stable.

In the vicinity, there were fields where sheep were grazing, and the shepherds were required to watch over the flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, supernaturally radiant with the glory of the Lord (see Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36). The shepherds were terrified by the sight, but the angel told them not to be afraid. Then the angel announced the birth of Jesus, saying that the child born that day in Bethlehem, the city of David, would result in great joy for all people, because a Savior, who is Christ (Messiah; both words mean “anointed;” thus designated by God) as Lord (one who has power and authority; a master; a ruler; governor; a prince; a proprietor, an “owner;” the eternal King of God's kingdom).

The angel told the shepherds that they would find a baby swaddled and lying in a manger, in confirmation of what the angel had told them. Then a large multitude of angels filled the sky, glorifying God in heaven with highest praise, and offering peace among people on earth with whom God is pleased.

Then the angels disappeared, and the shepherds decided to go into town to see what they had been told. In haste, they went and found Mary and Joseph and the child, who had been swaddled and laid in a manger as the angel had said. Having witnessed it, the shepherds told everyone they could, about what they had seen, and what they had heard from the angels about the child. The people were amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary made a point of remembering and thinking about what the shepherds had said. The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising and glorifying for all they had heard and seen, as they had been told.

Commentary:

Luke was probably a physician in Troas (northwest Asia Minor: present-day Turkey) who had been converted by Paul (Saul of Tarsus). His accurate, extensive medical knowledge and interest shows that he was educated and scientific in his outlook. So it is unsurprising that his account of Jesus' birth includes historical “benchmarks” by which important dates can be closely determined. Thus we can believe that Jesus was a historical figure, whose time and place of birth can be determined.

Genealogy was important to Jews because inheritance in the Promised Land was based on portions allotted to tribes and families. The land had been distributed at the time Israel entered the land, and was passed down to the descendants.

God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This present Creation is deliberately intended to be an opportunity for us to learn by trial-and-error to trust and obey God, and to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life.

In order to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God, God designed Creation to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified; John 1:1-5, 14). But God limited this Creation and we ourselves by time, because God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom.

We are all sinners, who fall short of God's standard of righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true according to God's Word; Romans 6:23). Jesus, the Christ, has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). He is the eternal Savior, God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin, and salvation from eternal condemnation and death in hell, which is the penalty for sin (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of an eternal Savior, which has been made continuously throughout the Old Testament scriptures, beginning after the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15). The angel declared the fulfillment of God's promise to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus, and as the shepherds acted in faith (obedient trust) they found it as the angel had said.

The shepherds became the first evangelists to personally discover the truth of the Gospel (the “good news” of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus) and to proclaim it to others. As people continue to believe and act upon God's Word, we personally experience Jesus Christ by the “baptism” 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). Like the first evangelists, the shepherds, we will eagerly tell others what we have “heard and seen.”

Jesus is the only way (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) to have peace and fellowship with God which was broken by sin. God offers everyone peace through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, but only those who please God, by obedient trust in Jesus, receive that peace (Matthew 7:21-27, Luke 6:46).

The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the “second birth” (John 3:7 BBE -Bible in Basic English: compare Revelation 20:6 RSV, KJV, NKJV; being “born-again:” John 3:3, 5-8 KJV; “born anew:” RSV; “born from above:” RSV note “e).

David, the human shepherd-king, was deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and illustration of the Christ, who is the ultimate “good” shepherd-king of God's people (John 10:11-14).

Bethlehem means “house of bread;” it's modern name is Beit-Lahm, meaning, “house of flesh.” Jesus was placed in a manger (a “crib,” a trough for grain; food; “bread”) for the livestock. Isaiah's prophecy of 1:3 was fulfilled: “The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand.” The ox (considered pretty dumb; “dumb as an ox”) knew his master, and the ass (also considered dumb; “slow”) knew where to find his daily “bread,” but Israel, who had the Old Testament scriptures prophesying the Messiah (Savior; Christ; Lord: master; king) didn't recognize and acknowledge him as master and source of the bread of eternal life (John 6:33, 35, 48-50.

Jesus is the “Lamb” of God (the sacrificial lamb of the New Passover; John 1:29, 36) whose body sacrificed on the cross became the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin. The Passover Lamb, perfect, and unblemished, was offered as a sacrifice to God. The meat of the lamb became the meal of salvation, and the shed blood marked the houses of the Israelites to be “passed over” by the destroying angel (Exodus 12:1-14).

On the eve of Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples (Matthew 26:17-19), and instituted the New Passover (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV: see note “g;” compare NKJV). The New Testament of the Bible refers to the New Covenant of God with his people, through Jesus Christ. The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion, Eucharist) is the New Passover feast. It is a spiritual feast: the elements of bread and wine or grape juice are tiny, but the spiritual result is great.

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)?

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*Dates: The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Luke 2:1n, p. 1242, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

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Friday 4 Advent A
Variable; use until Christmas Day.
First Posted Dec. 24, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 4 Advent A

Isaiah 7:10-14 – The Sign of Immanuel;

Background:

Isaiah was the prophet to Judah and Jerusalem from 742-687 B.C..* Jerusalem was attacked by Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel of the divided monarchy, in alliance (734 B.C.***). Ahaz, King of Judah (742-727 B.C.****), was frightened and wavering. Isaiah prophesied to Ahaz, by God's command, that the attack would not succeed. It was necessary for Ahaz to believe God's Word, in order to withstand the attack.

Text Paraphrase:

Through Isaiah, the Lord offered Ahaz the opportunity to ask the Lord for a sign (as proof), no matter how high or deep, of the fulfillment of God's Word. Ahaz declined to test the Lord by asking for a sign, so Isaiah, asked Ahaz, the heir to the throne of David, the great human shepherd-king, if it wasn't sufficient for Ahaz to weary (try the patience of) humans; did he have to weary God as well? Isaiah declared that God himself would give Ahaz a sign: A “maiden” (“virgin;” young woman; girl; Isaiah 7:14b note;* RSV note “i”) would conceive and bear a son, who would be called Immanuel (or Emmanuel), meaning “God with us” (compare Matthew 1:18-23).

Commentary:

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria with the fall of Samaria, the capital, in 721 B.C.. The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom ceased to exist, because of the Assyrian policy of exiling citizens of a conquered land to other conquered territories, and bringing aliens to settle and pacify the land. Only the poorest, least healthy residents were allowed to remain and thus intermarried with the aliens, resulting in the Samaritans, of mixed race and religion, at the time of Jesus' physical ministry.

This prophecy was given through Isaiah about 730 years before its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ (6-5B.C; Herod the Great died early in 4 B.C.**). Evidently Ahaz did not believe God's Word, because he made an alliance with Assyria for protection, and Judah became a vassal of the Assyrians.

Jesus became the ultimate, eternal heir to the throne of David, as God had promised David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). David had been deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and illustration of the Messiah (meaning God's “anointed”). Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise: the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-15), the “son of David” (David's descendant; heir to David's throne; Matthew 21:9), the eternal king of God's Kingdom (1 Timothy 1:17; Matthew 28:18). Jesus is God in human form (Colossians 2:8-9; Matthew 11:27; compare John 14:7).

Jesus is Immanuel: God with us. Only Jesus baptizes with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34) the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). By the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we personally experience “God with 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)?

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*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Matthew 1:21n, p. 1172, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

** ibid, Matthew 2:1n, p 1172.

***Ahaz, p 33, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, David Noel Freedman, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-2400-5;

**** ibid p 31

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4 Advent - Saturday - A Variable: Use until Christmas Day. First Posted 12-24-2016 Podcast: 4 Advent Saturday A Hebrews 11:1-12 -- Faith; John 1:1-14 – Prologue; Hebrews Paraphrase: Faith is the certainty of fulfillment of what one hopes for; the conviction of things unseen. Our forefathers in faith received divine approval through faith. By faith we believe that everything which exists in this world was created, by God's Word, from things which are unseen. Cain and Abel each offered sacrifices to God. Because his was offered in faith (obedient trust) Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God as righteous (good, right and true according to God's Word); but Cain's was not (because Cain's attitude was not right; Genesis 4:7). Abel died, but his example of faith lives on. Enoch lived in obedient trust in God; he disappeared and was never found, because God took him into heaven, so that Enoch would not experience physical death, since Enoch had pleased God. “And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:5-6). When God warned Noah of the impending flood, although no evidence was yet seen, Noah built the ark to save his household, by faith. Thus Noah's faith condemned the unbelieving world, and Noah inherited the righteousness which comes by faith. When God called Abraham to go to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance, Abraham went in faith, although it was a land he had not seen or known. When he got there, he lived in the promised land as an alien, camping in tents with his sons, Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs in the same promise. Abraham lived with his hope focused on the city (eternal  Jerusalem) in heaven,  established and built by God upon an eternal foundation (in contrast with foundationless tents). By faith, Sarah conceived and bore a child by the power of God, after she was no longer able physically to bear children, because she considered God faithful to do as he had said (Genesis 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:2). Although Abraham had been as good as dead, concerning childbearing, he became the father of a vast number of descendants, as innumerable as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. John Paraphrase: The Word, the creative action of God, existed at the very beginning of Creation; the Word was with God in personal relationship from the very beginning, and was God in his entire nature and being. Through him (the Word) all things were created, and nothing came into existence apart from him. He is the sole source of physical and spiritual life, and light is the essence and symbol of life. That light shines in the darkness (of sin and death), and has not been overcome by darkness. John (the Baptizer; not the Apostle; John 1:19-28) was a human who was sent from God to testify to the light, so that all might believe through his testimony. John was not himself the light (the Word of God, in human form), but came to attest to the light. The true light (of righteousness and eternal life), the source of divine enlightenment, was coming into the world. That light had come into the world, which had been created through him, but the world did not recognize him. Even the people of his own hometown didn't acknowledge and welcome him. “But to all who received him, who believed in his name (his total character and nature), he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only (begotten) Son from the Father” (John 1:14). Commentary: Faith is trusting and obeying God's Word, without having seen what is promised (Romans 8:24-25). Faith is not getting whatever one believes, if one believes “hard enough.” Faith is not like wishing on a star, or making a wish over birthday candles. God's Word is unlike mankind's word. “God's Word is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12); it is a creative force. The defining characteristic of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22); God's Word is always fulfilled, and it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. This world was created by and for God's Word. God spoke, saying “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). Jesus is the “living Word,” God's Word fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1:14). Jesus' word is the Word of God, with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1: 9). Jesus is the Messiah (Christ; both words mean God's “anointed”), the promised eternal Savior and King, deliberately designed into Creation from the very beginning. Jesus is not an afterthought, added to Creation after man sinned (disobeyed God's Word). God designed this Creation with the possibility of sin, in order to provide us the opportunity to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, and the time to learn, by trial-and-error, that God's way is our own very best interest. But God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. So God has limited this Creation and we, ourselves, by time. God knew that given free choice, we would all choose our own will rather than God's. So 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 is God's only provision for our forgiveness of our sin, restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and our salvation from eternal death (Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). We are all born into Creation physically alive, but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), by the “baptism” 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 baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and contains both wonderful promises and ominous warnings. To receive the promises we must believe (trust and obey; assent to and act upon) them. In order to do that, we must read and hear God's Word to know what it contains. The warnings are given to help us avoid the consequences of ignoring or disobeying God's Word. Note that the promises of God's Word must be received and acted upon (John 1:12-13), by knowing and claiming them for oneself. Spiritual rebirth is not automatically conferred by some Church ritual, such as water baptism. The offerings of Cain and Abel are the beginning of the tithe (a tenth) offering of the harvest of both plant and animal. The offering acknowledged God's lordship and providence. The offering of Abel was acceptable to the Lord because Abel's motives were righteous (doing what is good, right, and true according to God's Word) and Cain's were not (Genesis 4:7). God began teaching his people from the very beginning about sacrifice; the duty to return to the Lord a portion of what he has provided us, and the necessity of blood sacrifice for forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus' blood shed on the cross became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin, and that forgiveness is received through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. When we realize the love of God given to us through Jesus Christ, we will be motivated to trust and obey Jesus, not out of fear of punishment, but in gratitude and love. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), the light of righteousness (John 1:5, 3:19-21), the light of divine enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12; 14:6). It is not true that faith is “blind.” We don't have to wait until we die physically to see whether there is life (or existence) beyond physical death. When we believe God's Word, we will come to know with certainty that God's promises are true (John 6:68-69). The only people who don't know with certainty where they will spend eternity are those who have not believed in Jesus and are spiritually “lost” and perishing eternally. 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)?