my daily walk

Week of 4 Epiphany B - 01/29 - 02/04/12

2011-12-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

Week of 4 Epiphany B

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

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

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

The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.

The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:

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

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Podcast Download: Week of 4 Epiphany B
Sunday 4 Epiphany B
First posted February 1, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 4 Epiphany B

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 – Test of Prophecy;

Psalm 1 – Rewards of Righteousness; Fate of the Wicked;
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 -- Food Offered to Idols;
Mark 1:21-28 – Jesus Heals;

Deuteronomy Background:

Israel was about to enter the Promised Land. Moses was not allowed to enter, because he had taken God's glory for himself when God provided water from the rock in the wilderness (Numbers 20:8-12). So Moses was giving Israel his last words.

Deuteronomy Paraphrase:

God had told Moses that he would raise up a prophet like Moses from among the Israelites, and Israel was to trust and obey his Word. When God had appeared to Israel at Mount Horeb (Mt. Sinai). Israel had asked Moses to be the spokesman and mediator between Israel and God, because they had been frightened by the voice of God and his appearance as of fire on the mountaintop (Exodus 19:16-24; 20:18-19; Deuteronomy 5:1-5) and God had agreed. God promised to raise up a prophet like Moses, and to give him God's Word to declare to the people, just as he had done with Moses. God will hold accountable anyone who does not obey God's Word. But a prophet who presumes to speak the Word of God without instruction from God, or in the name of any other “god” shall die.

Psalm 1 Paraphrase:

People who don't walk according to the counsel of the wicked, nor stand with sinners or sit with unbelievers will be blessed. Righteous people delight in God's Word and meditate on it day and night. They are like trees planted near water. Drought doesn't cause them to wither, they bear fruit abundantly in season, and they prosper in all they do.

The wicked are not like the righteous; they are like chaff that is blown away by the wind. The wicked won't “stand” in the Day of Judgment, nor will sinners sit among the congregation of the righteous. The way of the righteous is known to God; but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

1 Corinthians Background:

The Church at Corinth had been founded by Paul's preaching of the Gospel. In the time of the Apostle Paul, much of the meat for sale in markets was from pagan sacrifices. There was controversy in the congregation as to whether Christians should eat such meat. Social organizations often held banquets in pagan temples.

1 Corinthians Paraphrase:

The people who were not bothered by these questions thought they were more knowledgeable than those were were bothered. Paul suggested that the guiding motive should be love rather than knowledge. Knowledge tends to make people prideful, but love motivates us to build up one another. Any one who thinks that he knows more than others doesn't yet know what is really important. God knows those who love God.

Concerning food offered to idols, those who considered themselves enlightened among the congregation knew that pagan “gods” don't really exist, and that there is only one true God. There are many so-called “gods” and many lords; but Christians know there is really only one true God, our Father, “from whom are all things, and for whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6a) and one true Lord, Jesus Christ, “through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6b).

Not all have this knowledge. Some former pagans have been accustomed to eat food offered to idols, and so their conscience bothers them. Food will not commend or condemn us to God. We are no better or worse in God's judgment regardless of what we eat or abstain from eating. But we should not use our freedom in Christ to injure our weaker brethren. If their weaker brethren saw a more knowledgeable believer eating in a pagan temple, the weaker believer might be tempted to eat food sacrificed to idols, and his faith be damaged. So by one's knowledge a weaker believer is destroyed. Since the weak believer is also one for whom Christ died, the knowledgeable member has sinned against Jesus. So if eating meat injures the faith of a weaker member one should sacrifice one's own freedom to eat meat, in order to save a weaker member from sinning.

Mark Paraphrase:

After Jesus had called the original Twelve to be his disciples, he took them to Capernaum, and Jesus began teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath. The people were amazed at his teaching; he taught with authority, unlike their scribes. Right away, there was a man in the synagogue who had an unclean spirit. The spirit within the man cried out, addressing Christ as Jesus of Nazareth, and acknowledging Jesus as the Holy One of God.

The demon asked if Jesus had come to destroy them (presumably the man and his demon). Jesus commanded the demon to be silent and come out of the man. Convulsing the man and crying out loudly, the spirit came out of him. The witnesses were amazed and questioned among themselves what they had witnessed, and called it a new teaching! Jesus has authority to command even unclean spirits and they obey him. Immediately Jesus' fame spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Commentary:

The history of God's dealing with Israel recorded in the Bible is intended to be a series of metaphors for life in this world. Moses is intended by God to foreshadow and illustrate the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Savior and eternal King, who God has designed into the structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

God's Word is always fulfilled (Deuteronomy 18:21-22), and because it is eternal, is fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. From the time that Israel entered the Promised Land, God raised up prophets from among Israel to proclaim God's Word.

The first fulfillment of this prophecy was in Joshua, who replaced Moses and who led Israel into the Promised Land, through the Jordan River on dry ground, as Moses had led Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground (Joshua 3:11-17).

God raised up prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah and Elisha, who had personal relationships with God and who proclaimed God's Word. Israel's history is a series of cycles, regarding their heeding of the prophets. When times were good, Israel would fall away from obedient trust in God's Word. The prophets would warn them of the consequences of disobedience and call for repentance, but the people would not repent and return to obedience until God took away his providence and protection. Then, during their suffering, they would repent and return to obedience, and God would eventually restore a renewed people of God, but not necessarily the same people. The people who disobeyed God's command to enter and possess the Promised Land died in the wilderness, and the people went into Babylonian exile died in Babylon, since seventy years was a virtual lifetime for adults at the beginning of the exile.

Moses was the first Judge of Israel (Exodus 18:13-26) and when Israel entered the Promised Land God raised up Judges, like Gideon and Samson, to lead the people.

The Lord was the king of Israel, but Israel wanted a human king, like their neighboring countries. Through his prophet God warned Israel what the disadvantages of having a human king would be (1 Samuel 8:5-21), but God allowed them to establish the monarchy. David was the shepherd boy who became the great human king of Israel, who foreshadows the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the son (descendant) of David and the eternal King and heir to the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promise of a prophet like Moses, whom God's people are to trust and obey, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), and eternal King of God's people.

Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant of Law. Moses was the prophet who had a close personal relationship with God, and who proclaimed God's Word to God's people. Jesus is the “New Moses,” the mediator of the New Covenant (Testament; Hebrews 9:15) of Grace, the New Passover, which Jesus established on the night of his Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28, RSV note "g").

Jesus is the “New Moses” who leads his people out of bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world order, through the “sea” of baptism into Jesus Christ, by which we pass through without “getting wet” and by which our enemies are separated from us and destroyed. Jesus leads us through the “wilderness” of this lifetime, guiding us by the indwelling Holy Spirit which is the “pillar” of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22). Jesus (the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name “Joshua”) is the “New Joshua” who leads us through the “river” of physical death, without getting “wet feet” (physical death cannot harm us; Joshua 3:14-17) and into the eternal Promised Land of God's eternal kingdom in Heaven.

Jesus is the Word of God fulfilled, embodied and exemplified human flesh in this temporal world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:3, 9). God will hold us accountable on the Day of Judgment for whether we have trusted and obeyed Jesus or not.

We will be accounted righteous (doing what is right, good, and true, according to God's Word) with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, if we have believed (trusted and obeyed) Jesus and have accepted him as our Lord. God knows who has followed God's Word of righteousness, and God has made known in his Word the fate of those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus' teachings (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus is the only way to be forgiven our sin (disobedience of God's Word), the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, 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). It is not possible for one to be “born-again” by the indwelling Holy Spirit and not personally know it with certainty (Acts 19:2).

Believing that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Holy one of God, won't save us. Even demons know that (James 2:19); they just won't voluntarily obey Jesus' teaching. Faith is not getting whatever we believe if we believe “hard enough.” Faith is not like wishing on a star. Saving faith is obedient trust in Jesus' teachings. Jesus warns us that calling Jesus our Lord and claiming to be his disciples (the definition of a Christian; Acts 11:26c) won't save us (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).

Jesus has the power and authority to command us and we would have no choice but to obey him, but it is God's purpose to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey Jesus or not. Most often Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man, which is true, and allows his hearers to decide for themselves who Jesus is. There is a Day of Judgment coming when he will command and we will have to obey; but in that Day our eternal destinies will be fixed and unchangeable.

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 4 Epiphany (Variable) B
To be used only if there is a 5 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First posted February 2, 2009
Podcast: Monday 4 Epiphany B

Psalm 147:1-13 –   Praise the Lord;

Paraphrase:

Let us praise the Lord! Our Lord is merciful, kind and compassionate, and he is worthy of our praise. The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He restores the outcasts to Israel. The Lord heals those who are brokenhearted, and bandages the wounded. He determines the number of stars in the heavens, and knows all their names. Great is our Lord; abundant is his power and beyond measure is his understanding. “The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:6).

In thanksgiving let us sing to the Lord and make music to our God with stringed instruments. He is the Lord who makes clouds in the skies and provides rain for the earth. He covers the hills with grass. He feeds all the animals.

The Lord doesn't delight in the strength of a horse, or in the physical abilities of mankind; his pleasure is in those who fear (have the appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) God and trust in God's steadfast love.

Let Jerusalem (the City of God; the Church) and Zion (the temple mount; the citadel of David) praise the Lord their God! It is the Lord who strengthens their fortifications and blesses their sons and daughters within.

Commentary:

The Lord is the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. He has been progressively revealing his glory to us, first through the goodness of Creation itself, then through God's Word, the Bible, and ultimately through God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:1-5, 14). Everything in Creation glorifies God, except mankind; we have been given the freedom to choose whether to praise and glorify God or not.

This Creation has been designed from the beginning to accomplish God's eternal purpose. God's purpose is to establish an eternal kingdom of God's people who willingly trust and obey God. God has designed Creation knowing that, given the freedom to choose, we would choose to do our own will rather than God's. Disobedience of God's Word is the definition of sin. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), recorded in the Bible and demonstrated in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). He is not an afterthought after mankind fell into sin. God knew, from the beginning of Creation, that we would all sin. Jesus Christ is God's one and only provision for forgiveness of our sin and our salvation from eternal condemnation (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

The meaning and purpose of life in this Creation is to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. These are only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6), 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 gift of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event; if one has been “reborn” (Acts 19:2) it is impossible not to know it with certainty for oneself.

The indwelling Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), through whom we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God, our Creator, and our Lord Jesus Christ. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we feel the love of God for us. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can truly praise and glorify our Lord (John 4:23-24; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:6).

The only true security in this world is in the Lord. People can build fortresses, gather armies, train them, and equip them with the latest technology, but unless they trust and obey the Lord, their efforts are ultimately futile (Psalm 147:10-11; compare Psalm 33:17; 127:1-2 RSV). People can build “castles” with security gates and bars and “panic rooms,” they can hoard food and money for times of disaster, but unless they trust and obey the Lord they will ultimately come to eternal spiritual disaster.

God sent his Son into the world to heal the spiritually wounded and brokenhearted. Jesus is the only one who can restore the downtrodden and outcast. But those who think that they can provide their own wellbeing and security will ultimately be overthrown and will spend eternity in eternal destruction in Hell with all evil.

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

Tuesday 4 Epiphany (Variable) B
To be used only if there is a 5 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First posted February 3, 2009
Podcast: Tuesday 4 Epiphany B

Job 7:1-7   --   Suffering;

Paraphrase:

Life is hard and one's days are like that of a hireling. The hireling longs for his wages; the slave longs for shade. Job's life was months of emptiness and nights of misery, tossing and turning until dawn. Job's flesh was filthy and covered with worms. It crusted over and then re-erupted. The days of his life fled faster than a weavers shuttle and ended without hope. Job asked God to remember that his life was fleeting; Job feared that he would never again see goodness in life.

Commentary:

Job had been afflicted with boils, and he was in physical misery (Job 2:1-8). The three friends who came to him believed that Job had done evil and had brought this suffering upon himself.

Job saw his life passing by while he was in misery; his days were empty, and he couldn't sleep at night. When he thought his skin was healing it broke out again. He feared that he would never see goodness in life.

Sickness and suffering are not signs of God's disapproval, and wealth and prosperity are not evidence of God's approval. The world is quick to blame suffering on the sufferer.

Job was a believer in God but he hadn't had a personal knowledge of and fellowship with God (Job 42:5). Job had no reason to believe that there was life beyond physical death, but he hoped ultimately to see God (Job 19:25-27).

Job longed for a mediator between God and mankind (Job 9:33-35 RSV), and an advocate to defend mankind before God (Job 16:19-21). He believed that the Lord was his redeemer, and that he would come to earth in the last days, and all would face eternal judgment (Job 19:29).

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Job's hope of a redeemer and vindicator, a mediator between God and mankind (Hebrews 9:15), an advocate for mankind before God (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-16), and the Righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:8), to whom all will be accountable on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus is the fulfillment of Job's hope that his Redeemer would stand upon the earth, and Job would behold him face to face.

God doesn't cause suffering but he allows it to happen. Sin (disobedience of God's Word) is the cause of suffering and evil in this world. When we don't trust and obey God's Word he lifts his favor and protection from us and allows us to suffer, in the hope that we will realize our need for him and return to him, so that we can have eternal life in his heavenly kingdom.

God can use our suffering to cause us to examine our beliefs, and to seek God's Word. Job grew spiritually through his suffering (Job 42:5). God is able to restore us again (Job 42:10-17). I personally testify that this has been my personal experience (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home)

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 Epiphany (Variable) B
To be used only if there is a 5 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First posted February 4, 2009
Podcast: Wednesday 4 Epiphany B

1 Corinthians 9:16-23   – All Things to All People;

Paraphrase:

Paul could not boast about preaching the Gospel, because it was an obligation. He would receive a reward for doing this willingly, but if he were doing it unwillingly he would still do it because he had a commission. Paul delighted in preaching the Gospel without charge, although he would be entitled to earn his living as an Apostle (messenger; preacher).

Paul was free of obligation to anyone, but he voluntarily accepted an obligation to everyone so that he might attract many to their salvation. He appealed to Jews as a Jew, in order to save them. To those who were under the Law he appealed to them as one under Law, although he was not personally obligated to the Law. To those outside the Law (the Gentiles) he appealed to them as if he were outside the Law, although he was under the law of Christ (Romans 8:1-9). To those who were weak he became like them, so that he could win some to salvation. Paul surrendered his self-will to become the servant of all, so that some might be saved, and so that Paul might share in the blessings of the Gospel himself.

Commentary:

Paul was the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we can become. He had personally experienced the joy of forgiveness and salvation, and he wanted to share that with others (Acts 9:1-22).

All Christians are by definition “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). We are to be led in discipleship by “born-again” disciples within the Church (the New Jerusalem) until we have been spiritually “reborn” before going into the world with the Gospel (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Then we have a commission from Jesus Christ to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ, and teach them to trust and obey all that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:19-20).

“Born-again” Christians have come to know from experience the truth and joy of Jesus Christ, and want to share that with their families, friends and neighbors. We not only want to share the Gospel but are obligated. Who would not speak out if we saw someone doing something that would kill them? If we know the secret of a better way to live, who would not share it with their families, friends and acquaintances?

The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find, and have fellowship with God, our Creator, and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually reborn to eternal life. Eternal life and fellowship with God are only possible by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John1:31-34), 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). It is possible for one to know with certainty if one has been spiritually reborn (Acts 19:2).

Paraphrase:

After gathering Simon, Andrew, James and John along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus began his ministry at the synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:16-28). Immediately afterward he entered the home of Simon (Peter) and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. Jesus came, took her hand, lifted her up, her fever left, and she served them.

That same evening at sunset, all who were sick or demon-possessed were brought to him and Jesus healed them all. Jesus would not let the demons speak because they knew Jesus.

Very early the next day Jesus rose and went to an isolated place to pray. His disciples followed him, and told him that lots of people were looking for him. Jesus told his disciples to go with him to the next town, so that Jesus could proclaim his Gospel there also; that was the reason Jesus had gotten up so early. So “he went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons” (Mark 1:39).

Commentary:

Jesus' Gospel (meaning “good news”) is of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation from eternal death, which is the penalty for sin ( Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus began his ministry by teaching in synagogues. At the synagogue in Capernaum Jesus healed a man who had been demon-possessed, and the news of the healing quickly spread throughout Galilee.

After “church,” Jesus and his disciples visited the home of Simon and Andrew, where Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a fever, and Jesus healed her. That evening great crowds of people gathered at the door for healing of physical illness and demon exorcism. Jesus' healing was so sought for that he had to leave very early the next morning, or he would not have been able to teach in other synagogues in Galilee.

Jesus' ministry was primarily to bring spiritual healing, spiritual feeding and spiritual, eternal life. Jesus' physical healing, feeding, resurrection, and demon exorcism were intended to show that Jesus can also heal us spiritually. Physical healing only lasts until the next illness, and physical feeding only lasts until the next meal. What good is physical health if one spends eternity in Hell?

Many people were attracted to Jesus only for what he could do for them physically. Unless they realized their need for spiritual healing they missed what only Jesus can provide. If Jesus had allowed it, his entire ministry would have been spent satisfying people's physical needs.

Our greatest needs are spiritual, but many do not know or acknowledge that. Unless we realize our spiritual needs, Jesus can't help us (Mark 2:17).

In many instances, demon-possession is what many today would call psychiatric illness. It is a great physical symbol of spiritual illness. We are all in bondage to Satan (Romans 3:23; Hebrews 2:14-15), unless Jesus frees and heals us by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit.

There are demonic forces at work in our world today. As long as we are unaware of them, they don't make their presence known; it is not in their interest. Unless we have been set free we don't realize how much we have been controlled and manipulated by them.

Satan and his demons know who Jesus is; they just don't willingly obey him. Jesus can and does command and they must obey. Jesus commanded this demon not to say who Jesus is, because Jesus wants every one to decide for themselves who Jesus is. Jesus also didn't want those who he healed to spread that news, so that his spiritual ministry would not be impeded by people seeking only physical benefits (John 6:26-27).

Jesus could command us and we would have no choice but to obey, but he chooses not to. It is God's purpose to allow us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey him. There is a day coming, the Day of Judgment, when Christ returns, when he will command and we will all, believers and unbelievers, obey; but in that day it will be too late to change our eternal destinies (Matthew 25:31-46).

There are many nominal “Christians” today who are only interested in what the “Church” can do for them physically. Not every one who calls themselves “Christian” is one. A Christian is by definition a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), by the gift (“baptism;” “anointing;”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). If we have experienced his spiritual healing, we will certainly want to serve him. 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 impossible to be truly “born-again” and not know it personally with certainty by oneself (Acts 19:2).

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)?

Friday 4 Epiphany (Variable) B
To be used only if there is a 5 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.

First posted February 6, 2009
Podcast: Friday 4 Epiphany B

Ezekiel 33:10-16   –   Personal Responsibility;
Colossians 3:12-17 –   New Life Duties;

Ezekiel Paraphrase:

God commanded the prophet to declare that God's people had acknowledged that their sins were upon them and they were wasting away because of them. The Lord is not pleased by the death of the wicked; he desires that they turn back from their wickedness. Why would they choose death? They should turn away from their sins.

The righteousness of the righteous will not save them if they turn from righteousness to sin, nor will the wickedness of the wicked condemn them if they turn from their wickedness. The righteous are warned that if they commit what is wicked, their past righteousness will not save them. Similarly, if the wicked truly repent and make restitution for their wickedness and live according to God's Word, their past wickedness will not be remembered by God and they will not be condemned to eternal death.

Colossians Paraphrase:

New believers are to put off the old worldly nature and put on the new nature of life in the likeness of our Creator (Colossians 3:9-10).

Let us put on the new nature which befits us as God's chosen, holy (consecrated to God's use) and beloved people. We are to become compassionate, kind, lowly, meek and patient, forbearing (tolerant) and forgiving of one another, if having a complaint against another. We must forgive others as the Lord has forgiven us (Matthew 6:14-15). Above all of these we are to apply love, which binds all together in complete harmony.

Let us allow the peace of Christ to reign in our hearts, as one body, for which we were called. Let us remember to be thankful. May the fullness of Christ's word dwell in us as we teach and admonish one another in (divine) wisdom, and as we sing psalms and songs of praise inspired by the Holy Spirit, with thanksgiving to God. Let us, in every word and deed, do so in the name of our Lord, Jesus, with thanksgiving to God through him.

Commentary:

Good works will not save a person who willfully commits sin, and past sins will be forgiven and expunged, if the wicked truly repents and changes his behavior.

We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word), and have fallen short of his 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 and salvation from eternal condemnation and death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

When we acknowledge our sinfulness and accept salvation through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we will turn from our former life and behavior, and learn to live according to Jesus' word, his teaching and example, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). As we demonstrate our sincere commitment, we will receive 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). By the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we are spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. 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 by the indwelling Holy Spirit that our minds are opened to understand the Bible scriptures (Luke 24:25-27, 32, 45), and to know divine eternal truth (John 14:17). The Holy Spirit teaches us all things and brings all of Jesus' teachings to our remembrance (John 14:26). It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can truly worship the Lord (John 4:23-24; Romans 8:15-16). The Holy Spirit will provide what to say at the moment we need to testify (Matthew 10:19-20; Luke 21:14-15).

The Holy Spirit is given to us to help us live according to God's Word (Romans 8:1-9), motivated by love, rather than by fear (John 14:15). It is by the Holy Spirit that we experience the love of the Lord for us. It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:23). It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have the peace of Christ within us (John 14:27; Hebrews 2:14-15).

We are all God's “chosen” people. God has chosen us to be his obedient trusting children. Have we chosen him to be our Father and 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)?

Saturday 4 Epiphany (Variable) B
To be used only if there is a 5 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First posted February 7, 2009
Podcast: Saturday 4 Epiphany B

Matthew 13:24-30   –   Weeds Among Wheat;

Paraphrase:

In a parable, Jesus described the kingdom of God like a wheat field. The farmer sowed good seed, but during the night his enemy sowed weeds among the wheat. When the wheat sprouted the weeds sprouted also. The farmer's servants asked the farmer how the weeds got into the field and the farmer told them that his enemy had done this. The servants asked if they should weed the field, and the farmer told them not to, or they might damage the wheat. The farmer allowed both to grow until the harvest. Then God's reapers will bind the weeds into bundles and burn them, and gather the wheat into the farmer's barn.

Commentary:

A parable is a story of a common earthly experience used to describe a spiritual truth. This Creation is God's wheat field, where he is growing people who will trust and obey God, to become citizens of God's eternal kingdom in heaven. The weeds are the children of Satan, the enemy of God.

This Creation has been designed for God's purpose, to allow people freedom to choose whether or not to obey God's Word, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's will is their best interest. God allows the wicked to live among the righteous (those who do what is right, good and true according to God's Word) for now, but at the end of time the angels of God will gather the weeds and burn them, and will gather the wheat into God's “barn,” God's kingdom in heaven.

God created this world and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). God didn't cause the evil that is present in the world, but he allowed it to happen because he allowed for the possibility for sin (disobedience of God's Word). Otherwise we would not be free to choose whether to trust and obey God or not. It is people who have caused this Creation to be less than the perfect world God created, because we haven't trusted and obeyed God's Word.

We are all guilty of sin because we have all disobeyed God's Word and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God knew when he created this world that we would sin, and he designed a Savior, Jesus Christ, into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14, Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. So this Creation and we ourselves have been limited by time. Time will end for each of us at the moment of our death, and the next moment is Judgment, not reincarnation, not “nothingness,” at the throne of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:27). Each of us will be accountable to the Lord on the Day of Judgment for what we have done in this lifetime (John 5:28-29).

There is forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal condemnation and death only by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Salvation is the free gift of God to all who are willing to receive it through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit now, in this lifetime, and will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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). Only Jesus gives the gift (“anointing;” “baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian, who claims to be “born-again,” who claims that Jesus is their Lord, is going to be saved (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46). Saving faith is not getting whatever one believes, if one believes “hard enough.” Saving faith is not an “opinion.” Saving faith is obedient trust in Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

No one can be sure of living until tomorrow. Today is the only day we can be sure of. Today is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

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

Week of 3 Epiphany - B 01/22-28/2012

2011-12-12T14:20:00.000-08:00

Week of 3 Epiphany - B

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:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

Shepherdboysmydailywalk’s Blog

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/a_year/Wklx_a.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 3 Epiphany - B
Sunday 3 Epiphany - B
First Posted 1/25/2009;
Podcast: Sunday 3 Epiphany - B

Jonah 3:1-5, 10   - Jonah's Second Call;
Psalm 62:6-12   -    Wait for the Lord;
1 Corinthians 7:29-31    - The Lord is at Coming;
Mark 1:14-20   -    The Kingdom of God is at Hand;

Jonah Paraphrase:

The first time God called Jonah to proclaim God's Word of judgment against Nineveh, Jonah tried to flee. After repenting, Jonah was again called by God, and Jonah reluctantly obeyed God's command. Nineveh was so large that it would take three days to travel from one end to the other. Jonah went a day's journey into the city and began to proclaim that in forty days God would destroy Nineveh. The people believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and all dressed in sackcloth (the garb of ritual mourning), regardless of their social standing in the city.

When God saw their repentance and their change in their ways, God relented and renounced his intention to destroy the city as he had said.

Psalm Paraphrase:

God is the only source of salvation; the only safe eternal refuge; the only solid rock on which to build our lives, so that we cannot be shaken. In God alone can we find deliverance, honor and refuge.

Let us always trust in him, everyone. We can pour out our hearts to him, and he will give us refuge.

Social status, worldly wealth and power are a delusion; they amount to no more than a puff of air. Let us not resort to extortion or robbery to gain wealth or power. Let us not desire or rely upon material resources.

God has declared, and I am doubly sure, that power belongs to God, who is worthy of our steadfast love. The Lord alone judges mankind according to our individual behavior.

1 Corinthians Paraphrase:

Paul was "discipling" the Roman Christians, teaching them to not become too distracted by worldly things and affairs. We should spend every day in anticipation of the Lord's immediate return. We must not become too focused on spouses and family. We may have mourning but we should not allow that mourning distract us from our expectation of Christ's return. We can celebrate with the joyful, without letting celebration interfere with our preparation for the coming of Jesus. We still have to shop for the necessities of life, and conduct worldly affairs, but without becoming preoccupied and distracted by material possessions and worldly matters. We should consider ourselves citizens of the coming age and God's eternal kingdom.

Mark Paraphrase:

After Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptizer, John had been imprisoned, when Jesus began his public ministry. Jesus went about in Galilee proclaiming God's Gospel, God's "good news" for mankind, and declaring that the time had come; the kingdom of God was at hand. Jesus urged his hearers to repent and believe the Gospel.

As Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers fishing with a throw-net. Jesus invited them to follow him and he would teach them to become "fishers of men." They immediately abandoned their nets and followed Jesus.

A little farther on, Jesus saw two men, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, in their father's boat with their father, mending nets. Jesus called them to follow him and they immediately left their father, their nets, and the boat and followed Jesus.

Commentary:

Jonah tried to flee from God's call and got swallowed and spent three days in the belly of a big fish (whale). This is a parable and a metaphor. God calls each one of us to trust and obey God. The belly of the fish is a metaphor for the grave (Matthew 12:40). When Jonah repented and prayed to the Lord, God raised him to life again, and gave him a second chance.

Jonah's "resurrection" prefigures Jesus' resurrection, through whom by faith (obedient trust) we can be raised from spiritual and physical death to eternal life, but if we flee from God's call in Jesus Christ, we will be swallowed up by death, and have no second chances.

God doesn't want anyone to perish eternally. He wants all of us to live eternally in paradise restored in his heavenly kingdom (John 3:16-17). He is always ready to forgive us when we repent and become obedient to his Word, right up to the moment death comes, but don't plan on waiting until the last possible moment, because it takes some time for us to learn what we need to know from this lifetime. Death may come suddenly, without opportunity for repentance, or we may deteriorate mentally before our death. At our death our eternal destiny will be fixed and unchangeable for eternity, and our families and friends will not be able to "pray" our way out of "purgatory," a doctrine not supported in the Bible.

God has designed this Creation for his purpose, to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey him. He has designed this world with freedom for us to choose whether to obey God or not and the possibility of learning by trial and error. God knew that given that freedom, we would all choose to do our own will and disobey God's Word, which is the definition of sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

Jesus Christ is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction in hell with all evil (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). God designed Jesus into the structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's Word of forgiveness and salvation. Jesus is the only source of true eternal security. Jesus demonstrated that he can heal the spiritually sick, feed the spiritually hungry and raise up the spiritually and physically dead to eternal life.

This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) 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 psalmist warns us not to rely on material wealth and physical resources. We should keep a "loose grip" on material and worldly things. Those things can't save us; they can only tie us down and distract us from spiritual life and truth. Those who trust in God's Word will become "doubly certain," as they receive the fulfillment of God's promises and experience his power (John 6:68-69).

Paul taught the new disciples at Rome to "keep a loose grip" on the things of the world. We can't avoid worldly affairs and concerns, but we need to remember that what is most important is learning to serve the Lord. The meaning and purpose of this lifetime is to seek, find, know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). Our main purpose should be learning to know, trust and obey Jesus' teaching, and learning to know his will for us on a day-by-day basis (Matthew 6:11, 34). As we do he will cause us to grow to spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's return (Philippians 1:6 RSV).

Jesus' physical manifestation and sacrificial death on the cross began the coming of God's kingdom. John the Baptizer called for the people to repent and return to obedience in God's Word in preparation to receive the promised Messiah. Those who believed God's Word through John were prepared to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but many in Israel didn't believe, were unprepared, and did not receive the promise of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life (John 1:10-13).

When Jesus appeared, after John had identified him (John 1:26-34), Jesus began to preach the Gospel and the coming of God's kingdom. The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer. Once we have identified Jesus and have come to know him, we testify that he is the Christ, the Son of God, who died and arose from the dead. We call people to repent and return to obedient trust and receive water baptism for repentance and forgiveness, to prepare to receive Jesus through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus comes again to us personally and individually through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus has promised to come again at the end of this Messianic age, the age of grace (God's free gift of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Jesus), the end of time and of this Creation. Jesus will judge the living ("quickened") and the dead (1 Peter 4:5), in both physical and spiritual senses. Those who have accepted Jesus now as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will enter eternal life with him in his eternal heavenly kingdom, but those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will enter eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Mathew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1: 5-10).

That Day of Judgment is not far off. We will all experience it immediately after our physical death, and none of us can be sure how much time we have. Today is the only day we can be sure of; today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today Jesus is calling, and when we hear his voice let us not resist his call (Hebrews 3:7-8).

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 3 Epiphany - B (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First Posted 1/26/2009;
Podcast: Monday 3 Epiphany - B

Psalm 1 - Righteous and Wicked Contrasted;

Paraphrase

Those who don't walk in (follow) the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in (serve) the way of sinners, nor sit with (join) scoffers will be blessed. The blessed are those who delight in God's Word and meditate on it day and night. They are like a tree planted near a stream that doesn't wither, but produces fruit in its season. They prosper in all that they do.

The wicked are not like that; they will be carried off like chaff blown by the wind. The wicked will not stand (prevail) in the judgment; they will not be allowed to sit in (join) the congregation of the righteous. The Lord knows the way (the deeds, and the eternal reward) of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will result in eternal destruction.

Commentary:

God has designed this Creation from the very beginning to allow us the freedom to choose whether to obey God's Word or not. His purpose is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This present Creation and we ourselves are limited by time, because God is unwilling to allow rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, or it wouldn't be heaven.

We are all eternal souls in physical bodies. We're all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn” into this world. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey God's Word.

God knew that, given the freedom to choose, we would all choose to follow our way, instead of God's. Sin is disobedience of God's way. We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10). God designed a Savior into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the only way for us to be forgiven, restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, the only way to know divine eternal truth, and the only way to true eternal life (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for Creation, first in the goodness of Creation itself, then through his Word, the Bible, and now through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2), the “living Word:” the fulfillment embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:14).

In order to get the most out of our lives in this Creation, we should investigate the “Owner's Manual,” the Bible. (God is the owner of everything in this Universe.) It is the testimony of every “born-again” Christian that the Bible is the Word of God and that Jesus is the only way to true eternal life in God's kingdom restored to paradise in heaven. The test of God's Word is that it is absolutely true and reliable (Deuteronomy 18:21-22), and that it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

This lifetime is God's gift to us to allow us to seek and find him, and to learn from experience that his Word is good, possible for us to do, and our perfect best interest (Romans 12:2). God's Word warns that everything physical and material will pass away; only what is spiritual is eternal (Matthew 24:35; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Peter 3:10).

Every believer (who has trusted and obeyed God's Word) has experienced and testifies to the truth of God's Word, and that includes the psalmist. If we will trust and obey God's Word we will come to know with certainty that it is the only way to have true, eternal life (John 6:68). There are two ways to learn by trial and error: We can know now with certainty that it is God's Word, that Jesus is the way, truth and life, and that we are in Jesus and have eternal life, or we can ignore God's Word and continue to pursue our worldly life and our own will, and discover that we have condemned ourselves to eternal destruction on the Day of Judgment, when it is too late to change our eternal destiny.

It is not true that we can't know for sure whether there is a heaven and a hell and eternity until we die. The only people who don't know are those who are eternally lost and perishing. Now is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2), now is the only time we can change our eternal destiny.

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 3 Epiphany - B (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First Posted 1/27/2009;
Podcast: Tuesday 3 Epiphany - B

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 –   Test of Prophecy;

Background:

Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land, and Moses was giving them his farewell address.

Deuteronomy Paraphrase:

Moses told the people of Israel that God was going to raise up a prophet like Moses from among Israel. They were to obey him as they had Moses, when they asked him at Mount Horeb (Sinai) to be their mediator between God and Israel. They had been afraid of God's voice and the fire of his manifestation at Mount Horeb (Exodus 19:16-24; 20:18-19; Deuteronomy 5:1-5). God agreed. God promised to raise up a prophet like Moses to speak to Israel the Word of God. Everyone in the congregation of Israel would be accountable to God if they failed to trust and obey the prophet.

A prophet who presumes to speak words that God had not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of another god will die. God gave Israel the test of prophecy by which they would know true prophecy from false: any one who presumes to speak God's Word which does not come to pass is a false prophet. Such prophets do not speak God's Word and the people should not be afraid to disregard their words.

Commentary:

The test of God's Word is its fulfillment. God's Word is eternal, and is always fulfilled, over and over, as the conditions for fulfillment are met.

Moses is the prototype who foreshadowed the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ (Messiah and Christ each means “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Moses had not been allowed to enter the Promised Land because he hadn't given God the glory for bringing forth water from the rock (Numbers 20:8-11). Joshua became the first leader like Moses, who led the Israelites through the Jordan River on dry ground (Joshua 3:11-17) and into the Promised Land.

Moses was also the first judge (Exodus 18:13-26). When Israel entered the Promised Land God raised up judges like Moses to be leaders of the people, Gideon and Samson, for example.

The Israelites wanted to have a king, like the nations around them, and God allowed them to, after warning them what it would cost them in terms of resources (1 Samuel 8:5-21). God had been their king, but the people insisted on a human king. David became the ideal shepherd-king, foreshadowing the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the “Good Shepherd,” (John 10:11, 14), the eternal King of kings, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1; 21:9) and heir to the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).

God raised up prophets like Moses, who had a personal relationship with God, like Moses had (Exodus 34:29-35), such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah and Elisha.

The prophecy promising a prophet like Moses is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “New Moses,” the mediator of the “New Covenant" (Testament; Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 9:11-15) who leads God's people out of bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of the present world order, through the “Sea” of baptism into Christ, and through the “Wilderness” of this lifetime. Jesus is the "New Joshua" who leads us through the “Jordan River” of physical death, on supernaturally dry ground (Joshua 3:14-17), symbolizing that physical death has no power over us, and into the eternal “Promised Land” of God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Jesus is the “New Moses” who died physically, but arose from physical death to eternal life, our “New Joshua” (Joshua means “Jehovah the Savior;” Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, or Jeshua), and who fights our spiritual battles and protects us from our spiritual enemies.

Throughout the history of God's dealings with Israel in the Old Testament, God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation, through human examples of what God intends. Jesus is God revealed in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28; John 14:8-11; Matthew 11:27), in a non-threatening way. Jesus came humbly, as a new-born infant. His earthly ministry was gentle. His physical healing and feeding and resurrection miracles were intended to show that he can provide spiritual healing and feeding and life from physical death. He allowed humans to kill him in the most painful way imaginable (Philippians 2:8).

Jesus didn't come to condemn us but to save us (John 3:16-17). Those who do not believe (trust and obey) him condemn themselves because they have not believed the name (the whole person and character) of the only Son of God (John 3:18).

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the prophet like Moses. Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24) with the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus is the “living Word;” the Word of God fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the World” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

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)?

Wednesday 3 Epiphany - B (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First Posted 1/28/2009;
Podcast: Wednesday 3 Epiphany - B

1 Corinthians 8:1-13   –   Knowledge and Love;

Background:

There was controversy in the Corinthian congregation over eating meat, because much of the meat for sale came from animal sacrifices to idols. People who had no ethical reservation about eating such food felt superior to those who did. Banquets of social clubs and guilds were often held in pagan temples.

Corinthians Paraphrase:

On the subject of food offered to idols, we all have knowledge. Knowledge produces the feeling of one's superiority, while love builds up others and ourselves. Anyone who imagines himself superior to others by his knowledge demonstrates that he doesn't yet know what he should. If we love God we will be known by him.

So, regarding food offered to idols, we know that idols have no real existence, and there is only one true God. While there are many so-called gods and lords, for us there is only one true God, the Father, “from whom are all things, and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6).

Not everyone knows this; some who were accustomed to eating food sacrificed as really sacrificed to idols are defiled by a weak conscience. What food we eat does not commend us to God. What we eat doesn't make us better off, and what we abstain from eating doesn't make us worse. What is important is to not allow our liberty to cause another who is weak to stumble spiritually. If those who are knowledgeable are seen at a banquet in a pagan temple, a weaker believer might be encouraged to eat food as really sacrificed to idols, and cause him to sin. Our knowledge must not cause another to sin. Causing one of our brethren, for whom Christ died, to sin would be our sin against Christ. So if eating meat would cause a brother to sin, we should abstain for his sake.

Commentary:

Our knowledge should not be used to harm our brethren. Instead of pride, we should be motivated by love. None of us can boast of our love, either, because God first loved us, and we can only truly love others by God's love for us. Anyone who claims spiritual knowledge but has no concern for weaker brethren, doesn't yet have the true knowledge which is most important: that we should love others as God has loved us.

Christians know that there is only one true God, and only one true Lord, Jesus Christ (John 6:68-69 RSV). God is the Creator of the Universe, and our Father, who has created us to be his children. Jesus is the one through whom all things were created and through whom we exist (John 1:1-5, 14).

We come to personally know and have fellowship with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through 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).

We know that idols have no real existence; they are made by the imagination and hand of man. Pagans call them “gods” and lords, but that doesn't make it so. But the Corinthian Christians and we ourselves should not allow our spiritual “enlightenment” to lead ourselves to sin against ourselves or others. Idols themselves have no real existence, but there are real demons behind idols (1 Corinthians 10:20-22; Deuteronomy 32:17). When we know this, we will not treat idols lightly.

God our Father has created this world for his purpose, which is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. We have been created to become his obedient, trusting children and citizens of his eternal kingdom.

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through Jesus Christ by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:6). We receive every good gift in the heavenly realm through Jesus.

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life, through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We receive eternal existence through 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)?

Thursday 3 Epiphany - B (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First Posted 1/29/2009;
Podcast: Thursday 3 Epiphany - B

Mark 1:21-28   – Healing Spiritual Illness;

Paraphrase:

According to Mark, after gathering his disciples, Jesus entered Capernaum and right away Jesus began teaching in the synagogue. The people were amazed at his teaching because he taught with authority, unlike the scribes.

There was a man there who was possessed with a demon, and he cried out, addressing him as Jesus of Nazareth, asking what Jesus would do about them; had Jesus come to destroy them? Jesus commanded the demon to be silent and come out of the man. Crying out with a loud voice, and convulsing the man, the demon came out. The onlookers were amazed and questioned among themselves what to make of this; it was a new teaching! They were amazed that Jesus had authority even over demons. Immediately Jesus' fame spread out through all the surrounding area of Galilee.

Commentary:

Jesus' mission was to give spiritual, eternal life and to heal and feed us spiritually. His mission of physical resurrection, healing and feeding was intended to show that he is able to similar things for us spiritually.

In a sense we are all in bondage to sin, death and the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15), and only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus are we set free (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). God has consigned us all to sin, so that he might have mercy on all who believe in (trust and obey) Jesus (Galatians 3:22; 1 John 1:8-10).

Satan and his demons are a spiritual reality in the world today. The modern diagnosis of the man might be mental illness, but he was spiritually ill, controlled by evil, and only Jesus was able to heal him and restore him to the community and worship of God.

There is a lot of spiritual illness in our society today; not only mental illness, but also antisocial behavior, such as gangs, drugs, and sexual immorality. Our society urgently needs the kind of spiritual healing that only Jesus can provide.

Many in our society realize their spiritual emptiness and are seeking spiritual meaning and fulfillment in all the wrong places. Many are interested in the supernatural, but don't read the Bible. The Bible is the true source of spiritual fulfillment, and the source of true supernatural power.

Many people in the time of Jesus' physical ministry were attracted to him for physical healing and feeding. Physical food only lasts until the next meal. Physical healing only lasts until the next illness. Jesus healed and fed them physically, but unless they acknowledged their spiritual condition and need, they missed the real healing and sustenance which is eternal.

I assert that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek, find, come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to come to God the Father, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6). This is only possible through 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 gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2).

God's purpose for Creation is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word. This temporal Creation is the “seed bed” from which God is growing his eternal people. We are all spiritual beings in physical bodies. We are all born into this Creation physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life.

This Creation has been designed to give us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's Word is good, reasonable, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2). This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time, because God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, or it wouldn't be Heaven.

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

Friday 3 Epiphany - B (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First Posted 1/30/2009;
Podcast: Friday 3 Epiphany - B

Exodus 14:21-31 -- Crossing the Sea;

Background:

God had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, but the Egyptian army had pursued them and had trapped them between the Egyptians and the Red Sea. The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, in the pillar of cloud and fire, had stood between Israel and the Egyptians all night (Exodus 14:19-20).

Exodus Paraphrase:

Moses did as the Lord had commanded (Exodus 14:16-18); he stretched his arm out over the sea and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind, dividing the waters of the sea and drying the sea bottom so the Israelites were able to pass through the sea on dry ground with a wall of water on each side of them. Then the Egyptians pursued them; and the Lord, in the pillar of cloud, caused the Egyptians chariot wheels to bog down. The Egyptians tried to flee from the Israelites because they saw that the Lord fought for them against the Egyptians.

The Lord told Moses to stretch out his arm over the sea, so that the water would return and come upon the chariots and horsemen of the Egyptians. When Moses did so the waters returned wiping out the Egyptian army so that not one was left. But the Israelites passed through the sea, with a wall of water on either side.

Israel had thus been saved from the Egyptians by the power of the Lord. The Israelites saw the Egyptian soldiers dead and strewn along the shoreline. The Israelites witnessed the great miracle the Lord had done against the Egyptians on their behalf, and they feared (had appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) the Lord and believed in him and Moses, his servant.

Commentary:

The whole history of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, and their journey to the Promised Land was intended by God to be a metaphor of life in this world, and to prefigure God's plan for Creation. We're all in slavery to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this world, and Jesus is the “New Moses” who can free us from the “pharaoh” of this world, Satan. Baptism into Jesus Christ is the “parting of the sea,” which allows us to escape from our spiritual enemies. We pass through unharmed, but our spiritual enemies are destroyed.

The final plague upon the Egyptians was the death of the first-born of Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13). The Israelites were saved from the destroying angel of God by the blood of the lamb which was sacrificed for the Passover Feast, instituted by God on the eve of the final plague. Jesus is the “New Lamb" of the "New Passover” feast, the “Lord's Supper” (Holy Communion; Eucharist), which Jesus instituted on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, marks all who believe (trust and obey) Jesus, to be “passed over” by the destroyer, and saved from eternal death (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God had given Israel a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night to guide and protect God's people through their journey to the the Promised Land (Exodus 13:21-22). This is intended by God to illustrate the gift (“baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit which is given through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

The “sea” of water baptism into Jesus Christ is the baptism of John the Baptist, the baptism by the Church, for repentance, to prepare us to receive Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1-3), by the gift (“baptism”) of the Holy Spirit, the "pillar of fire and cloud." Only Jesus gives the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3). 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 Church is the heir to the role of John the Baptist. Our role is to call people to repent and be baptized with water for forgiveness of sins (disobedience of God's Word), to prepare us to receive Jesus by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Church is to point people to Jesus (John 1:35-37), to teach them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:20), to keep “discipling” them within the Church (the “New Jerusalem”) until they have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8; note: Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then to send them into the world to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ to bring forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal condemnation to all who are willing to receive it by faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

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 3 Epiphany - B (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 4 Epiphany Sunday - Otherwise skip to 8 Epiphany.
First Posted 1/31/2009;
Podcast: Saturday 3 Epiphany - B

Romans 13:8-10 –   The Commandment to Love;
Matthew 8:23-27 – Calming the Storm;

Romans Paraphrase:

Paul was “discipling” new believers in the Roman Church. He was telling them his understanding of the Gospel in anticipation of a future visit. Paul advised them not to get into debt with anyone; their only obligation should be to love one another. Love fulfills the the Law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. The commandments dealing with our relationship with others, adultery, murder, stealing, coveting, and others (dishonoring parents; lying), can be summarized by the commandment to love ones neighbor as oneself. Love for our neighbor prevents us from doing our neighbor any harm.

Matthew Paraphrase:

Great crowds were gathering around Jesus seeking physical healing, and Jesus healed many (Matthew 8:14-17). To get relief from the throng, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.

A violent storm arose and was threatening to swamp the boat, but Jesus was asleep in the stern. His disciples awoke Jesus and asked him to save them, because they were afraid they were going to drown. Jesus asked them why they were afraid; was their faith so little? Then Jesus rose and commanded the wind and waves to cease, and there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed, and wondered among themselves who Jesus really was, that he had power over the wind and sea.

Commentary:

The disciples had just seen Jesus do many miracles of healing (Matthew 8:1-4, 5, 13-17). Some of them had been professional fishermen and boatmen; they knew the danger of the storm, and their lack of their own ability to do anything about it. They looked to Jesus for salvation in this storm, but they were amazed that Jesus was able to control the forces of nature.

They believed and knew that Jesus was the Messiah, God's “anointed” Savior and eternal King, but this miracle was beyond their expectations; only God can command the forces of nature (Genesis 1:3, 9). It took a relatively long time for them to understand fully who Jesus is.

They could hardly believe Jesus' resurrection, after having seen him raise the dead to life on several occasions (Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, the son of the widow of Nain), and having heard Jesus three times predict his death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19). Thomas was one of the last of the disciples to believe Jesus' resurrection (John 20:17-19). Cleopas (Clopas) was one of two disciples on the road to Emmaus, on the first Easter day; they had talked to the risen Jesus without recognizing who he was, until they invited him in to dinner with them (Luke 24:13-35).

Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Anyone who has “seen” Jesus has “seen” God the Father (John 14:8-11). No one can know God except through Jesus (Matthew 11:27; John 14:6). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24) with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41).

Jesus doesn't reject us for having too little faith. All we need is the “mustard seed” of faith, our “yes” to Jesus, and he will cause it to grow to spiritual maturity, larger than our expectations.

Jesus' mission was to bring us spiritual healing and spiritual “rebirth” (John 3:3, 5-8). We have all sinned, and fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). We have all been born into this creation physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” His miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection were intended to show that he can also heal, feed, and “resurrect” us spiritually, now (John 3:3, 5-8), and ultimately in eternity (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Throngs of people were coming to Jesus for physical healing and feeding (Matthew 8:1-4, 5, 13-17; John 6:22-40). They were actually impeding Jesus' ministry. Jesus told those he healed physically not to tell anyone but their priest (Matthew 8:4; Mark 7:36). Those who had been healed thought they were helping Jesus by telling others, but they weren't, and they weren't obeying Jesus' command. Unless they realized who Jesus was and what he could do for them spiritually, those who were healed physically received only that. Physical feeding only lasts until the next meal; physical healing lasts only until the next illness.

The meaning and purpose of life is to seek, find, come to know, and have fellowship with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:26-27). This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life, and this is only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Unless we have been reborn we can't see the kingdom of God all around us now, or see and enter it ultimately in eternity.

Jesus commanded the wind and waves and they obeyed him. Jesus commanded demons and the forces of evil and they obeyed him (Luke 10:17; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:41; James 2:19.) Jesus could command us to trust and obey him and we would have no choice but to obey, and there is a day coming at the end of time, the end of our individual lives, when he will command, and there will be no choice but to obey (Philippians 2:10-11; John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46).

God's purpose for this creation is to give us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's will is good, reasonable and our very best interest (Romans 12:2). Jesus usually referred to himself as the son of man, which is true, but which allows his hearers to decide for themselves who Jesus is. Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone who Jesus is (Matthew 16:15-16, 20).

Jesus condensed the Ten Commandments into two: to love God with everything we are and possess, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus commands his disciples to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34), and by our love of others we will be known as Jesus' disciples (John 13:35).

Jesus said that we show our love for God the Father and Jesus Christ by obedient trust in their word (John 14:15-17), and that Jesus will reveal himself to those who keep doing his commandments (John 14:21).

Jesus commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the "New Jerusalem") until they had been spiritually reborn (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then to go into the world making disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:19-20).

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)?

Week of 2 Epiphany - B - 01/15 - 21/2012

2011-12-09T09:38:00.001-08:00

Week of 2 Epiphany - B

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:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

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.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

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http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 2 Epiphany B
Sunday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/15/2006;
Podcast: Sunday 2 Epiphany B

1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- The Call of Samuel;
Psalm 67 -- Let All People Praise the Lord!
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Warning Against Unrestraint;
John 1:43-51 -- Philip and Nathanael;

Samuel Background:

Samuel was the son God had given Hannah, who had been barren, in answer to her prayer. She had promised to "lend" him to the Lord's service all his life (1 Samuel 1:1-28). When the child was weaned, she brought him to the temple at Shiloh to serve under Eli the priest. The temple (tabernacle) had been located in Shiloh, about ten miles north of Bethel, after Israel had gained territory in the Promised Land (Joshua 18:1-10).

1 Samuel Paraphrase:

In this period of Israel's history, the revelation of God's Word and "visions" were rare. Eli's sight had begun to fail. He was sleeping in his customary place, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple where the ark was, and the lamp of the Lord's presence, which burned through the night, had not yet gone out (so it was before dawn).

The Lord called to Samuel, calling him by name. Samuel got up and went to Eli, thinking that Eli had called him. Eli told him that he had not called, and Samuel returned to his bed. This happened a second time with the same results.

A third time, the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel again went to Eli. Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel, and told Samuel to return to his bed. When the Lord called, Samuel was to say, "Speak Lord, for your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:9). Samuel did as Eli instructed and answered as he had been told, when the Lord called again.

Psalm Paraphrase:

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us" (Psalm 67:1), so that all the peoples and nations of earth may know God's ways and his power to save. May all peoples praise the Lord!

May all nations rejoice and sing, because the Lord judges all peoples with perfect fairness. The Lord guides the nations of earth. Let us all praise the Lord!

"The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God has blessed us. God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) him" (Psalm 67:6-7).

1 Corinthians background:

False doctrines were arising in the Corinthian congregation Paul had founded. He was continuing to "disciple" the new Christians by letter. One of the false teachings was abuse of God's grace.

1 Corinthians Paraphrase:

Libertines in the congregation asserted that all things were lawful, since they were not under the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law, but the New Covenant of Grace. Paul replied that not all things were beneficial spiritually to them, and that believers must not become enslaved to anything. Libertines asserted that food and the physical body were made for each other (and that the same was true for sex), but Paul replied that both would be subject to God's judgment. God did not create the body for immorality. The Lord Jesus gave himself for us, and we should give ourselves for him. God raised Jesus (from death to immortality), and he will raise us up also by his power.

We must remember that our bodies are members of Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. How then can we make them members of a prostitute. Let that never happen! When we join another in sexual union we become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). One who is united with the Lord (by his indwelling Holy Spirit) becomes one spirit with the Lord.

We must shun immorality! All other sins are committed unto others, but immorality is a sin which damages our own bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which God has given us. Remember that we have been redeemed (purchased from sin and eternal death) by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, so let us glorify God in our physical lives.

John Paraphrase:

Two days after Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River in Judea the southernmost of three divisions of Palestine, by John the Baptizer, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip (who may have been one of two disciples of John who had heard John's testimony and followed Jesus the preceding day; John 1:35-37), and invited him to follow Jesus.

Philip lived in Bethsaida in Galilee (the northernmost division of Palestine), the city of Andrew and Simon Peter. Philip went to his friend Nathanael, and told him that Philip had found the promised Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael was skeptical that anything good could come from Nazareth, but Philip urged him to come and see for himself.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming, and declared that Nathanael was an Israelite without guile (unlike Jacob, also known as "Israel," the father of the heads of the Twelve Tribes; Genesis 25:29-34; 27:1-46). Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, and Jesus told Nathanael that he had (supernaturally) "seen" him under a fig tree before Philip had come to him.

Nathanael was amazed, and declared that Jesus was more than a teacher; he was the Son of God and King of Israel (the promised Messiah). Jesus replied that Nathanael had believed because Jesus had revealed his supernatural knowledge, but Nathanael would see even greater things: he would see the fulfillment of the dream of Jacob's ladder in the "Son of man" (Jesus; the Son of God).

Commentary:

God knows our needs before we ask (Mathew 6:8b), but God is not obligated to answer prayer, or to be everything that a loving and merciful, all-powerful God implies, unless we are willing to be his obedient, trusting people (Jeremiah 7:23; see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home). Hannah subjugated her will to the Lord's. She wanted a son, but she committed that son to serve the Lord.

God knows us and calls each of us, personally, by name, but we have the freedom to respond or not. God has blessed us with his grace (unmerited favor; a free gift); the forgiveness of sins (disobedience of God's Word), and salvation (from eternal condemnation, destruction and spiritual death, which is the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23) in Jesus Christ, but we have the freedom to accept or reject him (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God has designed this Creation to allow the possibility of sin, so that we have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not. God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom, so he has limited this Creation and we ourselves by time. This Creation is God's "seedbed," to grow an eternal kingdom of God's people who willingly choose to trust and obey him.

This Creation is and will yield God's increase; God's harvest of his eternal people. Worldly people think that this lifetime is their opportunity to indulge themselves, to accumulate material resources, and gratify their physical appetites. But God's purpose for this Creation is to be united with his people by the indwelling Holy Spirit, in spiritual "marriage."

This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually reborn to eternal life in God's kingdom in paradise. This lifetime is our only opportunity to "come and see," and to learn by trial and error that God's will is our best good, perfectly feasible, and our very best interest (Romans 21:2c).

This Creation has been designed from the very beginning to accomplish God's eternal purpose which is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. God has designed Creation in such a way that no one is sinless, and that no one is deserving of forgiveness or salvation, so that he can give us forgiveness and salvation as an undeserved free gift.

Jesus is God's only provision of forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12), and has been designed into the very structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). No one can come to know and have fellowship with God except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching to heaven, through whom we receive the blessings of heaven, and by whom we can ascend to heaven.

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

Monday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/16/2006;
Podcast: Monday 2 Epiphany B

Psalm 62:6-14 -- My Salvation;

Paraphrase:

The Lord is my only rock, my fortress and salvation; I will not be shaken. My deliverance and honor rest upon the Lord. God is my mighty rock of refuge.

Let us always trust in him, everyone. We can pour out our hearts to him. In him we can find refuge.

Worldly status is a vain hope, a delusion. In the scales of justice both low and high estate are but a puff of air, lighter than a breath. Don't practice extortion or robbery in order to gain wealth. Do not allow your heart to desire riches. God has declared that power belongs to him. God is also merciful; he will reward every person according to his deeds.

Commentary:

There is no genuine security in this world except in the Lord. Worldly security is a delusion. The more we have the more we have to protect, and security always requires just a little bit more. Everything we've worked for and accumulated can be lost in an instant.

If we seek worldly security before we seek the Lord and his eternal kingdom, we'll never get around to it. Jesus tells us to seek the Lord and his righteousness and we will have all the material things we need as well (Matthew 6:33).

I'm convinced that the meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek and find God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. All this can only be accomplished through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the only way (John 14:6) to know divine, eternal truth, the only way to be forgiven our sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), to be saved (from God's eternal condemnation of us to destruction in hell; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17); the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (John 14:23), and the only way to have eternal life by spiritual rebirth through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Only Jesus gives the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

There is a Day of Judgment coming when Jesus will return in glory and power to judge everyone who has ever lived in this world. Jesus is the righteous judge, and the standard of judgment against which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord will have been spiritually "born-again" in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in paradise. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to spiritual eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

In that Day of Judgment worldly social rank and material wealth will be of no value whatever. The only thing which will matter at all is a personal relationship with the Lord through his 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)?

Tuesday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/17/2006;
Podcast: Tuesday 2 Epiphany B

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 -- Jonah's Second Call;

Paraphrase:

After fleeing from God's first call to preach God's Word of Judgment against Nineveh, Jonah reluctantly obeyed the second call.

The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim the message God gave him. So Jonah did as God had commanded. Nineveh was so large that it would take three days to travel through. Jonah entered the city and went a day's journey. Jonah began to proclaim that in forty days the city would be destroyed. Nineveh's people believed God. They proclaimed a fast and everyone put on sackcloth (the ritual mourning garb).

Seeing the Ninevites repent and change their ways, God relented, and renounced his intention to destroy them as he had said.

Commentary:

God's Word, the Bible, contains both great promises and ominous warnings. The warnings are given to us to help us avoid the consequences of disobedience of God's Word (which is the definition of sin).

The penalty for unforgiven sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). We are all sinners who fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar top right, home).

It isn't pleasant for the messengers of God's Word to rebuke sin and call people to repent. It isn't pleasant for the hearers to listen to, either.

In today's world, particularly in the American culture and the American Church, there are many instances where messengers of God's Word are avoiding preaching about sin and eternal destruction in hell, because people don't want to hear it. They want to hear only the parts of God's Word which make them feel good. They want God to bless their sinful ways, instead of repenting and living according to God's ways.

Messengers of God's Word aren't doing sinners any favor if they don't confront sin and point out the need for salvation. By false assurance of church "membership," people feel no shame for sin, and no need for confession and repentance.

Throughout the history of God's dealing with Israel recorded in the Bible, God sent prophets to warn his people to repent and change their ways, and the people refused to heed the prophets until it was too late to avoid the consequences. The destruction of the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes by the Assyrians in 721 B.C., and the exile of Judah, the remnant of Israel to Babylon for seventy years, from 587-517 B.C., are examples.

God loves us and doesn't want any of us to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). He wants us to hear his Word fully and accurately proclaimed, so that we can repent, be forgiven, and live in accordance with it.

Thank God for the time and opportunity to hear his call to repent and be saved. Notice that the Ninevites didn't put off repentance and fasting until the last moment; their response was immediate. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

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

Wednesday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/18/2006;
Podcast: Wednesday 2 Epiphany B

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 -- Time is Short;
Mark 1:14-20 -- God's Kingdom is at Hand;

1 Corinthians Paraphrase:

Christians should live as though the Lord will come back at any moment. Those who are married should not become preoccupied with their wives (and families). Those who mourn should not focus on their mourning, and those who rejoice should not focus on their rejoicing. We must continue shopping for things we need, but we should live as though we have no possessions. We still must have dealings with the world but we must not become distracted, always keeping in mind that the things of this world are passing away.

Mark Paraphrase:

Jesus' began his public ministry by announcing that the kingdom of God is at hand, and he urged his hearers to repent and believe in the Gospel (the "good news" of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace with God; salvation from his eternal condemnation).

As Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon (whom the Lord named Peter) and his brother Andrew fishing with a casting net, and invited them to follow Jesus and become "fishers" of men. They immediately left their nets, and followed Jesus. A little farther on, Jesus saw James and John in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them and immediately they left their father and followed Jesus.

Commentary:

Since Jesus' first appearance, the kingdom of God has been coming and is near to us. He invites those who encounter Jesus to follow him and as they do so, they enter God's eternal kingdom, which begins now in this world.

To those who follow Jesus in faith (obedient trust) he gives spiritual "rebirth" (John 3:3, 5-8) through 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).

Today is the day of Salvation. Yesterday is passed, tomorrow may never come; today is the only day we can be certain of, and our only opportunity to respond to Jesus' call (Hebrews 3:8, 15). Today Jesus is calling, and to follow him we must leave our preoccupation with worldly affairs. We must be willing to leave family, career, and possessions, if necessary, and become his disciples.

Jesus began his ministry by calling people to become his disciples. Jesus established and mediates a New Covenant ("Testament") of salvation (from sin, which is disobedience of God's Word, and from eternal destruction, which is the penalty for sin) by God's grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus established the New Covenant, in the "New Feast of Passover" (the Lord's Supper; Holy Communion; the Eucharist) which he instituted on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-29 RSV note "g;" Hebrews 8:8; 9:20;12:24; Jeremiah 31:31-34). Jesus' disciples are to continue Jesus' mission to proclaim the the Gospel, "good news" of the New Covenant between God and mankind, to be received through faith in Jesus.

Jesus modeled the ministry of the Church, to become Jesus' disciples, to learn to trust and obey his teachings, to seek, wait for (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) and receive spiritual "rebirth," guidance and empowerment through the gift ("anointing;" "baptism") of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and then to make ("born-again") disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) and teach them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

A Christian is a "born-again" disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). Sadly, in too many instances the "nominal" Church today has failed to make "born-again" disciples, and has settled for building buildings and making "members:" nominal ("fair-weather") Christians. In order to make "born-again" disciples we must be willing to be "born-again" disciples.

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

Thursday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/19/2006;
Podcast: Thursday 2 Epiphany B

Romans 12:16b-21 -- Christian Life;
John 1:29-34 -- John the Baptizer's Testimony;

Romans Paraphrase:

Christians are to live in harmony with each other; to avoid arrogance, conceit, and social distinctions. Instead of repaying evil with evil, let us do what everyone will consider noble. As best we can, we are to live peaceably with all. Let us never seek vengeance ourselves, but leave vengeance to the wrath of God; God's Word declares that vengeance is God's prerogative, not ours (Deuteronomy 32:35). Instead let us show kindness to our enemies; give them food if they are hungry, and drink if they are thirsty. In so doing they will be ashamed of their behavior. We will "not be overcome by evil, but will overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

John Paraphrase:

John the Baptizer testified that Jesus is the "Lamb of God" (the sacrificial lamb of Passover; Ex 12:1-14; Isaiah 53:7) who takes away the sin of the world. John had preached that one was coming after John who ranks before John and existed before John (John 1:1-3, 14; John 8:58). John hadn't known who that one was, until it was revealed to him by God, who had called John to his ministry, which was to reveal that one (the Messiah) to Israel.

God had directed John to preach baptism with water for repentance to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, who would "baptize" them with the Holy Spirit. God had given John a sign, the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove, when John baptized him, and John testified that he had seen this, and that Jesus is the Son of God.

Commentary:

Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. The Church is the heir to the role of John the Baptist: to baptize with water for repentance in preparation for the coming of Jesus in the baptism with 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 was "born" on the Day of Pentecost, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:1-13). The "baptism" with the Holy Spirit is the spiritual "rebirth" (John 3:3, 5-8) of the disciple. It is a discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2). One does not need to consult a religious authority and take their word; if one is uncertain, one has not been reborn. Instead of the believer asking the Church, the Church should be asking the believer.

Rebirth is a personal relationship with the risen and ascended Jesus Christ. 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 new believer is to be discipled in the Church (the "New Jerusalem") by a "born-again" disciple of Jesus Christ, until the new believer is "baptized" with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Then the indwelling Holy Spirit will guide the believer to spiritual maturity.

Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the author of the letter to the Romans, is the prototype and example of a "modern," "post-resurrection," "born-again" disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we all can be. He had been "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, Ananias, until Paul had been "reborn" (Acts 9:1:22). Paul was "discipling" the Roman congregation; he was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), which Jesus gave to his disciples to be carried out after they had been "reborn" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul was teaching believers to trust and obey all that Jesus taught by Jesus' by word and example.

Christians are to be transformed (Romans 12:2) from the ways of the world to the ways of the Lord; from our former manner of living to the example and teaching of Jesus. We need to be informed by the Bible to know what Jesus taught and to begin living accordingly. As we do so we will be "baptized" and filled with 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)?

Friday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/20/2006;
Podcast: Friday 2 Epiphany B

2 Kings 5:1-15 -- Naaman's Leprosy Healed;

Background:

Elisha was a prophet in Israel for sixty years (892-832 B.C.*). Samaria was the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel built by King Omri (880-876**). The Northern Kingdom of Israel was under military domination of Syria from about 840-800 B.C. ** Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 721 B.C,** and the Northern Kingdom ceased to exist.

2 Kings Paraphrase:

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria. The king of Syria thought highly of him, because Naaman had given Syria victory. He was a powerful man of great courage, but he had leprosy.

During a raid on Israel, the Syrians had captured a young girl from Israel who became the slave of the wife of Naaman. The girl told her mistress that she wished Naaman could go the prophet (Elisha) who was in Samaria, because the prophet would cure Naaman's leprosy. Naaman told the king what she had said, and the Syrian king wrote the king of Israel and sent it with Naaman to Samaria.

Naaman took with him ten talents (seventy five pounds each) of silver, and six thousand gold shekels and ten festal garments. When the king of Israel read the letter commanding him to heal Naaman's leprosy, he tore his clothes (an indication of mourning), thinking that only God has the power of life and death. The king thought that Syria was provoking a fight with Israel.

Elisha, the prophet of the Lord, heard that the king had torn his clothing, and sent word to the king asking why the king was upset; he should send Naaman to Elisha, so that Naaman might know that there was a prophet in Israel. Naaman came to Elisha's door and Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman, telling him to bathe in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed.

Naaman was angry and left, telling his servant that if he could be healed by washing in a river, he could have done so in the rivers of Syria. Naaman was angry that Elisha had sent a servant with a message and had not personally come out to Naaman. Naaman had expected Elisha to do some sort of ritual and invoke God's name. But Naaman's servants urged him to do as the messenger had said. They suggested that if Elisha had asked Naaman to do some difficult thing, Naaman would have done it. Why not do the relatively simple thing as Elisha had said? So Naaman went and dipped himself into the Jordan seven times and his leprosy was healed, and his skin was restored to that of a young child.

Commentary:

The reason for the ultimate collapse of the Northern Kingdom was because its political leaders were not trusting and obeying God's Word; they were living according to their own will; they were doing what they thought was right in their own judgment. God had raised up prophets who proclaimed God's Word, calling them to repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord. Instead they turned to worldly alliances.

The king of Israel described here illustrates that lack of faith. He was frightened by the king of Syria's request, and was seeking worldly help. He knew that he on his own couldn't heal Naaman. It didn't occur to him to get spiritual advice. Elisha had to contact him.

Elisha suggested to the king of Israel to send Naaman to him, so that at least one person, even a Gentile, would know that there was prophet, a man of God, in Israel, as apparently the king of Israel did not.

Naaman nearly missed his healing, because he was expecting Elisha to come out to him in person, and do some sort of religious ritual, invoking God's name. Naaman was a man of great worldly power and authority. He had great influence with the king of Syria, but it took the faith of a Jewish slave girl to point him to the source of true healing. He felt the equal of the king of Israel, and therefore equal with the prophet, but the prophet had sent the message through his servant.

God's Word comes to us through his servants. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5; 14). Jesus is the ultimate servant of the Lord, perfectly obedient to God's Word.

Israel was looking for the Messiah, but they were expecting a worldly concept of a king, a political savior who would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6; John 18:36). They rejected Jesus and his message, and they missed the spiritual healing that only Jesus can provide.

Salvation (from bondage to sin and death; from eternal condemnation) is not through religious ritual, but through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Many people today are seeking "signs and wonders," as was Israel at the time of Jesus' physical ministry on earth (Matthew 27:42; John 6:30). The signs were all around them but they did not see them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Salvation is not by some work that we do to earn and deserve it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus has already done the work for us on the cross. All we have to do to receive it is to say yes to Jesus' lordship over our lives, and to begin to know, trust and obey Jesus' teachings (Matthew 7:21-27).

Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding and raising the dead were intended to reveal that he has the power to heal and feed spiritually, and to raise us from physical death to eternal life, through the gift (baptism; anointing) with his 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).

We have the eyewitness testimony of the disciples in the New Testament, that Jesus was raised from physical death to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Every truly "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) believer can personally testify that Jesus has risen and is eternally alive through the indwelling Holy Spirit within him. We have the promises of scripture; all we have to do to receive them is to act in faith (obedient trust) on them. As we do so he will reveal himself to us (John 14:21)

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)?

*Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Elisha" digital edition, SwordPROJECT BibleTime 1.6.4 (for Linux KDE 3.5.7) http://wwwbibletime.org

**According to The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Chronological Tables of Rulers , p. 1532-1533, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

Saturday 2 Epiphany B
First Posted 01/22/2006;
Podcast: Saturday 2 Epiphany B

Matthew 8:1-13 -- Our Healer;

Paraphrase:

After the Sermon on the Mount, large crowds followed Jesus. A leper came to Jesus and knelt before him, addressing him as Lord, and declaring that Jesus could heal him if Jesus was willing. Jesus told him he was willing, and commanded his healing. Jesus told the healed leper not to mention his healing to anyone, except to present himself to the priests and give the offering specified in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14:2-32), for proof to the people.

Jesus entered Capernaum (in Galilee), and a Centurion (Gentile; Roman soldier) came to Jesus asking Jesus to heal the Centurion's servant, who had suffered paralysis and was in great distress. Jesus told the Centurion that Jesus would go with him to his home to heal his servant, but the Centurion replied that he was not worthy to have Jesus to enter his home. Since the Centurion was used to exercising authority in the military and in his own household, and he declared his faith that Jesus could just say the command, and it would be done as he commanded.

When Jesus heard the Centurion's declaration, he was amazed, and he said to the crowd that he had not found such faith in all of Israel. Jesus said that in eternity, people from all over this world and from every nation will have fellowship with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while the sons of the kingdom (the heirs of the patriarchs; the Jews who rejected Jesus) will be excluded from the kingdom of God, in torment and mourning in the outer darkness. Then Jesus said that the Centurion could go on his way; what he had asked of Jesus in faith had been done for him. And the Centurion's servant was healed at that very moment.

Commentary:

Jesus is God's "anointed" eternal Savior and King of God's eternal kingdom ("Messiah" and "Christ;"each mean "anointed" in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). The leper acknowledged his faith in Jesus as Lord, and Jesus' power to heal him, and he received what he asked of the Lord.

The Roman Centurion was a Gentile (non-Jew), but he acknowledged that Jesus had authority over him, and over physical infirmities, and because he asked in faith, he received what he requested of the Lord. But many Jews, the chosen people of God, missed the inheritance intended for them through the patriarchs, because they didn't accept Jesus as their Messiah and Lord.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promises of God's Word (John 1:1-5, 14), but the fulfillment of those promises is only by faith, which is obedient trust in Jesus. Forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word), salvation from God's eternal condemnation, and eternal life are only possible through obedient trust only in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

In order to have eternal life we must be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8), which is only possible through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The only way Jews or anyone else will be saved is through acceptance and faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Mathew 23:37-39).

God is God, whether we acknowledge him or not, but God is not obligated to be all that an all-powerful, loving God implies unless we are willing to be his obedient, trusting people (Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 11:20; Leviticus 26:3; see also Jeremiah 11:4c-5a). There are conditions which we must meet in order to expect God to listen to and answer our prayers (see Conditions for answered prayer, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is God, God, the Son of God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28), and (God the) Son of man, which is how Jesus usually referred to himself. It is true, and it allows us to decide for ourselves who he is, with a hint from Daniel 7:13.

Jesus is Lord, whether we acknowledge him or not. Right now we have the freedom to choose or reject him as Lord, but in the Day of Christ's return in glory and power to judge the living ("quickened") and dead (1 Peter 4:5; in both physical and spiritual senses), "every knee should (shall) bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). In that Day he will command and we will have no choice but to obey (Matthew 25:31-46). In that Day, those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused to trust and obey Jesus will be cast into outer darkness of eternal torment and misery (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus came to give us spiritual healing and true, eternal life. Jesus did miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection, to demonstrate that he also has the power to spiritually heal, feed and raise to eternal life. Our real needs are spiritual; we will all face physical death, but where will we spend eternity?

Many people were attracted to Jesus for the physical healing and feeding he could offer, but people who came only for that missed the spiritual healing only he can provide. Jesus didn't want the leper to publicize his physical healing so as not to attract those who are only interested in physical benefits.

Being born into God's chosen people (the Church is the New Israel) does not guarantee us salvation and eternal life. Church membership and religious ritual won't save us. The Jews thought they were saved because they were the children of Abraham, but it is the followers of Jesus Christ who trust and obey Jesus who are the true children of Abraham (Matthew 3:7-9; John 8:37-59; Galatians 3:6-9). Jesus warns us that it is not those who call themselves Christians who will be saved, but those who trust and obey God's Word (do God's will; Matthew 7:12-27; Luke 6:46).

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)?

Week of 1 Epiphany - B - 01/08-14/2012

2011-12-03T14:42:00.001-08:00

Week of 1 Epiphany - B

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:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

Shepherdboysmydailywalk’s Blog

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/a_year/Wklx_a.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 1 Epiphany - B
Sunday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 11, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 1 Epiphany - B

Isaiah 42:1-7   -    The Lord's Servant;
Psalm 45:7-9    -    The Bridegroom;
Acts 10:34-38    - The Gospel Proclaimed to Gentiles;
Mark 1:4-11   -    Jesus' Baptism;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

The Lord delights in and upholds the servant whom he has chosen. The Lord has put his Spirit upon him, and he will give justice to the nations (including the Gentiles). The servant will faithfully bring forth justice; he will not incite or harangue crowds; he won't break a bruised reed or quench a dimly burning wick. He will not fail to establish justice on earth; he will not become discouraged. Distant lands await his law.

The Lord God, who created the heavens, who caused the earth to appear, and what comes from it, "who gives breath (life) to the people upon it and spirit (the Holy Spirit; the breath of eternal life) to those who walk in it" (in obedience to the Holy Spirit; Isaiah 42:5d, e).

The Lord has called his servant forth, and has guided and protected him; the Lord has given his servant as a covenant to the people, to be a light to the nations (including Gentiles). to give sight to the blind, to release prisoners from the dungeon and those who are imprisoned by spiritual darkness.

Psalm Paraphrase:

This psalm was written for the celebration of a wedding or a wedding anniversary of a king of Israel. It is prophetic and applies also to the ultimate fulfillment of the wedding of God's "anointed" eternal king and his "bride," the Church.

The Lord's "anointed" loves what is righteous and hates what is wicked (according to God's Word). That is why the Lord has anointed him "with the oil of gladness" above his peers. He is clothed in robes fragrant with myrrh, allies and cassia (herbs used in perfumes, and also in embalming; John 19:39; myrrh was given the the Christ child by the Magi, "Wise Men," Matthew 2:11; was also mixed with wine and used as an opiate; Mark 15:23).

The marriage setting is an ivory palace, with music by stringed instruments. The ladies of honor are the daughters of royalty, and at the "anointed" king's side is his bride, adorned in gold from Ophir.

Acts Paraphrase:

Cornelius was a Roman Centurion, a Gentile, but a God-fearing man, living in Caesarea, the capital of the Roman province of Judea. The Holy Spirit guided Cornelius to send servants to Joppa, where Peter, one of the original Twelve of Jesus' disciples, was staying. At the same time the Holy Spirit was preparing Peter to present the Gospel of Jesus to Gentiles. Peter came to Cornelius' house in Caesarea, and when the household had gathered, Peter began to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them (Acts 10:1-33).

Peter said that he had learned (by the Holy Spirit, who had revealed to him by a vision; Acts 10:9-16) that God is not partial to anyone, and whoever does what is right (according to God's Word) is acceptable to him. Cornelius probably had already heard of Jesus' activity, and Jesus' Gospel, so Peter reviewed it for Cornelius. After the (water) baptism of John, the Baptizer, Jesus began proclaiming throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, the "good news" ("gospel" means "good news") of peace with God. God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with (supernatural) power, and Jesus went about doing good "and healing all who was oppressed by the devil" by the power of God within him.

Mark Paraphrase:

In the wilderness outside Jerusalem, at the Jordan River, a man called John the Baptizer, began preaching a (water) baptism for repentance and forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word). Everybody in Judea and Jerusalem was going to him for baptism, confessing their sins.

John was dressed in a camel's hair shirt and a leather belt (Mark 1:6; the same clothing worn by Elijah, the great Old Testament prophet and forerunner of John; 2 Kings 1:8), and John lived on locusts and wild honey (which he could forage in the wilderness). He preached that someone greater than John was coming, of whom John was not worthy of being a most menial servant. John declared that he had baptized people with water; but the coming one would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

At that time, Jesus came from his home in Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized in the Jordan River by John. When Jesus came up out of the water, John saw the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, decend and remain on Jesus, "and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11)

Commentary:

In the Old Testament, "the Lord's servant" refers to the nation of Israel, and also to individuals who are committed to serving God, but also to the promised Messiah. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promised Messiah and Servant of the Lord. The Church is the heir to the call of Israel be the Lord's servant.

Jesus was not a demagogue, a political agitator. He was not trying to stir up the people to political revolution. His teachings offended the religious leaders of Israel, and continue to offend all who believe they are "good people," because of the "good things" they do; they don't want to face (divine, eternal) truth, and admit their sinful nature.

Jesus came, not to condemn us, but to heal and save us. He didn't come to break spiritual "bruised reeds" or quench "dimly burning spiritual wicks;" he came to give us forgiveness of sin, spiritual healing, salvation (from eternal condemnation), and true, abundant, eternal life. But he cannot help people who aren't willing to hear truth and acknowledge their sinfulness (Matthew 11:6).

Jesus is the example of the Lord's Servant for us to follow. We cannot become Jesus; we cannot become God, but we can be "like" Jesus (followers of his example), when we are fully trained (Matthew 10:24-25; but note that the desire to become "God" is one of the original and basic, fundamental temptations in this world; Genesis 3:5).

God's Word is eternally true, and is fulfilled over and over again, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The promise of God's Word is that those who are willing to become servants of God are those in whom he delights and whom he chooses to be his people, and he promises to put his Spirit upon them.

The gift of the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit is conditional upon the commitment to be obedient to God's Word. God has given us physical life (the breath of life). This lifetime is our only opportunity to claim and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the breath of spiritual, eternal life within us. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus. Jesus says that one must be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to see the kingdom of God which is all around us now, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity. 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 have the same call to carry on Christ's mission by the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit; to work for divine justice, to be light is the spiritual darkness, to give spiritual hearing and sight to the spiritually deaf and blind; to offer release to the prisoners of sin and spiritual darkness, and to give hope beyond physical death.

Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Church is his bride. The Holy Spirit is the "anointing" with the oil of gladness, which we, too, can receive through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus provides the "garment" of salvation; the righteousness that is only through faith in Jesus by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 3:21-22).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit is at work in the world today, and he is near to us. He confronts us when we are heading for disaster, like he confronted Paul (Saul of Tarsus) on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6; although not always so dramatically).

I personally testify to a similar confrontation. As a result I turned to the Bible for answers, and as I began reading the entire Bible, I felt the Holy Spirit at my right hand, opening my mind to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45). By the time I had finished reading the Bible through, I was convinced that Jesus is the way, truth and life, and I accepted him as my Lord and Savior.

He discipled me as I continued to read a portion of the Bible daily, with meditation and prayer, seeking his guidance one day at a time. After several years of learning to walk with the Lord daily, he asked me if I believed that if I pursued a spiritual "pilgrimage" during the Lenten season to Pentecost I could be "born-again" by the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit. I said yes, and that is exactly what happened, in my Lutheran congregation (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right).

Peter is the example of a "born-again" Christian disciple that we can be. Peter, who had been afraid to admit that he was a disciple of Jesus to a menial servant of the high priest on the night Jesus was betrayed (Mark 14:66-72), was dramatically transformed into a bold preacher of the Gospel on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-42) by the inspiration and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Cornelius submitted to the prompting of the Holy Spirit beside him, and sent for Peter, a "born-again" disciple who could disciple him until Cornelius and his household received the "anointing of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48). It takes "born-again" disciples to make "born again disciples. How can an "unregenerate" (not "reborn") disciple make "reborn" disciples? He has no idea what he is missing, and no idea how to get it!

Jesus is the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. The Church has the role of John the Baptizer, to call people to repent and be baptized with water for the forgiveness of their sins so that they are prepared to receive the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ through the "baptism" of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Messiah was revealed to John by the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34), and then John pointed people to Jesus, testifying that Jesus was the Messiah (John 1:35-42). Those who received John's testimony followed Jesus and became Jesus' disciples (John 1:43-51). This is what the Church is called to be doing.

God showed John the visible sign that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he had the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught his disciples to seek and wait for the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and, as his disciples trusted and obeyed, they experienced the fulfillment of that promise; and the Church was born on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The transformation of the disciples was apparent to those around them (Acts 2:5-12), but was subject to various individual interpretations Acts 2:13).

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

Monday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 12, 2009;
Podcast: Monday 1 Epiphany - B

Psalm 67   -     Let All People Praise the Lord!

Paraphrase:

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! "Psalm 67:1-3).

The Lord guides the nations and judges all the peoples with fairness and righteousness, so let all nations and peoples rejoice and sing for joy. Let us all rejoice and sing for joy, and give praise to our Lord.

The earth has produced its harvest. God has blessed us. Let all in the farthest corners of the earth fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) the Lord.

Commentary:

This is the kind of ecstatic song of praise that is inspired by the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we realize how gracious God has been to all of us, even those who do not acknowledge him, we will want to praise the Lord, and we will want to share the "good news" the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.

God called Israel to be his chosen people, so that the other nations would see the goodness of the Lord toward Israel, and so that the blessings of God would come to all people of the world through Israel (Genesis 12:2-3). At the right moment in history, the Messiah (Christ), the Savior of the world, and eternal King came into the world. At his coming he established a New Covenant ("Testament;" Matthew 26:28 RSV note "g;" Hebrews 8:6-8; 12:24; of grace through faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9), and through that Covenant, a "New Israel," the Church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises of God's Word, and the source of all the blessings of God to the world. Jesus has been designed into Creation from the beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

This earth is designed to be a garden, a "seedbed" to produce eternal children of God, to be "transplanted" into God's eternal kingdom. God's Word is the "seed" which germinates in our hearts and comes to life within us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The earth has produced, and is producing a spiritual harvest of eternal life.

We must be spiritually reborn (John 3:3, 5-8) in this lifetime in order to see the kingdom of God which is all around us now, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity in heaven. This spiritual rebirth is only by the "baptism" ("anointing," "gift") of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

God blesses us with all the spiritual gifts in heaven through the indwelling Holy Spirit, but that blessing is to be a spring of "living" water flowing through us out into the world (John 7:38-39; John 4:10-14) to give real, eternal, life to the people in the farthest corners of the world.

The Lord is God, whether we acknowledge and accept him as our Lord or not. His will will be done, whether we are willing to do it or not. During this lifetime in this Creation he allows us to freedom to choose for ourselves whether or not to trust and obey God's Word. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn by trial and error that God's will is good, feasible, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2).

"Born-again" Christians have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God our Father through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have "tasted" the Lord's goodness (Psalm 34:8). We rejoice because our Lord is in control of this world, whether or not it seems so at times. We rejoice that ultimately we will be vindicated and that we will be fairly judged by the Lord. The Lord will fulfill his promise to redeem us from sin and save us from eternal destruction.

There is a Day of Judgment coming for everyone who has ever lived on this earth. In that Day every one who has ever lived will bow before Jesus and acknowledge him as Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). In that Day, the Lord will command, and we will have no choice but to obey. In that Day it will be too late to change our eternal destiny.

Those who haven't sought to know the Lord now, won't be known by him as his eternal children in that Day (Matthew 7:22-23). Those who haven't been "reborn" to spiritual, eternal life, will go to their eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil, separated eternally from the love and providence of the Lord. (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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

Tuesday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 13, 2009;
Podcast: Tuesday 1 Epiphany - B

1 Samuel 3:1-10   - The Call of Samuel;

Samuel's background:

Samuel was the child God had given Hannah, who had been barren, in answer to her prayer. She had promised that if God gave her a child, she would "lend" him to the Lord's service all his days (1 Samuel 1:1-28).

Samuel, who was about twelve at the time, was serving in the temple at Shiloh, about ten miles north of Bethel, where the tabernacle and ark were set up, after Israel had entered and established territory in the Promised Land (Joshua 18:1-10). Samuel was serving in the tabernacle under Eli, the priest.

1 Samuel Paraphrase:

During this time in Israel's history, "the Word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision" (1 Samuel 3:1b). Eli had begun to lose his eyesight. He was sleeping in his accustomed place, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple where the Ark of the Covenant was (perhaps tending the lamp of God's presence). The lamp (which burned all night) had not yet gone out (so it must have been near dawn).

The Lord called Samuel by name, and Samuel answered and ran to where Eli was and asked Eli what he wanted, thinking that it was Eli who had called him. But Eli told him to go back and lie down, because Eli had not called him. This happened a second time with the same results.

"Samuel did not yet know the Lord; and the Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him" (1 Samuel 3:7). The Lord called Samuel a third time, and when Samuel went to Eli, Eli realized that it was the Lord who was calling Samuel. He told Samuel to go back and lie down, and if the Lord called, he was to say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:9). And the Lord called again, and Samuel replied as Eli had told him.

Commentary:

Throughout the history of God's dealings with Israel he revealed himself and spoke with a few individuals he chose, to accomplish his purpose and to make his will known, but this was rare. God began preparing his people to receive the promise of a personal fellowship with the Lord (Numbers 11:29b), which Jesus later made possible through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus came to be the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God to cleanse us from sin and make it possible for us to be individually temples of the Holy Spirit. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we are in his presence as he is within us.

Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty that one has been spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3. 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit within.

In my own personal experience, when I turned to trust and obey Jesus, I began to hear the Lord speak to me, in the "still, small, inner voice," at "my right hand," before I was "reborn." As I began to hear and respond, praying back what I heard, the Lord began to lead me (see Personal Testimonies).

Samuel heard the call so clearly that he thought it must be Eli calling him. Eli helped Samuel understand that it was the Lord who was calling Samuel. This is why it takes "born-again" disciples to make "born-again" disciples.

The Bible warns us not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are of God, because there are also demonic spirits (1 John 4:1). In one early experience, I heard his voice clearly, and I asked who I was hearing, and he replied, "The Lord and giver of life" (the third person/article of the Nicene Creed; i.e. the Holy Spirit; see Personal Testimony; Spiritual Growth). God is able to identify himself to us in a uniquely personal way. Note that the Lord will never contradict Bible scripture, or ask us to do anything which would harm ourselves or others.

As I began to seek the Lord's guidance daily, with Bible reading, meditation and prayer, the Lord "discipled" me and led me to spiritual rebirth by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. As he began showing me things in his Word I prayed them back to make sure I understood.

The Lord wants us to seek and find him (Acts 17:26-27). He wants to reveal himself to us (John 14:15-17, 21, 23). He wants us to hear him and listen to him. He wants to guide and empower us through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. He wants us to be spiritually reborn to eternal life, so that we can spend eternity in his presence in his kingdom in heaven.

When we are committed to seeking God's Word, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34), for the purpose of doing it, for trusting and obeying it, he is willing and able to make his Word known to us. One of the seemingly hardest things to do in this society is to live one day at a time, and to wait upon the Lord. It takes faith and commitment.

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

Wednesday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 14, 2009;
Podcast: Wednesday 1 Epiphany - B

1 Corinthians 6:12-20   -    Spiritual Discipline;

Background:

The Church at Corinth had been founded by Paul's preaching of the Gospel. He was writing this letter to correct some doctrinal and ethical problems that had arisen after Paul had left. One of the issues was abuse of God's grace (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

1 Corinthians Paraphrase:

Libertines in the congregation were saying that everything was lawful (since they were not under law but grace - God's unmerited favor). Paul responded that they were not bound by the law, but not everything was beneficial, and one should not become enslaved to anything.

Some were saying that the stomach was created for food, and food for the stomach, but Paul pointed out that both will pass away (and the same thing is true of sex). Our bodies are not created for immorality but for the Lord. The Lord Jesus gave himself for us, and we should give ourselves for him. God raised up Jesus and he will raise us up (from death to immortality) by his power.

We must realize that our bodies are members of Christ (the Holy Spirit is within the bodies of "born-again" Christians), and when we have sexual union we become one flesh with our partner. How can members of Christ allow themselves to become members of a prostitute. Let that never happen! One who is united with the Lord becomes one spirit with Christ.

Reject all forms of immorality! Every other sin is committed against others outside our own bodies, but immorality damages our own bodies. We must realize that our bodies are temples of the indwelling Holy Spirit which we have received from God. Remember that we have been redeemed (purchased from slavery to sin by the precious blood of Jesus), and therefore we belong to the Lord; we are not our own. So in our bodies let us glorify God.

Commentary:

The Corinthians were new Christians living in a licentious society. Paul was "discipling" them. There were false teachers within the church, who were teaching that because we have been saved from eternal condemnation by God's grace as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-10) and are no longer under the obligation of the Law of Moses, they were free to indulge their bodies and to enjoy their freedom in any way they chose. The same conditions exist today, particularly in America and the American Church.

Christians are freed from obedience to the Law of the Old Testament, provided that we are obedient to the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-9). Obedience to the Old Covenant of Law was motivated by fear of eternal punishment, and it is impossible for us to satisfy all the of the requirements of the Law (Galatians 2:16). Our best efforts would never be enough.

The New Covenant of grace through faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9) is motivated by love, in gratitude for what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Only God's grace through Jesus Christ is abundantly sufficient to bridge the gap between our best efforts and God's standard of righteousness (doing what is right, and good, and true according to God's Word).

The false teaching that was disturbing the Corinthian congregation is still present and being taught in the nominal "Church" today. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor and Theologian, executed by the Nazis for his opposition to Hitler, called it "Cheap Grace"* meaning the teaching of Salvation by Grace (which is true), without the requirement of discipleship and obedience to Jesus' teaching (which is false; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

We have been redeemed from slavery to sin so that we could become servants of the Lord. The result of slavery to sin is eternal destruction, but the result of serving the Lord is eternal life. Satan is a cruel master; Jesus is the good master. Jesus' yoke is gentle and his burden is light (Matthew 11:29:30). We will either serve the Lord or we will serve Satan (Matthew 6:24).

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)?

*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer

Thursday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 15, 2009;
Podcast: Thursday 1 Epiphany - B

John 1:43-51   -    Philip and Nathanael;

John Paraphrase:

After his baptism by John the Baptizer (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:31-34), Jesus decided to return to Galilee, and he found Philip and invited him to follow Jesus. Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee, the city of Andrew and Simon (whom Jesus had named Peter; John 1:42), who had become Jesus' disciples from the testimony of John the Baptizer the previous day (John 1:35-41). Philip went and found Nathanael (probably the same person as Bartholomew), and told him that Philip had found Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph, the one foretold in the (Old Testament; the Jewish Bible) scriptures of Moses and the prophets (the Messiah; Christ, both mean "anointed," in Hebrew and Greek respectively). Nathanael expressed skepticism that anything good could come from Nazareth, but Philip told him to come and see for himself.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming, and said of Nathanael that he was a guileless Israelite (unlike Jacob, before God changed his name to Israel; Genesis 27:35; 32:28). Nathanael asked how Jesus knew about him, and Jesus told Nathanael that he had seen Nathanael under a fig tree before Philip had come to him. Nathanael was amazed and declared that Jesus was not only a teacher, he was the Son of God and King of Israel (the Messiah). [It is important to note that Jesus did not refute Nathanael's proclamation (compare Acts 14:11-18; John 20:28-29.]

Jesus said that Nathanael had believed because Jesus had said he had seen (supernaturally) where Nathanael was and what he was doing before Philip found him. Jesus told Nathanael, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:51).

Commentary

Jesus invited Philip to follow Jesus, and Philip was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (Philip may have been the other disciple of John who had heard the testimony of John the Baptizer that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the unblemished sacrificial "lamb" of Passover, and had followed Jesus with Andrew the preceding day; John 1:35-37). Philip went to his friend Nathanael and testified that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah.

Jacob was the second-born twin son of Isaac, the son of the promise (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-4), and grandson of Abraham (Abram). The first-born son is the inheritor of the birthright, a double-portion of the father's estate and superior rank. But Jacob tricked and took the birthright from his twin brother, Esau (Genesis 25:29-34).

Jacob, who God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28), was the father of the heads of the Twelve Tribes, and whose name was given to his descendants, the "Israelites," and the nation of "Israel."

After gaining the birthright, Jacob went to the land of his forefathers to take a wife from his forefathers' people in Haran (in Chaldea; Babylon; on the border between modern Syria and Iraq), but also to escape his brother, Esau's, revenge for being tricked out of the birthright. On his way to Chaldea, he camped overnight at Bethel (then known as Luz; the name Bethel means "House of God"), where he had the dream of Jacob's Ladder (Genesis 28:10-19). When Jacob awoke from the dream he realized that God was present even in that place, and declared that it was the "house of God" and "the gate of heaven" (Genesis 28:17).

When Jacob returned to the Promised Land, about twenty years later Genesis 31:41), after acquiring two wives, he again camped at Bethel, and during the night he wrestled with the angel of God. It was then that God changed Jacob's name to Israel (Genesis 32:25-31).

Jesus' physical, public ministry is intended to be a series of visual "parables" (worldly "pictures" of spiritual truths). Jesus came to show us how to be God's children. At the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, he was revealed to John the Baptizer at Jesus' baptism. John the Baptizer witnessed and testified that Jesus is the Son of God, who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33-34).

John was not making disciples of himself; he was pointing people to Jesus. John testified that Jesus is the Lamb of God. The Passover lamb was a spotless, blemish-free lamb, sacrificed on the night of the Passover feast. The lamb's flesh provided the main course of the feast, and the blood, applied to the door of the house, protected the Israelites from the destroyer who killed the Egyptians' first-born (Exodus Ch 12-13; Leviticus 23:4-8).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of the Passover. Jesus' is the spotless, unblemished "lamb" whose flesh provides the main course of the spiritual feast of the Holy Sacrament (the Eucharist; the Lord's Supper), which Jesus instituted on the night of his betrayal (which was the night of Passover; Matthew 26:1-28). Jesus' blood, shed on the cross is the sign that marks his disciples to be "passed over" by the eternal destroyer.

Jesus had been revealed by God to John the Baptizer, and then John testified of Jesus to his disciples and they followed Jesus, and became Jesus' disciples. They went and told their friends that they had found Jesus, and invited their friends to "come and see" for themselves. When we trust in the witness of Jesus' disciples and come to "see for ourselves," the Lord will reveal himself to us (John 6:69).

Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob's dream of a ladder to heaven. Jesus is the "ladder" by which the spiritual blessings of heaven descend upon us, and only by whom we can ascend into heaven (John 3:13). Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal, truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship broken by sin (disobedience of God's Word), the only way to true, eternal, life (John 14:6).

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

Friday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 16, 2009;
Podcast: Friday 1 Epiphany - B

Isaiah 61:1-6   -    The Year of the Lord's Favor;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted (or poor); he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God" (Isaiah 61:1-2).

The Lord's servant comes to comfort those who mourn in Zion (Israel; the people of God; the Church), to give them, instead of ashes, the garland of celebration; instead of mourning, the "oil of gladness," instead of a faint spirit, "the mantle of praise" (Isaiah 61:3), so that they may be known as the planting of the Lord, mighty oaks of righteousness, to his glory. "They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:4).

Foreigners will be the servants of God's people; aliens will tend their flocks and their fields and vineyards, but God's people will be known as ministers of God; they will receive and enjoy the wealth of nations.

Commentary:

This portion of Isaiah was written right before and in the generation following the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus of Persia, which made it possible for the remnant of Israel, in exile in Babylon, to return to their Promised Land, after seventy years of exile, in fulfillment of God's Word (Jeremiah 25:12).

This prophecy of the Lord's servant applies to the prophet, Isaiah, in the context of the exile, but it is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 4:16-21). It also applies to God's people, the disciples of Jesus Christ; the Church.

The real needs of this world are spiritual. God's Word is good news to the afflicted, the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives and prisoners of this world, particularly in the spiritual sense (compare Matthew 5:1-10), although physical problems can cause us to be aware of our spiritual needs and seek Jesus' healing.

Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection were intended to demonstrate that Jesus can heal, feed, and resurrect us spiritually unto eternal life. But Jesus cannot heal, feed and raise people who do not know and acknowledge their spiritual need (Matthew 9:12). People who do not realize their spiritual need will not be able to appreciate or benefit from what Jesus can do for them spiritually (Luke 6:24-26).

Before the coming of Jesus Christ, only a few individuals, like Isaiah, were chosen by God and "anointed" with the Holy Spirit to proclaim God's Word. Jesus came to offer himself as the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God's Word). Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we can be spiritual cleansed and individually become temples of God through his indwelling Holy Spirit abiding within us (see Numbers 11:29).

We have all been born physically alive, but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually "reborn" to eternal life, and this is only possible through the "anointing" (gift; "baptism") of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5-8).

Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not optional; not only for "super Christians." God's people are called to be God's servants to the poor, helpless, afflicted and spiritually lost of this world. We are called to carry on the mission of Christ to the world, but that can only be done by the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit within us (Zechariah 4:6).

The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the "Comforter" ("Paraclete," meaning: intercessor; consoler; advocate; comforter; John 14:16, 26 KJV). The "anointing" of the Holy Spirit" is the "anointing" with the "oil of Gladness." The Holy Spirit within us is our "robe" of praise; our reason and our ability for praising the Lord.

In a sense, God is our Father because he is our Creator, whether we acknowledge him or not. We are all, in a sense, prodigal sons and daughters of God our Father (Luke 15:11-24), because we have all strayed from obedient trust in his Word. When we return to him with the commitment to serve him, he welcomes us with the "garland of celebration" the "robe of praise," and the anointing of the "oil of gladness." God has prepared a feast for us, which begins now in the celebration of the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; Eucharist), and is ultimately fulfilled in God's kingdom in heaven (Matthew 26:29).

Jesus is the only way to forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by our sin (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to know God (Matthew 11:27; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

This is the "year" of the Lord's favor; now is the time of Salvation, the only time we have to be forgiven of our sins, to be saved from eternal condemnation and destruction, and to be "reborn" to true, eternal life.

There is a "day" of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived on this earth will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in our lifetimes. Jesus is the righteous judge, and the standard by which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "reborn" during this lifetime, and will enter eternal paradise in God's kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and spiritual death, with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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

Saturday 1 Epiphany - B
First posted January 17, 2009;
Podcast: Saturday 1 Epiphany - B

Romans 12:6-16a   - Christian Life;
John 2:1-11   -    Wedding at Cana;

Romans Paraphrase:

Each disciple has been given differing gifts by God's grace, to be used for the benefit of the Church and the kingdom of God. Examples are prophecy, serving (ministry), teaching, exhortation, financial contribution, administration, compassionate aid. Whatever our gifts, we should use them enthusiastically to the best of our ability.

Let our love be genuine. Let us abhor evil, and pursue what is good. Let us have brotherly affection for one another. Let us try to outdo one another in giving honor to others. Let us remain zealous, radiant with the Holy Spirit, serving the Lord. Let us always rejoice in our hope, endure tribulation patiently, and pray constantly. Let us be generous in contribution to the needs of the saints (believers; those consecrated to God's service; our spiritual brothers and sisters) and practice hospitality.

Instead of cursing them, let us bless those who persecute us. Let us share in joy with those who rejoice, and share the sorrow of those who mourn. Let us live together with one another in harmony, never being haughty or conceited, nor regarding and shunning others as inferior.

John Paraphrase

After his baptism by John the Baptizer, Jesus returned to Galilee with his new disciples (John 1:29-51), and they went to a wedding in Cana, near Nazareth, where Jesus and his mother, Mary, had been invited. When the host ran out of wine, Mary told her son. But Jesus asked her why she was telling him, because his hour (of self-disclosure) had not yet come. His mother told the servants to do what ever Jesus would tell them.

There were six stone jars at hand for Jewish ceremonial purification, and Jesus told the servants to fill them with water, and they filled them to the brim. Then Jesus told them to draw a sample and take it to the steward of the feast, and the servants did so. The steward did not know where the sample had come from, although the servants did. When he tasted the water which had become wine, he summoned the bridegroom and told him that people use the good wine first, and then when the guests have drunk freely, the poorer quality wine, but the groom had apparently kept the good wine until this moment. "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him" (John 2:11).

Commentary:

This Creation has been designed by God to be a garden, a "seedbed" to grow spiritual children of God to live eternally with God in his kingdom in paradise. Jesus has been designed into this Creation to accomplish this purpose from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find and come to fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This is possible only through Jesus Christ, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift ("baptism," "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

We are all born physically alive, but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life, which is only possible through 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).

The Holy Spirit is given to those who trust and obey Jesus, so that they can be guided and empowered to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ in the world. Christ's mission is to bring forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and salvation (from God's eternal condemnation and destruction in hell with all evil, which is the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Christ's mission is to make "born-again" disciples and to teach them to live according to his teaching and example; and his disciples are to carry on that process (Matthew 28:19-20).

A Christian is a "born-again" disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). New believers are to be discipled by "born-again" disciples in the Church (the "New Jerusalem"), before they are sent out into the world to carry on Christ's mission (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Christ's mission cannot be accomplished without the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). It takes "born-again" disciples to make "born-again" disciples.

Believers need to learn to recognize the "still, small voice" of the Lord, and to be guided by God's Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). As we begin to trust and obey Jesus, he will guide us, by his indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), to know his will for us personally and individually; and he will provide every resource to do what he leads us to do.

As we walk in obedient trust he will show us that he is completely faithful and trustworthy, and will cause our faith to grow as we experience the fulfillment of his promises. As we grow spiritually the Lord will give us opportunities that are suitable for our level of faith and our situation and resources (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right).

Paul was "discipling" the Roman Christians. Discipleship is not learned instantaneously, nor accomplished automatically upon church membership. Discipleship is a spiritual growth process, with the goal of spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's return (Philippians 1:6). It requires a lot of practice. We need to learn new ways of thinking and of living, according to Jesus' example and teaching (Romans 12:2).

Jesus taught by example as much as by word. Jesus modeled "disciple-making," and taught his disciples to repeat the process (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus submitted to water baptism by John the Baptizer before beginning his public ministry, and John testified that Jesus was the Messiah (Christ). John testified that he had seen the Holy Spirit descend and remain upon Jesus at Jesus' baptism, and that God had revealed to John that Jesus was the one who would baptize with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34).

Jesus did not change the water into wine at Cana to please his mother, or to impress his disciples. Jesus was guided by the Holy Spirit. But Mary demonstrated her faith in her son by preparing the servants to do whatever Jesus would tell them.

Beginning disciples must trust in Jesus, and be willing to wait for him to disclose himself and his power to them. We cannot expect Jesus to answer our prayers the moment we decide to be his disciples. We need to demonstrate our commitment. We're going to have to continue to trust and obey even if the answer is not immediate. But when we begin to experience his manifestation of himself to us (John 14:21), our faith will grow.

The Holy Spirit is the "good wine," of the wedding of Jesus Christ and his bride, the Church, anticipated now in the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; Eucharist), and ultimately fulfilled in eternity in heaven (Matthew 26:29).

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)?

Week of 1 Christmas - B - 01/01 - 07/2012

2011-12-03T14:26:00.001-08:00

Week of 1 Christmas - B

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:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

This 'blog is mirrored at:

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.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

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http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 1 Christmas - B
Sunday 1 Christmas - B
First Posted December 28, 2008;
Podcast: Sunday 1 Christmas - B

Isaiah 45:22-25 -   Turn to the Lord;
Psalm 111   -    Praise the Lord;
Colossians 3:12-17   -    New Life in Christ;
Luke 2:25-40   -    Presentation of Jesus;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

The Lord is the only God. He invites everyone, to the farthest parts of the world, to turn to him and be saved. The Lord has declared and sworn in righteousness that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear.

Righteousness and strength are in the Lord alone. All his enemies shall come to him and be put to shame. The children of Israel will be vindicated and glorified in the Lord.

Psalm Paraphrase:

Praise the Lord! With my whole heart I will thank the Lord in the congregation of the righteous. The Lord has done great things, and those who study them will take pleasure in them. The Lord is honorable and majestic in everything he does, and his righteousness will never end. He has done great things so that they will be remembered, because the Lord is gracious and merciful.

The Lord continually remembers his covenant; he provides sustenance for those who fear him. In all his works he reveals his power to his people and gives them a share in the inheritance of the nations. He is faithful and just in all his deeds, and all his teaching are trustworthy and eternal; they are to be carried out with righteousness and faithfulness. He has declared that his covenant is eternal. "He sent redemption to his people" (Psalm 111:9a). His name is awesome and Holy (reverenced; venerated). "The fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. The Praise of the Lord endures forever" Psalm 111:10).

Colossians Paraphrase:

Since we have been chosen and beloved by God, we should endeavor to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient and forbearing and forgiving of one another, if anyone has a complaint. Remember how much the Lord has forgiven us, and be forgiving of others also as we have been forgiven. Above all we must be loving, because love binds everything together in complete harmony. Allow the peace of Jesus Christ reign in our hearts since that is the hope in which we were called into the body of Christ, the Church. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish (caution) one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16). Let us do everything that we do in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God through him.

Luke Paraphrase:

At the time for their purification according to the Law of Moses (on the eighth day after the birth; Leviticus 12:2); Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be circumcised (Genesis 17:12), and to present him to the Lord as their first-born son (Luke 2:22-23).

A man named Simeon, who was righteous and devout, lived in Jerusalem. He was looking for the consolation of Israel (the coming of Messiah), and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the "Lord's Christ" (God's promised "Messiah"). "Inspired by the Spirit, he came into the temple" (Luke 2:27), where he encountered Jesus and his parents, who had brought Jesus to fulfill the custom of the law. Simon took the baby Jesus in his arms and said: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy Word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people, Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon had said about their baby; and Simeon blessed them and said, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34b-35).

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel (who is otherwise unknown) of the tribe of Asher, the descendants of Jacob's eighth son. [The tribe of Asher was the only tribe west of the Jordan River (except the tribe of Simeon, second son of Jacob by Leah, not the Simeon of Luke 2:25) which produced no hero or judge for the nation]. Anna had been widowed after only seven years of marriage, and remained a widow to age eighty-four. She was in the temple, never leaving; worshiping, fasting, and praying day and night. At the very hour that Jesus was presented, she came up and gave thanks to God; and she spoke about Jesus to everyone who was seeking the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Mary and Joseph had fulfilled the requirements of the law, they returned to Nazareth in Galilee. And the child grew up and became strong, and God's favor was upon him.

Commentary:

The Lord is the one and only true God. He is Lord and God, whether we acknowledge and accept him as our Lord and God or not. God has given us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey him or not, but there is a day coming when we will face the final judgment and be accountable to him for what we have done in this lifetime. In that day, everyone who has ever lived will acknowledge him as Lord and God, and everyone will bow before him in obedience; but then it will be too late to change our eternal destinies.

Those who have rebelled and opposed the Lordship of God in this world will be put to eternal shame, but those who have become his children by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ will be vindicated and glorified in the Lord. "Born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians are the adopted children of the "New Israel," the Church.

In that day the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed (Luke 2:35b). There are many who claim to be Christian, and who even claim to be "born-again," who are not "saved" from eternal destruction, and are not spiritually "born-again." Not everyone who calls Jesus "Lord" is a Christian (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).

The Lord never forgets his covenant with his people, the New Covenant of grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, initiated by Jesus on the night of his betrayal, the eve of his crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-28). God sustains those who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) God, physically and spiritually, through Jesus Christ 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 gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit sustains us to eternal life.

Through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit the Lord reveals his power to his people and gives them a share in the inheritance of eternal life. Jesus is the one and only Redeemer ("Savior;" Acts 4:12; John 14:6), the redemption which God has provided for his people who trust and obey the Lord. Jesus is the name of the Lord.

Those who do not believe in God and the concept of God won't fear him, because they are spiritually ignorant and eternally "lost." Until one one understands that God exists, that he is all-powerful and all-knowing, and that he has the power of eternal life or eternal death over us individually, we don't know anything of eternal spiritual value.

We have all been chosen and beloved by God, but not everyone realizes and acknowledges this. Unless we understand ourselves in relationship with God, we cannot receive the healing and "redemption" God offers us in Jesus Christ.

In comparison to God, he alone is righteous (doing what is right, good, and true, according to God's Word), and we are unrighteous ; he is sinless (sin is disobedience of God's Word), and we are sinful; he is strong and we are weak; he is wise and we are spiritually ignorant. We should seek to know and apply God's Word in our daily lives. Only then are we able to teach and caution others. We cannot comprehend what God has done for us in Jesus Christ until we recognize our own unrighteousness and sinfulness, and our need for redemption and salvation. When we realize who Jesus is and what the Lord has done for us in Jesus Christ, we will want to give thanks to God and to glorify the name of Jesus.

Simeon was looking for the consolation, redemption and salvation of Israel, and as he was instructed and guided by the Holy Spirit, he received what he had prayed for; he saw the fulfillment of God's promise of a Savior, the Messiah. Before the coming of Jesus Christ only a few individuals were chosen by God to have fellowship with God by the Holy Spirit. Simeon and Anna are examples.

Jesus is the promised Savior provided by God for all people, to be received by faith (obedient trust). Jesus is intended to be the revelation of God and God's purpose to the Gentiles, and the fulfillment of God's promise to glorify Israel.

Jesus is "good news" to those who are God's people, who accept Jesus as their Lord and choose to trust and obey Jesus, and "bad news" to those who reject Jesus as Lord and refuse to trust and obey Jesus. Jesus is the stone which the "builders" (Israel; and the World) rejected, which has become the "cornerstone," the "keystone" which creates the solid foundation, and locks the construction of God's eternal kingdom in place (Luke 20:17-18).

Anna is the example of a child of God; a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was constantly in the temple praying for and looking for the fulfillment of God's promise of a Messiah, the Savior of the World. As she was obedient to the Holy Spirit, the Lord led her to encounter the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ at his circumcision in the temple.

After she had encountered the Christ, she spoke of him to everyone who was looking "for the redemption of Jerusalem. We can long for the coming of the Messiah, and if we truly do, and become obedient to God's Word, he will reveal himself to us (John 14:21). But unless and until we have personally experienced Jesus, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we cannot be witnesses testifying to that spiritual reality.

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 2 - B
First posted 01/02/2009
Podcast: January 2 - B
John 1:1-18   - Prologue of John;

Paraphrase:

The Word of God was with God at the beginning of Creation, and is God, divine, eternal, and powerful. Through him all things were made, and nothing that exists was made without him. "In him was (true, eternal) life, and the life is the light of men" (John 1:4). "The light (of righteousness, divine enlightenment, and eternal life) shines in the darkness (of unrighteousness, spiritual ignorance, and spiritual death), and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).

John, the Baptizer was sent by God. He came to testify to the light so that everyone might believe by his testimony. He made it clear that he, himself, was not the light, but he bore witness to the light.

"The true light that enlightens every [person] was coming into the world" (John 1:9).

He was in the world, which had been made through him, but the world didn't recognize him. His own home and people didn't recognize, accept, and welcome him. "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor 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 Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

John testified that this was the one who was coming after John, but who ranks above John and existed before John. In him is inexhaustible grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) for all, to be received, grace upon grace. The law came through Moses; grace and truth come (only) through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; only Jesus, who is in perfect communion with God, has revealed him.

Commentary:

Jesus is fully God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning; he's not an after-thought, "Plan B," added after mankind introduced sin (disobedience of God's Word) into Creation.

God designed Creation so that we would have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's will is our best interest. God knew that given that freedom, we would all sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and fall short of God's righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true in accordance with God's Word). The penalty for sin is (eternal, spiritual) death (Romans 6:23; the "second death:" Revelation 20:14; 21:8). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sins, salvation from eternal destruction, and restoration to fellowship and eternal life with God which was broken by sin (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and demonstrated in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:41; compare Genesis 1:3).

Only in Jesus is true, eternal life. He existed with God from the beginning of Creation. He is God who became human (not a man who became God). He died physically on the cross as the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of the sins of all people for all time who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. His resurrection from physical death to eternal life demonstrates that there is existence after physical death (not "nothingness;" not reincarnation: Hebrews 9:27).

We are eternal beings in physical bodies. We were born physically alive but spiritually dead because of sin. Jesus came to make it possible for us to be forgiven and cleansed, so that we could receive the gift of eternal life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

In order to live eternally in God's heavenly kingdom, we must be spiritually "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be "reborn.;" the moment we die physically, our eternal destiny is eternally fixed and unchangeable. 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).

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

John the Baptist was the fulfillment of God's Word, prophesied four or five hundred years earlier, of a prophet like Elijah who would herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1, 4:5; Matthew 17:10-13). John did not claim to be a great prophet like Elijah; he just considered himself a voice crying in the wilderness, calling people to repent and prepare to receive the Messiah, in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 40:3). John was not a failed attempt to become the Messiah (John 1:8, 20).

God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation from the very beginning. God wasn't surprised by the fall of man through sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus had already been designed into Creation.

"Messiah" is the Hebrew word meaning (God's) "anointed" ("Christ" is the Greek equivalent). With the giving of the Law, God commanded Moses to "anoint" Aaron and his sons with oil to consecrate them as priests of God (Exodus 28:41), prophets (and Kings (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Samuel 9:16; 16:3; 2 Samuel 12:7).

So from the very beginning of the Bible, God had been preparing Israel for the coming of the Messiah who would be the eternal prophet, priest and king of God's people. Jesus is the ultimate eternal prophet who declares the Word of God (Deuteronomy 18:15; John 14:10, 24), he is our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14; 5:5-6; 9:11-14; Psalm 110:4), and he is God's "anointed" eternal King above all kings (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14).

Jesus is the promised Messiah who came into the world in human flesh, but although the Jews were expecting the Messiah, they did not recognize and accept Jesus. His own hometown and his own family didn't recognize and accept him (Mark 3:21; John 7:1-5; Luke 4:16-30).

To everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God (and trusts and obeys Jesus) he gives the power (the ability; the authority) to become children of God, but note that we must claim and appropriate the promise for ourselves by obedient trust in Jesus. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is our "rebirth" by God's will and power as God's "adopted" Children.

Jesus is the only "begotten" Son of God, begotten of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:31-35). Jesus existed before John or before anyone in Creation because he was eternal with God and is eternal God (John 1:1, 8:56-58).

Jesus is the "New Moses." Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant of law. Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant of grace (unmerited favor; the free gift of salvation) by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus we have an inexhaustible source of grace.

No one was ever able to fulfill the requirements of the law; to be righteous as God is righteous (Romans 3:23; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-10). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to fulfill the requirements of the righteousness of God's law through obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-9 Galatians 3:3-14) through faith in Jesus.

God is Spirit. He is invisible. Jesus existed with God from the beginning of Creation, and is, in his very nature, God (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world in human flesh.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us individually and personally (John 14:21-23). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (John 14:6), and Jesus reveals himself and God the Father to us through his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21, 23). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of (divine, eternal) truth (John 14:17).

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 January 3 - B
First posted 01/03/2009
Podcast: January 3 - B

Psalm 72   -    Bless the King;

Paraphrase:

O God, give the king thy justice and righteousness, that he may judge your people in righteousness and give justice to the poor. May the mountains and hills produce prosperity and righteousness. May the king "defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor" (Psalm 72:4)!

May the king live as long as the sun and moon, throughout all generations. Let him be like rain showers that refreshes mown grass, and waters the earth. May righteousness and peace abound in his day, until the moon ceases to exist.

"May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth" (Psalm 72:8). May his foes grovel in the dust in his presence. May the kings of Tarshish (in the western Mediterranean), Sheba and Seba (in south Arabia) pay him tribute and bring him gifts. "May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him" (Psalms 72:11)!

When the needy, the poor and helpless call upon him he delivers them; he has pity on them and saves them. He regards their blood as precious, and redeems their lives from oppression and violence.

May he live long, may the gold of Sheba be given to him. Let prayers be offered for him continually, and blessings invoked for him daily. May the land overflow with an abundance of grain and fruit, and may the people fill the land like grass of the field. May his name endure forever, and his fame be known as long as the sun exists. May all people and nations bless themselves by him and 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 72:18-19).

Commentary:

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm. Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28), and possesses the character of God. He has been given God's righteousness and justice, which is far above human ability.

He alone is righteous. In his physical lifetime, he was tempted just as we are, but he was sinless: perfectly obedient to God's Word, unto a terrible death on the cross.

Jesus is the righteous judge, who will return on the Day of Judgment, and judge all people with the justice of God. He will not judge us by the world's standard of justice. In this world's justice, the rich and powerful are favored and the poor, weak and needy are oppressed and exploited.

Jesus will be the standard of judgment, against which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their eternal Lord and King, and have trusted and obeyed him will have been "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8), and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. But those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus is the eternal King who will reign in God's kingdom forever. The sun and moon of this Creation will pass away, but his kingdom will endure forever.

Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His dominion is over all Creation, but not everyone acknowledges and accepts his dominion. This is the age of God's grace and salvation. He allows us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God's Word, and to learn by trial and error that his Word is good, feasible, and perfectly in our best interest (Romans 12:2). But God isn't going to tolerate rebellion for ever, or at all in his heavenly kingdom, or it wouldn't be heaven!

The Day of Judgment is coming, at the end of our individual lives, when God's grace and salvation will no longer be available. When we die, time stops for us, and our eternal destiny is fixed and unchangeable. In that Day, the Lord will command and we will have no choice but to obey. Those who are saved by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus will rejoice, but the enemies of Jesus who rejected and disobeyed him will be in eternal misery and destruction in Hell.

Jesus is the "son of David" (Matthew 1:1-17; 21:9) the fulfillment of God's promise to David that his descendant would inherit his throne eternally (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). The Queen of Sheba brought gold and gifts to King Solomon, the son of David. The magi (wise men; "the three kings") brought gifts and gold to Jesus at his birth (Matthew 2:1-12). Jesus is the eternal heir to David's throne.

The Lord helps the poor, weak and needy when they call to him in faith. He also withholds blessings from the rebellious and disobedient, in the hope that they will turn to the Lord and acknowledge that he is the provider of every good thing (Psalm 39:10-11 RSV; Deuteronomy 28:38-42; Malachi 3:10-11; 2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

I think America today is experiencing God's corrective discipline. People work longer and harder and have less to show for it. It now takes two incomes to maintain the same standard of living which used to be provided by one income. Fires and floods are ravaging the land. America needs to wake up and return to obedient trust in God's Word, so that the Lord will again bless us with prosperity.

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 January 4 - B
First Posted 01/04/2012
Podcast: January 4 -B

Isaiah 60:1-6    - Arise and Shine!

Paraphrase:

Arise and shine, your light has come and the Lord's glory has risen upon you.

Look and see! Thick spiritual darkness covers the earth and the peoples, but the light of the Lord will rise upon you and and all people will see God's glory upon you. All nations and peoples will be attracted to that light.

Look around and see; your sons and daughters will return to you carrying their children in their arms. The abundance of the seas and the wealth of nations shall come to you; you will be radiant and your hearts will rejoice. "A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian (on the east bank of the Red Sea) and Ephah (northeast bank of the Red Sea; both in what is now Saudi Arabia) all those from Sheba (Saba, in Southern Arabia, south of Midian) shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord" (Isaiah 60:6).

Commentary:

This text was probably written right before the fall of Babylon (Chaldea) to Cyrus of Persia (October 29, 539 B.C.*), where the remnant of Israel was in exile. During the following generation, Cyrus allowed the exiles to return to their Promised Land, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah 25:12, of return after seventy years, counted from the destruction of the temple to the rebuilt temple's dedication. Israel's children did return from exile in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.

During the reign of Solomon (961-922) the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon of Israel, known for his divine wisdom, and as the son of David. David was the great "shepherd-king" of Israel. She brought gifts of gold, spices and precious stones (1 Kings, 10:1-13). These three regions, Midian, Sheba, Ephah, were famous for raising camels.

Jesus is the ultimate son of David, the eternal heir to the throne of David, and the ultimate great "shepherd-king" of Israel (John 10:11-15). The prophecy of this portion of Isaiah was fulfilled at Jesus' birth by the Magi (the Wise Men; the Three Kings; Matthew 2:1-12) from the east, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (a resin produced in Arabia, used in preparation for burial of the dead).

Jesus is the light of the world; the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9; Luke 24:45) and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).

The Church is to be the "New Israel" and the "New Jerusalem" on earth. We are to be the light of the world, too, as we have Jesus' example and teaching (Matthew 5:14-16). We are to reflect the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a spiritually lost and eternally dying world. We are to live in obedience to Jesus' teachings and to be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8), 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).

It is the Holy Spirit within us who leads us into divine, eternal truth, teaches us all things, and gives us eternal life (John 14:6, 14:17, 26). The Holy Spirit gives Jesus’ disciples what to say in testimony at the moment it is needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). 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 the power of the Holy Spirit, working in and through Jesus' "born-again" disciples, who reveals the light of the Gospel, and attracts the lost to Jesus Christ. We cannot accomplish Christ's mission of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation (from our eternal condemnation and destruction by God) to the world in our own human resources (Zechariah 4:6).

Jesus warned his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going into the world to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). We must be "born-again" disciples (students; of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) before we can be apostles (messengers; of the Gospel). It takes "born-again" disciples to make "born-again" disciples).

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

*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.

Thursday January 5 - B
First Posted 01/05/2009
Podcast: January 5 - B

Ephesians 3:2-12 - Prayer for wisdom;

Paraphrase:

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was a prisoner for preaching the Gospel. He was "discipling" new Christians by letter. Paul had been given the stewardship of God's grace on their behalf. The mystery (of God's plan for creation) which had not been known in previous generations had now been revealed to the apostles (messengers; of the gospel) and prophets (those who proclaim God's Word revealed to them by the Holy Spirit). The mystery had been revealed to Paul personally by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9), as Paul had written elsewhere (Acts 9:3-6; Galatians 1:12). Part of the mystery was that God intended salvation for all people, not just the Jews; the Gentiles are fellow heirs, part of the same body, and partakers of the same promise in Jesus Christ through the Gospel.

Paul had been made a minister (servant) of the Gospel by the grace of God given to him by God's power. Paul considered himself the least of the saints (believers; consecrated to God's service), because Paul had formerly persecuted Christians (1 Corinthians 15:9). But by God's grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), Paul had been given the ministry of the Gospel to preach the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul's ministry was also to make all people aware of the of the mystery of God's plan, which had been unknown for ages past, by God who is the creator of all things, so that through the Church the great boundless wisdom of God might be revealed to all powers and authorities in the universe, according to God's eternal purpose which he accomplished in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Commentary:

Paul was, by God's intention, the prototype and example of a "modern," "post-resurrection," "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8), disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we all can be. I believe that he was also God's choice of the disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, Jesus' betrayer (Acts 1:15-26).

Paul was on his way to persecute Christians when he was confronted by the Spirit of the risen Jesus. Paul accepted Jesus' rebuke, he repented and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:1-9). Paul was "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, Ananias until Paul was "reborn" (Acts 9:10-18), and then, led and empowered by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, he began fulfilling the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:19-20), which Jesus gave his disciples to be carried out after they had been "reborn" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Paul was a "born-again" disciple making "born-again" disciples (2 Timothy 1:6), and teaching them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2) as was Paul. He was continuing the process of discipling new Christians, at Ephesus, and elsewhere, by letter, since he was in prison.

Paul was as much an apostle as Peter or the others of the eleven remaining of Jesus' original Twelve, although Paul hadn't known Jesus personally, during Jesus' physical ministry. Paul had a personal relationship with Jesus through 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).

Jesus promised that he would manifest (reveal) himself to his disciples (John 14:21). Jesus promised that the indwelling Holy Spirit would teach them all things and recall to their minds all that Jesus taught (John 14:26). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would equip and empower his disciples to carry on the mission of Christ (Luke 21:14-15). Jesus' disciples are prophets, because they proclaim God's Word fully and accurately, as they have received it from the indwelling Holy Spirit.

But note that not every person is what he or she claims to be. There are many nominal "Christians" who are not disciples of Jesus Christ. Many claim to be "born-again" who do not know and are not obedient to Jesus' teachings. There are many nominal "Churches" that aren't spirit-filled and spirit-led. There are many false teachers and false prophets in the world and in the "Church" today.

How is a person to know? By reading the whole Bible, and reading portions of it daily. The Bible is the standard by which all Church "doctrine" and all teaching must be judged. Any average reader can read the Bible in one year, and there are many plans available (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home).

God wants us to know his Word so that we can trust and obey it. If we are willing to understand, so that we can apply it daily in our lives and seek his guidance from his Word, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11; 34), he will open our minds to understand his Word (Luke 24:45).

But remember that the Bible must be understood in context, in relationship to the whole, and from the perspective of the New Testament. Those who are "born-again" are in the Holy Spirit, and are no longer obligated to keep the Jewish Law (Romans 8:1-9). They fulfill the demands of the Law from love by the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than by fear of condemnation. In Paul's day, Jewish Christians wanted to force Gentile Christians to keep Jewish Law, and Paul vigorously opposed that "legalistic" faction (Galatians 5:1-6; Acts 15:1-31).

Paul's Gospel, received from revelation by the Holy Spirit, was no different than the Gospel of Peter and the other remaining original disciples. It is the Biblical (recorded in the Bible) apostolic (as taught by the apostles including Paul) doctrine, and Paul suffered in order to preserve it fully and accurately.

In the first century Church, false doctrines and false teachers and false prophets were already occurring in the Church and are refuted in the New Testament; and they are still present in the Church today (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home).

Ministry is stewardship of the "Gospel of Grace through Faith" (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Ministers are to be shepherds of God's "flock." At the time of Jesus' physical ministry, the religious leaders of Judaism had departed from that stewardship. For example, they cared nothing for Judas Iscariot's spiritual condition (Matthew 27:3-5). They conducted their office as their personal empire (Matthew 23:13-16; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:46-47). In too many instances, the nominal "Church" today, particularly in America, is in the same situation as Judaism at the time of Jesus' first advent (coming) When Christ returns will he find faith (Luke 18:8b)?

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

Friday - Epiphany
First Posted 01/06/2009;
Podcast: Epiphany - January 6 - B

Isaiah 60:1-6   -    Restoration;
Psalm 72   -    Coronation;
Ephesians 3:2-12   - Mystery Revealed;
Matthew 2:1-12    - The Wise Men;

Epiphany means "manifestation." The Church commemorates the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles (non-Jews), at the coming of the Magi ("Wise Men").

Isaiah Paraphrase:

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). Isaiah prophesied that the darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance covers the earth, but the light of righteousness John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5; 8:12) of the Lord shall be seen upon God's people. Nations and kings will be drawn to that light.

Look and see; the sons and daughters of Israel shall return from afar. Then God's people will rejoice and be radiant with joy. "The abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, and the wealth of nations shall come to you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord" (Isaiah 60:4-6; compare Matthew 2:10-11).

Psalms Background:

This psalm was probably composed for the coronation of the earthly king of Israel. It is prophetic and applies to the Messiah, the eternal king also.

Psalm Paraphrase:

The Psalmist prays that God will give the king God's justice, and God's righteousness to the royal son. May he give judge God's people with righteousness, and give justice to the poor. May the land be fertile and prosperous, and bear the fruit of righteousness. May the king defend the rights of the poor, deliver the needy and crush the oppressors of God's people.

Let the king live and reign as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. May his government be like the rain which refreshes mown grass, and like showers which refresh the earth.
May righteousness flourish and peace abound during his reign, until the moon ceases to exist.

Let his dominion be from sea to sea, and from the river (Euphrates; the cradle of civilization) to the ends of the earth. May his enemies and foes be utterly defeated and subjugated to him. May the kings of Tarshish (the seacoast; ships from afar; the Phoenician port in Spain), pay tribute, and Sheba and Seba (the kingdom of Southern Arabia; the Queen of Sheba -queen of the south- brought gold and jewels to King Solomon; 1 Kings 10:1-13) bring gifts. "May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him, all nations serve him" (Psalm 72:11).

When the poor, the needy and helpless call upon him, the king helps and delivers them. He redeems them from oppression and violence. He regards their lives as precious.

Long may the king reign. "may gold of Sheba be given to him" (Psalm 73:15). Let us pray for him and bless him at all times. May the land be fruitful and bring forth grain in abundance. May the people thrive and prosper. "May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May [people] bless themselves by him and all nations call him blessed" (Psalm 72:17).

Ephesians Paraphrase:

Paul was given the stewardship of the Gospel of God's grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) for the benefit of believers. The mystery of God's plan for Creation, to be accomplished through Jesus Christ, has been revealed. Paul had been given insight into the mystery by revelation (by the Holy Spirit). This mystery had not been made known to earlier generations, as now made known through the Holy Spirit to the apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) and prophets (those who proclaim God's Word by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit). That is, how Gentiles (non-Jews) share in the inheritance, are fellow members of the body (of Christ; the Church) and partake in the same promises of Christ Jesus, through the Gospel ("good news;" of forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal destruction by grace, through faith -obedient trust- in Jesus Christ).

Paul was made a minster of that Gospel by the grace of God which Paul received by God's power. Although Paul considered himself the least of the saints (consecrated to God's service), he had been given the call to preach to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to reveal to all people God's previously unknown plan for Creation. Through the Church, the great wisdom of God, the Creator of all things, is made known to all authorities and powers in the universe. God's eternal purpose has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we are able to have boldness and confidence of access to God.

Matthew Paraphrase:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem (the "City of David;" The great human shepherd-king's birthplace) in Judea during the reign of Herod the King. Wise men (astrologers from Persia -present-day Iran-) came to Jerusalem seeking the king of the Jews who had been born. They had seen his star in the east and had come to worship him.

When Herod the King heard, he was troubled and all Jerusalem too. Herod assembled the Jewish religious authorities to find out from Bible prophecy where Jesus was to be born. They told the King that the birthplace was Bethlehem in Judea, according to the prophecy of Micah 5:2.

Herod secretly summoned the wise men and told them to search thoroughly for the child, and when they had found him, to tell Herod where he was, saying that Herod wanted to go and worship him also. Then they left and the star that they had seen in the east led them to where Jesus was. Seeing this, they rejoiced with great joy and entered the house, where they saw Mary, his mother, with the baby. They fell down and worshiped him. Then they gave gifts of their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to return to Herod, so they went home by another way.

Commentary:

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12; 12:46); the light of real, spiritual, eternal life (John 1:4-5); the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21). Jesus is the glory of God, risen upon us. The followers of Christ are called upon to reflect his light in the spiritual darkness of this world.

"Nations (Gentiles; non-Jews) and kings will be drawn to that light" (Psalm 60:3). That text was fulfilled when the Magi (Wise Men; astrologers; from Persia) observed the brightness in the sky, the Christmas Star, (probably the conjunction of several bright planets; Numbers 24:17). They came, seeking the newborn king (Matthew 2:2), bringing gifts for a king, of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They came on camels. They brought the wealth of nations (Isaiah 60:5d), as the Queen of Sheba had, when she visited King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-2).

Jesus is the righteousness and justice of God (Romans 1:16-17). Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we are robed in God's righteousness (Romans 3:21-22; not any righteousness of our own). Jesus is the royal Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). Jesus is the King who defends the rights of the poor, delivers the needy and crushes the oppressors of God's people.

Jesus is the eternal king who reigns forever. His reign is that which revives and refreshes us. When we accept him as our Lord, and trust and obey him, he gives us new spiritual life, through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). His kingdom is characterized by righteousness and peace.

The Magi are the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of this psalm. This is the beginning of the time when all worldly authorities will fall down before him and serve him. The wealth of nations will come to him. It will climax on the Day of Judgment (Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus is God's plan for Creation, which God made at the beginning of Creation. Jesus has been designed into this Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. This Creation has been designed to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), but God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal heavenly kingdom (or it wouldn't be heaven). This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.

God has gradually been revealing his plan for Creation, first through Creation itself; then, beginning with God's call to Abraham, he has been revealing it through his people, as recorded in the Bible. When Jesus Christ appeared, he was the ultimate revelation of God and God's plan for all the world to see.

Those who accept, trust and obey Jesus, like Paul, receive the ultimate revelation of God and his plan, personally and individually through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's plan has been made known to, and experienced by, the "born-again" disciples of Jesus Christ, who are to be apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) to the world. The Gospel of forgiveness and salvation is for all people, to be received as a free gift from God by grace (unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. By the gift of the Holy Spirit we have bold and confident access to God.

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). All of the promises of God's Word are fulfilled in Jesus.

The Magi had worldly knowledge and wisdom. They became aware of the advent (coming) of the Messiah through astrology ("Creation"), but they needed to know the Bible scriptures to know where to look. The Jewish religious authorities had the knowledge of the Bible scriptures, but they didn't benefit, because they didn't apply the Biblical knowledge they had to seek the Messiah.

Worldly authorities and powers are unable to prevent God's plan from being fulfilled. God knows our innermost thoughts and motives.

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)?

Herod the Great died in 4 B. C. which many consider the actual birth-year of Jesus.

Saturday January 7 - B
First Posted 01/07/2009
Podcast: January 7 - B

Psalm 45:7-9 - The Bridegroom;

Paraphrase:

The Bridegroom loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Because of that, he has been anointed with the oil of gladness, above his peers (quoted in Hebrews 1:9). His clothes are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia (spices used to perfume olive oil for anointing and also in embalming. Myrrh was also used as an opiate; Mark 15:23). His palace is decorated in ivory; he has music provided by stringed instruments; the daughters of kings are among his courtiers; his queen stands beside him at his right hand, adorned with gold from Ophir.

Commentary:

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Bridegroom, and his Church is his bride. He is God's "anointed," above all people. Christ and Messiah both mean "anointed" in Greek and Hebrew, respectively. Jesus was perfectly obedient to God's Word (sinless; Hebrews 4:15; sin is disobedience of God's Word), even unto death on the cross.

He and the setting are described in terms of earthly experience. He is worthy of a lavish palace, and his bride, the Church, is richly adorned, which he supplied at great cost: his life, sacrificed on the cross.

Priests (Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15) and kings (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4) were "anointed," at the command of God, to consecrate them to God's service, and were referred to as "the (Lord''s) anointed." Olive oil, commonly perfumed, was used. Anointing was an act of celebration, and also an act of hospitality. Jesus Christ is the promised deliverer, the Messiah (Psalm 2:2; John 1:41; Acts 9:22; 17:2-3; 18:5, 28), God's anointed eternal Savior and King.

The "anointing" ("baptism;" "gift;" "infilling") with the indwelling Holy Spirit is the "oil of gladness." (1 Samuel 16:13; Isaiah 61:1) Only Jesus "anoints" with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the "New Jerusalem," the "City of God" on earth) until they had received the "anointing" of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13), and then they were to go into the world and make spiritually "born-again" disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus taught; discipling them until they had been "anointed" with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20), and teaching them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 1:6, 2:2).

The anointing with the indwelling Holy Spirit is a definitely discernible and ongoing event. Anyone who has to ask some religious authority whether one has been "reborn," hasn't been (Acts 19:2)!

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)?

Week of Christmas - B - 12/25 - 31/2011

2011-11-28T16:07:00.001-08:00

Week of Christmas - B

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:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

This 'blog is mirrored at:

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.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

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http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 Christmas B
Sunday Christmas Day December 25 - B
First posted 12/25/03;
Podcast: December 25 - B

Isaiah 52:7-10   -    God Reigns!
Psalm 97   -    The Lord Reigns!
Hebrews 1:1-9   -    The "Anointed" Eternal King!
John 1:1-14   -    Prologue of John;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

The paths of those who cross mountains to bring "good news," who publish peace and goodness, who announce to Zion (the people of God; the city of God, the Church) that the Lord reigns, are beautiful.

Listen! Our watchmen shout for joy, seeing with their own eyes the return of the Lord to Zion. Let the desolate places in Jerusalem break out in song, because the Lord "has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem" (Isaiah 52:9b). The Lord has revealed his holy arm in the sight of all people, and the furthest ends of the earth will behold his salvation.

Psalm Paraphrase:

Let all the earth rejoice, and the many coastlands be glad, because the Lord reigns! The Lord conceals himself in clouds and thick darkness. His throne is founded on righteousness and justice. The Lord's wrath is a destroying fire, burning up his enemies. His lightening bolts illuminate the darkness of the world and shake the earth. Like wax, mountains melt before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens declare God's righteousness and his glory is revealed to all nations and peoples. Those who boast in worthless idols and worship images will be put to eternal shame. All other "gods" humble themselves before the Lord. The people of God celebrate and rejoice in his judgments. The Lord is high above all people of earth and is exalted above all "gods."

Those who hate evil are the Lord's beloved. He preserves the lives of his saints (those who are committed to God's service) and delivers them from the power of the wicked.

"Light dawns for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name" (Psalm 97:11-12)!

Hebrews Paraphrase:

In earlier times, God's spoke to the forefathers of Israel by prophets, but now he has spoken to us through his Son, by and through whom the world was created (John 1:1-3; 14) and who is the heir of all things. Jesus is the reflection of God's glory, and the revelation of God's character. He upholds the Universe by his Word, which has the creative power of God (John 14:10, 24). Mark 4:39-41). Jesus came to offer the sacrifice (of himself of the cross) for our purification from sin. Having accomplished that, he has taken his throne at the right hand of God in heaven. He is far superior to angels, and his name is above all others in heaven and on earth (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11).

God declared that Jesus is his (only, begotten) Son (Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:17), and God is his Father. God's angels are spirits (Hebrews 1:6b; 14) who serve the Lord, but Jesus is God's "anointed" eternal king (Hebrews 1:8-9; compare Psalms 45:6), far above all angels.

John Paraphrase:

The Word of God was with God at Creation, and was God in character and nature. Everything in Creation was made through him. In him is true eternal life, and that life is light. The light (of righteousness, spiritual enlightenment and eternal life) shines in the spiritual darkness of sin, spiritual ignorance, and spiritual death, and has not been overcome by spiritual darkness.

John the Baptizer, was sent by God to testify to that light, so that all might believe through his testimony. John didn't claim to be the light, or to possess any light of his own. The true light of spiritual enlightenment was coming into the world. The Creator of the world came into the world physically, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people (the Jews) and to his own home (Nazareth) but they didn't recognize or welcome him (Luke 4:16-30). "But to all who did receive him he gave the 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 1:13).

"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:

God is God whether we acknowledge him or not. The people of God, who trust and obey God's Word, those who love righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true, according to God's Word) rejoice that the Lord reigns. The watchmen are the Church, the "born-again"disciples of Jesus Christ, who have personally experienced the return of the Lord, through 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). Jesus is the holy arm of God's almighty power and salvation, which has been revealed to the entire world.

The Lord conceals himself in cloud and thick darkness, as he manifested himself to Israel at Mount Sinai (Mt. Horeb; Psalm 97:2-5; compare Exodus 19:16-22). But when we seek him earnestly, he will allow us to "find" him; he will manifest himself to us personally and individually through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 17:26-27). The Holy Spirit is the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22) that will guide us through the wilderness of this lifetime and into the eternal Promised Land in heaven.

Jesus is the "light of the world" (John 12:46), the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21; not of our own, but the righteousness of God through faith; i.e. obedient trust), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for Creation, first through the goodness of Creation itself, then through the history of God's dealing with Israel recorded in the Bible. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world in human flesh.

Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus is the "living Word" of God, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the only to find and know God, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6). Only Jesus can reveal God to us (Matthew 11:27). If we have known Jesus we have known God (John 14:8-10).

The only way to personally know Jesus is through 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). Jesus promises that if we love him and trust and obey his teachings, he will come to us and manifest himself to us personally and individually (John 14:21).

We can be God's adopted sons and daughters through faith in Jesus Christ, but Jesus is the first-born and only begotten Son of God. He is the heir to God's kingdom which he shares with us through faith in him (1Peter 1:3-5).

Jesus is not "Plan B." God was not surprised that, when he gave us freedom to choose whether to trust and obey his Word, we chose rebellion and disobedience. God designed Creation from the very beginning with his Savior, Jesus Christ, "built in" to the very structure of Creation. We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Salvation is by grace (a free gift; unmerited favor), which must be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is God's free gift of salvation, but we must claim and appropriate that salvation by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. God gives us the power and opportunity, but we must accept and act! We don't become God's children by our own will, or by genetics, or physiology, or by religious rite.

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 December 26 - B
First Posted December 26, 2008;
Podcast: December 26 - B

Psalm 111 -   Praise the Lord;

Paraphrase:

Praise the Lord!* Let us praise the Lord in the Congregation of the upright.

All the works of the Lord are great. Those who study them will delight in them. God's righteousness endures forever, and his works are characterized by honor and majesty. Gracious and merciful is the Lord, and his works are wonderful and worthy of remembrance.

The Lord constantly remembers his covenant and he provides sustenance for those who fear him. He has revealed his power to his people through his works; to them he has given the heritage of the nations.

The Lord is faithful and just in everything he does, and his Word is completely trustworthy, and will stand forever, to be kept with faithfulness and uprightness. "He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever" (Psalm 111:9). His name is Holy and awesome! "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it! His praise endures for ever" (Psalm 11:110).

Commentary:

All the works of the Lord are great and wonderful, and the delight of those who study them. They are worthy of our remembrance. All Creation testifies to the goodness, wisdom and power of God.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's righteousness, mercy, wisdom and power (1 Corinthians 1:17-25). God's Word imparts divine wisdom, as distinct from the wisdom of this world. Until we realize that God has the power of eternal life or death over us, we don't know anything of any lasting importance and benefit. The fear of the Lord is the appropriate awe and respect for his power and authority.

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the redemption, from sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and death (eternal death, the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23), which God has given to his people. Jesus is the mediator of the new, eternal Covenant (Testament; Hebrews 12:24) of grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), instituted on the night of his betrayal (Matthew 26:26-28), between God and his people, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus ( Ephesians 2:8-9, see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God has given us the spiritual sustenance we need, to preserve us to eternal life, by the body and blood of Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the power, love and faithfulness of the Lord personally and individually. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

God has given us the gift of forgiveness of sin and salvation from death, in the birth of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, he has given the gift of spiritual "rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8) and eternal life to all who trust and obey Jesus (Hebrews 2:14-15).

God has given us the gift of his Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the "living Word." God's Word is completely trustworthy and eternal. God's Word is good, "do-able," and our very best interest (Romans 12:2). Let us spend the time necessary getting to know God's Word, so that we can live according to his Word in faithfulness and uprightness.

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)?

*Hallelujah is the Hebrew word meaning "Praise the Lord!"

Tuesday December 27 - B
First posted 12/27/03;
Podcast: December 27 B

Isaiah 45:22-25 - Turn to the Lord;

Paraphrase:

Turn to the Lord, all the farthest places on earth, and be saved. There is no other God but the Lord. The Lord has sworn and will not take back what he has declared: "Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear" (Isaiah 45:23c; compare Philippians 2:9-11).

Righteousness and strength are in the Lord alone. All who were opposed to God will come and be ashamed. The children of Israel shall triumph and be glorified in the Lord.

Commentary:

The Lord is God, whether we acknowledge him or not. This world is his Creation, designed by his Word, with his rules, to serve his purpose. He has designed it to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word) so that we have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error.

God has always intended, from the beginning of Creation, to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and to learn to trust and obey God.

God has designed Creation and we ourselves with a time limit. God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, and not at all in his eternal heavenly kingdom. God gave us freedom to disobey him in this Creation knowing that, given the opportunity, we would all sin, and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

God designed a Savior, Jesus Christ, into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sins, and salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). Salvation is a gift from God, which we can only receive through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus is the only way to come to find and have fellowship with God, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to receive eternal life (John 14:6). We are all born physically alive but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8), to eternal life, and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has been "born-again;" if one is not sure, one hasn't been (Acts 19:2)!

This is God's Creation, and we have been given the gift of physical life and have been allowed to live in it. We have been allowed to live the way we please. God didn't owe us even that, but he certainly doesn't owe us eternal life in paradise restored, if we rebel against him and reject his gift of forgiveness and salvation.

God is not obligated to be everything a righteous and loving God implies if we are not willing to trust and obey him (Jeremiah 7:23; Ezekiel 11:20; Leviticus 26:3, 12; see also Jeremiah 11:4c-5a). God is not obligated to answer prayer if we are not willing to trust and obey his Word (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home).

Only God is righteous, and he is all-powerful. Compared to us he is sinless and we are sinners; he is strong and we are weak; he is wise and we are spiritually ignorant.

In order to make it possible for us to be spiritually reborn, we have been designed as eternal beings with "souls" which will exist after physical death. We will continue to exist in eternal life in paradise with the Lord, or in eternal agony and destruction in Hell with all evil.

There is a Day of Judgment, when Jesus will return, as he has promised, to judge the living and the dead in both physical and spiritual senses (John 5:28-29; 1 Peter 4:5). Jesus is the Righteous Judge, and he is also the standard by which everyone who has ever lived physically will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "reborn" in this lifetime, and will enter God's eternal kingdom in paradise. Those who have rejected Jesus, and have refused to trust and obey God's Word will be condemned to everlasting destruction and eternal death in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

God is the Creator and the giver of all things: physical life and all the material necessities of life in this Creation. In eternity we will either continue to live with the Lord, or we will live eternally separated from God's love and providence. Remove God's righteousness and providence from this Creation and what would we have?

Now we have the opportunity to rebel against and disobey God, but in the Day of Judgment, we will have no choice but to obey the Lord. In that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God, but in that day it will be too late to change our eternal destiny. Those who have opposed God and Jesus Christ will be eternally put to shame, but the children of God of the New Israel (the Church of Jesus Christ) will eternally triumph and be glorified in the Lord.

Wednesday December 28 - B
First posted 12/28/2008;
Podcast: December 28 - B

Colossians 3:12-17 - New Life in Christ;

Paraphrase:

As God's chosen and beloved, we should be compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient, forbearing and forgiving, if we have a grievance against another. We must forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven us (Matthew 6:12). Above all these virtues is love, by which we are bound to one another in perfect harmony. Let our hearts be ruled by the peace of Christ, to which we are called in one body (the Church), and let us remember to be thankful.

Let us be filled with the teachings of Christ, so that we can teach and admonish one another with all (divine) wisdom, and as we sing and praise the Lord with thankful hearts. Let every thing we do and say be done in the name of the Lord Jesus in thanksgiving to God the Father through him.

Commentary:

We are all chosen and beloved by God, but not all recognize and accept God's love. People who have accepted God's love and the free gift of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation (from eternal destruction) which he offers us only through Jesus Christ, will follow Jesus' teaching and example (Matthew 7:21-27). Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who learn to know, trust and obey Jesus' teachings (Matthew 28:20). They are spiritually "born-again" 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 (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 author of this letter was Paul (Saul of Tarsus) who is the prototype and example of a "modern," "post-resurrection," "born-again" disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), to be carried out after they had been spiritually "reborn" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul had been discipled by a "born-again" disciple (Acts 9:10-16), Ananias, until Paul had been "reborn" (Acts 9:17-18), and then Paul began preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making "born-again" disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:20-22; 2 Timothy 1:6-7), and teaching them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

Paul was discipling the believers at Colossae by letter. He was exhorting them to live according to Jesus' teachings so that they would have peace and harmony within the congregation and so that the name of Jesus and God the Father would be glorified in the world.

If we realize what the Lord has done for us through Jesus Christ, we will be truly thankful, and we can show our thankfulness by obedient trust in God's Word. Jesus Christ is the "living Word" of God; the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Genesis 1:3).

Christians are to be "disciples" (students) of Jesus Christ. First we should read the entire Bible through once to know what it contains (and doesn't contain). This can easily be done in one year by any ordinary reader. There are numerous Bible-in-a-year plans available (see Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home). This would be a great time to begin a habit of a regular daily time to read, pray, and meditate on God's Word, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34).

Next the disciple should begin to study Jesus' teachings. A good place to start is with the "Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29), which is a collection of the typical teachings of Jesus. Of those teachings, some may not be a problem for us; some may be a problem, but which we cannot do anything about at the time. Surely there is one area which applies to us which we can do something about, and we should begin to work on that area, asking for Jesus' help.

As one begins to read and apply God's Word in one's life, the Holy Spirit will begin to teach and guide us by the Word, and will ultimately cause us to be "born-again" as we demonstrate our commitment to trust and obey God's Word. But note that the Lord doesn't want us to be "born-again" prematurely, because it is unrepeatable (Hebrews 6:4-6).

Once we've been "reborn" by the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and help us to recall all Jesus' teachings (John 14:25-26). But we have to have read and heard and know Jesus' teachings in order for the Holy Spirit to bring them to our remembrance as we need them (Luke 12:11-12).

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

Thursday December 29 - B
First posted 12/29/2008;
Podcast: December 29 - B

Luke 2:25-40 - Jesus' Presentation;

Paraphrase:

Mary and Joseph had brought Jesus to the temple on the eighth day of his birth (Leviticus 12:2-3), to be circumcised (Genesis 17:12) and registered him as their first-born son in accordance with the law (God's Word; Luke 2:22-23).

There was a man living in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout, and was watching for the "consolation of Israel" (the promised Messiah). The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that Simeon would not die before he had seen the Messiah.

The Holy Spirit led Simeon to enter the temple at the time that Mary and Joseph were presenting Jesus, and Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon had said about their child. Simeon blessed them and told Mary, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34b-35).

A prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, lived day and night in the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer. She had been widowed after seven years of marriage, and was then eighty-four years old. She came at that very hour and [when she saw Jesus] she gave thanks to God and told everyone who was seeking redemption for Jerusalem, about him.

When the requirements of the law of Moses had been fulfilled, they returned to Nazareth, where Jesus grew and became strong and filled with wisdom; and he was blessed with God's favor.

Commentary:

Before Jesus' death and resurrection only a few individuals, like Simeon and Anna, had the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgivness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word), and the spiritual cleansing which made it possible for Jesus' disciples to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). By the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we are spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. 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).

Simeon and Anna were both believing and watching for the fulfillment of God's Word. They were guided by the Holy Spirit because they believed, trusted and obeyed God's Word in the Bible and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We can have that same revelation and guidance through faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the light of revelation to everyone who trusts and obeys Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9). He has the same attributes as Jesus and as God the Father. He is the Spirit of (divine, eternal) Truth (John 14:17;16:13). He is the light which enlightens everyone (John 1:9), and the light of eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).

The Holy Spirit is the "Paraclete," our counselor, our comfortor, our "consoler," our advocate, and intercessor on our behalf to God (John 14:16). He opens our minds to understand God's Word (Luke 24:45), teaches us all things, brings to our remembrance all that Jesus taught (John 14:26), and guides and empowers us to do God's will and to complete the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness and salvation are a free gift for all who are willing to received it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God's one and only provision (Acts 4:12) for the forgiveness of our sins (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and our salvation from condemnation and eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy. Many will fall spiritually to eternal destruction, and many will rise to eternal life because of Jesus (1 Peter 2:7-8). He is a sign revealed to all people. He is God made visible in human form (Colossians 2:8-9; Matthew 11:27; John 14:9), and he is also fully human (but not a man who became God). But he is a sign that many people hate and speak against. The inner thoughts and hearts of people are revealed by their response to Jesus, and will be revealed ultimately at the Day of Judgment (Revelation 1:7; Luke 12:2).

The prophecy of Simeon to Mary was fulfilled. Jesus is the one who was pierced with nails in his hands and feet, and by a spear in his side (John 19:34, 37; Zechariah 12:10), at his crucifixion. Mary was present at the crucifixion and certainly felt her own soul pierced (John 19:25-27).

The Church is the "New Israel" through whom Jesus is glorified, and by whom the Lord's glory is reflected into the spiritual darkness of this world.

Anna demonstrates what every disciple of Jesus Christ can be: "born-again," by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, having trusted and obeyed God's Word, and having personally experienced the Messiah (Christ). She was able to testify about Jesus, from personal knowledge and experience, to those who were seeking the redemption God promised in his Word. Jesus is the Redeemer, who paid the price for our sin, so that we could be released from bondage to sin and eternal death.

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

Friday December 30 - B
First posted 12/30/2008;
Podcast: December 30 - B

Isaiah 63:7-16 - Psalm of Intercession;

Paraphrase:

I will testify to the steadfast love of the Lord and give him praise; according to all the blessings he has given us and his great goodness to his people, Israel. He has given them great mercy, according to his limitless unending love. He regarded them as his children who would remain faithful to him, and he became their Savior. He bore their affliction, “and the ‘angel’ (Spirit) of his presence saved them” (Isaiah 63:9b). He redeemed them because of his love and pity for them; he carried them through past troubles.

“But they rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit” Isaiah 63:10a), so he punished them. But he didn’t forget the past and his servant Moses. The Lord, who brought, through the Sea, the leaders of his people, who put his holy Spirit in their midst, “who caused his holy arm to go at the right hand of Moses” (Isaiah 63:12a), who parted the waters and led them through the depths (Isaiah 63:11-13a), has not forgotten them and is still with them.

Israel did not stumble in the desert, and the Lord gave them rest like cattle in a valley. The Lord led his people, so that his name would be honored.

Lord, look down from your sacred and glorious dwelling in heaven. Where are your zeal and your might? I feel separated from my heart’s delight, and from your compassion. Although Abraham does not know us, and Israel doesn’t acknowledge us, you are our Father, Lord.” Thou art our Father; our Redeemer from of old is thy name” (Isaiah 63:16c).

Commentary:

When we are experiencing trouble, it is helpful to recall what God has done for us, and of his unfailing love for us. If we have not yet had a personal fellowship with God through his indwelling Holy Spirit, reading the Bible can show us what he has done for his people before.

As we believe the Bible testimony, and act upon it in faith (obedient trust) we can be spiritually reborn (John 3:3, 5-8) to a personal relationship with the Lord, and as we trust and obey God’s Word we will begin to experience for ourselves God’s goodness and faithfulness. God wants us to know his Word, so that we can trust and obey it. As we do so, he will show us that his Word is absolutely true and reliable.

God is our Creator, and thus our Father, whether we acknowledge him or not. God has always intended from the beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God’s Word. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God, and to learn by trial and error that God’s will is good, feasible, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2b). This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find, know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

God designed Creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey him or not. He designed Creation to allow for sin (disobedience of God’s Word). But the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). God doesn’t want anyone to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is God’s one and only provision for our forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus came to become the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for our forgiveness and salvation. Jesus was fully God (Colossians 2:8-9), and fully human, but perfectly sinless (Hebrews 4:15). He came to be the “scapegoat” (Leviticus. 16:8-26); to bear our sins, and die for them, so that we wouldn’t have to perish eternally for them ourselves.

“The angel of his presence saved them (Isaiah 63:9b). “Angel” can be understood as “Spirit” (Acts 12:15; Revelation 1:1). 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), is the “angel” of Jesus’ presence (Romans 8:9) within us, who saves us. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

God disciplines his people for their good, as a good father disciplines his children. When we rebel against God and do what is contrary to God’s Word and our own best interest, God lifts his favor and protection from us and allows us to experience the consequences of our “sin,” in the hope that we will repent and return to obedient trust in God’s Word.

Although God disciplines his people for their own good, he does not abandon his covenant with them. When his people submit to his Word he fulfills his promises to them.

The Holy Spirit is the pillar of smoke and fire at the right hand of Moses, and who guides us through the spiritual wilderness of this temporal lifetime. It is the Holy Spirit within his people who parts the waters and leads them through the depths.

The Lord can preserve us in the wilderness and give us rest in green pastures (Psalm 23:2a). He does so, not because we are worthy, but because he is good and loving. When we know what God has done for his people in the past through the Bible, or when we remember what he has done for us personally in the past, we can call upon him in faith that he will be faithful and will redeem us from all our troubles.

Saturday December 31 - B
First posted 12/31/03;
Podcast: December 31 - B

Galatians 4:1-7 - Redemption;
Luke 2:33-40 - Redemption of Jerusalem;

Galatians Paraphrase:

Paul (Saul of Tarsus), a "born-again" (Acts 9:17) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, used an analogy of the laws of inheritance to describe our redemption from bondage to sin and death under the law.

The heir to his father's estate is no better off than a slave while he is a minor. He owns the estate, but he is under the supervision of guardians and trustees until he is the age of inheritance set by his father. Likewise, while we were spiritual minors we were in bondage to worldly ways and human nature. But in perfect timing, God sent forth his son, born of a human mother, born under the law, to redeem us who were under the law, so that we could be adopted as God's children. Because we have been adopted, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. It is by the Spirit that we cry "Abba!" (the Aramaic word meaning "Father!"). So through God, we are no longer slaves, but adopted children, and heirs to his estate.

Luke Paraphrase:

Jesus' parents had brought him to the temple on the eighth day of his birth, to fulfill the requirements of the law (including circumcision). There was a man named Simeon in Jerusalem who was filled with the Holy Spirit, and led by the Spirit, he had come into the temple where he encountered Jesus and his parents, as the Lord had promised (Luke 2:26).

After thanking God for allowing him to see Jesus, he prophesied to Mary that Jesus would cause many people to rise or fall spiritually. Jesus was a sign from God, but many would speak against him (and Mary's own soul would be pierced as by a sword). The innermost thoughts of people would be revealed (by how they responded to Jesus).

There was a woman named Anna, who had been widowed as a young woman and remained a widow who was now eighty-four. She dwelt in the temple night and day, worshiping with prayer and fasting. She also encountered Jesus and his parents, and gave thanks to God. She testified about him to all who were seeking the redemption of Jerusalem.

Commentary:

We are all born into slavery to sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Revelation 20:6; 21:8). Jesus came to free us from bondage to sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal destruction in Hell. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God's Word is law. The law was given to restrain us from living according to our sinful worldly human nature, until the coming of Jesus. Jesus came once physically for all the world to see. He comes individually and personally to his disciples through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Jesus will come again at the end of our individual lives on the Day of Judgment, when he will judge the living and the dead, in both physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:15).

Everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to Jesus for what we have done in this lifetime, and Jesus is the standard by which we will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "born-again" by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit during this lifetime, and will enter eternal life. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction, the "second death" (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). 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). When we call God our Father, the Holy Spirit within us testifies with our spirit that we are God's children and heirs.

Before the coming of Jesus physically, and his death and resurrection, only a few individuals had the "anointing" (gift; baptism; infilling) of the Holy Spirit. Both Simeon and Anna were filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Simeon prophesied by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is God's promised Savior (Messiah; Christ; God's "anointed;" Luke 2:30) and the "light" of spiritual enlightenment for all people (John 1:9), not just the Jews. Everyone will either rise spiritually to eternal life or fall to eternal destruction by how they respond to Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18). How people respond to Jesus reveals their spiritual condition and their innermost thoughts and motivations (John 3:18-21). There are many today who hate Jesus and speak negatively about him. In the Day of Judgment the disciples of Jesus Christ will rejoice, but the unbelievers will be put to eternal shame.

Simeon told Mary that her own soul would be pierced, as by a sword. Jesus is the one who we have pierced, by the nails of the cross and the spear thrust in his side (John 19:32-37). Mary was present at Jesus' crucifixion, (John 19:25-27; 31-37). She must certainly have felt as though her own soul had been pierced. We have all been responsible for Jesus' death, because we all sinned and make his sacrifice on the cross necessary for our forgiveness and salvation.

Anna is an example of a believer and disciple of Jesus Christ. She sought God through worship with prayer and fasting (Acts 17:26-27). She believed the promises of God's Word. She trusted and obeyed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So God revealed himself to her in Jesus Christ (John 14:21, 23). She had a personal knowledge and experience of Jesus, and then she proclaimed Jesus to all who were seeking the redemption of Jerusalem (the Church is the "New Jerusalem; the city of God on earth, awaiting the redemption of our physical bodies, and our entry into the eternal New Jerusalem of God's kingdom in heaven).

Jesus is the redeemer. He paid the price with his own flesh and blood so that we could be freed from bondage to sin and released from the penalty of our sin under the law. Those who are filled with and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit are no longer under bondage and condemnation of the law (Romans 8:1-11).

Only by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit do we have a personal knowledge of and relationship with Jesus. We cannot testify to others about Jesus until we know him personally ourselves. We cannot make "born-again" disciples of Jesus unless we're willing to be "born-again" disciples and have personally experienced spiritual "rebirth."

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)?

Week of 4 Advent - B - 12/18 - 24/2011

2011-11-25T15:56:00.001-08:00

Week of 4 Advent - B

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:

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

This 'blog is mirrored at:

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.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival text-to-speech and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

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http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 B
Sunday 4 Advent B
First Posted 12/18/11;
Podcast: Sunday 4 Advent B

2 Samuel 7:(1-7) 8-11, 16   - Eternal Kingdom;
Psalm 89:1-4, 14-18   -    God's Covenant with David;
Romans 16:25-27 -    Benediction;
Luke 1:26-38   -     Announcement;

Samuel Paraphrase:

After David had become king of all Israel, he built a palace, in Jerusalem, on the hill of Zion, the site of a Jebusite fortress, and it became known as the "City of David." Since he was settled into his house, and had peace from his enemies, David told his prophet, Nathan, that David wanted to build a house for the Lord, a temple, instead of the tabernacle, which was a tent, a portable temple. Nathan told David to do what David desired, because God (God's favor) was with David.

But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and gave him God's Word to David. God said that he had not lived in a house, but in a tent, since he had led Israel out of Egypt. Why would David want to build God a house to dwell in? God had never asked Israel to build God a house.

God told Nathan to tell David that God had taken David from tending sheep to be a prince over God's people. God had been with David wherever David went, and had given David victory over all his enemies. God declared that he would make David's name great throughout the world. God promised to give his people, Israel, a permanent place where they could dwell securely, where they would no longer be disturbed by violent people. God declared that he would make David a house. And David's house, his kingdom and his throne would endure forever.

Psalm Paraphrase:

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; I will proclaim his faithfulness to all generations. His steadfast love will endure forever; his faithfulness is as unchanging as the heavens.

God has said: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your descendants for ever and build your throne for all generations.

That eternal throne is founded on God's righteousness and justice, and is characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness. "Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, who exalt in thy name all the day, and and extol thy righteousness" (Psalm 89:15-16). We glory in the strength of the Lord; we are strengthened by God's favor. Our allegiance belongs to our king, the Holy One of Israel.

Romans Paraphrase:

At the end of the letter to the Roman Church, Paul invoked a blessing on them, that the Lord would strengthen them by Paul's preaching of the Gospel and his proclamation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose which was unknown from the beginning of Creation until Christ's advent (coming). "But now [it] is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings (the Bible) is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Glory be to the only eternal and wise God through Jesus Christ. Amen!

Luke Paraphrase:

In the sixth month (Elul: August-September) God sent an angel, Gabriel, to Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David (the great shepherd-king of Israel). The angel greeted Mary saying that she was favored by God, and that the Lord was with her. Mary was worried about the sort of greeting it might be, but the angel told her not to be afraid, because she had God's approval. The angel told Mary that she would conceive and give birth to a son whom she was to call Jesus.

The angel said, "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High (God); and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father (ancestor) David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).

Mary asked the angel how this could be, since she was unmarried. The angel told her that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Thus the child she bore would be called holy, the Son of God.

The angel told her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was barren and past the age of childbearing, was six months pregnant with a son, and that nothing would be impossible for God. Mary acknowledged that she was God's servant, and accepted God's Word and will for her. Then the angel left her.

Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth in Galilee, when the angel announced to Mary the impending birth of Jesus, but Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the "City of David" (David's birthplace), because the Roman government required the Jews to return to their city of birth, to register, for tax purposes, and Joseph was a descendant of David.

Commentary:

After David had become king of all the tribes of Israel, he built a house for himself in the former Jebusite fortress on Zion, a high place in Jerusalem, surrounded on three sides by valleys, and that became known as the City of David. Since David had a permanent house, he thought he should build a permanent house (temple) for God also, instead of the portable tent called the tabernacle.

When David told Nathan, the prophet, his plan, Nathan at first told him to do as his heart desired, because God's favor was with David. But that night God spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that God did not need David to build him a house, and did not need to dwell in a house.

God had raised up a humble shepherd boy to be the prince over the tribes of Israel. God had given David success and victory over his enemies. God promised to give his people, Israel, a permanent dwelling where they would be safe and undisturbed by violent people. God promised that he would make David a house (dynasty), and David's house, kingdom and throne would endure forever.

The psalmist recalls the promise of God to David to establish his descendants and his throne for ever. That eternal throne of David is founded on God's righteousness and justice and characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant, his promise, to David. Jesus is the son of David and heir to the eternal throne of David. Through Jesus, God has established a permanent place for his people where we can dwell securely where we will not fear our enemies or violent people. That permanent place is God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are the spiritual descendants of David.

Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose which has been unknown to us since the beginning of Creation, until Jesus' coming (advent). God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey Jesus. Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14)

God has designed creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, and so we can learn by trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable, and our best interest (Romans 12:2).   But God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, and not at all in his heavenly kingdom or it wouldn't be heaven. This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.

The reason and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find, and know God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to us in human flesh. Jesus is God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Genesis 1:3; Mark 4:41). Those who have "seen" and "know" Jesus have "seen" and "known" God (John 14:9). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God to us individually and personally.

We have all been born physically alive, but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to be "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to true, eternal life. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit within us which gives us spiritual life. 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).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, through which God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation. David is the forerunner and illustration of the Christ. David was the shepherd boy whom God exalted to prince (earthly king; only the Lord is the eternal heavenly king) of Israel. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is God's "anointed" eternal heavenly King of God's kingdom of God's people.

God promised to make David's name great and he fulfilled that promise. David's name is mentioned as the ancestor of Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament and throughout the Church year, notably at Christmas and on Palm Sunday.

The Bible scripture and the earthly advent of Jesus have been revealed to all nations, so that all can come to obedient trust in God's Word.

Elizabeth, the kinswoman of Mary had been barren and had passed the time of childbearing. Her barrenness was a source of shame in her society because it was understood as God's disfavor. When she became pregnant she was exalted because it was a sign of God's favor.

Pregnancy of a unmarried, betrothed, girl was a mark of shame in the society, but Mary believed the Word of God told to her by the angel Gabriel and accepted God's will. The name of this obscure young girl became famous throughout the world as the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:48).

There is a lesson for us to learn in the comparison of God's favor on David, and on Mary. David had God's favor because David trusted and obeyed God's Word. David thought he would be doing God a favor by building a fancy house for God. It is tempting to think that since we're member's of God's family we can and should do what seems right to us, because we have God's favor.

What we perceive as God's favor or disfavor is not necessarily so. Barrenness is not necessarily a sign of God's disfavor, nor is fertility necessarily a sign of God's favor. Neither is wealth and success necessarily a sign of God's favor, nor poverty a sign of God's disfavor.

Until Jesus' advent only a few select individuals had personal fellowship with the Lord by his Holy Spirit. David was a prophet, but perhaps didn't have the same relationship with God which we can through Jesus. Nathan served as a spiritual mediator to David. Nathan's first response was for David to do what seemed right to David, since God's favor was with David.

But that wasn't the right answer. That night the Lord spoke to Nathan and revealed his will for David, which Nathan was to convey. We don't need a "Nathan" if we are "born-again" and filled with the Holy Spirit, but we do need to have a "quiet time" with the Lord, perhaps at bedtime, when we can listen to the Lord and hear what he's really saying, along with scripture reading and prayer.

Note, though, that if we are not yet "reborn," seeking God's will through a spiritual adviser is only acceptable as one is "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, only until they have been "born-again. God wants us to seek him personally, and he wants to reveal his will for us personally, only as we are committed to do it.

In contrast to Elizabeth, God revealed his will to Mary and she accepted God's Word and saw God's blessing for her, even though it was not her heart's desire to be pregnant out-of-wedlock.

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 4 Advent B
First Posted 12/19/11;
Podcast: Monday 4 Advent B

Psalm 97   - The Lord Reigns;

Paraphrase:

Let the earth rejoice, for the Lord reigns! Rejoice all coastlands! The Lord conceals himself as in thick clouds and darkness. His throne is founded upon righteousness and justice. Fire precedes him and burns up his adversaries. His lightening bolts light the whole sky and the earth trembles. "The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, the Lord of all the earth" (Psalm 97:5).

The universe proclaims his righteousness, and his glory is revealed to all people. Those who worship and trust worthless idols will be put to shame. All other "gods" bow before the Lord. Zion (the people of God) rejoices in the Lord's judgments. The Lord is high above all earthly rulers, and exalted far above all other "gods."

Those who love the Lord hate evil. The Lord preserves the lives of his saints (those consecrated to God's service) and delivers them from the wicked.

"Light dawns for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name" (Psalm 97:11-12)!

Commentary:

The Lord is King of Creation, whether we acknowledge and accept him or not. The Lord reigns in the hearts of his people. His kingdom begins now in this world, and his people rejoice in his reign. Those who have trusted and obeyed the Lord know from experience that the Lord is righteous, just, faithful and loving in all his ways.

The Lord's manifestation is described in terms of the Lord's manifestation to Israel at the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Psalm 97:2-5; compare Exodus 19:16-22). The Lord is near at hand, but he conceals himself as in thick cloud and darkness (obscurity). Those who need to "see" in order to believe can't "see" him; but he reveals himself to those who trust and obey his Word (John 14:21, 23).

The Lord has been progressively revealing himself to the world, first in the goodness, orderliness, and intricacy of Creation. Then he called Abraham (Abram) to trust and obey God's Word, and the record of God's dealing with Abraham and his descendants is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world, in human form, in a non-threatening way. Jesus is the only way to come to know and have fellowship with God, the only way to know divine eternal truth, and the only way to have true spiritual eternal life (John 14:6).

Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we receive the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us individually and personally. 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 gift of the Holy Spirit is the dawn of the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5; John 8:12).

The Lord doesn't force his reign upon anyone. We have the freedom to accept or reject his reign, but if we are not ruled by the Lord we will be ruled by Satan, and will be slaves of sin and spiritual death (Luke 16:13).

There is a day coming, the Day of Jesus' Second Coming (advent), the Day of Judgment. In that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day his people will rejoice, and his enemies will be destroyed by fire in Hell with all evil.

Jesus is the eternal King and Righteous Judge whom God has "anointed" to judge Creation. Jesus is the standard by which everyone who has ever lived will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord will have been spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and spiritual eternal death in fire in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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

Tuesday 4 Advent B
First Posted 12/20/11;
Podcast: Tuesday 4 Advent B

Isaiah 52:7-10    - The Coming of the Lord;

Paraphrase:

How beautiful are the footsteps of those who cross mountains to bring good tidings, who publish peace and salvation, who declare to Zion (God's people; the Church) that their God reigns (compare Romans 10:15). Listen! The watchmen cry out with joy; they see eye-to-eye the return of the Lord to Zion. The waste places of Jerusalem sing together because the Lord has redeemed Jerusalem and comforted his people. The Lord has revealed his holy arm to all nations, and the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Commentary:

Jesus is the mighty arm of God whom God has revealed to the whole world. Jesus is God's "anointed" Savior, the Messiah (Christ; both words mean God's "anointed"), whom God has revealed to the world. Jesus is God's only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12) from sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and eternal death (the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus has redeemed his people, he has paid the price for our sin. He has comforted us. We need no longer fear physical death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He has given our lives meaning and purpose. Life isn't just a "rat-race;" not just a contest to accumulate the most "things" or indulge our senses.

Jesus came physically as a baby, to grow up and die on the cross, as the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins. His resurrection from death to eternal life demonstrates that there is existence after physical death. Every truly "born-again" Christian testifies that Jesus is eternally alive.

Jesus came to give us true, spiritual, eternal life. Jesus declares that we must be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually, now, in this lifetime, in order to see God's eternal kingdom all around us now, and ultimately to enter it in eternity. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus has come once in human flesh. He comes to each believer spiritually and reveals himself to them personally and individually by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21; Romans 3:20). He has promised to come again, on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5), in both the physical and spiritual senses.

In a sense the Church and all "born-again" Christians are the watchmen who behold the coming of the Lord and cry out in joy, to alert the world of his coming. "Born-again" Christians have experienced the Lord's coming personally and individually. Our God reigns within us now.

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 B
First Posted 12/21/11;
Podcast: Wednesday 4 Advent B

Hebrews 1:1-9 – Christ, the “living Word;”

Paraphrase:

From God's call to the patriarchs, he has spoken in many ways, through his prophets. But at last he has spoken to us by his Son whom he “appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus is the reflection of God's glory, has God's identical nature (Colossians 2:8-9), and his word has the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus, having made the sacrifice on the cross that purifies us of sin (through faith: obedient trust), he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God (in the words of the Second Article of the Apostles Creed). He has become very much more superior to angels as his name is more excellent compared to theirs (Acts 4:12; Matthew 28:18).

God said of Jesus, not angels, that he was God's Son, whom God had begotten (Psalm 2:7). God said of Jesus that God would be his Father, and he would be God's son ( 2 Samuel 7:14). When God brought his first-born Son into the world he commanded the angels to worship him (Deuteronomy 32:43; compare Psalm 97:7). God says in Psalm 104:4 that his angels are spirits (winds), and his servants tongues of fire (filled with the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:3; Luke 3:16). About Jesus, God's Word says that Jesus' throne is forever and that he is God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Righteousness is the scepter of his kingdom. Jesus has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (sin, which is disobedience of God's Word). Therefore God has anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness above his peers (“Christ” and “Messiah” each mean God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King of God's eternal kingdom, in Greek and Hebrew, respectively).

Commentary:

The Old Testament of the Bible is the record of God's speaking through his prophets. The Old Testament scriptures are deliberately intended to be a series of parables to convey spiritual truth about life in this Creation. God's purpose has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. This Creation has been deliberately designed by God to be a “seedbed” to raise God's obedient and trusting people. God has designed Creation so that everyone is guilty of sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). God has designed a Savior, Jesus Christ into the structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the “living Word” of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified. Salvation from God's eternal condemnation is available to all as a free gift, unmerited favor, to be received by faith (obedient trust in Jesus Christ).

God intentionally created the understanding of a “Promised Land” and of inheritance of that land in the Law of the Old Covenant. The first-born received a double share of the inheritance. Jesus is the first-born, and inherits a double portion of the inheritance, the new eternal Promised Land but he shares the inheritance with his disciples.

At the right time, at the very center of history, Jesus, the promised Savior and eternal King, the only begotten Son of God, came into the world to become the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins, our salvation from God's eternal condemnation of us to eternal destruction, to restore us to fellowship with God which was broken by our sin, and to give us eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

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 B
First Posted 12/22/11;
Podcast: Thursday 4 Advent B

John 1:1-14 – The “Living Word;”

Paraphrase:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).

John (the baptizer) was sent by God to testify to the coming of the true light. John came to announce the coming of the light, so that everyone would believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

The true light was coming into the world to enlighten everyone. He was the Creator of the world and everything in it, but the world did not recognize him. He came to his own people, the Jews (Matthew 23:37-39), and his fellow residents of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-31), and even his own family (John 7:2-5;10), and they did not receive him. “But to all who received him, who believed on his name (his total person and character) 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 Son from the Father” (i.e. God the Father; John 1:14).

Commentary:

Notice that the opening sentence is deliberately intended to recall the Book of Genesis (Genesis 1:1). Everything in this universe has been created by the Word of God; he spoke, and it came into existence (Genesis 1:3). God's Word has creative power.

God has designed a Savior and eternal King (Messiah; Christ; both mean “anointed”) into Creation from the very beginning. God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey Jesus.

Now that the promised Messiah has come we have a new understanding of God and a new perspective of the Creation through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word living in this world in human flesh. Jesus is the “living Word.” Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:9).

Jesus is what God looks and acts like in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Only Jesus knows God the Father, and only Jesus can reveal the Father to whomever Jesus chooses (Matthew 11:27). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (John 14:6). This is only possible through the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

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

John, the Baptizer, called people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, by water baptism for repentance and forgiveness of their sins (Mark1:4). I believe that the Church has inherited the role of the water baptism of John. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34). We don't have to understand how that happens, any more than we need to understand what makes the wind blow; but we can see the effect (John 3:8). Spiritual rebirth is a discernible ongoing event; if one is uncertain, one hasn't been.

Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warns us that we must be “born-again” (John 3:7)

The true Church is led by “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ, who are commanded to go into the world and make (by preparing them to seek and receive the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit), “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:19-20), after they have received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5; 8). Sadly, in too many instances, this isn't happening in the nominal “Church.”

Mainline denominations today are not making disciples, but rather “members,” fair-weather Christians” who participate in the Churches program if it suits them. These nominal Churches discourage members from seeking spiritual rebirth, by teaching that it is automatically received by some Church ritual such as water baptism. Some also actually discourage members from obedience to Jesus' teachings, by the false teaching of “Cheap Grace” (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

The place to begin change is to commit oneself to become a disciple of Jesus and seek spiritual rebirth. To those who welcome Jesus into their hearts to be their Lord (Revelation 3:20) he gives the power to become God's children (John 1:12), but we must use that power to receive what is promised.

Believers need to read the Bible completely and then read portions of it daily with prayer and meditation, seeking God's guidance one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). An average reader can easily read the Bible in one year (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home). Unless one has read the entire Bible one is very vulnerable to False Teachings and Teachers (1 John 4:1-6).

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

Friday 4 Advent B
First Posted 12/23/11;
Podcast: Friday 4 Advent B

Isaiah 9:2-7 - The Messianic King;
Titus 2:11-14 - Grace and Salvation;

Isaiah 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 increased the nation (of Israel; God's people) and has given it great joy. They celebrate before the Lord as with a great harvest, and as victors rejoice in the spoils of conquest. The Lord has removed the yoke of involuntary servitude, the chastisement and punishment of the oppressor of his people, as on the day of Midian (the great victory of Gideon and his men at Midian; Judges 7:15-25). The boots of warriors who have engaged in the tumult of battle, and every bloody garment will be as fuel for the fire (of judgment and condemnation).

“For unto 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 increase and never end. Upon the throne of David he will establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and righteousness now and eternally. God's great desire will accomplish this.

Titus Paraphrase:

The grace (unmerited favor; free gift) of God for the salvation of all people has been revealed, to teach us to renounce ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live sober, upright, godly lives, as we wait for the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ in great glory. Jesus gave himself for us, to pay the price for our redemption from sin, and to purify us as his people, who are eager to do good deeds.

Commentary:

These passages in Isaiah are familiar to everyone who has ever gone to a Christian Christmas pageant.

This world is in the darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12a), the light of righteousness (John 1:5 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9) and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12b).

The Church is the New Israel, the new people of God. God has increased his nation with all the people who have believed (trusted and obeyed) Jesus. God's purpose for this Creation has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This world is God's “seedbed,” in which to “grow” citizens for his eternal kingdom.

God has designed this Creation to allow us freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, but God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. So this Creation and we ourselves are limited by time. This is our only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and learn to trust and obey him. Jesus is the only way to be forgiven our sins (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

The Church is engaged in a spiritual harvest, by the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We will rejoice in heaven at the eternal treasures that belong to spiritual victors who persevere.

We are all born in slavery to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world. Jesus is the “New Moses” who can set us free from slavery and oppression. Satan is the “Pharaoh” of this world. Jesus came in human flesh to die physically, in order to free us from the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that there is existence after physical death.

There is a spiritual battle going on in this world between the forces of Satan and evil, and the forces of righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. Jesus has already won the victory at the cross. When Christ returns on the Day of Judgment, the enemies of God will be condemned to eternal destruction in the fires of Hell (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). We are spiritually reborn 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).

Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the Son of God, born as a tiny infant, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1, 20b; 21:9), who is the heir to the throne of David, the fulfillment of God's promise to David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).

God has designed Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God's anointed eternal Savior and King of God's kingdom, into this Creation from the beginning. God knew that by giving us freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word would all choose to disobey God's will to seek their own will. We're all guilty; none of us deserves mercy and forgiveness. God's forgiveness and salvation is a free gift, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus came to make it possible for us to be freed from sin, so that we can learn to know and do God's will. Jesus paid the price of our sin on the cross, and his blood cleanses us spiritually so that we can be temples of the indwelling Holy Spirit. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we know God's love, and are eager to please him from love and gratitude, rather than from fear of punishment.

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 4 Advent B
First Posted 12/24/11;
Podcast: Saturday 4 Advent B

Luke 2:-1-14 – Birth of Jesus;
1 John 4:7-16 – Abiding in Love;

Luke Paraphrase:

During the reign of Caesar Augustus (27 B.C. To 14 A.D.; *) he commanded a census of the Roman Empire (6-5 B.C.*), when Quirinius was governor of Syria (12-6 B.C.**). Everyone had to return to his birthplace to be recorded. Joseph went from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the city of David, since Joseph was a “son” (a descendant) of David. He took Mary, his betrothed, a virgin (Luke 1:34-35; Matthew 1:18-25), who was pregnant. While there she gave birth, her first-born son. According to common practice she swaddled him with cloths, and they used a manger for a cradle (which was unusual). They had to use a stable, since the inn was full because of the census.

There were shepherds in the fields nearby guarding their flocks, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the angel was radiant with the glory of God. The shepherds were afraid, but the angel reassured them, and announced the good news of great joy for all people. That day in Bethlehem, the city of David, a child had been born who is Christ the Lord. As a sign of this birth the shepherds would find a babe swaddled with cloths, and lying in a manger. Suddenly the angel was joined by a great number of heavenly beings, praising God and glorifying God above all. The birth would result in peace among people and with God for those who pleased God.

1 John Paraphrase:

Believers should love one another, because God's nature is loving, and if we are born of God and know God we will love one another. Anyone who doesn't love others does not know God. We know that God loves us because he sent his only (begotten) Son to give us (eternal) life through him. God did this not because we loved him, but because he loved us (while we were yet sinners; i.e. disobedient of God's Word; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17), and sent his Son to make atonement (restitution) for our sins. If we realize how much God has loved us, we should be glad to love one another.

Commentary:

God wasn't surprised that mankind chose to do their own will rather than God's. God designed Creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to obey God or not, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's way is better than ours. God, knowing that we would all sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), built a Savior into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

The birth of Christ is verified in historical context. The birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy throughout the Old Testament scriptures, beginning in Genesis 3:15 at the fall of mankind to sin. He is Shiloh in Genesis 49:10. He is the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy in Numbers 24:19, the Branch from the stump of Jesse (David's father) in Isaiah11:1-2, the Lord our righteousness in Jeremiah 23:5-6, and 33:14-16. He's the Lord's “anointed” in Psalm 2:2, the seed of David in Psalm 132:10-11, the holy arm of the Lord in Isaiah 52:9-15, the righteous servant in Isaiah 53-1-12.

God has also been revealing his Savior throughout the Old Testament, by a series of verbal images of forerunners to illustrate God's plan. Moses prefigures the Christ as God's Savior who leads God's people out of slavery to sin and death in “Egypt,” into God's “Promised Land,” and who mediates the new and better Covenant of grace (Hebrews 12:24). David, the shepherd who became the great king of Israel, prefigures the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14) and eternal King, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promised eternal king who would inherit the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:2-4, 20-29).

Christ and Messiah each mean (God's) “anointed.” Priests, prophets and kings were “anointed” with olive oil and consecrated for their offices. Jesus is God's “anointed” prophet, priest and king. Jesus is the prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2), priest (Hebrews 2:17-3:1), like Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), who was priest, and king of righteousness and peace; and eternal, since Melchizedek has no birth or death recorded in the Bible (Hebrews 7:1-3). Jesus is the eternal heir to the throne of David.

The birth of the Christ was announced to shepherds nearby, humble people, rather than the powerful. In fact if they had told King Herod, he would have killed the child as his rival, as he tried to do when informed by the Gentile Wise Men who followed the star. (Matthew 2:1-12). The Jewish religious leaders also saw the Christ as their rival, and ultimately had him killed. When the shepherds went to see, they found the Christ Child just as the angels had foretold.

Jesus was born to become the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God's Word), to save us from eternal condemnation, and to restore us to fellowship and eternal life with God which was broken by our sins (Matthew 14:6). Through faith in Jesus we have peace with God (Romans 5:1) and with one another (Ephesians 2:12-18).

God loved us when we were sinners, and gave his only Son to die for us, before we knew we needed a Savior. Salvation is a free gift for everyone who is willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

As in the physical ministry of Jesus, many people today do not realize and admit that they are sinners who need a savior, and until one does, Jesus can't help us (Matthew 9:12-13). Often, it takes a major disaster in our lives to cause us to examine our beliefs and to realize that we need Jesus.

God is like a loving parent with new infant. When we were born, we were only concerned about ourselves; were we hungry, tired, or wet? Our parents gave us what we needed without requiring us to demonstrate love and concern for them. Then as we grew we learned that we needed our parents, and we learned to love them by the love we experienced from them. Of course some parents are not good and loving, but even if we haven't known loving parents, we should be able to imagine parents who were loving.

If we realize the love of God for us through Jesus Christ we should respond to him with love, and should love others as he has loved us, because we want to please our heavenly Father. Our relationship with other people reflects our spiritual condition.

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)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Luke 2:1n, p. 1172, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

**Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, “Quirinius,” p. ll04, David Noel Freedman, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-2400-5