Week
of 17 Pentecost - B
This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of
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Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis,
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Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.
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Podcast Download: Week of 17 Pentecost - B
Sunday
17 Pentecost - B
First Posted
September 27, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 17 Pentecost - B
Isaiah 50:4-10 -- The Servant of the Lord;
Psalm 116:1-8 -- Thanksgiving for Healing;
James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 -- Faith and Works;
Mark 8:27-35 -- The Cost of Discipleship;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
The Lord has given his Servant the voice of one
who has been given divine wisdom and insight, which is to be used
to sustain those who are weary (with the struggle to be faithful
and obedient to God’s Word in a sinful world). Each day the
Servant is given perception to hear with understanding. The Lord
God opened his spiritual ears, and the Servant did not rebel or
turn away from physical abuse and persecution.
The Servant trusted in God to help him, and so
has not been thwarted or defeated. The Servant has committed
himself to God’s purpose, and is convinced that God will vindicate
him. Since God helps and sustains him, who can accuse, harm or
defeat God’s Servant? His adversaries will wear out like an
old, moth-eaten garment. The Servant calls us to fear (have the
proper awe and respect for the authority and power of) God and to
obey the voice of God’s Servant; to those who are willing to walk
through darkness, though they cannot see, to trust the Lord to
guide them and bring them through.
Psalm Paraphrase:
The Psalmist testifies that when he was in
peril and tribulation he called on the Lord for help and the Lord
heard his cry and answered him, and delivered him from distress
and anguish. The Psalmist loves the Lord because the Lord heard
and helped him in time of need. He has realized and come to
personally experience God’s mercy and goodness. He is able to have
peace in his soul because he realizes how much God has loved and
blessed him. The Lord has delivered the Psalmist’s soul from
death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from stumbling.
James Paraphrase:
The author of the Letter of James is discipling
Christian believers. They have received the Gospel, and are
learning how to apply it in daily life. Christians are to treat
all people impartially, without regard to worldly status,
appearance or wealth, as the example of God the Father and Jesus
Christ, and contrary to worldly ways. When we defer to the wealthy
and successful, and dishonor the poor, we become unrighteous
judges with evil thoughts. Often it is the poor who are strong in
faith, and the rich and influential are often oppressors of others
and opponents of the Gospel. Jesus commands us to love others as
much as we love ourselves. If we love our rich neighbors who may
benefit us more than our poor neighbors who might burden us, we
have failed to keep the commandment, and are guilty as
transgressors.
What benefit is faith if we don’t act according
to what we believe? That kind of “faith” is not saving faith. If a
person is cold and hungry, how can telling him to feel warm and
satisfied help him, without giving him the food and clothing that
he needs? So it should be obvious that faith without action is
worthless. Some claim to have faith without works; but without
works, how can their faith be demonstrated or mean anything. But
those who live in accordance with faith demonstrate what they
believe by what they do.
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus and his disciples were traveling through
the villages around Caesarea Philippi, on the northern border of
Israel. Jesus asked his disciples who people were saying that
Jesus is, and they replied that some thought he was John the
Baptizer, raised from the dead, or Elijah or one of the prophets.
Then Jesus asked his disciples who they thought Jesus is. And
Peter replied that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah; both words mean
“anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). Jesus instructed
them not to tell anyone who he is.
Then Jesus began to tell them that the “Son of
man” (Jesus) would suffer abuse and rejection by the Jewish
religious leaders, and be killed, and after three days, would rise
again. Peter rebuked Jesus, but Jesus rebuked Peter in front of
the other disciples, telling Peter that he was not taking God’s
side but Satan’s.
Jesus called the crowd together with his
disciples and told them that anyone who chose to follow Jesus must
deny his own will, and take up his cross and follow Jesus’
teaching and example. Jesus said that anyone who loved his
(physical) life and tried to preserve it would ultimately lose it
(and true, eternal life), but that those who were willing to lose
their (worldly, physical) life for the sake of Jesus and the
Gospel will save his (true, spiritual, eternal) life.
Commentary:
God’s Word is eternally true, and is fulfilled
over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.
Isaiah’s prophecy about the Servant of the Lord was fulfilled
ultimately in Jesus Christ, but it applied also to Isaiah, and it
applies to “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ
as we trust and obey the Lord. The Lord opens the minds of his
disciples, his servants, to understand the scripture (Luke 24:45)
and gives them voice to declare God’s Word by the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit. Before the coming of Jesus Christ, only a
few people, like Isaiah and the Psalmist, had a personal
relationship with the Lord and the guidance and empowerment of his
Holy Spirit. Jesus came to make it possible for all his people to
be filled with his Holy Spirit (John 16:7; Acts 2:1-4, 14-21).
The Psalmist experienced and testified to the
faithful love and power of God to hear and answer fervent prayer
when we turn to him for help in time of need (see Conditions for
Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home). We can experience the
same love and power of God to hear and deliver us when we turn to
him in obedient trust.
God has created and intended life in this
temporal world to be our opportunity to seek and come to know and
have fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only
possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John
14:6, Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right,
home), through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only
Jesus gives (John 1:1-5, 14), only to his disciples who trust and
obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). God wants us to learn to trust and
obey him so that he can show us that his way is good, acceptable
(pleasing) and perfect (in our best interest; Romans 12:2).
The author of the Letter of James was a
“born-again” Christian disciple of Jesus Christ who was fulfilling
Jesus’ Great Commandment to “make disciples” and to teach them to
trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20). Those who have heard the
Gospel of Jesus Christ and believe, need to be discipled by
“born-again” disciples, within the Church (“Jerusalem;” Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) until they have been filled with the Holy
Spirit, before they go into the world to make disciples. One
cannot teach something one has not learned, or witness to
something one has not personally experienced.
The author of the Epistle (letter) was teaching
disciples that faith is not like “wishing on a star,” or wishing
over “birthday candles.” Faith is not getting whatever we believe
if we believe “hard enough.” Saving faith must be based on God’s
Word and must be acted upon in obedient trust. Salvation cannot be
earned by doing “good deeds;” salvation is a gift from God, to be
received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians
2:8-9), but that faith is intended to result in action consistent
with our faith (Ephesians 2:10).
Once Jesus was sure that his disciples knew
that he was the Messiah, he began to teach them where that would
lead. This was Jesus’ first prophecy of his crucifixion (see Mark
9:31-32; 10:33-34). Peter loved the Lord and didn’t want to accept
that Jesus was going to suffer and die, but he didn’t realize that
it was God’s will, and necessary to fulfill God’s plan. Jesus was
going to struggle with his own human nature to submit to God’s
will (Mark 14:32-38), and Peter was urging not to follow what
Jesus knew was God’s will.
Jesus warned that those who follow his teaching
and example can expect to suffer and be persecuted by the world,
as Jesus was. In order to “follow” Jesus we must subjugate our
will to God’s. But Jesus has demonstrated that submission to God’s
will and self-sacrifice lead to eternal life in the paradise of
God’s eternal heavenly kingdom.
Jesus is the perfect example of human flesh
completely filled with God’s Holy Spirit, and totally obedient and
trusting in God’s Word. He’s the illustration of what we can
become as we follow his example. We cannot become Jesus Christ or
equal to Jesus Christ (Luke 6:40; Matthew 10:24-25a); Jesus is the
only (“begotten”) Son of God (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 3:18). He is
the first-born Son. He is the heir; we are “adopted” sons and
daughters. We share in his inheritance through him by our
“adoption.”
This physical, temporal life which seems so
real, is an illusion; a dream. It seems so real until we awake.
What is spiritual, which seems so ephemeral, so illusory, is the
true reality! Don’t mistake the dream for 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 17 Pentecost - B
First Posted September 28, 2009;
Podcast: Monday 17 Pentecost - B
Psalm 54:1-4, 6-7a -- My Savior;
Paraphrase:
“Save me, O God, by thy name, and vindicate me
by thy might” (Psalm 54:1). The Psalmist, David, the shepherd-king
of Israel, cried out to God to hear his prayer. Enemies who didn’t
reverence God had arisen against the David, seeking to destroy
him.
David committed himself to the Lord, David’s
helper and the upholder of his life. David left vengeance to the
Lord. He trusted that the Lord would faithfully repay his enemies
accordingly for their evil.
David vowed to sacrifice a freewill offering to
the Lord and give thanks for the goodness of the name of the Lord.
“For thou hast delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has
looked in triumph on my enemies” (Psalm 54:7).
Commentary:
According to the ascription, this Psalm is
linked to David, during the time he was fleeing for his life from
King Saul (1 Samuel 23:19, 26). David trusted in the power and
faithfulness of God to uphold David’s life and to deliver him from
his enemies, and David testified to the Lord’s faithfulness and
deliverance.
To those who reverence the Lord, who trust and
obey him, he hears and answers their cries for help. David learned
from experience that he could entrust his life to the power and
faithfulness of the Lord, and he grew in faith and in love for the
Lord as he experienced the Lord’s help and deliverance.
I can personally testify that the Lord does
hear and help those who trust and obey him, and he will deliver
them from every trouble. We can leave vengeance to God knowing
that we will be vindicated. I personally testify that Jesus lives!
As we begin to trust and obey the Lord and call upon him to help
and deliver us we experience his power and faithfulness, and we
grow in faith and in love for him. It becomes our joy to offer
ourselves in service to him.
David is a prophetic preview of the promised Messiah, God’s “anointed” Savior and eternal King. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the “shepherd-king” of Israel, who trusted completely in God the Father to vindicate and deliver him from his enemies. Ruthless people sought and took his life on the cross, but God vindicated him over his enemies and delivered him from physical death to eternal life.
Jesus is the name of the Lord, our Savior and
vindicator. There is no other name in the entire universe by which
we can be saved (Acts 4:12).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making
disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus
commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you
will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Tuesday 17 Pentecost - B
First Posted September 29, 2009;
Podcast: Tuesday 17 Pentecost - B
Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- Personal Lament;
Paraphase:
The Lord’s servant was aware of a plot against
him because the Lord had revealed it to him. Like a gentle lamb,
the Lord’s servant was being led to slaughter. He didn’t realize
that it was he that they were plotting to destroy. They wanted to
destroy the “fruitful tree;” to remove him from the land of the
living and to remove even remembrance of his name.
The Lord’s servant has entrusted himself to the
Lord, the righteous judge, who judges the heart and mind. The
servant has entrusted his cause to the Lord and will leave
vengeance to the Lord.
Commentary:
Jeremiah was a prophet of the Lord in Jerusalem
in the time preceding the Exile of Judah, the remnant of Israel,
to Babylon. Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed God’s Word, warning
Judah of the impending conquest. His call for Israel to repent and
return to obedient trust in the Lord was extremely unpopular with
the leaders of Judah. Jehoahaz, the king of Judah was so angered
by God’s Word declared through Jeremiah, that he cut up and burned
the scroll it was written on (Jeremiah 36:1-32). The “princes” of
Judah had Jeremiah imprisoned until Jerusalem was defeated by the
Chaldeans (the people of the Babylonian empire). The Chaldeans
released Jeremiah and treated him kindly, and allowed him to
choose where he wanted to reside (Jeremiah 40:4).
Jeremiah’s personal lament is also a messianic
prophecy, and Jesus is it’s fulfillment. Jesus was the gentle lamb
led to the slaughter. The “princes of Judah” were offended by
Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Word, and plotted to destroy the
“fruitful tree” and to blot out his name from remembrance.
The response of the Jewish leaders to Jesus was
the same response they had given to the prophets who had
proclaimed God’s Word in the past (Matthew 23:29-39). They had
forgotten the lesson they should have learned from the Exile in
Babylon, and they repeated the same mistake.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God, fulfilled,
embodied, and demonstrated in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). The
Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus and the Word of God he
proclaimed. They plotted to kill Jesus to blot out the remembrance
of Jesus’ name, but they couldn’t thwart God’s plan; instead they
fulfilled it (1 Corinthians 2:8; Acts 13:27).
The rejection of Jesus’ proclamation of God’s
Word had consequences similar to Judah’s rejection of God’s Word
proclaimed by Jeremiah: As the Chaldean army of Nebuchadrezzar
(Nebuchadnezzar) had done when Judah was exiled to Babylon, the
Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D., Israel was
scattered throughout the world and ceased to exist as a nation,
until the Jews began returning following World War II.
Note that both Jeremiah and Jesus entrusted
their cause to God, the righteous judge, leaving vengeance up to
God, and both were vindicated. Both faithfully proclaimed God’s
Word, which was received with hostility, but Jeremiah was spared
from the exile inflicted on Judah, and Jesus was raised from
physical death to eternal life. Note also that the enemies of
God’s Word were unable to blot out from remembrance the name of
either Jeremiah or Jesus. The Lord is able and faithful to protect
and bless his faithful servants.
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Jeremiah’s
prophecy of a faithful servant of God, who has been chosen
(“anointed”) by God to be the Savior, righteous judge and eternal
king of God’s heavenly kingdom.
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 17 Pentecost - B
First Posted September 30, 2009;
Podcast: Wednesday 17 Pentecost - B
James 3:16-4:6 -- Life as a Disciple;
Paraphrase:
The author of the Letter of James is discipling
believers. Believers are no longer to follow the ways of the
world. Jealousy and selfish ambition are worldly ways which lead
to disorder and evil. Such things are examples of what the world
falsely calls wisdom. Instead we are to seek the divine wisdom by
which the world was created (the Word of God; Genesis 1:1-3) and
which comes only from God (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). Divine
wisdom is pure (sinless) and peaceable, “gentle, open to reason,
full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity”
(James 3:17b). Peace is the seed, sown by peacemakers, which
produces the fruit of righteousness.
The causes of war and strife are worldly human
lusts (desires). People desire and do not have, so they fight and
kill to obtain them. Believers lack because they don’t ask God,
and they ask God and do not receive because they ask for the wrong
things and for the wrong reasons.
The ways of the world are opposed to God’s
ways. If we seek friendship and approval in the world we will not
receive God’s friendship and approval, but his anger. God desires
our fellowship with him (Zechariah 8:2). God opposes the proud,
but blesses the humble (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5.5).
Commentary:
The righteous are those who have God’s
approval; who trust and obey God’s Word. There is only one way to
have God’s approval and that way is through faith (obedient trust)
in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of
Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone
who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what they
have individually done in this lifetime (Matthew 25:31-46; John
5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). In that day worldly approval
will be worthless, because the world will be eternally condemned
for disobedience of God’s Word. But those who have God’s approval,
through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, will live
eternally with the Lord in his heavenly kingdom in paradise.
Believers are to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
We need to spend time daily learning his teachings, and learning
to apply them in our lives in obedient trust in Jesus. Believers
are to be discipled in the Church by “born-again” disciples until
the believers receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We need to read the Bible, completely, and
daily, seeking God’s will for us personally and individually. One
can easily read the Bible in one year (see Free Bible Study Tools
, sidebar top right, home). Set aside specific, regular time each
day for reading the Bible, meditation and prayer. God’s Word, in
the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and
illustration of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14), is the
source of divine wisdom.
In too many cases, the (nominal) Church has
failed to make disciples. Instead of learning to apply God’s way
in their lives and taking it out into the world, the “world” has
been allowed to bring worldly ways into the Church. In order to
make disciples we have to first be disciples; to lead believers to
be reborn, we have first to have been reborn ourselves by obedient
trust in Jesus Christ.
As we begin to apply Jesus’ teachings in our
lives, we 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). It is by the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal fellowship with the
Lord (John 14:23-24). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit
of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9) within us, who opens our
minds to understand the scriptures (John 14:25-26; 16:13-14; Luke
24:45), and empowers and guides us to resist our worldly urges and
live in obedient trust in God’s Word. 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).
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 17 Pentecost - B
First Posted October 1, 2009;
Podcast: Thursday 17 Pentecost - B
Mark 9:30-37 -- True Greatness;
Paraphrase:
Jesus was traveling through Galilee with his
disciples, trying to avoid being noticed, because he was teaching
his disciples about his impending crucifixion and death. For the
second time (see Mark 8:31) he told them that “the Son of man”
(Jesus) would be delivered into the power of humans who would kill
him, and that after three days he would arise again. His disciples
didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, but were afraid to ask
him.
They came to Capernaum to the house where Jesus
was staying, and Jesus asked them what they had been discussing on
the way. They were silent, because they had been discussing which
of them was the greatest. Jesus gathered the twelve around him and
told them that whoever wanted to be great must be willing to be
last and the servant of all. Jesus took a child and brought him
into the group and told them that anyone who receives a child in
Jesus’ name receives Jesus, and that whoever receives Jesus
receives not [only] Jesus but the one who sent him (God the
Father).
Commentary:
Jesus had made Capernaum his headquarters after
the people of Nazareth had rejected him (Mark 6:1-6; Luke
4:16-30). Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples for the ordeal
which was coming, but his disciples were unable to receive what
Jesus was teaching, because their minds and hearts were focused on
worldly values.
The worldly way is to dominate others in order
to have status and power over them and be their master, but Jesus’
way is to submit to others and to become their servant. A young
child is the example of one who is innocent of selfish ambition
and who is humble and obedient. That is what Jesus’ disciples are
to be, and those who receive such disciples in Jesus’ name receive
Jesus and God the Father (John 14:23-24).
Jesus does not come seeking to dominate us and
forcing us to submit. He comes gently and humbly as a child
(literally in his nativity, and figuratively). He didn’t try to
force his hometown to accept him. He’s the King of the Universe,
who came humbly on a young donkey (Mark 11:1-10), and who was
mocked as a “king” by the Romans as he was crucified (Mark
15:16-20). Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man, which is
true, but which also allows us to decide for ourselves whether
Jesus is the Messiah (Christ; God’s “anointed” eternal Savior and
King) or not.
Jesus not only taught humility and servanthood
but lived them, and demonstrated them in his crucifixion. And in
his resurrection he showed the world that his way triumphs over
the worldly way. When we submit to Jesus’ way voluntarily, we
receive the promise of the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God
within us, through whom we have a personal fellowship with the
risen Jesus and God the Father.
Now is the time to receive Jesus and eternal
life in his heavenly kingdom. There is a Day coming when it will
be too late; in that Day, Jesus is coming with great power and
glory to judge the living and the dead (in both the physical and
spiritual senses; John 5:28-29; Mathew 25:31-46). Those who have
trusted and obeyed Jesus and have been “re-born” (John 3:3, 5-8)
by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit will receive eternal
life in the kingdom of God; but those who have rejected Jesus and
have refused to trust and obey Jesus will receive eternal
condemnation and 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)?
Friday 17 Pentecost - B
First Posted October 2, 2009;
Podcast: Friday 17 Pentecost - B
Proverbs 25:-6-14 -- A Word Fitly Spoken;
Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Unity of Faith;
Proverbs Paraphrase:
“Do not put yourself forward in the king’s
presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to
be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of
the prince” (Proverbs 25:6-7).
Don’t be hasty in bringing accusations against
your neighbor for something you’ve seen; what will you do when his
action is explained, and you are put to shame? If you have a
complaint against your neighbor, argue it with him yourself, and
do not disclose it to others, lest you be put to shame and your
reputation ruined.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). To those who listen, wise
reproof is valuable. Like a drink of cold water at harvest time is
a faithful messenger to those who send him, refreshing the spirit
of his masters. One who boasts of his generosity and does not give
is like a storm of clouds and wind which doesn’t produce rain.
Ephesians Paraphrase:
Paul was continuing to disciple the Ephesian
Christians from prison. Paul urged them to live lives worthy of
their “calling” (to be followers of Christ). Like Christ we are to
be lowly and meek, “with patience, forbearing one another in love,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
(Ephesians 4:2-3).
Paul urged Christians to preserve the unity of
the faith (Christian discipleship): Christians are to be united in
one body (the Church) by one Spirit (the Holy Spirit; the Spirit
of Christ; the Spirit of God; Romans 8:9). There is one call
(discipleship) and one hope (eternal fellowship in the kingdom of
God). There is one Lord (Jesus Christ); one faith (the scriptural,
apostolic Gospel; the Gospel of Jesus Christ received from Jesus
and taught by the Apostles, and recorded in the Bible); one
baptism. There is one God and Father (Creator) of us all, who is
above all, through all and in all.
Commentary:
Christians are called to be disciples;
“followers” of Jesus’ teaching and example. Jesus was God’s
“anointed” (Messiah; Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew
and Greek, respectively) Savior and eternal King, and yet he came
to earth humbly, as an infant, and as a humble person riding a
donkey as he entered Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40). He was hailed as
King, and then received crucifixion instead of coronation.
Jesus took the least place among us on the
cross as a criminal, although he had done nothing deserving
crucifixion or any punishment at all. God the Father has lifted
Jesus up above all other names (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12),
and has restored him to eternal life, and to all power and
authority on earth and in heaven (Matthew 28:18).
The Jewish religious leaders exalted themselves
above Jesus, and God humbled them. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem
and the temple in 70 A.D., the people were scattered throughout
the world. Israel ceased to exist as a nation, until reestablished
following World War II. Judaism effectively ended at the cross of
Jesus Christ: the veil of the temple, separating the Holy of
Holies of God’s presence from the people, was torn in two (Luke
23:45), symbolizing that Jesus has opened a new way into God’s
presence. The destruction of the temple ended the sacrificial
system essential to the Old Covenant of Law; Jesus has initiated a
New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note g); Jesus became the one
and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus spoke and taught the Word of God (John
14:10, 24). Jesus is the Word of God fulfilled, embodied and
exemplified in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Paul is the example
of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
disciple and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ,
who was confronted by the Spirit of the risen Jesus on the road to
Damascus, repented and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:5-9). He
was discipled by Ananias, was baptized and received the
“anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:10-19), and then
fulfilled the Great Commission the risen Jesus had given to his
disciples (Acts 9:20-22): They were to be apostles (sent;
messengers of the Gospel), after they had received the Holy Spirit
(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13) to make (“born-again”)
disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught (Matthew
28:19-20).
The proverbs in today’s text were from the
wisdom of Solomon, who asked for and received divine wisdom from
God (1 Kings 3:5-14), “and which the men of Hezekiah, King of
Judah copied,” according to the ascription. Hezekiah and his men
valued “fitly spoken” words, and sought to apply and be guided by
them. They treasured “wise reproof.”
Jesus is the faithful messenger who refreshes
the spirit of his master, God his Father, who sends him, and the
spirit of those who heed his wise reproof. His disciples are
called to heed Jesus’ message and reproof, and then to also be
faithful messengers, and bring wise reproof. Those who call
themselves Christians and do not produce the fruit of faith and
discipleship are a windstorm which causes damage without producing
rain.
Paul was a faithful messenger who offers wise
reproof. Paul warned Timothy, whom he discipled and who became a
faithful messenger of the Gospel, that the time was coming when
people would not endure sound teaching, but, having “itching
ears,” would accumulate teachers who would teach according to
their liking, who would “tickle” their ears, and they would turn
away from the truth and wander into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). That
day has come. There are many examples of preaching to please and
flatter listeners. Are we willing to hear and apply God’s truth in
our lives?
Today there is still one body, and one Spirit,
the true, Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, disciple-making Church,
but there are a lot of (nominal) Churches, and lots of “church
members” who don’t know the Bible, haven’t been taught to obey
Jesus, and haven’t been discipled in the Church until they have
been “born-again,” before being sent out to proclaim the Gospel.
The (nominal) Church has failed even to teach
what saving faith is! Faith is not getting whatever you believe,
if you “believe hard enough.” Faith is not like “wishing on a
star” or wishing over “birthday candles.” Saving faith is obedient trust
in Jesus’ Word. As we trust and obey Jesus, he anoints us with 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).
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).
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 17 Pentecost - B
First Posted October 3, 2009;
Podcast: Saturday 17 Pentecost - B
Luke 14:1-11 -- Teaching on Humility;
Paraphrase:
On a Sabbath, Jesus was invited to dinner at
the home of a ruler who was a Pharisee (of a legalistic faction of
Judaism), and “they were watching him” (Luke 14:1b). There was a
man present who had dropsy. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees
present whether or not it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. No
one answered, so Jesus healed the man with dropsy. Jesus asked the
other guests, who among them wouldn’t immediately pull out one of
their animals if it had fallen into a well on the Sabbath; but no
one replied.
Noting how the guests chose their seats at the
dinner, Jesus told them a parable, saying that when they were
invited to a wedding feast, not to sit down in the seat of honor.
Otherwise, when someone more eminent came, the host and the guest
would both be embarrassed to have to give the seat to the guest of
honor. Jesus said that, instead, one should choose the least
honorable seat. Then both the host and guest would be pleased
among the other guests for the host to ask the guest to take a
more honorable seat. Jesus declared that, similarly, God will
exalt the humble, but humble those who exalt themselves.
Commentary:
Jesus was living and exemplifying God’s Word.
The divine wisdom given to Solomon, which was emulated by
Hezekiah, the King of Judah, said “Do not put yourself forward in
the king’s presence, or stand in the place of the great; for it is
better to be told ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the
presence of the prince” (Proverbs 25:6-7; see yesterday, Friday,
17 Pentecost B).
The Pharisee and his guests were legalistic
leaders of Judaism and teachers of Scripture. They were present
with the Messiah, God’s anointed eternal Savior and King, but they
didn’t recognize and acknowledge Jesus as the rightful guest of
honor. They considered themselves experts in the Scriptures, but
they were not living according to God’s Word. They were “watching”
Jesus to find evidence to humble Jesus and exalt themselves.
Jesus came into the world humbly as an infant.
He entered Jerusalem, the “City of God” humbly, on a young donkey.
As he entered, he was cheered by the crowd as God’s “anointed”
King (Luke 19:28-40) and the “Son of David” (the heir to the
throne of David; Matthew 21:1-11).
Instead of coronation they gave Jesus
crucifixion. Jesus took the humblest place, as a “criminal” on the
Cross, between two thieves. But God vindicated and honored him by
raising Jesus from physical death to eternal life, and gave him a
name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12), and
authority over all things in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied
and exemplified in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ word is
the Word of God (John 14:10, 24). Jesus says, “Why do you call me
Lord, and not do what I say” (Luke 6:46; compare Matthew 7:21-27)?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making
disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus
commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you
will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
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