Week 46b--Galatians

Paul wrote the book of Galatians. It is a letter, probably the first letter (or epistle) he wrote, and the first we will read as we hurtle toward the end of the New Testament. This is a message to his friends in the region of Galatia, to several churches.

After his gracious greeting, Paul gets right to the heart of the matter--the Galatians have been listening to false prophets who present another gospel. He reminds them that the truth is only found in Christ (1:9, 11-12).

He then tells his own story, how he used to persecute the Jews, but then turned to the faith after the Damascus Road experience. Paul tells the Galatians--some of whom were Jews--that they do not have to live under the old Law of Moses. Jesus did not make the Law null and void, but Paul reminds the Galatians that they (and we) are justified by our faith and not by our works.

Paul is dead to his old life and is alive n Christ (2:20-21). He expands on the idea of justification by faith. Abraham believed and was saved because of his faith; Christ has come, we can be saved by faith in Christ--both Jews and Gentiles (3:6, 13-14, 21, 28-29).

Paul is afraid the Jews in Galatia are stuck too much in the Law. But the Law does not bring freedom; faith brings freedom. That has always been true, even in Old Testament times. Again, Paul includes Gentiles in those who can be free (4:22-26).

He reminds the Galatians to live not according to the flesh (sinful desires), but according to the Spirit, for the fruit of the Spirit is (deep breath) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self contro-o-ol HEY! (I learned it as a song in high school and I can never say it but must sing it) (5:6, 19-23).

Finally, Paul reminds the Galatians to share one another’s joys and sorrows (6:9, 14). He leaves them with this: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen” (6:18).

Amen.

Week 46a--Acts12-19

The fast-paced action continues in the second part of the Acts of the Apostles. 

Herod kills James the brother of John, one of the 12. James is the second apostle to die (the first being Judas who hanged himself). Peter is thrown in prison for the umpteenth time and is rescued by an angel (again). When he goes to the house where his friends are staying, the servant girl Rhoda is so excited she forgets to let him in! Herod wants Peter killed, but Herod suffers a horrible death himself (he was eaten by worms--eewww).

(edit)Saul and Barnabas begin the first missionary journey by going to Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch. Saul is called Paul for the first time in Acts 13:9. Paul also preaches following the pattern Stephen started, beginning with Abraham and moving quickly through time to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of all the prophecies. The Gentiles begged for them to preach as well--the whole city turned out on the next Sabbath. It was similar at Iconium--but some people also wanted to kill them.

At Lystra, Paul was so popular that people wanted to offer sacrifices to him.The Jews came in and got mad because Paul and Barnabas were talking about Jesus--and stoned them. Again.

(edit)Paul goes to Derbe, then basically goes back the way he had come, ending in Jerusalem. (Some scholars think he wrote the book of Galatians at this time.)

(edit) At this time, there is a great disagreement among believers.  Certain people argue that their must be circumcision, but Paul disagrees. One must be circumcised to become a Jew, of that there is no doubt. But must one become a Jew in order to become a Christian? That is the question at hand. Pharisees say yes. Paul says no. There is a huge fight, resulting in a major compromise presented by Jesus’ brother James. The conclusion: Gentiles do not have to be circumcised, nor must they follow all the kosher food rules. But Christians must all abstain from sexual immorality, things sacrificed to idols, and blood (eating raw meat). A decree was sent out from Jerusalem which settled the matter (for the most part).

Paul and Barnabas part company here--Barnabas traveling with John Mark (the gospel writer) and Paul traveling with Silas. Timothy joins Paul. They tried to go several places, but the Holy Spirit would not let them go. They ended up in Macedonia after Paul had a vision of a man from there asking for help.

In Acts 16:10, the pronouns change from “he” and “them” to “we” and “us,” telling us that Luke (the author of Acts) was with them as well. In Philippi (part of the region of Macedonia) they meet a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple cloth. She was probably a very rich fabric merchant. Lydia was saved and baptized, along with many others.

Paul and Silas are thrown in jail. Again. But they praised God from prison, despite their situation. An earthquake broke their chains and opened their cell doors. The jailer was about to do himself in when Paul called out to him that the prisoners were all still in the jail. He and his family were all saved and baptized.

In Acts 17:1 the language changes to “he” and “they” again. Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Luke and went on to Thessalonica and Berea. Paul went on to Athens, joined by Silas and Timothy shortly after. It seems that everywhere they go, there is trouble. 

In Athens Pul speaks to the Philosophers who were always willing to hear something new, but did not believe in Jesus’ resurrection. Paul then went on to Corinth, where he met Priscilla and Aquila, Jews who had been kicked out of Rome. Paul may have written  the letters known as 1 & 2 Thessalonians at this time.

From there Paul sailed on, stopping in a few other places before ending in Ephesus. Paul went on to Galatia, but Priscilla and Aquilla stayed in Ephesus, helping to disciple a young enthusiastic young man named Apollos.

As Paul traveled and preached, many people were healed and many people were saved. He left Ephesus intending to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome. During his travels he ran into a group who would rather praise Artemis of Ephesus than worship God. There were riots in the city which culminated in an intervention by the town clerk. You know things are bad when the local government gets involved.

We are about two-thirds of the way through the book of Acts. The final third covers Paul’s final two journeys--which end in prison in Rome.

Week 45c--Acts 1-11

Acts serves as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. In fact, when Acts begins, Jesus is still on earth. He reminds the disciples that a helper is promised, that the Holy Spirit will come and give them greater power. Once this happens, the book of Acts is filled with great stories--jail breaks, death threats, church growth, discipleship, and the growth and spreading of the Light that cannot be extinguished.

One of the first major events in the book of Acts is Pentecost. Most people think that Pentecost is a New Testament idea. True, the event in which tongues of fire, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the speaking in tongues/languages did occur in the New Testament. But The Jews were gathered in Jerusalem for an Old Testament celebration which occurred 50 days after the Passover, the festival of First Fruits. Most people came for Passover and stayed, because it was not possible to get home and return to Jerusalem in 50 days’ time. The “harvest” the Holy Spirit made on the day of Pentecost is the First Fruits of the new believers who are to come.

Peter and John healed a lame man the name of Jesus, preaching that Jesus was the Messiah crucified and resurrected. Logically, the Pharisees had them arrested (the first time). Peter lets the Sanhedrin know that “there is no other name under heaven by which we MUST be saved.” Oh boy.

The priests, who saw these uneducated upstarts as a threat to their authority, forbade them to preach in Jesus’ name. Peter, of course, refused to obey. Around this time we also meet Barnabas, who will be more important later.

Then we meet the ill-fated Ananias and Saphira, who said that they were giving all the money from the sale of their property to the church, but in reality they held some back. Was the sin in the holding back? No, the sin was in the lie. So both of them, having separate opportunities to tell the truth, fall down dead. Lesson? Easy--DON’T LIE TO GOD!!

Peter is put in jail--again--and is set free by an angel. Peter and John are put on trial again for continuing to preach Christ crucified and raised again as Savior. The Pharisees and Saducees are so mad they want to kill the apostles. A wise man named Gamaliel intercedes in the crowd and tells the Pharisees: “Leave these men alone. If their message is from men, they cannot force it. But if it is from God, you cannot stop it.”

Helpers are chosen to assist in the work of the quickly growing church. One of them--a young man named Stephen--is not allowed to help very long. Like Peter, Stephen is accused of blasphemy when he equates Jesus with God. Stephen then gives a long address which sets up a pattern. He tells the story of the people of Israel, beginning with Abraham, and tells how God has related to the people, promising a Messiah all the while. He ends by telling how all these promises are fulfilled in Christ. The Pharisees and Saducees cannot take this, so Stephen is stoned to death. All who throw stones lay their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul (who will be important later...)

The Gospel spreads like wildfire throughout Samaria, with many conversions. Philip, one of the original 12 apostles, meets an Ethiopian on the road to Gaza. The Ethiopian asks Philip to explain the scripture that he is reading--and from there, Philip leads him to Christ.

Saul (remember him?) was on his way to Damascus to beat up some more of these Christ-followers when he is blinded by a light from heaven. Jesus asks, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” After three days in the darkness, Saul is healed and, as a changed man, now preaches Christ. The priests in Damascus want to kill him, but he escapes over the wall in a basket and comes to Jerusalem. More people are healed, and a woman named Tabitha/Dorcas is even brought back to life.

Meanwhile, Peter has a vision of a sheet, in which all food is declared clean and fit to eat and also all people are declared clean and fit to hear the gospel. A Roman centurion comes to the door asking for Peter, asking for the word of God. Salvation is extended to the Gentiles.

Saul and Barnabus (remember him? from earlier?) team up and go to Antioch, where believers are first called Christians.

There’s a lot of action in these chapters. It is called the book of Acts, after all... Many great things are happening.

And God’s just getting started.

Week 45b--Gospels Week 6--Epilogue (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:44-53; John 20:24-21:25)

When I was about 7 years old, my family took a trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and saw the Passion Play they present every year. I don’t remember much from that trip, or from the play, but one image from the play sticks in my mind. After Jesus rose again and appeared to Mary Magdalene, she left Him to take His message to the Apostles. She went running across the countryside/stage yelling “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD! I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” 

After reading all four gospels in about a week and a half, I want to shout it from the mountain tops as well.

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!!!

I have seen Him in the law of Leviticus, as the One Who Sanctifies.

I have seen Him in the history books of Joshua and 1&2 Chronicles, as the Angel of the Lord who continually fights for--and leads--the armies of Israel.

I have seen Him in the Psalms, for He is the Shepherd, the Word, and the Strong Tower.

I have seen Him in the books of prophecy, for His coming was foretold for a thousand years.

I have seen Him, obviously, in the Gospels, which are essentially four biographies of the Son of God.

I have seen Him fulfill the Covenant which God made with the children of Israel, despite their refusal to love and obey Him.

Many others had a chance to see the Lord after His Resurrection. He appeared to the apostles several times, giving the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20, Luke 22:44-49). They then took His message to the ends of the known earth. Jesus also restored Peter’s broken relationship with Himself (John 21:15-19) He and remained on the earth 40 more days before His ascension (we actually discover this in Acts 1:3).

Even though He is not physically present on earth today, we can still see the Lord. Jesus’ work continues today in believers who continue to carry the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the known world--which is a lot easier these days thanks to the internet! This fact is best summed up by the last verse in John’s gospel: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

Have you seen the Lord?

Week 43-45--Gospels Week 5--Passion Week (Matthew 21-28, Mark 11-16, Luke 19-24, John 12-21)

When Passion week comes around on the calendar, I often want to read the events of each day on the corresponding day (Triumphal Entry on Sunday, etc).* This is a Chronology/Reading Log if you want to do the same next year at Easter. Feel free to print this page and put it in your Bible for when Passion Week rolls around.

Sunday:

Events: Triumphal Entry, Cleansing of the Temple, 

Scriptures: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11, *15-19; Luke 19:28-48; John 12:12-19

Monday: 

Events: Cursing of the Fig Tree

Scriptures: Matthew 21:18-22; *Mark 11:12-14; John 12:20-50

Tuesday: (This is a LOT of reading for one day. You can break it up if you wish)

Events: Questions of Jesus’ Authority, Parables, Conflicts with Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees, Jesus speaks on the Second Coming

Scriptures: Matthew 21:23-25:46; Mark 11:20-13:37; Luke 20-21

Wednesday: 

Events: Religious Leaders and Judas Plot to kill Jesus

Scriptures: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16; Mark 14:1-2, 10-11; Luke 22:1-6

Thursday:

Events: Disciples Prepare the Passover, Last Supper, Jesus Gives Comfort and Instruction to Disciples, Prayer in Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is Betrayed, Arrested and Tried, Peter’s Denial

Scriptures: Matthew 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-65; John 13:1-18:27

Friday:

Events: Jesus before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod, Barabbas Freed, Jesus Crucified, Jesus Buried

Scriptures: Matthew 27:1-61; Mark 15; Luke 22:66-23:55; John 18:28-40

Saturday:

Events: Tomb Sealed, Disciples Rest

Scriptures: Matthew 27:62-66; Luke 23:56

Sunday:

Events: Resurrection, Various Appearances, Soldiers Bribed

Scriptures: Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-13; Luke 24:1-43; John 20:1-23

*Disclaimer: Not all events are in all Gospels. Some events occur on different days in different Gospels. The cleansing of the Temple comes first in Matthew, the cursing of the fig tree comes first in Mark. John may have the crucifixion happening on Thursday, depending on how you interpret the phrase “preparation day.” I have listed all events on the traditional days for sanity’s sake. 

The differences are not important. What is important is that these events really happened. As John says: “But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:31)

Week 42--Gospels Week 4 (Matthew 19-20, 26; Mark 10, 14; Luke 10-19; John 8-12)

The chapters we read this week take us to the very gates of Jerusalem, to the days right before Jesus’s final week. The conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees escalates, but so does His interaction with the people. Some will love Him, some will hate Him. Again, there is no middle ground.

Every time Jesus meets with the Pharisees, He ends up making them really mad. He keeps insisting that they are slaves to sin, and calls them whitewashed tombs, implying that they are long on rules and short on mercy. Then He has the audacity to claim that He is not only The Messiah, but He is also God! When Jesus says in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was born, I am,” He was using the unspoken Name of God, which is a form of the words “I AM” (see also: God’s response to Moses in the burning bush). The Pharisees are outraged. Several times in this week’s reading Jesus heals on the Sabbath. Both Jesus and the Pharisees are tired of this argument by now. They complain, true, but Jesus finally answers, “Look guys, if your son fell in a well on the Sabbath, would you not pull him out?” They have no reply. But they hate him. 

Meanwhile, Jesus went around healing the blind, while preaching in parables His disciples couldn’t see the meaning of (which strikes me as hilarious). One of my favorite “healing the blind” stories in found in John chapter 9. A man is born blind, not as a result of his sin, but simply so that God can be glorified in his healing. Everyone has questions about the man and the One who healed him. The formerly-blind-man’s answer: “I do not know whether or not the man who healed me was a sinner. One thing I do know, I once was blind, but now I see!”

Jesus also preached on the kingdom of heaven, the Second Coming of the Messiah, and the need for repentance. Some of His parables explained that Gentiles would be added to the number of believers. This could not have helped his case with the Pharisees.

We see Jesus interacting with a lot of individuals in these chapters. He does less preaching to the crowds (it seems to me) and more one-on-one discussion and healing. He visits Mary and Martha, and poor Martha gets the sad end of the deal for the next two thousand years. Notice, though, that later when their brother Lazarus dies, it is Martha’s great faith that Jesus praises. There is balance in Mary and Martha’s lives.

In the ending chapters, the ones that seem to bounce all over the place, we read the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ head with extremely expensive perfume. Some of the disciples are shocked at the waste, but Jesus recognizes that she has done this in preparation for His death and burial. The disciples still don’t understand anything that is going to happen in the next week, as the Greatest Story unfolds.

Week 41--Gospels Week 3 (Matthew 8-10, 13-18; Mark 6-9; Luke 9, John 6-7)

We read this week about more miracles and healings, and also more conflicts with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Both miracles and conflicts seem to increase in number and magnitude, and Jesus ends this week knowing that his time is near. 

Jesus begins this week’s passages with the healing of two blind men and a demon possessed man. He and the disciples find, again, that a prophet is “not without honor” except in his home country (Mark 6:4). All the disciples, not just the twelve, are sent out to preach, to heal, and to cast out demons.

Soon after this, Jesus hears of the death of his cousin John the Baptist. He took a small chance to retreat and mourn, but a massive crowd followed Jesus wherever he went and he ended up feeding 5,000 of them with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Incidentally, this is the only miracle that is recorded in all four gospels. Jesus retreats to pray again, but sees his buddies floundering in a storm. He walks to them on the water, and once again, "they were completely astonished” (Mk 6:51).

Ya think?

The Pharisees challenge almost everything Jesus says, and they go toe to toe several times over the interpretation of the Law. As God has said before, what is important is not the sacrifice, or the following of the letter of the Law, but the heart behind it.

A Canaanite woman, one of the many Undesirables according to Jewish tradition, comes to ask Jesus’ help for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus refuses at first; He says He has come only to help the Jews. That’s a strange answer, considering that by this time He has healed the servant of a Roman centurion and had a conversation with the woman at the well. She must have heard about this strange man Jesus, because she challenges him. “You have come to feed the children, but even the dogs get crumbs that fall from the children’s table,” she replies. I can see Jesus laughing as he concedes her point. Her faith, greater than that of so many of the children, brings healing to her daughter. From here Jesus goes on to feed a crowd of 4,000 (not to be confused with the 5,000 he fed earlier--the details are different, and Matthew and Mark tell both stories).

More rumors have been circulating about Jesus’ identity. He has the audacity to claim that God is actually His Father. Herod, who had John the Baptist beheaded, was afraid that Jesus was John come back from the grave and wanted to meet him. Others were saying that Jesus was Elijah or another prophet. Peter sets the record straight, stating “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16, KJV). Of course, in true Peter fashion, the very next thing that happens is that Jesus tells them He will die and Peter says he will do anything to prevent this happening. “Get thee behind me, Satan!” Jesus shouts at Peter (Matt 16:23). He’s having quite a day! In one final act of confirmation, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John onto a mountain and he is Transfigured. The three men see Moses and Elisha and hear the voice of God say, “This is My beloved Son...listen to Him” (Matt 17:5). 

Of course, this further proof does nothing to improve Jesus’ standing in the Pharisees’ eyes. Jesus goes secretly to a feast in Jerusalem, listening to people talk about him, wondering about his identity and his origins. “I thought the Messiah was supposed to come from Bethlehem. Jesus is from Nazareth.” He must have chuckled at that one. The speculation drives some to love Him more, and the more the people adore and follow Him, the angrier the Pharisees become. Jesus knows this. He senses the plot thickening. 

But it is not yet His time.

Week 40--Gospels, Week 2 (Matthew 5-9, 11-13, Mark 2-5, Luke 6-8, John 5)

We find lots of really good stories in this week's reading! Jesus had so many healings, forgivings, and raisings of the dead that in some places he could not even find a place to sit down for dinner. Some chased him out of town out of fear. The Pharisees? Well, you’ll see...

First we read about the man at the Bethesda pool, where the angel stirs up the waters. Jesus heals him on the Sabbath, and the Jews were there to nitpick. “This man can’t carry his pallet on the Sabbath; you can’t heal on the Sabbath.” Jesus responded by telling them that God, who made the Sabbath, was His father. he spoke truth; they heard blasphemy. (And yes, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.) The Pharisees want to destroy Him already.

Next the 12 apostles are rounded out: Simon/Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew/Levi, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus/Judas (not Iscariot), Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. Luke tells us that there were many more disciples, and Jesus chose these 12 from among them. Jesus then gives the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew and Luke.

Some highlights of the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law...I came not to abolish, but to fulfill.”

Luke 6:31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” 

Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first His Kingdom, and His righteousness...”

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you...pressed down, shaken together, running over...”

Next, a centurion’s servant is healed--Jesus spoke of this man’s great faith. Jesus then confirms that John the Baptist is indeed the one spoken of in Malachi, who will prepare the way for the Messiah. We read about a sinful woman who anoints Jesus’s feet with perfume and wipes them with her hair. Jesus forgave her sins, ruffling the feathers of the Pharisees even further.

Jesus goes head to head with the Pharisees as they accuse Him of casting out demons in Satan’s name. He replies, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Jesus also foretells that He will be in the ground 3 days and 3 nights--the sign of Jonah. He declares that His mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. The parable of the soils is given.

The parable of the soils is privately explained to the apostles (Jesus did this often, speaking a parable to the people and explaining it only to the twelve.) He also speaks the parable of the wheat and weeds. Jesus calms the storm and the disciples wonder, “What kind of man is this, that the waves and sea obey Him?”

Jesus then heals the demoniac at the tombs. “My name is Legion,” the demons say, “for we are many.” The demons entered a herd of pigs, who were unclean animals. The people who were tending them were Gentiles; someone outside God’s Chosen People has the chance to see Jesus at work. Unfortunately, the townspeople were afraid and asked Jesus to leave. After this, Jesus healed the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and raised Jairus’s daughter  from the dead. What I love is how Jairus and his wife react: “And immediately they were completely astounded” (Mark 5:42).

The pattern is established: Jesus does good, people react strongly. There is no mild way to react to the working of Jesus in people’s lives. Some reactions will do good, some will lead to prophesied evils.

Week 39--The Gospels, part 1 (Matthew 1-4, Mark 1-2, Luke 1-5, John 1-4)

In the beginning...again.

Luke went to the trouble of writing out the events of the gospel in consecutive order, and this is how we will read them. These stories are so familiar, but it is good to read them again (even it is strange to read them three times over, from three different authors).

We begin with introductions to all four gospels. John tells us, “The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, KJV). Also, angels deliver messages to Mary, Joseph, and Zacharias (John the Baptist’s father).

Next we read about the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. (Yes, I am listening to Christmas music.) After Jesus is born, Mary and Joseph take Him to the Temple for dedication, where they meet Simeon and Anna. I wonder how Mary felt when Simeon took her tiny baby and told her that a sword would pierce her soul.

Wise men, flight to Egypt, slaughter of the innocents. And that’s just Matthew! Twelve years later, Jesus is lost in the Temple. This story cracks me up because of the way most people read it, with Mary calmly speaking to Jesus: “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you.” What the Bible doesn’t say is that Mary probably ran across the room, yanked God Incarnate to his feet, and shook him by the shoulders before crushing him in a hug. This was her son, who had been missing for three days! In Rome-occupied Jerusalem! She probably didn’t let him out of her sight for a week. Skip ahead until Jesus is 30 and He is baptized. God takes this opportunity to announce to the world that Jesus is, indeed, His beloved Son.

Jesus’ Temptations. Jesus uses Scripture to defeat each temptation, but don’t miss the fact that Satan also uses Scripture to tempt Jesus. After this, Jesus begins calling disciples--Peter, Andrew, Philip, Nathanael. Jesus performs his first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding. He also drives money changers out of the temple (for the first time).

Nicodemus’ night visit gives us the gospel in a nutshell. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We also meet the woman at the well. Jesus tells her story, and she shared her knowledge of Him with her world. The Samaritans, not the Jews, received Jesus with open arms. Back in his hometown, they demanded miracles. John the Baptist goes to jail.

Jesus’ preaches his first sermon. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is Jesus’ most important message. He also spoke in the Temple, reading from the book of Isaiah, and made the locals mad. He adds James and John to his disciples. Jesus also begins traveling and healing. For the first time, we hear him declare “This is why I came,” and it is to preach salvation.

Healings made Jesus very popular. But he still went off alone to pray. At one point, four friends knocked a hole in a roof to get their paralyzed buddy in to see Jesus. He caused a scandal by daring to forgive the man’s sins as well. Matthew (Levi) the tax collector and eventual gospel author is added to Jesus’ disciples. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that God does not desire mercy, but sacrifice. (So there.) Only one week into the Gospels, and the Pharisees are already butting heads with Jesus. Great.

It will be interesting to see how the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees escalates in the coming weeks. It’s a great story, even if we already know how it ends.

The Deep Breath Before the Plunge

(a phrase which I confess I stole from Tolkein)

Wow. We did it. I have now officially read the entire Old Testament. I have never done this before. And it feels...odd. 

No more history. No more genealogies. 

More importantly, no more prophets. I think that I am going to miss them.

Nah...

Next post: The Gospels! The birth of Jesus! Bring on the Christmas music!

Week 38e--Malachi

The theme and the name of the last book in the Old Testament are the same--God’s messenger.

And boy, does he have something to say!

The priests have not been bringing their best to the Temple as offerings. (Notes in my Bible suggest that this happened before Nehemiah arrived to straighten them out, but there is nothing in the text to say when Malachi was written.) The priests are bringing lame and blind lambs to be sacrificed when other, better lambs are available. God is ticked.

“Priests are to be messengers from God to the people. You are not doing your job!”

Malachi also brings up the issue of Jews marrying foreign wives. (Again, perhaps this is before Nehemiah helped get them straightened out.)

Here in Malachi we find the verse where God says, “For I hate divorce.” But when I read it in context, I see it has much less to do with human marriages than I thought. Again and again God has seen their worship of foreign idols as infidelity. As breaking the marriage covenant between God and the people. As divorce. The people have divorced their hearts from Him. And He hates it.

God says that he will send a messenger who will clear the way for Himself. (This is a reference to John the Baptist, who will prepare the way for Jesus.)

We next find “the tithing verse,” Malachi 3:10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house. And prove me now herewith, sayeth the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (KJV, because that’s how I memorized it when I was a kid)

Malachi too has some end-times words. He will record the names of the faithful in a book, and “they will be mine on the day that I prepare My own possession” (3:17).

“For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (4:2). 

God’s messenger reminds us al to remember God’s law--and to pray that our hearts may be restored.

Week 38d--Joel

We only have two minor prophets left--can you believe it?

We read the book of Joel now because his prophecies have not yet come to pass. He speaks words that are familiar--famine, destruction, locusts, war. The Day of The LORD is coming, and it isn’t pretty.

But still, even in the midst of this there is still that hope.

“‘Yet even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to me, with all your heart’...For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil” (2:12-13).

All people will eventually be judged--this we have heard before. But also as we have heard before, restoration is promised.

God will pour out his spirit on all mankind, and “Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions” (2:28).

The Day of the LORD will be both great and terrible, and He will unmistakably reign. 

Oh, Lord, Thy Kingdom come!

Week 38c--Nehemiah

Nehemiah is the very last historical book in the Old Testament. Can you believe it? The book is full of rebuilding and rededication, but old habits must still be broken.

While serving as cupbearer to king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah hears of the deplorable state of Jerusalem, especially the wall, and he is greatly saddened. For the third time, someone prays a prayer of confession on behalf of the nation of Israel. King Artaxerxes gives Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the wall.

Once he returns, Nehemiah leads a combined effort to rebuild the wall. Every family works, building the sections in front of their own houses. Local bureaucrats were not happy that the Jews had permission to build and those plotted to attack the city. Just as Nehemiah encouraged the families to build the wall, he encouraged them to defend it. “Do not be afraid of them, remember the LORD...and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (4:14). From that moment, one hand did the work while the other held a weapon. The people were ready to defend their home.

This was not the only thing that kept Nehemiah busy. During a recent famine, people had borrowed money at high interest rates to buy food. Debt had driven some to sell their children. Nehemiah restored each family’s land and children and reminded them that they were not to lend each other money at interest. They elected him governor.

The wall around Jerusalem is completed in 52 days, in spite of red tape and a plot on Nehemiah’s life. He then records a census of those who have returned from exile.

After this, the priest Ezra stood in the city square and read from the Book of the Law. Every day for six hours they did this. For a eight days. And the people wept. (Can you blame them?) But they wept because they realized their sin. Ezra and Nehemiah told the people “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (8:10).

Once again, the people rehearse the history of the nation of Israel, contrasting their sin with the goodness of God. Then the leaders wrote a contract, saying that they would keep the covenant. It was signed by the priests and the leaders of the people.

The wall was dedicated with a musical ceremony--two choirs went up and stood all along the city wall and sang hymns and psalms. This must have been amazing to hear!

Nehemiah returned briefly to Susa, then returned to Jerusalem to find a corrupt official living in the temple court. He threw him out and had the Temple cleansed.

Nehemiah continued serving as governor and made sure that the Jews did not return to their sinful habits, especially doing business on the Sabbath and marrying foreign wives. Even after all of this they still need someone to make sure they obey.

As do we.

Week 37d--Esther

The book of Esther is God’s fairy tale. It has all the proper story elements: a setting of long ago in a far away land, a princess who undergoes a transformation, a monstrous villain, a wise older figure, and even a ball. There is jealousy, fighting, power struggles, evil plots to kill the king, and revenge. In fact, there is everything except Rodents of Unusual Size (and if you consider Haman a big rat, then that is covered as well). We love this story! Why? Because it reminds us that God can use anyone, in any situation, to quite possibly save the world.

All kidding aside, though, why is this such a wonderful story? Hadassah (Esther’s Jewish name) is living in exile, hundreds of miles from her people’s homeland. The Persian empire is headquartered in the city of Susa (which is about 900 miles from Jerusalem, as well as I can guess using Google maps). When there is a need for a new queen, she is chosen. More than once she is required to put her own life on the line to save her people. She must go before the king uninvited--a small thing to us, maybe, but this was an offense punishable by death. She must also do something even more dangerous--rat out the king’s right hand man. For Haman wants to exterminate all the Jews, simply because Mordecai, Esther’s uncle and adoptive father, won’t bow down to Haman. She does both of these things because her uncle encourages her. “Who knows?” Mordecai tells her. “You could have been placed here for such a time as this.”

“For such a time as this.” Esther’s story can be boiled down to these six words. God placed that young woman in that time, in that place, for that reason. Her reason ended up saving her people. Your reason is probably not as dramatic. But know this: God has placed you where you are, when you are, in your situation, for a reason. What this reason is, well, I can’t tell you. But God can. He knows all your days--they were all written before you were even born (Psalm 139:16). Trust in Him, follow God, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

And you might, in some small way, end up changing the world.

Week 37--Zechariah

Zechariah prophesied in the days after the remnant of Israel returned from exile. The action that is detailed in the book takes place as the people are rebuilding the Temple.

His book is one of the longest of the minor prophets. He has many visions; all are interpreted for us--which is a relief after the book of Daniel! Most of Zechariah’s visions are joyful. Prosperity will return to the nation of Israel at last!

Zechariah’s prophecies seem to speak of groups of four. He sees four horsemen, four horns, four craftsmen, and eventually four chariots.

He also speaks of great and glorious things happening in and around Jerusalem. Zechariah sees it will be a city without walls because of all the prosperity God will heap on them. “The LORD...shall choose Jerusalem again” (2:12). The prophet sees the new high priest Joshua dressed in glory. God gives him a familiar promise: If you obey, I will bless you. There is no “But if you don’t obey...” involved here. Perhaps they have finally learned something.

When the time of year came for fasting and feasting, the people asked, “Should we stop building the temple and celebrate the fast and feast?” God asked them to examine their hearts and see if they had actually truly honored him with the fasts when they had been in exile. It is much more important to love God with all your heart than to celebrate a festival or go without eating a certain kind of food for a week. Do what is right, says God. Love the LORD. Serve each other. That is how you honor God. Sacrifice, yes, that is important. But the sacrifices are meaningless without a life devoted to God.

There are several prophecies that speak to the life of Christ, as well. “Behold, your king is coming to you...Humble, and mounted on a donkey” (9:9). 

11:12-13 “...They weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.”

12:10 “I will pour out on the house of David...the Spirit of grace...so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced.”

Like many other prophets, Zechariah speaks of a day when all the nations will gather against Jerusalem for war. The Mount of Olives will be split (Ezekiel mentioned this too). Of course, God will be victorious, and people will come to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate. Many other prophets have said this as well. For God so loved the world...

Oh how I long for that glorious day!

Week 37b--Haggai-A Post-Exilic Prophet

Finally! The nation of Israel, what’s left of it anyway, is coming back to Jerusalem after 70 years in exile. I have really enjoyed reading the post-exilic prophets (partly because I get to use the word “post-exilic” in a sentence) because they are so joyful! Haggai and Zechariah have such wonderful things to say about the future of Israel! Let’s look at Haggai’s little book.

God does have one small complaint with the Hebrews. They are living in nice houses, but His house is still a pile of rubble. “Seriously guys? You fix your houses up but leave mine a mess? Sheesh.” The land has not been as fruitful as they remember, and they have not had enough supplies. If they will build the temple, though, God will bless them. In the second year after their return from Babylon, they begin rebuilding the Temple.

We meet new characters in this book. Zerubbabel is the new governor of Judah; Joshua, son of Jehozadak, is the high priest. Haggai has a message for the people: “Be strong! Take courage! I, the LORD, am with you!” (Another Joshua had the same message for the people as they were entering the Promised Land many years before.)

Finally, God has a defining moment for his people. “Mark this day on your calendar,” God says. “This is the day you begin rebuilding the Temple, and this is the day that you will begin to see blessing.”

The greatest blessing of all is found in the closing verse of Haggai’s book. “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel...and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the LORD of hosts. God has chosen His people again.