The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

 John 18:12-18

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. John 18:17-18

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 18:12-18, where Jesus is arrested and brought before the high priests.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus could have stopped His arrest but He did not - go back to v11 (post yesterday) where Jesus understands and knows all that is to happen to Him, and it must happen according to God's will.  Jesus is now bound and led to Annas - the father in law of Caiaphas who was led by God to prophecy that Jesus should die for the people - v14 (see also John 11:49-52). All that is happening is to fulfill prophecy and scripture. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Peter and another unnamed disciple follow the the soldiers and officers of the Jews who arrested Jesus - v15 - and this other disciple was known to the high priest so he is let inside the courtyard of the high priest.  Peter does not go in initially but the other disciple secures Peter's entrance.  The servant girl at the door questions Peter about his association with Jesus and he denies knowing Jesus - v17.  Additional details and accounts of Peter's denial are found in vv25-27 and in Matthew 26:69–75, Mark 14:66–72, Luke 22:55–62.  Note the contrast of Jesus being bound and in custody vs Peter who is comfortable (warming himself) in his denial of Jesus.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid discomfort in our faith by hiding it or denying it - Peter's comfort is clearly a case of loving self vs God - which we must avoid.  Claim the promise that Jesus fulfills prophecy and scripture and the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and perfect.  Follow the example of Jesus who willingly followed God's will despite the harm He knew He would face.  Deny oneself.  Share in Christ's sufferings.  Love God and love others.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that willingly surrendered Your life so that I could life to the full now and for eternity in Heaven. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a sacrifice.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

 John 7:14-24

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.  John 7:16-18

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:14-24, where Jesus, now that He is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths, starts teaching in the temple.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Although initially hesitant to go into Judea from Galilee because "His time had not yet come" (vv6,8), once there Jesus goes straight to the temple to teach (v14).  RC Sproul identifies preaching of the Word is central to a church and Jesus squarely focuses on teaching as a priority with His ministry.  In response to the Jews who marveled at Jesus' "learning" without "stud[ying]," Jesus responds humbly and shares (vv16-18) that His learning and teaching is not His own but that of the Father who sent Him.  He then shares that anyone seeking to follow the Father's desires will "know" (with certainty or a promise implied) whether Jesus' teaching is from God or not.  This echoes words from Romans 12:2, where Paul writes that as we read God's Word (seek Him and His will for our lives), He renews our mind and gives us the ability to know the inerrancy of God's Word and His will for our lives.  Jesus then challenges the Jews (leadership) as He shares that they share falsehoods and act with hypocrisy because they seek their own authority/glory (v18) and not the will of the Father who authored the very Word they claim to follow.  Jesus' final statement (v24) in response to the Jews is quite pointed as He shares that they judge by appearances (external behaviors) vs understanding someone's heart and intent.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often seek their own glory and emphasize their own authority vs that of God.  This drives pride, arrogance, envy, anger, etc.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking your own glory and emphasizing your own authority.  Do not judge on appearances.  Claim the promise that if you seek His will, You will understand the authority of God and the inerrancy of His Word.  Follow Jesus' example in humility to know where our learning comes from - in fact - every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).  Understand and do God's will.  Study His Word to discern His will and allow for the renewing of your mind.     

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My Prayer: Father God, Your are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!"

Mark 7:1-23

“You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!" Mark  7:9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 7:1-23.  Excerpts from the second (of  three) division (vv9-13):

• The title for the first division is: "Legalists Make Void the Word of God, Resulting in Spiritual Disobedience."
• "Not all traditions are bad. They become bad when we put them on the same level as Scripture or in the place of Scripture. It is a “Bible-plus” kind of religion. In adding to the Bible, you for all practical purposes make void the Bible and nullify its truth and power in your life (v. 13). Jesus makes this crystal clear as He moves into round two with the Pharisees." 
• "They set aside what is the revealed Word of God and replace it with “made up” traditions of men....First, they teach the commands of men (v7). Then they leave the commands of God (v8). Next they reject the commands of God (v9). And finally they make void the Word of God (v13)." 
• Jesus responds to the Pharisees by referring us to Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 21:17, and Leviticus 20:9 where the text commands us to honor our mother and father. 
• "However, the Pharisees created a theological loophole. They simply declared what they would have given to their parents “Corban,” a Hebrew term referring to “a gift dedicated to God.” This allowed them to dishonor their parents by neglecting their needs, but they still feel good about it because it was done in service to God." 

God's Word is perfect and inerrant - and reinforcing the commentary, we should be very careful not to add to or subtract from the Word.  How do we do this?  First and foremost we study - voraciously - per Matthew 5:6 where we "hunger and thirst for righteousness." We should seek out wise Bible teachers and Gospel centered resources (i.e. commentaries) that shed light on and deepen our resources.  For example, the commentary's helpful context about a historical tradition of Corban is helpful to understand as a man-made tradition vs God's Word (see also this resource). Humility and prayer are also important as scriptural disciplines to draw near to God and to seek His will as He is the source of wisdom (see Proverbs 1:7). 

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves, saves, guides, directs and provides Your Word as a measure of and proof of all of these blessings - thank You!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues..daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Day 288 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* further describes the historical interlude or intertestamental period between the Old and New Testaments which is attributed to the period 425 B.C. to B.C. Although many exiled Jews returned to Palestine, "[m]any Jews choose not to return and are still living in Babylonia, Egypt, and other areas as well....Thus the law’s influence itself has diminished....Of course local religious beliefs have a profound effect, as already seen when the Jews intermarried with those involved in idolatry and various pagan practices. Also of significant impact are the Persian beliefs in astrology and the occult. As a result, when many Jews read their Scriptures in this post-exilic period, they attach special meanings to any passage dealing with demons and angels, or light and darkness." A number of cultural and political influences are noted, including the rise of the synagogue (vs the temple), the role of the rabbi (vs high priest), and sectarianism which significantly impacts the Jews' unity and strength - and most importantly their faith, particularly to see and coalesce around the Messiah as the promised king so prophesied many times during Jewish history and in the Bible.  Additionally, my commentary describes how the crumbling of the Assyrian empire leads first to the rise of the Greek, then the Roman empire. Of course the Jews are described as being caught in the middle as empires around them rose and fell, and "[w]ithout doubt, the Jews’ only hope is the coming of the conquering king they have been promised, and what better time than now? It may be this very thinking which, just over a century from now, will be a significant factor in how the Jews of that day react to an unassuming man of peace who claims to be their king."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

This morning, I think of a study recently completed on the topic of Christian apologetics where we reviewed John Piper's book Why We Believe the Bible. I am also drawn to scripture that refers to the inerrancy of scripture.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

 

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

  

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You and Your Word are indeed one and the same and both are flawless.  We can trust in You as You are faithful.  I am grateful Jesus for how You saved me, sustain me, and You never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of such a God.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.