The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

 John 1:29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

I continue my study of John, and today, I outline and unpack John 1:29-34 using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

Main point: Jesus is the Triune God who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and gives new and eternal life.   

1. Jesus is the final and perfect atonement for the sins of the world - vv29-30
2. Jesus is revealed as one of the Triune God's identities - along with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - v31-34 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus approaches and makes Himself known to John (who continues to baptize those who repent in the Jordan), and John describes Jesus as the Lamb of God (the perfect and final sacrifice), who takes away the sin of the world" - v29; John continues, describing Jesus the as the one he kept referring to as coming after John but also the one who was before me (existed since the beginning - see v2) and as the one ranking before (higher than) John, because He existed before John - v30; all persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (descending from Heaven like a dove and remaining with Jesus) - of the Triune God appear together as sent by God - vv31-33; God the Father spoke to John and shared that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit - v33; John once again in this chapter (see also vv14, 18) testifies regarding the identity of Jesus as the Son of God - v34.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: John fulfills his role to prepare the way for Jesus as he announces Jesus' arrival - v29; John wants everyone to be clear than he is less than Jesus - v30; John both performs and bears witness to Jesus' baptism, and also experiences the Father, Son and Holy Spirit during the baptism as he sees the Holy Spirit descend from Heaven like a dove and God talking to John sharing how the Holy Spirit remains with Jesus and Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit - vv32-33; John previously did not know Jesus but now understands more fully His identity as the Triune God - vv31, 34.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): See Jesus as the Promised Messiah who takes away the sin of the world; follow the example of others who repent and believe in Jesus to experience forgiveness and salvation, and to experience baptism by the Holy Spirit as you will then be reborn as a new creation into the family of God. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God who loves and baptizes with the Holy Spirit, giving new and eternal life.  Thank You Jesus for my rebirth and salvation.  I am not deserving.  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.

And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him.

Mark 15:1-20

And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. Mark 15:17-19

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is, per the commentary, the second division of the text from Mark 15:1-20 - vv15-20.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv15-20: (1) God in the text: Further along the story arc of His arrest, Jesus is scourged (v15) and led away from the Jewish elders, scribes, chief priests and Sanhedrin and brought inside Pilate's headquarters where ~600 soldiers were gathered to be at the ready in case of civil unrest (v16); Jesus is beaten and mocked and then led away to be crucified (vv17-20); (2) People in the text: Pilate's struggle over what to do with Jesus ends as he satisfies the Jewish crowd to crucify Jesus (v15); Barrabas is released (v15); the soldiers lead Jesus away, mock and beat Him before leading Him away to be crucified (vv16-20); (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: We should not mock Jesus, instead see Him as King of Kings with an eternal kingdom not of this world - who takes upon Himself the sin of the world and God's wrath for this sin to save all of humanity; in the face of persecution, we should be steadfast in our faith.    

Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division: 

• The title of the third division is "Our Great King’s Suffering: The Pain and Shame."   
• "Mocking is clearly highlighted, but the focus is much more on the spiritual and psychological agony. Still, we would be negligent if we passed over too quickly the scourging and physical abuse He suffered."
• "Completely alone, humiliated, naked, and beaten nearly to death, our Savior endured yet again ridicule, shame, and pain at the hands of sinful men, at the hands of those He came to save."
• We are reminded how Jesus redeemed us from the curse set in motion during the Fall (Genesis 3).  He becomes the curse for us.  See also Deuteronomy 21:23.     

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God that willingly sent His Son to die on the cross, and Jesus willingly submitted to Your Will so that I could have life now to the full and for eternity in Heaven.  Thank You!  I am not deserving.  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.

And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Mark 14:12-25

And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:16

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv12-16.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv12-16: (1) God in the text: we see Jesus moving forward willingly with the Father's plan to become the sacrifice needed to atone for all of the sin for all of humanity throughout redemptive history.  Annual animal sacrifices were not ultimately what God desired as He seeks our heart and our obedience - see Hebrews 10:1-18 and Psalm 40:6–8, Isaiah 1:11–15, and Jeremiah 7:21–23. This was a plan Jesus both knew about in advance and orchestrated as He is in control - of course He could have stopped His own death but He did not; (2) people in the text: We see the disciples being obedient in following Jesus' instructions for preparation for the Passover.  We also see the disciples claiming not to betray Jesus.  While it is true that only Judas betrayed Jesus to the extent that got Jesus arrested, the disciples all scattered and sought anonymity and protection upon Jesus' arrest.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should stand our ground allowing Jesus to steel and strengthen us during times of persecution - we should not hide our faith.  If we understand God's will for our lives we should follow it - regardless of the cost.  

 Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv12-16): 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The King Prepares for His Passion," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv1-11) is "Jesus is both the Suffering Servant of the Lord and the Sacrificial Lamb of God, who would die for the sins of the world according to the will of God."
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Jesus Was in Control of the Events Leading to His Death." 
• "Little did [the disciples] know that an even greater Passover was unfolding as Jesus prepared Himself to be sacrificed as our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)."
• "The cross did not catch Him off guard. No, it was a divine appointment scheduled, as Peter would write, “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves - You willingly laid down Your life such that I could life now to the full and life for eternity in Heaven where You are saving a place for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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 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. 

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Mark 4:35-41

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38

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 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's second (of six) division (v38): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Jesus Is Human Aside from Sin." The commentary actually offers two divisions for v38 - I already posted about the second of these here, but because I missed the first one, I came back to it today. 
• Believers know the Jesus is both fully man, and fully God.  He came to us as the Incarnate Son of God to both experience life as we do, and then to die for us, taking upon Himself God's wrath as one perfect spotless sacrifice that served as the final sacrifice for all of humanity throughout all of redemptive history.  The commentary emphasizes this as well as sharing how Jesus lived without sin and He "had no sin nature."  We are referred to to 2 Corinthians 5:21, and Hebrews 4:15.
• "Both His humanity and His deity are put on display in this story, and it is humanity that appears so clearly when He is in stern of the boat, fast asleep on a cushion. The Bible repeatedly teaches our Lord’s full and true humanity. He got hungry (Matt 4:2). He got angry (Mark 3:5). He cried (John 11:35). He died (the cross). Now we see He slept. He had an exhausting day, and He kept on sleeping right through the storm. This is the only time in the Gospels that we read of Jesus sleeping."
• "[Jesus] had complete trust in the providential care of His Father. The veteran seamen may be terrified, but the Carpenter from Nazareth [slept] soundly."  

The commentary here wraps by also sharing that just as Jesus had a work to do (His ministry) before He went to the cross how we also have a work to do and just as Jesus did, we can endure what He endured because He gives us the Holy Spirit, He never leaves or forsakes us, He knows everything about us and can sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:15), etc.  We have an awesome God who equips us to weather the storms of life!  Praise Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God You are indeed an awesome God who loves us and who saves and equips us to weather the storms of life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  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. 

[T]hose who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”

Zephaniah 3:9-20

[T]hose who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” Zephaniah 3:13

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zephaniah 3:13, which is the text for the fourth division for the commentary's chapter on 3:9-20 (six divisions in total).

• Once again, as Judah's story of restoration continues to unfold, we see God in all of His glory and attributes turn from anger and wrath towards love and grace - which is of course the core theme of the gospel.  We all sin and need a savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior and He willingly died on the cross - taking God's wrath for our sin upon Himself - so that we could be free of the sting of sin and death.
• The text starts by referring to a remnant - God will keep His promise made to Abraham by saving the faithful few (narrow door).
• The faithful few experience incredible blessings; among them include obedience to God - righteousness - rest and peace.
  

Excerpts from the commentary relating to 3:13:

• "[God's]...promise underlines what we ought to know but so often miss. So much of our stress and turmoil is a result of sin. As sin is eradicated from our lives, we find ourselves able to rest in the peace of God. God’s presence, His holiness, His righteousness, brings us peace." See also Isaiah 53:5.
  
• Christ's "wounds from the crucifixion are the gateway to our peace."  This is imputed righteousness. See also 2 Corinthians 5:21.
  
• Freedom from fear in the text is also referenced in Psalm 23:1-5.
• "That God would love us so much that He would go to the lengths He did in order to secure our redemption, and then would go on to secure the restoration of all things, allowing us to lie down in peace with no fear of danger, speaks to His infinite grace and mercy. However, all of this becomes even more meaningful when you realize that God had to satisfy His own justice in order to extend grace, which means that God Himself would suffer, through His Son, in order that He might accomplish this grand work of redemption among His people and the rest of His creation."
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You took God's wrath upon Yourself - that needed to be paid for the sin of humanity - so that I could be saved.  Thank You Jesus!  And you give me rest and freedom from hear.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor these 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 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.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, going back over this text which I have previously covered over the past four days.  Specifically for today my focus is how the commentary extends (and closes) an examination of this text with a section entitled Jesus Delivers from Death and Gives Abundant, Eternal Life. 

Excerpts from this section of the commentary:

• "Ecclesiastes depicts in great detail the curse of sin and death. Death’s tyranny makes life meaningless because if this life is all there is, then death cancels everything out. You cannot take your money with you. Your legacy will ultimately be forgotten. Nothing you did really seems to matter. Some scholars look at this and say Ecclesiastes believes there is nothing beyond the grave, but that is wrong. Ecclesiastes does not teach annihilation; it teaches uncertainty.  Solomon purposefully takes on this particular human perspective, and he says we cannot know for sure if anything lies beyond death because none of us has ever gone there and come back."
  
• "However, we do know something is out there, and we long for it because eternity is in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). What Ecclesiastes aches for, the New Testament presents to us. Paul wrote to the church at Rome to tell them that death did enter the world through one man, but life also came into the world through one man (Romans 5:12-21)."
• "However, the promise is not just for eternal life; the promise is also for abundant life (John 10:10)—living life to the fullest as it was meant to be lived."
• "The good news is that Jesus came to redeem us so that we can begin to live according to God’s good design."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for the sin of all humanity so that Your elect can have life now to the full and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus for the greatest gift of all time - amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such grace.  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.

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.

Hebrews 7

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Hebrews 7:11-12

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, my focus is on Hebrews 7:11-22, as I lean on my commentary, and how it unpacks the first division "The Perfect Priesthood of the Son," which refers to Hebrews 7:11-12. As a setup, the commentary first posits that nothing other than Jesus is perfect.  Jesus's perfection is an intrinsic attribute of His as He is both "fully divine and fully human....it is the defining characteristic of His priestly ministry." The commentary then describes the Levitcal priesthood as imperfect - which then creates a need for Jesus.  Given the author of Hebrews audience, the commentary explores how drawing this comparison between Jesus and the Levitical priesthood was important as "[the author] is proclaiming that Christ brings an end to the Levitical priesthood, the backbone of Jewish society and a major feature of God’s covenant with Israel....As right and righteous as Levi’s priesthood was, it was imperfect. Thus, the Levitical priesthood could not accomplish the salvation of God’s people....There was, however, a need all along for a great high priest to perform one final act atoning for sin....The insufficiencies of the Levitical priesthood as an entire system stand as shadows to the fully sufficient great high priest, Jesus Christ." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the perfect Great High Priest and I can go to You in confidence - knowing You can intercede on my behalf to the Father, You wash away the stain of my sin, and You give me eternal life...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 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. 

And being made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.

Hebrews 5

And being made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Hebrews 5:9

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 5:1-10, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Here, the author of Hebrews compares the role the high priest during the Old Testament, using Aaron as an example, and during the New Testament, where upon His death and resurrection, Jesus was "appointed" (v5) as Great High Priest. The comparison first looks at how both the Old Testament high priests and Jesus possessed (of course Jesus still does) the ability to sympathize with those who were weak because of their own humanity (v2). This weakness inevitably leads to sin, except of course for Jesus, and this sin requires sacrifice to atone for sin (v3). The text then refers to the high priest's act of offering sacrifice for sin for not just himself, but also for others, as an honor (v3-4).  The text indicates that "no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God" (v4). Jesus assumed the role of Great High Priest not to "exalt himself" (v5), to fulfill prophecy referred to in v5-6, 10 where Psalm 2:7 and 110:4 are both quoted. Christ's humanity is further explored in v7 where Jesus prayed to God to save him from death on the cross, and the text shares how God heard these prayers "because of [Jesus' reverence]."  V8-9 then describe Christ as obedient, the perfect sacrifice, and as "the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - taking my sin and all of humanity's sin upon Yourself, sacrificing Your life for all of us...even though You lived a perfect, spotless live.  Thank You Jesus for this gift of grace - amazing indeed and I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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 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.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

Hebrews 2

 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. Hebrews 2:10-11

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is an overview of the commentary for Hebrews 2:10-18, and a look at specifically at Hebrews 2:10-13, the first of three divisions from Hebrews 2:10-18 as outlined by the commentary. The overview indicates how Hebrews 2:10-18 "further explains what it means (from v9 - see post from a couple of days ago) for Christ to “taste death for everyone...” [and it addresses key questions such as]: Exactly how does Christ accomplish this feat? What are the results? How do God’s people benefit?"  In looking specifically at Hebrews 2:10-13, the commentary then stresses the following key points:

• Christ came into the world to adopt us as sons and daughters to glory.  "These words provide a gospel summary that focuses on the relational and familial aspects of the gospel. The gospel transforms believers into children of God and siblings of the Lord Jesus. Our purpose is to bring the glory of God into greater visibility—to be the public display of the glory of God both now and for all eternity. Thus, we become “sons and daughters to glory” in order to magnify the glory of God for all to see." We exist to glorify God!
  
•  The fittingness of God the Father's plan to send His Son to "redeem humanity through a perfect and suffering Savior. The justice of God demanded a substitutionary atonement for the forgiveness of sins....Because of Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father, Jesus has become the “source” of salvation.
• The Old Testament citations in this text (Psalm 22:22 and Isaiah 8:17-18) referring to "brothers and sisters" are "rooted in the reality because believers are Christ’s “brothers and sisters,” we are also “children” of God." The commentary also argues that believers should see how "[t]he Law and the Prophets bear witness to Christ. He is their telos....[and] that the message of the Old Testament is fundamentally messianic. The Old Testament must be read in light of its fulfillment in Christ."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, who died for me as a perfect, substitutionary atonement for my sins - thank You Jesus for bearing my punishment that I deserved.  I am not deserving of the grace You poured out for me and continue to pour out for me.  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 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.

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is on initial observations of Hebrews 2:10-18. This text builds on previous text (see post yesterday) in Hebrews where it establishes that the Last Adam accomplished what the first Adam did not. It describes how "it is fitting" (v10) that God came into the world as flesh and blood, partaking of the same things all of humanity experiences, including temptation, pain, suffering, and ultimately death - for a purpose: redemption and salvation of humanity.

[T]hrough death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:14-17.

It is not just fitting but amazing - amazing grace!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great, amazing God and I am grateful for the amazing grace You have already poured out for me and for the mercies that are new every morning...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and mercy.  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 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.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 8

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man....They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:1-2, 5

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 13 of Advent, and today John Piper once again uses Hebrews 8:1-2 (see also post yesterday) to emphasize how Jesus is our great High Priest, and unlike the high priests of the Old Testament, He is not just a shadow or foretaste of God but God Himself. Piper builds on yesterday's devotion by also using v5. Piper sums it up by saying: "Jesus deals directly with God the Father. He has a place of honor beside God. He is loved and respected infinitely by God. He is constantly with God. This is not shadow-reality like curtains and bowls and tables and candles and robes and tassels and sheep and goats and pigeons. This is final, ultimate reality: God and his Son interacting in love and holiness for our eternal salvation." Rejoice that believers have this final, ultimate reality of having the triumvirate Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for serving as the Great High Priest so that I could have life to the full now, and forever with You in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a sacrifice - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great it continues.  Please forgive me, 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.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man.

Hebrews 8

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man. Hebrews 8:1-2

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 12  of Advent, and today John Piper uses Hebrews 8:1-2, all of Hebrews in his view, to share "that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has not just come to fit into the earthly system of priestly ministry as the best and final human priest, but he has come to fulfill and put an end to that system, and to orient all our attention on himself, ministering for us first on Calvary as our final Sacrifice and then in heaven as our final Priest."  Piper describes how the "Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. Now the reality has come, and the shadows pass away."  Piper wants us to be full of joy and excitement in Jesus' being our High Priest.  He is able to do what none other can do.  He saves!  Rejoice!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who does what none other can - nothing or no one else compares!  You are the One True God who saves and so much more...Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You saved me and how You continues to bless me.  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 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.  

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Leviticus 1

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

This afternoon, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing a review 1:1-7, looking at the theme Jesus is the Final and Perfect Means of Atonement. Here, my commentary seeks to reinforce the takeaways from the previous five days of my study of Leviticus with this commentary (all looking at different aspects of v1:1-7). The commentary writes:

• "the sacrifices [required by God] were physical acts, but they pointed to spiritual realities"
• "they [the sacrifices] pointed to the holiness of God-sin must be removed in order for people to be in God's presence"
• "they pointed to the mercy of God--He provided the means for sin to be taken away, and He invited people into His presence"
• "they pointed to the desire of the worshipers to be right with God--they were obeying God's requirements for reconciliation"

The commentary then emphasizes how the sacrificial system required by God "pointed forward to Christ" and that God had already (in Genesis 3:15) prophesied how "the seed of Eve would strike the head of the serpent."  It then describes a distinction between Old Testament sacrifice - how God taught sacrifice - and New Testament sacrifice - how God, through Jesus, provided sacrifice for sin. 

Here, in Leviticus, we have a path to reconciliation with God as it describes the sacrificial system required by God to remove sin.  We are urged to see how God has always desired us to be in union with Him through sacrifice (to remove sin), and how Jesus' death on the cross serves as the perfect and final means of atonement. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and I am grateful that You provide a path to remove my sin and You of course have saved me and I am part of Your family - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin continues, worry, etc. 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.