"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope."

Matthew 12:18-21 and Isaiah 42 

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope." Matthew 12:18-21

As I have completed my study of Jonah and have yet identified my next study, this morning I use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which examines how Christ is both the Lion and the Lamb.  

Among His many attributes, God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.  He is all of these things at the same time and much more. In Matthew 12, Christ is described as God's Chosen Servant, and during His ministry, He heals those who followed Him.  In the devotion today, John Piper uses two attributes of Christ - how he is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and how He is the spotless slain lamb of God who lays down His life for all of humanity.  These two attributes are used to depict two seemingly opposite ends of a spectrum - on one hand the lion is ferocious and as an apex predator - no other animal is higher than it on the food chain.  On the other hand, you have the lamb who follows the shepherd and is a portrait of meekness - going and doing as the shepherd leads.  Jesus is both and in the text today, we see an emphasis of His servant-hood and meekness, and how He cares for those in His flock.  All of us at various points in our life are in need of the humble and gentle care described here - we are the bruised reed and the smoldering wick.  We also see others who need this same humble and gentle care.  We are created in His image to be His ambassador during our time here, so believers must allow Him to work in us so that others can see His Light in us and be drawn to Him.        

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who reigns, serves, and saves!  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  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.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

I started a study of John and this morning, I outline John 1:1-18 but focus on vv1-5 what I see as the first division. 

Main point: Jesus is the Son of God and the basis of all existing life and of life reborn through faith.  

1. Both Jesus and the Word are eternal and the basis for creation and all life - vv1-5. 
2. John the Baptist was sent from God to prepare the world for Jesus - vv6-10.
3. Believers in Jesus will become children of God, reborn through the Holy Spirit - vv11-13.
4. Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, full of grace and truth - vv14-18.   

Observations of the vv1-5 based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God's Word is eternal - v1; God's word IS God - v1. Jesus is eternal and with God - v2.  Jesus is the basis for all creation, all life, and life is in Him - vv3-4; Jesus is light in men - Holy Spirit - that shines in darkness and overcomes it - vv4-5.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The light people have is a reflection of Jesus and this light gives people power to overcome darkness and sin - v5. 
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to claim the promise of Jesus' identity as God, Son of God and Holy Spirit.  We are also to claim the promise and truths that Jesus is eternal, the basis of all creation and life, and the Holy Spirit that lives in believers and gives power to overcome darkness, sin, and death. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves and saves - You are the author of all creation and life, You save and give new life through You, and You saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and 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.

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Mark 8:27-38

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29

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 8:27-38.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction for the entirety of the text and for the first (of three) division (vv27-30):

• The main idea for the entirety of the text is: "The normal Christian life involves dying to self that we may find life in Christ."
• Quoting David Platt, the commentary shares:  "[w]e American Christians have a way of taking the Jesus of the Bible and twisting him into a version of Jesus that we are more comfortable with. A nice middle-class American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts."  
• "This text will provide the answer to three crucial questions: Who is Jesus? What did He come to do? What does He expect of you? It is the beginning of the “Great Discipleship Discourse” (8:31–10:52), in which three times Jesus predicts His passion (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34). Immediately following each time, He instructs them concerning true discipleship and what it means to truly follow Him because they just do not get it!"
• "[Jesus] explains what the normal Christian life looks like and what it means to follow a King who came to die and serve, who calls His followers to die and serve as well." 
• For the first division, the title is: "You Must Know and Personally Confess Who Jesus Is."
• "Jesus takes the Twelve north for a time of private instruction. Caesarea Philippi is an unlikely location for the first human proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah. It represents the outer regions of paganism, idolatry, and hostility to the Hebrew faith. We are at a crucial turning point. As Jesus brought gradual physical sight to the blind man of Bethsaida (8:22-26), He will now bring gradual spiritual sight to the disciples concerning who He is and what kind of Messiah He will be." 
•  The commentary emphasizes that as Jesus asks the disciples who He is, this is a question all believers must respond to with the only acceptable answer.  He is Messiah: God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
• Peter responds accurately, yet later in this chapter Peter is rebuked for setting his mind on things of man vs of God.  
• We are encouraged to "[p]ersonally, publicly, and even proudly declare your allegiance to Jesus proclaiming He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the One and Only Savior of the world."

We must also remember that a critical part of developing this allegiance is to read and study God's Word.  John 1:1 shares how from the very beginning  "the Word was God."  We can attend church on Sundays but this is not enough.  We must develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and this is accomplished by reading and studying God's Word.  Romans 12:2 highlights how God renews our mind and sets our minds on the things of God vs man and the world.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for saving me - 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 accept 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. 

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

Mark 6:1-5

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” Mark 6:3-4

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 6:1-5, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers three divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv3-4): 

• The commentary's title for the second division is "When You Consider Jesus, Are You Offended?"
• Those from Jesus's hometown in Nazareth could not grasp His true identity.  The commentary notes that "Jesus’ teachings and miracles do not automatically produce faith." We are referred to 1 Corinthians 1:23 where Paul notes that Christ crucified serves as a "stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles."  
• "In spite of overwhelming evidence [the Nazarenes] will not believe He is the Christ, the Son of God....They knew Him but could not explain Him, so they rejected Him. His hometown, His relatives, even His own household cast their ballot against Him....Sometimes we spend so much time with someone that we no longer appreciate them. For those of us raised in a Christian environment, this is certainly an ever-present danger we must guard against. In a sense we should never get comfortable with Jesus. His goal is not to make us comfortable. His goal is to bring us to repentance and faith, humbly falling at His feet confessing Him as Lord and God. He is not your homeboy, your buddy, or your soul mate. He is not your genie in a bottle obligated to grant your every wish." 

The commentary for the text emphasizes Jesus' identity, and that we should never lose sight of who He is - the One True God.  It is wholly appropriate then that out of reverent fear we rush to Him as our refuge.  He saves!  We must also worship Him with the entirety of our lives (vs animal sacrifice) and seek renewing of the mind through a daily lifelong relationship with Jesus where we go to Him daily in study and reflection on His Word as He renews our minds and makes us more like Him.  As He makes us more like Him, He brings about greater and greater obedience to His will (Romans 12:1-2). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God that saves and provides Your Word so that we can know, love, and please You.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You bless.  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 were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 4:35-41

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41

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 sixth (of six) division (v41): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "The Identity of Jesus Is an Issue We All Must Settle." 
• "The text says they were “terrified.” The fear of the disciples at what Jesus has done and who He might be exceeds the fear they had over the storm. The presence of God is far more frightening than the most destructive forces of nature. One can take your life. The other can claim your soul....Despite their recent experiences with Jesus as He taught and performed miracles, they still aren’t sure just who He is." 
• From the conclusion of this chapter of the commentary looking at the entirety of vv35-41, the commentary shares: "The parallels between Jesus stilling the storm and the story of Jonah should not surprise us. Jesus called Himself the true Jonah in Matthew 12:40. He is the true Jonah who was consumed by the stormy sea of God’s wrath as He hung on the cross. He endured the storm so that we could find peace and be saved. Jesus calmed the only storm that could truly drown us: God’s wrath and judgment. He went down in the storm only to emerge three days later as the One who stilled the just and righteous wrath of God against sinners." 

All of us, believers or not must make a decision for Christ or not and if we choose wisely then we are saved.  If not, we will experience eternal damnation.  Unbelievers may not acknowledge it, but they are slaves to sin and worshiping some other god then the One True God.  Believers are encouraged to be merciful to those who doubt, as we seek to save others from the fire (Jude 22-23).  We must also remember that we are not doing doing the saving, so we must pray for Jesus to soften hearts to save and to be a light so that unbelievers can see and experience Jesus through us. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, Jesus, You are an awesome God that saves and Your mercies are ceaseless and they are new every morning.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings or mercies 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 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 some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?"

Mark 2:1-12

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?" Mark 2:5-8

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 2:5-11, which is the text for the second (of three) division of vv1-12 per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary for the second division (We Should See Jesus for Who He Truly Is) vv5-11:

• "[The scribes] recognized that the proclamation of forgiveness was not a passing comment but a declaration of deity: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” This was a serious charge with serious consequences. They understood Jesus’ words to be dishonoring and disrespectful to God. Blasphemy was a grave offense, punishable by death from stoning (Lev 24:15-16). Jesus’ words are indeed blasphemous—unless He is in fact God! The whole scenario leaves everyone questioning, 'Who is this One claiming to forgive sins?'"
• "In Jewish thinking even the Messiah could not forgive sins! God and God alone has that authority and right. Those first-century Jews knew exactly what was going on: if He can forgive sins, then Jesus is God."
• "[In using the reference to Himself as the Son of Man,] sometimes Jesus shows Himself to be the Son of Man who is serving (2:10; 2:28). At other times Jesus is the Son of Man who is suffering (8:31; 9:9,12; 10:33,45; 14:21,41). Finally, Jesus is the Son of Man who is coming in glory (8:38; 13:26; 14:62). The title occurs more often after Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and Jesus begins to teach clearly about His own death (8:29)....Jesus uses the title to refer to Himself with both connotations. As God incarnate, He is a human being who identifies with sinful humanity as He serves and suffers on our behalf. As God, He is the coming Lord of glory." 
• "Jesus avoided the term “Christ” (Messiah) because He was a much different kind of Messiah from what the Jewish nation anticipated in the first century. He first came to suffer, and then He would come in glory. Claiming the title “Son of Man” allowed Him to refer to the total scope of His Messianic mission without all the political overtones."
• "Only in this present text is the forgiveness of sins linked to the divine title “Son of Man.” By implication Jesus does this again in 10:45 when He weds the Son of Man of Daniel 7 to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, thereby redefining who the Messiah is and what He came to do. He is God, a divine heavenly figure who will receive an everlasting kingdom." 

Believers of today have of course the benefit of hindsight to understand the attributes of Jesus as a Savior that serves, suffers, and coming in glory.  It is important that our lives and our witness - both in words and deed reflect an accurate understanding of Jesus.  We must see Jesus as serving because Jesus wants us to love and serve others as He loves and serves others.  We must also see Jesus as suffering and able to sympathize with our suffering.  As Jesus did, our own suffering should be viewed as God-planned and ordained for a purpose - that God be glorified in our weakness (see post from DesiringGod.com here) as we are utterly dependent on Him.  Also, we can approach Jesus in confidence in prayer because He is able to sympathize with our suffering and equip us to endure (see Hebrews 4:15-16).  If we are unable to love, serve others, and suffer like Jesus did then this is a reflection of our own understanding of who Jesus is and we should be leaning into Jesus to help us see Jesus for who He is so that we can be molded into more of His image. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and mercy for me that is ceaseless and new every morning.  You also give me Your Word to draw close to You and understand more of who You are.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of 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 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.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

 Mark 1:9-11

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  This morning, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 1:9-11 - the first division of Mark 1:9-13 per my commentary. The commentary describes "seven truths" Jesus' baptism teaches us:

•  "Jesus’ baptism inaugurated His public ministry": His baptism in the wilderness fulfilled prophecy. "Why in the wilderness? God has often met with His people there. Recall the exodus, when God brought His children out of Egypt into the wilderness where He would give them His law, feed them, and lead them by cloud and fire. Again in Hosea 2:14-15 He promised His presence: “Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. . . . There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of the land of Egypt."
• "Jesus’ baptism identified Him with sinful humanity.  In His baptism Jesus joins those who seek a baptism of repentance and who are confessing their sins. Jesus neither repents of sin nor confesses His sin because He had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). Still, He aligns Himself with those He came to save."
• "Jesus’ baptism associated Him with John’s ministry."
• "Jesus’ baptism demonstrated His approval by His Father. Immediately—an important word in Mark’s Gospel (here translated “as soon as”)—the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus through an opening in the sky. Jesus sees the heavens being “torn open.” The word occurs only one other time in Mark’s Gospel, when God the Father tears the temple curtain in two from top to bottom! At His baptism and at His crucifixion the Father intervenes supernaturally, eschatologically, declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. Isaiah 64:1 had predicted this: 'If only You would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence.'"
• "Jesus’ baptism revealed the Triune God. Adrian Rogers said, “The doctrine of the Trinity is not beyond logic and reason—just above it!” And as difficult as it can be to wrap our minds around the concept of a triune God, we clearly see all three persons of the Godhead at Jesus’ baptism."
• "Jesus’ baptism showed His total dependence on the Holy Spirit.  The presence of the Spirit on the Messiah was promised in Isaiah 42:1: “This is My Servant; I strengthen Him, this is My Chosen One; I delight in Him. I have put My Spirit on Him; He will bring justice to the nations.” The prophet elaborates on this promise in Isaiah 11:2: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” Jesus is the fulfillment of these promises."
• "Jesus’ baptism declared the type of Messiah He would be.  Mark 1:11 is surely one of the most important verses in the Bible! It is echoed again at the transfiguration in Mark 9:7, along with the admonition for the disciples to “listen to Him.” It is a combination of three massively significant Old Testament texts. The phrase, “You are My Son” comes from Psalm 2:7, and in quoting this Davidic psalm, the Father announces, “You are the Messiah-King, the greater Son of David who will rule the nations.” In calling Christ “beloved,” we are reminded of the way Abraham saw Isaac, the son he was called to sacrifice (Genesis 22:2). It bears the weight of Christ being the “One and Only” Son of the Most High God. The third phrase, “I take delight in You,” comes from Isaiah 42:1, which is the first of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant songs. These passages climax in the great Isaiah 53 text where the Servant is crushed by God as He bears the sins of the world! This declaration of the Father’s love for His Son cannot be overstated and must not be overlooked. No prophet ever heard words like these! 

Building on the commentary's discussion regarding how the text reveals attributes of Jesus and how Jesus fulfilled prophecies of Jesus from the Old Testament, we should understand how Jesus is revealed not just in the Gospels, and not just in the New Testament, but in all of scripture - see 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Jesus was there in the beginning (Genesis 1:2), He will defeat Satan for good during end times (Revelation), His Kingdom is eternal, and all of scripture points to Him.  John Piper's words here and here echo and complement what the commentary shares about Jesus in reference to how Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, and how we are to see Jesus in all of scripture.  To truly know Jesus, we must read and study all of the Bible - to see Him as completely as we can on this side of Heaven.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, Jesus, You are an awesome God who has always existed and who came earth to experience all that we as humanity experience.  All of scripture points to You.  Thank You Jesus for Your Word and how You reveal Yourself to me and speak to me through Your Word.  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 Word for me today and every day.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 14:1-2

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? John 14:1-2

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 17: The Candor of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "[Candor] is a rare virtue, one of the most winsome of all the virtues. Many a man does not possess it. He is taciturn, reserved, secretive. He keeps the door of his heart shut. When he says a thing you cannot tell how much he means, for you do not know the extent of his reservations.  When he does a thing you cannot tell what he is going to do next, because you do not know how fully his act has embodied all which exists in his heart. He gives himself fully to no one. He is the man with the barred lips and the bolted heart. Such a man may be respected and even admired, but he cannot be loved."
• "One reason [why Jesus was loved] was that he was a man with his heart open."
• "One obtains a hint of a man's disposition by noting the men whom he admires and praises. The trait which one sincerely likes to see in others is likely to be a feature of his own character. John in his Gospel tells us of a eulogy which Jesus passed one day upon a man named Nathaniel. Nathaniel was a citizen of a small Galilean village, Cana, situated not far from Nazareth. As soon as Philip had gotten a little acquainted with Jesus he was desirous of bringing Jesus and his friend Nathaniel together. Seeking Nathaniel he said enthusiastically, "We have found him!" to which came back the frigid answer, 'Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?'....As soon as Jesus sees Nathaniel coming toward him Nathaniel exclaims in a tone musical with praise, "Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile." This was the sort of man which won at once the heart of Jesus. There was no craft nor cunning in him, no duplicity nor deceit; he was a man of frank sincerity, and Jesus' heart immediately goes out to him, assuring him that over his open soul there is going to be an open heaven. Outspoken and frank himself, Jesus was en rapport with souls which were free from guile."
• "And here we find one of the reasons why Jesus always extolled the disposition of a child. Without the child heart no man can enter heaven. And why? Because the child heart is always the open heart. Where can you find such candor, such beautiful frankness, such surprising and sometimes discomfiting outspokenness as in a little child? He will tell you just what he thinks, all he thinks, nothing will he hold back....One of the reasons why Jesus set a child in the midst of the disciples, saying, 'This is what you ought to be,' is because a little child is the embodiment and personification of candor."
• "A man reveals himself in his dislikes as truly as in his prepossessions and praises. Whom did Jesus most dislike? The Pharisees. They were hypocrites. A hypocrite was an actor, a man who wore a mask, the mask representing a personality other than the one inside of it. 'Do not be like the actors,' this was his constant exhortation, and he never lost an opportunity of holding up the hypocrites to contempt and scorn. On one occasion he faced them in Jerusalem, calling them to their face 'vipers.' It was a harsh word, and yet it expressed the inmost spirit of the men to whom it was applied."
• "[Jesus] never held back the truth when it was time that the truth should be spoken. His loving heart told him when the hour had come."
• Jesus often corrected those who thought they knew the law and scripture. "[Such correction] was a needed...for people who know little and think they know much are sometimes helped by having their attention called to the limitations of their knowledge; but to give such reprimand is not an easy thing to do. It was by his outspokenness that Jesus attempted to cure some of the infirmities of men."
• "His love of fairness comes out clearly in his warnings both to the twelve and to all who wanted to be numbered among his followers. He will hold back nothing. The whole terrible truth must be told. No man shall ever follow him without first knowing what risks and dangers discipleship involves....When men came rushing to him saying, 'Master, I will follow you,' he flashed on them the gloom of a dark sentence, unwilling to accept the allegiance of any one, even in times when he most needed support, without having first revealed to the volunteer the full significance of a place in his ranks. Men's heads were filled with dreams of supremacy and sovereignty and glory, and more than one heart was chilled by the searching question, 'Are you able to drink the cup?' His candor reduced the number of his followers, but it was just like him to hold back nothing which men had a right to know."
• "But it is in his confessions that his candor reaches its climax....He admits without hesitation that there was a limitation of his authority....When two of his disciples asked for the chief places in the new kingdom, he frankly told them that he did not have the power to select his own prime ministers, because all such matters were hidden in the deep counsels of God." 
• "More surprising was his confession of ignorance....Jesus frankly admitted that there were things which he did not know. For instance, one day he was talking in graphic phrase about the end of the world. He spoke of it so definitely and positively that it was a natural inference that he knew just when it would take place. To the amazement of his hearers he said, 'Of that day and that ho in: knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.'"
• "If a man is frank and open in nine points, we may safely trust him in the tenth. Jesus makes his candor a reason why his disciples ought to trust him in those realms of thought and life which lie beyond their sight. "In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you." Of course he would. It was his nature to tell men everything."
• "The best reason we have for believing in the sinlessness of Jesus is the fact that he allowed his dearest friends to think that he was. There is in all his talk no trace of regret or hint of compunction, or suggestion of sorrow for shortcoming or slightest vestige of remorse. He taught other men to think of themselves as sinners, he asserted plainly that the human heart is evil, he told his disciples that every time they prayed they were to pray to be forgiven, but he never speaks or acts as though he himself has the faintest consciousness of having ever done anything other than what was pleasing to God. This is remarkable, unparalleled."
• "Jesus never by word or by act indicates that he is conscious of falling short of the wishes of God. If he had been, would he not have said so? His was the open heart. Would he deceive men on a matter of such cardinal moment?"
• "On his candor, then, we have a right to build both for time and eternity. When he says that if we do not repent we shall perish, and that only those who are born from above enter the kingdom of light, we have every reason for believing that these statements are true. And when he says that his disciples are going to do greater things than were ever done in Palestine, and that he will be with us always even unto the end of the world, why should we not believe him?"
• "And since he is so frank and open with us why should not we be open-hearted and frank with him ? If he tells us truly the things in his heart, why should we not tell him truly the things which are in our hearts? He has given himself to us: why do we not give ourselves to him?"     

Believers know that Jesus is the "Way, Truth, and Life" (John 14:6).  Non-believers may see in Jesus the attribute of truth and candor but they still lack faith.  An important distinction between believers and non-believers here is that only the faithful believe that (1) all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8), and (2) because the wage of sin is death (Romans 6:23), therefore we all need a Savior.  Jesus is that Savior.  This is perhaps the greatest truth of all time and one that binds all of humanity throughout all of redemptive history - past, present, and future.  If you believe that you are a good person, that you lack sin, and that you don't need saving, that is a dangerous place.  Yet scripture tells us to "have mercy on those who doubt, save others by snatching them from the fire" (Jude 22:23).  Hence, it is not for me to judge, but God alone.  It is however, my job as a believer to stand on Truth and to proclaim it to all those who listen.        

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who is "The Way, Truth and the Life."  There is no other Truth except You and what comes from You.  Thank You Jesus for Your candor and for saving me.  I am not deserving of Your mercy and my salvation.  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 when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

Matthew 6:5

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Matthew 6:5a-b

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 5: The Sincerity of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• Sincerity is referred to as "the keystone" and as "fundamental" to one's character.  "This is what we demand of all the higher relationships of life. In the lower relationships sincerity is desirable, but in the higher ones it is absolutely indispensable."
• "There is nothing which so takes the life out of us as the discovery that some one whom we have trusted has been other than what he seemed to be.  The very suspicion that some one whose life is close to us is insincere renders us restless and makes the universe seem insecure."
• "And yet how common insincerity is. What a miserable old humbug of a world we are living in, full of trickery and dishonesty and deceit of every kind."
•  "[Jesus] is a man incapable of a lie. Nothing was so abhorrent to him as falsehood. No other people so stirred his wrath as men who pretended to be what they were not. The most odious word upon his lips was the word 'hypocrite'."
  
•  "It was the sincerity of Jesus which drove him into deadly conflict with the hypocrites. A hypocrite and Jesus cannot live together."
  
• "It was because of Jesus' incorruptible sincerity that we have from his lips such a remarkable outpouring of plain words. You and I do not like plain words. We dare not use them — at least often. We water our words down. We pull the string out of them. We substitute long Latin words for plain, short, Anglo-Saxon words, for by multiplying the syllables we attenuate the meaning. For instance, we say "prevarication' instead of "lie," because falsehood when expressed pompously loses its blackness and grossness. But Jesus would not use words of velvet when words of velvet flattered and deceived. It was his work to help men see themselves as they were. He characterized them by words which accurately described their character."
• "Jesus was incorrigibly sincere, and it was sincerity which drove him to tell men the plain truth."
  
• "There was a strong inducement for him to conceal his extraordinary knowledge. A man makes himself odious by claiming to know more than other men, and by asserting that he can do more than anybody else. It would have been easier for Jesus to adopt the language of the professionally humble people who are always saying that they do not know anything and cannot do anything and do not amount to anything. But Jesus was a man of truth. He could not disguise the fact that his knowledge was unique and that his power was unparalleled. Because he was true he could not hold back the fact that he was the Good Shepherd and the Door, the Bread of Life, and the Light of the World. Nothing but sincerity would ever have driven him to outrage the feelings of his countrymen by assertions so extraordinary. Had he kept silence or pretended to be ignorant on matters on which he possessed full knowledge, he would indeed have been a liar like the very men with whom he was struggling."
  
• "The awful parables of the New Testament are the product of a heart that was uncompromisingly sincere. To speak soft words to men whose feet are hastening down the road to ruin, how was it possible to do it? His very sincerity drove him into language which to our cold hearts seems exaggerated and needlessly abusive. He called the leaders in Jerusalem liars, blind men, fools, serpents, vipers....was it not the duty of Jesus to inform them of their pitiable condition? What else could a sincere friend do?" 
  
•  "It is the calm statement of a horrible fact. The Lord of truth must of necessity use words which accurately characterize the persons who are to be instructed and warned."
  
• Jesus was never accused of falsehoods - instead heresy.  
  
•  "He holds back nothing. What he thinks he says, what he feels he declares. He tones down nothing, he exaggerates nothing. He declares all things as they are. He is not swerved by sin within nor cowed by hostile forces from without. His character is revealed in his speech."
  
• "This, then, is the man we want. A man like this can be a refuge in the time of storm. To him we can flee; when sick at heart, because of the deceptions of the world, we cry out in wretchedness, "Who shall show us any good?" When men disappoint us and friends are few, we can come to one who says, "I am the truth." When we are weary and heavy laden, we can rest our souls upon one who is as certain as the morning and as faithful as the stars."
• "The world is filled with jangling voices and it is hard to know which voice to trust; but his voice has in it something which inspires assurance and quenches uncertainty and doubt." 
  
• "When he says that him that cometh unto him he will in no way cast off, we are certain that if we come we shall be received. When he says, " Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man will hear my voice and open the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me," we are certain of a heavenly guest if we want him. This, then, is why we feel so calm and satisfied with Jesus: he soothes and heals us by being genuine. The heart is always at peace when it rests upon a heart which is sincere."  
  

Indeed very wise words from Mr. Jefferson!  I am left with at least two key takeaways upon reading this chapter of The Character of Jesus.  First, in light of Jesus' sincerity, we can trust in His words and promises - see 2 Corinthians 1:20.  This should give us incredible hope and encouragement to persist, endure and hold steadfast to our faith.  Second, we can trust that God will both reveal our sin to us - by talking plainly to us through the Word and the Holy Spirit - and that He will work in us to make us more like Him as we repent from such sin and turn towards Him.  This latter promise of sanctification, is also one of great hope and encouragement because we should seek to please Him and grow in our obedience to Him - we exist to glorify Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are Truth and I can count on You.  You also give me the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to me and to work in me to sanctify me.  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.  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]hey were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Mark 1:27

[T]hey were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Mark 1:27

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 4: The Strength of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "When you think of [Jesus] do you think of some one thin and gaunt, weak and pallid? Not so did he seem to the people of his day....When Jesus presents himself to be baptized, a remarkable thing happens. John had called men to repentance, he had faced the greatest men of his day without flinching, he had baptized the great and small, the high and low, the rich and poor, the learned and ignorant; but when this man from Nazareth appears, John falters and draws back and says: "I cannot baptize you. I have need to be baptized by you." Such was the impression which Jesus made upon the intrepid reformer from the desert." 
  
• "He teaches...as one having authority and not as the scribes. There is something in his voice that pierces and cuts and thrills, a tone that they have never heard before. It is the note of authority, the note of strength."
  
• "There is a sick man in the synagogue, and Jesus heals him, and again the people are surprised because God has given such power to a man."
• The impression of Jesus in his day is one of "authority, mastery, power, leadership; he is a man of strength."
• "He drew men to him....Wherever he went he was surrounded by a crowd...Every city through which he passes is turned upside down by his presence. Only a man of strength draws to him great masses of men."
• Repeatedly in the Gospels we see how people were amazed at or spoke of Jesus' authority and power. Luke 7:1-10 is one such example where the Roman centurion knew of Jesus’ authority and asked Jesus to heal his servant - and Jesus did. 
• Other men of power in Jesus' day respected Jesus' power - men such as Nicodemus and Pilate. "Pilate is afraid of him, he draws back from him, he wrings his hands in uncertainty, he washes his hands, he tries to get rid of this man. He feels that there is a power in him unlike any power he has ever come in contact with before."
• "But if you would have the finest proof of his power, you can find it in the intensity of the hatred and in the intensity of the love which he excited."
• "He kindled a devotion that is superior to anything that has ever been known in this world....He called forth a kind of reverence that has never been granted to any other man who has ever lived. He was so mighty that when men thought of him, they thought of God."
  

Another great example comes from Matthew 8:28-34 where Jesus' power was on full display and we see how the townspeople were confronted with a difficult choice to love Jesus or their wealth and they chose their wealth.  RE: this text, see this short John Piper podcast on DesiringGod.com.

Jesus reigns! See also Colossians 1:15-17.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is so full of grace for me.  You don’t need me and despite how I was an enemy of You, You still saved me! Thank You Jesus for how You save and how You give me the Holy Spirit to equip me and to counsel and guide me. I am not deserving of how You save, counsel and guide.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me grow in my faith and love You with all of my heart soul and mind-and love others as You love me.  Give Lisa and myself energy and wisdom.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church and others.  Help me understand, apply, and be obedient to Your message for me today and every day.

 

[T]o the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude

[T]o the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 25

I resume (and conclude) my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book - the final post for Jude will be based on a study of a commentary-assisted review of Jude 25, the final verse of Jude.  Here, we look at attributes of God:

• He is One True God, there are none others like Him
• Through God the Father, we have Jesus Christ - Our Lord and Savior
• He is the King of Kings, He is glorious, He rules and has dominion over all from the beginning of time to the end of time - Alpha and Omega

 The commentary describes two divisions from this one final verse:

1. Believers Are Secure in the Person of God.
   
2. Believers Are Secure in the Praise of God.

God is glorious, it is not given to Him as it is "intrinsic to who He is."  We must acknowledge this glorious God.  We must praise Him for His majesty, power, and authority.  The commentary shares: "[h]uman extinction is not a possibility because he has all things in his hands. Nuclear annihilation is not a possibility because he has all things in his hands. Evangelistic defect is not a possibility because he has all things in his hands. Missionary failure is not a possibility because he has all things in his hands. Losing my salvation is not a possibility because he has all things (including me) in his hands. In the end our God wins! He is glorious and majestic. He has dominion and power. For his glory he will keep me. In his majesty he will keep me. Through his power he will keep me. By his authority he will keep me."

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 - thank You Jesus for my eternal security.  What an amazing blessing!  I am not deserving of such blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...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]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5

[T]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 5:6-12.  The text starts by describing Jesus as coming by "water and blood," seemingly associating Jesus' arrival or incarnation with His baptism and crucifixion (v6).  V6 also refers to the Holy Spirit, present at Jesus' baptism and described in v6 as testifying that Jesus was God's Son, with who God is well pleased - the Holy Spirit is identified as the truth in v6 as well.  Vv7-8 describe how three testify - water (baptism), blood (crucifixion), and the Holy Spirit - they all testify to who God is as His Son - agreeing in their testimony.  Many who saw Jesus, including Peter, testify that Jesus is the Messiah, the Promised Deliverer, and the Son of God, but we are encouraged to see in v9 how the testimony of God Himself regarding His Son is more reliable and a greater testimony.  V10 shares how, if we believe in Jesus, we have this same testimony - from God - in us.  If you do not believe in God, you make God a liar, not believing in His testimony.  Core to God's testimony is described in v11.  The text for today wraps with a comparison of believers vs unbelievers - if we have the Son we have life, if not, no life.  See also John 3:16-18. Don't doubt the testimony of God and believe!

Comment and discuss this post.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God and Father - better than any earthly father could ever be.  You are Truth and Life and You have given me victory over sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings and 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.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 Matthew 28

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at three attributes of Christ- which John Piper refers to as "massive peaks in the mountain range of Christ's character: the peak of his power; the peak of his kindness; and the peak of his purposefulness."  Piper uses Jesus's remarks to the disciples from the Great Commission in Matthew 28.  Piper's broad point today is how as humans we are wired to "long to see and know is a Person whose power is unlimited, whose kindness is tender, and whose purpose is single and unflinching."  Of course, no earthly person will ever meet this description.  Only Christ is these things...and so much more!  He is the real deal!  Worship the Risen Christ!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You are all powerful, kind beyond description, and single minded - worthy of worship!  Thank You for how You bless in SO many ways.  I am not deserving of how You love and 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.     

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

Hebrews 7

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! Hebrews 7:4

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, my focus is on Hebrews 7:1-10, as I lean on my commentary, and how it unpacks the first division "Melchizedek and Abraham," which refers to Hebrews 7:1-4. The commentary for this text focuses on how we should understand a little known character - Melchizedek - from the Bible, so we can better understand Jesus, as Jesus is compared to Melchizedek.  Melchizedek is first described as both king and priest: "[o]utside of Jesus and Melchizedek, Scripture identifies no one as both a king and priest. In fact, Israel markedly differentiated the roles of king and priest. No priest in the Old Testament could lawfully act as a king, and no king in the Old Testament could lawfully act as a priest."  The commentary refers to Isaiah 6:1 and 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 where "King Uzziah died in disrepute because he defied God’s law by acting as a priest."  Next, Melchizedek is described as a priest of the Most High God: "[s]hockingly, he is even from outside the tribe of Israel. This is an interesting character indeed." The interaction between Abraham and Melchizedek is then explored and the commentary shares that "the fact that Melchizedek blesses Abraham, the head of the old covenant, is astounding....Genesis 14 and the author of Hebrews show Melchizedek, a non-Israelite king, as a superior blessing an “inferior”...The situation presents Melchizedek, as the one doing the blessing, as the greater of the two figures."  We are then reminded by the commentary that Melchizedek's priesthood is not due to familial descent but to divine ordination, unlike the Levitcal priesthood.  Finally, the commentary wraps for this text by sharing how Melchizedek is described by the author of Hebrews as superior to Abraham - the great patriarch - given how Melchizedek blesses Abraham and is given a tithe by Abraham. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You reign forever!  Thank You God that You are a Great High Priest and that You intercede on my behalf to the Father.  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.

Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Hebrews 3

Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Hebrews 3:6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is initial observations of Hebrews 3:1-6. My bible refers to these verses with the heading "Jesus Greater Than Moses", as these verses contrast Moses to Jesus.  As a starting point, I went to Deuteronomy 34 where, upon Moses' death, scripture offers the following as an epitaph: 

And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12

Hebrews' likely audience was Jewish believers, and this commentary indicates that this audience was "intimately familiar with the Old Testament, particularly The Pentateuch" (first five books of the Bible, including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) - where Moses of course plays a key role. So, while today's believers may wonder why they need to compare Moses to Jesus, an understanding of this book's original audience provides important context.  

For this morning, I zero in on v6 (and how v1-5 build up to this verse) where scripture indicates how Christ is faithful over God's house, which this verse defines as the church, if we remain confident and hopeful in Him.  Let us strive to maintain our confidence and hope in Him!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace for me, and You are faithful - I know You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of such faithfulness.  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 we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 Hebrews 2

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is initial observations of Hebrews 2:1-9, which contains three divisions. Hebrews 2:1-9 builds on Hebrews 1 by starting with a focus on who Jesus is and then turning to what Jesus has done - His actions and the implications).  Hebrews 2 looks at Jesus as the author of our salvation and how we should not neglect our salvation (see also Philippians 2:12 for text that exhorts believers to work out their own salvation), as we have no other means but through submission to Jesus to escape eternal damnation (v3).  The message of angels (i.e. Gabriel in Luke 1) was reliable as were the many prophecies of the Messiah declared by Isaiah and others (see .  Believers of today (beyond what was seen during Jesus' days - v4) can also testify of God's work in their own lives.  In v5-9, we, once again (see also Hebrews 1), read how God reigns over all of the universe and its inhabitants and how although we may not see (until we see Him face to face) all of His dominion and providence, we can be assured that He is in control.  Believers are reminded as well that Jesus became like us, so that through His own suffering, death, and resurrection, He could empathize with all that we experience, take our sins to the cross, and give us victory over sin and death.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - unbelievably so!  You suffered and died for me, then rose from the grace and gave me victory over sin and death...thank You Jesus for my salvation!  I am not deserving...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.   

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

 Hebrews 1

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.  But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” Hebrews 1:10-12

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:7-12, the third division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary. The commentary shares how v7-12 build on Hebrews author's emphasis that Jesus is greater than angels, describing how language from the text refers to Psalm 45:6-7 and 102:25-27. Key to this division, however is v10-12 which my commentary highlights as "the distinction that exists between the creature and the Creator....The contrast is specifically between things permanent and things temporal. Creation will perish. It will “wear out like clothing.” The Son, on the other hand, will not. The Son is eternal and permanent. Whereas the created order is subject to change, decay, and ultimate destruction, the person of Christ is unending and unchanging. His years have no end. He knows no change."  This distinction is core for believers to understand as an attribute of God and also so that we do not become too enamored with creation but instead enamored with God. Also, the author of Hebrews will ultimately delve deep into what God has done but is setting the stage first by establishing who God is. Understand who God is and be enamored with Him!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - I know that Your Kingdom lasts forever and that You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  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.

...having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 Hebrews 1

...having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1:4

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:4, the first division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary.  Prior to an examination of Hebrews 1:4, my commentary highlights how Hebrews opens by focusing on who Jesus is, then moving on to what He has done.  This approach is deemed important, reminding us "to keep first things first. “Who is this Christ?” is the first question we must address when we talk about Jesus."  The commentary then jumps into Hebrews 1:4, explaining that the author of Hebrews devoted energy to discussing angels and how they compare to Jesus because the audience was Jewish and familiar with the Old Testament, and because the Intertestamental Period (or Second Temple Judaism as referred to by my commentary) "demonstrates an intense focus on angels."  My commentary shares that "[d]ue to this fascination with angels, the author of Hebrews, writing to a Jewish audience who was familiar with Second Temple literature, needed to recalibrate the theological understanding of his audience—particularly concerning Christ’s relationship to angels."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, and You are more superior than anyone or anything in the universe - You created the universe and all of its inhabitants and You hold all of it in Your hands.  You suffered and died for me and You share Yourself with me - thank You Jesus for all of these blessings and more!  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.