Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.

Mark 14:26-52

Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled. Mark 14:49

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 third division of the text from Mark 14:26-52 - vv43-52.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv43-52: (1) God in the text: Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the temple guard; Jesus of course has an opportunity but does not stop his arrest, as we know from the other gospel accounts (John 18:1-11, Luke 22:47-53, and Matthew 26:47-56) that Jesus tells Peter (who struck one of the high priests with his sword) to “[p]ut your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”; He sought to fulfill scriptures - v50; (2) people in the text: Judas arrives with the temple guard, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders (v43); Judas is referred to as both one of the twelve and as the betrayer (vv43-44), perhaps alluding to how God seeks to give everyone many second, third, etc. chances to repents and be saved; those arresting Jesus "laid hands" on Him (v46) - ironically, scripture uses the same language we often use when we pray for someone we are sending out; consistent with his impulsive nature (seeking with good intent to protect Jesus), Peter strikes one the servants of the high priests but is told by Jesus to "back down"; Jesus knew this was the appointed time even as He rhetorically questions the timing - v49; the disciples flee in fear v50 (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should see Jesus fulfilled scripture and we can rely on the veracity of the Word and how all of God's promises find there yes in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). We are called to follow Jesus' example to understand God's will for our lives and to follow His will.  

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

• The title of the second division (vv43-52) per the commentary is "The King Would Be Arrested and Forsaken Alone." 
• We are referred to OT prophecy from Isaiah 53:3-12 for how Jesus fulfilled the law.  
• RE: the young man in vv51-52: "[c]hurch tradition says the young man was Mark, the author of our second Gospel. So again, as it was in the garden of Eden, our nakedness is exposed as we desert the God who loves us and has graced us so abundantly with His kindness and good gifts." 
• "[Jesus] is arrested, and He is forsaken. He is all alone to face the wrath of men and the wrath of God. He will receive receive all that we deserve, that we might receive all that He deserves. The “Great Exchange” has begun."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God that willingly sent Your Son to die on the cross so that I could have freedom from sin in this life and for eternity.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of what Jesus did on the cross 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. 

And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Mark 11:1-11

And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:9-10

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 11:1-11.  Excerpts from the commentary's fourth (of five) division (vv9-10):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Worship the One Who Alone Can Save."   
• The author of my commentary, Danny Akin, marvels at the shouts of those seeing Jesus enter Jerusalem.  He writes in the commentary: "I am fascinated by the shouts of the crowd. Their words could not be truer, but they could not have been more misunderstood by those who were shouting them. Only Jesus knew the full significance of what they were saying. “Hosanna” means literally, “Save, I pray.” It draws from Psalm 118:25-26 (from the Egyptian Hallels; Psalms 113–118) which says, “Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success! He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” Passover celebrated the Hebrew people’s deliverance out of Egypt. Now the nation of Israel anticipates a messianic liberation and deliverance from Rome." 
• "'Blessed' draws from Numbers 6:24-27 which says, “May Yahweh bless you and protect you; may Yahweh make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh look with favor on you and give you peace. In this way they will pronounce My name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.” The One who is blessed, or better, who will be the blesser, is (1) He who comes in the name of the Lord, and (2) He who is 'bringing the coming kingdom of David!'"  
• The commentary emphasizes the following text and how Jesus' fulfills prophecy: 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 9:1-7, Isaiah 11:1-10, Jeremiah 23:5-8, Ezekiel 34:23-24, Micah 5:2-4.  At the same time, the commentary notes how "prophecy was not being fulfilled in the way they thought, hoped, and believed it would be. They are right. He is their King. But He is not here to purge Israel of foreign domination. No, He is here to purge His people of their sin! They are looking and longing for a temporal, political, and military Savior. He, however, is bringing what only He can bring: a complete and eternal salvation of body and soul! They want and expect a Savior only for Jews, but He is a Savior for the whole world, for any and all who will believe on His Name." 
• We are referred to John 1:12, 3:16, 14:6, Acts 4:12, and 1 Timothy 2:5.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You alone save!  And You saved me while I was still an enemy and hostile to You - I am saved not through anything I have done....thank You Jesus for my salvation.  The greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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 told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

Mark 11:1-11

And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. Mark 11:6

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 11:1-11.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of five) division (vv4-7):

• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Worship the One Who Submits to the Word of God."   
• The response in v6 leaves one to wonder whether those who saw the disciples untie and take the colt knew the prophecy and recognized Jesus at work fulfilling this prophecy... 
• The commentary first refers us to Zechariah 9:9-17; Matthew 21:4-5; John 12:14-15 where we read about the prophecy of Jesus coming on a colt and about the other gospel accounts of Jesus' riding into Jerusalem as a fulfillment of this prophecy. 
• "[Jesus riding into Jerusalem in this way] is highly symbolic in light of Old Testament prophecy, expectations, and allusions! The phrase “The Lord needs it” (Mark 11:3) uses the same phrase as in 2:25 to justify David’s eating “the sacred bread” when he and his men were hungry. David’s greater Son is here! His riding in on a donkey also is a declaration of His kingship and a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, as Matthew 21:4-5 and John 12:14-15 make clear."  
• "Our Lord lived His life from beginning to end in total submission to the Word of God. His life, death, and resurrection were the unfolding of the drama of redemption." 

This text, including the Zechariah prophecy, underscores the importance of reading and studying all scripture both Old and New Testament.  See also 2 Timothy 3:16.  All scripture points to Jesus - from the very beginning - see Genesis 1:2 where the Spirit of God hovers over the face of the waters - this is Jesus!  See also this post at DesiringGod.com. For a very long time, I did not read and study all books of the Bible, such as Leviticus, yet once I did and other books, I began to appreciate the full arc of the Bible, and how the redemptive story of Jesus is represented in all 66 books of the Bible. "Worship the One who submits to the Word of God" - Jesus Christ.  Indeed!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You are the Alpha and Omega and You hold all things together.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  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.

“Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”

Mark 11:1-11

“Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” Mark 11:2-3

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 11:1-11, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus continues towards His death on the cross, fulfilling prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 where the text shares how "your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." There are no signs that He is not willing nor will He not fulfill all of scripture including His gruesome death.  Once again we have a faithful God - He says how He fulfills the law and He is accurate. All of the prophecies pointing towards Jesus and His crucifixion are about to all ring true.  2 Corinthians 1:20.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The disciples are growing in obedience to Jesus as they grow closer to Him - they do what He asks without question more of the time.  Here they do not question Jesus' request to find and get the colt/donkey Jesus rides into Jerusalem.  Others initially question the act (v5) but ultimately obey hearing how it is Jesus who is requesting the colt/donkey (v6).  Some may question God but not Jesus - an appropriate response to Jesus' call.  Similarly we see those who greet Jesus as He enters with praise and worship (vv8-10) - again an appropriate response to Jesus.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): God wants to obey Him - to do what He requests.  Just as Jesus was humble, we are to be humble.  We can claim and rest on Jesus' faithfulness; just as Jesus fulfills all prophecy every other promise He makes will come to pass.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is faithful - we can rest knowing that all of Your promises will come to pass - praise Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your faithfulness nor how You 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. 

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mark 7:24-37

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7:37

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 7:24-37.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of two) division (vv31-37):

• For the first division, the title is: "Jesus Is the Savior Who Does All Things Well."
• "Perhaps this particular miracle had special significance to Peter, the eyewitness source for much of Mark’s Gospel, because he saw it as a physical parallel to his own spiritual experience. I can identify with that!" 
• "As Jesus looked up to heaven, first He sighed. I believe this is an expression of our Lord’s love and compassion for this man and also His great grief over the fall of man and the terrible consequences of sin. It is the sigh of God over a broken creation." 
• "Mark’s conclusion has deep theological significance. “He has done everything well (good)” echoes creation and God’s work in Genesis 1–2. “He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk” recalls Isaiah, who wrote that when the Messiah comes, “the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for waters will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5-6). 
• Quoting yet another commentary - from Sinclair Ferguson - the commentary shares: "Jesus takes the man aside. His attention is personal and compassionate. Entering the man’s world, our Lord uses sign language....'The man could not hear Jesus and he was also incapable of verbal communication. So Jesus “spoke” to him in the language he could understand—sign-language. The fingers placed in his ears and then removed meant, “I am going to remove the blockage in your hearing.” The spitting and the touching of the man’s tongue meant, “I am going to remove the blockage in your mouth.” The glance up to heaven meant, “It is God alone who is able to do this for you.” Jesus wanted the man to understand that it was not magic but God’s grace that healed him.' 
• Quoting yet another commentary - from James Edwards - the commentary shares: "[t]he allusion of Isaiah 35 is of supreme significance for Mark’s presentation of Jesus, not only because the restoration of speech signals the eschatological arrival of the Day of the Lord but also because the desert wastelands of Lebanon (Isaiah 35:2) will receive the joy of God. The regions of Tyre and Sidon are, of course, precisely the Lebanon of Isaiah 35. Jesus’ healing . . . in the Decapolis becomes the first fruit of the fulfillment of Isaiah 35:10, that Gentile Lebanon will join “the ransom of the Lord [and] enter Zion with singing”! Salvation thus comes to the Gentile world in Jesus, who is God’s eschatological redeemer from Zion."

Once again, we have scripture that describes how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy - on multiple levels. He meets us where we are and heals.  He DOES do all things well because He works in all of the details - not just healing and saving but doing so in a way that it becomes clear that He is God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that exists in all details and does all things well so that we can see You in all....You are so full of love and compassion that even while I was still an enemy and hostile to You, You saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion.  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. 

[W]henever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

Mark 3:7-21

[W]henever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. Mark 3:11-12

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 3:7-21, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations from the text using the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus does not want to be known as just someone who performs signs and wonders - miracles.  He wants it to be clear that He is the One prophesied about in the Old Testament....the incarnate Son of God.  Once again we experience the Messianic Secret.  Jesus is sovereign over demons.  Jesus calls believers to specific roles - in this case the first twelve apostles.  Judas is appointed - even though Judas betrays Jesus, Judas' sin is used for good (see also Genesis 50:20) as Jesus' arrest and crucifixion is required for Jesus to rise again, defeating sin and death.        
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: There will always be people who seek something from God - more than salvation.  They are drawn to Him for what they expect Jesus can do for them not because we all sin and are in need of salvation.  
• 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 should come to Jesus in humility, not with expectations that He will do something for us - we must acknowledge that God's will and purposes reign - not our own.  We of course should avoid betraying Jesus - instead we should please, honor and glorify God as this is our purpose. When we are called to a specific role we should follow Jesus' call to do His will.  

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 compassion for me - laying down Your live for me, knowing everything about me, including my sin, yet loving me first and saving me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and for 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.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel[.]

2 Timothy 2

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel[.] 2 Timothy 2:8

This morning, I continue a pause in my study of Daniel, to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which, appropriately during the Holy Week of Easter, highlights two ways to remember Jesus: (1) that He has risen, and (2) as the offspring of David.  That Jesus has risen gives us hope - we know that sin and death has already lost its sting, and regardless of what challenges, trials, and suffering we may experience, "the worst that it can do on this earth is kill you. And Jesus has taken the sting out of that enemy. He is alive. And you will be alive. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28)." The second reason is important to remember because Jesus is the Messiah the Jews waited for as fulfillment of prophecy - see also 2 Samuel 7:8-17.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and I am grateful for my salvation that You gave to me as a gift of amazing grace.  I am hopeful that through Your resurrection, which I mark and celebrate this week, I have already tasted the benefits of victory over sin and death...and I know more is to come!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet, again, 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 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 after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

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 7 of Advent, and today John Piper contrasts Luke's gospel focus of visitors - shepherds in the field (see Luke 2:8-20) - to Jesus in the manger, to Matthew's focus of the wise men visitors from the east - the Magi. Piper points out that these wise men - Magi - were not Jews, but instead foreigners, perhaps from Babylon.  He then reminds us that "Matthew portrays Jesus at the beginning and ending of his Gospel as a universal Messiah for all the nations, not just for Jews" (see also Matthew 28:18-19 where Jesus gives believers the Great Commission). Piper wraps the devotion by sharing how Matthew's portrayal (and contrast from Luke's) "not only opened the door for us Gentiles to rejoice in the Messiah; it added proof that he was the Messiah. Because one of the repeated prophecies was that the nations and kings would, in fact, come to him as the ruler of the world." We are referred to Isaiah 60:3 for one of these prophecies. Matthew's gospel serves as "proof to the messiahship of Jesus and shows that he is Messiah — a King, and Promise-Fulfiller — for all the nations, not just Israel."  Rejoice in Jesus as the fulfillment of our promised King and go and tell it on the mountains!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good Father, and all of Your promises come true.  You are the Promised King, the Messiah, and my Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus for all that You are and do.  I am not deserving 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 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 while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 1

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

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 5 of Advent, and today we see John Piper looking at the broader context of how Jesus was born in humble circumstances, and how these humble circumstances extended beyond the manger where Jesus was born.  Jesus ultimately dies on the cross, and his road to Calvary is marked with suffering and scorn.  Piper asks what many do (particularly non-believers): if Jesus is so powerful, why didn't He find a nicer place for Mary and Joseph to stay on that first Christmas evening?  Piper poses this question as a series of "could have[s]": "Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family. He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness. He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane. He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do."  Piper points us to 2 Corinthians 8:9, and then moves us along the Calvary road pausing at points in Jesus' ministry, reminding us how all believers are to follow Jesus, deny themselves and take up their cross (Luke 9:23), that "a servant [believer] is not greater than his master, [so] if they persecuted [Jesus], they will also persecute [the servant]" (John 15:20), and that we should be mindful that if we do follow Jesus there will be hardship, suffering, etc. (Luke 9:57-58).  Of course, the broader point is that Jesus did all of us this for us - that we would have life to the full now and for eternity - John 3:16, 10:10.  Rejoice!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who came in the form of a baby, suffered and died on the cross so that I could have life to the full now and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  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 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 that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.

Isaiah 19-23

 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. Isaiah 19:19-22

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 8, Day 1, the focus is on Isaiah 19-20, we see a humbling of Egypt as God uses His judgement of this nation to bring Egypt to Him as Isaiah commentary (from the Christ-Centered Exposition Series) indicates a prophecy of the rise of the Coptic Christian church in Egypt (see Isaiah 19:19). While I posted about the fleeting nature of earthly kingdom's in God's eyes (and His plans), today I reflect on how God fulfilled on His promise to bring about the Coptic Christian church - He is faithful indeed!  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus, You are great indeed and You are faithful!  I have seen Your hand in my life to fulfill many of the promises You make and today I see how You fulfilled prophecy in the Bible to establish Your church in Egypt - amazing.  You are amazing and You pour out SO MANY blessings on me - I am undeserving...I do worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

Day 291 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* moves further into the New Testament - focusing this morning on the birth of Jesus and John the Baptist.

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

The story of the birth of both Jesus and John the Baptist is filled with angels and miracles and is anticipated greatly by those who believe in the prophecies from the Old Testament. John Piper attempts an answer to the age old question "who is Jesus to you?" and he refers to Hebrews 1 where the author writes:

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4

For me, Jesus is the greatest gift of all time - He came for me, died for me, rose again and He gives me life - both to the full and eternally.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are the greatest gift of all time and I am completely undeserving.  My sin continues...daily...including worry, etc.  Please forgive me 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.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

1 Chronicles 1, 2, 4, 3

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:5-6

Day 285 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* turns to the book of 1 Chronicles where genealogies are recorded "from Adam to Noah to Abraham and Isaac; the descendants of Esau (the Edomites); and the 12 tribes descending from Jacob (Israel), with the exception of Dan and Zebulun. Special emphasis is given to the royal tribe of Judah, the priestly line of Levi, and the Benjamite genealogy of King Saul."  My commentary* notes that "An important part of any nation’s history is the preservation of national archives. Genealogical records are particularly vital to the division and ownership of property, to marriages and inheritance, to right of office, and to royal privilege. Perhaps one of the most important reasons for the genealogies will not be fully appreciated until the Messiah is born. At that time one of the many proofs of his messiah-ship will be that he is of the lineage of King David and the house of Judah, just as the prophets have foretold.....Although they do not make particularly exciting reading, their importance to the nation at this time cannot be overstated."

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

I am reminded of the genealogy recorded by Matthew that describes Jesus lineage from Abraham.

For me, at least a couple of takeaways.  God promised a messiah and that the messiah would come from Abraham and David's line.  God fulfilled a promise with Jesus.  God is faithful.  We also all have an earthly father but more importantly we have a heavenly father in Jesus (Abba).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Abba, You are a good, good Father - and my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for coming to save me and for never leaving or forsaking me.  I love You.  I am not deserving of such a God.  I continue to sin, including worry, gossip, etc. Please forgive me Jesus!  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.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.... I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Jeremiah 23:1-8, 33:14-26, 31:27-40

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel  and with the people of Judah.... I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31,33-34.

Day 234 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Jeremiah where my commentary* indicates "Jeremiah appears to reach beyond the end of the 70-year exile to a kingdom of a different nature and to the Messiah who will save his people from their sins." My commentary* also describes how "[a]ll of this will cause great confusion to future generations of Hebrews who read the restoration promises of Jeremiah, Isaiah, and the other prophets, yet continue to see a hostile world about them. Many of them will keep vigil for the coming of a political Israel which will truly have lasting peace and prosperity. Many will look for a mighty king to bring them deliverance from future oppressors. Many will look for a country whose geographical boundaries are clearly delineated and secure. Yet Jeremiah suggests that their attitude toward the coming kingdom is misguided."

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

Highlights from this morning's reading:

The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. Jeremiah 23:5-6

The above verses are largely repeated in Jeremiah 33 where God seeks to make it known with certainty that a king will rise from David's line, fulfilling a promise made to David (Davidic Covenant). 

God also promises a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34).

Jesus is not only the Messiah prophesied and promised in the Old Testament (based on the Davidic Covenant), but also the Lord and Savior we all need.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who forgives my sin, freeing me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I continue to be harsh with my words and actions.  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 understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

Numbers 1-2

So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family. Numbers 2:34

Day 35 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the census the Lord orders of all the Israelite tribes.

My commentary* indicates that the "numbering is more than a census or even a military draft...In fact it is a national registration from which the Jewish people in centuries to come will trace their ancestry".

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

Ancestry and genealogy are key to our understanding of the Bible because the Bible makes promises that certain descendants of certain lines (Abraham, Jacob, David, etc.) will become a great nation and Jesus is a descendant promised from the genealogies documented in the Bible.  An understanding of these genealogies helps us understand that God keeps His promises and prophecies are fulfilled by Jesus' life, death on the cross, and His resurrection. It is also important to note how - time and time again - imperfect people are used by God for His glory and purpose.  We should be encouraged by this.

See also posts from John Piper and DesiringGod.com on the genealogy of Jesus in both the book of Matthew and Luke, and a brief comment on genealogy as a "boring" but important aspect of the Bible.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who always keeps His promises - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me and I am greatly comforted by this as well as by all of Your promises.  Yet I am not deserving.  I sin...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.  

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 1

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. v3

Based on very challenging previous solo attempts at reading Revelation, followed by a more fruitful study through Bible Study Fellowship, I've decided to study revelation with the assistance of an online study by David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church).  This online resource is 13 sessions long and today I reviewed session #1.

My key takeaways from session #1:

• Revelation is an apocalyptic vision filled with symbols and imagery but more than anything it provides in David Platt's words a "grand portrait of God's greatness" and a "glorious picture of god's gospel".
• It is very important to understand both the historical and Biblical contexts for this book - what is God saying to the 1st century church who first heard these words and were suffering greatly and tempted to bend to the prevailing culture, or tempted to succumb to false teachers and/or to Roman culture with all of its focus on material wealth, earthly power, sexual sin, etc.; this approach to focus on historical and Biblical context first then on what the application is for our lives today is important not just with Revelation but for all of the Bible
• We should avoid falling into a trap to interpret this book based on various academic schools of thought which only divide the church but instead focus on a broader more important message God seeks to convey: God wants to give us in the words of David Platt "unshakeable hope" as God has defeated sin and Satan; He is in control, has conquered all, reigns now, hears our cries, sees our tears and will wipe all tears away and take away all of our pain; God also calls us to unwavering holiness in the face of a seductive culture 
• We are promised blessings but also warned about falling away; God loves us now and He reigns now - for both not just in the past and in the future but now

 In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  Daniel 7:13

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Zechariah 12:10

 
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out on me.  I sin...daily and struggle with temptation.  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.

The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Luke 20

The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. v19

Although many of Jesus' words and teachings were not evident to His disciples (see also post here), they WERE becoming more evident to the Jewish leaders whose selfishness and hardened hearts could not be overcome - Jesus had to be turned over to the authorities and crucified.  The law HAD to be fulfilled.  John Piper writes SO eloquently that God's love for His One and Only Son was the only remaining obstacle between God and our salvation - so Jesus HAD to die for us.

From this, I believe a challenge for us as believers exists to avoid the hardened hearts and selfishness that prevent us from being who God intends for us.  We must go to God daily, and serve Him and others.  We must deny ourselves and glorify Him (not ourselves) as this is why exist. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me more than I can ever imagine - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your love - I worry way too much!  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.