The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

Mark 2:18-22

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. Mark 2:20

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 2:18-20, which is the text for the first (of two) divisions per the commentary.  Excerpts from the introduction for this chapter of commentary and the first division:

• The commentary introduction first emphasizes 2 Corinthians 5:17 where Paul shares how believers are a new creation. This regeneration works both at a personal level and at the corporate level for the as Jesus came to fulfill prophecy in Judaism and "superseded it." 
• "Our Lord makes clear that there is a discontinuity between Judaism and Christianity. The new wine of Christianity cannot be contained by the old wineskins of Judaism. With the coming of Jesus, it is a new day. With the coming of Jesus, everything changes!"
• "The Day of Atonement is the only annual fast mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 27:9), and it was the only fast mandated for all of Israel in the Old Testament. There were other fasts for various reasons—expressing humility and repentance or preparing to inquire of God—but none were biblically mandated. After the exile, though, four other annual fasts were observed (Zechariah 8:19).
• "Despite the prophets’ warnings that fasting without a repentant heart and right conduct was in vain (Isaiah 58:3-6; Zechariah 7:5-6), many believed that vigorous fasting was a foolproof method of earning God’s favor or action. The Pharisees’ own intentions resembled this misconception since they sought to earn God’s rescue from Roman oppression through national purity and obedience."
•  "The only time the Gospel writers show Jesus fasting is during His temptation. This 40-day fast at the inauguration of His public ministry is reminiscent of that of both Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8). Jesus was not opposed to fasting. He actually assumed His followers would fast (Matthew 6:16).
• In response to questioning why He was not fasting, Jesus responds that "His presence with them is a time of joy and celebration, not a time of sorrow and sadness. We would do well to heed Jesus’ words. A relationship with Jesus is not a solemn, boring affair. It is a celebration, a spiritual banquet of joy and blessing! Of course we should be holy, but we must not be somber. We should be moral but not legalistic and righteous but not stern. Why? Because there is joy in Jesus! Christian, do not mourn when it is time to celebrate."
• "There is a time for fasting and all that goes with it “when the groom is taken away.” [V20] is the first allusion to Jesus’ death in Mark’s Gospel. Joy is exchanged for sorrow, and celebration turns to mourning. This is an abrupt and surprising image. In a normal wedding the guests eventually leave. Jesus interjects the alien thought of the groom being forcibly removed from the wedding celebration."
• "The reference to the bridegroom being taken from the disciples, and their subsequent fasting, was surely an exhortation to perseverance for Mark’s congregation in Rome, itself the victim of Nero’s depraved persecution. Mark is telling the church at Rome, “There will be days when Jesus will seem far from you, just as the Father was far from Jesus in His passion” (see 14:36; 15:34; Edwards, Mark, 91)."
• "The bridegroom, our Lord Jesus, would be snatched away to suffer alone on a cross to atone for our sins, to die the death we should have died, to pay the price for sin we should have paid. He died in my place. He bore my wrath. He took on my judgment. God killed His Son so He would not have to kill me. There is an appropriate time to fast and mourn. It is when I consider the infinite price paid for my sin by my Savior."     

Once again, as I have shared repeatedly on this blog - humility is one of the most important responses and applications to the gospel.  As the commentary shares, all believers should reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross and how He took the punishment we deserved for our sin (Romans 6:23).  It is then this humility that should drive us daily into the arms of our Savior in praise and worship - to know, love and please Him more and more every day.  What an awesome God we have!

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

Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers.

Genesis 42-44

Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. Genesis 44:33

I maintain a pause on my study of Ecclesiastes to focus on Joseph, in particular Genesis 42-44, and I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Series volume for this book. Based on the commentary's breakdown of the divisions and subdivisions of this text (see post from Monday, 24JUN), I move on to the third division, which explores Genesis 44.  Here, we once again see a remarkable story that unfolds where Joseph tests his brothers by, after the celebration wraps (see post yesterday), instructing his steward to hide his silver cup (vv1-2), along with their money for grain returned to them again, among their sacks - with the silver cup to be packed in Benjamin's sack.  Joseph's brothers depart to return home to Canaan but Joseph's steward catches up with them and confronts them for the "evil" they have done by stealing the money and the silver cup (v3-12).  Joseph's brothers are overwrought, they all return to the city, fully expecting harsh treatment by Joseph. Judah immediately confesses guilt (despite being innocent of stealing the money and cup), and Joseph orders that Benjamin be detained while the remaining brothers can return home (vv16-17). In vv18-34, we see Judah's extended and passionate pleading to Joseph, as Judah describes the anguish Jacob will experience if Benjamin does not return home.  The pleading concludes with Judah making an offer to Joseph that Judah take the punishment for Benjamin (although both are innocent of the alleged crime to steal the money and the silver cup). 

The below excerpts (not limited to these) from the commentary provide the following insights:

• In discussing Joseph's offer to his brothers (v17) that they can go home in peace (but leave Benjamin with him), the commentary shares: "In Matthew 4 Jesus goes into the wilderness after his baptism and is tempted by Satan three times. The third temptation has the same offer as that made to Joseph’s brothers (Matthew 4:8): Jesus could have peace (all the kingdoms of the world) through slavery (bowing down to worship Satan). However, both Judah and Jesus reject the offer." 
• "Judah speaks up on behalf of his family throughout this scene. Woven into his response are threads of a pattern of confession and repentance consistent with what God calls Christians to do when we are wrestling with sin in our lives. First, Judah owns their most glaring sin by saying that Benjamin’s only full-blooded brother “is dead” (v. 20). Though he doesn’t elaborate on this, he acknowledges the one he has sinned against, having no idea that he is speaking to that very person. Moreover, his words in verse 16 admit they have no justification for their sin: “What can we say to my lord? . . . How can we justify ourselves?” (v. 16). Though innocent in the matter of the cup, they are guilty of other crimes and have no credible defense before Joseph. Owning our sin is the first step in repentance. “How can we justify ourselves?” is a question every sinner must confront in his or her own heart. Repentant Christians recognize that there is no place for defending or justifying themselves amid sin. Second, Judah acknowledges God’s role in revealing secret sin. He says, “God has exposed your servants’ iniquity” (v16; cf. Number 32:23). Similarly, Christians must recognize the Holy Spirit’s role in exposing and convicting us of sin as we seek forgiveness (John 16:8). The kindness of the Lord brings us to repentance by exposing our iniquity (Romans 2:4). Third, Judah surrenders to the authority of the master when he declares he and his brothers are now Joseph’s “slaves” (Gen 44:16). Christians must recognize that everyone who seeks repentance must come to the same point of surrender."
• "Judah makes a final appeal, in what is one of the longest speeches in Genesis (vv. 18-34). After pleading with Joseph not to be angry (v. 18), Judah tells Joseph all that has transpired since they left Egypt the first time. Judah recounts that “the boy’s brother is dead” to him, not realizing that Joseph is in fact alive and listening to him (v. 20)."
• "Judah sees his personal responsibility for sin in the same way we all should. Each of us bears the guilt for our sin. Our sin is not an abstract issue but a personal affront to our heavenly Father. Judah’s solution to the mess is to ask Joseph if he can take Benjamin’s place (v. 33). He offers himself as a substitute to suffer for Benjamin’s sin. Joseph responds to Judah’s pleading with the determination to punish only the guilty rather than the entire group."
• "This is the first instance in the Bible of a human serving as a substitute. Readers must not miss the typological significance of this event. Judah offering himself as a substitute for Benjamin points ahead to the coming Messiah from the line of Judah. Only Jesus doesn’t just offer up his freedom but actually offers his own life. Nevertheless, both men trade freedom for the sake of restoring brothers for the sake of pleasing a father. Jesus becomes our substitute both to set us free from slavery to sin and to reconcile us to our heavenly Father (cf. John 15:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - taking my place on the cross as well as the place of all of humanity for we all sin and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin are death.  Thank You for my salvation.  Yet I am not deserving of such blessing, the greatest gift of all time. My sin is great and it is 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.

On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God[.]"

Genesis 42-44

On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God[.]" Genesis 42:18

I maintain a pause on my study of Ecclesiastes to focus on Joseph, in particular Genesis 42-44, and I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Series volume for this book. Based on the commentary's breakdown of the divisions and subdivisions of this text (see post yesterday), I move on to the second subdivision of of the first division, which explores Genesis 42:5-26.  Here, the text describes how Joseph's brothers, with the exception of the youngest Benjamin, arrived in Egypt to purchase grain and return home to Canaan where Jacob and Benjamin awaited their return. V6 describes how Joseph's brothers bowed down before him just as he interpreted in his dream in Genesis 37:5-8.  This scenario is highlighted in the commentary as it shares: "This idea of the oppressors of God’s faith-filled people bowing before those chosen by God does not end with the Joseph narrative. The prophet Isaiah highlights this pattern as well. He writes, 'The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet. They will call you the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel' (Isaiah 60:14)." Ultimately, all will bow down to God's chosen Messiah - Jesus Christ - see also Philippians 2:9-11.  The commentary share that its been almost twenty years since they last saw each other, and although Joseph recognizes his brothers, they fail to recognize him.  He falsely accuses them of being spies and demands that although they can purchase grain and return to Canaan, they must return with Benjamin as Joseph detains all of the brothers except one who will return to Canaan to retrieve Benjamin and then come back to Egypt. The commentary emphasizes v18 where Joseph reiterates his demands to his brothers while sharing in spite of all the challenges he has faced in captivity he never wavered in his faith and he shares "I fear God."  The implication is that Joseph sees God's hand in all things and His plan is always at work in our lives - good and bad - and while we may not like our circumstances we should try and see how God is working in all things (Romans 8:28).  We should not fear others but instead should fear God and this should animate our lives.  The commentary also shares in v18 how Joseph's test of his brothers includes reassurance that if they comply with his demands they will live, echoing Luke 10:25-28. Vv21-23 describes the shame and guilt of Joseph's brothers as they see their current predicament being due to the sin of selling Joseph into slavery. The commentary shares: "At this point in the story, Reuben brings up the fact he told the group “not to harm” Joseph. Then he adds, “Now we must account for his blood!” (v. 22). Which suggests he suspects Joseph died long ago thanks to what was done to him. It is possible Reuben’s stated conclusion has something to do with either God’s words to Cain following Abel’s murder or God’s promise to Noah, recorded in Genesis 9:5-6. There the Lord says, 'I will require a penalty for your lifeblood; I will require it from any animal and from any human; if someone murders a fellow human, I will require that person’s life. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, for God made humans in his image.' Reuben recognizes this reality. Joseph, presented as a prophet in Genesis, will be avenged by God (Luke 11:49-51)." This showdown in the text between Joseph and his brothers concludes in vv24-25 with Simeon being detained as the remaining brothers are sent home with grain, as well as with the money given to Joseph for the grain returned to them along with other provisions and supplies for their long journey home to Canaan.  The commentary for the text shares: "despite all his obvious displays of hostility toward them, [Joseph] begins their journey with a blessing."  Recognize that God is always at work!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace and compassion - always working in my life for good - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor the good with which I am blessed. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.

Genesis 42-44

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him. Genesis 42:3-4

I pause my study of Ecclesiastes to focus on Joseph, in particular Genesis 42-44, and I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Series volume for this book. The life of Joseph is well studied and likely most Christians are very familiar with Joseph's story - yet as with all scripture there is always more for God to teach us on our journey of sanctification as He molds us into more of His image.  Joseph's biblical story starts in Genesis 37 where, although he was the most favored of his father Jacob's sons, he was hated by his brothers who sold him into slavery.  Ultimately, Joseph lands in Egypt where he serves Potiphar and Pharaoh. Despite his captivity, Joseph serves his masters well and is given increasing responsibility, leading up to Genesis 41 where Joseph becomes the second most powerful official - below only Pharaoh - in Egypt.  Key to Joseph's rise is his God-given ability to interpret dreams, and he interprets Pharaoh's dreams where he sees a coming famine in the land and is able to help Egypt prepare for this famine.  Due to Joseph's planning, Egypt not only has enough food for itself but has enough to sell to neighboring lands and this is where Genesis 42 picks up as Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain.  The commentary chapter for Genesis 42-44 is A Party, a Cup, and a Substitute. The main idea of this chapter of the commentary shares: "[t]he work of God in Joseph’s life has led to Joseph’s ability to provide food for his family to deliver them from the famine, leading to their eventual migration to Egypt. This section concludes with the first instance in the Bible of a person offering himself as a substitute for another. Judah’s actions set a pattern that will culminate in the substitutionary death of Jesus."  Three divisions are shared, each broken down with sub-divisions: 

• Joseph Meets His Brothers’ Need (42). 
• Joseph’s brothers and Jacob’s plan (42:1-4) 
• Joseph’s brothers and Joseph’s accusation (42:5-26) 
• Joseph’s brothers and Jacob’s despair (42:27-38) 
• Joseph Shows His Brothers Kindness (43). 
• The brothers return to Egypt (43:1-15). 
• The brothers enjoy Joseph’s favor (43:16-34). 
• Joseph Tests His Brothers’ Love (44). 
• Joseph tests his brothers (44:1-13). 
• Judah pleads for his brother (44:14-34).

My focus this morning is on the first division/sub-division or Genesis 42:1-4. Here the commentary provides important points for us to recognize before we dive into the text in more detail.  The commentary shares: "[Joseph's] brothers unwittingly seek help from the one they previously harmed. Whereas the brothers’ disgust sent Joseph to Egypt in the first place, desperation reunites them with him there. And almost as soon as he sees them, Joseph begins testing his brothers, uncovering much about their character and maturity. More importantly, this story gives Christians a means for better grasping the breadth of God’s goodness, the depth of our sinfulness, and our need for reconciliation. It also spotlights one of the most important concepts in God’s covenantal plans—redemption through substitution."  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing - 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.

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

2 Samuel 12

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 2 Samuel 12:13b-14

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at how God can be viewed as just in spite of how He forgives even the most heinous of sins.   John Piper uses one of the Bible's most glaring series of sins - David's sins of adultery, rape, murder, lies, and perhaps most glaringly how David "despised the word of the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:9).  Yet Nathan appears as a messenger from God (2 Samuel 12:1) and tells David that the Lord has put away his sin - Piper finds this outrageous.  David of course is not off with a pass as punishment awaits him not just with a son that dies (just as God says will happen) but with another son that seeks to dethrone David (see 2 Samuel 15-19).  To answer the question of how God can forgive David (and anyone with sins as heinous) and remain just, Piper refers us to Romans 3:25-26 where Paul describes how Christ is given over as propitiation (substitute) for sin.  Piper then shares: "God sees, from the time of David, down the centuries to the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, who would die in David’s place, so that David’s faith in God’s mercy and God’s future redeeming work unites David with Christ. And in God’s all-knowing mind, David’s sins are counted as Christ’s sins and Christ’s righteousness is counted as his righteousness, and God justly passes over David’s sin for Christ’s sake. The death of the Son of God is outrageous enough, and the glory of God that it upholds is great enough, that God is vindicated in passing over David’s adultery and murder and lying. And ours. And so God maintains his perfect righteousness and justice while at the same time showing mercy to those who have faith in Jesus, no matter how many or how monstrous their sins. This is unspeakably good news." Indeed!

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

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:16-18

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is a look specifically at Hebrews 2:16-18, the third of three divisions from Hebrews 2:10-18, and this division is entitled "Priesthood and Propitiation" by the commentary. The commentary starts by looking at a fundamental question - could God's justice for humanity's sin and believers salvation be secured without Jesus' incarnation and death on the cross?  The commentary points out how the language of the text is clear: "[t]his text indicates that the answer to that question is no. God only acts in the way that corresponds with his character and most displays his glory. Thus, in order to both satisfy his justice and display his mercy, God put Christ forward as a propitiatory sacrifice." The commentary then explores how Christ's incarnation also made Him a Great High Priest who perfectly intercedes for believers to God the Father on our behalf. It outlines theological terms expiation and propitiation, describing expiation as "washing away of sin" and propitiation as "satisfaction of God’s justice", and further elaborates on propitiation (referring to Romans 3:21-26) by saying: "[p]ropitiation enables God to be both just and justifier. Without the satisfaction of God’s righteousness in the punishment of sin, he could not justly declare sinners righteous. Thus, propitiation stands at the very heart of the gospel. The logic of propitiation makes the good news good. Without propitiation, there is no gospel." 

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My Prayer: Thank you Jesus for both washing away my sins and for taking my place on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for not just my sin but the sin of all of humanity.  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, obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Hebrews 2

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Hebrews 2:14-16

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is a look specifically at Hebrews 2:14-16, the second of three divisions from Hebrews 2:10-18, and this division is entitled "The Incursion by the Incarnate Son" by the commentary.  The commentary first shares how these verses "show us how Christ brings sinners into a position of sonship with the Creator." It then highlights how in v14 Christ "partook of the same things": "Though he was the Creator of all, he became hungry. He grew tired. He ate, drank, slept, ached, and “shared in these” things that all humanity knows and experiences. This is the first and one of the most fundamental truths of the gospel story. God became a man. He became like us."  Yet incarnation alone is described as being insufficient to "secure our redemption" as Christ came to defeat both death (which He did through the resurrection) and the devil.  We are encouraged to see how Satan is real and referred to text such as 1 Peter 5:8, John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, 11:14, John 10:10, Matthew 4:1-11, and 1 Corinthians 7:5.  The commentary shares that while Satan is not ultimately defeated and destroyed until end times, "Christ’s penal and substitutionary atonement completely exhausts Satan’s powers of accusation. Thus, while the devil may continue to prowl about, he prowls with a limp. He has been stripped of his most destructive weapons. His accusations against God’s people do not stick." Be encouraged how Jesus gives us victory over the sting of death and sin!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - thank You for freeing me from the slavery of death and sin!  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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Hebrews 2

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

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

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

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, who died for me as a perfect, substitutionary atonement for my sins - thank You Jesus for bearing my punishment that I deserved.  I am not deserving of the grace You poured out for me and continue to pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.