March 25, 2014
Notice the rhythm of operation in Jesus’ early ministry. He often returned to Capernaum as his home base. In this chapter, a group of Jewish elders came with a most unusual request, they wanted his help on behalf of a Roman officer and his deathly ill servant. This shows the crossroads of culture that Capernaum was in those days, as the Jewish elders expressed concern and gratitude for this Roman patron who had paid for the construction of their synagogue. So Jesus went with them to heal the Roman officer’s servant. What a different relationship Jesus had with the Jewish elders and Romans living in Capernaum and their counterparts in Jerusalem. Jesus healed the Roman soldier’s servant at the request of Capernaum’s elders, who described the Roman as a lover of the Jewish people. While in Jerusalem the Jewish elders hated their Roman rulers, and yet, they conspired together to crucify Jesus. I suppose Jesus could have remained in Capernaum, for that matter, he could have remained in heaven, but he left there. And went up to Jerusalem to be crucified.
March 24, 2014
One of Christ’s most profound actions was to appoint the Twelve. As he did before other important times, he prayed in preparation. On this particular occasion Jesus prayed all night on a mountain top. I wonder what the weather was like. Was it a clear night? Did a wet dew fall? Did a chill set in before the sunrise? Jesus had such stamina for prayer. He was so committed to getting what he needed from the Father that physical things such as cold, fatigue, hunger and thirst seemed only to focus his intensity. We don’t know what he and the Father discussed that night. But we do know that at daybreak he appointed the Twelve, even choosing the betrayer, Judas with full knowledge of what was ahead. Jesus performed many amazing miracles. Yet, on this night he accomplished an easily overlooked part of his mission: He appointed the Twelve “to be apostles.” And they proclaimed the good news of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection to the world.
March 23, 2014
So begins the 5th book of the “Torah” (Hebrew: Law). The name Deuteronomy (From the Greek Septuagint: deutero “second” + nomos “law”) means “second law” because it’s a re-telling of the 40 days in the wilderness by Moses. For those who are reading the Bible for the first time, it is a bit confusing because the story starts over again after the book of Numbers. It is helpful to see Deuteronomy as the record of three speeches that Moses made to the Israelites reminding them of everything that had happened, and of all that God commanded, before they finally enter the Promised Land.
March 22, 2014
When we confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that he died for sins, was buried and raised from the dead, we are saved. In that very moment, we have been saved from sin’s penalty (justification), we are being saved from sin’s power (sanctification), and we will be saved from sin’s presence (glorification). So, when we receive Christ’s payment for our sins, how many of our sins are forgiven? Past ones? Present? What about tomorrow? The answer: In Christ, God forgives “them all.” For this, the apostle Paul exulted, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
March 21, 2014
After the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus, he made Capernaum his base of operations. The town of Capernaum was strategically located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and the Via Maris (“Way of the Sea”), a roadway connecting Egypt to Syria and Persia, passed through the town. Situated on this important “superhighway,” great and various crowds of people passed through. It was also the town where Peter’s mother-in-law lived (Probably where Peter lived too). Jesus’ ministry thrived there. He called many of His disciples to follow Him from this area. It was in Capernaum that he had people lining up until after dark to see him. To this day in modern Israel, Capernaum is known as “The Town of Jesus.” How can we make our hometown known for being Jesus’ town?
March 20, 2014
After Jesus was baptized and tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, He began His public ministry by visiting His hometown, Nazareth. There He was invited to read in the synagogue and the Isaiah scroll was handed to Him. Unrolling the scroll He found the place where Isaiah spoke of the Year of the Lord’s favor and reading it aloud, He concluded by saying it was fulfilled in that “very day.” It was clear to His hometown hearers that Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah, the One that fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. So, they began to say, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” And they didn’t believe Him. Jesus commented that a prophet hath no honor in His hometown and left that place. Does Jesus have a place of honor in your home?
March 19, 2014
Reading through all the instructions concerning offerings and festivals in the Old Testament is pretty overwhelming. It seems impossible to keep up with them all. Yet, God was teaching His people to remember Him and what He had done for them. These holy-days/holidays were meant for remembrance, worship and to remind them of their identity as one people belonging to God. In Numbers 28, the following holiday/festivals are mentioned:
– Passover (Hebrew: פסח Pesach): Which commemorates the story of the Exodus, also called The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Begins on April 14th at sundown this year.
– Festival of Harvest (Hebrew: שבועות Shavuot): Also called The Festival of Weeks and The Festival of Pentecost. It commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah. This year it begins at sundown on June 3rd.
– Festival of Trumpets (Hebrew: ראש השנה Rosh Hashanah, literally “head of the year”): is the Jewish New Year. It is celebrated by the sounding of the shofar (trumpets). This year it begins at sundown on Sept 24th.
– Day of Atonement (Heb: יום כפור Yom Kippur): It is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. This year it begins at sundown on Oct 3rd.
– Festival of Shelters (Heb. סוכות Sukkot): Also called The Feast of Booths and The Feast of Tabernacles. This year it begins at sundown on Oct. 8th.
March 18, 2014
The coming of John, son of Zechariah, had not only been announced by the angel Gabriel, it had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah. John the Baptist was the Messianic Forerunner, coming in the spirit of Elijah, he was the Preparer of the Way. Every king must have a herald to go before him announcing his arrival. John was Christ’s herald. His job was to prepare the soil of the people’s hearts for the Seed of God’s Word. His message was to proclaim, “People get ready! The King is coming!”
March 17, 2014
Luke described how Jesus grew from a child to a man. This four part description is helpful for those who want to grow to maturity as Jesus did. The four areas of growth are:
1) Mental “wisdom”
2) Physical “stature”
3) Spiritual “favor with God”
4) Social “favor with all people”
I use this verse to help set goals in my life each year, praying that Jesus will help me to grow more like Him. What are your “Luke 2:52” goals?
March 16, 2014
Balaam was unable to curse Israel because they were under God’s blessing. So according to Numbers 31:16 he advised another way to harm them from within by tempting them to worship other gods. The Midianites and the Moabites were distant kin of the Jews. Yet, they had fallen into idolatry. It was their wicked and sexual Baal worship that turned many Jews aside and caused them to stumble. The word “Baal” means “Master, Lord, or Owner.” Here, the name “Baal of Peor” probably meant “Lord of Mt. Peor,” as pagan worship was often identified with a mountain. The Israelites could not be cursed or defeated in battle, but they could be tempted to break the first of the commandments and to put another master before the Lord their God.