TABLETALK - August 2018

I continue in my daily studies to be guided by Tabletalk magazine. 2018 was a study on the Gospel of John and its straightforward presentation of the person and work of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and other doctrines. 

• January 2018 (July 4, 2023 - July 23, 2023) John 1:1-2:22 - The preexistence of Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist and the person of Christ. 
• February 2018 (July 24, 2023 - August 10, 2023) John 2:23 - 3:36 - Regeneration and our need to believe in Christ for Salvation
• March 2018 (August 13, 2023 - September 30, 2023) John 4:1 - 5:29 - Christ is the incarnate Son of God
• April 2018 (October 1, 2023 - November 6, 2023) John 5:30 - John 7:36 - Jesus is as necessary to our souls as food is to our body; Jesus teaches in the temple during the Feast of Booths
• May 2018 (November 7, 2023 - December 22, 2023) John 7:37 - John 9:41 - Jesus experiences opposition and there is a sin-motivated resistance people have toward being enslaved to sin.
• June 2018 (December 23, 2023 - January 21, 2024) John 10:1 - 11:57 - Jesus as our shepherd will lay down His life for His sheep, but some won't hear Him. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in order to impact the faith of the disciples. 
• July 2018 (January 22, 2024 - March 14, 2024) John 12:1 - 13:20 - Jesus as Savior and Judge; salvation comes to Jesus' disciples and the judgment comes to all who reject Him. 
• August 2018 (March 15, 2024 - April 12, 2024) John 13:21 - John 14:31 - Warnings Jesus gave on the night of the Last Supper and the blessed promise of the Holy Spirit. 

Chapter 13 (continued)

The Betrayal of Christ (John 13:21-30) - Jesus identifies the one who will betray Him, though the disciples don't understand the significance of this at the time. 

The Glorification of the Son of Man (John 13:31-33) - History to date culminates in Jesus being glorified when the Son of Man fulfills His mission for mankind with God receiving Glory and Jesus returning to the Father in Heaven. 

A New Commandment from Christ (John 13:34-35) - Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us so that all will know that we are His disciples. 

Peter's Overconfidence (John 13:36-38) - Simon wants to follow Jesus and go where He goes when He is glorified, but Jesus lets him know that He will come later, but first Peter will deny Jesus 3 times. 

Chapter 14

A Place Prepared for us (John 14:1-3) - Jesus to Peter and disciples promises that though He is leaving, He is preparing a place for them and He will return and they will be where He is going. 

The Only Way to the Father (John 14:4-6) - Like Peter, Thomas does not know where Jesus is going when He says is going away, but Jesus confirms He is the only way to the Father. 

The Father Revealed in the Son (John 14:7-10) - Jesus continues to try to help his disciples understand completely Himself, namely that seeing Jesus is seeing Father and that the Father is in Him. 

The Works We Will Do (John 14:11-14) - Jesus tells his disciples once again the importance of believing in Him and through His words He brings them comfort, letting them know he will work as they ask Him.  

Showing Our Love for Christ (John 14:15) - Christ gives us a simple admonition to show our love for Him by being obedient to His commandments. 

The Promise of Another Helper (John 14:16-17) - Jesus is leaving, but He is sending to those who believe in Him a Helper and this Helper will always be with those that believe in Jesus. 

The Coming of Jesus (John 14:18-20) - Jesus continues to comfort His disciples promising that He will come again. He lives and we will live and like He is in the Father, we will always be in Christ. 

The Indwelling of the Father and the Son (John 14:21-24) - Disciples are to love Jesus and in the process, Jesus will disclose Himself to us, the Father and the Son, growing in closeness to God. 

Our Teacher the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-26) - Jesus reminds His disciples He abides with them and the Holy Spirit will be out teacher, reminding us always of Jesus' promises to us. 

Peace from Jesus (John 14:27-28) - Jesus leaves his disciples with His peace, asking them also to rejoice because Jesus goes to the Father. They are to have no trouble or fear. 

Sovereign over Satan (John 14:29-31) - Jesus comforts His disciples, assuring them of His ongoing commitment to them and His decree to die for man, once for all. The ruler of the world is coming, but God's purposes are still clear.

Various Scriptures - The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is one person of the Trinity, empowering us for ministry, equipping us but also working in us to create works of beauty. We are given courage by the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit changes hearts towards redemption as the Father draws. Upon conversion, we never lack the Holy Spirit, but as New Testament believers we not only are regenerated but we are progressing in holiness, sanctified by the Spirit. 

The Great Shepherd - Characteristics of a shepherd: guardian, protector, gentle, strong, tender and courageous, caring and fierce. They can also be skilled hunters and warriors. Jesus in John 10:14 says, "I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me."  This reading reminds me of ways the shepherd protects His flock. A sling was used by David to stop predators at a distance, but a rod was also used to throw at close predators or even the sheep. The staff could pull them away from a rock or thickets. As such discipline may be necessary. We may need to be corrected. Sheep will wander and the Shepherd brings them back. The shepherd is our protector. 

The Psalm of David the Shepherd - David began as a shepherd, but then became king over Israel, his new flock, despite being the youngest of his brothers. As one of the oldest occupations, shepherd is a metaphor often for leading people. God is called a shepherd and elements of a shepherds life are attributed to God's activity. His life as a shepherd impacted his ongoing life, such as leading people, and depending on God when he fought Goliath. A shepherd is constantly caring for a flock, watching, but also caring for needy sheep, and the environment. As a shepherd he was responsible for providing sheep with water, often not easy to come by, and food, locating grass for them. They kept their flocks together, guiding them without the use of fences. He would protect them from predators as well, also gathering them as they would flee to hills or mountains to avoid prey. Thus, there was a close bond between shepherd and sheep, sheep learning to trust and listen to his voice, and his leading. As Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want - As a boy, seeing the book of David as shepherd, painted as the model child, was not what the author represented. And yet a boy did not write Psalm 23, as the words of this Psalm represent a well-tested believer. Psalm 23:1 echoes words from Genesis 48:15-16 when Jacob blessed Joseph and his two sons, "The God who has been my shepherd all my life." God pursued Jacob, like a shepherd pursuing sheep. And the words of 'not lacking' or 'shall not want' are present elsewhere in Scripture, like Deut. 2:7 Moses said, "These 40 years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing."  The Father provides for all of our needs. And Jesus would give everything one day for His sheep so that we have everything we need, lacking nothing ("I shall not want"). 

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters - Shepherd is a metaphor for kingship in the ancient Near East. Getting to green pastures or grass was an often dry (needing water) and difficult terrain to cross. But getting there is a glorious ending after a hard trek. And the Shepherd makes the sheep lie down, providing their refuge. The ultimate place of rest for God's people is with God, is being in Christ. In God, in Christ, we have really everything we need. 

He restores my soul - In Ezekiel 34, the Lord condemns the shepherds of Israel for not bringing back sheep that have strayed (v.4). It is the task of the shepherd to bring them back. We were dead in our trespasses and sins and He brought us back. He turns our mourning into dancing. He restores the individual, but he restores also the entire flock. It takes time. He restores us and we can restore the soul of others. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake - We rest in green pastures, but then we keep walking. In Luke 15:5 Jesus speaks of a shepherd rescuing a lone sheep and carrying it home. Jesus is intent on leading us away from evil, out of peril, into safe paths. God never gives up and He is always pursuing. I do not boast (Romans 3:27) as every act of salvation is His doing, but I still walk in the path of righteousness. He leads. I walk. And I remain on the path. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me - The journey to the Promised Land is fraught with dangers and perils, thus we need a Shepherd. The Shepherd-Ruler tradition goes as bar back as written history. Like Hammurabi (1750 BC) called himself the Shepherd. God himself speaks of this in Hosea 4:16. The valleys have been applications - chronic physical and mental anguish and disease, economic hardship, worry and anxiety about loved ones, enemies, betrayal and loss - and we have the comfort that God is with us, with me. 

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me - The rod and staff is what the shepherd use to govern his flock. The rod warded off predators; the staff was a tool to hook onto the sheep to bring them back. Christ watches over us. Jesus has compassion on His people as they were sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34), possibly thinking of Zechariah 11:10 and the termination of a previous covenant. The Word is our light (Ps. 119:105) and the Spirit is with us, we have leaders (pastors) speaking truth and helping guide us - all instruments (rod/staff) that God uses to comfort us. 

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies - Now we have the best for the end. David's enemies are observers at the feast. Often in our world, the Christian thinks God has forgotten him, like suffering and bad times are winning. Sheep receive their reward while enemies are cast out into darkness, but here are watching. Jesus has promised us to welcome us into His kingdom on the last day, to feast, but not alone but with everyone else He has gathered. The enemies can only watch. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows - David at times has to treat diseases in his flock. We have been purchased and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. The 2nd time a lamb wanders away the shepherd breaks one of its legs and the lamb would be carried. The lamb was hurt but for the benefit of the lamb, to stay close. Oil smooths troubled water and nourishes. Despite all that Christ suffering on the cross, His cup was overflowing and He had unshaken peace. May oil always bring us peace. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - The goodness and mercy of God are following his children every step of life. 'Surely' means there is no doubt of this. God is perfectly good in His character and flawlessly good in all His actions. His mercy is His unconditional love. Goodness and Mercy are constantly following us. There will not be a single day that He is not close to us. We go astray but He is always near. We can never escape His love. 

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever - Psalm 26:8, "O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells." God's house is the journey's end. But the Shepherd is our host taking care of us. And we will be in a place more glorious than Eden. 

Blessings of Repentance - Repentance is changing our minds about sin and turning our lives back to God, through faith in Jesus Christ. We turn and are confident in Christ because of faith. Jesus' perfect life and sacrificial death reconciles us to God. Our Father loves us. The Holy Spirit makes our hearts new. We have faith, we have repentance. The blood wipes our sin as far as east from the west and we are free. After faith when we sin, we confess, not to restore our righteous status for that cannot be changed, but it removes the stain on our spirit. We are refreshed. 

Where Do You Find Your Identity - Author mentions that in Luke 16 Jesus talks of a rich man and Lazarus and how the rich man's name is not identified. Lazarus carried to Abraham's side (in heaven); rich man to Hades. Doesn't mean that rich men go to Hades as Jesus mentions what is impossible with man is possible with God. In Germany, author notices that many in the community where he started a church, people identity themselves based upon their wealth. With wealth they are good; when things go sour there isn't much to the person. Perhaps this is why Jesus doesn't mention the man's name in Luke because wealth is all the person is. But our identity should be first in Christ, anything else and we are utterly forsaken. Trusting in Jesus is eternal, an idol temporary satisfaction. We are complete by God's grace, as children of God. 

The Theater of Glory - The fingerprints of God are everywhere. God gave us brilliant colors and stunning variety in creation, from the Milky Way to the millipede. May it ignite our hearts with worship. 

Scars of Sanctification - Scars are often with us for life. Something that happens at a young age can remain with us for life. They remind us of healing that has occurred. And yet scars often bring pain as some always hurt. They give us lessons. In heaven, our scars will be gone (Eph. 5:27). The only scars in heaven are Christ's. 

Becoming What We Behold - Each Christian longs to be more like Christ, to constantly be different and this is prompted by the Holy Spirit, who gives new birth (John 3:5-8) and fills us to walk not by the flesh but by the Spirit. We become like Jesus as we worship Jesus. Genesis 1:27 shows us that we are designed to be His image bearers, reflecting either our Creator or something else in creation. In the OT, God's people turn to idols -- Israel bows down to the golden calf, elsewhere they go after false idols. Whatever we worship will reap ugly vices in our lives. So we need to be conformed to the image of Christ. Submit to the Spirit and allow Him to speak to you through His word. How to worship: 1. Contemplate/Meditate - ponder His goodness; think on the Lord; read His word thoughtfully. 2. Praise/thanksgiving/singing - Sing and make melody to the Lord, lightening the heart and engaging the body. 3. Obedience/action/service - find tangible expressions in works of merciful neighbor-love. Be empowered by the Spirit and become like Him. 

New Covenant Worship: Lift Up Your Hearts - In corporate worship, believers are united with God in heaven (Heb. 12:22). "Sursum Corda" is a liturgical assertion that God, by His Word and Spirit, lifts the hearts of believers into His heavenly presence. But this presence is not gained by our performance of communion, but rather by God dwelling with us, by the sending of His Spirit. Worship is a union the believer has with the presence in Christ. Jesus offers Himself and we draw near to God. In Hebrews, we learn that Mount Sinai was a temporary place of worship and the tabernacle a shadow of things eternal. Mount Zion is a better covenant with permanent promises (8:6). We don't need to go to a specific place to worship because we are in His presence now. But still in both covenants is our need to offer acceptable worship. So let us set our hearts on things above (Col. 3:2) and prioritize our meeting together (Heb. 10:25). We are redeemed to proclaim God both now and forever (I Peter 2:4-5, 9-10). 

Why We Don't Share the Gospel - No one loves rejection, but maybe it is not bad as we think. Two primary fears for not sharing Christ with others: (1) Fear of rejection - The gospel is offensive to many people. But we can learn during times of rejection and it can help us grow. It is part of the path of following Christ. The reality is when we talk to others about Jesus, we don't know where the conversation will go and we have to trust the Holy Spirit. So we need to replace our fear of rejection of people with a proper fear of God. (2) Fear of failure - We are called to be faithful, not win every task. Even when people do not come to faith, we please our Father. The gospel, not our answers, is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). 

Finding a Pastor - 1. Prepare. 2. Agree. 3. Lead. 4. Search. 5. Propose. 6. Preach, pray, and talk. 7. Recommend. 8. Consider. 9. Vote. 10. Welcome. 11. Encourage.