Various Scriptures - The Significance of Peter

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Message: The Significance of Peter

What the Lord is Saying: The rock that is mentioned is most likely Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. Catholicism believes this to be the justification of the institution of the papacy and the pope as lead bishop in the Roman church. But Peter did play a great role as being the first Apostle to confess the faith of Jesus as the Christ, the first Apostle to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and the first Apostle to preach to the Jews on Pentecost. And he gave us part of God's word with 1 and 2 Peter, and this is the basis of Mark's gospel. 

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I Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Message: The Apostle of Hope

What the Lord is Saying: Peter is said to be the Apostle of Hope. Hope is the confidence we have in the fulfillment of God's promises. It reminds us that God is incapable of breaking His pledges to us. This reality in our lives sustains faith in our hearts. What God says is true. 

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I Peter 1:4-5

4 to [obtain] an inheritance [which] is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Message: A Hope Kept in Heaven

What the Lord is Saying: I Peter mostly written in AD 60 address Christian suffering. In suffering, we focus on what will be birthed at the end of suffering and in this suffering the time frame of it will be limited. Some suffering on this earth is short, like pain in childbirth and after it comes a baby. As bad as things are they will not be forever. I think of this often in people like Joni or even my dad now who is suffering with such back pain and sorrow, not able to get himself out of it. Not allowing himself to get himself out of it. Almost content with it I feel at times. He wouldn't say so, and yet he isn't doing anything to change. The mind is so powerful. To hear of people like Rob's wife who is always happy and smiling. Give me hope God, not only when things are easy, but when they are hard. 

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I Peter 2:4-8

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone." 

8 and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE;"

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Message: Living Stones in A Spiritual House

What the Lord is Saying: Christ is the foundation upon which the church is built. We are the church. As in today's passage and elsewhere physical objects are used to describe something non-physical or give us a picture of what God is in our life. "I am the living water." "I am the bread of life." These are metaphors used constantly in scripture. Jesus is our corner stone and so he stands out from others. 

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I Peter 2:13-14

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

Message: Submission to Authority

What the Lord is Saying: We live in a culture that often does not like authority and yet we are called as Christians to submit ourselves to authority. Women are called to submit to their husbands, something else which is often misunderstood and often under attack. We are under authority those who punish evildoers and praise those who do right. I am not sure if that refers to all of our authorities. I think we need to be careful of simply saying if there is any injustice that we don't have to submit. I struggled through this with COVID, not so much what we were being told but the way the church we were attending was responding to it, but maybe they were taking a harder stance than I cared for. Is this black and white? I just wonder if we sometimes look for ways to be disobedient and maybe we need to default to obedience rather than disobedience. 

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I Peter 5:1-5

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Message: Shepherding the Flock of God

What the Lord is Saying: Christians need to submit to authorities, but also those with authority need to exercise rule and authority over the church. It is our elders, as this passage notes that is exercising this authority over people and we as Christians need to look to them. Elders need to be called to their role (verse 2) and not be serving because they are under compulsion. Also in their roles they are not to be domineering or doing their job just to get some sort of profit from it. We need to have humble men in service and not those that are using their roles to have some sort of power over others. 

Summary: Peter reminds us that our hope is Christ, our hope through suffering and difficulties, and we are like stones, firm in our role in Christ and we need to submit to authorities as we trust God to establish authorities to glorify Him. 

John 19:6-11 - The Source of Pilate's Authority

John 19:6-11 

6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Message: The Source of Pilate's Authority

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: The details of Jesus' arrest, interrogation, and verdict are interesting. In the end, He is given up to be crucified. I now see from the reading of my lesson today in Tabletalk that in the last passage, that Pilate tried to appease the Roman officials by going forward with a light flogging (scourging and crown of thorns), but then presented him to the officials as a man, "Behold, the man." Pilate was in a way trying his best to allow Jesus to be innocent as there wasn't a crime Jesus was committing from only Pilate's perspective that would result in Jesus needing to be crucified. But the Jewish leaders still wanted Him crucified. 

Pilate gave him over to the leaders in verse 6, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” However, once again the leaders pronounced another accusation and that is Jesus is being made out to be the Son of God. Previously in verse 3, He was said to be, "Hail, King of the Jews" and now the accusation is expanded to be that He proclaims to be the Son of God, meaning He claims to be God. This would violate Leviticus 24:16 according to Jewish law, "Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death." 

Pilate still didn't have a reason for carrying out the sentence of crucifixion, but at the same time didn't want his authority usurped and as an official he was charged with carrying out the local laws. And so the Jewish leaders want Pilate to know that he has a responsibility to enforce the breaking of their laws. He asked Jesus of His identity, to defend Himself and yet He also knew that His crucifixion was necessary. Pilate's position of authority was a gift from God. A reminder that our rulers are in their position for a reason. Sometimes this is a hard thing to see and realize given the acts of many leaders. 

Other verses:

Daniel 2:20-21 - Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding." Thus, in God's sovereign will He is over the rulers of our land. But His reasons are not readily apparent and these rulers remain accountable for their actions. I think often of Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." What seems random to us is not random with God and yet we remain accountable for our actions. He controls everything and He does it for our good. 

Mark 14:21 - "For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." To me, this identifies that God is in control and yet here Judas, his actions are still accountable before God. 

Romans 13:1-7 - 1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. - Our response to rulers is obedience. We are to do good. We are to pay taxes. Rulers are servants of God. Render to them what is due. And yet we are not to go along with evil. 

James 4:17 - Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. This is a tough verse. Do right, and if you don't, you have done wrong. Another great reminder of the sinners that we are. For we are not perfect, however hard we try to be. We will make mistakes. Be true to yourself. Live with integrity. Do the right thing always. Yet, this works the other way as well in that we must stop sin which is the right thing to do. 

Summary: Pilate finds no guilt in Jesus, but the Jewish leaders up the ante to include Jesus proclaiming to be Son of God. Pilate feels obligated to enforce Jewish laws as well and Pilate receives his authority from God. 

Promise: If we fail to stop sin when and where we can, we are guilty of sin.

Prayer: Lord God, at times your ways are a mystery to me. And yet there is purpose in Your ways. I know this. Ultimately, you knew I needed a way to be made whole and accepted by You and this was through sacrifice and atonement for sin. History always looked to you for this answer. You are sovereign and in control and I continue to discover the meaning of those words. And yet through all of your crucifixion - arrest, interrogation, and verdict -- you remained innocent and made it clear that those accusing you were the guilty one's. It reminds me of the evil intent of some people and their desire to be god, to be judge and jury. Each of us wants justice served. I want justice in my life and see this often in the work I do on the job, thinking I know the best way to do things and struggling to submit to authority. It is hard to be a leader. We all do what we think is best. We may be right or wrong, but we still have the responsibility to do what we think is right. Help me to always support good and when I see evil, to come against it. Give me the strength to do this. I want to be the best person I can be in all situations. It is hard though and I need your strength to make that happen. Help me to do the right things at work and not engage in activity that is not honoring to You. Thank you for your sacrifice. You took it on willingly but it still came at a cost and you still suffered. You still experienced crazy pain for me. O how we hate pain. I fear death to the point that the taking of my life will result in some sort of pain - like a heart attack or cancer. Life taking from me will result in pain and that is a cause for concern. My dad fears it as well. I know. But, help me to not be paralyzed by that pain and know that Your grace will be sufficient. There is something waiting for me at the other side of the pain and discomfort. O God, give me patience and endurance. I need it now. Calm me. I need your strength always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Peter 5:1-3 - New Covenant Ordained Ministry

I Peter 5:1-3 - Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 

Message: New Covenant Ordained Ministry

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ.

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is the only mediator between us and our Creator (I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, man Christ Jesus.) There are not classes of believers, but instead all believers offer holy and acceptable service to the Lord whether the calling is full-time ministry or working in a secular context. 

Yet, we still set apart people those for leadership in the church. Like today, elders are set aside to care for and shepherd the flock. Other texts will name other leaders such as deacons (I Timothy 3:8-13). Leaders are not however more important than non-leaders of the Church. There is not greater holiness in these leaders of the church. Those with least valuable gifts and callings are as vital to those with a more recognized and public role (I Corinthians 12). 

• The same God works all things in all persons (6).
• All the members of the body, though they are many, are one body (12). 
• The body is not one member, but many (14).
• Foot, hand, ear, eye - not any is less a part of the body (15, 16)
• One cannot say, I have no need for you (21).
• Even those that seem to be weaker are necessary (22). 
• Those less honorable, have more honor (23).
• No division, but all care the same for one another (25)
• If one suffers, all suffer. If one honored, all rejoice. (26)

Summary: Elders and deacons are set apart for specific roles. But those who are not set apart for these roles still are essential members of the church. All are vital, equally. 

Promise: Do not think you are invaluable because you are not called to the leadership roles of the church. All are valid and significant. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand my role. Thank you for calling me to be of the laity of the church and showing me how I can still be of service to you in an impactful way. Keep giving me understanding and enlarge my ministries. Help me to be impacted and for many others to be impacted by Your work in their life. At my current church, help me to serve and give me and my wife understanding of our roles in this body and how we are to serve. I pray that people feel cared for and heard. Help me to learn better to listen and encourage. Thank you for the peace that is only found in You. 

Exodus 20:12 - Honoring Father and Mother

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Message: Honoring Father and Mother

Time: Most likely this book was penned by Moses. The book covers a period of approximately eighty years, from shortly before Moses’s birth (c. 1526 BC) to the events that occurred at Mount Sinai in 1446 BC. The Bible's message of redemption appears in Exodus as well: though the children of Israel were enslaved in a foreign land, God miraculously and dramatically delivered them to freedom, provided the Law, established the system of sacrifice, and gave instructions on building of His tabernacle. God began to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

What the Lord is Saying:

The promise in this verse is what for me has stood out -- that your days may be prolonged. I remember a friend saying that if we were to truly do this command, then the rest of the commands would not be necessary. And in some ways this lays the foundation for all the other commands. 

As all of us begin life, we see that God has established authority in our lives from the beginning. And our first step is to honor our father and mother. More authorities will come in life - in school, jobs, at church, our elected officials and leaders, law enforcement, but it all begins with the command to honor our father and mother and submit to them. 

This text from Romans 13:1-7 has been looked at a lot over the last few years as we think about this virus and our response to it. 

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

I think in these verses is a basic understanding that we are to be in subject to our authorities. Unless we are told to do something that is not in line with God's word. I think we as humans are struggling with this more and more. I have a person right now at work that ignores authority. He is asked to do something and he tells the person "no." It makes me wonder his home life and how he might have learned about authority growing up. 

As I think about this command I see that Paul repeats it in Ephesians 6:1-4 and also repeats that in following it we will live long on the earth. Maybe this phrase is meant to say that our lives will be better. I think I need to look at this as well in my life. Right, I am struggling with the authority in my life at times, not agreeing with my boss, who is about 15 or more years younger than me. I want to be autonomous because of my experience and I need to do a better job of deferring to her. I can tell as I get older and the thought that I am getting wiser that I begin to think that authority is not as important. I fall out of the shadow of my parents and think I am more on my own. 

The verse in Ephesians is also a verse for me as a parent, a parent that is a disciple of Christ and that I need to be teaching my children in the way of the Lord. I think we instilled this in our home. I am concerned that at times it was fear based but hopefully my kids through the Holy Spirit caught onto the importance of this, even now as they are living on their own. 

Summary: Parents are to rear their children in faith, teaching them to respect authority and children are to follow. God orders authority and establishes it. It begins with parents but continues in many other forms throughout our lives. 

Promise: As Tabletalk says, "Teaching children to honor their parents and other authorities is not only right according to God's law, but it is also good for society." 

Prayer: O God, you are a great God. I thank you for this new day, a new day to worship and serve you and walk with You. Lord, I thank you for the parents that you gave me and learning the importance of submission and respect. I pray that you would continue to teach me what this means and you would continue to instruct my children in this even as they are no longer under our roof. Help us all to remember that submitting to authority improves our life. Your commands are there to protect us but also to improve our lives and make life more satisfying and enjoyable. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

The Law is our Guide

The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him. Finding Guidance in the Law - God's Word, all if it, is a guide to my life and I am to meditate on it continually. The One and Only God - I seek to trust and love God above all else today. Images and Idols - Pictures, statues, symbols, art, people are not bad; but be careful about placing too much emphasis on these things I see. Using God's Name Frivolously - Blasphemy or using God's name frivolously are examples of taking God's name in vain. Keeping the Lord's Day - It is vital that we are setting apart a day to gather for worship and fellowship, resting from our ordinary vocations.

I Timothy 1:8-11 - The Restraint of the Law

I Timothy 1:8-11

8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

Message: The Restraint of the Law

Time: Paul is writing to a young pastor in Timothy. He is writing to Timothy in about AD 63, who is serving the church in Ephesus. He is writing about church leadership and organizing the church. Paul gives practical and pastoral advice. 

What the Lord is Saying:

After spending time in looking at justification by faith alone, it seems natural now to talk about the Law. The antithesis to faith alone salvation is some level of works or obedience to the Law or a law in one's life. The church is tempted often to set up check points or ordinances that must be followed to assure people that they are saved. But in this way we start to become too focused on the works and eventually succumb to the belief that we must prove ourselves worthy to Jesus. And suddenly faith alone is abandoned, but in these lessons I think we need to see the importance still of the Law. 

In civil law it comes down to who is to execute the law. Lawful authorities are given this responsibility and not merely the citizens living under the law. A court must decided someone's fate for murdering another, not an individual. This is being assaulted and contradicted daily in our world as it seems popular opinion or at times, any opinion becomes judge and jury. 

In a similar way to authority, God as our authority needs to be considered. In considering, there is a conclusion of 3 different effects. The first is the use of the law as a restraint. In our text today is the idea the law is for those who are lawless. The point of a text like this one in I Timothy is to compel people to not break the law by describing lawbreakers who are accountable to judgments and consequences by their rebellious acts. Consequences and punishments cause our lives to be detoured and we are clearly a people that do not want to be detoured. 

Sinners or those that are unconverted especially need this written standard. With a desire to do evil. we need to know what it is that will lead to punishment for our evil actions. If we were sinless and unable to sin, we would not need an external code. Obviously it is hoped salvation comes to people, but for life to work for all - the converted and unconverted - we need a standard. The Law is that standard. We need to be constrained by the fruit of our evil urges such as murder, theft, and adultery. 

Promise: God has given us the Law and we should be grateful for this restraint and heed God's law so as to preserve a safe and orderly civil society. 

Prayer: Lord, I am thankful for the Law and the continual reminder that your ways are the best ways. You want to simply protect us and make life the best it can be - even if are lives are not surrendered to you. At least we can show that adherence to your law is the best way. I think you that society believes on core basics but pray that it would me more sweeping in what they define as murder. theft, adultery, and many of the other commandments you have given. Return us O God to living according to your standards. Thank you for those groups that seek to uphold this and help me to reinforce this as well that we need these core standards in our lives. I pray that we would trust our leaders and our leaders would adhered to standards and not give in to personal whims. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

2 Peter 3:15-16 - The New Testament Canon

2 Peter 3:15-16
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Message: The New Testament Canon

Time: Peter wrote this letter from Rome soon after he wrote 1 Peter in AD 64–66. Peter is encouraging believers to stand firm as they face false teachers. Peter emphasized the importance of learning and clinging to the proper knowledge of God

What the Lord is Saying:

It is important in the study of Scripture to know which books constitute scripture. Thus, deciding what is inspired or not inspired is a process because many have stated having received a word from the Lord.

In identifying the books for the New Testament Canon or the inspired scriptures that would become part of our Bible there were some books that were universally accepted - the four Gospels, the Pauline epistles, Acts, 1 Peter and I John. Early believers had questions though about 2 and 3 John and Revelation. The other books added were added because of apostolic authorship and the fact that by the 4th century these books were well read throughout the World.

The conclusion though was in the fact that these Scriptures were confirmed by the Holy Spirit in his speaking to believers of there authenticity. The Spirit spoke to the writers and spoke to those who evaluated the Scriptures, thus our trust is on God.

What I saw earlier was the idea that Paul's letter to Timothy mentioned Scripture and the question at the time when he said, All Scripture is inspired by God is what was the scripture that he was speaking about. Was he simply speaking about the Old Testament Canon? That was my thought at the time as I wouldn't think he would be speaking of his own writings. But perhaps Paul was in fact claiming his words as authoritative. One, i think about which words of the New Testament were in existence at the time of his writing I Timothy. If the time of that book is dated between 60 and 65 some of the Gospels would have been available (not John), but his writings would still be in development. Clearly, he does seem to be talking of Old Testament books.

Yet Paul does sort of parallel his writings with Scripture:

I Thessalonians 2:13 - For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 - So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Ephesians 3:3-5 - that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

Luke wrote in Acts 15:28 - For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials

John states in Revelation 22:18-19: I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Thus, it is interesting that these texts, written by these writers, self-describe that the words coming from themselves are inspired by God. And what Peter does here in these verses is sort of align his words with Paul's words and then remarks the rest of the Scriptures. Thus, as he writes the words, he affirms Paul's words and brings them altogether his words, Paul's and the rest of Scriptures.

I know I have memorized 2 Timothy 3:16-17 with the idea that the All Scripture it speaks about is the the Canon of the Bible. Perhaps we can take that application from that verse, but the reality is that the conclusion of the Canon came outside of the written words of the Bible. And it was in those proceedings that we can conclude then that All Scripture of the Bible is inspired by God.

Promise: The authority of the books to be included in Scripture and therefore Scripture itself comes from God, though his Spirit, to His people. The Holy Spirit convinces us of all truth. Only the Spirit can make us trust God's word.

Prayer: O Lord, I thank you for the depth of your truth and as I dig into it more and more each day I discover more truths of it. I thank you for this and praise You for what it says. You are a great God and I praise Your name. Keep giving me understanding as I not only learn from these devotions but as I engage with others about truth. Draw people to yourself.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.

Isaiah 55:10-11 - The Power and Infallibility of Scripture

Isaiah 55:10-11
10 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Message: The Power and Infallibility of Scripture

Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. He wanted to see the nation of Judah return to serving God with humility and love for their neighbors. But he was called to pronounce judgments to on a people offering meaningless sacrifices in the Temple and committing injustices throughout the nation. It provides the most prophetic picture of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.

What the Lord is Saying:

Scripture is God-breathed meaning that it is inspired by God and this means that He actually spoke through each writer and the words penned in Scripture are considered the words of God. Yet each Word still represents the personality of the author. Scripture speaks to man and provides him with everything that he needs in life. It serves as the foundation for every situation man may find himself in and it equips man for every good work. This Word completes man. Without, we are incomplete.

Scripture has the highest authority in life. I think many understand this and this is why interpreting scripture has become such a big deal and defines many religions today. But the Word of God is consistent. Scripture holds a greater authority than any man-made structure.

In these verses in Isaiah he records that Word will not return void. The Word of God has no chance of failing. It is 100% useful each time. This doesn't mean that every person achieves salvation because many hearts are hardened toward the Word of God and God. But even that hardening is complete. It is true that God loves the world, but the entire world does not accept the things of God. And God makes this clear in His word.

Isaiah 55 is an entire chapter chronicling the promises of God. It provides an invitation to the feast and the promise to Israel and then the preparation of the feast, namely repentance and the encouragement to it because of God's faithful promises. It makes mention that man can come to God and receive what He needs. What He needs most of all is to be restored to God. In verse 3 - Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you. God promises a promise to His people to be their God. He tells us to come to Him and this promise will be realized.

The wicked have the promise that God will restore them. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him. We are all fragile in our sin. We are all ashamed of our mistakes and the results those mistakes have on our lives. We know we are being disobedient. God makes it clear that if we forsake our way and admit our sin then the Lord will return to us and have compassion. When we are sorry, he forgives us. I think this is hard for us to accept many times because we are deep in our own thoughts of who we are and we think who we are is too great of a problem for God. But God then declares - My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways. Again, we are to trust for God's ways are not man's ways.

In all of these truths of God rescuing us, God restoring us, God declaring to us that we are loved and we are His as we come to Him, He makes it known that His word is complete. My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. It will accomplish its purpose. People always want a visual of God, but God has given us a visual in His word. The written word provides us what we need, all that we need. It is complete.

Promise: While the Word of God is spoken to fallible humans it was spoken by an infallible God, so that it does not teach falsehood. It is either all right or all wrong, but there is no middle ground.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of Your Word and thank you that I can see you in this word. I can know about a person by reading words written by him. I do this throughout my life. I don't need pictures, but the words make a picture. You have given me all that I need, my need is simply to trust in You and trust that You are complete, and God's word is complete. I love discovering the Word because it often surprises me of the clarify of it when I read it. Like on Sunday at church, and studying a simple passage and how it comes alive and we all walk out of the service amazed of the clarity of the Word of God. It is because God we have met You and we have seen you and experienced You and know you better. We have received what we need. We thank you for this and how you speak through fallible men your perfect ways. You are great Lord, great indeed and we praise Your name.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.

John 10:35 - Biblical Authority

John 10:35
If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)

Message: Biblical Authority

Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

In recent days my study of the doctrine of revelation has not simply centered on the Scripture alone or sola Scriptura, but also on this idea of the final and complete authority of Scripture. The Reformers of 500 years ago came in conflict with the Roman Catholic church because Rome upheld extra-biblical traditions, namely that church tradition and Magisterium or teaching officers of the church also had divine authority. As a reminder, before the printing press, people who attended church did not have their own Bible. Only the wealthy had a Bible, but really only the churches had a Bible and leadership asked them to trust the leaders in the reading and teaching of the Word.

I remember speaking to an older couple about 10 years ago at the mall that were Catholic and voiced that only the priests read the Bible. So this is still the thinking of people today. But, the upheaval that Luther and Calvin brought to the forefront was not only being focused on Scripture alone, but it was calling into question those that heralded over the people.

To say that Scripture is inspired by God or God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) would mean that it can only have the voice of God and not other human beings. My senses is the Roman Catholic churches and other churches and religions are putting forth the idea that they don't necessarily have the same authority but instead they believe they are the leaders that interpret the words of the Bible correctly. I have heard from Muslims, Mormons, as well as Catholics say that the problem isn't the text, but the interpretation of the text and each of these think their interpretation is the best.

Protestantism has this type of thinking as well as people follow certain Bible teachers and come to think those teachers are chief among biblical interpretation. I've been partial to Tom Nelson of Denton Bible Church, as well as Charles Swindoll. Many others believe in John MacArthur, Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, Louie Giglio, Andy Stanley and many others. We begin to trust the teaching of these individuals. Clearly, I think it is somewhat normal to value people's interpretation, but I think the danger today is to revert only to these individuals and not to do study yourself.

Then the question is asked, why do we trust who we trust and what is the basis for their interpretation. Obviously, it is easy to see the potential problems with Muslims and Mormons because they have added additional texts to the Bible. While Catholicism and even Jehovah Witnesses have not added texts, but simply state that their way of interpretation is the right one. It causes many to say that they will not ever go to church because people struggle being caught in this type of thinking where they don't know what to decipher as truth.

But the issue here is primarily one of authority in the Bible (the Scripture cannot be broken) being the complete revelation of God. And while we can subscribe to different people's interpretations we must be careful to not be dogmatic in thinking it is only their interpretation that matters. Again, this is still hard because we assemble in churches each Sunday and we look to the leaders of that church to teach us and we listen with the expectation that the way that individual has divided truth and interpreted it is correct and my purpose then is not to call it into question but to focus on applying it. I suppose what I've always heard is to go back and do my own study of the text and see if the Spirit of God speaks to me in the same way.

Promise: Church tradition and the teaching we receive in our local churches are vital for helping us understand the Scriptures. However, all authorities are subject to the Word of God. Therefore let us submit to Scripture and trust in the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for faithful men that have carried truth. But, Lord, help me to depend on you Holy Spirit for my guidance. Thank you God for speaking to me and leading me. Lord, again, I see the tendency that I have to trust in people for it is easy and they are eloquent. But, I can always pray and talk to you. So lead me in this. And bring unity to the people of God. Help us to get along with one another, to have friendly debates but to remain in unity. Lord, we need your help today for we have become more and more a people of opinions and society upholds everyone's opinion at times in a similar light and often I see that traditional beliefs are getting squashed out. Lord, as your agent of truth living in this world help me to know what is truth and then help me to always stand up for it.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.

2 Timothy 3:16 - God Breathed Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

Message: God Breathed Scripture

Time: Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy 4 years into Timothy's ministry at the church of Ephesus. Paul wrote  this letter from a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his beheading in AD 67. Paul wrote again to this young leader in the church at Ephesus to provide him encouragement and fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - The revelation of God comes to us as natural and special revelation. The creation testifies of who God is and the Word of God speaks directly to us about the way of the Lord - salvation. With the death of the apostles God's revelation to man ended. We have all that we need though in the Holy Scriptures.

Paul sets forth that All Scripture is inspired (or breathed out) by God. I prefer the word breathed out because it sounds more complete. The Greek word for breathed out is theoneustos and it is the only time this word is used by the Apostles. Thus, Scripture has a unique of coming forth to man and nothing but Scripture is the Word of God.

Even as God breathed out all of God's word, he did through different writers and each writer, in a way gives a unique personality to the words that he pens. Nevertheless these words of Scripture are as spoken of by God and so we can think of them as God's word.

All scripture -- all Canon - is God's Word, yet at the time of the writing scripture consisted of the words primarily of the Old Testament. The Greek word for All is actually better translated as every. I like every because it seems more specific to each Scripture. The Canon of Scripture did not come together until the 5th century. There were many leaders and theologians from the death of Christ up to the Canon that enumerated the inspiration of the words of Scripture - men like Clement, Bishop of Rome, A.D. 70-96, Polycarp of Smyrna, A.D. 108, Ignatius of Antioch, A.D. 107, Barnabas of Alexandria, probably A.D. 140-160, Justin Martyr, A.D. 140-150, Athenagoras, A.D. 160-180, Irenœus, A.D. 180, Tertullian, A.D. 200, Clement master of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, A.D. 199-200, Hippolytus of Portus, A.D. 218, Origen, A.D. 230. 

It is important to remember that all Scripture is breathed and spoken by God. We can never play cafeteria with our Bible, picking things we like and passing on other words. It is an all or nothing approach because once we start picking and choosing, how do we decide what is right.

Promise: We do not know exactly how God moved the human authors of Scripture to give us His Word, but we can still trust it and to know God's will for us, we turn to the Scripture for divine authority and inspiration. 

Prayer: God, thank You for speaking to me in the way you have. You are perfect in your presentation and may I remain excited and plugged in to always read and study Your Word. Thank you for the faithful men that have come before me who you always moved in to determine the Canon of Scripture. To think that this occurred 1600 years ago is amazing to me, but it also reminds me Lord that you do not change. You are the same yesterday, today and forever.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.

Psalm 19:1-6 - Natural Revelation

Psalm 19:1-6
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Message: Natural Revelation

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Protestant Reformation wanted to return the church to its commitment to Scripture as the only infallible authority. The problem that had occurred is human traditions had supplanted the revealed Word of God. The Protestant Reformation occurred about 500 years ago. This is the same time period in which the whole Bible began to be translated into Germany and English after the printing press was invented in 1436. Portions of the Bible had been translated previously from the Latin Vulgate.

Prior to this time, it was the charge of monks to copy Scripture and this process generally took 1000's of hours. As such, it was common for only certain people to have the scripture and therefore Scripture was often told to you rather than read yourself. This often resulted in interpretations and sometimes human traditions of what people thought the scripture meant to be applied.

Revelation from God is generally broken down as either natural revelation or special revelation. Natural revelation refers to revelation towards humanity in general. It is also called general revelation. Special revelation is wherein God speaks directly to his people through a prophet or an Apostle.

Natural revelation is referenced in Psalm 19:1 - The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. As one looks up to the sky, to see above, the heavens, the view of them declare God's glorious being or existence. It speaks to the work of God's hands. Each person upon seeing the expanse of the sky, the heavens, sees a vast and spacious expanse, richly adorned with stars and planets -- all of it declares the work of His hands. All people are left without excuse when they can see before their eyes the created work of God. 

I've always loved the words of Paul in Romans 1:19-20 - that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The changing of day to night, one after the other, continually means that there is a constant, daily, throughout the day communication by God of Himself. Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no voice to be heard, but the communication is still there. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

Promise: As we speak truth, we can always appeal to creation as proof of His existence. We can use God's natural revelation to point to Him.

Prayer: Lord, I have always been partial to the fact that Your creation testifies to who you are. I've always loved the words of Paul that express this. It is the creation that we have before our eyes each day - before we even utter a word or hear a word - that expresses You. Perhaps it is the simpleton to me, the person that was adverse to learning growing up and reading, and the knowledge that springs forth without a word being uttered. I'm thankful for how you communicate to us through your creation. Thank you that the sky above, the heavens are telling of the Glory of God. It is sort of painful that people don't see this. It is painful that they don't realize what you are speaking right before their eyes. We see the creativity of each person and each person's appearance. And we see the creativity in our land and all the different places of beauty that there are throughout our world. There is uniqueness in each part of the World. Lord, thank you for the display of Your Glory in creation. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve. 

Matthew 28:18-20 - Divine Unity

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Message: Divine Unity

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I've been studying the doctrine of God most of the focus of late has been on the Trinity and the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit. They have the same essence and yet distinctive, yet united. Yesterday's focus was that all are on the scene at the same time and all are God; all are one God. Yet, the Father is not the Son and the Son not the Spirit and the Father not also the Spirit.

Jesus remarks in what is now called the Great Commission statement that as his disciples (and us his followers) go forth and make disciples, those individuals are to be baptized in the name (singular) of the three (plural). The three share the same name - Yahweh, the covenant Lord of Israel.

All three share the name Yahweh and the divine attributes equally. None is more God or less God than the others.

Previously baptism had been spoken about for repentance, but here Jesus takes into a new level by saying that a person is united to the Godhead. As we are baptized in their name we are to honor each equally.

Albert Barnes remarks on this passage:

The union of these three names in the form of baptism proves that the Son and Holy Spirit are equal with the Father. Nothing would be more absurd or blasphemous than to unite the name of a creature - a man or an angel - with the name of the ever-living God in this solemn rite. If Jesus was a mere man or an angel, as is held by many who deny his divinity, and if the Holy Spirit was a mere "attribute" of God, then it would have been the height of absurdity to use a form like this, or to direct the apostles to baptize people under them. How absurd would be the direction - nay, how blasphemous - to have said, "Baptize them unto God, and unto Paul, and unto the "wisdom or power" of God!" Can we believe that our Saviour would have given a direction so absurd as this? Yet, unless he himself is divine, and the Holy Spirit is divine, Jesus gave a direction substantially the same as this. The form of baptism, therefore, has been always regarded as an unbreakable argument for the doctrine of the Trinity, or that the Son and Holy Spirit are equal with the Father.

Promise: Jesus sometimes says that the Father is greater than He is (John 14:28). But that is not a reference to His divine essence; rather, in taking on our flesh, God the Son submits to the Father as a man, for that is what human beings are to do. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for continuing to each me your truths. Help me to have a believe that You want me to have and that I submit to You for everything in my life. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 16:19 - Ascension and Session

Mark 16:19
So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Message: Ascension and Session

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is crucified and then rises again. He appears to a woman first and it is women that first hear of him. He appears later to 2 of the disciples and then the rest and starts out by speaking a work of reproof towards them because they did not believe others. His complaint was over the hardness of their hearts in not even giving others an opportunity to present their evidence. But, he commissions them to preach the gospel, telling them that belief is followed with baptism as unbelief is followed with condemnation. He remarks that a believers life will simply look different and that person will be able to do things, radical things, and have a radical effect on other people's lives.

Jesus had declared that eventually He would sit at the right hand of God. Back in chapter 14 when He was taken before His accusers, Jesus answered the question of whether he was the Christ, the Son of God with I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Jesus had an eternal position with God. And following His speaking with the disciples the writer here remarks So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 

Some may have thought that Jesus was appearing to them and now would be with them again and walk with them. But, Jesus clearly has a purpose that goes beyond His time on earth. His crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled His mission on earth - to be offered as the Lamb of God and conquer sin. Jesus bore the wrath of God on the cross. In the end, it killed Him. But, days later He rose. Sin had not defeated Him. It did kill him but it didn't defeat Him for He rose again. The resurrection is central to the gospel message.

I've noticed in our world today that much of life is about living a good life. The message of tolerance has invaded our church to the point that we no longer contrast the sinner and the saved. Our church songs and worship songs are focused more on enjoying God's presence and glorifying God. It is less and less about confronting our culture with the message of the Gospel - that God hates sin, but God loves sinners. Jesus spent much of His time on earth correcting thinking. He challenged the thinking that goodness is found in keeping a set of rules. Instead He preached that we need to embrace the rule-keeper. Our sins must be forgiven and can be forgiven once and for all. Once this happens we are to live for Him which means following Him in however He commissions us.

Jesus would eventually leave earth and go to sit at the right hand of God. Even as He walked on the earth His authority was different. He spoke of it often and he showed His authority in casting out demons, raising people from the dead, walking on the water, calming storms. Today, Jesus still has authority over our lives and wants us to continue to change our world. I'm concerned instead that we are being changed by our world.

In reality, Jesus is presently seating at the right hand of God. He has previously descended to earth but now He takes up His home with God. In the future there will be judgment but for now He resides, as a person of the trinity, with God. Jesus lived on earth to speak to us. It says So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them. The author could have been really only speaking of His most recent conversation with the disciples but in reality Jesus had spent His time on earth speaking to us. God in flesh was speaking to His creation in flesh, walking with them, experiencing what they experience, showing them a different way of living.

He was received up into heaven - He had completed the work on earth. He had lived, been accused, defended Himself, but still declared guilty, received punishment, mocked, crushed, and then received the complete wrath of God and felt the rejection by God in the process, and died. It was over, finished. But then as He predicted He rose again. He commissioned His disciples to now carry on the message. And He was received into heaven. His work was done. As in the creation story, after 7 days there was rest or rather there was the realization that everything had been done. We rest often declaring that there is nothing more that needs to be done. Christ did it all. And we can rest.

He sat down at the right hand of God. What a comfort it is to know that Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He is not shaken or stirred by the events of this world. He is steadfast and firmly planted at the right hand of God. He cried aloud, "It is finished." He remains at the right hand of God now as our intercessor.

Summary - Jesus work on this earth is complete. And witness to this is his ascension into heaven and then a seat at the right hand of the Father.

Promise: Only One deserves unquestioned allegiance - Jesus Christ. Let us resolve in our hearts now that we will serve Him as Lord of all so that we will be prepared to stand if we must ever suffer for our faith.

Prayer: Lord, you came to this earth, not because you had to but you did to walk with us and show us yourself and more clearly what it means to live with God. Emmanuel is God with us and you did that, you came to us. I am forever grateful. I am forever changed. Lord, help me to not acquiesce into this world and become a part of it. It wants to bend me in its direction. And Lord, out of own concern now for safety and comfort, relaxing and entertainment, I find myself often not living a manner that I believe you have called me to live: a radical life. Lord, I want to obey You.

Mark 12:1-9 - The Parable of the Tenants

Mark 12:1-9
1 Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. 9 “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.

Message: The Parable of the Tenants

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, as he has predicted 3 times his death and resurrection. He comes in on a colt and pronounces a judgment on the chief priests and scribes and elders at the temple about them not following their mission to make welcome the Gentiles at the temple. These leaders question Jesus' authority. Jesus communicates to his disciples that they are to have faith in God - to come to God by prayer in faith and then to forgive those that transgress against them. We are to be a people of faith and then forgiveness.

Now Jesus takes a moment to share a parable. This parable is in line with some of the subjects that he has been addressing, namely the importance of those individuals over are in charge of other individuals. In the 1st Century, it was common for landowners to hire tenant farmers to take care of their vines on their behalf. Isaiah 5:1-7 tells about a song about the Lord's vineyard. In that story the vineyard is judged for failing to to yield the proper fruit - a message that is sort of similar to the curse that Jesus pronounced on the fig tree as well as the chief priests and scribes.

This story speaks of the owner of the vineyard hiring tenant farmers to take care of his vineyard while he is away. But, the tenant farmers did more than just take care of the vineyard, they began to take ownership of it. Thus, they expanded their responsibility to include a sort of claim on it. In so doing, as the landowners servants came, he was beat up and sent away. And the landowner sent others, but they were also beat up or killed. Finally, the landowner sent his son but the same thing happened to the son, this time murdering the son. Jesus then says in response to this - What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others. 

• The servants represent the old covenant prophets - these prophets were rejected often by the leaders of the ancient covenant community
• The landowner is God himself 
• The tenant farmers are the kings, priests, other leaders, including what could be called today the church. 
• The landowner sent His Son (Jesus), but he is received with even more hatred than the prophets. 

This is an interesting lesson because Jesus is talking more about service (Mark 10:43-45) and forgiving others (Mark 11:25). The focus is on others. The tenant farmers were given one tasked, but they expanded it to include other responsibility and in so doing they lost their chief task. They became like the chief priests and scribes and began using the temple in a way they had wanted.

I think for me I look at the application of this passage to be the importance of remembering my first love and remembering how God has called me to live and act in this world. I need to be careful about getting too big for my own britches and taking ownership of what he has simply put me in charge of. And I need to always bring it back to Jesus, His Son, and even those that he has sent. Again, the focus is not on me, but others.

Summary - Jesus brings a parable to his people to remind them of the message that God has sent His Son to redeem people, and yet the Son will be rejected. People don't want the solution that Jesus provides. They want their own selfish solutions. He continues to get his disciples ready for what is coming - his death which will involve his complete rejection and scorn.

Promise: People will do whatever is necessary often to please themselves and get their own way. As God puts us in charge though of his vineyard, this world, we have a responsibility to respect his leadership and do what He asks.

Prayer: Lord, I love you and you are the Lord and King. I am your vessel. You have created all and so no matter my situation I need to serve you. Give me the strength and power to continue to share Your love with others. God you are in charge of all and I praise You for your love for us, but I must submit and surrender to You continually. I must trust Your ways. Keep me ever mindful of what you are teaching me to have faith in you, forgive others, and serve people.

Mark 11:27-33 - The Authority of Jesus

Mark 11:27-33
27 They *came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders *came to Him, 28 and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” 29 And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.” 31 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. 33 Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus *said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Message: The Authority of Jesus

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface - Jesus is in Jerusalem. It is his 3rd day there with the disciples. He came in on a colt, cursed a fig tree, removed his presence from the temple, pronounced dissatisfaction on the chief priests and scribes for turning the temple into a market for their own benefit rather than reaching out or making the Gentiles welcome, and then took time to talk about the importance of being a servant and having faith in God. We are to trust God and then to forgive others. Our focus is to be on God and others.

They came again to Jerusalem - It seems that they are going from Jerusalem to Bethany and to the Mount of Olives and back and forth. It is perhaps day 4 and maybe still day 3. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him. The chief priests had just recently been bothered by the words that he had said about turning the temple into a robbers den. Perhaps this was the same group. But, this time they were coming to him.

They began saying to Him. By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” This is interesting. Jesus had spoken with an heir of authority toward the scribes and chief priests and they obviously don't understand who he is. Yet, this question they asked was meant to trap Jesus. They had seen earlier what he had done in forgiving the paralytic sins and it seemed clear already that he was doing things that were possible only if the Lord had his backing.

Jesus responds to their question with his own question about John's baptism. But, they didn't answer because they were concerned of how their response would sound. The elders question was clearly not asked to contend for truth, but rather victory over Jesus and this was found out when Jesus responded for they refused to answer, lest they look bad. They were concerned about how they looked before the people than contending for truth (they were afraid of the people). 

From the pulpit commentary (edited by Joseph Exell and Henry Donald Maurice Spence who pulled together the notes of 100s of authors during the 19th century):

The argument is incontrovertible. It is this: "You ask from whence I derive my authority - from God or from men? I in my turn ask you from whom did John the Baptist derive his authority to baptize and to teach? from heaven or from men? If he had it from God, as all will confess, then I too have the same from God; for John testified of me, saying that he was but a servant, the friend of the Bridegroom; but that I was the Messiah, the Son of God: and this too when you sent messengers to him for his special purpose, that you might know from him whether he was the Messiah."

Summary - This time for Jesus in Jerusalem culminates with a question by the chief priests and scribes and elders on Jesus' authority, but Jesus uses it as an opportunity to discover people's true motives. And unfortunately it is clear that they were wanting to trap Jesus not get to the truth. 

Promise: Christ is the highest authority. We are to submit to His words, that is Scripture, as our highest authority. 

Prayer: Lord, you are my authority. I think of how I answered someone the other day who asked a question about why you do something and I must lean on your written Word for the answer. This is my source of asking. 

Mark 6:35-44 - Five Thousand Men Fed

Mark 6:35-44
³⁵ When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late; ³⁶ send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ³⁷ But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they *said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” ³⁸ And He *said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they *said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. ⁴¹ And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were satisfied, ⁴³ and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. ⁴⁴ There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

Message: Five Thousand Men Fed

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is in Nazareth, his hometown, but he doesn't get the reception that we would think. Instead of welcoming him, people question him. But he continues with his message of repent and believe. Jesus is becoming more and more well known and his message is reaching further and further. With that sometimes comes misunderstanding. Herod Antipas, one of 4 rulers of Rome now, wonders if Jesus is a resurrected John. John is killed mainly because Herodias was confronted with her sin and was upset at John. Now, the apostles arrive back after Jesus had sent them out. Jesus has them go off to a secluded place to get rest, but mobs of people swarm them and Jesus realizes these people need to be taught, so he does that, teaches them.

Now, I come upon the feeding of 5,000 - the one miracle that is recorded in all 4 gospels. This is an interesting miracle. While many were affected, the disciples were also very affected. As a reminder, the apostles have returned from ministering and speak of what they have done first, then what they taught. As the people come to them, Jesus sees they are without a shepherd still. What is it they are really following? Jesus sees the need to teach them. Then the disciples mention turning people away now because it is time to eat. But, Jesus reminds them that he can do everything and can provide food for a few people.

Mark's words seem to really focus more on the disciples rather than the 5,000. Upon the disciples mentioning that the people need to go back to the city and countryside in order to be fed, Jesus responds to them with these words: “You give them something to eat!” Jesus has already equipped his disciples and given them the idea that there needs would be taken care of, to the point that went he sent them they did not have to be concerned about taking food, clothing, or anything. Perhaps, the disciples really didn't comprehend yet the extent of what Jesus meant by this. his authority, but perhaps they didn't have a full understand of what they could do. Perhaps I am the same way. Perhaps my faith is also weak. Maybe when God tells me to do something, I first want to figure out all the details, get all the training, do all my homework, getting comfortable and prepared and then I go. It is hard to know. But, clearly the disciples looked at their situation and didn't first think that this could be a spiritual solution, a God-sized solution. Instead, they stared at their surroundings. 

So, I'm not saying that every situation in life can simply be addressed by faith without asking any questions. But, do I approach situations with a confidence in the Savior? Or am I too quick to stare at limitations and current situations and assume that I then have all the understanding. 

In Judaism, this prayer is common -- Praise to you, O Lord our God, king of the world, who makes bread to come forth from the earth, and who provides for all that you have created. 

This prayer now takes on a meaning from this miracle. God did indeed make bread come forth from the earth. It says that There were five thousand men who ate the loaves. Chances are then that many more than 5,000 were fed if only the men were counted. The majority of commentaries have the population of Nazareth at this time to be 1500 but some say smaller, while others larger. The fact that so many people had come to this area, following Jesus and his disciples therefore is significant and also speaks to the time frame. I read the Bible thinking it is daily accounts, but it is more possible that the time between Jesus asking his disciples to go to a secluded place and the feeding of the 5,000 was weeks, in order to support the coming of all of these people as it does say in verse 33 - The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.

Summary - The disciples are told by Jesus to feed these people that have come to them to listen to Jesus' teaching. The disciples see that the only solution is to send them away and let them fend for themselves, but Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. They don't understand how, so Jesus shows them his hand of providence. Jesus takes care of the situation. 

Promise: Jesus meets our needs, all of them. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this reminder that you are our provider and you take care of our needs, my needs. When you call us, you promise to provide for us as well. We are people too often of little faith. Thank you for this reminder that you do provide. I want to trust you always. Help my faith to increase.  

Mark 6:7-13 - Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Mark 6:7-13
⁷ And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ⁸ and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— ⁹ but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” ¹⁰ And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. ¹¹ Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” ¹² They went out and preached that men should repent. ¹³ And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.
 
Message: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus arrives in Nazareth, about a 3 day journey from Capernaum. He has made it to his hometown and he speaks in the synagogue, as he has done elsewhere. The people of Nazareth did not accept Jesus. Jesus continued to heal people, but maybe not to the extent that he could because of the unbelief present in Nazareth. But the message of the Gospel still goes out. We must continue to teach and spread the Good News. The reception may be different but our mission does not change.

Jesus is on mission. His desire is to get the message of the gospel out to the people. He is asking people to repent and believe. Mark 1:15 stated this - The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe. Along the way Jesus has healed many, exercised demons, but also extended the message of repentance and believing. He has spoken with authority, forgiving sin, teaching about the purpose of the Sabbath. He has spoken of the different soils or conditions of man. He has shown his authority over nature: stilling the sea and taking charge of weather. And he has declared that he has power over death.

Now in verse 7, Jesus began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. Jesus commissioned the twelve and gave them a special type of authority. They were not to go solo, but in pairs. In my own life, I have seen that going to minister in pairs is much more effective and easier than going at it solo. It is important that we support and encourage one another in the work of the gospel. The fact that he gave them authority over unclean spirits and could pass along this authority testifies of the power that He had and only Him to do this. He wanted his teaching to be spread. This authority he gives them is one time and not to be repeated because only Jesus has the authority. 

And He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” He wanted them to travel light. They are to rely on the generosity of others as they go forth. For these disciples they were to trust that people would provide them what they needed. They only needed their walking shoes. They did not need a bag, money or change of clothing. Ministers of the gospel are not to be worldly minded, but heavenly minded and trusting God for his provision. People are hospitable, helpful, and giving. This is no accident. Jesus knew this because God made people like this. Therefore, the disciples do not need to feel like they need everything with them before they go.


And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. As strangers entered a town, the neighbors of the city took them in. They were there to speak a message and share. They were not there to stay a long time. People are more willing to help if you do not stay a long time. They were not to be a burden to anyone.

Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them. They were not to be surprised with the fact that some will not accept him. Just as Jesus, even in his hometown, was not accepted, we will encounter places that do not accept the message of the gospel. But we are not to be discouraged, but simply shake it off and move on. 

They went out and preached that men should repent. The gospel message stays the same: repent. People are to turn from their wicked ways and embrace God. People are to realize they are sinners and need forgiveness. Today, at times, is the feeling that we must first show people that they have disobeyed God, that we must instruct people on what it means to be a sinner. Yet, sin seems to be more clear in each person than we think. While preaching the message of repentance, they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. The casting out of demons and anointing people and healing them was an expression of the work of God in their lives. It further testified of the work and goodness of God. 

Summary - The mission of Jesus and his ministry is simple - get the message out. Jesus knew that he could be more effective in this by sending out the twelve disciples he had called. Thankfully, many are there to provide disciples a meal, a place to stay. People are giving. But, at times we will encounter people that are not. Do not dwell on them. Move on. Always stay focused on the gospel message. People are to repent. Repentance is the key. 

Promise: The message does not change because of people's response. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving us and knowing what we need. Thank you for the message of repentance, for realizing that we need to take a 180 in our lives and go the opposite way. Help me as your bond-servant to continue to get that message out. I pray that I would be faithful to the call and help people see the importance of repenting. Thank you for men like Billy Graham and their faithfulness to the gospel message. Thank you for using him to change lives. I pray that we continue to be faithful to the message of the gospel.