Thursday, April 22, 2010
Inherit The Wind
Monday, April 19, 2010
Outside the Camp
Monday, April 12, 2010
Boldness or Fear?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Witnesses
“seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses …
let us run with patience the race set before us” (Heb 12:1)
In our text above, the author of Hebrews seems to be indicating that we, as Christians, are surrounded by all those who have gone before us, watching us as we persevere through this world towards our “expected end” (Jer 29:11). Is this the true sense of this word as it is used in context?
The Greek word translated here as ‘witnesses’ is μαρτυρων (marturôn). A variation of this word also occurs in Acts 1:8: “…and ye shall be witnesses (μαρτυρες, martures) unto me.”
Both of these words derive from the Strongs Greek Number 3144 – μάρτυς – meaning “of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally [judicially] or figuratively [generally], by analogy a ‘martyr’” (emphasis mine). We can see from this definition that the primary sense of the word, then, is not of a spectator witnessing an event, but rather of one who has seen or encountered something previously and has been called to testify to their circumstances or outcome.
In that sense then, we can more clearly understand what the writer of Hebrews is trying to communicate to his audience. Having just enumerated dozens of individuals from Jewish history who exhibited extraordinary faith in the face of trials set before them because they counted God as able to deliver on His promises; the writer then implores his readers, effectively, “What more do you need? God has proven Himself over and over throughout history to be faithful to reward those who maintain and persevere in their faith toward Him. Who are you – indeed who are we to question that God will do what He has said He would do and reward those who earnestly seek after Him?”
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sealed in Blood
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The King Whom You Have Chosen
Monday, March 22, 2010
His Holy One
“It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)
Jesus Christ “was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of [us] who, through him, are believers in God” (1 Pet 1:20-21).
It is difficult at times to look back over biblical history and tie together all of the threads that God has woven into a single tapestry. Our finite, temporally-locked minds have difficulty giving credence to these amazingly well laid-out plans that stretch for millennia. Our own existences are limited to less than a single century, yet God had ordained the sacrifice of His son as the atonement for our sins long before He had commenced creating any one of us (Rev 13:8).
By picking out a “people for Himself” (1 Sam 12:22), many throughout history have been led to believe that God’s ultimate favor rests on Israel. However, scripture teaches that God’s ultimate favor rests on Himself. God, through providential history works towards one goal – His own Glory. And God is most glorified through the redeeming work of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. In fact, hints of this were given even to Abram: “…and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:3). While God would single out Abram’s son Isaac for his eventual people, it would be through this line that God Himself would be glorified and all people everywhere blessed. Isaiah, in our text, speaks of this son of Jacob and Israel who would be a light, not just to the other sons of Israel, but to the Gentiles, as well.
The apostle Paul noted how the Jews had so withdrawn into their Judaism that they missed their Messiah: “…Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for … as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear…their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see” (Rom 11:7-10). Why would God give them a spirit of slumber? Eyes that they should not see? Ears that they should not hear? Paul continues: “… through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Rom 11:11). Thus fulfilling the promise given to Abram and reiterated in Isaiah: “A light to the Gentiles… my salvation (ישׁועתי) unto the end of the earth” (Isa 49:6) RST
Friday, March 19, 2010
Called of God
Monday, March 15, 2010
Despised and Rejected
“My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1a)
The 22nd psalm is a remarkable prophecy of the suffering servant, further detailed in Isaiah chapter 53. Its fulfillment came when Jesus Christ hung on Calvary’s cross, suffering the outpouring of wrath from God which was rightfully owed to you and me.
The apostle Paul tells us that “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain” (Rom 8:22). Jesus, whom God “made…to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21) Himself groaned upon that tree as the psalmist had said: “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Ps 22:2).
“…I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people” (Ps 22:6) was echoed in Isaiah in his prophecy of the suffering servant: “He is despised and rejected of men…and we hid…our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not” (Is 53:3). As Jesus was being scourged and afflicted on His way to the cross, upon which He was ultimately nailed, He completely fulfilled this prophetic word.
“All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying, He trusted the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him” (Ps 22:7-8). Jesus bore just such scoffers: “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matt 27:39-43).
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint” (Ps 22:14). One of the effects of crucifixion was just this: that the crucified would suffer dislocation of various joints. Being poured out like water was rather shockingly literally fulfilled in the account of John: “…one of the soldiers pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (Jo 19:34).
“Dogs have compassed me” (Ps 22:16). Seen as a derogatory reference, we find Christ crucified with thieves and robbers (Matt 27:38). “They pierced my hands and my feet” (Ps 22:16b). This is a remarkable prophecy, especially considering it was written down nearly a thousand years before the invention of crucifixion as a form of punishment. “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Ps 22:18) has its fulfillment in “…they…parted his garments, casting lots” (Matt 27:35).
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is truly the focal point of all of history as recorded in the Bible. The plan of God to reconcile a fallen world to Himself was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets and perfectly fulfilled in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. He truly is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8). RST
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Fear of Death
“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death…and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15)
Our “walk” with Christ will take each of us through various trials and tribulations. The promise of God in Scripture is to use these trials to strengthen us: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). Even David, the man after God’s own heart struggled with such trials, most notably with lust and detailed in 2nd Samuel chapter 11 as he pursued Bathsheba to the point of using his position to affect the death of her husband. However, David repented and ultimately expressed his faith in God to carry him through such trials in the future: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Ps 23:4).
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Rod of Iron
"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule over them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev 19:12-15)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Word Made Flesh
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)
Throughout Old Testament history, God’s interactions with mankind had been through those specially gifted individuals known as prophets. What they revealed about God through their ministrations paled in comparison with the ultimate revelation of God – God Himself, manifest through the man, Christ Jesus.
The author of Hebrews sets forth seven characteristics of Christ which point to His fulfillment of and superiority over their former ways. First God has “appointed [him] heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2b). This was expected, as the Spirit had said through the psalmist: “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8). And now, “being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs” (Tit. 3:7) with Him.
Second, Christ “made the worlds” (Heb 1:2c). John had said as much in his gospel: “all things were made by him” (John 1:3a). As Creator, Christ is fully God Himself, and not to be contained solely within the confines of Judaism. Third, Jesus was “the brightness of his glory” (Heb 1:3a). Where the former prophets had visions of the glory of God (Isa. 6), truly Peter, James and John had witnessed this firsthand on the mount of transfiguration where Jesus “was transfigured before them…his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Indeed, the apostle John indicated the vision of Isaiah was Christ Himself: “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory and spake of him” (Jo 12:41).
Fourth, Jesus is “the express image of his person” (Heb 1:3b). This might be better rendered “the exact copy of His substance.” Jesus himself said, “He that has seen me has seen the father” (Jo 14:9b). Fifth, Christ is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb 1:3c). The psalmist had attributed to God the day-to-day operations of the creation: “He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Ps 33:9). Now, however, it is clear that “for of him, and through him and to him, are all things” (Rom. 11:36).
Sixth, he has “purged our sins” (Heb 1:3d). Only God can forgive sins against God, and Christ asserted this authority many times. He carried out this authority, indicating He actually possessed it (Matt 9:6), and thereby proving His divinity, for “who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mar 2:7). Finally, Christ has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3e). The work of a priest (i.e. an intercessor to God on man’s behalf) was an ongoing task. As man continued to sin, more intercession was needed. By His dying words on the cross, Christ declared the priestly function completed and took His place at the right hand of the Father. In the same way, God’s revelation of Himself to mankind was fully revealed through His Son, the man Christ Jesus. Amen. RST