The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

Thanks Roger.
I think that what God wants is for there to be teaching and edification in the Body of Christ that brings God glory.
The line is crossed when a debater wants to "get" the other person somehow.

 

Friday, 1st April, 2005

I justhad to share a very simple though with you this morning from the book of Puritan devotions I am reading.

How much better would we be today if each of us approached the day with that kind fo attitude. What would our walk be like? Where would we go and not go? I think most importantly, what would we speak, whether verabally or typed?

Look back at yesterday. Did we do anything onwhich we could not implore God's blessing? Can we invite God's inspection on everything we did?

Now, look at today - fresh, clean, a white sheet with nothing written on it yet. We can't correct yesterday, but we can do something about today.

 

Saturday April 2, 2005

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. (John 11:1-10)
The chapter begins with the phrase "A certain man." This usage is commonly employed in the gospels giving the understanding of more than a fictional story (i.e., "Once upon a time.") Not only was it a particular man, but Jesus' friend, Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. When Jesus receives the message, the Master gives an unusual reply: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." Jesus remains in His present location for two more days before He decides to return to the region of Judea. This causes a stir among the disciples who had personally seen the hatred of the rulers and their desire to stone Him. But notice Jesus' response in verse 9: "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." Not only is He the light of the world, but He also walks in the light. Light removes fear and doubt, while darkness (without flashlights) causes one to stumble.

There will be no devotional tomorrow, nor any weekend day for the foreseeable future. C4K and I have agreed that we will stick to weekdays for now. We will be alternating days through the week.
It has been a pleasure to have had the weekends for some time now and I look forward to posting here weekdays.
Thank you.

 

I was so busy this morning that I forgot I had a devotional this morning. I will try to do better on Wednesday.
My apologies.

 

Tuesday, 5th April, 2005

"I implore you therefore brethren, by the means of God's mercy, that you hand over your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing unto God, for this is your reasonable service." Romans 12v1 - Parrowphrase

How do we do as living sacrifices? How much of the sacrifice do we keep back for ourselves? Paul's injunction here is that we give God our all. A sacrifice that does not involve sacrifice cannot really be called a sacrifice, can it? Have we really "handed it all over" to God?

A puritan writer put it this way - "My heart is in thy hands, without reserve."

How many of us can truly say that today?

Father, on this new day - remind me that I am a living sacrifice to you. Remind me that my life is indeed yours to control.

 

Thanks Roger.

 

Wednesday April 6, 2005

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. (John 11:11-22)

Now Jesus reveals to the disciples that the purpose of the trip is to awaken Lazareth who sleepeth (dead). Furthermore, Jesus challenges their unbelief as this is not the first time that Jesus had raised the dead. (Others who had been raised from the dead during Jesus' early ministry: Jsirus' daughter Mk. 5:41; Lu. 8:54; Widow of Nain's son Luke 7:14; Testimony to disciples of John the Baptist Luke 7:22) The disciples, represented by Thomas, still don't seem to be able to comprehend. Thomas possibly was the disciple who questioned the Master in 11:8 asking if Jesus remembered how the Jews sought to stone Him. Now Thomas declares, in essence, "we're all going to die!" Thomas is remembered as the doubter as the only time he speaks in Scripture, it is in unbelief (11:16; 14:5; 20:24-29)
Jesus and His disciples arrive in Bethany four days after Lazarus' funeral. Fred Wright in "Manners and Customs of Bible Lands" describes the events of mourning in the East. "As soon as a death has taken place in the Orient, a wail is raised that announces to all the neighborhood what has happened. This is a sign for the relatives to begin demonstrating their sorrow. From the time the death wail is heard, until the burial takes place, relatives and friends continue their lamentation." (p.142) We also see this wailing mentioned in Micah 1:8: "Therefore I will wail and howl, I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls." There is also the common use of paid mourners; In Amos 5:16 we read: "Therefore the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord saith thus; Wailing shall be in the streets and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentation to wailing." Because the Jews did not embalm their dead as the Egyptians, they would try to bury the dead in a tomb or sepulchre (Mt. 27:60) quickly after death. "The burial of the dead in the East takes place soon after death, usually the same day." (ibid, p. 144)
Martha quickly comes to Jesus before He arrives in Bethany. This is a good example of Martha, always busy, always trying to do something. Mary, by the way, is not lazy, but pictures one who has learned to rest at the feet of Jesus. Back in 11:5 we are reminded that Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Martha is not shy to speak her mind. First, we see that she is troubled. "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my
brother had not died." She knew of the many miracles that Jesus had performed. Oliver B. Greene says: She had undoubtedly heard of the healing of the nobleman's son, and of the healing of the centurion's servant. In both instances Jesus had simply spoken the word and those two people were healed. (Greene p. 182) Many will look at missed opportunities or second guess things that could have been done to prevent a tragedy. But in spite of her frustration, we also see her faith (though weak and confused). "But I know that, even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee"

 

Thursday, 7th April, 2005

As we begin today, after spending our time with the Lord, we may dread the fact that we have to go out into that sin cursed, filthy world. We know that we are going to encounter sin at its worst. Dirty jokes, filthy stories, lying, deception, and corruption are all around. We know that there will be situations when we will be tempted to sin, with ease, and perhaps with very little likelihood that we will be caught.

James knew about this when he defined true “religion” this way – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

We may think that is an impossible goal, but we are blessed to know that we serve the God of the impossible, for “with God all things are possible!”

May these words, from a Christian of old, be our prayer today:

 

Thanks Roger.
And let us "wash our feet" as we go.

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Friday April 8, 2005

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, (John 11:23-33)
Jesus does not scold her for ignorance, but rather places her back upon the foundation of God's word. He declares, "Thy brother shall rise again" As stated previously, the doctrine of the resurrection is a New Testament doctrine, having a few references in the Old Testament (Dan. 12:2; Job 19:25; Psa. 17:15) To this thought Martha agrees. She knew that her brother Lazarus would rise again one day. But now Jesus challenges her to stretch her faith. He proclaims " I am the resurrection, and the life." She knew He was the Messiah, the chosen One from God, but she didn't comprehend (nor did His disciples) that He is God, come in flesh! Her response in 11:27 is similar to Peter's in Mt. 16:16.
Let's look a little closer at Jesus' words. First, "I am the resurrection and the life" This is more than a general concept briefly touched upon in the Old Testament or His previous discussion in 5: 24-29. New life is now declared to be the result of belief in the Son. The message of salvation in Christ ultimately focuses upon the point of our personal belief in the finished work of Christ as He came, lived, died, and rose again! As He asked Martha, He asks of us today "Believest thou this?" Her response clearly shows her limited faith.
Now we see her quickly going to Mary, and though she calls her secretly, Mary's departure leads the entire group of mourners to accompany her as she goes to meet Jesus. Mary's first words are the same as her sister's. But the writer takes note of the emotions of the event. Mary's weeping and the crowd of mourners caused Jesus to be troubled and to weep. The Lord had already told the disciples of His purpose to "awake (Lazarus) out of sleep", but He is touched and feels their sorrow. (Most men of today would have sounded more like a football coach, "Stop all that sniffling and bawling, we've got work to do!"

 

Monday, 11th April, 2005

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…” James 1v19

Alright, let’s see a show of hands – how many here this morning enjoy being involved in a good spirited debate? Now, those who have your hands up pay special attention.

Do you ever feel like in every situation you just have to give your opinion? Join the club and I will be the club president. Some of us just have to express our views on everything.

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As I look on various boards and forums I see that it is not different on the Internet than it ever has been. Personal opinions sneak in, emotions get heated, and then testimonies are injured.

How do we put a stop to this? Well, we won’t stop it all, but we can do a great deal by heeding the advice of our brother Spurgeon:

Can you imagine how things would go for us today if we heeded that simple, Bible based admonition?

Lord, help us all today to be “swift to hear, slow to speak.”

*SOURCE FOR QUOTE

 

Tuesday April 12,2005

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. (John 11:34-46)
The crowd also adds their questioning of why the Master could not have healed Lazarus. Notice their connection back to the healing of the blind man in chapter 9. Many believed that Jesus was the Messiah when He healed the blind man, but their faith is small. Was the "groaning" mentioned in 11:38 because of their sorrow or because of their lack of faith? I think we also grieve God many times by our lack of faith!
The tomb of Lazarus was said to be a cave. "Today there are thousands of rock-cut tombs scattered over the land of Palestine. Such tombs were made by the wealthy. Not being able to afford these, the poorer folks buried their dead in graves. Some of the tombs had many chambers in them. They were closed by a rolling-stone which ran down an inclined plane in front of the mouth of the sepulcher." (Wight, p. 144-145)
Jesus goes beyond words of comfort as He declares "Take ye away the stone." Martha protests stating that it was four days after the burial and the body would already be decomposing. Now Jesus answers Martha and challenges her faith. His statement of seeing the "glory of God" probably was that of 11:4, which answer was sent back to the sisters at Lazarus' time of illness. The stone is now removed from the cave's mouth and Jesus directs a prayer to His Father. Jesus uses just 37 words to reveal His relationship with the Father is of constant fellowship and secondly, it is proclaimed publicly that those who listen might believe. (Compare to Elijah's prayer on Mount Carmel: 1Kings 18: 36-38). The Master cries out "with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth. It is attributed to D.L. Moody, who first said that if Jesus had not specified that only Lazarus was to come forth, then all of the graves in the world would have released their hold! Lazarus emerges from the tomb bound in grave clothes. "The Hebrews did not normally cremate, except in most unusual cases of emergency, as in the case of Saul and his sons (1Sam. 31: 11-13). Neither did they generally use coffins or embalm. Ordinarily a body after being washed (Acts 9:37) and wrapped in a cloth or closely bound in bands (Mt. 27:59; John 11:44) was carried on a simple bier to the grave or vault (2Sam. 3:31; Luke 7:14), which was commonly a cave artificially cut out of the rock (Gen. 25:9; Mt. 27:60. Unguents and perfumes were applied to the body if they could be afforded (John 12:7; 19:39), or fragrant incense burned (Jer. 34:5). Mourners lamented with loud demonstrations of grief (Mk. 5:38), and were often hired (Jer. 9:17). (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 158). The grave clothes and napkin are a testimony to the factual death of the Lord Jesus. 11:44: "And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin." If Jesus had just "swooned" or lay unconscious for three days as some skeptics have suggested, then He would have died by suffocation!
The next verses give us an insight into the spiritual blindness of the man in unbelief. Dr. John R. Rice declared: "The same sun that melts the ice will harden the clay into brick." (p.205). Many of those who had gathered with Mary and Martha who had been there when Lazarus' dead body was placed in the grave four days prior "believed" on Jesus. We would hope that all would believe if they saw a true sign from heaven, yet the words of Abraham to the rich man in Hell are true in Luke 16:31: And he (Abraham) said unto him, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." If a person rejects the Word of God, he will not be convinced by any miracle. Our faith is based upon the Word, not in miracles. (See Romans 10:17). Miracles can only confirm what is already based upon the truths of God's Word. Moses saw the miracles of God and believed, but Pharaoh saw the same miracles and turned from God. Also notice that the Pharisees and Sadducees were always badgering Jesus for a sign from heaven. Jesus responded in Mt. 16:4: "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them and departed."

 

Wednesday, 13th April, 2005

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10v13

What kind of temptations or trials are you going to face today? Right about now you might be saying, “Brother, if I knew that I could be ready for them. Then they wouldn’t be so difficult!”

Of course you are right. If we knew in advance what trials and temptations we were going to face they would not be near so difficult! The problem is we don’t know what we will face today. We can be comforted that God does know already. We also can know, if we trust His word, that nothing will cross our paths today that He will not give us a way to deal with! We can head out with confidence that we can handle, by the grace of God and with His help, that comes our way today!

C.H. Spurgeon had these words of wisdom for us:

*

Lord, send us out today in the comfort that whatever we face, we face with you by our side, and because of that, the forces of hell itself cannot prevail against us.

*SOURCE FOR QUOTE

 

Thursday April 14, 2005

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him. (John 11:47-57)
The Plot of the Religious Leaders.
Now we see that some of the witnesses of this great miracle have made their way back to the Pharisees and Priest who admit that Jesus has done "many miracles." No wonder that Jesus proclaims a greater judgement to these blind guides. (See Mt. 23: 13-15). They determine that Jesus must be killed. Pay no attention to their reasoning: 11:48 "If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." Their position in authority is more important than God's will. Their fathers had killed the prophets (Mt. 23:31) and know they are preparing to destroy the Son of God!
Also their statement about the Romans shows their lack of faith in God's promises because even the most ignorant of Jews understood that the Messiah would set up His kingdom and would rule over the Gentile nations. Clearly the main reason for rejecting Jesus and His miracles is their own desire to rule in authority. They are no better than wicked king Herod who slaughtered the innocent children of Bethlehem! It is interesting that many of these same priests and Pharisees who rejected Christ were still in positions of power when the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
Imagine if Saul of Tarsus would have rejected the Lord that day on the road to Damascus. Seeing a light from heaven was no greater miracle than the raising of Lazarus and some rejected God after seeing Lazarus. If Saul had spurned the Lord, realize that he was being groomed for the leadership in Israel. Acts 9:1: "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." Saul would have gained the prestige as a leader in the Sanhedrin and would have lost all when the Romans destroyed the city. Yet the Apostle did see Jesus that day and later said, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." (Phil. 3:7-8)
Caiaphas, the high priest "prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad." (11: 51-52) Isn't it amazing how God takes something meant for evil and turns it into good?
Actually Jesus would die for the whole world and through His death, He would gather all God's children, both Jew and Gentile! Dr Henry Morris states: "This is remarkable irony. The high priest was Caiaphas who, as the presumed representative of God to the people, should have gladly received Jesus as the promised Messiah. Instead he led in His trial and condemnation (Mt. 26: 65-66). Nevertheless he was divinely inspired unwittingly to acknowledge the real mission of Christ to the Jews and the whole world (John 18:14); that of substitutionary sacrifice for their sins. It is also noteworthy that, in 1992, the bones of this same Caiaphas were discovered in his tomb underneath the modern city. " (p. 1155). The sad part is that Caiaphas, an offspring of Abraham, through his rejection of Jesus Christ shows that he is not a child of God. The plans are begun to devise a way to capture and destroy Jesus.
Notice that Jesus withdrew Himself from Jerusalem and went into a remote city up north called Ephraim. He could have stayed in Jerusalem, yet it would have probably required more miracles to do so and Jesus never did miracles in the midst of unbelief.

11:55 sets the scene of chapter 12, the preparation for the Passover. As people began to gather, all are wondering if Jesus will come to the feast. The religious leaders are searching for Jesus, yet He will walk into Jerusalem boldly in just a few days. The want to arrest Him, yet they can't touch Him until He is ready to be our substitute.

 

Friday, 15th April, 2005

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, …” Song of Solomon 2v11-12

For most of, except for our Southern Hemisphere friends and part of the US where they just had another blizzard, winter truly has finally passed. Spring has come, the flowers have appeared, the birds are singing. Who among us does not enjoy spring?

A very common bush here is the gorse bush. (Click HERE for photo.) All winter long this plant is an ugly, scraggly, prickly bush. If you walk close to one they seem to reach out and scratch you. Then, in the spring, you begin to see little green buds with just a hint of yellow. Through April they slowly come into full bloom until around the first of May they burst forth into a golden radiance.

This whole process is a part of God’s divine plan. He sees it all, in the dark days of winter, when the gorse is nothing but an ugly scrub brush God already sees what it will one day produce.

Sometimes the Lord allows us to have a “gorse bush” time in our lives. All we can see is the ugliness and the prickly branches. We get scrapped and scratched and it seems like that is our whole life. Yet, God sees the end, spring always comes. If you are enduring the difficulties of the winter gorse bush rest assured that spring will come. Look forward to the day when things will burst forth into the radiance of the glory of God!

[ April 15, 2005, 01:33 AM: Message edited by: C4K ]

 

Thanks Roger.
This seems to go well with, "All things work together for good to them that love God..."

 

Monday April 18, 2005

Chapter 12

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. (John 12:1-11)
Jesus at Bethany
Jesus returns toward Jerusalem six days before the Passover and visits His close friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Just imagine what it would be like to eat at the table with Jesus! Are you going to be at Jesus' table one day? Rev 19:9: "And he saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." The Apostle Peter reminds us that we must have a reservation to be in Heaven: 1Peter 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." I hope that you have accepted God's gift of salvation and have your reservations ready because it is getting close to suppertime!
Jesus had enjoyed the fellowship and Martha and Mary's hospitality many time before, but what is brought to our attention that evening was the way that Mary washed the feet of Jesus. It was the custom back in that day to wash a guest's feet as they had dirt roads which were either muddy or dusty. (Compare Luke 7:36, 44-46) It was normally the servant's job to wash the soiled feet, but Mary takes it upon herself to wash Jesus feet.
Then Mary brings ointment of spikenard and anoints the feet of Jesus. Spikenard come from a plant grown "in the Himalayan Mountains at an elevation of 11,000 to 17,000 feet. It is used by the Hindus as a medicine and perfume from remote antiquity, and was early an article of commerce. The long distance which it had to be brought to Palestine rendered it on arrival very precious." (Westminster Dictionary of the Bible. P.578)
Some have estimated the exchange rate to have been a years wages of a laborer. (Defender's Study Bible, Morris p. 1155). Mt. 26: 6-13 and Mark 14: 3-9 also mention a similar incident of Jesus being anointed though there are some differences. John's account is six days before the Passover at Mary and Martha's house while the other gospels record the anointing by an unnamed woman two days prior at Simon the leper's house. While both occurred in Bethany they could be different anointings.
Mary didn't just use a few drops but literally bathed His feet with the precious oil until the fragrance filled the whole house. John's account names Judas Iscariot as one who stood in indignation to the use of the expensive perfume. Notice that Matthew and Mark's gospels refer to the whole group of disciples. Isn't it interesting how one rotten apple has corrupted the whole bunch? At one dinner Mary anoints the feet of Jesus and Judas is upset. Then four days later an unnamed woman anoints His head and all the disciples are mad. John also explains the details of why Judas is upset as "he was a thief, and had the bag." One wonders how much was in the bag of coins that he carried as the treasurer contrasted to the bag of thirty pieces of silver he betrayed the Lord for. We sell ourselves for so little when compared to the price Jesus paid to redeem us!
Jesus responds to their anger by trying to put everything into proper perspective. The ointment's value was nothing when compared to the needs of the world. But the anointing of Jesus for His soon death would benefit all the generations of the word to come (and us!) He then declares that Mary would be remembered throughout the whole world for her sacrifice. John then records the intent of the chief priests to kill Lazarus as his testimony was the cause of many people trusting Christ.

 

Tuesday, 19th April, 2005

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2v14

I love this picture of our victory in Christ! I see in my minds eye a Roman general riding into a city, all the banners are out. Flowers are being crushed under foot to produce a great fragrance (the savour of His knowledge) that all can smell. Emotions are stirred and there is great excitement. He is the great conqueror! Our General, the Captain of our salvation, our Victor arrives in conquest over the enemies of the world. Greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world.

Most of hearts are stirred by a patriotic parade. Sports fans love it when their teams wins a major sporting event. My favourite football (soccer) team won a major victory this week. All over the stadium the opponents fans left and the visiting fans were left to wave their banners proudly proclaiming that they were Chelsea fanes. Everyone wanted to be identified with the victors. We can all identify with what victory means!

How can we as Christians walk around in defeat with our heads down. In the words of C.H. Spurgeon it is time to “write His name on our banner.”

How much better it is to have “Christ” on our banner than any sports team or even any national banner. Who is written on the banner of your heart today?

*SOURCE FOR QUOTE

 

Wednesday April 20, 2005

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. (John 12:12-19)
The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
Jesus had come to Jerusalem many times since He journeyed there as a lad. But this day was different. As He came into the world in the lowly manger, Jesus was heralded as a King. Now He finishes His earthly ministry, He is again declared by others to be a King! As He comes close to the city, a crowd gathers and places palm branches along the road and an ass was borrowed to allow Him to ride into the city. It was comparable to victorious king who would literally have a victory parade as the king returned from battle. This triumphal entry was also the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy in Zech. 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
The timing of that day was clearly by God's time clock. Sir Robert Anderson calculated the time needed to fulfill the prophecy recorded in Daniel 25:
"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself..."
The clock began with the decree of Artaxexes to rebuild the city (Neh. 2: 1-8) on March 14, 445 B.C. and was completed 483 years (69 x 7) later to the very day as Jesus rode into Jerusalem! (Note: you have to use a Jewish calendar and add for leap years.) (D. Pentecost, Things To Come p. 244-246)
John's account is the only gospel to note the disciple's perplexity of the meaning of His official entry into Jerusalem.
Jesus hereby accounts for 69 weeks of Daniel’s 70 week prophecy. As for the 70th week, well, that is the basis of much dispute: it depends on how you view prophecy about the future. The differing views on this is beyond the scope of this devotional.
Dr. John R. Rice declares: "When you come to consider the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, one of the most overwhelming proofs is that all these disciples were convinced of it. They did not believe in the resurrection. The two on the road to Emmaus had the thought that Jesus would redeem His people but they had given up their hope. All these miracles...left the disciples with a very faint and partial understanding of the deity of Christ, the need for His death, the certainty of His return to reign. (v.16) But after His resurrection, when He was glorified, then they remembered a hundred happenings and a hundred statements of Jesus that they had not before understood." (Rice, p. 247) The Pharisees were not perplexed but perturbed. They demand Jesus to quiet the crowd from calling Him King, yet He declares "the stones would cry out." (Luke 19:40)

 

Thursday, 21st April, 2005

“Therefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5v1

Peace with God. How often we hear that but how seldom we consider the implications of what it means to have peace with God. In verse 10 we read that we were enemies of God. No treaty could have solved this problem. All discussion was hopeless. God demanded one thing – unconditional surrender!

Praise God that when we do surrender he gives us peace with Him. We move from being the enemy of God to the friends of God. The “problem” is that once we become the friend of God we become at enmity with the world. We will never again find peace with the world and its system.

C.H. Spurgeon presents with this reminder:

Not finding peace with the world today? Rest in the wonderful assurance that peace with God is infinitely better! Amen!

*SOURCE FOR QUOTE