The Carpenter's Chapel (6)

I have raised you up

“And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth”. - Exodus 9v16

Surely by the time of the sixth or seventh plague Pharaoh knew that something was going wrong. He was powerless against Moses and his God, the same God of whom he had said, “Who is this Yahweh that I should obey Him?” His economy was in ruins. Moses seemed to be able to call down plagues and stop them at a whim, and all this while he, the “Great Pharaoh” was supposed to be the greatest god of all.

In today’s selection Moses spells it out clearly for Pharaoh. God told Pharaoh, through Moses, that He had raised Pharaoh up as leader of Egypt to do two things. 1) To show the power of Yahweh, and 2) to have His name declared throughout all the earth.

Pharaoh had just been told that he was no more than a puppet is God’s hands and that God would use him to do His own will! What a bow to Pharaoh’s pride.

God does indeed raise up powers to work out His divine purpose. Daniel tells us the “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will.” Paul write in Romans that the powers that be are ordained of God. We may not always understand all that is going on, but we can be assured that God is always in control, even when governments do and allow terrible things. They are there for an ultimate purpose, that God might show His power and have His name proclaimed!

 

Tuesday, 2nd August, 2005

When I see the blood

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” - Exodus 12v13

Pharaoh still would not be broken. His economy was wrecked, all crops and livestock were destroyed, and the god Ra had been humiliated by the plague of darkness. Still, due to a combination of hardening his own heart and God hardening his heart he would not yield. There was one plague left which would cause him to relent.
When God came to Moses and Aaron this last time he gave very clear instructions. Even those in the camp of Israel had to act this time to be spared God’s wrath. The first-born son of every family was about to die. The only way to escape God’s wrath was to sacrifice a perfect lamb and spread its blood on the doorposts. Only those homes where the blood was spread would be spared God’s judgement. The faith of Israel had to be proven by an act of faith, a simple application of the blood.

What a blessing to know that when God’s final day of wrath comes we also have escape. In our case however all of the work is done. God Himself provided and Lamb and provided for His blood to be spilt for our sins. The blood can cover us simply by accepting God’s wonderful gift. Praise God that when His day of judgement comes He will see the blood of Christ covering my sins and will pass over me!

 

Wednesday, 3rd August, 2005

Because of what God has done for me

“And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.” - Exodus 13v8 13:8

As God delivered the people from Egypt He gave them specific instructions to commemorate the event. The annual Passover was to be observed forever by the people of Israel. God even told the people why they were to do this. In generations to come people would say, “Why do we do these things?” The answer was, “Because of what the Lord did for us when He delivered us from Egypt.”

We would do well to commemorate what God did for us as well. At salvation, God delivered us from the captivity of sin. What are we doing to commemorate that? Are there things in our lives that cause others to ask the question, “Why do you do that?” This is what Peter was talking about in 1Peter 3v15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” As we sanctify the Lord in our hearts we set up a memorial to show what He has done. When the question is asked we should be able to answer, “I do the things I do because of what the Lord did for me when I came forth from the captivity of sin.”

The Passover observance was clear for all to see. Our testimony and commemoration of our deliverance should be just as obvious and should entice people to say, “Why do you do these things?” May we always be able to give the answer to that question!

 

Thursday, 4th August, 2005

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” - Exodus 14v13-14

Finally, Israel was on their way! Joyously they marched out of Egypt. Conservatively, there were two million people walking out of captivity. From all appearances the victory was surely won!

All went well for a few days until they found themselves camped on the Red Sea. Most scholars tell us that they were camped with mountains on either side. Things were going fine. Israel was free.

However, back in Egypt Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he sent out 600,000 choice charioteers to bring the people back. When the people saw the approaching army they were in despair. They had the Red Sea before them and the most powerful army in the world behind them. The situation surely seemed hopeless, so, they did what they would do best, they complained to Moses.

Moses was unwavering – “Don’t be afraid. Stand still and watch God work. He will fight your battle for you and you will have nothing to complain about.

God doesn’t change. Many times in our lives we find ourselves trapped between the Red Seas and Pharaoh’s armies of our own lives. We must not lose confidence that God will work. When we cannot fight the battle, He will. When we don’t know where to go or what to do next He will lead us. What joy to know that we too are able to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!”.

 

Friday, 5th August, 2005

Bread from heaven

“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” – Exodus 16v4

I never cease to be amazed at God’s grace and mercy. After only a month of travel the food supply began to run low. One might think that the people would trust God to meet their needs. One might expect them to simply ask the Lord to meet their needs. However, the people did what they did best, the complained about their condition. Their moaning is almost beyond belief. “Oh that we were still slaves in Egypt. It would have been better to die there than to be killed by God here.” These were the same people who had begged God for deliverance, who now were whinging because He did it!

Yet, once again, God shows His mercy and supplies bread from heaven for them. This is a marvellous picture of God’s mercy and grace. These folks deserved nothing from God. They were due His wrath. Gives them what they don’t deserve, their manna, and does not give them what they do deserve, His punishment.

Why does God do this? Verse twelve has the answer – so that they might know that He is the Lord their God. Over and over God shows this and over and over the people forget. It is sad that we can by just like those people. God shows us His mercy and grace and the next time trouble comes we start complaining. Contentment with what God gives us must come first. Just like Israel, we base our view of Him on Him doing things our way, not His way.

Praise Him for His mercy and grace to such undeserving people.

 

Monday, 8th August, 2005

Aaron and Hur

“So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” - Exodus 17v10-12

Israel was about to learn that their journey through the wilderness was not only going to have times of huger and thirst, but there were battles to be fought as well.

The first battles was to be against the Amalekites, descendants of Esau, at Rephidim Moses set Joshua out as the military commander and then he went up on the hill to intercede with God for the nation. Moses lifted up his arm in prayer with the rod of God in his hands. As the battle wore on Moses, Aaron, and Hur noticed the success of the troops in battle depended on whether Moses had his hands raised or not. When Moses got tired and his arms drooped the Amalekites were winning. When he had his hands raised Israel was winning. Moses could not keep his arms raised all day.

Aaron and Hur noticed this and acted. First they found a stone for Moses to sit on to allow him to alleviate some of the weariness. Then Moses and Aaron sat down next to Moses, one on his right and one on His left. Every time Moses allowed his arms to drop Aaron and Hur would hold up his arms for him. As a result Moses arms were held steady all day and the battle was won!

Spiritual warfare was never intended to be fought alone. Only Moses could hold up His arms before God in this case. Aaron and Hur could not actually take the rod and hold it up for Moses. There was something they could do however. They could assist Moses and uplift his arms for him when he grew weary.

Do you know a Moses today who is weary in a spiritual battle? He or she may be worn out and their arms may be getting heavy. You may not be able to fight their battle for them, but you can uplift them in prayer. May we dedicate ourselves today to be like Aaron and Hur for those like Moses, who grow weary in their battles.

 

Tuesday, 9th August, 2005

My banner of victory!

“And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:” – Exodus 17v15

One notable feature after a great victory in a war, or even in sports, is that waving of national or team banners. Think of the great VE or VJ parades or the last Super Bowl or World Cup match that you saw. One very noticeable features of Gaelic sports is county flags and banners. Flags and anything that resembles the county colours wave like crazy at the sporting events. After a victorious match those standards swamp the pitch. The waving of the banners inspires a sense of pride and county identity.

After God gave the victory over the Amalekites Moses built an altar to the Lord and called the altar “YHWH-Nissi.” The translation of this name is “The LORD is My Banner.” Moses wanted the people to understand that God had given them their victory and that He was the standard they were to follow. Victory banners have always been a part of celebrations. Moses instead wanted to focus to be on the Lord and not on their nation.

When we consider our lives today we must consider what kind of victory stirs up a celebratory spirit within us. Patriots are always stirred when they see their national standard being waved. After 9/11 a Hollywood actor proudly stated that Old Glory was still waving. All over the world television cameras showed the flag in scene after scene dealing with the tragedy. A flag was raised on the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Sports fans love it when their team wins. People wear their team colours and even paint their bodies in those colours. Team supporters are called “fans,” short for fanatics.

How often do we get fanatic about our Lord? I am not suggesting body paint and a wild, uncontrolled fanaticism, but do we ever get excited about our victory in Christ? The LORD is our banner of victory. May we wave His banner high in our daily lives.

YHWH-Nissi! The Lord is indeed my banner!

 

Wednesday, 10th August, 2005

And the Lord came down

“And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.”
- Exodus 19v20

These are absolutely astounding words. “The Lord came down.” In Isaiah 57 we read that God is the “High and Lofty One, Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.” The Lord Who “came down” is One Who is so holy that He cannot tolerate sin. He is the One whose ways are not our ways and whose thoughts are not our thoughts. Who ways are high above our ways and whose thoughts are far above our thoughts. He is the One who created us as perfect and the One against Whom we rebel every time we sin.

God had told Moses to prepare the people for this event. Moses had told them to cleanse themselves and he has sanctified them. The stage was set for a climactic event. God said that He would come to Sinai. The day came when God came down to meet Moses. We note that the Lord did not come all the way down, but He stopped and called Moses to come to Him, and Moses did so.

What a wonderful picture of how God works, even today. The perfect holy God in the Person on His Son Jesus Christ came to earth to dwell amongst men. He called out for men to come to Him. To meet with God all one has to do is accept His invitation and come to Him.

Praise God that He took the first step to come to man. We could never be worthy to take the step up to Him. He indeed could not go to the high and lofty place. I am grateful that He took the step to allow me to come to Him.

 

Thursday, 11th August, 2005

The Ten Commandments

In Exodus chapter 20 we find what are commonly called the Ten Commandments or the Decalogue. Here God lays the basis for the detailed law which is to follow. In these commandments God tells His people some basic rules for dealing with Him, His Sabbath, family, and other people. There is much worthy of note in them. The holiness of God, the importance of worshipping only Him, the Sabbath as a reminder of His creation, and proper dealings with other people are all covered in these few statements.

Some people view God’s commandments as a basis for living, and in a sense they are that. However, the main purpose for giving the law, beginning with the Ten Commandments, is to teach us that no man can keep all the law. Even keeping the Ten Commandments completely is impossible, especially with Jesus’ new application of the Law. Having a lustful thought makes one an adulterer. Hating your brother makes one a murderer. No one can make it though life without violating one aspect of the law and to violate one aspect of it is to break all of it.

Why then would God give the Law? The New Testament tells us why. Without it we would not know what sin was. Without it we would never be aware of our need of a Saviour. Without it we may think that we can be good enough to earn our way to heaven. God gives us the Law as our schoolmaster, to bring us to Christ. Only Christ is perfect. No one can hope to keep God’s law, so Christ came to die for us and fulfil the Law for us. Only He could do so.

Praise God for His Law, for only it can point out to us our need of a Saviour.

 

Friday, 12th August, 2005

Ye shall be holy men

“And ye shall be holy men unto me:” - Exodus 22v31

As God began to spell out certain requirements for the people He specified that one of the key requirements for them is that they be “holy men.” Holiness is a main attribute of God and He requires it for His people.

Holiness involves separation. The Hebrew word is the main OT word, Qadesh, and it has the idea of separation, like a knife cutting something apart. From day one God has required that His people be separate from the world.

Even today God expects His people to be holy. “Be ye holy for I am holy, saith the Lord.” When we were born again we were declared holy by the blood of Christ. Yet today we are to be striving to live that holy life.

How are we doing today? Are we living as holy men and women unto Him?

 

Monday, 15th August, 2005

Noble intentions

“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.” – Exodus 24v7

These were exciting times for Israel. God had been communicating with Moses and Moses had shared what God said with them. They had built altars and offered up sacrifices. As God read the Word of God to the people they responded perfectly. “All that the Lord has said we will do. We will obey everything God has said.”

It is clear that the emotional fervour of the moment had set in. We cannot doubt the hearts of the people at the moment. Certainly they had the most noble of motivations as they committed to follow God and obey Him. It must have been a amazing time for the people.

However, sadly, we will find out soon that their excitement did not last. It would only be a short time before the people collapse into sin, debauchery, and disobedience. Noble intentions are never enough. We can get caught up in the emotional high of special meetings, teen camp, or revival meetings. Commitments are made with every intention of following though.

Then, the reality of the world sets in. We go back to school or work. The appeal of the flesh is not diminished and many times we forget our commitment and are right back to where we were. Like Israel, our noble intentions are not enough.

Jesus said that His family are those who hear His words and do them. Let us be sure that when we make a decision to follow God we do so. May we not only be hearers of the word, or intenders of the word, but doers of the word.

 

Tuesday, 16th August, 2005

Wilful giving

“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” - Exodus 25v2

When God called Moses back up to the mountain the first thing He did was to instruct him to call for an offering from the people. Included in this request was a list of all the materials needed to build the tabernacle.

However, God set some conditions on the giving. He said that gives willingly with heart should bring the offering. From the very start of giving to God’s work He has wanted it to be done from the heart. God does not want forced giving. If the heart is not right, then we are better off just not giving. God maintained the same standard in the New Testament when he said in 2 Corinthians 9v7 – “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

We talk a lot about tithing and giving to missions. Giving is right and proper and God is honoured by it. However, God truly wants giving which is done out of a cheerful heart, one that gives because it wants to give.

Everyone enjoys giving to one they really care about. If we are giving out of a grudging spirit than we do not love God out of our hearts. When we give, let us do so with a willing and cheerful heart.

 

Wednesday, 17th August, 2005

I will dwell among them

“And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God” - Exodus 29v45

In this section of Exodus God is giving extensive directions to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle and for worship. In the midst of this God makes an amazing statement – “I will dwell among the children of Israel.”

It is one thing to be a people’s God. It is one thing for God to communicate with His people. It is quite another for God to come and dwell among His people. This speaks of God’s transcending presence in both heaven and earth. God’s grace is manifest throughout the word of God in so many ways. The fact that He cares for us, makes daily provision for us, and gave us His Word are amazing examples of His love, grace, and mercy in and of themselves. However it is almost incomprehensible that God would come to dwell among men. Even more amazing that in the New Testament one of the names for Christ is Immanuel, God with us!

Praise the Lord that He will dwell amongst His people. Praise Him that this promise is true for the nation of Israel, but it is also for all those who put their faith in Christ.

 

Thursday, 18th August, 2005

Aholiab and Bezeleel

“See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;” - Exodus 31v2-6

Sometimes we can, subconsciously or not, give levels of importance to God’s workers. We can see pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and teachers as somehow more “special” in God’s service. We know that God does give certain people to the church to equip for service, but the story of Aholiab and Bezeleel reminds us that every aspect of service to God is important and nothing should be taken lightly.

As Moses received instructions for worship and building the tabernacle God told him that special men have been chosen to be the craftsman to do the physical work of building the tabernacle. Someone had to do the work of construction and God makes it clear who those men would be. Two of them are name, Aholiab and Bezeleel. Part of the reason they are chosen is because God had given them skill in working with stone cutting and setting, and in carpentry. These are vital skills for the work to be done.

Those physical skills alone were not enough to do God’s work. Bezeleel was Spirit filled, wise, understanding, and full of knowledge. All of the workers are called wise hearted. God cares about every aspect of His work. He sets high standards for all of His workers, not just those who are in leadership.

Churches who have a Bezeleel and an Aholiab are truly blessed. These are godly men who do the everyday work that must be done. Churches could not function without them. Some of the greatest words of wisdom I ever heard were not from pastors, but men in the church who knew what the “real world” was all about.

Praise God for the Aholiabs and Bezeleels!

 

Friday, 19th August, 2005

The Lord who sanctifies

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.” - Exodus 31:13

The context here is the establishment of the Sabbath. In that context God reveals another name that tells us something about Him, YHWH Q’desh. Among all the things God does for His people is to sanctify them, to set them apart.

God’s sanctification of His people did not stop in the New Testament. When a person gets saved today the Bible tells us that God sanctifies them from the world. At salvation we are set apart to God. Once God declares us sanctified the sanctification process continues as we are told to sanctify ourselves unto Him.

Without God’s promise of sanctification we would all be hopelessly trapped in the world and its system. It is only by the sanctifying power of God that we have any hope of being set apart from the world and unto Him.

YHWH Q’desh is another example of the wonderful grace of our Lord. Praise God that He is the Lord who sanctifies Him, for without Him it would never be possible.

 

Monday August 22, 2005

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was,
JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
(John 19:17-30)
The crucifixion of Jesus.
It is good to note the absence of anything that occurred on the way to the cross. The other gospels mention the compulsion of Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross. Luke also records Jesus response to a group of lamenting women (Luke 23:28-31).
The Bible is silent on anything else on the way to the cross, though Catholic tradition speaks of several events. When they arrived at Calvary, Jesus was crucified between two thieves. No description was given of the details of this horrible torture. We have to rely on Old Testament prophecies (Psa. 22; Isa. 53), as well as history for details. The Father refused to elaborate on the treatment of His Son.
Let's look at two things that are absent in John's gospel. Each of the other gospels mention the time of the crucifixion to be starting at the third hour (Mark 15:25) and having an amazing miraculous even of darkness over the entire land for 3 hours from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. Jesus then died sometime after the 9th hour. John 19:14 tells of Jesus' judgement before Pilate as being "about the 6th hour." John's gospel was written in 90 A.D., after the destruction of Jerusalem. His audience was a non-Jewish audience and therefore he used Roman time. John's 6th hour was six hours after midnight, but Jewish time started at 6:00am. The darkness described in the synoptic gospels is absent in John as he focuses upon Christ's glory.
Dr. Ironside compares the gospel accounts of the crucifixion to the Old Testament sin offerings. Each of the four blood offerings shows the work of the cross from four different views. The trespass, the sin and the peace offerings deal with the aspects of man and his sin. However, since the theme of John's Gospel was the Deity of Christ, Ironside compares it to the burnt offering which brought glory to God. He remarks: "Here in the record given us by John it is clearly the burnt-offering of our Lord, dying to glorify the Father, which is set forth, and that explains why the three hours of darkness are not mentioned here. God's word is written with marvelous precision. In the other Gospels we have those dark three hours in which the soul of the Lord Jesus was made an offering for sin, and we hear His awful cry, 'My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?' The answer to that cry is that He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken. But that cry of anguish is not recorded in John's Gospel. We simply see the blessed Lord, in perfect submission to the will of the Father, yielding Himself without spot to God in His death upon the tree." (p. 832-833)
Though he doesn't look at the sufferings of Jesus on the cross, John however, focuses upon the sign placed above Jesus' head which detailed His "crime." Pilate ordered the sign to declare that Jesus was the "King of the Jews." Here we see Pilate's last words of the argument. He clearly understood that Jesus really was the King of the Jews, yet he bowed to the political pressure instead of bowing the knee to Jesus. Next the writer looks at the executioners who are gambling for Jesus' only earthly possession, His clothes. We are reminded that even this little detail was foretold hundreds of years before in Psa. 22:18. Also, our attention is focused upon the group of Jesus' followers at the cross. Women and "the disciple whom Jesus loved" are listed. Jesus cared for those gathered and gave instructions for His earthly mother's care. His earthly brothers were not saved yet, so he turned to John for help. Notice that these friends are able to stand near the cross in the midst of His enemies. These "weak" women displayed courage as the last at the cross and the first at the tomb.
Finally, we focus on Jesus on the cross as He states His last two cries from the cross. Go fulfill Scripture, the Lord cried "I thirst" (Psa. 22:15; 69:21) He had refused the vinegar mingled with gall when offered by the soldiers at first, (Mt. 27:34), but now He accepts the vinegar. Oliver B. Greene states: "Vinegar and gall was a mixture given to criminals to deaden the pain of crucifixion, and such was refused by our Lord. He suffered all the agony crucifixion could bring, and He accepted nothing to lesson the pain. His mind was clear and His memory unimpaired until the very moment He passed His spirit back to God. But he did not refuse to drink the vinegar. He accepted it in obedience to the Heavenly Father's will. Someone - probably one of the Roman soldiers - filled a sponge with the vinegar and pressed it to the parched lips of Jesus, unaware that he was fulfilling prophecy spoken centuries before (Psa. 69:21)."
(Greene, p. 294)
The last words of Jesus on the cross are very important. When He cried out, "It is finished!" a great change occurred that affected the whole world! Remember why Jesus, the Son of God had left Heaven. Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Galatians 4:4: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." John 3:14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
Jesus came to die for the sins of the whole world. In 17:14 He had stated that He had "finished the work" and now the last act of obedience was complete. The burden of our sin debt has been paid in full! 1Peter 2:24: "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree...by Whose stripes ye were healed." The blood of innocent animals is no longer necessary. God's gift of salvation is complete! Eph. 2:12: "That at that time ye were without Christ,...having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But know in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross..."

 

Tuesday, 23rd August, 2005

Show me Your way

“Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.” - Exodus 33:13

Moses was still perplexed by the situation. Things were not going the way he expected. He was doing his best to lead Israel and represent them before God and God before Israel. God was angry at the people and the people were angry at God. When God called Moses to meet Him the nation held their collective breath as Moses entered the tabernacle and cloud indicating God’s presence descended there.

Moses did the wise thing. He simply prayed and asked God for His direction. “Lord, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me Your way.” All through the Bible we find God’s people praying for His direction in times of trouble. Moses did not know what to do, so he asked God.

We all come to time in our lives when we just don’t know what to do. Circumstances have puzzled and frustrated us. Our faith is not matching up with our sight. We are fortunate today that God has given us His direction in His written Word. God has laid out His principles and guidelines and all we need do is to follow them. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” God’s Word shows us God’s way.

The Bible does not always tell us what to do in every situation. When that happens, God does not leave us clueless. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

God does not want us to be clueless as to His direction for our lives. May we have the wisdom to seek God’s way no matter what we face today.

 

Thank you Roger.
Ps.119:105
"...lamp unto my feet..."
Where we are now and what do we do now? Here God's word cannot speak of every situation. It certainly does speak of what NOT to do.

"...light unto my path."
Ah, the future. What does it hold? Here the Lord, particulary in Matthew 6 tells us not to be concerned by it.
The important thing for us is to be Christ-centered: "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

 

Wednesday August 24, 2005

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

(John 19:31-42)
The Burial of Jesus
This passage begins with a quick comment about it being the day of "preparation." Notice that the Sabbath was a "high day" or special Sabbath. This special Sabbath refers to the annual Passover Sabbath (18:28) and therefore the Jewish leaders requested that the soldiers might brake their legs and hasten their deaths before the Sabbath started at sundown. (See notes on 13:1 on the preparation and the Passover.)

As the soldiers came to our Lord, they found that He was already dead, so they didn't bother to brake His legs. John reminds us that this little detail was important to fulfill the type of the Passover lamb (See Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12). One of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus with his spear again fulfilling prophecy (Psa. 22:16; Zech. 12:10). The Bible Knowledge Commentary states: "This flow has been interpreted in many ways. Some have seen this as evidence that Jesus died of a broken heart so that His pericardium was full of blood and serum. More likely, it indicates that Jesus was a real human who died a real death. Possibly the spear struck the stomach and the heart, which accounted for the flow. The one who saw this (v.35) saw saving significance in this sign. At the time of the writing of this Gospel, Gnosticism and Docetism were current problems. These ideologies denied the reality of the incarnation and His death. But the blood and water are firm answers against those heresies." (p.340)
Those heresies are still prevalent today. It has been popularized in recent films (i.e. The Matrix) which suggest that our physical world is just imaginary. Dr. Henry Morris mused that it could also be referring to the water spoken of by our Lord in John 7:38: "He that believeth in me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Another good reference is found in 1John 5:6: "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."
As mentioned in the quotation above, the key is that the writer (John) understands the importance of declaring the physical reality of the death of Jesus Christ. Also in his first epistle, John testifies of the reality of the physical Jesus. 1John 1:1: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled , of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us" (Notice all the "witness words above.)
Now the scene changes its focus from the Roman soldiers at the Cross back to Pilate's hall where Joseph of Arimathea is boldly asking for the body of Jesus. It describes him as a secret disciple who is risking all to honor his dead leader. This too, is fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy as stated in Isa. 53:9: "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." He died with the "wicked" (two thieves), yet He was buried in a rich man's tomb! Everything about His burial is amazing. All of His friends had forsaken Him; the only member of His earthly family that believed in Him was His mother. Joseph had to risk everything to associate himself with Jesus. Unger's Bible Dictionary reveals that normally the bodies of the slain were left on the cross exposed to the elements as well as the scavengers and that a "sepulture was generally, therefore, forbidden, but in consequence of Deut. 21:22,23 an express national exception was made in favor of the Jews." (p.229)
Nicodemus, who is clearly identified as the one mentioned in chapter three, came bringing spices to help prepare the body for burial. He too, made a great sacrifice to identify himself with Jesus. John identifies the tomb as being in a garden close to Golgotha (which is still "the place of a skull"). Now Catholic tradition marks the location inside the city wall, but Gen. Gordon, during the British occupation of Palestine, excavated and found was is now known as the garden tomb. Tests were made and it was determined that no body had ever decayed in that tomb (v.41).

 

Thursday, 25th August, 2005

God passed by

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” - Exodus 34v6-7

God graciously gave Moses and the people of Israel and “second chance” when He gave the Ten Commandments a second time. When He did so He passed by Moses and proclaimed some things about Himself. There are two aspects to His self-description.

First He tells about His love and mercy. He is:

· Merciful
· Gracious
· Abundant in goodness
· Abundant in truth
· Forgiving of iniquity, transgression, and sin

These are all wonderful traits of our loving Lord. Praise God that He is all of these things for else wise we would be hopeless and helpless for all eternity. For He also says that He

· Will by no means clear the guilty.

His mercy and grace are balanced with His holiness and righteousness. Those who remain guilty in their sin have no hope. They get what they deserve.

Yet, God gave us hope, His Son. By doing such He showed His mercy, grace, goodness, truth, and forgiveness so that no one need die in their guilt. Praise the Lord that Christ took our guilt to the cross with Him and all that anyone must do to have that guilt removed is to accept His gracious gift.