January - Reading 22

I won't type much tonight. Quite tired. The years of my pilgrimage are thirty and seven...

In Genesis 46, it appears that the scholars have wrestled this passage of lineage to the ground. Suffice it to say, this is a large number of people (the women aren't listed) making a very long journey to Egypt. This is the original planting of the seeds of Israel into Egypt setting us up for the Exodus as predicted by God in Genesis 46:4. We see in chapter 47 verse 27 that they are a very prolific people and this sets us up for the first atrocity against the Jewish people in Exodus 1. I love how chapter 47 ends with Jacob having received the promise of burial in his homeland from his now powerful son "worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff." Beautiful image...

In Matthew, Christ is really beginning to upset the Pharisees with his persistent ignoring of their laws. Again, the last verse speaks volumes: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

In Acts, We see the new name of Saul and the naming of the pair of men changes from "Barnabas and Saul" to "Paul and Barnabas." This hierarchy remains in the texts until the return to Jerusalem. I am supplying a map if any of you are interested in the journey these men are making.
Have a good night all and may God bless you

- Clint

[ January 22, 2005, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: Clint Kritzer ]

 

Matthew 9:2-3 (ESV)
2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”

This is a key verse in the apologetics of defending the deity of Jesus Christ. The scribes’ statement would be a true judgment about anyone but God incarnate, for only the One who has been sinned against has the prerogative to forgive. Jesus’ words to the man were therefore an unequivocal claim of divine authority.

Matthew 9:4 (ESV)
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Though the Lord Jesus humbled Himself and set aside the independent use of His divine prerogatives in incarnation, He was still fully God and, therefore, omniscient.

Matthew 9:5-7 (ESV)
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home.

Christ proved His power to forgive by instantly healing the man of his paralysis. If He could do the apparently harder, He could also do what seemed easier. The actual forgiving of the sins was in reality the more difficult task, however, because it ultimately required Him to sacrifice His life.

 

Our Scriptures for 1/23 are:

Matthew 9:14-26

Acts 13:26-52

Psalm 22:1-11

Genesis 48

 

Our Scriptures for 1/23 are:

Matthew 9:14-26

Acts 13:26-52

Psalm 22:1-11

Genesis 48

 

Our Scriptures for 1/23 are:

Matthew 9:14-26

Acts 13:26-52

Psalm 22:1-11

Genesis 48

 

Our Scriptures for 1/23 are:

Matthew 9:14-26

Acts 13:26-52

Psalm 22:1-11

Genesis 48