Wednesday, December 12, 2018
THE PASSION HISTORY--------------------THE RESURRECTION.
SOME DETAILS ARE FOUND ONLY IN MATTHEW. JUDAS ASK THE CHIEF PRIESTS HOW MUCH THEY WILL GIVE HIM IF HE BETRAYS JESUS, 26:15. JESUS NAMES JUDAS AS THE ONE WHO WILL BETRAY HIM, 26:25. NO MENTION IS MADE OF THE ROMAN SOLDIERS AMONG THOSE WHO GO TO GETHSEMANE TO CAPTURE JESUS26:59. JUDAS REPENTS OF HIS ACTIONS, RETURNS THE MONEY TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS, AND HANGS HIMSELF. THE MONEY HW RETURNS IS USED TO BUY POTTER'S FIELD, 27:3-10. PILATE'S WIFE WARNS HER HUSBAND NOT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH JESUS; SHE IS TROUBLED BY A DREAM., 27:19. PILATE WASHERS HIS HANDS BEFORE A CROWD, 27:24-26. LIKE MARH, MATTHEW QUOTES ONLY ONE WORD FROM THE CROSS, 27:46. AFTER JESUS DEATH ( IN WHICH HE YIELDS UP HIS SPIRIT, 27:50), THE EARTH SHAKES, ROCKS SPLIT OPEN, TOMBS ARE ARE OPENED AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THEM APPEAR TO MANY IN JERUSALEM AFTER JESUS RESURRECTION, 27:51-53. FINALLY, THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES ARRANGE TO HAVE JESUS TOMB SEALED AND GUARDED. DURING THE MOCKY SCENE IN HIS PASSION, JESUS IS GIVEN NOT ONLY A CROWN, BUT ALSO A MOCK SCEPTER, 27:29 THE OPENING OF JESUS TOMB IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN EARTHQUAKE AND TH VISIT OF AN ANGEL. THE GUARDS ARE TERRIFIED BY THIS EXPERIENCE. THE RISEN JESUS MEETS WOMEN NEAR THE TOMB, AND THERE IS A MUTUAL GREETING. THE PROBLEM WITH THE EMPTY TOMB IS REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES WHO IN TURN TRY TO KEEP THE MATTER QUIET BY RESORTING TO BRIBERY. JESUS MEETS HIS DISCIPLES IN GALILEE. THOUGH SOME WORSHIP HIM,, OTHERS DOUBT. JESUS POINTS TO HIS KINGLY AUTHORITY AND SENDS HIS DISCIPLES FORTH TO DRAW PEOPLE FROM ALL NATIONS INTO HIS COMMUNITY. HIS DISCIPLES ARE TO TEACH ALL NATIONS, AND TO BAPTIZE THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEY ARE TO TEACH HIS NEW FOLLOWERS TO OBSERVE (NOT JUST "BELIEVE"). ALL THAT HE COMMANDED THEM. THE GOSPEL CLOSES WITH JESUS ASSURING HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WILL BE WITH THEM TO THE CLOSE OF THE AGE,ch.28. THOUGH MATTHEW FOLLOWS THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE AS MARK, IT IS STRUCTURED AROUND A " FIVE BOOKS" PLAN. MATTHEW STRESSES THAT JESUS DESCENDED FROM BOTH ABRAHAM AND DAVID. JESUS WAS A" NEW MOSES" WHOSE MINISTRY BROUGHT A NEW CHOSEN PEOPLE INTO EXISTENCE, A NEW ISRAEL. JESUS WAS MUCH MORE THAN A GIVER OF NEW LAWS. AT THE NEW MOSES (JESUS CAME TO RESCUE GOD'S PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE FROM SIN, SATAN, JUDGMENT AND DEATH. HE WAS ALSO THE SON OF DAVID, THE PROMISED MESSIANIC KING, WHO CAME TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HUMANITY THAT IT MIGHT HAVE FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND ETERNAL LIFE AS A PRESENT POSSESSION. JESUS REPEATED IN HIS LIFE THE HISTORY OF THE"OLD ISRAEL," THE OLD SON OF GOD. HE WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT, WAS CALLED OUT OF EGYPT, PASSED THROUGH WATER, AND WAS TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS. HE CONQUERED SATAN AND GATHERED A NEW PEOPLE AROUND HIMSELF. AS GOD GAVE HIS LAW TO OLD ISRAEL ON A MOUNTAIN, SO TOO JESUS GAVE HIS NEW WILL TO HIS NEW PEOPLE ON A MOUNTAIN. HIS NEW WILL STRIPPED AWAY ALL HUMAN MANIPULATIONS OF THE LAW AND MADE CLEAR GOD'S ORIGINAL INTENTION FOR HUMANITY-- THAT PEOPLE SHOULD LOVE GOD AND ONE ANOTHER. JESUS IS NOT AN "ABSENT KING," BUT THE EVER PRESENT IMMANUEL, "GOD WITH US." HE WILL REMAIN AMONG HIS PEOPLE UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE AGE. THE NEW ISRAEL HE BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS BY BAPTIZING THEM, AND TEACHING THEM ALL THAT HE WOULD HAVE THEM BELIEVE AND DO.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
MATTHEW'S FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY.
WHEN QUOTING FROM OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, "MATTHEW" USES THE FOLLOWING FORMULA ( OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO IT). " THIS WAS DONE TO FULFIL WHAT WAS SPOKEN BY THE LORD THROUGH THE PROPHET," 1:22; 2:15; 2:17; 2:23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 27:9-10; MATTHEW ADJUSTS THE ORIGINAL MEANING OF THESE QUOTATIONS TO MEET THE NEW SITUATION IN RELATION TO CHRIST; COMPARE HOSEA 11:1 WITH MATTHEW 2:15; JEREMIAH 31:15 WITH MATTHEW 2:18; ZECHARIAH 11: 12,13, JEREMIAH 32:6-15, 18:2,3 WITH MATTHEW 27:3-10. MATTHEW'S USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IS SIMILAR TO THE QUMRAN COMMUNITY'S USE OF IT. THOUGH ON THE SURFACE OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES DID NOT SEEM TO REFER TO THE READER'S PRESENT HISTORY, THE INTERPRETERS SAW IN THEM CLUES TO HOW GOD WAS AT WORK IN THEIR OWN SITUATION, WHICH THEY UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE LAST DAYS. MATTHEW PRESENTS JESUS AS ONE WHO REPEATS ("RECAPITULATES") THE HISTORY OF OLD ISRAEL, BUT DOES SO WITHOUT SIN.
JESUS IS LOOKED UPON AS THE NEW MOSES. MATTHEW'S GENERAL OUTLINE, SUGGEST THAT HE SAW IN JESUS A NEW MOSES WHO CAME TO CARRY OUT A NEW EXODUS, TO FREE GOD'S PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE TO SIN, SATAN, JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION, AND TO LEAD THEM INTO INHERITANCE OF AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER. SOON AFTER HIS MINISTRY BEGINS, JESUS TAKES HIS NEW PEOPLE TO A MOUNTAIN AND TEACHES THEM HIS WILL, CHS.5-7. THE FIRST WORD HE SPEAKS IN THIS SERMON IS "BLESSED" A TERM WHICH OCCURS NINE TIMES IN NINE VERSES, 5:3-11. THE PATH OF LIFE HE SPELLS OUT IS NOT A PLAN TO ESTABLISH FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, BUT A GUIDELINE FOR REFLECTING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. HIS TEACHINGS SUPPLANT ALL PREVIOUS TEACHING. HE REMOVES THE YOKE OF THE SCRIBAL DEMANDS FROM THE NECK OF GOD'S PEOPLE, AND REPLACES THEM WITH HIS OWN LIGHT YOKE. MATTHEW 11:28-30. THOUGH SOME PHARISEES THANKED GOD THAT THEY WERE NOT BORN AN OUTCAST, A GENTILE OR A WOMEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" JESUS SHOWS COMPASSION TO A LEPER (8:1-4). A GENTILE (8:5-13). AND A WOMEN (8:14-17). ALL HUMAN CRITERIA CONCERNING WORTHINESS MUST YIELD TO THE PRINCIPLE OF SUPREME MERCY. JESUS COMING DEMONSTRATES HE IS FULFILLING OF THE LAW,
AND HIS TEACHING PROCLAIMS, THE PURPOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW (TORAH). OBEDIENCE INVOLVES A SINGLE MINDED DEDICATION TO REFLECTING GOD'S BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN DEALING WITH OTHERS,5:44,45,48. CALCULATION AND MANIPULATION IN DETERMINING THE WILL OF GOD ARE RULED OUT. UNLIKE THE PHARISEES WHO TEACH CORRECTLY, BUT DO NOT LIVE CORRECTLY (5: 17-20, ch.23).
THEY ARE TO EMULATE THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR LORD WHOSE LIFE DEMONSTRATES
THE INTENDED MEANING, PURPOSE AND FULLNESS OF THE LAW. JESUS DOES NOT CALL HIS FOLLOWERS TO VAGUE "GOOD WORKS," BUT TO SPECIFIC COMPASSIONATE ACTS: GIVING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY, DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, LODGING TO THE STRANGER, CLOTHING TO THE NAKED, HELP TO THE SICK, AND COMPASSION TO THE PRISONER, ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HE WILL CONDEMN THOSE WHO CLAIM TO KNOW HIM (MATTHEW 25:44, "LORD"). BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO DEMONSTRATE IT. NO DEED OF SERVICE IS TO BE DONE FOR THE SAKE OF REWARD, BUT TO MEET NEED FOR ITS OWN SAKE (MATTHEW 25:37-39.) THOSE FINALLY RECEIVED INTO THE FATHER'S HOUSE ARE WELCOMED ("COME" 25:34) ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE "BLESSED" BY CHRIST'S "FATHER"; THEY "INHERIT" THE "KINGDOM" PREPARED "FOR THEM" (NOT BY THEM") BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, MATTHEW 25:31-34). ALL CAUSE FOR HUMAN BOASTING IS RULED OUT. GRACE REIGNS SUPREME. CHRIST ALLOWS NO ROOM FOR ESTABLISHING FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD LEVELS OF PRIORITY IN THE USE OF LIFE, FOR OBEDIENCE IN HIS KINGDOM IS A FULL TIME AFFAIR. HE SUMMONS HIS FOLLOWERS TO DEVOTE ALL LIFE TO WORSHIP AND SERVICE TO GOD., MATTHEW 4:10 ("ONLY"). HE INTENDED MEANING OF MATTHEW 6:33 IS CLEARER IF THE WORD "FIRST" IS OMITTED IN ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS; SEE LUKE (12:31). CHRIST FOLLOWERS ARE TO DEVOTE LIFE ITSELF TO LEARNING AND DOING THE THINGS OF THE FATHER'S KINGDOM. SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH JESUS LOVE. JESUS DOES NOT CALL HIS FOLLOWERS INTO A PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF, BUT INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS COMMUNITY. GREATNESS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT DETERMINED BY ACHIEVEMENT
FOR SELF, BUT BY SERVICE RENDERED TO OTHERS. 2:25-28. EACH MEMBER MUST DO NOTHING TO HARM THE FAITH OF ANOTHER (18:1-9), BUT MUST FORGIVE WITHOUT LIMIT (18:21,22), SEEK THE STRAYING WITH COMPASSIONATE ZEAL (18: 10-14), AND CONFRONT THE INDIFFERENT WITH LOVING FIRMNESS, 18:15-20. THOUGH BOTH GOOD AND BAD WILL BE FOUND IN THE COMMUNITY, THE BEDIENT ARE NOT TO WASTE TIME EVALUATING THEIR PERFORMANCE OR RECTIFYING UNDESIRABLE SITUATIONS, BUT ARE TO SOW ENERGETICALLY AND LEAVE GOD TO REAP THE HARVEST, 13: 24-30. THEY MUST APPLY THEMSELVES TO GOD'S WILL THROUGHOUT LIFE LEST THEY BE FOUND AMONG BAD FISH TO BE THROWN INTO THE FIRE ON THE LAST DAY, 3:47-5O. MATTHEW STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING SERIOUSLY THE RETURN OF CHRIST AT THE END OF TIME. THE FAITHFUL MUST BE READY AT ALL TIMES, 25:12. HE ENCOURAGES THE FAITHFUL AND WARNS THE LAX,24:45-51.
WHEN THE LORD RETURNS, SOME WILL BE READY AND SOME WILL BE CAUGHT UNPREPARED 25:1-13. THE FAITHFUL ARE TO USE THEIR ABILITIES AND POSSESSIONS
RESPONSIBLY WHILE WAITING FOR THAT FINAL DAY, 25:14-30.
WHILE ANTICIPATING THE END. WHEN THE END FINALLY COMES SOME WILL BE CAUGHT, UNAWARE, AND THE FAITHFUL AT THAT MOMENT MUST BE WITNESSING TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL"(1O:5,6).
JESUS IS LOOKED UPON AS THE NEW MOSES. MATTHEW'S GENERAL OUTLINE, SUGGEST THAT HE SAW IN JESUS A NEW MOSES WHO CAME TO CARRY OUT A NEW EXODUS, TO FREE GOD'S PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE TO SIN, SATAN, JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION, AND TO LEAD THEM INTO INHERITANCE OF AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER. SOON AFTER HIS MINISTRY BEGINS, JESUS TAKES HIS NEW PEOPLE TO A MOUNTAIN AND TEACHES THEM HIS WILL, CHS.5-7. THE FIRST WORD HE SPEAKS IN THIS SERMON IS "BLESSED" A TERM WHICH OCCURS NINE TIMES IN NINE VERSES, 5:3-11. THE PATH OF LIFE HE SPELLS OUT IS NOT A PLAN TO ESTABLISH FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, BUT A GUIDELINE FOR REFLECTING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. HIS TEACHINGS SUPPLANT ALL PREVIOUS TEACHING. HE REMOVES THE YOKE OF THE SCRIBAL DEMANDS FROM THE NECK OF GOD'S PEOPLE, AND REPLACES THEM WITH HIS OWN LIGHT YOKE. MATTHEW 11:28-30. THOUGH SOME PHARISEES THANKED GOD THAT THEY WERE NOT BORN AN OUTCAST, A GENTILE OR A WOMEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" JESUS SHOWS COMPASSION TO A LEPER (8:1-4). A GENTILE (8:5-13). AND A WOMEN (8:14-17). ALL HUMAN CRITERIA CONCERNING WORTHINESS MUST YIELD TO THE PRINCIPLE OF SUPREME MERCY. JESUS COMING DEMONSTRATES HE IS FULFILLING OF THE LAW,
AND HIS TEACHING PROCLAIMS, THE PURPOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW (TORAH). OBEDIENCE INVOLVES A SINGLE MINDED DEDICATION TO REFLECTING GOD'S BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN DEALING WITH OTHERS,5:44,45,48. CALCULATION AND MANIPULATION IN DETERMINING THE WILL OF GOD ARE RULED OUT. UNLIKE THE PHARISEES WHO TEACH CORRECTLY, BUT DO NOT LIVE CORRECTLY (5: 17-20, ch.23).
THEY ARE TO EMULATE THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR LORD WHOSE LIFE DEMONSTRATES
THE INTENDED MEANING, PURPOSE AND FULLNESS OF THE LAW. JESUS DOES NOT CALL HIS FOLLOWERS TO VAGUE "GOOD WORKS," BUT TO SPECIFIC COMPASSIONATE ACTS: GIVING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY, DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, LODGING TO THE STRANGER, CLOTHING TO THE NAKED, HELP TO THE SICK, AND COMPASSION TO THE PRISONER, ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HE WILL CONDEMN THOSE WHO CLAIM TO KNOW HIM (MATTHEW 25:44, "LORD"). BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO DEMONSTRATE IT. NO DEED OF SERVICE IS TO BE DONE FOR THE SAKE OF REWARD, BUT TO MEET NEED FOR ITS OWN SAKE (MATTHEW 25:37-39.) THOSE FINALLY RECEIVED INTO THE FATHER'S HOUSE ARE WELCOMED ("COME" 25:34) ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE "BLESSED" BY CHRIST'S "FATHER"; THEY "INHERIT" THE "KINGDOM" PREPARED "FOR THEM" (NOT BY THEM") BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, MATTHEW 25:31-34). ALL CAUSE FOR HUMAN BOASTING IS RULED OUT. GRACE REIGNS SUPREME. CHRIST ALLOWS NO ROOM FOR ESTABLISHING FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD LEVELS OF PRIORITY IN THE USE OF LIFE, FOR OBEDIENCE IN HIS KINGDOM IS A FULL TIME AFFAIR. HE SUMMONS HIS FOLLOWERS TO DEVOTE ALL LIFE TO WORSHIP AND SERVICE TO GOD., MATTHEW 4:10 ("ONLY"). HE INTENDED MEANING OF MATTHEW 6:33 IS CLEARER IF THE WORD "FIRST" IS OMITTED IN ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS; SEE LUKE (12:31). CHRIST FOLLOWERS ARE TO DEVOTE LIFE ITSELF TO LEARNING AND DOING THE THINGS OF THE FATHER'S KINGDOM. SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH JESUS LOVE. JESUS DOES NOT CALL HIS FOLLOWERS INTO A PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF, BUT INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS COMMUNITY. GREATNESS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT DETERMINED BY ACHIEVEMENT
FOR SELF, BUT BY SERVICE RENDERED TO OTHERS. 2:25-28. EACH MEMBER MUST DO NOTHING TO HARM THE FAITH OF ANOTHER (18:1-9), BUT MUST FORGIVE WITHOUT LIMIT (18:21,22), SEEK THE STRAYING WITH COMPASSIONATE ZEAL (18: 10-14), AND CONFRONT THE INDIFFERENT WITH LOVING FIRMNESS, 18:15-20. THOUGH BOTH GOOD AND BAD WILL BE FOUND IN THE COMMUNITY, THE BEDIENT ARE NOT TO WASTE TIME EVALUATING THEIR PERFORMANCE OR RECTIFYING UNDESIRABLE SITUATIONS, BUT ARE TO SOW ENERGETICALLY AND LEAVE GOD TO REAP THE HARVEST, 13: 24-30. THEY MUST APPLY THEMSELVES TO GOD'S WILL THROUGHOUT LIFE LEST THEY BE FOUND AMONG BAD FISH TO BE THROWN INTO THE FIRE ON THE LAST DAY, 3:47-5O. MATTHEW STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING SERIOUSLY THE RETURN OF CHRIST AT THE END OF TIME. THE FAITHFUL MUST BE READY AT ALL TIMES, 25:12. HE ENCOURAGES THE FAITHFUL AND WARNS THE LAX,24:45-51.
WHEN THE LORD RETURNS, SOME WILL BE READY AND SOME WILL BE CAUGHT UNPREPARED 25:1-13. THE FAITHFUL ARE TO USE THEIR ABILITIES AND POSSESSIONS
RESPONSIBLY WHILE WAITING FOR THAT FINAL DAY, 25:14-30.
WHILE ANTICIPATING THE END. WHEN THE END FINALLY COMES SOME WILL BE CAUGHT, UNAWARE, AND THE FAITHFUL AT THAT MOMENT MUST BE WITNESSING TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL"(1O:5,6).
Friday, December 7, 2018
"SON OF DAVID"
IN TRACING JESUS GENEALOGY BACK TO ABRAHAM, MATTHEW SHOWS THAT THE NEW CHOSEN PEOPLE WAS NOT AN UPSTART GROUP. IT GREW DIRECTLY OUT OF THE OLD PEOPLE OF GOD, FOR JESUS WAS A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM. JESUS ALSO DESCENDED FROM DAVID. IN MATTHEW, JESUS IS CALLED "SON OF DAVID" MORE OFTEN THAN IN ALL THE OTHER GOSPELS PUT TOGETHER, 1:1; 9:27; 12;23; 15:22; 20: 3,31, 21:9,15. MARK USES THE TITLE ONLY IN 10:47, LUKE IN 18:37,38 AND JOHN NOT AT ALL. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR. GOD HAS CERTAINLY KEPT HIS PROMISES TO THE FATHERS. THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM LIVES ON, FOR THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD CONTINUES THROUGH JESUS AND THE NEW AND TRUE ISRAEL. GOD HAS KEPT HIS PROMISE, FOR A "SON OF DAVID" WILL BE KING OF HIS PEOPLE TO ALL ETERNITY, 2 SAMUEL 7. SOME DETECT IN MATTHEW 1:1 AN ALLUSION TO GENESIS 1:1, AND TRANSLATE IT, " THE BOOK OF THE GENESIS OF JESUS CHRIST,SON OF DAVID, SON OF ABRAHAM." JUST AS GOD BROUGHT CREATION INTO EXISTENCE, SO HE BEGAN A NEW THING WITH JESUS CHRIST, THE NATURE OF WHICH THE GOSPEL DEFINES. THE LIST OF NAMES IN MATTHEW 1:1-17 IS MADE UP OF THREE SECTIONS
OF FOURTEEN NAMES EACH. MATTHEW 1:17 POINTS OUT THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH SECTION: FROM ABRAHAM TO DAVID, FROM DAVID TO THE BABYLONIAN EXILE AND FROM THE BABYLONIAN EXILE TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS. IT MAY BE AN COINCIDENCE, BUT IN HEBREW DAVID'S NAME HAS THE MATHEMATICAL VALUE 14; D=4, V=6,D=4. (WRITTEN HEBREW MADE NO USE OF VOWELS, HENCE NO MATHEMATICAL VALUE COULD BE ASSIGNED TO THEM).FINALLY, MATTHEW'S GENEALOGICAL TABLE CONTAINS THE NAMES OF SEVERAL WOMEN, NAMELY TAMAR, RUTH, BATHSHEBA (" THE WIFE OF URIAH" 1:6), AND MARY WOMEN WERE NOT ALWAYS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM` IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, BUT THEY WERE PRECIOUS TO ME AND TO GOD. SOME OF THOSE LISTED WERE ANYTHING BUT SAINTS. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE PATRIARCHS WAS A OR KINGS WAS A SAINT. GOD
DEALS WITH PEOPLE AS THEY ARE, TO GET DONE WHAT HE WANTS DONE. LOOKING AT THE NATIVITY NARRATIVE, 1: 18-25. JOSEPH FEATURES PROMINENTLY IN MATTHEW'S ACCOUNT, JUST AS MARY DOES IN LUKE'S. IN MATTHEW, GOD COMMUNICATES WITH JOSEPH THROUGH DREAMS; IN LUKE, HE COMMUNICATES WITH ZECHARIAH THROUGH AN ANGEL. MATTHEW 1:22 INTRODUCES US TO THE FORMULAR MATTHEW USES REPEATEDLY IN HIS GOSPEL."ALL THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFILL WHAT THE LORD HAD SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET." THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, AND ALL THAT TOOK PLACE IN HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY, WERE NOT CHANCE EVENTS. THEY WERE PREDICTED AND PLANNED. MATTHEW DOES NOT REFER TO JOSEPH AND MARY MAKING A JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM, BUT IT TAKES FOR GRANTED THAT JESUS WAS BORN THERE,2:1. THE NAME THE ANGEL INSTRUCTS JOSEPH TO GIVE JESUS DEFINES HIS MISSION. IN JUDAISM AT THIS TIME, MANY HELD THAT A PERSON WAS SAVED BECAUSE HE WAS A JEW. THE NAME GIVEN MARY'S CHILD MAKES IT CLEAR THAT MEMBERSHIP IN THE NEW AND TRUE ISRAEL IS BASED ON A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE. MARY'S SON IS NO ORDINARY HUMAN BEING. HE HAS NO HUMAN FATHER. HIS CONCEPTION IS CAUSED BY THE GRACIOUS SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE CHILD IMMANUEL, "GOD WITH US." IN MARK'S GOSPEL, THE TERM "SON OF GOD," USED IN THE GOSPEL'S OPENING VERSE IS REPEATED AT CALVARY, 15:39. SIMILARLY, THE TERM "IMANUEL" USED IN MATTHEW 1:22 IS ECHOED IN THE CLOSING VERSE OF THE GOSPEL, 'I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE CLOSE OF THE AGE," 28:20. THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD DID NOT COME TO PAY HIS PEOPLE A BRIEF CALL; HE CAME TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE AMONG THEM UNTIL THE CLOSE OF AGE. IN THE MEANTIME, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, TELLS US THE WISE MEN PAY A VISIT, (2: 1-23). THE WISE MEN HAVE BEEN SUBJECT OF COLORFUL SPECULATION. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THAT THEY NUMBERED THREE, THAT THEY RODE CAMELS, THAT THEY WERE KINGS, OR THAT THEY WERE GENTILES-- THEY MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN DIASPORA JEWS FROM BABYLON. POSSIBLY THE MESSAGE IS THAT THE WISE MEN OF THIS WORLD COME TO JESUS TO FIND TRUE WISDOM, FOR IN HIM ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON HAS COME,1 KINGS 4:34; 10:23-25; MATTHEW 12:42. (FULFILLMENT O.T.). THOUGH THE "WISE MEN" BRING CHRIST GIFTS FIT FOR A KING, THOSE IN THE POWER STRUCTURES (HEROD AND ALL IN JERUSALEM) ARE PERTURBED 2:3. JESUS COMING THREATENS THEIR AUTHORITY, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY OBTAINED AND EXERCISE IT. HEROD IN PARTICULAR DETERMINES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. ACCORDINGLY, A RULER ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE NEW SON OF GOD JUST AS MUCH EARLIER ANOTHER RULER SOUGHT TO DESTROY THE FORMER SON OF GOD (EXODUS 1). HEROD'S EFFORTS RESULT IN JESUS BEING TAKEN TO EGYPT, AND THE RECAPITULATION OF HOSEA 11:1, "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." AFTER JOSEPH AND MARY RETURN FROM EGYPT, THEY SETTLE IN NAZARETH IN GALILEE, AGAIN AN ACT WHICH IS VIEWED AS A FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY, 2:23. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MATTHEW
UNDERSTANDS "NAZARETH" TO REFLECT THE HEBREW WORD FOR "BRANCH""
(NEZER) IN ISAIAH 11:1.
OF FOURTEEN NAMES EACH. MATTHEW 1:17 POINTS OUT THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH SECTION: FROM ABRAHAM TO DAVID, FROM DAVID TO THE BABYLONIAN EXILE AND FROM THE BABYLONIAN EXILE TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS. IT MAY BE AN COINCIDENCE, BUT IN HEBREW DAVID'S NAME HAS THE MATHEMATICAL VALUE 14; D=4, V=6,D=4. (WRITTEN HEBREW MADE NO USE OF VOWELS, HENCE NO MATHEMATICAL VALUE COULD BE ASSIGNED TO THEM).FINALLY, MATTHEW'S GENEALOGICAL TABLE CONTAINS THE NAMES OF SEVERAL WOMEN, NAMELY TAMAR, RUTH, BATHSHEBA (" THE WIFE OF URIAH" 1:6), AND MARY WOMEN WERE NOT ALWAYS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM` IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, BUT THEY WERE PRECIOUS TO ME AND TO GOD. SOME OF THOSE LISTED WERE ANYTHING BUT SAINTS. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE PATRIARCHS WAS A OR KINGS WAS A SAINT. GOD
DEALS WITH PEOPLE AS THEY ARE, TO GET DONE WHAT HE WANTS DONE. LOOKING AT THE NATIVITY NARRATIVE, 1: 18-25. JOSEPH FEATURES PROMINENTLY IN MATTHEW'S ACCOUNT, JUST AS MARY DOES IN LUKE'S. IN MATTHEW, GOD COMMUNICATES WITH JOSEPH THROUGH DREAMS; IN LUKE, HE COMMUNICATES WITH ZECHARIAH THROUGH AN ANGEL. MATTHEW 1:22 INTRODUCES US TO THE FORMULAR MATTHEW USES REPEATEDLY IN HIS GOSPEL."ALL THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFILL WHAT THE LORD HAD SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET." THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, AND ALL THAT TOOK PLACE IN HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY, WERE NOT CHANCE EVENTS. THEY WERE PREDICTED AND PLANNED. MATTHEW DOES NOT REFER TO JOSEPH AND MARY MAKING A JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM, BUT IT TAKES FOR GRANTED THAT JESUS WAS BORN THERE,2:1. THE NAME THE ANGEL INSTRUCTS JOSEPH TO GIVE JESUS DEFINES HIS MISSION. IN JUDAISM AT THIS TIME, MANY HELD THAT A PERSON WAS SAVED BECAUSE HE WAS A JEW. THE NAME GIVEN MARY'S CHILD MAKES IT CLEAR THAT MEMBERSHIP IN THE NEW AND TRUE ISRAEL IS BASED ON A DIFFERENT PRINCIPLE. MARY'S SON IS NO ORDINARY HUMAN BEING. HE HAS NO HUMAN FATHER. HIS CONCEPTION IS CAUSED BY THE GRACIOUS SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE CHILD IMMANUEL, "GOD WITH US." IN MARK'S GOSPEL, THE TERM "SON OF GOD," USED IN THE GOSPEL'S OPENING VERSE IS REPEATED AT CALVARY, 15:39. SIMILARLY, THE TERM "IMANUEL" USED IN MATTHEW 1:22 IS ECHOED IN THE CLOSING VERSE OF THE GOSPEL, 'I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE CLOSE OF THE AGE," 28:20. THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD DID NOT COME TO PAY HIS PEOPLE A BRIEF CALL; HE CAME TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE AMONG THEM UNTIL THE CLOSE OF AGE. IN THE MEANTIME, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, TELLS US THE WISE MEN PAY A VISIT, (2: 1-23). THE WISE MEN HAVE BEEN SUBJECT OF COLORFUL SPECULATION. THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THAT THEY NUMBERED THREE, THAT THEY RODE CAMELS, THAT THEY WERE KINGS, OR THAT THEY WERE GENTILES-- THEY MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN DIASPORA JEWS FROM BABYLON. POSSIBLY THE MESSAGE IS THAT THE WISE MEN OF THIS WORLD COME TO JESUS TO FIND TRUE WISDOM, FOR IN HIM ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON HAS COME,1 KINGS 4:34; 10:23-25; MATTHEW 12:42. (FULFILLMENT O.T.). THOUGH THE "WISE MEN" BRING CHRIST GIFTS FIT FOR A KING, THOSE IN THE POWER STRUCTURES (HEROD AND ALL IN JERUSALEM) ARE PERTURBED 2:3. JESUS COMING THREATENS THEIR AUTHORITY, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY OBTAINED AND EXERCISE IT. HEROD IN PARTICULAR DETERMINES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. ACCORDINGLY, A RULER ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE NEW SON OF GOD JUST AS MUCH EARLIER ANOTHER RULER SOUGHT TO DESTROY THE FORMER SON OF GOD (EXODUS 1). HEROD'S EFFORTS RESULT IN JESUS BEING TAKEN TO EGYPT, AND THE RECAPITULATION OF HOSEA 11:1, "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." AFTER JOSEPH AND MARY RETURN FROM EGYPT, THEY SETTLE IN NAZARETH IN GALILEE, AGAIN AN ACT WHICH IS VIEWED AS A FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY, 2:23. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MATTHEW
UNDERSTANDS "NAZARETH" TO REFLECT THE HEBREW WORD FOR "BRANCH""
(NEZER) IN ISAIAH 11:1.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
MATTHEW! ("CHRIST THE KING".) " FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT TO THE NEW TESTAMENT."
AS WE DESCRIBES POSE THE CHALLENGE THAT JESUS PERSON AND MINISTRY.
HE WAS TO GREAT FOR HIS DISCIPLES. AND IN VIEW OF WHAT HE PLAINLY SAID, IS IT ANY WONDER THAT ALL WHO WERE RICH AND PROSPEROUS FELT A HORROR OF STRANGE THINGS, A SWIMMING OF THEIR WORLD AT HIS TEACHING? PERHAPS THE PRIESTS AND RULERS AND RICH MEN UNDERSTOOD BETTER THAN HIS FOLLOWERS.
HE WAS DRAGGING OUT ALL THE LITTLE RESERVATIONS THEY HAD MADE FROM SOCIAL SERVICE INTO THE LIGHT OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS LIFE. HE WAS LIKE A TERRIBLE MORAL HUNTSMEN, DRAGGING MANKIND OUT OF THE SNUG BURROWS IN WHICH THEY HAD LIVED HITHERTO. IN THE WHITE BLAZE OF HIS KINGDOM THERE WAS TO BE NO PROPERTY, NO PRIVILEGE, NO PRIDE AND NO PRECEDENCE, NO MOTIVE AND REWARD BUT LOVE. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT MEN WERE DAZZLED AND BLINDED, AND CRIED OUT AGAINST HIM. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT TO THIS DAY THIS GALILEAN IS TOO MUCH FOR OUR SMALL HEARTS. THE EVENTS OF JESUS LIFE WERE PATTERNED AFTER THOSE OF THE "OLD ISRAEL". SOON AFTER HIS BIRTH IN BETHLEHEM, DAVID'S BIRTHPLACE, HE WAS TAKEN INTO EGYPT. THE NEW TRUE SON OF GOD (HOSEA 11:1) WAS THEN CALLED OUT OUT EGYP HE WAS ANOINTED INTO OFFICE AS THE MESSIANIC KING AT HIS BAPTISM. HE OVERCAME SATAN'S TESTINGS IN THE WILDERNESS. HE GATHERED HIS NEW PEOPLE TO HIMSELF AT THE MOUNTAIN, AND THERE GAVE THEM HIS WILL FOR LIFE. HIS LIFE AS THE SON OF DAVID, THE LONG-AWAITED KING, TOOK THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND HE TAUGHT THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMUNITY THAT THEY WERE TO LIVE SIMILARLY. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HE OPENED THE WAY THROUGH THE "FINAL JORDAN" (DEATH). HE PROMISES IN HIS NEW COMMUNITY THAT HE WILL REMAIN IN THEIR MIDST UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THIS PRESENT AGE, FOR HE IS IMMANUEL, "GOD IS WITH US."` ENTWINED IN THIS THREAD IS THE CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS THE "NEW MOSES. AS JESUS MINISTRY" PROGRESSED IT BECAME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT "OLD ISRAEL" TURNED ON HIM AND REJECTED ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. HOW EVER, JESUS GATHERED SOME OUT OF "OLD ISRAEL" TURNED ON HIM AND REJECTED ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. HOWEVER, JESUS GATHERED SOME OUT OF "OLD ISRAEL". TO HIMSELF, AND MOLDED THEM INTO HIS NEW PEOPLE, "THE NEW AND TRUE ISRAEL." ENTWINED IN THIS THREAD IS THE CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS A NEW MOSES AND TRUE ISRAEL, RESCUES IT FROM BONDAGE TO SATAN, SIN DEATH, INSTRUCTS IT, BESTOWS ON IT THE NEW PENTATEUCH, AND LEADS IT INTO TRUE INHERITANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. CLAIM TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD DOES NOT REST ON NATIONAL TIES OR RITUALS RIGHTLY PERFORMED, BUT ON FAITH IN, AND ALLEGIANCE TO, THE TRUE SON OF GOD, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD AND THE KING OF CREATION.
HE WAS TO GREAT FOR HIS DISCIPLES. AND IN VIEW OF WHAT HE PLAINLY SAID, IS IT ANY WONDER THAT ALL WHO WERE RICH AND PROSPEROUS FELT A HORROR OF STRANGE THINGS, A SWIMMING OF THEIR WORLD AT HIS TEACHING? PERHAPS THE PRIESTS AND RULERS AND RICH MEN UNDERSTOOD BETTER THAN HIS FOLLOWERS.
HE WAS DRAGGING OUT ALL THE LITTLE RESERVATIONS THEY HAD MADE FROM SOCIAL SERVICE INTO THE LIGHT OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS LIFE. HE WAS LIKE A TERRIBLE MORAL HUNTSMEN, DRAGGING MANKIND OUT OF THE SNUG BURROWS IN WHICH THEY HAD LIVED HITHERTO. IN THE WHITE BLAZE OF HIS KINGDOM THERE WAS TO BE NO PROPERTY, NO PRIVILEGE, NO PRIDE AND NO PRECEDENCE, NO MOTIVE AND REWARD BUT LOVE. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT MEN WERE DAZZLED AND BLINDED, AND CRIED OUT AGAINST HIM. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT TO THIS DAY THIS GALILEAN IS TOO MUCH FOR OUR SMALL HEARTS. THE EVENTS OF JESUS LIFE WERE PATTERNED AFTER THOSE OF THE "OLD ISRAEL". SOON AFTER HIS BIRTH IN BETHLEHEM, DAVID'S BIRTHPLACE, HE WAS TAKEN INTO EGYPT. THE NEW TRUE SON OF GOD (HOSEA 11:1) WAS THEN CALLED OUT OUT EGYP HE WAS ANOINTED INTO OFFICE AS THE MESSIANIC KING AT HIS BAPTISM. HE OVERCAME SATAN'S TESTINGS IN THE WILDERNESS. HE GATHERED HIS NEW PEOPLE TO HIMSELF AT THE MOUNTAIN, AND THERE GAVE THEM HIS WILL FOR LIFE. HIS LIFE AS THE SON OF DAVID, THE LONG-AWAITED KING, TOOK THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND HE TAUGHT THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMUNITY THAT THEY WERE TO LIVE SIMILARLY. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HE OPENED THE WAY THROUGH THE "FINAL JORDAN" (DEATH). HE PROMISES IN HIS NEW COMMUNITY THAT HE WILL REMAIN IN THEIR MIDST UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THIS PRESENT AGE, FOR HE IS IMMANUEL, "GOD IS WITH US."` ENTWINED IN THIS THREAD IS THE CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS THE "NEW MOSES. AS JESUS MINISTRY" PROGRESSED IT BECAME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT "OLD ISRAEL" TURNED ON HIM AND REJECTED ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. HOW EVER, JESUS GATHERED SOME OUT OF "OLD ISRAEL" TURNED ON HIM AND REJECTED ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. HOWEVER, JESUS GATHERED SOME OUT OF "OLD ISRAEL". TO HIMSELF, AND MOLDED THEM INTO HIS NEW PEOPLE, "THE NEW AND TRUE ISRAEL." ENTWINED IN THIS THREAD IS THE CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS A NEW MOSES AND TRUE ISRAEL, RESCUES IT FROM BONDAGE TO SATAN, SIN DEATH, INSTRUCTS IT, BESTOWS ON IT THE NEW PENTATEUCH, AND LEADS IT INTO TRUE INHERITANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. CLAIM TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD DOES NOT REST ON NATIONAL TIES OR RITUALS RIGHTLY PERFORMED, BUT ON FAITH IN, AND ALLEGIANCE TO, THE TRUE SON OF GOD, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD AND THE KING OF CREATION.
Monday, December 3, 2018
TRIUMPH! "FIRST EASTER SERMON"
SOON AFTER SUNRISE THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, SOME WOMEN WENT TO THE TOMB TO COMPLETE THE BURIAL PROCEDURES. IT WAS EMPTY. IT WAS THEIR PRIVILEGE TO HEAR THE FIRST EASTER SERMON EVER PREACHED: " DO NOT BE AMAZED; YOU SEEK JESUS OF NAZARETH, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE HAS RISEN, HE IS NOT HERE; SEE THE PLACE WHERE THEY LAID HIM; BUT GO, TELL HIS DISCIPLES AND PETER THAT HE IS GOING BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE; THERE YOU SHALL SEE HIM, AS HE TOLD YOU." (MARK 16:6,7). JESUS WAS ALIVE! THEY WOULD SEE HIM AGAIN! SOON! IN GALILEE! THE REFERENCE TO PETER PICKS UP JESUS PREDICTION IN 14:28. MARK MAKES NO MENTION OF THE RISEN JESUS BEING SEEN IN JERUSALEM. HE WILL BE SEEN IN GALILEE. A PROBLEM ARISES REGARDING (MARK 16:9-20.) IT IS NOT FOUND IN THE OLDEST MANUSCRIPTS. ALTHOUGH SOME ARGUE THAT MARK INTENDED TO END HIS WORK AT (16:8). OTHERS FIND IT HARD TO ACCEPT THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO CONCLUDE SO ABRUPTLY. SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE: (1) MARK'S ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT WAS MUTILATED SOON AFTER IT WAS WRITTEN. (2) MARK DIED BEFORE HE COULD COMPLETE THE WORK. (3) HE WROTE MORE AFTER (16:8), BUT IT WAS SUPPRESSED FOR SOME REASON. IF THE CONCLUSION WAS LOST, IT WAS LOST AT A EARLIER DATE. THE LONGER ENDING CAN BE OUTLINED AS FOLLOWS: THE APPEARANCE OF MARY MAGDALENE, 16:9-11; SEE JOHN 20:11:18. THE APPEARANCE TO THE TWO TRAVELERS, 16:8 BUT IT 16:12-13; SEE ALO LUKE 24: 13-32.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE ELEVEN, 16: I4-18; SEE ALSO MATTHEW 28:16-2O; LUKE 24: 36-49; JOHN 20: 19-23 ALSO LUKE 24: 50,51. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE GOSPEL CLOSES AT 16:8. EVERYWHERE IT PRESUPPOSES THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. THE MESSAGE OF 16:1-8 CULMINATES IN THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN, AND CHALLENGES THE CHURCH TO FACE THE GOSPEL'S CLAIMS ABOUT JESUS PERSON AND MESSIANIC MINISTRY. EVERYWHERE IT PRESUPPOSES THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. THE MESSAGE OF 16:8 CULMINATES IN THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN(V.8), THE CONCEPT OF JESUS AUTHORITY PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN MARK'S GOSPEL. JESUS DEMONSTRATED HIS AUTHORITY OVER NATURE, 4:35-41, 6 45-52. IN DOING SO, HE MANIFESTED THE POWER THE OLD TESTAMENT ASCRIBES TO GOD HIMSELF. JESUS POSSESSED AMAZING AUTHORITY AS A TEACHER, 1:21-22. THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES TENDED TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN A MULTITUDE OF DETAILS, AND CONTINUALLY APPEALED TO RABBINIC OPINION TO BUTTRESS THEIR OWN POSITIONS. JESUS DID NOT EVEN SAY, " THUS SAYS THE LORD." HE SAID SIMPLY, "I SAY UNTO YOU." THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OBVIOUS. JESUS DECLARED THAT HE HAD THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS, AUTHORITY OVER DEATH 5: 21-43 HIS ACTIONS IN RAISING THE DEAD DECLARED IN HIM THE MESSIANIC AGE HAD BROKEN IN. REMEMBER: ONLY GOD HAS SUCH AUTHORITY.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE ELEVEN, 16: I4-18; SEE ALSO MATTHEW 28:16-2O; LUKE 24: 36-49; JOHN 20: 19-23 ALSO LUKE 24: 50,51. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE GOSPEL CLOSES AT 16:8. EVERYWHERE IT PRESUPPOSES THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. THE MESSAGE OF 16:1-8 CULMINATES IN THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN, AND CHALLENGES THE CHURCH TO FACE THE GOSPEL'S CLAIMS ABOUT JESUS PERSON AND MESSIANIC MINISTRY. EVERYWHERE IT PRESUPPOSES THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. THE MESSAGE OF 16:8 CULMINATES IN THE REACTION OF THE WOMEN(V.8), THE CONCEPT OF JESUS AUTHORITY PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN MARK'S GOSPEL. JESUS DEMONSTRATED HIS AUTHORITY OVER NATURE, 4:35-41, 6 45-52. IN DOING SO, HE MANIFESTED THE POWER THE OLD TESTAMENT ASCRIBES TO GOD HIMSELF. JESUS POSSESSED AMAZING AUTHORITY AS A TEACHER, 1:21-22. THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES TENDED TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN A MULTITUDE OF DETAILS, AND CONTINUALLY APPEALED TO RABBINIC OPINION TO BUTTRESS THEIR OWN POSITIONS. JESUS DID NOT EVEN SAY, " THUS SAYS THE LORD." HE SAID SIMPLY, "I SAY UNTO YOU." THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OBVIOUS. JESUS DECLARED THAT HE HAD THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS, AUTHORITY OVER DEATH 5: 21-43 HIS ACTIONS IN RAISING THE DEAD DECLARED IN HIM THE MESSIANIC AGE HAD BROKEN IN. REMEMBER: ONLY GOD HAS SUCH AUTHORITY.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
TRAGEDY. MARK CLOSES
MARK 12 CLOSES WITH A WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES AND THEIR HYPOCRISY, AND THE ACCOUNT OF THE WIDOW'S MITE, 12:38-40, AND 41-44. MARK 13 CONTAINS TWO STRANDS. ONE SPEAKS OF THE COMING DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY THE ROMANS IN 7O A.D. THE OTHER OUTLINES WHAT THE DISCIPLES AND THE CHURCH WOULD EXPERIENCE IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN BETWEEN THE ASCENSION AND THE SECOND COMING. IT IS ROUNDED OFF WITH AN EXHORTATION TO BE READY AT ALL TIMES. THE PASSION HISTORY IS OUTLINED IN CHS 14 AND 15. MARK 14:1-11 OUT LINES WHAT TRANSPIRED ON THE WEDNESDAY OF THAT FINAL, CLIMATIC WEEK; LEAVING US TO LOOK AT THE EVENTS OF GOOD FRIDAY. WHY DO I DEVOTE SO MUCH SPACE TO THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY? JESUS LIFE CULMINATED VERY DIFFERENTLY FROM TRADITIONAL EXPECTATIONS, IT WAS NECESSARY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WHAT HAPPEN TO BE ALL TRAGEDY WAS REALLY ALL TRIUMPH. ON WEDNESDAY MORNING OF HOLY WEEK, THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES DISCUSSED HOW TO GET RID OF JESUS, 14: 1,2. THAT SAME MORNING A WOMEN ANOINTED HIS HEAD WITH OINTMENT. THE VALUE OF THE OINTMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY A YEARS WAGES, FOR A DENARIUS WAS THE USUAL AMOUNT PAID FOR A DAYS WAGES.
JESUS ACCEPTED THE GESTURE AS A LOVING PREPARATION FOR HIS COMING BURIAL, 14:8.EVENTS FOLLOWED QUICK SUCCESSION. JUDAS MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS TO BETRAY JESUS TO THEM. MARK DOES NOT MENTION JUDAS ASKING FOR MONEY, THOUGH THEY PROMISED TO GIVE HIM SOME, 14:10:11. PREPARATIONS WERE THEN MADE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THEY WOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING A ROOM FOR OBSERVING THE PASSOVER, FOR A MAN CARRYING A JAR OF WATER WOULD LEAD THEM TO IT, 14:13. USUALLY ONLY WOMEN CARRIED WATER JARS; MEN CARRIED WATER CONTAINERS MADE OF SKINS. DURING THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION, JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM, BUT MENTION NO NAME., SEE MATTHEW 26:14-16; LUKE 22:3-6; MATTHEW 26: 20:25; LUKE 22: 14,21-23; JOHN 13:21-30. THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE MADE USE OF RITUALS AND SPECIFIED FOODS TO REMIND JEWS OF THEIR MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT. IT ALSO POINTED FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN THE MESSIAH WOULD ACCOMPLISH A SECOND MIGHTY DELIVERANCE FOR HIS PEOPLE. THAT NIGHT IN THE UPPER ROOM THE DISCIPLES SHARED TABLE WITH THE EXPECTED DELIVER. HOWEVER, HE HAD COME TO DELIVER THEM, NOT FROM THE ROMANS, BUT FROM SATAN, SIN, DEATH, JUDGEMENT, DAMNATION, AND THEMSELVES. WITH JESUS COMING, THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE HAD COMPLETED ITS TIME OF USEFUL SERVICE. JESUS REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER OBSERVANCE, ONE IN WHICH HE GAVE TO HIS NEW COMMUNITY HIS OWN BODY AND BLOOD TOGETHER WITH THE BREAD AND WINE THAT HE PASSED AROUND. THIS OBSERVANCE WAS TO BE AN ASSURANCE THAT WHAT JESUS HAD COME TO ACCOMPLISH WAS FOR THEM. IT WAS ALSO TO ASSURE THEM THAT THEIR LORD WOULD REMAIN AMONG THEM THROUGHOUT LIFE. FURTHEMORE ( AS PAUL REMINDED THEM, 1 COR. 11:26) TO ENCOURAGE THEM
TO LOOK TWO WAYS, BACKWARDS AND FORWARD TO THAT DEATH WHICH HAD DELIVERED THEM MIGHTLY. THEY WERE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN HE WOULD COME AGAIN TO LEAD THEM ACROSS THAT FINAL JORDAN" OF DEATH INTO THE HEAVENLY CANAAN. FINALLY, IN SHARING THE LORD'S CUP THEY WERE DECLARING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THEIR LORDS LOT IN LIFE AND TO USE THEIR LIVES AS HE USED HIS-- IN THE SERVICE OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER AND OTHERS. THE CONTINUING OBSERVANCE OF THEIR LORD'S SUPPER WAS TO CELEBRATE THAT THEY WERE ETERNAL SERVANT SUBJECTS OF THEIR ETERNAL SERVANT KING. SEE MARK 14:22-25. DURING THE PASSOVER MEAL, JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD ALL DESERT HIM. YES, EVEN PETER WOULD DO THAT.
HOWEVER, AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION THEY WOULD MEET HIM. AGAIN IN GALILEE. AFTER THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE JESUS WENT WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. THERE, THE REALIZATION OF WHAT WAS BUT A FEW HOURS AWAY CRUSHED HIM. THE DISCIPLES FOUND IT HARD TO KEEP HIM COMPANY IN HIS PRAYER VIGIL, AND FELL ASLEEP. EVENTUALLY, JUDAS ARRIVED WITH AN ARMED GROUP INTENT ON TAKING JESUS INTO CUSTODY. PERHAPS JUDAS INITIAL OFFER TO AUTHORITIES WAS TO LEAD THEM TO JESUS AT A TIME AND PLACE WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CROWDS TO PROTEST.
JUDAS USE OF A KISS WAS NOT UNUSUAL; A KISS WAS THE CUSTOMARY GREETING
THAT A DISCIPLE OFFERED TO HIS TEACHER. JESUS CAPTURE FRIGHTENED THE DISCIPLES. THEY FLED. PETER FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE, BUT WHEN PUT UNDER PRESSURE, DENIED JESUS, 14:66-72. WHEN JESUS BEGAN HIS MINISTRY, THE TRUE ISRAEL NUMBERED ONE PERSON, HIMSELF. AS HE CARRIED OUT HIS MINISTRY, THE NUMBER GREW. AS THE THRUST OF JESUS MESSAGE BECAME CLEAR, THE GROUP DIMINISHED IN SIZE. THE JERUSALEM AUTHORITIES , WHO HAD BEEN HOSTILE TOWARDS HIM THROUGHOUT, STIRRED UP THE CROWDS AGAINST HIM. JUDAS BETRAYED HIM. THE DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP IN GETHSEMANE, AND FLED WHEN THE CAPTORS ARRIVED. PETER DENIED HIM. THE CROWDS BENEATH THE CROSS MOCKED HIM. THE THIEVES WHO WERE HIS COMPANIONS IN DEATH, REVILED HIM 15:32. FURTHERMORE MARK REPORTS ONLY ONE " WORD FROM THE CROSS," " MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?", 15:34 IT SEEMED EVEN THE FATHER HAD FORSAKEN HIM! THEN CAME DEATH. HE WAS SO, SO ALONE. WAS HE?
A ROMAN SOLDIER STOOD BENEATH THE CROSS AND CONFESSED THE TRUTH EXPRESSED IN THE OPENING VERSE OF THE GOSPEL (" THE SON OF GOD," 1:1), " TRULY THIS MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD!" 15:39. HE CONFESSED THE VERY TRUTH THE SANHEDRIN HAD DENIED. JOSEPH OF ARIMETHEA, A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN, ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR JESUS BURIAL, 15:42-47.
JESUS ACCEPTED THE GESTURE AS A LOVING PREPARATION FOR HIS COMING BURIAL, 14:8.EVENTS FOLLOWED QUICK SUCCESSION. JUDAS MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS TO BETRAY JESUS TO THEM. MARK DOES NOT MENTION JUDAS ASKING FOR MONEY, THOUGH THEY PROMISED TO GIVE HIM SOME, 14:10:11. PREPARATIONS WERE THEN MADE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THEY WOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING A ROOM FOR OBSERVING THE PASSOVER, FOR A MAN CARRYING A JAR OF WATER WOULD LEAD THEM TO IT, 14:13. USUALLY ONLY WOMEN CARRIED WATER JARS; MEN CARRIED WATER CONTAINERS MADE OF SKINS. DURING THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION, JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM, BUT MENTION NO NAME., SEE MATTHEW 26:14-16; LUKE 22:3-6; MATTHEW 26: 20:25; LUKE 22: 14,21-23; JOHN 13:21-30. THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE MADE USE OF RITUALS AND SPECIFIED FOODS TO REMIND JEWS OF THEIR MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT. IT ALSO POINTED FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN THE MESSIAH WOULD ACCOMPLISH A SECOND MIGHTY DELIVERANCE FOR HIS PEOPLE. THAT NIGHT IN THE UPPER ROOM THE DISCIPLES SHARED TABLE WITH THE EXPECTED DELIVER. HOWEVER, HE HAD COME TO DELIVER THEM, NOT FROM THE ROMANS, BUT FROM SATAN, SIN, DEATH, JUDGEMENT, DAMNATION, AND THEMSELVES. WITH JESUS COMING, THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE HAD COMPLETED ITS TIME OF USEFUL SERVICE. JESUS REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER OBSERVANCE, ONE IN WHICH HE GAVE TO HIS NEW COMMUNITY HIS OWN BODY AND BLOOD TOGETHER WITH THE BREAD AND WINE THAT HE PASSED AROUND. THIS OBSERVANCE WAS TO BE AN ASSURANCE THAT WHAT JESUS HAD COME TO ACCOMPLISH WAS FOR THEM. IT WAS ALSO TO ASSURE THEM THAT THEIR LORD WOULD REMAIN AMONG THEM THROUGHOUT LIFE. FURTHEMORE ( AS PAUL REMINDED THEM, 1 COR. 11:26) TO ENCOURAGE THEM
TO LOOK TWO WAYS, BACKWARDS AND FORWARD TO THAT DEATH WHICH HAD DELIVERED THEM MIGHTLY. THEY WERE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN HE WOULD COME AGAIN TO LEAD THEM ACROSS THAT FINAL JORDAN" OF DEATH INTO THE HEAVENLY CANAAN. FINALLY, IN SHARING THE LORD'S CUP THEY WERE DECLARING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THEIR LORDS LOT IN LIFE AND TO USE THEIR LIVES AS HE USED HIS-- IN THE SERVICE OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER AND OTHERS. THE CONTINUING OBSERVANCE OF THEIR LORD'S SUPPER WAS TO CELEBRATE THAT THEY WERE ETERNAL SERVANT SUBJECTS OF THEIR ETERNAL SERVANT KING. SEE MARK 14:22-25. DURING THE PASSOVER MEAL, JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD ALL DESERT HIM. YES, EVEN PETER WOULD DO THAT.
HOWEVER, AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION THEY WOULD MEET HIM. AGAIN IN GALILEE. AFTER THE PASSOVER OBSERVANCE JESUS WENT WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. THERE, THE REALIZATION OF WHAT WAS BUT A FEW HOURS AWAY CRUSHED HIM. THE DISCIPLES FOUND IT HARD TO KEEP HIM COMPANY IN HIS PRAYER VIGIL, AND FELL ASLEEP. EVENTUALLY, JUDAS ARRIVED WITH AN ARMED GROUP INTENT ON TAKING JESUS INTO CUSTODY. PERHAPS JUDAS INITIAL OFFER TO AUTHORITIES WAS TO LEAD THEM TO JESUS AT A TIME AND PLACE WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CROWDS TO PROTEST.
JUDAS USE OF A KISS WAS NOT UNUSUAL; A KISS WAS THE CUSTOMARY GREETING
THAT A DISCIPLE OFFERED TO HIS TEACHER. JESUS CAPTURE FRIGHTENED THE DISCIPLES. THEY FLED. PETER FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE, BUT WHEN PUT UNDER PRESSURE, DENIED JESUS, 14:66-72. WHEN JESUS BEGAN HIS MINISTRY, THE TRUE ISRAEL NUMBERED ONE PERSON, HIMSELF. AS HE CARRIED OUT HIS MINISTRY, THE NUMBER GREW. AS THE THRUST OF JESUS MESSAGE BECAME CLEAR, THE GROUP DIMINISHED IN SIZE. THE JERUSALEM AUTHORITIES , WHO HAD BEEN HOSTILE TOWARDS HIM THROUGHOUT, STIRRED UP THE CROWDS AGAINST HIM. JUDAS BETRAYED HIM. THE DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP IN GETHSEMANE, AND FLED WHEN THE CAPTORS ARRIVED. PETER DENIED HIM. THE CROWDS BENEATH THE CROSS MOCKED HIM. THE THIEVES WHO WERE HIS COMPANIONS IN DEATH, REVILED HIM 15:32. FURTHERMORE MARK REPORTS ONLY ONE " WORD FROM THE CROSS," " MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?", 15:34 IT SEEMED EVEN THE FATHER HAD FORSAKEN HIM! THEN CAME DEATH. HE WAS SO, SO ALONE. WAS HE?
A ROMAN SOLDIER STOOD BENEATH THE CROSS AND CONFESSED THE TRUTH EXPRESSED IN THE OPENING VERSE OF THE GOSPEL (" THE SON OF GOD," 1:1), " TRULY THIS MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD!" 15:39. HE CONFESSED THE VERY TRUTH THE SANHEDRIN HAD DENIED. JOSEPH OF ARIMETHEA, A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN, ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR JESUS BURIAL, 15:42-47.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
MARK III
AS WE CONTINUE ON THE "CONFUSION" CYCLE THAT FOLLOWED JESUS STATEMENT IN MARK 11.) THAT HE IS TO SUFFER MANY THINGS AND THEN BE PUT TO DEATH AND THREE DAYS LATER WILL RISE FROM THE GRAVE, AND THIS STATEMENT WAS TO MUCH FOR PETER. IT MADE NO SENSE TO HIM AT ALL. THIS TALK ABOUT ABUSE AND DEATH SOUNDED LIKE NONSENSE TO HIM.-- AND HE TOLD JESUS SO. JESUS TURNED QUITE SHARPLY ON PETER AND ADDRESSED HIM AS "SATAN" AND TOLD HIM TO GET AWAY--FROM HIM. PETER WAS OPPOSING GOD HIMSELF. JESUS POINTED OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE WAY OF THE CROSS ESSENTIAL FOR HIM, BUT ALSO FOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN HIS COMMUNITY. JESUS HAD COME TO USE HIS LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND OTHER PEOPLE, TO CARRY THE CROSS OF SERVANTHOOD.MARK CONTAINS THREE OF THESE "PREDICTION"---CONFUSION---CLARIFICATION" CYCLES. THE FIRST TOOK PLACE TOWARD THE CLOSE OF JESUS GALILEAN MINISTRY THE SECOND TOOK PLACE (9:30--32) AFTER JESUS TRANSFIGURATION (9:2:9) , SEE ALSO EXODUS 24:15-18). THE THIRD TOOK PLACE (10:32--45) DURING JESUS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM AND DEATH,10:1. A REFERENCE TO CONFUSION OCCURS ALSO IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRANSFIGURATION, JESUS TOLD THOSE WHO WITNESSED THE EVENT THAT THEY WERE NOT TO SPEAK TO ANYONE ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD SEEN UNTIL THE "SON OF MAN"SHOULD HAVE RISEN FROM THE DEAD"(9:9. MARK CONTINUES; " SO THEY KEPT THE MATTER TO THEMSELVES, QUESTIONING WHAT THE RISING FROM THE DEAD MEANT 9:10. THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND JESUS TALK ABOUT RESURRECTION BECAUSE HE DIDN'T EXPECT JESUS WOULD DIE! WHY ALL THIS CONFUSION? APPARENTLY THE DISCIPLES ACCEPTED THE COMMON NOTION THAT THE MESSIAH WOULD BRING HONOR, PRESTIGE, WEALTH, PRIVILEGE AND POLITICAL LIBERTY FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE. A FEW DAYS BEFORE IS DEATH, JESUS STOOD ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND LOOKED ACROSS THE KIDRON VALLEY TO JERUSALEM. HIS CHOICE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM WAS NO ACCIDENT. LONG BEFORE, ZECHARIAH POINTED OUT THAT WHEN ZION'S KING EVENTUALLY CAME HER, HE WOULD IN HUMILITY ON AN ASS WHEN ON A MISSION OF PEACE. JESUS WANTED HIS MODE OF ENTRY TO SAY TO THE CROWDS THAT HE HAD NOT COME TO FOMENT POLITICAL REVOLT AGAINST THE ROMANS. HE HAD COME TO GIVE GOD'S PEACE TO SINNERS AND TO TEACH HUMANITY THE WAYS OF PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER. HIS AUDIENCE MISSED THE POINT-- AND NO WONDER. THEY WANTED A MESSIAH WHO WOULD BE A CARBON COPY OF DAVID OF OLD WHO WOULD RESTORE TO THEM THE KIND OF NATIONAL PRESTIGE THEY ONCE ENJOYED. THEY WERE BLIND! AFTER JESUS HAD ENTERED THE CITY, HE WENT TO THE TEMPLE. WHAT HE SAW ANGERED HIM. THE NEXT DAY HE RETURNED TO THE TEMPLE AND CREATED A HOLY HAVOC AMONG THE MONEY CHANGERS AND ANIMAL SELLERS. HE SENT THEIR WARES FLYING AND FORBADE ANYONE FROM CARRYING ANYTHING THROUGH THE TEMPLE (THE MISHNAH FORBADE THE IRREVERENT USE OF THE TEMPLE AS A SHORTCUT, 11:16 HIS AUDIENCE WAS LEFT WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION. IS IT NOT WRITTEN," 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS? (ISAIAH 56:7:11). BUT YOU HAVE MADE IT A DEN OF ROBBERS.
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