Archives for March 2014

And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.” Numbers 17:5 (ESV)

God’s point in the last three stories (Korah’s Rebellion, Aaron and the Censer in the plague and now the rod that budded) is to emphasise his choice of Aaron as his High Priest. God does not change his choice because of mans opinions. Jesus is now our better High Priest.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” Numbers 17:10 (ESV)

In the same way God choose Aaron, which points to Jesus the ultimate High Priest, so God has chosen Elders (including Pastors) to have special authority in the church (Titus 1:9; 1 Pet. 5:5). With that authority comes the serious responsibility to live as examples to the people and serve them in the ministry (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5–2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1–3).

And the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. Numbers 18:20 (ESV)

Like the levites God is our reward, our treasure and our inheritance in Jesus

And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. Numbers 18:31 (ESV)

The New Testament tells us those who work should be provided for (Matt 10:9–10), in particular those who preach the gospel (1 Cor 9:2–18).

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 1 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV)

Paul like Aaron was chosen and called by God

who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8 (ESV)

We can have confidence that God will preserve and keep us until the final day

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)

God calls us to unity over the core essential truth of the Gospel and to live in harmony with our fellow believers. The problem in Corinth was that the division came over preferred leaders which caused fractions in the church leading to all sorts of bad attitudes like jealousy, envy and pride, we need to guard against this today

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21 (ESV)

Contemporary wisdom is man centred and anti God so any god discovered by human wisdom would be man projecting his own thoughts into an idol and would give man a sense of pride in discovering God. This is why we can not win people by the wisdom of the age, we need the drawing power of the Holy Spirit and the dynamic power of the Gospel message.

so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:29 (ESV)

We have nothing to boast about because we are saved, God is the one who chose, called and saved us and not because we were wise or God but because he is gracious. To God alone be all the glory

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 (ESV)

David declares as a truth and from his own experience that Yahweh is the Great Warrior King able to protect and preserve his people. Jesus is all this for us.

Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?” Numbers 16:11 (ESV)

Rebellion will often try to disguise itself in some altruistic form, claiming the good or rights of the people when in fact self centred perceived gain is at it’s heart. In this case Korah and his company claim that all Gods people are holy and so any can serve in the priesthood, we see this sort of rebellion against church leadership today and although we do believe in the priesthood of all believers we must not give way to anarchy and sedition, the church has a structure and positions which must be respected, each member serving and doing it’s part. This seditious rebellion is mentioned again in Jude 11. Sedition towards Gods appointed leaders is rebellion against God himself

And they fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” Numbers 16:22 (ESV)

Israel is again saved by the intercession of Moses, he first acknowledges God as Sovereign Creator with the rights of life and death over all his creatures and then appeals to Gods mercy and grace.

And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.” Numbers 16:26 (ESV)

Moses warns the people to separate themselves from these rebellious and wicked men or suffer the contamination and destruction the men have brought on themselves. This theme of separation and sanctification is picked up many times in the New Testament where we are told as Gods people to have nothing to do with those causing division and walking in rebellion. See 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Galatians 5:9 , 2 Timothy 3:5, Titus 3:10 also 2 Corinthians 6:17

And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. Numbers 16:48 (ESV)

Jesus is our high priest and like Aaron he stays the plague of death by his intercession for us, he stands between the dead and the living. This also points to the importance of intercessory prayer we can stop something in its tracks and stand in the gap

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. John 21:12 (ESV)

Jesus remained in the place of service to his disciples even after his resurrection, Jesus wants us to come and eat with him, he has prepared breakfast we should come and eat. Notice Jesus public ministry in John begins at a feast and ends at one.

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 (ESV)

DA Carson comments well on this verse saying… The Jesus to whom he bears witness is not only the obedient Son and the risen Lord, he is the incarnate Word, the one through whom the universe was created. If all his deeds were described, the world would be a very small and inadequate library indeed. Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 686).

For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD. Numbers 15:15 (ESV)

God shows his intent and heart towards all people, and this points toward Gods universal standard, solution and the one new man spoken of in Eph 2:15

And the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” Numbers 15:35 (ESV)

God takes sin seriously. Hebrews 10:28-29 stats that if those who intentionally broke the law of Moses were put to death how can we escape if we reject the Son of God

And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. Numbers 15:39 (ESV)

This is what the woman with the issue of blood (Matt 9:20) knew when she reached out and touched the hem of Jesus garment. We should reach out and pull on Gods commandments rather than following our own hearts in the flesh

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. John 20:1 (ESV)

Jesus rose on the first day of the week which is a Sunday. This is why the earliest church in the book of Acts through to today worship not on the Sabbath day but on Sunday, in honour and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. John 20:14 (ESV)

Others in Gospel accounts also have trouble recognising Jesus which shows this is not an isolated event due to her grief or tears clouding her eyes. Instead these accounts of non recognition lend weight to the fact of the supernatural Resurrection of Jesus, rather than his body being temporarily revived as proposed in the swoon theory. In the OT Moses was not recognisable after being in the glory of God, angels would also mask themselves as men. Paul also instructs us concerning the difference in the Resurrection body in Cor 15:35-50

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 (ESV)

Jesus breathing on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit reminds us of God breathing into Adam to make him alive. Jesus very breathing is a miracle as he was actually dead. Breath is a sign of life and Jesus by breathing out points to the fact that he is alive by the Holy Spirit and call us to live and serve by the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit we are still dead in sin, we are a new creation in Christ only by the life and power of the Holy Spirit who is God.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. Psalm 16:10 (ESV)

We saw the fulfilment of this in today’s reading with the Resurrection of Jesus.

Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. Numbers 14:10 (ESV)

God’s glory was like a shield to faithful Joshua and Caleb. We know that as we stand in faith, declaring the truth, that God’s glory will be our rear guard Isa 58:8

Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” Numbers 14:19 (ESV)

Moses appealed to Gods word (17-18) and Gods character when interceding for the people. We should use God’s word when we pray too.

But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Numbers 14:24 (ESV)

Caleb is a great example for all of us as Gods servants

There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. John 19:18 (ESV)

This is a verse to stop and think about. Jesus suffered greatly because of his love for his Father and for our sake. To put these few words in perspective hear the following from D A Carson…. Stripped naked and beaten to pulpy weakness (cf. notes on v. 1), the victim could hang in the hot sun for hours, even days. To breathe, it was necessary to push with the legs and pull with the arms to keep the chest cavity open and functioning. Terrible muscle spasm wracked the entire body; but since collapse meant asphyxiation, the strain went on and on. Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 610).

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” John 19:28 (ESV)

Jesus was in complete control of his death, it was all a part of God’s plan

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (ESV)

Jesus work on the cross is finished, fully completed. The Roman Catholics are wrong to say he is crucified again at every communion or that works must be done to make up what Jesus has not done.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1 (ESV)

Atheism is the height of foolishness, the logical mind knows everything could not have come from nothing. Plain common sense tells us there is a God who created and sustains the Universe

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:3 (ESV)

Paul picks this up in Romans when he makes plain the universality of sin

who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15:5 (ESV)

We are very much called to sanctification, holy living and walking in loving self sacrifice and faith. We can not think of Gods grace aside from this.

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30 (ESV)

Caleb’s name means bold, and he had bold faith and trust in God and God’s promises. In his faith he issued a threefold challenge to (1) immediately go up to the land as he had just done, (2) possess the land inline with God’s promise and (3) because they are well able to through Gods power and presence among them. For today’s conquest and advance of Gods kingdom we should have the direct and bold faith like Caleb and declare we are able to to take all God has promised and are not afraid to fight.

So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. Numbers 13:32 (ESV)

As opposed to faith these men displayed cowardice, dishonesty and no faith in God and his promises. A lesson for us that if we do not put our trust in God we will walk in sin and even cause others to sin. Romans 14:23

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. John 18:37–38 (ESV)

Jesus has already made clear that his kingdom is beyond this world and that is is indeed a king, but not in the way the Jewish leaders or the romans would have perceived him to be as the Messiah. Instead Jesus focuses not on the positions men so easily gravitate towards, and focuses on purpose. His purpose for coming in to the word was to bare witness to the truth and to call those who are on the side of truth to himself… moving away from position to purpose and truth makes Pilate very uncomfortable. As followers of Jesus lets seek purpose not position.

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. John 19:1 (ESV)

Don’t read this quickly, think about what Jesus went through for us

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” John 19:7 (ESV)

Further evidence that is was clearly understood from Jesus’ time until now that Jesus was not just a prophet but the Son of God

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:11 (ESV)

Jesus affirms God’s sovereign rule even in the crucifixion. God rules over all political and military powers of the earth. Jesus is the true king.