Today’s reading: Lev 14:1–57, John 8:31–59, Song 7:1–4

Today’s theme: The reward of true discipleship

Leviticus 14:1–57

All those offering

one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for him who is being cleansed. Leviticus 14:31 (ESV)

Thank God we no longer have to go through all of this. Jesus came and fulfilled all of this for us, by dying for our sins on the cross, rising from the dead and then ascending to heaven to be our High Priest. Jesus makes atonement for us through His sacrifice on the cross.

John 8:31–59

The reward of true discipleship

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” John 8:31–33 (ESV)

The evidence (staying in God’s word) and reward (knowing the truth, being free) of true discipleship.

The slavery of the will to sin

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. John 8:34–35 (ESV)

In today’s world we often talk about and exalt “free will” when in fact, in sin our will is bound (not free), to a slave master which is sin itself. The act of sin actively enslaves.

Sent by the Father

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. John 8:42 (ESV)

It was the Father that sent the Son. Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan from before the world began.

Adopted to hear and understand

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 (ESV)

Unless we are chosen by God we cannot understand Gods word or the teaching of Jesus. No amount of convincing will work without the help of the Holy Spirit. We believe the Bible not because we are wise or were convinced, but because God adopted us and made us His children.

Jesus, The I AM

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58 (ESV)

Jesus’ bold claim to be God incarnate. The “I AM” is one of the most sacred names of God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 8

Today’s reading: Lev 12:1–13:59, John 8:12–30, Song 6:11–13

Today’s theme: Light of the world

Today we read the wonderful declaration of Jesus himself, that He is the light of the world, which is one of His many “I AM” statements that identify Himself with God. We should dedicate our lives to shinning the light of Jesus to the world.

Leviticus 12:1–13:59

Mary was obedient

And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.” Leviticus 12:8 (ESV)

Mary the mother of Jesus, was obedient to this command and brought this version of the offering to be cleansed after Jesus was born, this shows that the family Jesus was born into was not wealthy.

The deep disease of sin

and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. Leviticus 13:3 (ESV)

Leprosy is a horrible disease and can be symbolic of sin which is a disease of the heart (deeper than the skin).

John 8:12–30

The light of the world

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)

Jesus makes a bold and unique declaration to be the light of the world. This would have stirred up imagery in the ears of those listening (along with His earlier allusions using manna and living water), to the manifest presence and glory of God seen in the wilderness and tabernacle. This is Jesus’ second “I Am” statement, revealing Himself as the incarnate Word.

We MUST honour Jesus

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19 (ESV)

Religions that supposedly honour God but dishonour Jesus, prove themselves to be false.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on John 8

Today’s reading: Lev 9:1–11:47, John 7:53–8:11, Song 6:6–10

Today’s theme: Live as God’s holy priests

We have been called to live as God’s own holy priests in the earth and so can learn lessons from the scriptures dealing with the Levitical priesthood. We, like them, need the blood of Jesus to cleanse us, the seal of approval by God the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us. We need to understand the clear distinction between that which is holy and unholy as God’s ambassadors and representatives in the earth.

Unlike the Roman Catholics we believe in the priesthood of all believers before God with Jesus as our High Priest.

Leviticus 9:1–11:47

Order and holiness

This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering, Leviticus 7:37 (ESV)

At the close of this section in Leviticus we get a summary of all 6 types of sacrifice described, all of which pointed forwards to Jesus. This whole section (chapter 1-7) serves to remind us that worship in the church and our lives must be done in order and holiness.

Ears, hands and feet

And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Leviticus 8:23 (ESV)

We need the blood of Jesus on our ears so we always hear (listen) to the voice of God, hands to carry out (work) God’s commands and feet to walk (act, behave) in holiness.

God’s seal of approval

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Leviticus 9:23 (ESV)

God’s glory was revealed as a stamp of approval for the newly built tabernacle, sacrifice system and most of all Aaron as a mediator and his sons as priests.

This again prefigures Jesus who is our High Priest, who in entering His ministry after His sacrifice, revealed to us the glory of God’s indwelling presence on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given.

Avoid strange fire

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace. Leviticus 10:3 (ESV)

Ministry should not be undertaken or done lightly. God is holy and must be ministered to in holiness. Strange fire can represent anything we bring before The Lord which is itself not holy or just a cloak for our sinful attitude etc.

Live as God’s holy priests

You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.” Leviticus 10:10–11 (ESV)

As believers we too have been called to be priests. We are called to be holy, this means we need to clearly distinguish between that which is holy and that which is not. This discernment comes from God’s word and His Holy Spirit. We are also called to teach by our lifestyle and words. We are set apart to minister to God but also to be witnesses.

John 7:53–8:11

None like Jesus, The Lord

The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” John 7:46 (ESV)

Even the temple soldiers had to recognise the unparalleled wisdom of Jesus. These were not like the Roman soldiers, they were actually chosen from the levities and so had religious training, which means the teaching of Jesus would have impacted them all the more.

Jesus is the Word incarnate, no one will ever compare to Him in wisdom or speech. Even today many recognise the wisdom of Jesus but do not submit to Him which is itself not wise.

As CS Lewis said, He could not just have been a good teacher, the things Jesus said meant He could have only been a liar, a lunatic or the LORD.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on The Priesthood of Jesus

Got Questions on the Priesthood of all Believers

Today’s reading: Lev 7:1–8:36, John 7:45–52, Song 6:1–5

Today’s theme: Thirst quenched

We are reminded in today’s reading that sin affects not only God as the main person offended but our fellow man. God desires that we seek restoration and justice. All mankind is thirsty whether we perceive it or not. We will either seek to quench that thirst with the sins that hold the greatest sway over our lives and desires. Alternatively, we can turn to Jesus the only one who provides lasting satisfaction for our soul’s thirst.

Leviticus 7:1–8:36

Community restoration

or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. Leviticus 6:5 (ESV)

This section shows that God wants us to not only deal with sins with Him (vertically) but to also deal with sins in relation to those around us who we may have sinned against (horizontally).

John 7:45–52

Thirst quenched

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” John 7:37–38 (ESV)

Jesus offers us living water for our great thirst for life. He is the only one who can satisfy our thirst with the living water of the Holy Spirit.

Ask yourself the question, am I thirsty?

We should not temporarily quench our thirst with sin, only Jesus eternally quenches our thirst by the Holy Spirit.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on John 7

Today’s reading: Lev 4:1–6:30, John 7:14–44, Song 5:13–16

Today’s theme: Dealing with sin

Today’s theme is clearly sin and the ways that sin was once dealt with by offerings. Many sins are unintentional but still need atonement. Intentional sins obviously need atonement so we must confess our sins to God and ask Him to open our eyes to our faults. We must ask for forgiveness of hidden faults in Jesus name, knowing that Jesus bore the very real guilt for all our sins on the cross.

The modern world wants to do away with the idea of sin but the fact is sin is man’s greatest problem and the only solution is found in Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah and Son of The Living God, the one and only God-Man who as God the Son became incarnate as a man. He lived among us, taught us, died for us, rose from the dead and will one day return in power and glory.

Leviticus 4:1–6:30

The offering for unintentional sin

“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them, Leviticus 4:2 (ESV)

This entire section is all about the purification for sin. This is not for intentional defiant sin (transgression) but for the inadvertent type of sin where we “miss the mark”.

In our frailty and ignorance we often fall short but God does not ignore our sins, they are still an offence and need to be cleansed. No other section of the Bible speaks about this type of sin more than this chapter.

The emphasis applied to all levels of society and scenarios show the pervasiveness of sin and God’s determination to deal with it.

Jesus fulfils all the sin offerings for all people by his death on the cross. When we sin we now have an advocate with the father 1 John 2:1.

Realisation of sin

when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. Leviticus 4:14 (ESV)

Man is so bound in sin that we often sin without realising we have until later. We should pray for our nation that a realisation of our sin comes and with it repentance.

Jesus, our High Priest

Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. Leviticus 4:20 (ESV)

Jesus is our High Priest and makes atonement for us with His own blood.

Confess your sin

when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, Leviticus 5:5 (ESV)

We must avoid generalising sin, some specific sins are used here to illustrate the individual nature of each offence and our responsibility, as much as is possible, to confess our actual sin to the Lord. When we confess our sins to the Lord as our High Priest He forgives and cleanses us 1 John 1:9.

Guilty before God

It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD.” Leviticus 5:19 (ESV)

When we sin we are not guilty before Satan even though he is our accuser. We are guilty before God because our sins are an offence to God. Guilt and conviction from the Holy Spirit are healthy when felt in light of God’s grace and mercy for actual sin. Jesus bore our guilt on the cross.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on The Power & Effects of Sin