Today’s Reading: Hos 3:1–5:15, Acts 2:1–41, Job 15:10–20

Today’s Theme: Filled with The Holy Spirit

Today’s theme is the wonderful filling of the Holy Spirit which gave birth to the church, saves us and keeps us from the spirit of whoredom so we cherish God above all as we declare Gods great works to the world.

Hos 3:1–5:15

The love story

And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” Hosea 3:1 (ESV)

This is the love story between God and his bride, he loved her in spite of who she was, this is the sort of love Jesus taught us about.

We need to ask ourselves the question are we committing spiritual adultery?

Knowledge of God

Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; Hosea 4:1 (ESV)

We will not have faithfulness and steadfast love for God without knowing God through his word.

We must know about God, that is why God recorded in the written form of bible for our benefit, he knows we need knowledge of him to flourish.

Give thanks for the means of knowing God in your life including the Holy Spirit, bible reading and study, Pastors, Teachers, books, blogs, videos and mp3s.

Rejecting knowledge

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6 (ESV)

Gods contention was with the priest and prophets because they did not teach the people the word of God.

This is picked up in the NT where Paul says teachers and Pastors have double accountability before God.

We should thank God that we have good leaders and pray for them. Also any time we are called to serve we must do it knowing God will hold us accountable for it.

As Christians we must avoid anti intellectualism, which is a culture of rejecting faithful biblical exposition and study. Without true knowledge of God we are open to the spiritual elements and destroyed by the winds of evil doctrine and heresy.

Cherish the Lord

They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. Hosea 4:10–11 (ESV)

We should cherish The Lord. Notice wine and new wine are mentioned alongside whoredom and God says that this takes away a man’s understanding and discernment.

Cherish in the hebrew means to keep, watch over, take care of, preserve, protect, save, retain and to guard. Think about each of these words in regards to your relationship with the Lord.

What do you cherish?

The spirit of whoredom

My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. Hosea 4:12 (ESV)

Lord deliver your people from the spirit of whoredom. We may not think of ourselves as being under a whoring spirit but we must ask God to show us our own hearts so we can see what we put above God and prefer over God.

Be governed by the Holy Spirit, not the deceptive spirit of whoring after other spiritual lovers and the world.

Dear darling sins

When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring; their rulers dearly love shame. Hosea 4:18 (ESV)

Our problem can be that sins are dear to us, we cherish them, we hold them close, we love them we adore them. They will bring us to ruin (see verse 14)

Sin is like a drug, it draws the user into a false sense of satisfaction and a relationship of dependance which is really slavery.

In reality when you love sin you are in love with shame, pain and death masquerading as life.

Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.

Sin blocks us from God

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the LORD. Hosea 5:4 (ESV)

Our actions can bar us from knowing or approaching God. Sin works against us by putting a gulf between us and the only one who can deliver us.

Stop sinning and return to God.

The slave master, Sin

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth. Hosea 5:11 (ESV)

The driving forceful nature of sin is seen here.

Paul teaches us in Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

The prodigal method

I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me. Hosea 5:15 (ESV)

God will not always pursue man, when his people need discipline he will leave them to themselves until they seek him like the prodigal sons

Acts 2:1–41

The church is born

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 (ESV)

This is the birth of the church, also here we see a reversal of Babel where languages were confounded, here men and women are speaking in languages they were never taught, like Spanish, French etc

A great functional, evangelical move by God through His Spirit to reach many people form many lands without the barrier of language.

As we read yesterday God fills us with his Holy Spirit for service and to speak for him

Declare God’s mighty works

both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” Acts 2:11 (ESV)

They were quite specifically talking about Gods mighty works, likely the mighty works of redemption Jesus had just accomplished, this is wonderful of itself but to speak this in unlearned languages is miraculous.

Open to all

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:21 (ESV)

Peter was saying that this prophecy was fulfilled this day. It is wonderful that now because of Jesus the offer of salvation is more clearly open to all people’s

God’s plan

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 2:23 (ESV)

The cross was no tragedy it was a victory, God planned it all and nothing took him by surprise.

The OT in light of Jesus

he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. Acts 2:31 (ESV)

Peter who was taught personally by Jesus shows us how we are to exegetically read the OT in light of Jesus.

Foundational Apostles

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Acts 2:32 (ESV)

This (witness to the resurrection) is the foundational key to the Apostles ministry, these who were foundations of the church were eye witnesses to the resurrection. This is one of the reasons they went from cowardice to boldness and God even used some of them to write holy scripture.

Those called apostles today are not a part of this special and particular class of apostle.

The victory of the Son

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:36 (ESV)

The victory of God and exaltation of the son through the cross and resurrection, this is the Gospel we proclaim as God’s heralds.

Salvations’s requirements

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (ESV)

This is the requirement and goal for salvation for all of us, repentance is crucial, baptism essential and the Holy Spirit is the gift necessary for salvation.

God’s elect

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:39 (ESV)

This salvation is for all Gods elect, God knows who he has predestined and chosen. We preach to everyone the Holy Spirit works to save whom he will.

We rejoice that we were elected and when others are chosen too.

Salvation is of God.

A great Start

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 (ESV)

What a start to the church! Thousands were saved at the first open air sermon given by Peter, this is a sign of the victory of our sovereign God and the healthy and exponential growth the church would go through over the next 2000 years.

Job 15:10–20

Be around older people

Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father. Job 15:10 (ESV)

This gives us a little insight to the age of Jobs friends and the sort of company he kept. It is always good to have friends who are older than you are

Today’s Reading: Hos 1:1–2:23, Acts 1:1–26, Job 15:1–9

Today’s Theme: Enduring Love

Today we begin two new books, Hosea and Acts. In Hosea we read about the unfaithfulness of Israel and God’s enduring love for his covenant peoples. We see this manifested in the NT as we observe the birth of the church and the coming of the Holy Spirit

Hosea 1:1–2:23

Forsaking the Lord

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” Hosea 1:2 (ESV)

The fact that God uses this sort of language shows that for Him faithful relationship is more important than religious observance which is so often not done in truth.

We need to ask ourselves today, are we being faithful to God in the marriage like covenant relationship we have with him? Have we forsaken the Lord in anyway? Are we guilty of spiritual whoredom?

Shameful results

“Plead with your mother, plead— for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband— that she put away her whoring from her face, and her adultery from between her breasts; lest I strip her naked and make her as in the day she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and make her like a parched land, and kill her with thirst. Hosea 2:2–3 (ESV)

We must forsake spiritual adultery (loving and being dedicated to anything or one more than God) or suffer the shameful consequences. As well as open shame our thirst will not be satisfied, we will be in the torment of unfulfilled desire.

God is a jealous God, he will not share his glory (due honour, worship, praise, victory, beauty and admiration) with anyone else. His love for his covenant people will not settle for a marriage of connivance with no passion, love, faithfulness or single hearted devotion.

God, the one who provides

For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’ Hosea 2:5 (ESV)

God is our provider, we must be careful to not idolise other apparent sources like our Jobs, family or friends.

Look past the means God uses to provide for you and see that it is by his grace that you have anything.

Pray for Backsliders

She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’ Hosea 2:7 (ESV)

We should pray this for those who are in a backslidden state, we should pray God would take away their satisfaction in sin.

We should find our ultimate satisfaction in God only.

Enduring Love

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. Hosea 2:19–20 (ESV)

God’s love for Israel and his chosen people is strong and enduring.

Gods commitment to Israel is like a faithful husband’s for his wife, the Church has this too as the bride of Christ in the NT.

God’s love for us is enduring, our love for him should be enduring too.

Acts 1:1–26

Many Proofs

He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 (ESV)

In the greek the phrase many proofs was nearly always used in Greek historical works, it is a term belonging to the realm of historiographical biography which is what Luke has produced in this second volume (the 1st volume was Luke) where he provides apologetics to confirm and build our faith.

The bible is no book of myths, this a historical book rooted in real events filled with eyewitness, historically faithful reports contrary to the propaganda of the enemy which always marginalises the bible as historically inaccurate.

This must have been an amazing time where Jesus taught the apostles about the kingdom of God. It is likely that Jesus explains the mission the Apostles as witness of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection had in founding the church and the twofold nature of the kingdom (now and not yet).

The restoration of Israel

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. Acts 1:7 (ESV)

Only God knows when the kingdom will be restored to Israel, this is all connected to Jesus second coming and the millennial kingdom.

Baptised in the Holy Spirit

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)

The gift of the Holy Spirit was one of the surest signs that the Messiah had come and the new covenant age had begun.

Every Christian should be baptised with the Holy Spirit, this happens when we are born again in a general sense. However as we walk with the Lord we should alway ask God to fill us with his Spirit.

We receive the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, it is for a very functional rather than mystical reason. We receive power to be witnesses to Jesus like the first disciples.

Jesus will not come through birth again

and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 (ESV)

Another verse to deal with any cult that says Jesus has returned in some other form like the Rastas, Mormons or JWs

God’s new people

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Acts 1:14 (ESV)

This was already a big change that the men and women were waiting on God together. In Jewish culture this was not the way things were done, men and women would stay separate.

The freedom and unity of the new covenant in Jesus means men and women can come before God together. Notice both Judaism and Islam still keep the sexes separate in worship.

Special Apostles

beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” Acts 1:22 (ESV)

One of the qualifications for the Apostles in this mission was that they had to have seen the resurrected Lord. Paul will qualify as he sees the resurrected Lord too.

Genuine evidence is important to the NT narratives.

Job 15:1–9

Without the Holy Spirit

What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? Job 15:9 (ESV)

Without the Holy Spirit we are left to the whim of our own ideas and the pride and offence that comes when we don’t see eye to eye. Thank God that we have the Holy Spirit given by Jesus.

Today’s Reading: Isa 65:1–66:24, Luke 24:13–53, Job 14:11–22

Today’s Theme: The New Heaven and Earth

Today we focus on the promise of the coming new heaven and earth where the death and decay of this fallen world will be no more when Jesus our resurrected Lord will reign.

Isaiah 65:1–66:24

God stands ready

I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. Isaiah 65:1 (ESV)

This verse speaks of Gods stance of calling for salvation to Israel. In a wider context he calls all men from every nation.

God stands with arms open wide and his creation, goodness and our consciences along now with the preached Gospel continually beckon all mankind to come. But man is so desperately wicked that without the specific drawing of the Spirit and intervention from God, man cannot be saved.

The New Kingdom

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. Isaiah 65:17 (ESV)

God will establish the kingdom but this will come in two phases, part one is the millennial kingdom where people will still be born and die and the final one is the eternal kingdom where no one dies.

As we have seen in Isaiah’s prophecies concerning Messiah, the two advents (Jesus first and second coming) are often spoken of at the same time . This is done with the prophecy regarding the New Heavens and Earth too.

We can look forward to the coming new creation and kingdom, this should be the motivation for Isaiah’s calls to holy living in anticipation of the promise, so we should flee idolatry, have faith in God, trust in the truth of his word, listen to the Holy Spirit and walk in humility.

Honour God’s word

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These … Isaiah 66:2–3 (ESV)

God can see right through the external keeping of religion vs genuine humility and reverence for God’s word.

This points to the fact that people can not just follow principles and receive the blessing from them or be in right standing with God.

We need to be in loving relationship with God and delight in him for our religious actions to have any significance.

If we tremble at God’s word then we will do what the word of God says including religious duty but not in deadness or hypocrisy but from a heart for God.

Luke 24:13–53

Jesus in all scripture

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 (ESV)

Jesus gave them an exegetical overview of the OT pointing to Himself, this is one of the best ways to read the OT, we should read it in context to Jesus.

Tim Keller in this short video shows how the whole OT points to Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmnSnNC8UJk

Enjoy biblical exposition

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32 (ESV)

Our hearts should burn with Joy when we have the scriptures opened to us by our Pastors and teachers too.

This is a good test for our hearts, if the explanation of the scriptures hold no appeal for us then we must check our desires.

Full bodily resurrection

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39 (ESV)

The physical world is not evil, God created the physical world and will physically recreate and restore it one day. Gnostics believe the physical world is evil and the spirit realm is good but this is heresy. They also say the resurrection of Jesus was only spiritual.

One of the core distinctive of our faith is that we believe in the full bodily resurrection of Jesus.

We too will have a physical resurrection body one day and will eat actual food etc but will no longer die.

God, opens our minds

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, Luke 24:45 (ESV)

We should pray that God by his Holy Spirit would open our minds to understand the bible too.

Avoid the lies of the new age which tell man to attempt to open his own mind without God, you will end up opening your mind to evil teaching and demons.

Revelation is a grace from God that we must ask God for.

God uses normal means to reveal  his truth, namely the Bible, The church, Pastors and Teachers.

Worship Jesus

And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, Luke 24:52 (ESV)

Yes, we worship Jesus, this was not a new idea introduced by Paul as some say, it was a practise of the very first disciple until today.

We joyfully worship Jesus today.

Job 14:11–22

The decay of the fall

the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man. Job 14:19 (ESV)

This is why we long for the new creation, we are in a fallen creation that is rotting away.

It is not God that takes hope from man, it is sin and death.

Look forward to the New Heaven and Earth.

Today’s Reading: Isa 63:1–64:12, Luke 23:26–24:12, Job 14:1–10

Today’s Theme: The Resurrection

Today’s focus is on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We begin in the future when the resurrected Lord will establish his kingdom and destroy all his enemies. As we read through today’s readings there are elements of the power and significance of the resurrection everywhere.

Thank God for the resurrection today, without it, we would be lost.

Isaiah 63:1–64:12

The Victorious Warrior King

“I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. Isaiah 63:3 (ESV)

This does not fit the western sentimentalised view of Jesus, but this is the Lord speaking, at his second coming he will return as a great warrior king and many of His enemies will be killed.

This is not allegorical, at the second coming there will be a great war and Jesus alone will slay His enemies (unrepentant men who are at the battle wage war against Israel and God) with the sword of His mouth.

When we think of this side of Jesus it brings a new perspective to our evangelism (telling men to flee the wrath to come) and to our daily walk (we will walk in the fear of the Lord and not be flippant and disrespectful to Jesus)

Jesus the risen king will return, live in readiness.

The Day of Vengeance

For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. Isaiah 63:4 (ESV)

This is the fulfilment of the second half of the prophecy mentioned yesterday, the part where Jesus stopped reading the first time he came.

By the way this is why in yesterdays reading Jesus said to the council you will not believe me if I told you, because His understanding and their understanding of the Messiah were so different. As we now know, the Messiah would  suffer but then rise from the dead and will return one day to complete the fulfilment of the prophecy.

God’s Compassion

I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. Isaiah 63:7 (ESV)

Why does God give such grace to those he has chosen (Israel and the Church)? The answer is because of his compassion and love.

Thank God today for the compassion he has on you and for loving you so much that Jesus was crucified for you and rose from the dead to give us eternal life.

Jesus, The Angel of God’s Face

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 (ESV)

In the Hebrew this is can read as “The Angel, His Face” the expression carries the same sense as other places in the OT that talk about God’s visible representation.

The angel is the visibly present Lord, the second person of the Trinity and by him God has saved and redeemed his people. We read in Colossians 1:15 that “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

God is touched and so connected to His people that he feels their affliction and redeems them in His love and pity for us.

This is evidence of God spoken of as a Trinity even in the OT.

Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. Isaiah 63:10 (ESV)

More OT reference to the members of the the Holy Trinity. Evidence that the Trinity is not a new idea only found in the NT

If we sin the Holy Spirit is grieved, this is not a new thing in the NT.

God’s motivation

Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. Isaiah 63:14 (ESV)

Again Gods greatest motivation is for His glory, when God is glorified it is the best possible result for His people because he is worthy of praise and adoration and is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

God was glorified in the the Resurrection of Jesus.

The God who tears the heavens

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— Isaiah 64:1 (ESV)

Yes Lord may secular Israel have the heart of the children of Israel in this passage who pray to be acquainted with you again.

Also we can lift this great prayer before God for our nation that God would tear through the spiritual climate and visit our nation.

Of course in a very real sense God already tore through the heavens and came down through the incarnation, passing through the heavens to come from his dwelling place to humble himself as a man.

Jesus life, death, resurrection and ascension cut through the spiritual realm, defeating the demonic structures of the enemy and making lasting deliverance available for God’s elect people.

The Risen Lord is the victor who as cut through the heavens, making a way for us.

God who acts

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (ESV)

This is a distinguishing fact about our God, he is real and all the others are demons so they can do no good and have no real power in comparison to God.

Our God is one who acts and one who engages in relationship with those who put their faith in him.

God, our Father and Potter

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (ESV)

God is our great Father and is the potter, while we are clay in His hands, both of these pictures are picked up and used in the NT.

We must be pliable in his hands so he can mould us into vessels fit for his purpose.

Luke 23:26–24:12

Jesus, Crucified

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Luke 23:33 (ESV)

These are three short words but what they represent was the horrific act of nailing Jesus to the wood of the cross. This is the severe demonstration of God’s zeal for holiness and righteousness as well as His love for the world.

Crucifixion is one of the curliest executions invented by man, the following medical view is adapted from Norman Geisler (2004).

“As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain—the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward, he places his full weight on the nail through his feet… tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.

At this point, another phenomenon occurs. As the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain…. Air can be drawn into the lungs but it cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise himself in order to get even one short breath.

Now begin hours of this limitless pain, cycles of cramping and twisting, partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. …. A deep, crushing pain in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart”

Father forgive them

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34 (ESV)

It is extraordinary that Jesus is able in the excruciating pain of the cross, to think of others and pray to God to forgive his enemies.

He has left an example of each of us.

The madness of rejecting Jesus

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” Luke 23:35 (ESV)

Listen to the madness of their statement, they acknowledge that he saved others and now mock that he should save himself.

Their behaviour is really demonic.

The Hour of Darkness

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Luke 23:36–37 (ESV)

The mockery of the soldiers too who had nothing in common with the rulers shows that as Jesus said this was the hour of darkness, there was likely a strong demonic atmosphere at the crucifixion inspiring the cruelty and mockery as Satan celebrates his apparent victory.

Know in dark times that in the end we win.

The darkness of God

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, Luke 23:44 (ESV)

Some say that this 3 hours of darkness was the period in which all the sins of those who put their faith in Jesus was laid on him.

Also note that in the OT darkness would not speak of demonic presence but the presence of God (often in judgement), these three hours of darkness are marked by Gods express presence in laying the sins of the world on His son.

God judged His Son for the sins of world so that God’s elect who put their faith in Christ can be free from the price of sin. He was judged so we would not be judged for our sin.

The veil torn

while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Luke 23:45 (ESV)

The tearing of the temple veil can symbolise many things including:

1. Pointing to the Judgement coming on the temple
2. The consummation of the old covenant
3. God rending His garments like a mourning Father
4. God’s presence leaving the temple
5. The Temple and sacrifice type is now fulfilled in Jesus death
6. This was the great, ultimate and final Yom Kippur
7. Jesus opens the door to Heaven
8. Temple worship is over
9. The Temple as the centre of Gods activity on the earth is no more

Sovereign on the Cross

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 (ESV)

Jesus remained in full control, he laid his life down, he decided when he would breathe his last breath.

The 1st day of the week

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. Luke 24:1 (ESV)

Jesus rose on a Sunday, the 1st day of the week which is why from the book of Acts until today Christians meet and fellowship on a Sunday in honour of the resurrection of Jesus which opened the way to eternal life and new beginning in God.

Jesus rose from the dead!

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, Luke 24:5–6 (ESV)

We need to read this slowly and appreciate it. This is absolutely amazing, Jesus rose from the dead, this is just awesome, God showing his great power and wisdom.

We need to remember that when the NT was written this was a revolutionary concept which is why Paul was met with such mockery…. 2000 years later we take it for granted that Jesus rose from the dead but this was the greatest event in the history of the world and the great victory of God over the devil.

Paul said that without the resurrection our faith would be in vain in 1 Corinthians 15:17 where it says “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

Women, preach the gospel

Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, Luke 24:10 (ESV)

God has called women to proclaim the Gospel, the first proclaimers of the Gospel were women… this doesn’t mean women should be Bishops or rule over churches but they should boldly declare the gospel.

This is again revolutionary, if this was a made up story there is no way the authors would let women be the first ones to see the resurrected Lord or to proclaim the good news because 2000 years ago women were seen as 2nd class to men.

 Job 14:1–10

God is both infinite and imminent

look away from him and leave him alone, that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day. Job 14:6 (ESV)

Although Jobs understanding that God has determined how long each person lives and where they live etc is correct, his understanding of God’s relationship to His creation is faulty.

The bible reveals to us that God predetermines mans days and limits because he is a God who cares about His creation and actively engages with His creation.

God has not (like Hinduism or deism teach) set a number of laws in motion and now sits back and lets man get on with it, no, he is our transcendent creator, actively calling men to salvation and pouring out both discipline, blessing and judgment… God is personally involved in someway in everyones lives and in a general way in all situations and most intensely in the lives of the His elect.

Today’s Reading: Isa 60:1–62:12, Luke 22:63–23:25, Job 13:13–28

Today’s Theme: The price paid for the Kingdom or The Suffering of Christ for the Kingdom of God

Today’s theme looks at the coming kingdom of Christ where Israel and Gods elect people will be glorified. In our NT reading we look at the price Jesus paid to make the kingdom (which is both now and not yet) a reality.

Isa 60:1–62:12

Peace in the middle east

Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Isaiah 60:18 (ESV)

This whole chapter is speaking about the victory and glory Israel will receive in the kingdom.

This verse shows us two things, first this is yet future as there is war in Israel today. Second is that Gods plan is to bring peace and an end to war, which essentially means all mans efforts at peace will fail… Only Jesus at His second coming will bring lasting peace.

We continue to pray that the Lord would speed his return.

No Sun!

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19 (ESV)

This is picked up in Revelation, the creation will be fundamentally changed in the new heaven and new earth… there will be no need for the sun, which is mind boggling form a scientific perspective but it is the truth of God word.

We look forward to the day when the kingdom of God is established.

God’s people

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. Isaiah 60:21 (ESV)

Israel and the engrafted church are Gods planting, God worked hard to redeem, sustain and beautify us and the purpose was for His glory.

God seeking His own glory is one of the key themes running through the bible from creation, then redemption and finally through to consummation.

Now and not yet

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)

Jesus quoted only the first half of this declaration in Luke 4, he went as far as the first line of verse two and then paused.

This is because the fulfilment of this verse would be in two parts, the part he quoted was fulfilled in His first coming, the second part talking about the vengeance of God and restoration of Israel would be fulfilled at the second coming.

This is why it is often difficult for the Jews to see Jesus as the Messiah who fulfilled these prophecies because when they look at the prophecy they see it as one act at one time by one man (the Messiah) they did not perceive two distinct periods of time, this is why Jesus said they must be won by our love.

At the same time we must ask God to lead us by His Holy Spirit to do what Jesus did on the road to Emmaus, we should show them in the OT all the scriptures pointing to Him.

Salvation

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (ESV)

The future glory of Israel is not merely political, the greatest promise to look forward to is Salvation in Christ.

This is the same language used in the NT, this is where we see the promises of future glory and grace for Israel intertwining with Gods elect church.

Pray for Israel

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. Isaiah 62:1 (ESV)

This verse reminds us that like Isaiah we must pray for Israel until we see the fulfilment of the prophecies mentioned before.

Also the word “not keep silent” reminds us that we should both advocate for and evangelise Israel.

Married to the Land

For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5 (ESV)

The people of Israel will be committed to the land in the same way a man is committed to his wife, we are already starting to see this today.

God will rejoice over Israel as a bride, this is the language of commitment , covenant and love and we see a reflection of this in the NT where the church is called the bride of Christ

This is the destiny of all Gods elect, both the bride of Christ and redeemed Israel, together in one new man.

Luke 22:63–23:25

Jesus, mocked and beaten

Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. Luke 22:63 (ESV)

We need to read this slowly, Jesus was mocked and beaten, this was the great price he paid for our redemption.

The Mockery would have been cruel and the beating severe. We need to pause and mediate on what Jesus endured in his love and obedience to the Father and his love for us.

Jesus, abused

They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” Luke 22:64 (ESV)

The soldiers played a cruel game with Jesus, they blindfolded him and taunted him with more blows asking him to prophecy who struck him.

I’m sure these soldiers wer filled with demons in this hour of darkness.

What will the soldiers say on the day of Judgement when they realise they so shamefully mocked and abused the Lord of glory.

Jesus, blasphemed

And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him. Luke 22:65 (ESV)

Luke makes the point that the soldiers blasphemed him, this is further NT evidence that Jesus is seen as divine, only God can be blasphemed.

The answer is Yes

“If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, Luke 22:67 (ESV)

This reveals the answer as yes, because there would be no discussion if His answer was no

Jesus the Christ

Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” Luke 22:71 (ESV)

The scribes and priests agree by this statement that Jesus declared himself to be the Christ

Shallow People

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. Luke 23:8 (ESV)

Many people are like this today, they want to see signs and wonders as if the church is a circus for their thrill and entertainment.

Do we just want to see Jesus do things and not want to know him in love and obedience, then we are just like king Herod.

I am Barabas

a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Luke 23:19 (ESV)

There is a picture here, although we don’t like to admit it, we are all like Barabas, Jesus died in our place, as disgusting and evil as we are, he took our place, we should have been punished and died for our sin. Jesus took the place of the elect that put their faith in Him.

Don’t be weak

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. Luke 23:24 (ESV)

Pilate was a weak man, he feared man more than God and held position over doing what was right.

We must be careful we don’t fall into the same trap of compromise and pragmatism in our lives when it comes to our stand for Jesus.

Job 13:13–28

Hope in God

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. Job 13:15 (ESV)

Job knew that nothing could happen to him without Gods consent, so he recognised it was God that slay him, yet his faith remained strong because he said regardless of this he would hope in God.

This hope gives some context for Jobs plea for an audience with God, although it still gives no excuse to the angry and rude way in which he seeks to address God.

In Jobs mind he has done nothing wrong which is essentially true but the wider truth is that we are a fallen race and have all sinned before God and as the NT says are children of wrath so whatever good we receive in this life is not deserved, entitled or earned, instead we must recognise this as the mercy (not getting what we deserve) and grace (getting what we don’t deserve) of God extended to us