April 24, 2018
WAS THE LAST SUPPER THE LAST SUPPER?
It must have surprised the disciples to hear Jesus give new words to their centuries old Passover meal tradition. The words over the bread and the cup had been prescribed since Moses and the Israelites had first eaten it in Egypt. They had always seen the Passover meal as a commemoration of God’s deliverance in the past. But now, Jesus taught them that it was always in anticipation of God’s ultimate salvation in the future. And that future fulfillment had come. He was the true Paschal Lamb that all the Passover meals throughout the years had pointed. He had been “eager to eat” it with them one last time before He “suffered” and died on the cross to bring it to its ultimate fulfillment.
But was this truly the last supper? We call it so because it was the last seder meal Jesus ate before His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Yet, doesn’t this supper point to another supper, namely the marriage supper of the Lamb? The angel told John to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9).
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April 23, 2018
JUDAS CHOSE MONEY OVER HIS MASTER
The name Judas has become a byword for betrayal. Once a popular Hebrew name prior to the 1st century, who would name a baby “Judas” after the one from Iscariot has so ruined it? Yet, should we be so quick to distance ourselves from the name and the betrayal it portrays? For haven’t we all betrayed Christ in some fashion?
The betrayal of Judas is made all the worse for his favored position, for he was one of the Twelve. He was hand-picked by Jesus and entrusted with the disciples’ money bag. Yet, there lay his great weakness and therefore the strength of Satan’s temptation. Judas loved money. And Satan identified his natural passion and lust, fanning it into the flame of betrayal. This is how Satan works. He identifies our natural desire and worms his way into our thinking, so that we are convinced that we deserve to have our lust gratified. The love of money was the crack in Judas’ heart that allowed Satan’s entrance.
Judas chose money over his Master. This led to the most heinous betrayal in human history. Yet, don’t we all have a little of Judas in us? Aren’t we tempted to put our love of another person, a valued possession or some particular passion, ahead of our love of Christ? Be careful of loving anyone or anything before Christ. For this is where Satan will seek a place to tempt us to betray our beloved Savior.
April 22, 2018
JESUS SAID PROPHECY WILL BE FULFILLED
Many of the prophecies of the Old Testament have been fulfilled, many of them in Christ’s first coming. Yet, there are still prophecies in the Old Testament that have not been fulfilled. This is an important consideration because some would suggest that the prophecies concerning Israel have either been already fulfilled or given over to the Church. But I believe Jesus was speaking of the turbulent end times that belonged to Israel and would precede His second coming. Certainly, there was a partial fulfillment when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. Yet, it was only a foreshadowing of the time of tribulation to come, which will follow after the “period of the Gentiles comes to an end” (Luke 21:24). This is Daniel’s 70th week and the apostle John’s seven years. After which, the prophecy concerning Christ’s second coming will also be fulfilled.
April 21, 2018
THE DIVINITY OF THE MESSIAH
Jesus asked the Jewish leaders this question not to suggest that the Messiah wouldn’t be the son of David, but rather to show them that he would be the Son of God. It was a well known doctrine among the Jews that the Messiah would be born into the lineage of David. But they emphasized his human side and missed the divine. Jesus sought to correct their misunderstanding with a question, “Why did David call the Messiah, Lord?” Jesus was teaching them that the Messiah would be both a Son of David and Son of God. He would be born into David’s lineage, but would be greater than David. Thus, David himself would bow to the Messiah as Lord.
Humanly speaking, Jesus was born into the line of David. Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David and therefore had to return to the Town of David, Bethlehem, for the Roman census. Mary’s line established His human lineage and Joseph’s, His legal right. Yet, as the Son of God, there never was a time that Christ was not. He is God. He is not only greater than David, He is greater than all.
When the Jewish leaders questioned Him saying, “Are you greater than our father, Abraham?” (John 8:53). Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).
April 20, 2018
THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY
When the leading priests, teachers and elders interrupted Jesus’ teaching in the Temple to ask the source of His authority, it was actually the source of theirs that came into question. For when He challenged them to answer whether John the Baptist’s authority was from heaven or from man, they balked. The very men that were supposedly set apart to judge whether a prophet was true or false were afraid to give an honest answer because they feared the people who believed in John’s calling from God. So, they lied saying they didn’t know. Their answer revealed their authority, or should I say the lack thereof. For their authority was merely human and dependent on keeping the right people happy. Jesus’ refusal to answer their question actually revealed that His authority was greater than theirs. He felt no obligation to answer to these people-pleasing hypocrites. So, these so-called leaders scurried away, with the tails of their robes tucked between their legs, back into their darkened rooms where they would plan their next scheme for ridding themselves of Jesus.
Jesus’ authority came from God. As the gospel of John quoted Jesus saying, “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say” (John 12:49-50).
April 19, 2018
JESUS WEEPS OVER JERUSALEM
When Jesus looked at Jerusalem, it wasn’t the palm branch waving crowd nor the beauty of Mt. Zion that drew His attention. For He saw it not only with physical eyes but with prophetic vision. He knew the time had come for Daniel’s prophecy to be fulfilled. As Daniel wrote, “Messiah shall be cut off, the city and the Sanctuary destroyed, and desolations decreed” (Dan. 9:26). Jesus didn’t weep for Himself. He wept that His people didn’t recognize the time of God’s visitation.
April 18, 2018
ENEMIES WILL BE COUNTED AS FRIENDS
The psalmist prophesied a day when the Lord would “count” even those who had been Israel’s enemies as friends. Both Egypt and Babylon had dominated and enslaved Israel. Philistia was a constant near threat. Tyre, a commercial ally, was a conduit of idolatry. And Ethiopia, the distant land of Cush and the Queen of Sheba, had long desired a closer relationship. Yet, there is coming a Day when all shall be brought near. All that “know” the Lord shall be counted as friends and “citizens of Jerusalem.”
April 17, 2018
GOD HONORS THOSE WHO HONOR HIM
After the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. He followed the Lord’s instruction in assigning the land to his people. The lands were allotted according to the twelve tribes with one exception, the land allotted to Caleb. Caleb was one of the two men who had given a faithful report when Moses had sent twelve men into the land to spy it out. He and Joshua were the only two who returned with a good report, while the other ten gave a fearful one, causing the people to turn away and wander in the wilderness for the next 40 years. Caleb and Joshua were the only men still left alive from that whole generation. And God did not forget Caleb. The Lord “commanded” Joshua to assign land from Judah’s allotment to Caleb and in a fashion true to his character, the 85-year old Caleb chose the mountains where the giants of Anak dwelled.
So, Caleb was given the town of Hebron, the place where Abraham and the patriarchs had been buried in the Cave of Machpelah. For the Lord did not forget Caleb. As the Lord has said, “those who honor me I will honor” (1 Sam. 2:30).
April 16, 2018
THE SIMPLE YET POWERFUL PRAYER FOR MERCY
Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and tax collector who went to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee thanked God for his superior position above others in this life. He compared his own righteousness to that of those around him and considered himself right with God. The tax collector confessed that he was a sinner and prayed for God’s mercy. Whose prayer was answered? Both. The tax collector received the mercy from God he requested and went home in a right relationship with God, his sins forgiven. The Pharisee who asked nothing from God, for he felt self-satisfied and self-justified, went home having received nothing from God.
We live in a world where people are like the Pharisee. They are self-satisfied and self-justified. They see no need for God’s mercy. For they consider themselves as good. Yet, to those who confess their sin and admit their need for a Savior, Jesus will hear and answer their simple yet powerful prayer for mercy.
April 15, 2018
GOD’S CHILDREN LOVE WORSHIPING IN HIS HOUSE
The psalmist meditated on his love of worshiping and serving in the Temple courts. He would rather have one day in the Temple courts than a thousand elsewhere. He would rather take the lowest position in God’s house than the highest seat in the house of sinners. He loved being in God’s presence worshiping with God’s people.
There are many things that compete for our worship and many voices invite our fellowship, but worshiping and serving together with God’s people in God’s house is better.