This was Christ’s response to the question “Who then can be saved?” The truth is that we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is beyond humanity’s reach. No amount of counseling, religion, or self-effort can change the heart of man. We are drowning in our own sin and unable to reach the shore. But God has made a way for us through Christ. What seemingly impossible thing is defeating you today? Bring it to God. He specializes in accomplishing impossible things.
The Lord instituted seven feasts for Israel. These feasts were to remind Israel of God’s provision and to prepare them for the Messiah. It can get a little overwhelming reading the description of these feasts, but they are worthy of our meditation as we see how they point to Christ’s past and still yet to come fulfillment of each:
Feast – Jewish Calendar – Christ’s fulfillment
1. Passover (Pesach) – Nisan 14 – Crucifixion
2. Unleavened Bread (Chag Hamotzi) – Nisan 15-22 – Burial
3. First Fruits (Yom habikkurim) – Nisan 16 – Resurrection
4. Pentecost (Shavu’ot) – Sivan 6 – Holy Spirit
5. Trumpets (Yom Teru’ah) – Tishri 1 – Rapture/Return
6. Atonement (Yom Kippur) – Tishri 10 – Judgment
7. Tabernacles (Sukkot) – Tishri 15 – Millennium/Heaven
David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling “cast down” and “disquieted,” he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), urging his soul to “hope in God.” We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces (“countenance”), but it refreshes our souls. Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.
God explained to Moses the purpose behind the laws of personal conduct for the people of Israel, namely: Holiness. The Hebrew word for “holy” is qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ), literally meaning to be set apart for special use, to be consecrated, sacred, holy. God had chosen the Israelites to be His special people, set apart for His purpose. They were to be different than the world, showing forth the glory and holiness of God, as His image bearers. Yet, the law was unable to change their unholy hearts. It worked to restrain their behavior, but its real effect was to expose their guilty hearts and reveal their need for a Savior. If we are to be holy as the Lord our God is holy, then we must receive His Holy One, Jesus the Christ. Then, our lives will “shine like stars” in a dark world (Phil.2:15).
The crowds that followed Jesus as He passed through the Decapolis (“Ten Cities”) were “astonished beyond measure” at Him. These cities were founded by Greek colonists and were given favor under Roman rule. The gospel writer Mark tells this story after sharing a previous encounter Jesus had with a Greek woman in Tyre and Sidon who begged Him to free her daughter of a demon. These stories are predictive of how the gospel will go out from Jewish to Gentile lands and be more quickly accepted in the latter. People who have no knowledge of Jesus are still “astonished” when they hear the good news about Him. For He “has done all things well.”
Jesus explained that sin begins with an attitude of the heart before it becomes a behavior. Our problem is within. Focusing on changing the outward behavior is unfruitful when only faith in Jesus will change the heart. The human heart is born with an attitude of rebellion against God saying, “My will,” rather than “Your will be done.” Jesus came to change human hearts knowing that no amount of washing our hands would cleanse our hearts.
After Jesus had sent his disciples out two by two to witness, they returned full of excitement and stories to report. They had been following Jesus and learning from him for some time and now after being sent out on their own for the first time, they were glad to be back in the presence of their Lord and to tell him “all things” about their work. Can you picture the excitement? Perhaps the Lord had to tell Peter to sit down and let Andrew tell his story too. Then, after everyone had debriefed their stories with Jesus and he had given them feedback, he invited them to take a retreat to get some rest with him. This is a crucial step to add to our ministry. Take time to discuss your day with Jesus. Tell him “all things” you’ve done and taught. Listen for his feedback. Then, obey when he invites you to get some rest with him.
When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth with his disciples and preached in the synagogue, the people were offended. It puts to mind the old saying “familiarity breeds contempt,” because since the people of Nazareth had known Jesus and his family since his youth, they doubted his authority. When we become a Christ follower, often the hardest place to begin telling others is in our “own country” among our “own relatives” and especially in our own “house.” These people really know us and often doubt our life change. Yet, this is exactly where we are commanded to begin our witness. For Jesus taught us to begin in “Jerusalem” and then to the “ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Have you yet shared the gospel with your own family and hometown?
This with today’s OT reading in Leviticus 11-12 makes for a revealing juxtaposition. Leviticus details how touching a dead body or a bleeding woman makes one unclean. Mark shows how a touch from the holy Jesus has the reverse affect: The dead girl rises again and the bleeding woman is healed. Their impurity did not make Jesus unclean, but His holiness was transmitted to them making them whole.
When the Tabernacle was completed and its furnishings and priests were consecrated, Aaron and his sons made the first worship offerings. It began as a day of celebration with God’s glory appearing to all the people (Lev. 9:23), but it ended as a day of mourning. For two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, took it upon themselves to offer worship contrary to God’s instruction and God judged them for it. The fire of His glory went out from the Lord and devoured them and they died. This was a hard lesson for Aaron and the Levitical priests to learn. For those who are called to lead in worship are held to high account. When we answer the call of God and take His Name upon ourselves, we become His servants, His representatives, and we are to live lives of worship in the way He commands. As Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). Our worship must not draw attention to us, but to the Holy One, so that He is the One glorified before the people.