17 Pentecost

17 Pentecost - Sunday B

First Posted September 27, 2009

Isaiah 50:4-10 -- The Servant of the Lord

Psalm 116:1-8 -- Thanksgiving for Healing

James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-18 -- Faith and Works

Mark 8:27-35 -- The Cost of Discipleship

Isaiah:

The Lord has given his Servant the voice of one who has been given divine wisdom and insight, which is to be used to sustain those who are weary (with the struggle to be faithful and obedient to God’s Word in a sinful world). Each day the Servant is given perception to hear with understanding. The Lord God opened his spiritual ears, and the Servant did not rebel or turn away from physical abuse and persecution.

The Servant trusted in God to help him, and so has not been thwarted or defeated. The Servant has committed himself to God’s purpose, and is convinced that God will vindicate him. Since God helps and sustains him, who can accuse, harm or defeat God’s Servant? His adversaries will wear out like an old, moth-eaten garment. The Servant calls us to fear (have the proper awe and respect for the authority and power of) God and to obey the voice of God’s Servant; to those who are willing to walk through darkness, though they cannot see, to trust the Lord to guide them and bring them through.

Psalm:

The Psalmist testifies that when he was in peril and tribulation he called on the Lord for help and the Lord heard his cry and answered him, and delivered him from distress and anguish. The Psalmist loves the Lord because the Lord heard and helped him in time of need. He has realized and come to personally experience God’s mercy and goodness. He is able to have peace in his soul because he realizes how much God has loved and blessed him. The Lord has delivered the Psalmist’s soul from death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from stumbling.

James:

The author of the Letter of James is discipling Christian believers. They have received the Gospel, and are learning how to apply it in daily life. Christians are to treat all people impartially, without regard to worldly status, appearance or wealth, as the example of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and contrary to worldly ways. When we defer to the wealthy and successful, and dishonor the poor, we become unrighteous judges with evil thoughts. Often it is the poor who are strong in faith, and the rich and influential are often oppressors of others and opponents of the Gospel. Jesus commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves. If we love our rich neighbors who may benefit us more than our poor neighbors who might burden us, we have failed to keep the commandment, and are guilty as transgressors.

What benefit is faith if we don’t act according to what we believe? That kind of “faith” is not saving faith. If a person is cold and hungry, how can telling him to feel warm and satisfied help him, without giving him the food and clothing that he needs? So it should be obvious that faith without action is worthless. Some claim to have faith without works, but without works, how can their faith be demonstrated or mean anything. But those who live in accordance with faith demonstrate what they believe by what they do.

Gospel:

Jesus and his disciples were traveling through the villages around Caesarea Philippi, on the northern border of Israel. Jesus asked his disciples who people were saying that Jesus is, and they replied that some thought he was John the Baptist, raised from the dead, or Elijah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked his disciples who they thought Jesus is. And Peter replied that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah; both words mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone who he is.

Then Jesus began to tell them that the “Son of man” (Jesus) would suffer abuse and rejection by the Jewish religious leaders, and be killed, and after three days, would rise again. Peter rebuked Jesus, but Jesus rebuked Peter in front of the other disciples, telling Peter that he was not taking God’s side but Satan’s.

Jesus called the crowd together with his disciples and told them that anyone who chose to follow Jesus must deny his own will, and take up his cross and follow Jesus’ teaching and example. Jesus said that anyone who loved his (physical) life and tried to preserve it would ultimately loose it (and true, eternal life), but that those who were willing to lose their (worldly, physical) life for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel will save his (true, spiritual, eternal) life.

Commentary:

God’s Word is eternally true, and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Isaiah’s prophecy about the Servant of the Lord was fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ, but it applied also to Isaiah, and it applies to “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ as we trust and obey the Lord. The Lord opens the minds of his disciples, his servants, to understand the scripture (Luke 24:45) and gives them voice to declare God’s Word by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Before the coming of Jesus Christ, only a few people, like Isaiah and the Psalmist, had a personal relationship with the Lord and the guidance and empowerment of his Holy Spirit. Jesus came to make it possible for all his people to be filled with his Holy Spirit (John 16:7; Acts 2:1-4, 14-21).

The Psalmist experienced and testified to the faithful love and power of God to hear and answer fervent prayer when we turn to him for help in time of need (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right). We can experience the same love and power of God to hear and deliver us when we turn to him in obedient trust.

God has created and intended life in this temporal world to be our opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right), through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:1-5, 14), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). God wants us to learn to trust and obey him so that he can show us that his way is good, acceptable (pleasing) and perfect (in our best interest; Romans 12:2).

The author of the Letter of James was a “born-again” Christian disciple of Jesus Christ who was fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commandment to “make disciples” and to teach them to trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20). Those who have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believe, need to be discipled by “born-again” disciples, within the Church (“Jerusalem;” Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) until they have been filled with the Holy Spirit, before they go into the world to make disciples. One cannot teach something one has not learned, or witness to something one has not personally experienced.

The author of the Epistle (letter) was teaching disciples that faith is not like “wishing on a star,” or wishing over “birthday candles.” Faith is not getting whatever we believe if we believe “hard enough.” Saving faith must be based on God’s Word and must be acted upon in obedient trust. Salvation cannot be earned by doing “good deeds;” salvation is a gift from God, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), but that faith is intended to result in action consistent with our faith (Ephesians 2:10).

Once Jesus was sure that his disciples knew that he was the Messiah, he began to teach them where that would lead. This was Jesus’ first prophecy of his crucifixion (see Mark 9:31-32; 10:33-34). Peter loved the Lord and didn’t want to accept that Jesus was going to suffer and die, but he didn’t realize that it was God’s will, and necessary to fulfill God’s plan. Jesus was going to struggle with his own human nature to submit to God’s will (Mark 14:32-38), and Peter was urging not to follow what Jesus knew was God’s will.

Jesus warned that those who follow his teaching and example can expect to suffer and be persecuted by the world as Jesus was. In order to “follow” Jesus we must subjugate our will to God’s. But Jesus has demonstrated that submission to God’s will and self-sacrifice lead to eternal life in the paradise of God’s eternal heavenly kingdom.

Jesus is the perfect example of human flesh completely filled with God’s Holy Spirit, and totally obedient and trusting in God’s Word. He’s the illustration of what we can become as we follow his example. We cannot become Jesus Christ or equal to Jesus Christ (Luke 6:40; Matthew 10:24-25a); Jesus is the only (“begotten”) Son of God (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 3:18). He is the first-born Son. He is the heir; we are “adopted” sons and daughters. We share in his inheritance through him by our “adoption.”

This physical, temporal life which seems so real is an illusion; a dream. It seems so real until we awake. What is spiritual, which seems so ephemeral, so illusory, is the true reality! Don’t mistake the dream for reality!

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

17 Pentecost - Monday B

First Posted September 28, 2009

Psalm 54:1-4, 6-7a -- My Savior

“Save me, O God, by thy name, and vindicate me by thy might” (Psalm 54:1). The Psalmist, David, the shepherd-king of Israel, cried out to God to hear his prayer. Enemies who didn’t reverence God had arisen against the David, seeking to destroy him.

David committed himself to the Lord, David’s helper and the upholder of his life. David left vengeance to the Lord. He trusted that the Lord would faithfully repay his enemies accordingly for their evil.

David vowed to sacrifice a freewill offering to the Lord and give thanks for the goodness of the name of the Lord. “For thou hast delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies” (Psalm 54:7).

Commentary:

According to the ascription, this Psalm is linked to David, during the time he was fleeing for his life from King Saul (1 Samuel 23:19, 26). David trusted in the power and faithfulness of God to uphold David’s life and to deliver him from his enemies, and David testified to the Lord’s faithfulness and deliverance.

To those who reverence the Lord, who trust and obey him, he hears and answers their cries for help. David learned from experience that he could entrust his life to the power and faithfulness of the Lord, and he grew in faith and in love for the Lord as he experienced the Lord’s help and deliverance.

I can personally testify that the Lord does hear and help those who trust and obey him, and he will deliver them from every trouble. We can leave vengeance to God knowing that we will be vindicated. I personally testify that Jesus lives! As we begin to trust and obey the Lord and call upon him to help and deliver us we experience his power and faithfulness, and we grow in faith and in love for him. It becomes our joy to offer ourselves in service to him.

David is a prophetic preview of the promised Messiah, God’s “anointed” Savior and eternal King. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the “shepherd-king” of Israel, who trusted completely in God the Father to vindicate and deliver him from his enemies. Ruthless people sought and took his life on the cross, but God vindicated him over his enemies and delivered him from physical death to eternal life.

Jesus is the name of the Lord, our Savior and vindicator. There is no other name in the entire universe by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12).

17 Pentecost - Tuesday B

First Posted September 29, 2009

Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- Personal Lament

The Lord’s servant was aware of a plot against him because the Lord had revealed it to him. Like a gentle lamb, the Lord’s servant was being led to slaughter. He didn’t realize that it was he that they were plotting to destroy. They wanted to destroy the “fruitful tree;” to remove him from the land of the living and to remove even remembrance of his name.

The Lord’s servant has entrusted himself to the Lord, the righteous judge, who judges the heart and mind. The servant has entrusted his cause to the Lord and will leave vengeance to the Lord.

Commentary:

Jeremiah was a prophet of the Lord in Jerusalem in the time preceding the Exile of Judah, the remnant of Israel, to Babylon. Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed God’s Word, warning Judah of the impending conquest. His call for Israel to repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord was extremely unpopular with the leaders of Judah. Jehoahaz, the king of Judah was so angered by God’s Word declared through Jeremiah, that he cut up and burned the scroll it was written on (Jeremiah 36:1-32). The “princes” of Judah had Jeremiah imprisoned until Jerusalem was defeated by the Chaldeans (the people of the Babylonian empire). The Chaldeans released Jeremiah and treated him kindly, and allowed him to choose where he wanted to reside (Jeremiah 40:4).

Jeremiah’s personal lament is also a messianic prophecy, and Jesus is it’s fulfillment. Jesus was the gentle lamb led to the slaughter. The “princes of Judah” were offended by Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Word, and plotted to destroy the “fruitful tree” and to blot out his name from remembrance.

The response of the Jewish leaders to Jesus was the same response they had given to the prophets who had proclaimed God’s Word in the past (Matthew 23:29-39). They had forgotten the lesson they should have learned from the Exile in Babylon, and they repeated the same mistake.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied, and demonstrated in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). The Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus and the Word of God he proclaimed. They plotted to kill Jesus to blot out the remembrance of Jesus’ name, but they couldn’t thwart God’s plan; instead they fulfilled it (1 Corinthians 2:8; Acts 13:27).

The rejection of Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Word had consequences similar to Judah’s rejection of God’s Word proclaimed by Jeremiah: As the Chaldean army of Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) had done when Judah was exiled to Babylon, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D., Israel was scattered throughout the world and ceased to exist as a nation, until the Jews began returning following World War II.

Note that both Jeremiah and Jesus entrusted their cause to God, the righteous judge, leaving vengeance up to God, and both were vindicated. Both faithfully proclaimed God’s Word, which was received with hostility, but Jeremiah was spared from the exile inflicted on Judah, and Jesus was raised from physical death to eternal life. Note also that the enemies of God’s Word were unable to blot out from remembrance the name of either Jeremiah or Jesus. The Lord is able and faithful to protect and bless his faithful servants.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy of a faithful servant of God, who has been chosen (“anointed”) by God to be the Savior, righteous judge and eternal king of God’s heavenly kingdom.

17 Pentecost - Wednesday B

First Posted September 30, 2009

James 3:16-4:6 -- Life as a Disciple

The author of the Letter of James is discipling believers. Believers are no longer to follow the ways of the world. Jealousy and selfish ambition are worldly ways which lead to disorder and evil. Such things are examples of what the world falsely calls wisdom. Instead we are to seek the divine wisdom by which the world was created (the Word of God; Genesis 1:1-3) and which comes only from God (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). Divine wisdom is pure (sinless) and peaceable, “gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity” (James 3:17b). Peace is the seed, sown by peacemakers, which produces the fruit of righteousness.

The causes of war and strife are worldly human lusts (desires). People desire and do not have, so they fight and kill to obtain them. Believers lack because they don’t ask God, and they ask God and do not receive because they ask for the wrong things and for the wrong reasons.

The ways of the world are opposed to God’s ways. If we seek friendship and approval in the world we will not receive God’s friendship and approval, but his anger. God desires our fellowship with him (Zechariah 8:2). God opposes the proud, but blesses the humble (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5.5).

Commentary:

The righteous are those who have God’s approval; who trust and obey God’s Word. There is only one way to have God’s approval and that way is through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what they have individually done in this lifetime (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). In that day worldly approval will be worthless, because the world will be eternally condemned for disobedience of God’s Word. But those who have God’s approval, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, will live eternally with the Lord in his heavenly kingdom in paradise.

Believers are to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We need to spend time daily learning his teachings, and learning to apply them in our lives in obedient trust in Jesus. Believers are to be discipled in the Church by “born-again” disciples until the believers receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We need to read the Bible, completely, and daily, seeking God’s will for us personally and individually. One can easily read the Bible in one year (see Free Bible Study Tools , sidebar top right). Set aside specific, regular time each day for reading the Bible, meditation and prayer. God’s Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and illustration of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14), is the source of divine wisdom.

In too many cases, the (nominal) Church has failed to make disciples. Instead of learning to apply God’s way in their lives and taking it out into the world, the “world” has been allowed to bring worldly ways into the Church. In order to make disciples we have to first be disciples; to lead believers to be reborn, we have first to have been reborn ourselves by obedient trust in Jesus Christ.

As we begin to apply Jesus’ teachings in our lives, we receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal fellowship with the Lord (John 14:23-24). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9) within us, who opens our minds to understand the scriptures (John 14:25-26; 16:13-14; Luke 24:45), and empowers and guides us to resist our worldly urges and live in obedient trust in God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

17 Pentecost - Thursday B
*First Posted October 1, 2009*

Mark 9:30-37 -- True Greatness Jesus was traveling through Galilee with his disciples, trying to avoid being noticed, because he was teaching his disciples about his impending crucifixion and death. For the second time (see Mark 8:31) he told them that “the Son of man” (Jesus) would be delivered into the power of humans who would kill him, and that after three days he would arise again. His disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, but were afraid to ask him. They came to Capernaum to the house where Jesus was staying, and Jesus asked them what they had been discussing on the way. They were silent, because they had been discussing which of them was the greatest. Jesus gathered the twelve around him and told them that whoever wanted to be great must be willing to be last and the servant of all. Jesus took a child and brought him into the group and told them that anyone who receives a child in Jesus’ name receives Jesus, and that whoever receives Jesus receives not [only] Jesus but the one who sent him (God the Father). Jesus had made Capernaum his headquarters after the people of Nazareth had rejected him (Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30). Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples for the ordeal which was coming, but his disciples were unable to receive what Jesus was teaching, because their minds and hearts were focused on worldly values. The worldly way is to dominate others in order to have status and power over them and be their master, but Jesus’ way is to submit to others and to become their servant. A young child is the example of one who is innocent of selfish ambition and who is humble and obedient. That is what Jesus’ disciples are to be, and those who receive such disciples in Jesus’ name receive Jesus and God the Father (John 14:23-24). Jesus does not come seeking to dominate us and forcing us to submit. He comes gently and humbly as a child (literally in his nativity, and figuratively). He didn’t try to force his hometown to accept him. He’s the King of the Universe, who came humbly on a young donkey (Mark 11:1-10), and who was mocked as a “king” by the Romans as he was crucified (Mark 15:16-20). Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man, which is true, but which also allows us to decide for ourselves whether Jesus is the Messiah (Christ; God’s “anointed” eternal Savior and King) or not. Jesus not only taught humility and servanthood but lived them, and demonstrated them in his crucifixion. And in his resurrection he showed the world that his way triumphs over the worldly way. When we submit to Jesus’ way voluntarily, we receive the promise of the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God within us, through whom we have a personal fellowship with the risen Jesus and God the Father. Now is the time to receive Jesus and eternal life in his heavenly kingdom. There is a Day coming when it will be too late; in that Day, Jesus is coming with great power and glory to judge the living and the dead (in both the physical and spiritual senses; John 5:28-29; Mathew 25:31-46). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus and have been “re-born” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit will receive eternal life in the kingdom of God; but those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to trust and obey Jesus will receive eternal condemnation and destruction in Hell with all evil. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? 17 Pentecost - Friday B
*First Posted October 2, 2009*
Proverbs 25:-6-14 -- A Word Fitly Spoken Ephesians 4:1-6 -- Unity of Faith Proverbs: “Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of the prince” (Proverbs 25:6-7). Don’t be hasty in bringing accusations against your neighbor for something you’ve seen; what will you do when his action is explained, and you are put to shame? If you have a complaint against your neighbor, argue it with him yourself, and do not disclose it to others, lest you be put to shame and your reputation ruined. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). To those who listen, wise reproof is valuable. Like a drink of cold water at harvest time is a faithful messenger to those who send him, refreshing the spirit of his masters. One who boasts of his generosity and does not give is like a storm of clouds and wind which doesn’t produce rain. Ephesians: Paul was continuing to disciple the Ephesian Christians from prison. Paul urged them to live lives worthy of their “calling” (to be followers of Christ). Like Christ we are to be lowly and meek, “with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3). Paul urged Christians to preserve the unity of the faith (Christian discipleship): Christians are to be united in one body (the Church) by one Spirit (the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Christ; the Spirit of God; Romans 8:9). There is one call (discipleship) and one hope (eternal fellowship in the kingdom of God). There is one Lord (Jesus Christ); one faith (the scriptural, apostolic Gospel; the Gospel of Jesus Christ received from Jesus and taught by the Apostles, and recorded in the Bible); one baptism. There is one God and Father (Creator) of us all, who is above all, through all and in all. Commentary: Christians are called to be disciples; “followers” of Jesus’ teaching and example. Jesus was God’s “anointed” (Messiah; Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively) Savior and eternal King, and yet he came to earth humbly, as an infant, and as a humble person riding a donkey as he entered Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40). He was hailed as King, and then received crucifixion instead of coronation. Jesus took the least place among us on the cross as a criminal, although he had done nothing deserving crucifixion or any punishment at all. God the Father has lifted Jesus up above all other names (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12), and has restored him to eternal life, and to all power and authority on earth and in heaven (Matthew 28:18). The Jewish religious leaders exalted themselves above Jesus, and God humbled them. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D., the people were scattered throughout the world. Israel ceased to exist as a nation, until reestablished following World War II. Judaism effectively ended at the cross of Jesus Christ: the veil of the temple, separating the Holy of Holies of God’s presence from the people, was torn in two (Luke 23:45), symbolizing that Jesus has opened a new way into God’s presence. The destruction of the temple ended the sacrificial system essential to the Old Covenant of Law; Jesus has initiated a New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note g); Jesus became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus spoke and taught the Word of God (John 14:10, 24). Jesus is the Word of God fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Paul is the example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, who was confronted by the Spirit of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, repented and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:5-9). He was discipled by Ananias, was baptized and received the “anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:10-19), and then fulfilled the Great Commission the risen Jesus had given to his disciples (Acts 9:20-22): They were to be apostles (sent; messengers of the Gospel), after they had received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-13) to make (“born-again”) disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:19-20). The proverbs in today’s text were from the wisdom of Solomon, who asked for and received divine wisdom from God (1 Kings 3:5-14), “and which the men of Hezekiah, King of Judah copied,” according to the ascription. Hezekiah and his men valued “fitly spoken” words, and sought to apply and be guided by them. They treasured “wise reproof.” Jesus is the faithful messenger who refreshes the spirit of his master, God his Father, who sends him, and the spirit of those who heed his wise reproof. His disciples are called to heed Jesus’ message and reproof, and then to also be faithful messengers, and bring wise reproof. Those who call themselves Christians and do not produce the fruit of faith and discipleship are a windstorm which causes damage without producing rain. Paul was a faithful messenger who offers wise reproof. Paul warned Timothy, whom he discipled and who became a faithful messenger of the Gospel, that the time was coming when people would not endure sound teaching, but, having “itching ears,” would accumulate teachers who would teach according to their liking, who would “tickle” their ears, and they would turn away from the truth and wander into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). That day has come. There are many examples of preaching to please and flatter listeners. Are we willing to hear and apply God’s truth in our lives? Today there is still one body, and one Spirit, the true, Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, disciple-making Church, but there are a lot of (nominal) Churches, and lots of “church members” who don’t know the Bible, haven’t been taught to obey Jesus, and haven’t been discipled in the Church until they have been “born-again,” before being sent out to proclaim the Gospel. The (nominal) Church has failed even to teach what saving faith is! Faith is not getting whatever you believe, if you “believe hard enough.” Faith is not like “wishing on a star” or over “birthday candles.” Saving faith is obedient trust in Jesus’ Word. As we trust and obey Jesus, he anoints us with his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

17 Pentecost - Saturday B

First Posted October 3, 2009

Luke 14:1-11 -- Teaching on Humility

On a Sabbath, Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a ruler who was a Pharisee (a legalistic faction of Judaism), and “they were watching him” (Luke 14:1b). There was a man present who had dropsy. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees present whether or not it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. No one answered, so Jesus healed the man with dropsy. Jesus asked the other guests, who among them wouldn’t immediately pull out one of their animals if it had fallen into a well on the Sabbath; but no one replied.

Noting how the guests chose their seats at the dinner, Jesus told them a parable, saying that when they were invited to a wedding feast, not to sit down in the seat of honor. Otherwise, when someone more eminent came, the host and the guest would both be embarrassed to have to give the seat to the guest of honor. Jesus said that, instead, one should choose the least honorable seat. Then both the host and guest would be pleased among the other guests for the host to ask the guest to take a more honorable seat. Jesus declared that, similarly, God will exalt the humble, but humble those who exalt themselves.

Commentary:

Jesus was living and exemplifying God’s Word. The divine wisdom given to Solomon, which was emulated by Hezekiah, the King of Judah, said “Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence, or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of the prince” (Proverbs 25:6-7; see yesterday, Friday, 17 Pentecost B).

The Pharisee and his guests were legalistic leaders of Judaism and teachers of Scripture. They were present with the Messiah, God’s anointed eternal Savior and King, but they didn’t recognize and acknowledge Jesus as the rightful guest of honor. They considered themselves experts in the Scriptures, but they were not living according to God’s Word. They were “watching” Jesus to find evidence to humble Jesus and exalt themselves.

Jesus came into the world humbly as an infant. He entered Jerusalem, the “City of God” humbly, on a young donkey. As he entered, he was cheered by the crowd as God’s “anointed” King (Luke 19:28-40) and the “Son of David” (the heir to the throne of David; Matthew 21:1-11).

Instead of coronation they gave Jesus crucifixion. Jesus took the humblest place, as a “criminal” on the Cross, between two thieves. But God vindicated and honored him by raising Jesus from physical death to eternal life, and gave him a name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:12), and authority over all things in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24). Jesus says, “Why do you call me Lord, and not do what I say” (Luke 6:46; compare Matthew 7:21-27)?