Monthly Archives: October 2017

Know Your God

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Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV1

Some things about God are just unknowable for us as humans. We don’t have the vocabulary to explain them. We don’t even have the brainpower to understand them.

But some things about God are knowable for us. It is God’s desire for us to understand and know Him, so He has given us His Word, and He shows up in our circumstances. We can come to know God on a deeper level by studying the Names by which He identifies Himself in Scripture. God’s Name reveals His character and demonstrates His ways. “The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). “Those who know [God’s] Name will put their trust in [God]” (Psalm 9:10). David praised God saying, “You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word” (Psalm 138:2). So, let’s take some time to search God’s Word for His Names.

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In Need of a Minor Miracle

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When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And … His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” John 2:3 & 5 ESV1

Read John 2:1-12

It had been a busy few days for Jesus. He had just started His ministry. It had begun with His baptism, where He had been met by both God and man each declaring His identity and purpose. As the days passed, He had met several people. Some had decided to join Him in His ministry. Others weren’t so sure. He had traveled back and forth over the rugged landscape of Decapolis and Galilee. (See John 1:29-2:1). Now, He was ready to relax with His family and His friends, old and new, at the wedding of someone very close to Him. Continue reading →

Tackling Temptation

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Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Matthew 4:1 ESV1

Read Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, & Luke 4:1-13

Temptation is bad, isn’t it? Why then was Jesus led by the Spirit into temptation (see Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12, and Luke 4:1)? We are supposed to plead with God not to lead us into temptation (see Matthew 6:13). And the Scriptures tell us God “tempts no one” (James 1:13b). Yet, God, through the Holy Spirit, led Jesus right into it. Why?

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A Child of God

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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”                Matthew 3:8-9 ESV1

Read Matthew 3:1-12

In the time in which Jesus walked the Earth there were groups of very religious people who were absolutely sure that they, above others, were right with God. They studied the Scriptures, followed very high standards of holiness, and taught others to do the same. Two of these religious groups were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Shortly before Jesus began His earthly ministry, his close relative, John the Baptist, was preparing the way for Jesus by preaching, “‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 3:2). A great number of people from the region believed John’s message. “[They] were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6). Presumably, because they were serious about matters of faith, “many Pharisees and Sadducees [were also] coming to [John’s] baptism, [and] he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come’” (Matthew 3:7)? Why was John so rude to those wanting to do the right thing?

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Removing Obstacles

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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke 3:4-6 ESV1

Read Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18, and John 1:6-28

All four Gospels begin their accounts of Jesus’ ministry with the ministry of John the Baptist. Luke goes as far as to identify the exact timing of John’s appearance on the ministry scene through the reign of a king, a governor, three tetrarchs, and two high priests (see Luke 3:1-2). Scholars far more knowledgeable than I have used that information to pinpoint John’s ministry as having taken place between the winter and spring of AD 26. Why was it so important to start explaining Jesus’ purpose for coming with the relatively short ministry of another?

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Introducing Others to Jesus

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The next day again John [the Baptist] was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus … One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. John 1:35-36, 40-42a ESV1

Read John 1:11-51

Andrew came to faith in Jesus by the testimony of John the Baptist. Andrew had been a disciple, or a follower, of John. As is the nature of being a disciple, Andrew had likely spent a great deal of time with and listening to John. And John spent much time talking about the coming Messiah. So much so that even casual observers of John were able to say, “Everything he [John] said about this man has come true” (John 10:41). Because of his close association with John and John’s teachings, Andrew was ready to follow the Messiah as soon as John identified him. “‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:36b-37).

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A Home for Jesus

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And He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”  Luke 2:49 ESV1

Read Matthew 1:18-25 & 2:11-15; Luke 1:26-56 & 2:41-52

“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son … in order that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16a & 17b). But before Jesus saved the world, he was a Baby who needed care, a little Boy who needed providing for and protecting, and a young Man who needed encouragement and direction. Who on Earth could God trust to raise His Son? Who could be up to the challenge of parenting all of God wrapped up in the skin of a little Boy? Both Mary and Joseph must have been exceptional people! Much can be deduced from Scripture about this couple.

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