Tag: Son of God
Tent-dwellers!
Scripture reading for October 29th: John 1-2
John, the beloved, was the youngest disciples and one of the “sons of thunder”. James and John were in the inner circle of three and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple that Jesus asked from the Cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) John wrote his Gospel to declare that Jesus was the “Son of God”!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John began with a revelation of the Son of God as the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! He always was, is, and will be. The ‘beginning’ spoken of by John was the beginning of created things. By His powerful Word, He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast the extent of the heavens, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people, Israel. This tent was called a “tabernacle” or “Tent of Meeting”. God’s presence marked Israel as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) Most rejected Him and ended up crucifying Him. But to those who would and did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” into God’s family! He would send them the Holy Spirit to live in them and they would become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! Why not invite Him to be your Savior today!
The son of David, Priest and King!
Scripture reading for June 25th: Psalms 107-110
Psalm 110 is one of David’s psalms used by Jesus Christ to confound his adversaries. Jesus was being tested by the teachers of the law to prove that he could not be the messiah. To counter their arguments, Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 and attributed it to King David speaking under the power of the Holy Spirit. “The Lord said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” (Psalm 110:1) “David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” (Mark 12:36-37a) Jesus’ question was designed to help these teachers of the law connect with the plain teaching of God’s Word that the messiah would be a son of David as well as his Lord! (2nd Samuel 7:12, 13, 16)
The psalm is a prophetic picture of the messiah who would come from the line of David. This messiah would sit at God’s right hand and rule until the Lord God put all His enemies under His feet. The messiah would be made or declared a priest as well as a ruling king! These offices were not combined in the Old Testament history of God’s people. Up to this point, Melchizedek was the only person who was both a priest and a king. (Genesis 14:18-20) (Hebrews 5:5-10, 6:19-7:28) Melchizedek was the King of Salem (Peace) and a priest of the Most High God. The descendant of David who was to come would be a priest and king like Melchizedek!
Priests normally did not sit, but this King was seated at God’s right hand! We now know He was seated because His work of sacrifice on behalf of the people was completed! (Acts 5:31) (Ephesians 1:20) David had a revelation of the throne in heaven following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is interceding for us as a priest before God, seated at His right hand! (Romans 8:34)
This King/Priest is ruling in the midst of His enemies now, waiting for them to bow their knees! (Psalm 11o:2,3) He is marshaling His troops for a day of battle! This King will judge nations and crush rulers of the earth! He will be refreshed after the battle and exalted as the King of Glory! (Psalm 110:7) Truly, this King is the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of David and David’s Lord!
Proud of the Gospel!
Scripture reading for July 12th: Romans 1:1-17
Paul’s letter to the Romans is a wonderful exposition of the gospel message and salvation by grace through faith. Paul wrote this letter from jail to a Roman church that he had never visited. The term ‘gospel’ is used twelve times in the letter and is used six times in first seventeen verses!
It is interesting that just this evening I was out sharing the gospel in the park with a team from our church. There was a man with a tee shirt that quoted Romans 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. . .” I asked this young man if he knew what the term ‘gospel’ meant and he said he would have to go look that up. That opened the door for me to share with him and his friends the gospel message!
Paul loved the gospel message. For him, the gospel was all about Jesus Christ. The gospel was promised by God through the prophets concerning the Son of God who was to be a descendant of David. This Son was none other than Jesus Christ, “who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4) The gospel was good news in that by faith Jew and Gentile could receive grace and forgiveness of sins.
Paul considered the gospel of Jesus Christ the power of God for salvation. He was not ashamed of that message, but instead was bold to share it whenever and where ever God would open the door. This gospel revealed the righteousness of God that is received by faith in both Jew and Gentile. Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in saying, “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17b)
Paul was so proud of the gospel because it saved him from working to try and earn righteousness through the law! He knew the futility of his own works and how this good news brought him rest and grace. He wanted everyone he was in contact with to know that grace and believe in Jesus Christ! (Acts 26:29)
If you were asked to explain what ‘gospel’ means, would you be able to? Have you experienced the power of the gospel to save you? Are you able to say with Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel!”
Herod’s Curiosity!
Scripture reading for April 26th: Luke 22:55-23:10
“When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform some miracle. He plied Him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.” (Luke 23:8-9) This was the Herod who had earlier killed John the Baptist and was the ruler in Galilee. Herod was curious about Jesus. The news of Jesus’ miracles had reached his ears, and he wanted to meet this man. He wanted to see one of the miracles, but not so he could believe on Him! His miracles were not for entertainment or to satisfy someone’s curiosity.
This refusal to answer brought mockery from Herod and those around him. Herod had an elegant robe put on Jesus and they hailed Him as ‘king of the Jews’. Jesus looked like an unlikely ‘king’, as He stood there bruised, accused falsely, and mocked by those in authority and by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, and these two political leaders who had been enemies, became friends over dealing with Jesus. How sad to think that these who had the opportunity to find truth and eternal life, were oblivious to their own need and to Jesus who could truly help them if they would ask sincerely.
Just previous to this, Jesus had given straight answers to serious questions. When asked by the council of elders if He was the Christ, Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe Me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They then asked point blank, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” (Luke 22:67-70) Jesus told them truth but they did not want to believe. They had made up their minds. Using Jesus’ answer, they accused Him of blasphemy.
Each person must decide who Jesus is. Do we believe Jesus or not? The religious leaders refused to believe Him after seeing miracles. The rulers Herod and Pilate refused to believe. All rejected truth because of a lack of humility. Today is a day of decision. What will you do with Jesus?
God With Us!
Scripture reading for October 6th: Matthew 1-4
As we begin the New Testament, we are immediately made aware of Jesus Christ the son of David and son of Abraham! (Matthew 1:1) Matthew’s eye-witness account of the life of Jesus Christ starts with a genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph. There are 42 generations listed in this period of about 2000 years of history. Jesus is the central figure of the entire Bible and especially the New Testament. His birth, life on earth, sacrificial death, and resurrection from the dead are told by Matthew specifically for a Jewish audience who would appreciate the Old Testament and the various prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means, “God is with us”. (Matthew 1:20b-23) (Isaiah 7:14) We are introduced to a miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit uniting with a virgin named Mary. The child would be a son to be given the name “Jesus” which means “the Lord Saves”. This child would also be referred to as “Immanuel” which is “God with us”! All of this was foretold 700 years earlier by Isaiah the prophet. This conception nearly caused Joseph to call off the marriage! Imagine his surprise to find his promised bride pregnant! God visited him in a dream with an angel messenger to give him insight into the plan of God.
It so happened that Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to pay taxes and during that visit Jesus was born. This was also no accident! “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel”. (Matthew 2:6) (Micah 5:2) Micah had spoken of the town in Judah where this ruler would originate. Bethlehem means “house of bread”. Jesus would be the living bread to nourish the whole world! God’s plans are established forever!
Jesus, the Tent Dweller
Scripture reading for October 30th: John 1-2
The Gospel of John, the beloved disciple, is exciting reading. John was the youngest disciple and one of the “sons of thunder” brothers. James and John were evidently very emotional and yet very likable. These brothers were in the inner circle of three in the company of disciples and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple who Jesus asked from the Cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) The theme of his Gospel is “Jesus, the Son of God” and John goes back to Genesis as he begins his account.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John starts with a revelation of the Son of God! He is the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! Of course, eternity is the realm of God. There is no time in His realm, so there is no beginning from God’s perspective. He always was, is, and will be. The beginning spoken of by John is the beginning of created things. Everything we can see was created by God and by His Word. He is the source and beginning of it all. By speaking His powerful Word in faith He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast and huge these creations are, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. He “tabernacled” with His people! This is what God did when Israel was in the desert after Mt. Sinai. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people. This tent was called a “tabernacle”. God’s presence marked His people as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) Most rejected Him and ended up crucifying Him. But to those who would and did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” into God’s family! He would send them the Holy Spirit to live in them and they would become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! What a blessed people are those who receive Him! Why not invite Him to be your Savior today and let Him pitch His tent in you! His powerful Word brings new birth and eternal life!