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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 364

Dec31

Day 364 – Reading – Revelation 12 – 18

Read and believe in Jesus!

The Revelation 12 – 18

The next seven chapters escalate. Satan, the Beast (Monster), the Antichrist appear. The Tribulation escalates. And there is all-out War in Heaven. Michael and his host of mighty angels battle. The seven bowls of wrath and the seven plagues do their worst, and the “great prostitute, Babylon” (who is a dwelling place of demons) appears and …. falls!

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Revelation 12

“And A GREAT SIGN appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

A SIGN:  A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of SEVEN SIGNS in the last half of Revelation. This first sign, the Woman giving birth, represents Israel. 

(There are three other symbolic women in Revelation. Jezebel (2:20) represents paganism, the Scarlet Woman (17:3-6) represents the Apostate Church, and the Wife of the Lamb (19:7) represents the True Church.

The next sign we see is the Great Red Dragon, which represents Satan. He is the woman’s mortal enemy. He has ceaselessly tried to destroy “her” to keep the Savior from coming, but he failed, and then he was unable to kill the baby, despite using Herod to massacre hundreds of infants at the time. Then Jesus did His redeeming work and ascended back to Heaven.

 

Although Satan and 1/3 of the angels (who are now his demons) fell from heaven after they rebelled, they still had access to it. (Remember Job?)  But now, after fighting with Michael and his host, they are THROWN DOWN to earth.  That old ACCUSER OF BELIEVERS who stood to accuse us day and night before God is cast down (and locked out).

Heaven rejoices, but “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down in great wrath, because he knows his time is short.”

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Furious, Satan pursued the Woman/Israel to kill her.  But she was given “two wings” (heavenly protection) and fled to the wilderness, where God kept her safe and nourished her for 42 months.  Frustrated and angry, Satan then went to wage war on the rest of her offspring (believing Jews and Gentiles), “who kept the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Unable to destroy these, Satan went and stood on the sand of the sea………….

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Revelation 13.

…………….. And it seemed he summoned up his strongest and most horrible demon. 

John saw “a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and BLASPHEMOUS NAMES on its heads. And to this monster, Satan (the dragon) gave his power and his throne, and his great authority. 

The whole earth marveled as they followed the Beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the Beast, and they worshiped the Beast, saying, “Who is like the Beast, and who can fight against it?”

The Beast was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months.  It opened its mouth and uttered blasphemies against GOD, blaspheming His NAME and His Dwelling Place.  It was also allowed to make WAR on the saints and conquer them – from every tribe, people, language, and nation.

And ALL who dwelt on the earth… were made to worship it.  ALL whose name was NOT written from before the foundation of the world … in the Book of Life of the Lamb, who was slain.

 

John inserts a warning to his readers:  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

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“Then I (John) saw another beast rising from out of the earth.  It had two horns… like a lamb… and it spoke like a dragon.” 

(We now have an unholy Satanic trinity of despicable evil.)

Unlikely as it looked, this lamb-appearing beast is the “enforcer” for the Beast.  It made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.  It also performed great miracles, even making fire come down from Heaven to earth in front of people. It deceived those who dwelled on earth.  It told the people to create an image of the Beas.  And it gave the image … speech.

All who did not worship the image were killed.

All who would not receive the mark of the Beast on forehead or right hand could neither buy nor sell… anything.

 

John again inserts a warning to his readers. “This calls for wisdom; let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is …. 666.”

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Revelation 14.

Then John looked, and in his vision he saw THE LAMB of God standing on Mount Zion, with the 144,000 who had NOT taken the mark of the beast. On THEIR foreheads was written the name of the LAMB and the name of His Father.  These 144K are the first fruits for God and the Lamb.  And a special song was sung to them and about them by the hosts of Heaven.

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Next, John saw three flying heralding angels, each with a message.

  • The first – “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
  • The second – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
  • The third – “If anyone worships the Beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or hand, he also will drink of the wine of God’s wrath … and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”

 

John again inserts a warning. “This is a call  for endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

 

Then, a voice from Heaven spoke a chilling statement.  “Write this: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.“

 

Then came angels and One, like the Son of Man, with sickles.  It was the time of THE REAPING OF THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH.  (Remember those parables Jesus told of just such a thing!)  

  • “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.
  • So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 
  • And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 184 miles!”

 

You might be reminded of that old song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic right now.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. 
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

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Revelation 15.

Then John saw another great and amazing SIGN in heaven – seven angels with seven plagues.  

Here’s how it went down…..

John saw what looked like a sea of glass mingled with fire… and standing next to this sea were those who had conquered the Beast and its image and the number of its name.  They had harps and they sang “The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.”

  • “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
  • Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
  • Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?
    All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

And as they sang, the Holy Place was opened in Heaven and out from the Santuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues.  One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.

And the sanctuary was filled with the glory of God and His power, and no one could enter it until the seven plagues were finished.

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Revelation 16.

The voice came from the Temple, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

  • The first angel – poured out harmful and painful sores on the people who bore the mark of the Beast.
  • The second angel – poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like blood, and every living thing died in it.
  • The third angel – poured out his bowl into the rivers, and they became blood.

“Just are You, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. 

It is what they deserve!”

  • The fourth angel – poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fierce heat.  (And they cursed the name of God. They did not repent. They did not give Him glory.)
  • The fifth angel – poured out his bowl on the throne of the Beast, and its kingdom plunged into darkness. People cursed God for their pain. They did not repent of their deeds.
  • The sixth angel – poured out his bowl on the great River Euphrates, and its water was dried up — to prepare the way for the kings from the east.

(Then John saw coming out of the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and False Prophet, demonic spirits that looked like frogs.  They did miracles and went to all the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.  And the assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called … ARMAGEDDON.)

  • The seventh angel – poured out his bowl into the air. And a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “IT IS DONE!”   

 

  • Followed by lightning, thunder, and a great earthquake.  And the great city – Jerusalem – split into three parts, and the cities of the earth fell. 
  • And God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
  • And great hailstones – 100 pounds each – fell from on heaven on the people and they cursed God.

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Revelation 17.

One of the seven angels then came to John and said, “Come, I’ll show you the judgment of The Great Prostitute (remember this represents the Apostate Church) who is seated on many waters (the nations of the world), with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality.”

  • The angel carried John away in the spirit to a wilderness. He saw the Prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names.  The woman wore purple and scarlet, gold, jewels, and pearls.  In her hand, she held a golden cup FULL of abominations and impurities and immorality. 
  • On her forehead was written: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 
  • And she was drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus…….

The angel then explains the “mystery” about this woman and the beast with its multiple heads and horns,  and what they mean.

  • The multitude of the nations and people hate her and plan to kill her and burn her with fire, and hand over her royal power to the Beast until the Words of God are fulfilled.  That woman is … the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth … Babylon the Great.
  • These kings also plan to make war on the LAMB, but the LAMB will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those fighting with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

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Revelation 18.

After that private lesson from one of the angels, John saw another bright and mighty angel descended from heaven and call out,

FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON THE GREAT, the haunt for every demon, every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, every unclean and detestable beast!

 

And the rest of the chapter goes on to describe this great and evil nation…. her sins, her false evil glories, her deceptions, her evil fruit, jewels, and gold with which she deceived the nations, and made them rich. How the world will mourn her destruction, and how they will miss her wealth.

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Then the mighty angel said,

“And so Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.” 

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her.

 

Whew!

 

Tomorrow we finish THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.  It is a beautiful ending of what heaven will be like without the devil, sin, and sorrow.  The glorious new Jerusalem. Seeing God face to face.  I can’t wait.

The last book in the chronological study/reading, and the end of the year.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 361

Dec27

Day 361 – Reading – 2 John and 3 John.
Read and believe in Jesus!

2 John 

These two letters are “short and to the point.”  The apostle wrote 2nd John to a specific church that he knew and loved.  Perhaps for protection in a Christian-persecuted world, he disguised their identity.  He calls this beloved church, “the elect lady and her children.”   

This church faced some of the same challenges that the churches John wrote to in his circulating sermon/letter of 1 John. Mainly, the false teachers, whom he calls deceivers and antichrists.

But first, he tells this church how much joy it brings him to know that “some” of the members (her children) are walking in the truth.  He reminds them to continue loving one another, as the basic command “from the beginning.”

Then, as in 1 John, the old Pastor warns this church about those “who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh.”  This is a basic tenet of true Christianity, for if Jesus was not wholly “man” as well as wholly “God,” He could not have died in the place of sinners like you and me, and “paid” the sin-debt we owed. 

Then a stern command: If some of these deceivers come to you, DO NOT RECEIVE THEM INTO YOUR HOUSE (church), or even give them a greeting!  “For whoever greets these people takes part in their wicked work.”

(WHOA!  Does this apply to those from “other” cults and beliefs coming to our doors today?)

John signs off on this brief letter by saying he wants to visit in person. It would fill him with joy. Okay, a letter of ink on paper is good, but a personal vision and touch is the best! 

(I’m thankful John wrote these letters, or else we wouldn’t have had them, too.)

John then tells them the members of their sister church (Ephesus) greet them, too.

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3 John

Here’s another very short letter from John. It is actually less than 300 Greek words, so it could have fit on a single sheet of papyrus.  This letter is the most personal of the three, sent to a sole recipient – his “beloved Gaius.”  He was a member of one of the churches overseen by the aged ‘Pastor John’.  Sadly, nothing else is known about this faithful man.

John gives a personal prayer to this man, “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”  

(What a wonderful prayer and example for us to pray!)

John was also so grateful that his man was “walking in the TRUTH,” and not the prevailing false teaching. John exclaims, “I have no greater joy to know my children (converts) are walking in the truth.”  

Then he commends Gaius for his hospitality towards the men he sent to the church, and encourages him to “send them on their way” when the time comes. (In other words, to help them financially and materially as much as he can.) 

THESE MEN are different from the false teachers John tells the other church NOT to greet or help.  THESE MEN are missionaries. They are going out “for the sake of “the Name.” (For God’s glory and not their own.) John tells Gaius that when he helps men of God, he is actually sharing in that ministry.

Then John candidly tells Gaius that he’s written to the church and to the leader, Diotrephes (who likes to put himself first), but the man has ignored John’s instructions. He could have been supporting the false teachers!  “I’ll deal with him when I come!” was John’s assurance.

Then he testifies about Demetrius (possibly the one delivering this letter to Gaius), and tells Gaius he is worthy of support and hospitality as well.

John ends with his desire to visit him “face to face.”  How much better than a missive of pen & ink!

Greet all my friends there!

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NOTE: It makes you wonder if the aging John ever got to visit these churches. He is probably in his 90’s by then, and his last years have been hard. (Imprisonment, torture by Nero)  Some time after he wrote these letters, the Roman authorities arrested him and exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he received the inspiration for The REVELATION.  That book was also sent to be read in these churches in Asia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 355 & 356

Dec22

SUNDAY and MONDAY studies are posted together on MONDAYS

Day 355 – Reading – Hebrews  1 – 6

Day 356 – Hebrews 7 – 10
Read and believe in Jesus!

SUNDAY, Hebrews.

“To The Hebrews (Jews)” is the original and official title to this book, since it is filled with references to Jewish history and religion and doesn’t address any Gentile or pagan practices.  It was probably written while the temple and the priesthood were still intact in Jerusalem. (67-69 A.D.)

And as we’ve all heard, the author is unknown. Some have speculated on Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Apollos, Luke, Philip, Priscilla (?!!), Aquila, and Clement.  But the letter’s style fits none of those exclusively. The author says he received Christ’s message from “others” (i. e. the disciples/apostles).  He also quotes from the Greek Old Testament rather than the Hebrew text.  A conundrum.

But. praise God, we know for sure that

  • “no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) 
  • And, “All scripture is breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness…” (I Timothy 3:15-16)

If you are so inclined… read and refresh you memory on the book of Leviticus before reading Hebrews.  It will explain a lot. The Jews (and all people) needed a PERFECT priest and a PERFECT sacrifice, all of which Jesus is.  Other O.T. texts which would be valuable to read with these first six chapters in Hebrews are: 2 Samuel 7, Deuteronomy 32, Psalms 8:4-6, 95:7-11, 110:4. (More later for the following chapters.)

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Hebrews 1.

THE SUPREMECY OF JESUS CHRIST OVER ANGELS.  Through the ages, God spoke to the Jews (and others) through the Holy Scriptures.  But NOW, God has spoken to all men through His Son, through whom He CREATED the world, and whom now UPHOLDS the universe by the power of His word.

This JESUS is “the radiance of the GLORY of God,” and “the exact imprint of God’s nature.”  You see Jesus, you see GOD. (John 14:9)   And He now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high, His enemies, like a footstool under His feet.

He, Jesus, is much superior to angels.  God called Him, “my Son,” and said, “I will be a Father to Him.”  This is never said of angels!  In fact God told His angels to “worship” Jesus.  Angels are God’s ministers and messengers, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. 

No, God the Father has given to Jesus a throne and a scepter forever, calling Him, “God.”  To which of the angels did God ever say to sit at His right hand?

Hebrews 2

NOTE: The readers of this book fall into 3 categories.

  • 1) Hebrew Christians who are suffering rejection and persecution by fellow Jews. 
  • 2) Jewish unbelievers who are convinced of the basic truths of the gospel, but who have not placed their faith in Jesus as the Savior ad Lord. 
  • 3) Jewish unbelievers who are not convinced of the gospel’s truth, but have had some exposure to it.

The warning in verses 1-4 seems to be to the second and third group, who have heard the gospel, perhaps given mental assent to the truth of it, but have not actually been saved by it.

  • …”we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
  • …how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

The quotation from Psalm 8 refers to mankind. “What is mankind that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? You have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything under his feet.”  (Earth was originally under the administration of mankind.)  The incarnation of Jesus Christ proves God’s LOVE and REGARD for mankind. Christ was sent in the form of a man.

And of Jesus, “It was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory …. should make the “founder” of their salvation “perfect” through suffering. 

Since the “saved” share in flesh and blood, HE himself likewise partook of the same things (flesh and blood) that through death He might destroy the one who has power over death – the devil – and deliver those (through fear of death) were in lifelong slavery! 

HE had to be “made like His brothers” in every respect, so He could become a merciful and faithful high priest and make propitiation for the sins of the people.

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Hebrews 3.

THE SUPREMECY OF JESUS CHRIST OVER MOSES.  Consider Jesus – the apostle and high priest of our confessing – who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, just as Moses was also faithful in all God’s house.  But Jesus has been counted worthy of MUCH MORE GLORY THAN MOSES.

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house “as a servant” to testify to the things that were to be spoken later. But Christ is faithful over God’s house “as a son.”  (WE are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence.”)

The warnings in verses 7-11 and 12 – 15, also seem to be addressed to the second and third kinds of believers. (Those who have heard, but not committed themselves wholeheartedly to Jesus for salvation.)

  1. Today, if you hear His voice, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS as in the day of rebellion in the testing in the wilderness. (“They shall not enter My rest.”)
  2. Take care, lest there be in any of you and evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the Living God.  DON”T be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin!  TODAY, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS as in the rebellion!  (They did not enter God’s “rest” because of … UNBELIEF.)

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Hebrews 4.

Now, for more information about the “rest” he’s been writing about, that was forfeited by unbelief. It’s still available!

  • “Therefore, while the promise of entering His “rest” still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem t have failed to reach it. 
  • For Good News came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by FAITH.  But WE who have BELIEVED enter that rest.”
  • Since therefore it remains for SOME to enter it, and those who formerly received the Good News failed to enter because of disobedience, again He appoints a certain day.  
  • “TODAY, IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,  DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

Not only in Moses’ day, and Joshua’s day, and in David’s day (Psalm 95:7-11), those who disbelieve will not enter God’s “REST.”  If you hear the Word, respond!  It is the Word of God that must be believed and obeyed.

And perhaps you have memorized this passage, but consider it again in light of God’s “VOICEING it to YOU… TODAY.  (Hebrews 4:12-13)

  • “For the Word of god is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”   
  • “And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

And then for encouragement to the actual believing readers,

  • “SINCE then we have a great high priest, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 
  • For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN. 
  • Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

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Hebrews 5.

THE SUPREMECY OF JESUS CHRIST OVER AARON’S HIGH PRIESTHOOD.  The writer then explains how Jesus, our great high priest, is so different from the priests of old.  They…

  1. acted on behalf of men in relationship to God,
  2. offered gifts and sacrifices for sins,
  3. dealt gently with the ignorant and wayward,
  4. were themselves “beset with weakness,”
  5. had to offer sacrifices for their own sins,
  6. and only served when God called them. 

Jesus, our GREAT high priest,

  1. was appointed by God the Father, who called Him Son,
  2. was made a priest forever – not like Aaron – but like Melchizedek,
  3. became the source of ETERNAL salvation to all who obey Him (in faith).

The writer then chastens his readers for still being children in the things of doctrine.  Instead of being teachers now, they still needed the “milk” of the basic principles spoon-fed to them.  He says they should be eating the “solid food” of maturity.  They should have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil!!”

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Hebrews 5.

And so… (he continues into this chapter), “leave the elementary doctrines of Christ (repentance and faith, etc.), and go on to maturity.

And then, another warning. (These warnings can be a bit frightening, I agree. But again, were probably directed to those second and third groups.)

Here are five advantages possessed by the Jews, but are insufficient for their salvation.

  1. Having been enlightened, 
  2. having tasted the heavenly gift,
  3. having shared in (the convicting power of) the Holy Spirit,
  4. having tasted the goodness of the word of God,
  5. and having the powers of the age to come (like those people in the wilderness).

“For it is impossible, in these cases, after having fallen away, to be restored again to repentance, since they would be crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm, and holding Him up to contempt.”

YIKES!

Then he gives a down-to-earth illustration for what he’s saying. 

“For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. BUT, if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.”

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Then (thankfully) he turns to his believing readers with encouragement.

“Though we speak in this way, yet in YOUR case, beloved, we feel sure of better things – things that belong to salvation.  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His Name in serving the saints, as you still do.   Have the full assurance of hope until the end to inherit the promises.”

And finally the writer turns to ABRAHAM as an example.

  • God made a promise to Abraham to bless and multiply him.
  • Abraham patiently waited, and obtained the promise.
  • When God wanted to show “the heirs of promise” the UNCHANGABLE CHARACTER OF HIS PURPOSE AND WORD, He swore by himself, and GOD CANNOT LIE!
  • And so, true believers have this sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. And our forever high priest, Jesus, guarantees it.

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MONDAY, Hebrews 7.

JESUS CHRIST AND MELCHIZEDEK.

If you have studied Genesis and Abraham, you will have met Melchizedek. His name means “King of Righteousness,” and he was the king of a city named Salem (peace), which was later renamed Jeru-Salem (Jerusalem). Melchizedek was also called “priest of the most high God.”  For so important a person, he seems to appear and disappear out of nowhere. 

When Abraham and his men pursued the four eastern kings who had captured his nephew Lot, God gave them success. Abe brought back ALL the captured people of the wicked city of Sodom, plus a lot of loot. (This was before their wickedness reached the tipping point and God destroyed them.)

Abraham had determined to keep none of the “tainted” booty for himself, although it was due him, because the king might boast HE made Abraham rich.  (Abraham did allow his men to take their fair share.) As the smarmy king of Sodom strode out to magnanimously offer the loot to Abraham, this mysterious Melchizedek stepped between them and took God’s man aside.

He’d brought bread and wine and “blessed” Abraham.  He also blessed God for helping Abraham defeat the enemy. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth (tithe) of everything. (Communion, blessing, and offering, this was a holy meeting between the man of God and the priest of God.)  And that’s all we know.

And now, in Hebrews 7, we also learn that Melchizedek was “without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, resembling the Son of God as He continues a priest forever.”

So, why do we need to know about Melchizedek now, when talking of Jesus as our forever High Priest?

Think now of the priesthood that came through Levi to Aaron and his descendants.  Levi was a great-grandson of Abraham – still in his “loins” if you will.  Aaron’s priesthood wasn’t established until the people had been freed from Egypt, and God set up the sacrificial system in Leviticus.  Melchizedek – and Jesus, who was born in the tribe of Judah – were separate from the system that would eventually fail. 

All those former priests died. But Jesus, after dying, rose again to life.  He can hold the priesthood permanently!  He “ever lives to make intercession for us!”

  • “It was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
  • He has NO NEED to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sin, and then for the people, since He did this once for all when he offered Himself.

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Hebrews 8.

Jesus Christ is just such a high priest, one who is “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in Heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the “true tent” that the Lord set up. (It is “the pattern” for the one Moses set up at Sinai.)  

Jesus’ ministry was “much more excellent” than the old system (He is priest AND atoning sacrifice), and so He can perfectly mediate between God and man.  This NEW covenant is also better, because God’s laws are no longer on stone tablets, but written in the people’s minds and on their hearts.  God will be “merciful toward their sins, and remember them no more!”

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Hebrews 9.

The writer of Hebrews now goes into some detail describing the earthly Tabernacle and its furnishings.  The Holy Place is where the priests ministered, but the “inner sanctum,” where the Ark of the Covenant and the presence of God dwelled, could only be accessed ONCE per year, by the HIGH PRIEST, and only if he carried the BLOOD of the sacrificial Lamb.

“The WAY into the holy places was not opened as long as the first section was standing.  

  • In other words, access to God’s presence was NOT OPENED to the people.
  • There was NO WAY TO GOD in the ceremonial system. 
  • ONLY CHRIST could open the way. 
  • God is NOT accessible apart from the death of Jesus Christ.
  • (Remember, when He died, the veil was ripped open from TOP to bottom?)

 

“He entered once for all into the holy place, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of HIS OWN BLOOD, thus securing an ETERNAL redemption.

How much more will the blood of Christ, offered without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the Living God!

“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

“And just as it is appointed for man to die ONCE and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered ONCE to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, NOT to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
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(Halleluia! Praise God. Thank You, Jesus!)

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Hebrews 10.

The writer emphasizes again that the old sacrificial system COULD NOT make perfect those who would “draw near” to God.  “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.”  They are but a reminder of the cost of sin every year.

But Jesus came as the perfect, sinless sacrifice.  He came “to do God’s will.”  And by that WILL, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“But when Christ had offered for all time a SINGLE SACRIFICE for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting until his enemies became His footstool. 

“For by a SINGLE OFFERING, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

And … “Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

Because of what Jesus did (the will of the Father),  we can have confidence to enter the presence of God, through that “new and living way He opened for us… through the curtain, that is, through His flesh..

So….

  • “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 
  • Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL. 
  • And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”

AND THEN ANOTHER WARNING….

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire.

“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has 1) spurned the Son of God, and 2) profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has 3) outraged the Spirit of Grace?

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!”

YIKES!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 353

Dec19

Day 353 – Reading –  Titus  1 – 3
Read and believe in Jesus!

Titus.

Titus was another of Paul’s younger helpers, called “sons in the faith.” He probably was with Paul on his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys. He was a Gentile believer. They had visited Crete after Paul’s stay of house arrest in Rome and established a few churches. (Paul had actually been there briefly, at the harbor of Fair Havens, just before that huge storm and shipwreck.) 

Now, Paul was leaving Titus there (much like he left Timothy in Ephesus), to straighten out and steady up the new churches, who were behaving in a very naughty way (like Cretans!).  Paul later planned to send either Tychicus or Artemas to Crete, and when he arrived, Titus was then to come to Paul in Greece at Nicopolis.

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Titus 1.

Paul practically preaches a sermon on the gospel in his greetings to Titus in verses 1-3!  (Check it out and see how many doctrinal truths you can discover!!)

He states the reason why he left Titus in Crete: “so that he might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in very town, as he directed.”

As in the letter to Timothy, Paul lists the qualifications of elders, VERY important here in Crete, for they were known for their debauchery and insubordination!

  • Above reproach,
  • husband of one wife (at a time)
  • children who believe,
  • not open to charges of that debauchery or insubordination,
  • not arrogant or quick tempered,
  • not a drunk or violent, or greedy for gain,
  • hospitable, a lover of good,
  • self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
  • He must HOLD FIRM to the trustworthy Word, as taught,
  • able to give instruction in sound doctrine, 
  • and able to rebuke those who contradicted it.

Paul seems not to have a high opinion of the unsaved Cretans. He quotes one of their own prophets, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  YIKES!  Infiltrating the church, these men were empty talkers, deceivers, teaching a “works” religion. 

“They must be silenced,” Paul tells Titus, then adds, “Rebuke them sharply!” He further says, “they profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work!”

(Yikes, Paul, let it all out!!)

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Titus 2.

“TEACH SOUND DOCTRINE” Paul instructs Titus. Then singles out members of a household.

  1. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love and steadfastness.
  2. Older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and train the….
  3. Young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands.
  4. Younger men are to be self-controlled. (Here Paul tells the “young man,” Titus, to be an example of good works to them. He is to model integrity, dignity, and sound speech, so that their opponents will have nothing evil to say about them.)
  5. Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters. They are to be well pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, showing good faith, so in everything glorify the doctrine of God.

Then Paul breaks into another paragraph of what the glorious gospel means in faith, duty, actions and words. He praises “Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for his own possession…”

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Titus 3.

Paul continues to tell Titus to “remind them” to be good!  He acknowledges that “we all” were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to passions and pleasures, and we passed our days in malice, envy, and hatred.

But!   “…when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he SAVED us, not because of works done by US in righteousness, but according to his own MERCY, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our savior…. so that being justified by His GRACE we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life!”

And a final exhortation before closing, “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works (charity), so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”

Grace be with you all.

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 352

Dec18

Day 352 – Reading –1 Timothy 1 -6
Read and believe in Jesus!

1 Timothy.

It was on Paul’s first missionary journey that he met Timothy and led him to Christ. The boy was from a family of godly women (mom and grandma) and a non-Jewish father. On Paul’s second journey back through the area to strengthen the churches, he found Timothy in Lystra growing in the Lord. Paul chose him to accompany him on the trip. Because Paul always went to the Jews first in new towns, he circumcised Timothy – NOT as a point of salvation, but to make work in the synagogue easier.

Timothy accompanied Paul through many villages and trials after that, sometimes staying on in places to finish a work, and sometimes delivering and returning letters to Paul. Timothy was with Paul when he went to Jerusalem, presumably through the shipwreck, and in his imprisonment in Rome, at least for a time.  (At the end of Paul’s life, in a Roman dungeon, facing death, Timothy ministered to his old teacher.) 

After Paul was released from his first confinement in Rome, he and Timothy went to Ephesus and discovered some problems there. Paul left his “son in the faith,” as pastor, to help resolve them, while he went on to Macedonia.  From Macedonia, Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, documenting what they had found and discussed during their visit to Ephesus.

Some of the pervasive problems were the intrusion of false doctrine, disorder in worship, the need for qualified leaders, and materialism.  Paul also briefly covers the proper use of the Law, salvation, election, and the second coming of Jesus. 

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1 Timothy 1.

“My true child in the faith,” Paul lovingly calls Timothy.  Then he jumps right into the first, and perhaps most serious of the problems at Ephesus (as in many of the other churches) – people who came in teaching false doctrine, mainly legalism.  You have to keep the Law AND believe in Christ, as well as some pagan myths and genealogies.  Paul tells Timothy to address this problem first.

Yes, the law is good.  But it was not given as a way to righteousness, but to lawbreakers, to reveal their sin. The Gospel of Jesus is the only path to salvation.

Paul confesses to being the chief of sinners until Jesus showed him grace and mercy and gave him faith.  He became “an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life” that even this chief sinner could be saved.

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1 Timothy 2.

Paul urges Timothy to pray, with intercession and thanksgiving, for all in authority, so that the church may be left in peace to teach and preach. 

Paul wants men to pray in every place, lifting holy hands, without anger or quarreling, godly and dignified in every way.  And that women are to dress modestly. They should learn quietly with all submissiveness. Paul doesn’t want women teaching or exercising authority over men in the church.  They are to continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control… and good works.

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1 Timothy 3.

Paul then sends Timothy a list of qualifications for the overseers (pastors) in the church. They must be….

  • above reproach
  • the husband of one wife (at a time),
  • sober-minded,
  • self-controlled,
  • respectable,
  • hospitable,
  • able to teach,
  • not a drunkard, 
  • not violent, but gentle,
  • not quarrelsome,
  • not a lover of money.
  • manage his own household well,
  • keep his children submissive.
  • not be a new convert,
  • be well thought of by outsiders.

(Wow!!)

As for deacons, or helpers, they must…

  • qualified,
  • not double-tongued,
  • not addicted to much wine,
  • not greedy for dishonest gain.
  • hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
  • tested first, then let them serve if they prove themselves blameless.
  • the husband of one wife
  • managing their children and households well
  • in good standing wit the community
  • have great confidence in the faith of Christ Jesus.

The wives of these men must be…

  • dignified,
  • not slanderers,
  • sober-minded,
  • faithful in all things.

Wow. Well, at least Timothy knew now how to judge the qualifications of leaders.  I wonder if he (I would) look at himself as well to see if he kept these.

Paul lists these qualifications so that he “might know how one ought to behave in the household of God, the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

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1 Timothy 4

Paul warns Timothy of other deviations he must watch for. Some will depart from the faith by…

  • devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons
  • being influenced by the insincerity of liars with seared consciences.
  • like those who forbid marriage,
  • and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving.

Paul urges and exhorts Timothy personally to…

  • “Have nothing to do with these irreverent, silly myths,
  • but rather to train yourself for godliness.
  • Command and teach these things!
  • Let no one despise you for your youth,
  • but set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
  • Do not neglect the gift you have. 
  • Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.”

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1 Timothy 5.

Paul gives more instructions to his young associate on various relationships.

  • Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father,
  • younger men as brothers,
  • older women as mothers,
  • and younger women as sisters, in all purity.
  • Honor widows (true widows with no children or grandchildren)

And on that subject, he gives Timothy further instructions on widows, their provision, and their reputations, behavior, and good works.

Then Paul tells Timothy to encourage the elders to be paid for their service. “You should not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and “The laborer deserves his wages.”

But if an elder persists in sin, after being approached privately for it, well then, rebuke them in the presence of everyone… so that the rest of them may stand in fear.

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1 Timothy 6.

Paul mentions a little bit about the relationship between believing slaves and masters.

He then lists things false teachers have and don’t have (true contentment).  False teachers….

  • teach a different doctrine, not the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
  • they become puffed up with conceit,
  • have an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words,
  • are depraved in mind and of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Paul exhorts them.  There IS significant gain from godliness with contentment, but not what they want.  If we have food and clothing, be content with these. 

Those who desire to be RICH fall into temptation. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils, and it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

And again, words to those who are earnestly trying to serve God well. “As for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”

With this, Paul bursts into praise and doxology.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen”

Then back to the faults of mere man.

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on GOD, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of that which is TRULY LIFE.

And O Timothy… “Guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it, some have swerved from the faith!

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(Can’t you just feel the love and concern Paul has for Timothy? A godly father to a godly son.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 343

Dec10

Day 343 – Reading – Romans 8 – 10

Read and believe in Jesus!

Romans 8-10 is a tough section of scripture for us mortals to understand. Paul does a good job, but we need the Holy Spirit’s help more than ever.

Chapter 8 begins with a heart-swelling statement.

  • “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free IN Christ Jesus from the Law of sin and death. (Praise God!)

Here’s how God did it.  It’s the Gospel.

  • “By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,”

Then he puts forth some serious considerations.

  • “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit IF in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Anyone who does not have the Spirit of God does not belong to Him.)
  • “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwells in you.”
  • “IF you live according to the flesh you will die, but IF by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
  • “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
  • “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs … provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”

And not only does the Holy Spirit of God witness that we are God’s children, He also intercedes for us when we attempt to pray.  And He intercedes according to God’s will.

Then Paul lists the order of our salvation, which is ALL God’s doing. This is hard to understand, and often hard to WANT to understand.

  • “For those whom He FORENEW, He also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of His Son.  And those whom He predestined He also CALLED, and those He called He also JUSTIFIED, and those whom He justified He also GLORIFIED.”  

Then Paul asks these questions, “If God is for us, who can be against us?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s ELECT?  Who is to condemn?  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

And he answers them. “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Romans 9.

Here, Paul bares his heart and soul about his fellow countrymen, the Jews.  He grieves for them for their hardness of heart and rejection of Jesus.  He says they have had and still do have so many privileges, like the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, the promise of the Messiah.  They have the patriarchs, and from their own race, they have the CHRIST.

Paul knows that not all Jews belong to “Israel.” Not all the offspring of Abraham are his “children.”  God elects only SOME of them.  It depends NOT on human will or exertion, BUT ON GOD, who has mercy (on whomever He wills, and hardens whomever He wills).

Okay. Say it.  That doesn’t seem fair.

Aha!  It’s as if Paul has heard your response.

“Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’  Has the potter no right over the clay to make… (what He wants, vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy, both of which will be for His glory)?  

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Romans 10.

Paul – whom God has sent to bring the Gentiles into His kingdom – has a heart aching for his own people too… another reason why he takes the message to the Jews first in any new town he visits.

“My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved!”

He says they (like so many today) have a ZEAL for God, and they are seeking RIGHTEOUSNESS.  But NOT the way God demands – by faith.  They strive by their own effort, their own strength, and do not seek or submit to God’s Way. Pride is the culprit.

God says that the “righteous shall LIVE by faith.”

  • The word (of faith) is near you, in your mouth and in your heart; because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
  • For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  EVERYONE (Jew or Gentile) who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Then he asks these progressive questions that put an urgency on us today to go and preach the gospel.

  • How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
  • How are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?
  • How are they to hear without someone preaching?
  • How are they to preach unless they are sent?

(How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!)

And then Paul adds his sad conclusions:

  1. But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
  2. “But of Israel, Isaiah says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

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Chapter 11 will go on with this thought, speaking of a REMNANT of ISRAEL. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 334 & 335

Dec1

A NEW Month!

SUNDAY and MONDAY studies are posted together on Mondays

Day 334 – Reading – 1 Corinthians 5 – 8

Day 335 – Reading – 1 Corinthians 9 – 11

Read and believe in Jesus!

SUNDAY – Day 334 –

I Corinthians 5 – 8.

Paul reviews more nitty-gritty problems in the Corinthian church stemming from reports from Chloe’s people or from letters some of the members had written. You would NOT think such problems as these would be found in a church, but we have to remember, these new believers have come out of heavy idolatry with its pagan worship practices.

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Immorality in the Church

Paul is shocked at the level of immorality that these believers were allowing to go unheeded in the church. 

A man was living immorally with his father’s wife (step-mom), and no one said a thing. The deed would have been punished by death under the Old Testament Jewish law, and in fact, was illegal under Roman law.  Paul said such “extreme wickedness” should result in the man being “removed” from the church. It was both a cancer to the body, but a horrible witness to outsiders.

Paul judged the man, and now the congregation needed to act too.  As long as the man remained unrepentant, they were to “turn him over to Satan” for the destruction of the flesh, so his redeemed spirit might be saved. 

  • “Do not associate with anyone in the world, and now especially anyone who bears the name of a Christian who is sexually immoral, an idolater, reviler, drunkard, swindler, or greedy.  Do not even eat with such a person.  Purge this evil person from among you.”

Paul tells them ALL to flee sexual immorality. 

  • “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”  

He admits that some of them were in deep sin before they trusted in Christ. 

  • “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

And reminds them,

  • “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  And do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” So, glorify God in your body.”

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Lawsuits

Another “worldly” thing they were doing was taking a fellow believer to court for minor and major grievances.  

  • “Don’t you know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters about THIS life.”

He told them they should settle matters between themselves and not do anything that could make the outside world ridicule them, for the sake of Christ.  Or…. if need be, they were to simply suffer the wrong done to them.

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Marriage (or Not)

Paul was not married. His entire life was taken up by the mission God gave to him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. He admitted that a wife to him would be a hindrance, for part of him would want to serve his wife. Now he could wholeheartedly live for Christ, especially as persecution of Christians was escalating.

But it was not wrong to want to be married, and if both parties wanted that, they should go ahead, neither withholding their bodies from the other (except for a brief time for mutual prayer). 

But to the unmarried and widows, Paul says it is good for them to remain single.  As long as her husband is alive, the wife is bound to her husband. But if he dies, she is free to live alone or remarry.  “In my judgment, she is happier if she remains single.”

To the new believer who is married to an unbeliever, don’t be separated, for the spouse and the children are made “holy” by the believer.  However, if the unbeliever wants to leave, that is okay, but the parties should not divorce. 

  • “Let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to Him, and to which God has called him.”

In fact, Paul continues, “it’s best for anyone to remain in the position or condition in which you were called by God.”  Circumcised? Don’t be… er… uncircumcised.  Uncircumcised? Don’t be circumcised.  A slave, don’t be concerned about it, unless you are offered freedom.  A freedman?  Well, you are now a slave/servant of Christ. 

  • “So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 

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Food Offered to Idols

This seems like no big deal to us today. Because what difference is it if the steaks in the deli have been “waved” before an idol or not?  Meat is meat. An idol is nothing.

But for the Corinthians, this was an “iffy” problem.  All their lives, if most of them wanted to eat meat, they would go to the temple and buy it there, knowing these animals had been killed ritually in worship of a false god. And that the ritual worship involved prostitution of both young women and men.  It was all very sordid.  And wild. And fleshly.

Paul knew meat was meat.  But to these new Christians, meat – if they knew it came from the temple – stirred horrid memories of their old life.  When they cut into a steak, perhaps a female prostitute would come to mind… or other things.    If they went ahead and ate it, they would feel contaminated and wretched.

So, Paul says if eating (and serving) that food offered to idols would cause a Christian brother to stumble, THEY WERE NOT TO EAT MEAT.  Hey, veggies and quinoa are healthier anyway!   Of course, if it were possible to NOT KNOW where the meat came from (say they were eating with a shepherd or herdsman), then believers could eat freely.  It was not the MEAT.  It was the CONSCIENCE.

Even if your newbie guest does not partake, YOU might be hurting their conscience if you go ahead and eat the meat. For they couldn’t help but judge you.  So… best not to serve to or eat in front of them. 

  • “Sinning against your brother in this case and wounding their conscience when it is weak, means you are SINNING AGAINST CHRIST.  ‘Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I MAKE HIM stumble.'”

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MONDAY – Day 335

1 Corinthians 9 – 11.

Paul goes on instructing the Corinthian Church in nitty-gritty matters we may not have to face today. But the principles remain the same.  We are Christ’s, and our lives should glorify Him in everything. 

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Paul Surrenders His Rights.

All for Christ and His kingdom is Paul’s motto.  As a verified apostle, he would be free to claim some “rights.” One was to take a wife along with him, as Peter did. Another was the right to be financially supported by the church congregations or by those who originally sent him out. 

We have that today.  We pay pastors and visiting evangelists.  We support the missionaries we send to foreign countries.  We want these workers to focus solely on the ministry.  Nothing wrong with that.  

But Paul wanted to remain above reproach.  Yes, he agreed, as the Law of Moses said, an ox that ground the grain was not to be muzzled (he could munch a bit as he worked).  Also, both the plowman and the thresher should work in hopes of a portion of the crop. 

 And who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some milk?  What soldier serves at his own expense.  Nothing is wrong with all this.

He then asks, “Missionaries “sow” spiritual things among the people; would it be too much to “reap” material things from them?” The answer is it would NOT be too much to ask. 

But Paul has a higher thing.  He will not be obligated to anyone to support him. (When he does collect an offering from these Corinthians, it is for the needy in Jerusalem.)  Wherever Paul goes to preach and “reason” in synagogues, he works at his livelihood; tent-making.

Why?

Because he would rather die than preach the Gospel for reward (or even the semblance of reward).  He wants to present the gospel “free of charge.” He is entrusted with this “stewardship,” and he will be rewarded … later.

And he is free from any obligation to anyone, so that he might win more of them. Jews and Gentiles, the weak and strong.”

  • “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.  And …. I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be ‘disqualified’ as in a  running race.”

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Warnings Against Idolatry

Paul then turns to the history of Israel and their “love affair” not with God, but with idols.  He says that 1.) all the rescued Israelites went through the Red Sea on dry ground, 2.) all were under the “cloud” of God’s protection day and night in the wilderness, and 3.) all ate Manna and drank water from the Rock.  But God was not pleased with most of them, and overthrew them in the wilderness. 

  • Do not be idolaters, as some of them were, and 23,000 were killed in one day.
  • Do not indulge in sexual immorality.
  • Do not put Christ to the test as some did and were killed by serpents. 
  • Do not grumble as some did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
  • All these things were written to them for our example, our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
  • “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, H will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
  • THEREFORE, flee from idolatry. 

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Do All to the Glory of God.

The Paul reminds them that “all things are lawful (legal), but not all things are helpful.  All things are lawful, but not all things build up. 

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without ASKING any questions.

“If you are invited to dinner and you go, eat whatever is put before you ASKING no questions.

  • “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the GLORY OF GOD.”

“Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.”

“Don’t seek your own advantage.”

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Head Coverings (or Not)?

Should ladies wear hats? Wear their hair down? Cut their hair?  Put ribbons and jewels in it?  Should men cut their hair? Cut off their beards or sideburns? 

SHEESH, these Corinthians were sure bothered by “much ado about nothing.”

At least to us.

But hair stuff was important culture to the Corinthians.  Certain things MEANT certain things to them.  There were ways to honor and dishonor one another with head covering or head uncovering.

Every man who prayed with his head covered dishonored Christ.  (Yikes, what about yarmulkes or “beanies” today?)

Every wife who prayed with her head UNCOVERED, dishonored her husband. (Same, if her head was shaved.)

Short hair on women was disgraceful. Long hair on women is their “glory.”

If a man wears long hair, it is a disgrace.

Okay, is all that settled?

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The Lord’s Supper.

Then Paul turns from hair to a sacred practice in our churches today, to The LORD’s Supper, or as we oldies say, “Communion.”

Paul first warns them about practices that dishonor the sacred memorial.  Greed, discrimination, and divisions among them. They were coming to the “Table” in order to eat, not to remember the Lord. “Straighten up and fly right!”

Then he goes over the order of service.

  • Taking the bread, the Lord gave thanks, broke it, and shared it, saying, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
  • Then He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Then Paul’s warnings.

  • ‘Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.  Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For….. anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks JUDGMENT on himself.”

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have DIED.

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Then before going on to Spiritual Gifts, Paul says… “About the other things, I will give directions when I come.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 333

Nov29

Day 333 – Reading – 1 Corinthians 1 – 4

Read and believe in Jesus!

1 Corinthians 

Paul is back in Ephesus. 

Apollos has come from Alexandria, been taught more correctly by Aquilla and Priscilla, and sent to minister across the Aegean Sea in Corinth.  He’s doing a great job, and the people like him. He’s sooooo eloquent! Some REALLY like him, and an “Apollos sect” is formed. Those originally converted under Paul’s early ministry form another group, loyal to him. Others follow Peter (did HE ever go to Corinth?) and still others, no doubt very “pious, nose-in-the-air” ones, say they follow only …. the Christ.  it became a point of boasting as to who they followed.

The church in Corinth’s main problems were immaturity and worldliness, which Paul addressed firmly.  (And this wasn’t his FIRST letter to them!)  But note that he calls them…

“…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

They were true believers, but so immature in the faith, like young school children.

 

I Corinthians  1.

It’s interesting that Paul had a “spy” in Corinth who reported to him about any difficulties.   

  • “Chloe’s people reported that there was quarreling among these factions.” (Today, there would be phone calls, texts, and emails. Then, they sent messengers.) 

Is there a little jab towards what they loved about Apollos in…

  • “For Christ sent me …. to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross be emptied of its power.”
  • “…we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
  • “God chose the weak things of the world, that no human being might boast in the presence oF God.  Let everyone who boasts, boast in the LORD!”

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I Corinthians 2.

Again, Paul states that when he first came to Corinth to proclaim the Gospel, he didn’t do it ‘with lofty speech or wisdom.’ 

  • “I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Then Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13.  

  • “For who has understood the mind of the Lord to instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ.”  (Believers can know the thoughts of the Lord Jesus by the word and the Spirit.) (Luke 24:45)

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1 Corinthians 3.

Paul may have come to the Corinthians in “weakness” and without “lofty speech,”  but it was because they were so immature, infants in Christ.  He had to feed them the “milk” of the word and not solid food.  Even now, Paul says, they were not ready for “meat” because they were still of “the flesh.”

How does he know?  Because there was jealousy and strife among them.  Those “Paul” and “Apollos” sects are evidence of immaturity.   

The Corinthians didn’t realize that both men were “servants” of the Lord, “through whom they were saved,” each preacher doing what God gave him.  Paul planted the seeds of the Gospel, Apollos watered that “seed,” but it was GOD who gave the growth. Neither the “planter” nor the “waterer” is anything, only God.

Then Paul switches to a new illustration: that of construction.  Paul compared himself to a master builder, laying the foundation of Jesus Christ.  Then someone else built on it to make a house.  Paul cautions them about building on their Christ-foundation with inferior materials, for the chief inspector will know.  It will be tested by fire.  What a waste to have all your worldly, fleshly “props” be burned on that last day!.  How much better and wiser, to use strong, tested materials that will pass through fire unharmed!

  • And, hey! you Corinthians, don’t you realize that YOU are the Temple of God, a dwelling place being built for Him. Take care how you build on that foundation (Christ).

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1 Corinthians 4.

  • “And so… this is how you Corinthian brothers should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  And please note, it is required of stewards that they be trustworthy.

And then, something strange.  Paul says that the apostles and preachers live at poverty levels in society.  They labored with their own hands to support themselves, which Greeks considered beneath their dignity. 

  • “We are weak…. we are in disrepute. At this present hour. we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and are buffeted and homeless. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we retreat.  We have become, and still are, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

WHOA!

Paul says he doesn’t write these things to make them ashamed, but to admonish them as children.  They do not have many fathers.  HE became their father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  So, like children, they are to IMITATE HIM.

  • “But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills.  What do you wish?  Shall I come to you with a ROD, or with LOVE in a spirit of GENTLENESS?”

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 329

Nov25

Day 329 – Reading – Galatians 4 – 6

Read and believe in Jesus!

Galatians 4.

Paul continues his letter, urging the new believers in those four churches in Galatia to hold fast to their faith. He first scolds them, calling them foolish,  and then pleads with them not to go back into the “slavery” of justification by good works.

  • “STAND FAST in the liberty in which Christ has set you free. BE NOT ENTANGLED with the yoke of bondage.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for ANYTHING.”  Only FAITH in Christ’s atoning work on the Cross.”

Paul gives an example from the Old Testament of believing in God totally VS depending on our own strength for righteousness.”  Abraham’s son, Ishmael, was conceived by Hagar from Abraham (and Sarah’s) own self-will.  But Isaac was the son whom God planned and promised. He was conceived and born way after the time Sarah could naturally become pregnant.  Hagar represents receiving the promises of God by the “flesh” (Paul says, Mount Sinai and the Law), while Sarah represents “faith” and the Heavenly Jerusalem.

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Galatians 5

Don’t go back to a system that put a heavy yoke on you, and it didn’t work to make you righteous! 

  • Walk by the Spirit of God. 
  • If you are led by the Spirit, you are NOT under the law. 
  • The WORKS of the flesh are impure, sinful, evil, mean, argumentative, divisive, and selfish. If you do those things, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 
  • Live by the Spirit. 
  • The Spirit’s fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and against all of these there is no law.
  • Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 
  • If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  

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Galatians 6.

Paul writes further, illustrating how a person lives by the Spirit in all goodness.

Restore a brother who is caught in a transgression … in a spirit of gentleness. 

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the “law” of Christ (which is love).

Do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

  • “Be not deceived.  God is not mocked.  Whatever you sow, that is what you will reap. The one who sows to his own flesh, will from the flesh reap corruption.  But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

And remember, those who want YOU to be circumcised want it so THEY can boast in you.  THEY don’t keep the law; they just want YOU to so they can boast. 

As for me, I “boast” only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.   Circumcision doesn’t matter!! Only being a new creation in Christ matters. 

And to all of you who think this way, “Peace and Mercy” be upon you, and upon the Israel of God. 

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 313 & 314

Nov10

SUNDAY and MONDAY studies are posted together on Mondays

Day 313 – Reading – Matthew 26 and Mark 14

Day 314 – Reading – Luke 22 and John 13

Read and believe in Jesus!

SUNDAY – Day 313 – Matthew 26 & Mark 14.

These two chapters follow the same order, so we will take them together, looking at the details from each.

  • The Plot to Kill Jesus.

Jesus once again reminds His disciples of His upcoming death, but they seem deaf to His words.  Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes (Sadducees & Pharisees of the council) are meeting in Caiaphas’ palace, and plot how they can capture Jesus by stealth and kill Him. They want to avoid it on Passover, however, fearing a riot by the people.

 

  • Jesus is anointed at Bethany.

Jesus is once again having a meal in Bethany, this time at the home of Simon, an ex-leper, who probably had been healed by Jesus.  John tells us that this is Mary (sister to Martha & Lazarus), so perhaps they were serving the meal for Simon.  She broke a costly box of expensive ointment and anointed Jesus’ head and feet,  

All the disciples complained about this waste of money, but Judas Iscariot particularly took it to heart as a burning coal.  Meanwhile, Jesus scolded them all, saying “this woman” had anointed his body figuratively for burial. (Again no understanding.)   Jesus said what Mary had done would be remembered wherever the Gospel was preached.

 

  • Judas to betray Jesus.

Right after this “atrocity” (in Judas’ opinion), the betrayer, who had been contemplating it, now went to the religious leaders and offered to betray Jesus.  “What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?”  They paid him 30 pieces of silver (a tenth of the cost of that ointment), and from then on, Judas looked for a way to betray Jesus.

 

  • The Passover with the Disciples.

The disciples ask Jesus where they should prepare the Passover meal for all of them. Jesus gave instructions, and they carried them out. 

 

  • Instituting ‘The Lord’s Supper.’

During the meal, as they reclined around the table, Jesus dropped a “bombshell.” “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” They were all sorrowful and asked, one after another, “Lord, is it I??” Jesus said it was one of them who ate with them. Then Jesus dipped a morsel into the sauce and handed it to Judas.  “Rabbi, is it I?” the betray asked. “Yep, Jesus responded quietly, then added to them all, “Woe to that man, for it would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

Next, Jesus instituted “the Lord’s Supper” as a part of the Passover Feast.  Taking the unleavened bread, breaking it and blessing it, it passed it around to them, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body.” Jesus then too the cup, gave thanks for it (Did He see His agonizing death in its depth?), and passed it around. “Drink, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I won’t drink of this again, until I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”

(NOTE: It seems from Matthew and Mark (and Luke) that Judas was still at the table when Jesus instituted “the Lord’s Supper.”  And it was only after this that Jesus announced a betrayer among them.  John writes that, once it was announced, Judas was sent away “to do it.”  And, except for John and Peter, none of the others had a clue about him.)

 

  • Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial.

After they had sung the closing song of the meal, Jesus and the disciples went out to their favorite place on the Mount of Olives to the secluded garden of Gethsemane. 

There, Jesus tells His bold and brash, “right-hand-man” Peter that that very night he would deny Jesus.  In fact, Jesus said they ALL would flee away.  When Peter denied that HE would, Jesus made that familiar, detailed accusation, “This night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me THREE TIMES.”  But dear, foot-in-his-mouth Peter foolishly claimed, “Even if I must DIE for You, I will not deny You.”

 

  • Jesus prays in Gethsemane.

Then it begins. Everything is in place.  That “cup” that Jesus has been speaking about for three years is now poured and ready for Him to drink.  Jesus feels the horror of it deep in His soul. He must pray!  He asks his disciples to sit and wait for Him.  He asks his core three to come closer and “watch” (pray!) with Him.  

Then Jesus falls face down to the ground, and pleads that He might not drink this “cup.”  Is there any other way to purchase salvation for the elect? He asks His Father.  But he knows there is not.  “Nevertheless, not MY will, but THINE be done.” Jesus pleads and prays this three times … while His closest three disciples “snore away.”

 

  • Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus.

Finally, slowly, and perhaps with bodily pain from the anguish, Jesus rises and goes to His men.  He wakes them, “The hour is here. The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up, let us be going.  See, my betrayer is at hand.”  (Now the evil one is unmasked, and they see Judas.) 

Judas, at the head of the crowd of soldiers and men with clubs from the religious leaders, steps forward for the pre-arranged signal.  He walks up to Jesus, says, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kisses Him.  Jesus acknowledges his action and calls Judas, “friend.”

Then the soldiers step forward to seize Jesus.   But Peter – remembering his vows – draws his short sword and slashes out. His sword hits and cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant, Malchus.   Jesus reprimands Peter (not wanting him to be immediately arrested or killed) and heals Malchus’s ear.  (What a story THAT man has!!)  

To Peter and the disciples, Jesus says intently, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve LEGIONS of angels?  (Enough to kill everyone who had ever lived on the earth!)  “But how else should the Scriptures be fulfilled?  This MUST be so.”

And as Jesus faced his accusers, calming the situation which had escalated at Peter’s rash move, those very disciples all fled into the darkness of the garden.  

 

  • Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council.

The soldiers seized Jesus and led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.

Peter and John followed them at a distance.  Then went into the courtyard and sat with the guards (John goes further inside for an eyewitness of the happenings.)

The religious leaders tried and failed to get false testimony against Jesus, but found none.   Finally, two came forward, saying they had heard Jesus say He would “destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.” 

When they asked Jesus to answer this accusation, He remained silent.

Then the high priest said directly to Jesus, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” (This was putting Jesus under a legal oath before God, so Jesus HAD TO answer.)

Jesus: “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven.”

Caiaphas tore his clothes at what he said was the ultimate blasphemy – saying Jesus was God. 

He said in rage (and satisfaction), “What further witnesses do we need? You heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?”

“He deserves death!”

Then, the abuse begins.  They spat in Jesus’ face and struck Him. Some covered His face, slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy who struck You.”  The guards began to beat Jesus as well.

 

  • Peter Denies Jesus.

Outside in the courtyard, perhaps hearing some of the angry shouts, Peter denied his Lord … three times. Then a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered.  He broke down and wept bitterly.

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MONDAY – Day 314 -Luke 22 & John 13.

Again, we will cover two chapters together, although there are differences.

  • The Plot to Kill Jesus.

It was Passover and the Jewish leaders were wondering HOW to put Jesus to death, for they feared the crowds there for the festivities.

 

  • Judas to Betray Jesus.

Judas provided that opportunity, offering to lead them to Jesus privately … for money.

 

  • Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet. 

After the disciples acquired a room and prepared it for the Passover meal. When the hour came and they were all reclining around the table, Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, took a towel, poured water into a basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet. (This was usually the task of the lowest servant.)  Peter objected loudly. “Wash my feet? You shall never wash my feet!!)

Jesus told him that he didn’t understand what He was doing, and if He didn’t wash Peter’s feet, the disciple had no part with Jesus.  “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and head!”

Jesus told them there was no need. It was a picture of them already being clean through their faith in Him, and only their daily sins needed to be confessed and cleansed.  (All were clean, EXCEPT Judas, still among them.)

 

  • The Beginning of the Lord’s Supper.   

After Jesus was finished, he redressed and sat down. He explained to them that if HE, their Lord and Teacher, had washed their feet, they should follow his example and willingly be a lowly servant to each other.  If they wanted to know who was “greatest” among them, it was the one who served the others the most.

Jesus then explained the bread and cup that he passed around as His body and blood (to be) given for them, which would bring in the New Covenant (Testament). 

 

  • Jesus speaks of His Betrayal. 

And as they were eating, Jesus announced that “One of you will betray me.”  The disciples were disturbed. Peter, who was reclining across the table, motioned to John, who was right next to Jesus, to ask Him WHO the betrayer was.  John leaned back on Jesus and asked the question in a low voice.  Jesus said it was the one He dipped the bread into the sauce and gave to.  Jesus then dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas, reclining on His other side.  

Jesus told Judas quietly, “What you are going to do, do quickly,” and Judas immediately (still chewing that morsel of bread) got up and went out into the night.

 

  • Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial. 

After commending the remaining disciples, “those who would stay with Him through His trials,” and reading Peter’s proud heart, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.  And WHEN you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter: “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

Jesus: “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you even know me.”

(Here, John’s Gospel ….

gives a 4-chapter parenthesis around Jesus’s private teaching to His disciples,

and His High Priestly prayer, in chapters 14 – 17.

We’ll study these tomorrow.

But Luke’s Gospel ….

continues with the happenings of that night,

leading up to the crucifixion.)

  • Jesus Prays in Gethsemane.

Out on the Mount of Olives, Jesus asked His disciples to pray that they may not enter into temptation. But they were tired and sleepy.  

Jesus agonized in prayer to His Father that He not have to drink the “cup” of suffering. “But not my will, but yours be done!”  The agony was so great, that Jesus sweat drops of blood!.  Afterward, an angel came and strengthened Him.

 

  • Betrayal & Arrest. 

And then the crowd and soldiers were upon them. The sleepy disciples rose to the noise, weapons, and torches.  A fellow disciple, Judas, comes to Jesus and kisses Him.

(Peter and John KNOW what he’s doing.  Peter draws his sword and lashes out, misses Judas, and cuts off the ear of Malchus.  Jesus mends the mess and scolds Peter.)

Then they seized Jesus and led him away to the high priest’s house. 

 

  • Peter Denies Jesus.

Peter, scared, does what he pledged not to do.  He denies His Lord three times in the presence of some servants, even swearing an oath for emphasis.  The cock crows just as Jesus is being led to another venue. Their eyes meet, and Peter’s heart rips in two.  He runs out into the darkness, weeping bitterly. 

 

  • Jesus is Mocked. 

Meanwhile, Jesus is mocked and brutally beaten. He is blindfolded and quizzed as to who is hitting Him. They blaspheme the Son of God.

 

  • Jesus before the Council.

At daybreak, the Jewish leaders led Jesus away to their council (Sanhedrin) where they further buffeted and demanded answers from Him. “ARE YOU THE SON OF GOD?” they shout over and over. 

“I AM.” Jesus answers.

And they take Him to the Roman ruler, Pilate for the death sentence.

 

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