15 Pentecost

15 Pentecost - Sunday

first posted 09/11/04

Job 4:1-6, 12-21 Eliphaz’ first discourse
Revelation 4:1-11 Vision of God on his throne
Mark 6:1-6a Jesus’ rejected at home

Job was a blameless man who had suffered the loss of his health, wealth and posterity. Three friends came to comfort Job when they heard of his suffering. After listening to Job’s lament, the first to speak was Eliphaz the Temanite (a native of Teman, i.e. Edom; or perhaps of Tema in Arabia). Eliphaz noted that Job had counseled others, but now his situation was reversed.

Eliphaz suggested to Job that it was Job’s fear of God which was his reason for confidence and his blamelessness was his reason for hope. Eliphaz offers a supernaturally-inspired question: Can mortal man be judged righteous before God? Can one be considered pure before his creator? If even the heavenly servants and angels of God fall short of God’s perfection, how can mankind hope to be found righteous, considering his mortality. Human life is so brief; one’s life and one’s passing are barely noticed. Status and character are of no avail in extending one’s life, and human wisdom is only an illusion.

The Revelation to John is a series of visions given by Jesus through an angel (a manifestation of Jesus’ presence; or a messenger from God) to the author (probably John the Apostle) in exile on the Isle of Patmos. Here John sees the Glory of God on the throne of heaven described in terms of precious jewels. The rainbow around the throne perhaps symbolizes the covenant promise we have in Jesus Christ. Around the throne are twenty-four elders (possibly representing the twelve Old Testament Patriarchs and the twelve New Testament Apostles), clothed in white robes and wearing golden crowns. Thunder and lightning issue from the throne, suggesting the awesome power and majesty of the scene. Around the throne are four living creatures (compare Ezekiel 1:5-10; Isaiah 6:2-3). Their descriptions here may be suggestive of the principle divisions of created animal life. The scene is of the worship of the Creator by all creation. All human authority is surrendered to God.

When Jesus was in Nazareth he taught in his home-town synagogue on the Sabbath, but he was not well-received. To them, Jesus was a local boy. They knew his parents and his brothers and sisters. They didn’t accept that Jesus could be extraordinary, and because of their unbelief, Jesus was unable to do many great miracles among them. Jesus commented that a prophet is honored elsewhere, but not among his own people or in his own home. Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.

Job was suffering from a sudden change in perspective. He had gotten used to thinking of himself as a righteous and successful person. He had though that his successfulness validated his righteousness. He had gotten used to the idea of being a teacher of others. Suddenly he was no longer successful; suddenly he found himself seeking answers rather than providing them.

Job’s confidence in his righteousness before God had been based on his belief that he was worthy, because of his good works, of God’s affirmation of Job’s righteousness. Job considered himself blameless. Job probably felt that he was entitled to God’s blessings because he was righteous. Eliphas offered him a different perspective. From God’s perspective, we all fall short. Worldly status, reputation and wisdom won’t entitle us to eternal life.

We tend to view ourselves as the center of the universe. Everything tends to look smaller the farther things are from us. John’s vision of the throne of God offers us a different perspective. John’s vision is a reminder that God is the Creator and center of the Universe. God is the Lord and ruler of the Universe, whether we realize and acknowledge that fact or not.

The people in Jesus’ hometown weren’t able to receive the blessings Jesus offered, because in their perspective they possessed the status, reputation and wisdom in their world; in their opinion, Jesus was a newcomer, trying to establish himself in an area outside of his credentials.

Jesus is God’s only plan for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn’t want us to perish eternally, but to have eternal life in Heaven with him (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8).

There is a Day of Judgment coming when all who have ever lived will be accountable to the Lord. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to trust and obey him will receive eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46). Salvation is the gift of God received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, not earned by doing good deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9). Job’s affliction gave him the opportunity to re-examine his beliefs and get a new perspective [like Saul’s (Paul’s) encounter on the Damascus road had done for Saul].

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

15 Pentecost - Monday

first posted 09/12/04

Job 4:1; 5:1-11, 17-21, 26-27 Eliphaz’ first discourse continued
Acts 9:19b-31 Saul at Damascus
John 6:52-59 Jesus’ body and blood

Job was a blameless man who had suffered the loss of his health, wealth and posterity. Three friends came to comfort Job when they heard of his suffering. After listening to Job’s lament, the first to speak was Eliphaz the Temanite (a native of Teman, i.e. Edom; or perhaps of Tema in Arabia). Eliphaz asked Job who anyone can call upon for help (apart from God alone)?

Usually when bad things happen they are the deserved consequences of our actions. Trouble and affliction don’t come out of nowhere. But trouble is a natural condition of life; a reasonable certainty. Eliphaz recommends that Job seek God and commit his cause to God, who does great things beyond number or understanding.

God lifts up to safety the humble and those who mourn. Those who are reproved by the Lord should rejoice, and not despise the chastening of the Almighty. He disciplines, but he also heals. The Lord doesn’t abandon us in our troubles; he delivers us from them. We may experience troubles but the Lord will not allow us to be destroyed by them. The Lord is able to provide fulfillment of our lives. Realizing this is in our best interest.

After Saul (Paul) had regained his sight and been filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18), he stayed with disciples in Damascus and immediately began proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. The Jews in Damascus were amazed, because they knew that Saul had persecuted Christians in Jerusalem and had come to Damascus for the purpose of arresting Christians and bringing them to Jerusalem for trial. But Saul grew in spiritual strength “and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 9:22).

After many days, the Jews plotted to kill Saul, but the plot became known. The Jews were watching the gate of the city, to apprehend him, but the disciples lowered Saul down outside the wall in a basket at night. Later [Paul said that his first visit to Jerusalem was three years after his conversion (Galatians 1:15-20)], Paul went to Jerusalem and the disciples there were afraid of him, but Barnabas brought Paul before the apostles and told them how Paul had seen and spoken with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and how he had preached Jesus boldly in Damascus.

As a result the believers in Jerusalem accepted him as a fellow believer. Paul preached boldly also in Jerusalem, and disputed with the Hellenists (Jews who adopted Greek customs or Greek converts to Judaism) who also plotted to kill Paul. But the Christians learned of the plot and brought Paul to Caesarea (a seaport) and sent him (by boat) to Tarsus (Paul’s home city). Despite the persecution of Christians, the Church had peace and was growing, as believers walked in obedience and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had returned to Capernaum after feeding the five thousand. The multitude had followed Jesus there seeking more free bread. Jesus told them that his flesh was the living bread of heaven which has come down to give life to the world. The Jewish religious authorities questioned how Jesus could give them his flesh to eat. So Jesus told them that unless one eats the flesh of the Son of man (Jesus) and drinks his blood one does not have eternal life.

Jesus declared that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood abide in Jesus and Jesus abides in them. As God gives Jesus eternal life, so those who eat Jesus’ flesh and blood will live because of Jesus. Thus Jesus is the true bread which comes down from heaven, unlike the manna, which the patriarchs ate and did not receive eternal life from it. Those who eat this bread (Jesus’ flesh and blood) will live forever. This took place in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Eliphaz told Job that when bad things happen they are often the deserved consequences of our actions, but that trouble is to be expected as a natural condition of life. If troubles represent the reproval of the Lord we should accept his reproof, because he disciplines us for our benefit. One should commit one’s welfare to the Lord because only the Lord has our best interests at heart, and only he is faithful and able to preserve and deliver us.

Paul is a great example of how the Lord disciplines us for our good, and how although he disciplines, he also heals and delivers us from trouble. Paul had been successful in his culture, but he was headed in the wrong direction. If he had not been disciplined by the Lord on the road to Damascus he would have wasted his life persecuting Christianity and would have missed eternal life in Heaven with the Lord. Instead, he became one of the great Christian evangelists and received eternal life. He went from a leader of his society to a persecuted minority of that society, but he became a leader in the Church, had fellowship with Christians throughout the world, and a personal relationship with the King of the Universe. He had trouble and persecution but the Lord was faithful and able to deliver him from them.

Jesus is the only one who can offer security and life, in this world and for eternity. He doesn’t promise that we won’t have troubles, but he does promise that in him we will be saved and delivered from all our troubles. Material things seem to promise security and life, but they are false promises. What Jesus promises will be fulfilled. The Jewish religious leaders doubted what Jesus had said about giving his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. What Jesus said sounded impossible to them. They were relying on worldly wisdom. Jesus’ words were fulfilled when he instituted the Sacrament of Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper; Matthew 26:26-29) on the night of his betrayal.

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

15 Pentecost - Tuesday

first posted 09/13/04

Job 6:1-4, 8-15, 21 Job replies
Acts 9:32-43 Peter restores Aeneas and Dorcas
John 6:60-71 Words of eternal life

Job had suffered more than ordinary misfortune. Job wished that God would end Job’s life. Job’s one consolation was that he had not yet renounced his faith in God, but he was afraid that he might come to that point. He recognized that he did not have sufficient resources within him to sustain himself. He could see no hope beyond his present situation which would make continued suffering worthwhile.

One who withholds kindness from a friend has abandoned his faith in God. That kind of friend is as dangerous as a flash-flood. Job suggested that his three friends, who had come to console him, had become that sort of friend; they saw Job’s calamity and were afraid for themselves.

Peter traveled throughout the region visiting Christian congregations. At Lydda (Lod, Ludd; about 9 miles southeast of Joppa) he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed” (Acts 9:34) and immediately the man arose. Word of this healing caused many from Lydda and the surrounding area to turn to the Lord.

At the same time there was a disciple in Joppa named Tabitha (Aramaic for Gazelle; Dorcas is the Greek equivalent). She was known for her good works and charity. She died, and she was washed and placed in an upper room. Knowing that Peter was in Lydda, the congregation sent messengers to him asking him to come. Among the mourners were widows for whom Dorcas had made coats and clothing.

Peter put everyone out of the room and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body and called Tabitha’s name and told her to rise. She opened her eyes, saw Peter and sat up. He held out his hand and she took it and stood up. Then Peter brought her out to her friends. This healing became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord as a result. Peter stayed for many days in Joppa, with Simon the tanner.

Jesus had told the crowds that came to hear him that those who eat Jesus’ flesh and drink his blood will live forever (John 6:41-59). His disciples told him that this teaching was disturbing. Jesus knew his disciples inner thoughts, and he asked, if they took offense at this saying, how they would react at Jesus’ ascension. Jesus said that it is the Spirit which gives life; flesh is not eternal. Jesus had spoken of spirit and life. But Jesus knew that some did not believe. Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe, and who would betray him. Jesus said that was why he had said that no one can come to him unless God the Father granted it.

After this many of his followers turned away from him. Jesus asked the Twelve if they would also stop following Jesus, and Simon replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). Jesus replied that he had chosen the Twelve, and that one of them was a devil, referring to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray Jesus.

Job had lost almost everything. He still had faith in God, but he was afraid he might come to the point where he would loose even that. He recognized that he did not have the resources within himself to sustain him. He had no hope beyond his present life. Job feared that he might be forced by suffering to abandon his faith, but he realized that there is another kind of abandonment of faith, when believers do not respond to the suffering of others with compassion.

Peter is an example of how disciples of Jesus should respond to people who are suffering. Peter encountered a man who had been bedridden for a long time. Peter had been given the gift of healing by the Holy Spirit. Peter was led by the Holy Spirit to heal the man and restore him to useful life. Peter acted in faith guided by the Holy Spirit, and faith increased, in himself and in those around him. People in Joppa knew of Peter’s gift of healing and knew he was nearby, so they sent for him in faith, and he responded to their request. He restored Dorcas to them, and faith increased. Peter stayed with Simon, a tanner of animal skins. Simon’s occupation made him a social outcast among Jews, because according to Jewish Law, he was ritually unclean.

Jesus speaks spiritual truths, which the world finds offensive. One will either trust and obey what Jesus says, or one will take offense and turn away from him and ultimately betray him. Jesus warned his disciples that their faith would face more difficult challenges in Jesus’ crucifixion and his ascension into heaven that this “offensive” teaching. Our worldly thinking needs to be disturbed by Jesus’ teaching, because our unchallenged worldly thinking will lead us to our eternal death.

Faith is the gift God gives us as we trust and obey. Peter’s reply demonstrates the gift of faith in Jesus: if we will trust and obey Jesus, we will come to know for ourselves with certainty that he is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). We won’t have to wait until we die in order to know whether we were right or not. Not all of Jesus’ “followers” will trust and obey Jesus; those who do not trust and obey will eventually betray.

Job didn’t have the benefit of the revelation of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. He didn’t have the promise of eternal life. He didn’t have the gift of the Holy Spirit to sustain, comfort and encourage him. Job recognized that the faithful response to the suffering of others is compassionate; those who have not learned to trust in the Lord respond to misfortune in others by withdrawing from the sufferer. Suffering in others makes them fearful for themselves.

Those who have experienced the comfort and encouragement of the Lord can share that comfort and encouragement with others (2 Corinthians 1:4). If we will trust and obey the Lord we do not need to fear that we will loose our faith. Are we willing to hear Jesus’ words even when they make us uncomfortable?

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

15 Pentecost - Wednesday

first posted 09/14/04

Job 6:1; 7:1-21 Life is hard and transient
Acts 10:1-16 Peter’s vision at Joppa
John 7:1-13 The feast of Tabernacles

Mankind’s lot in life is hard labor; he’s no more than a slave. Job’s days were full of emptiness and his nights were full of misery and tossing. Job suffered a miserable skin disease. Job realized that life is brief, and feared that he would never again experience good. He had no hope beyond his physical death. Job could not find relief in sleep; when he managed to sleep he was troubled by bad dreams. Job felt that God had singled him out for torment. Job didn’t know what he had done to deserve God’s punishment, but he longed to be forgiven.

Cornelius was a Roman Centurion attached to the Italian Cohort, a military garrison at Caesarea. Cornelius and his household were worshipers of God (but had not adopted the Jewish religion; he was not circumcised, and did not keep the Jewish dietary laws). Cornelius contributed liberally to the poor and he prayed constantly. About 3:00 PM, Cornelius had a vision of an angel of the Lord who addressed Cornelius by name. Cornelius was frightened, but the angel told him that the Lord had seen his charitable deeds and heard his prayers.

The angel told Cornelius to send messengers to Joppa to bring Simon Peter to Cornelius. The angel told Cornelius that Peter was staying at the house of Simon the Tanner, by the seaside. When the angel departed, Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier under his command and sent them to Joppa to do as the angel had directed.

The next day, as Cornelius’ men approached Joppa, Peter went up to the housetop at noon to pray. During his prayers, he became hungry and asked for a meal. While the food was being prepared he fell into a trance and had a vision. In the vision he saw what looked like a bed sheet containing all kinds of animals lowered down from heaven by its four corners. A voice from heaven instructed him to select something to eat from the assortment. Peter at first objected, saying that he had never eaten anything regarded as “unclean” (Jewish dietary laws forbid eating any animals other than cloven-hoofed ruminants). But the voice replied that Peter should not regard as unclean what God has cleansed. This vision was repeated three times.

Jesus was teaching openly in Galilee, but avoided Judea, because the Jewish authorities in Judea were seeking to kill him. The feast of Tabernacles was at hand, and Jesus’ brothers told Jesus he should go to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast, so that he could declare himself to the pilgrims from all over the world who would be there. Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in Jesus.

Jesus told them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.” Jesus told his brothers that the world could not hate them, but the world hated Jesus because Jesus testified that the works of the world are evil. Jesus told his brothers to go to Jerusalem themselves; Jesus chose to remain in Galilee because his time of self-disclosure had not yet fully come.

After his brothers had left for Jerusalem, Jesus also went to the feast, but privately. The Judeans were looking for Jesus at the feast. There was considerable controversy among them regarding Jesus. Some thought Jesus was a good man, while others thought he was leading the people astray. But the people were afraid to speak openly about Jesus for fear of the religious authorities.

In the midst of his suffering Job blamed God. Job felt that he was being unjustly punished. Death seemed to be his only hope of relief. He longed to be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God. Job’s situation is an illustration of the eternal fate of all mankind, apart from Jesus Christ. God didn’t cause Job’s suffering; it’s the natural consequence of life.

Sooner or later, all will come to a point of suffering, despair and utter hopelessness, except those who are in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to save us from that fate. In Jesus, God shows that he loves us; that he’s not causing our suffering but actively working to heal it and give us assurance of eternal life without suffering. In Jesus, we have the forgiveness Job longed to have; we have the hope of long life free from suffering beyond our physical death which Job didn’t have.

The record of the conversion of Cornelius shows God actively at work in the lives of Cornelius and Peter to bring Cornelius to salvation through Jesus Christ. God’s salvation is offered not just to a select few but to all who are open to receive it. Cornelius was open and obedient to God’s leading, and so was Peter. Peter was not rigid in his doctrine, but open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Peter followed the Lord’s example, administering the gospel not to afflict and oppress but to relieve and save.

Religion in Jesus’ day had gone from being the ministry of God’s forgiveness to become a means of oppressing the people. The religious leaders were not open to the leading of the Lord. They weren’t seeking the Lord’s will and direction; they were pursuing their own doctrines and agendas.

Jesus’ brothers thought Jesus should adopt the worldly ways of doing things to promote his ministry. They saw the feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem as an opportunity for Jesus to publicize his teachings, achieve recognition and win worldly approval. Jesus declined to adopt worldly methods to “promote” his ministry. Instead, Jesus focused on seeking and following God’s will and timing, and earning God's approval.

Jesus is God’s only plan for our forgiveness and salvation from sin and death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). That plan is not devised by man. It is designed by God to free us, not to oppress us. We can do it God’s way or our way. Our way leads to eternal suffering and death; God’s way leads to eternal life.

15 Pentecost - Thursday

first posted 09/15/04

Job 8:1-10, 20-22 Bildad affirms divine justice
Acts 10:17-33 Peter goes to Cornelius
John 7:14-36 Controversy over Jesus

Bildad, the “son of contention,” a Shuhite (probably a descendant of Shuah, who was the sixth son of Abraham by Keturah), responds to Job’s complaint, basically telling Job to stop complaining. He suggests that Job’s children must have sinned and had therefore deserved their demise. He suggests that if Job is righteous, as Job insists that he is, then Job should seek God and God will bless him. Bildad advises Job to turn to the scriptures for they are the accumulated experiences of the patriarchs. Bildad offers several proverbs which affirm that God will not reject the blameless, nor vindicate evildoers; that when things seem hopeless God is still able to restore hope and joy; those who hate the righteous will be put to shame and the wicked will perish.

Peter had had a vision of animals which were not lawful to be eaten, according to Jewish Law, and had been instructed by the Lord that it was alright to eat them; that they should no longer be regarded as unclean because the Lord had cleansed them (Acts 10:13-15). Cornelius, a Roman Centurion had also had a vision instructing him to send to Joppa for Peter.

While Peter was contemplating his vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at the gate of the house where Peter was staying. The Holy Spirit told Peter that the men seeking him had been sent by the Lord’s will, and that Peter should accompany them without hesitation, so Peter went down to the men and invited them to be his guests.

The next day he and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied the men to Cornelius in Caesarea. Cornelius had called together his kinsmen and close friends in anticipation of Peter’s arrival. When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell down at his feet and worshiped him, but Peter lifted him up and told Cornelius that Peter was only an ordinary man like Cornelius. Peter told them that Jewish Law forbids Jews to associate with Gentiles, but that God had shown him that he should regard no person as common or unclean, and had therefore come without objection. Cornelius told of his vision of the angel prompting him to send for Peter. He said they were ready to hear what Peter had to say.

Jesus chose to go to Jerusalem anonymously for the feast of Tabernacles, instead of publicly as his brothers had suggested. Around the middle of the feast Jesus went into the temple and taught. The people wondered how Jesus had attained such knowledge without formal education.

Jesus told them his teaching was not his own; it was from God his Father. Any person who is committed to doing God’s will will be able to recognize that Jesus’ teaching is from God. One who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but Jesus was not seeking his own glory. Because Jesus’ purpose was to glorify God, his testimony is true.

Jesus told them that they were under condemnation by the Law of Moses. They had been given the law but they did not keep its precepts. Jesus knew they were seeking to kill him, but they denied it and suggested that he was crazy. Jesus said that the Jews practiced ritual observance of the law but not the spirit of the law. The Jews practiced circumcision on the Sabbath but wanted to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Their keeping of the law and their judgment were superficial, based on outward appearances.

It was common knowledge in Jerusalem that there were people seeking to kill Jesus (John 7:25). The people were amazed that Jesus was speaking openly and that the authorities could do nothing. The people wondered if the authorities actually realized that Jesus was indeed the Christ. But they discounted Jesus as the Christ because they thought they knew where Jesus came from, which seemed contrary to scripture.

The people didn’t know God, although they thought they did. Jesus said that they only thought they knew where Jesus had come from. Jesus declared that he been sent by God, had come from God and knew God. So the Jews sought to arrest Jesus, but were unable to because it was not in God’s timing. But many people believed in Jesus because of the many miracles he had done.

The Pharisees heard the crowd talking about Jesus so they sent officers to arrest Jesus. Jesus told them he would be with them a little longer, and then he would go to him who had sent Jesus; they would seek Jesus and not be able to find him, and where Jesus is they cannot come. The Jews discussed among themselves what Jesus meant. They though Jesus meant to go to the Jews living among the Gentiles.

Faith is not a matter of outward appearance but of inner conviction which results in trust and obedience. Bildad was making judgments about Job and Job’s children based on outward appearances. Bildad assumed that since the children had been destroyed, that they must have sinned, and that if Job was as righteous and blameless as he claimed that God would restore him.

Peter had been raised in the legalistic Judaism of his time. The Lord needed to teach Peter not to judge people by outward appearances so that he could bring the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles. Cornelius was seeking to know and do God’s will with his whole heart. The facts that he was an Italian and not a Jew, that he was not a member of the Jewish religion, and that he was not circumcised didn’t matter. He was open to the leading of God’s word and God’s Spirit and he sought the truth. He acted on God’s word in trust and obedience. The result was that he and his household had the opportunity to hear the Gospel, they believed, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The Jews of Jesus’ day wanted the appearance of righteousness without the commitment of obedience to God’s will. They judged Jesus on the basis of outward appearances: they were amazed by Jesus’ knowledge since he didn’t have a “diploma;” they thought they knew where Jesus was from because they knew his earthly home and parentage; they thought they knew God, but did not recognize God’s Son; they thought they knew God’s word but did not recognize that Jesus was the living Word of God (John 1:1, 14). They did not recognize Jesus’ teaching as God’s word because they were not committed to obedience to God’s will (John 7:17). Many people believed in Jesus because of the miracles which he did. They were so focused on outward appearances that they couldn’t see the spiritual significance of what Jesus said and did; only the outward superficial implications (John 7:35).

How are we doing? Jesus said, “Why call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say (Matthew 7:21-23)? Good deeds won’t save us. Church membership won’t save us. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through his indwelling Holy Spirit will save us. The Holy Spirit is the “seal” of God’s approval, the “down-payment” and the “guarantee” of eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Those who do not have the Spirit of Christ do not belong to him (Romans 8:9b). The Lord gives his Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17; Isaiah 42:5e).

Do we choose our spiritual leaders by evidence of the Holy Spirit within them, or by evidence of their formal education? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

15 Pentecost - Friday

first posted 09/16/04

Job 9:1-15, 32-35 Job acknowledges God’s Power
Acts 10:34-48 Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit
John 7:37-52 Living water

Job asks how any person can be deemed righteous in God’s judgment; how can any mortal prevail against God’s wisdom and power? Who can argue with God and win? Who can oppose God’s will and succeed? Creation bears witness to God’s wisdom and power. God’s works are beyond mankind’s ability to understand or even count. We can’t even see and find God (except as he chooses to reveal himself to us), but he knows where we are and he can snatch us away at any moment, and who can prevent it? There is no way that mankind can vindicate himself before God; our only chance is to appeal for mercy. We are not God’s equals, that we could be tried impartially, man versus God as equals. There is no one to mediate between God and man, who could restrain God’s power so that we might face him without fear.

Peter had been called by the Holy Spirit to the home of Cornelius, a Gentile living in Caesarea, to share with him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:1-33). Peter said that he perceived that God does not show partiality to any person. Anyone who reverences God and does what is right is acceptable to God, regardless of race or nationality.

Then Peter told Cornelius and his household the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ; how Jesus proclaimed this Gospel throughout Judea and Galilee following his baptism by John the Baptist; how God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power to heal and restore. Peter told how Jesus had been crucified, but that God had raised him from the dead on the third day; how Jesus had appeared, after his resurrection, to his disciples, who testify to the truth of Jesus and his resurrection. Jesus commanded his disciples to preach the good news of Jesus Christ “and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; compare 1 Peter 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:1). “All the prophets (i.e., scripture) bear witness that everyone who believes in him (Jesus) receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).

While Peter was still speaking “the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word” (Acts 10:44). Jewish Christians from Joppa who had accompanied Peter to Cornelius were amazed to realize that the Holy Spirit had been given to (uncircumcised) Gentiles. Peter asked rhetorically what possible reason could prevent these Gentiles, who had obviously received the Holy Spirit (just as the circumcised had; Acts 2:4-11) from being baptized. The Gentile converts were baptized and Peter remained there for a number of days.

Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the celebration of the feast of Tabernacles, a seven-day festival of the final harvest of the year, which began on a Sabbath (in September-October). It was concluded by a special Sabbath on the eighth day (Numbers 29:35-38). “On the last day of the feast (probably the eighth day) Jesus stood up and said, ‘If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’’ Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

On hearing this some said that Jesus was the prophet who scripture prophesied would come to announce the coming Messiah. Others thought that Jesus was indeed the Messiah (Christ). But some argued that Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because Jesus had (apparently) come from Galilee, and the Messiah was supposed to come from Bethlehem. So there was controversy among the people over him. Some wanted to arrest Jesus, but no one did.

The chief priests and Pharisees asked the officers of the Temple why they had not arrested Jesus, and the officers replied, “No one ever spoke like this man” (John 7:46)! The Pharisees ridiculed the officers for being carried away with Jesus’ words, pointing out that none of the religious authorities believed Jesus; only the uneducated and sinful crowds believed what Jesus said.

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus at night (John 3:1-16) and was one of “them” (he was a Pharisee; he was also a disciple; John 19:39), reminded them that the Law does not condone judgment without a fair trial. The Pharisees responded by asking if Nicodemus was from Galilee also; they told him that there was no scripture to support any prophet arising from Galilee.

Job recognized the chasm which separates man from God. All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). There is no way that mankind can vindicate himself before God. Our only hope is to appeal to God’s mercy to forgive our sins.

God loves us and doesn’t want any of us to die eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; see also God’s plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). God sent Jesus to be the mediator between ourselves and God, so that we could be reconciled and restored to a right relationship with God. Jesus is the bridge over the chasm which separates us from God. God made Jesus the impartial judge who restrains God’s power and allows us to face God without fear (provided that we trust and obey Jesus).

The good news of Jesus Christ is that all who believe (trust and obey; believe and act on that belief) in Jesus receive forgiveness of sins. [Salvation is not earned by “doing good deeds” (Ephesians 2:8-9) but how can one truly believe that Jesus is Lord and not do what Jesus commands (Matthew 7:21-24)?] God is committed to being totally impartial. He has appointed Jesus to be the impartial judge.

Jesus will judge the living and the dead; the physically living and dead, and the spiritually living and dead. Everyone will be judged by the same standard, and that standard is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through his indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the “seal” of God’s approval, the “down-payment” and the “guarantee” of eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Those who do not have the Spirit of Christ do not belong to him (Romans 8:9b). The Lord gives his Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17; Isaiah 42:5e).

The feast of Tabernacles was the celebration of the final harvest. It was a time of remembrance and thanksgiving for what God has done for his people in bringing them through the wilderness to the point of receiving the fruits of the final harvest in the Promised Land.

One of the features of the festival was the carrying of water from the pool of Siloam to be poured on the altar each dawn during the feast as a reminder of the water brought forth from the rock in the wilderness (Numbers 20:2-13) and as a symbol of hope of the coming Messiah. This is the context in which Jesus declared that he was the source of Living Water that would flow out of the hearts of believers and become a river of living water, corresponding to an image of the water poured upon the altar in the Temple becoming a river flowing down the steps and through the gates into the world (compare Exodus 47:1-6a; Revelation 22:1-2).

The Holy Spirit is the water of eternal life which only Jesus can provide which quenches our spiritual thirst. What Jesus said stirred up great controversy. Each individual must decide for himself who he believes Jesus to be. Do we believe that Jesus is the Christ, our savior and Lord, the Son of God and righteous judge? Or do we think he’s merely a prophet, or a “good” man? Do we think he’s just a “Galilean;” a swindler; a pretender?

Have we condemned him without giving him a fair hearing? The religious authorities who thought they knew so much about Jesus and the Scriptures decided Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because he wasn’t from Bethlehem, not realizing that by God’s will Jesus was in fact born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7). The experts didn’t know as much as they thought they did.

Jesus has promised that he will return to judge everyone who has ever lived (John 5: 28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with the Lord. Those who have refused to trust and obey Jesus will receive eternal death and destruction in Hell with Satan and all evil.

15 Pentecost - Saturday

first posted 09/17/04

Job 9:1; 10:1-9, 16-22 Job’s complaint
Acts 11:1-18 Peter’s defense
John 8:12-20 The Light of the World

Job was a blameless man who had suffered the loss of his health, wealth and posterity. He had come to loathe life. Job decided to voice his complaint and his bitterness. He asked God not to condemn him, and to tell him why God was allowing Job to suffer. He appealed to God as his creator. He acknowledged that God’s faculties are greater than mankind’s, and thus hoped that God would do right to Job. Job regretted that he had ever been born. He wished that he had been “still-born” so that he could have gone directly from the womb to the grave. Yet he knew that life is short, and longed for a little “brightness” (Hebrew: “brighten up;” Job 10:20 RSV, footnote “a”) before he died. He visualized death as a land of gloom and darkness.

News of the conversion of Gentiles (Cornelius and his household; Acts 10:1-48) reached the Church in Jerusalem. When Peter went to Jerusalem, a group of Jewish Christians who insisted on keeping the Laws and traditions of Judaism (“Judaizers,” the “circumcision party”) criticized Peter for associating with and eating with Gentiles. Peter explained step-by-step in detail how he had seen the vision from the Lord teaching him not to regard anything (or anyone) as ritually “unclean,” how the men had arrived from Cornelius precisely at the moment the vision had ended, and how the Holy Spirit had told Peter to accompany these men to Cornelius’ house in Caesarea.

Peter told the Church in Jerusalem that when he had arrived at Cornelius’ house, Cornelius described a vision Cornelius had seen of an angel telling him to send for Peter at Joppa, with specific directions to Peter’s location. The angel had told Cornelius that Peter had a message by which Cornelius and his household would be saved. When Peter told Cornelius and his household the Gospel of Jesus Christ they were filled with the Holy Spirit, just as the Church in Jerusalem had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The Gentiles received the Holy Spirit by the Lord’s will and timing; Peter had merely co-operated with the Lord’s will and timing. When they heard this, Peter’s critics were silenced, and the Church acknowledged that salvation had been granted to Gentiles as well as to Jews.

Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the celebration of the feast of Tabernacles (John 7:1-52), a seven-day festival of the final harvest of the year, which began on a Sabbath (in September-October). It was concluded by a special Sabbath on the eighth day (Numbers 29:35-38).

One of the special features of the festival was the lighting of large golden lamps in the Temple court as a memorial to the pillar of fire by night during their wilderness wandering (Exodus 13:21-22), and by all-night dancing by torchlight to the music of flutes. In that context, Jesus declared that he is the light of the world. Jesus promised that those who follow him will not walk in darkness, but will have the “light of life.”

The Pharisees rejected Jesus’ words because Jesus was testifying about himself, and they felt that was unreliable. Jesus replied that even if he was testifying about himself his testimony was true. Jesus declared that he knew his origin and destiny, but mankind did not know Jesus’ origin or destiny. Jesus said that mankind judges according to the flesh (worldly, human nature). Jesus is not “judgmental;” Jesus’ judgment is impartial and “just,” because Jesus does not judge according to his own judgment but in accordance with God the Father’s judgment.

Jesus told them that “the Father who sent me bears witness to me” (John 8:18; satisfying the Jewish requirement for collaborative testimony). The Pharisees responded by asking Jesus, “Where is your Father” (John 8:19a)? Jesus replied, “You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me you would know my Father also” (John 8:19b). This exchange occurred in the Temple treasury; but Jesus was not arrested, because it was not yet in God’s timing.

Job’s hope for justice and vindication was in God’s superhuman wisdom and righteousness. Thus Job was able to trust that God would do right to Job. Job was having trouble waiting for God to act on Job’s behalf. Job visualized death as darkness and longed for a little brightness before the inevitability of death. [Death is not nothingness, and there is no such thing as reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27; John 5:28-29). We will all spend eternity either in Heaven with Jesus or in Hell with Satan and all evil (Matthew 25:31-46).] Job’s suffering is a picture of eternity without Jesus; physical death will not end suffering for those who die without Jesus.

The indwelling Holy Spirit gave Peter the “vision” and the guidance to present the Gospel to Cornelius and his household. The angel (manifestation of the Lord’s presence) who appeared to Cornelius corresponds to the manifestation of Jesus’ presence (as *light*) to Paul (Saul) on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-5), the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9b). Cornelius trusted and obeyed the Lord’s instructions, and he subsequently received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit as he responded to the Gospel with faith. Cornelius and his household received spiritual sight, spiritual light, and spiritual guidance through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The “Gentile Pentecost” was in God’s timing, as the “Jewish” Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) had been. [The disciples had been commanded by Jesus to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).] Peter had been accused by the “Judaizers” of having “stumbled;” of having made a “misstep” in allowing uncircumcised Gentiles to join the Church.

Jesus declared that he is the “light of the world;” that those who follow (trust and obey) him will not stumble because they will not walk in darkness (John 11:9-10; they will have spiritual enlightenment, and they will be obedient to Jesus and not participating in works of darkness. Jesus' statement is both a promise and a command.). Those who follow Jesus will have the “light of life” (the comfort and joy of eternal life in Heaven, where there is no more death, pain or sorrow (Revelation 21:4).

The Pharisees were “judgmental” concerning Jesus. They decided Jesus’ testimony was unworthy of belief because Jesus was testifying about himself. They refused to accept that Jesus’ father was God, and they challenged the legitimacy of Jesus’ earthly parentage. The Pharisees proved that they did not know God (or the scriptures) as well as they thought because they did not recognize Jesus as God's Son and Messiah.

Their attitude contrasts the difference between human judgment and divine judgment. Jesus’ judgment is the judgment of God, totally impartial and in complete agreement and obedience to God’s will. The Pharisees had already judged Jesus as deserving to die (without having been tried under Jewish Law) but no one arrested Jesus, because it was not yet God’s timing for that to be allowed to happen.

Notice that Jesus spoke these words in the Treasury of the Temple (John 8:20). Jesus is “the riches of the glory of this mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” [The Greek word translated "glory" means abundance, wealth, treasure, honor; it also means the splendor of God’s presence, and the bliss of heaven.(Colossians 1:27).

Jesus is the fulfillment of Job’s (and mankind’s) longing for forgiveness and reconciliation with God, for comfort of sorrow and brightness of hope for life beyond physical death. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to be light within us to comfort and guide us, to keep us from stumbling in the darkness of this present world; to be the pillar of fire which guides us through the wilderness and night of this world. The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to be the light of life; to be the “seal,” “down payment” and “guarantee” of eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16) in the brightness of Heaven (Revelation 21:23-25), where there is no more suffering and death (see above).

Jesus is God’s only plan for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Are we co-operating with God’s plan and God’s timing? Are we waiting on God's timing, or are we making God wait for us?