1 Epiphany

1 Epiphany - Sunday

first posted 01/08/06

Genesis 1:1-2:3, God’s Creation

Ephesians 1:3-14, Sealed with the Holy Spirit

John 1:29-34, John’s Testimony

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) out of darkness and watery chaos. And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day” (Genesis 1:3-5). On the second day God separated the waters above and below by the firmament of heaven. On the third day he separated the waters below with dry land he called Earth; and he called the waters Seas. God commanded the earth to bring forth vegetation bearing fruits and seeds. On the fourth day God created Sun, Moon and Stars to be used for signs, seasons, days and years. On the fifth day of Creation God commanded the waters to bring forth living creatures, he commanded birds to fly above the earth. He commanded the creatures to be fruitful and multiply. On the sixth day, God commanded the earth to bring forth animals, and it was so.

Then God created mankind in God’s image and likeness, like the angels in his heavenly court. He made them male and female, and he blessed them and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion over every other creature. God gave the plants of the earth for food for every living creature. God saw that his creation was very good. Creation was finished on the sixth day, and on the seventh day God rested from his labors of creation. God blessed and hallowed the seventh day as a day of rest.

Praise God the Father who has blessed us with every blessing in the spiritual realm in Jesus Christ. Before the creation of the world, God chose us and destined us to be his sons (and daughters), holy and blameless before him through Jesus Christ as a free gift, according to his will. In Jesus we have redemption (payment of ransom) through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins as an extravagant gift. The mystery of God’s eternal purpose has been revealed through Jesus Christ in God’s perfect timing.

In Jesus those who first hoped in Christ (the Jews) have been destined and appointed to live in praise of God’s Glory. “In him (Jesus) you also (i.e. Gentiles as well as Jews), who have heard… the gospel of salvation and have believed in him (Jesus), have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of our inheritance (eternal life in the kingdom of God in Heaven) until we acquire possession of it” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

John the Baptizer had appeared and was baptizing people on the east side of the Jordan River. He saw Jesus coming toward him and John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John had told the crowds who came to him that he was announcing and revealing the coming of one who was greater than John. John was baptizing with water (for repentance) to prepare people to receive the Messiah. John hadn’t known the identity of the Messiah, but God had told him that John would see the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove (a symbol of peace) from heaven, descend and remain upon the Messiah, and the Messiah would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. John testified that he had witnessed the dove descend upon Jesus, and declared that Jesus is the Son of God.

God created the universe by the creative power of his word. He created us in his own image and likeness, and gave us dominion over his creation. He created this world for his purpose; to create an eternal kingdom of his people who would willingly trust and obey God (Acts 17:26-27).

God’s creation allows us free will to choose whether to obey him or not. God knew that all of us would be disobedient of his word (disobedience of God’s word is the definition of sin; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10). God’s word declares that the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus Christ was designed into Creation; he wasn’t an afterthought (John 1:1-5, 14).

It is through Jesus Christ, and he alone, that we receive every spiritual blessing. From the very beginning of creation, God chose us to be his sons and daughters and to live eternally with him in his heavenly kingdom. Through Jesus Christ we are made holy and blameless in God’s judgment as a free gift, to be received by faith (obedient trust; see also Ephesians 2:8-9). In Jesus we are redeemed from slavery to sin and death by Jesus’ blood shed on the Cross as the sacrifice once for all time and all people.

Jesus is the revelation of God’s purpose for his Creation. Jesus is the revelation of the image of God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 14:9b; 20:28), and the illustration and example of what we are to become as God’s “adopted” sons and daughters. Jesus’ resurrection is the demonstration of the reality of existence beyond physical life.

Those “who have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have believed in Jesus are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of our inheritance (eternal life in the kingdom of God in heaven) until we acquire possession of it; Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:32-34), only his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has been baptized and filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). Jesus has promised to “manifest” himself to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:21) through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit

John was led by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, to call people to repentance in preparation to receive Jesus Christ. John saw and testified that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ), God’s “anointed” (designated) Savior and eternal King. Jesus is the Lamb of God; the spotless unblemished “Lamb” (of Passover) sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins. Every truly “born again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple of Jesus Christ can also testify that Jesus lives, that he is Savior and Lord of Creation, the Son of God, and that he baptizes with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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

1 Epiphany - Monday

first posted 01/12/04

Genesis 2:4-9 (10-15) 16-25 The Creation of Man

Hebrews 1:1-14 Jesus is Creator and Sustainer

John 1:1-18 Jesus is the Word of God

God created man from the dust from the ground, and breathed into him the breath of life; and man became a living being. (The Hebrew word for man is ‘adham; the word for ground is ‘adhamah) He placed man in the Garden of Eden (which means “delight”). God made all the plants and gave man dominion over every plant including the tree of life; but God commanded him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The Lord made all the animals and gave man dominion over them. God created woman to be a partner for man, of his flesh and bone, completing his being. Together in marriage they become one flesh. They were guiltless before one another and before God.

Jesus is a new revelation from God. Jesus is the heir of all things; he is also the creator of all things. “He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power” (Hebrews 1:3a). Christ is our high priest, who purifies us from our sin, he is our prophet, through whom God has revealed himself (Hebrews 1:2), and our King, enthroned at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3b). Christ is superior to angels. Angels are servants of God (Hebrews 1:14a); Jesus is the Son and heir; the eternal King (Hebrews 1:2, 5, 8). The earth and creation will pass away, but God is eternal (Hebrews 1:10-12)

The Word of God is active, and life-giving (Hebrews 4:12; John 1:4). He was with God before creation, and always was God (he was God; John 1:1b), who became flesh (John 1:14; not the other way around). He is creative: all things were made through him; nothing was made without him. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Darkness is all evil in conflict with the light of the righteousness of God.

John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets, sent by God to prepare the people for the coming of God’s promised Messiah. John reflected Jesus’ light the way the moon reflects the Sun’s light. “To all who received him, who believed on his name he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:12), not by flesh and blood or by man’s will, but by the will and power of God (John 1:13).

John testified that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah). The law, which brings judgment and condemnation, came through Moses; Jesus brings grace (unmerited forgiveness) and truth (the fulfillment of God’s promises). God is revealed by Jesus, who has unique communion with God the Father (John 1:18).

We were created to live eternally in fellowship (communion) with God in paradise. God gave us free will to choose whether to obey him as Lord or not. Disobedience is sin. When we choose not to obey God, we loose eternal life in paradise with him, and fellowship with him is broken. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death in Hell with Satan and his demons; exclusion from life in God’s presence in heaven (Romans 6:23)

Jesus is God’s only plan for our salvation (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He paid the penalty for our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Our salvation is by God’s grace; we don’t deserve it, can’t earn it, buy it, or take it by force or deception (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must receive it (John 1:12), by trusting in Jesus and obeying him. If we invite him to come into our hearts and be the Lord of our lives, he will make himself known to us (Revelation 3:20; John 14:21). Only through Jesus can we be restored to fellowship with God (John 14:6).

Jesus is our creator and our God. He gave us life and everything we need to sustain it. His creation is good (Genesis 1:31). It is we who mess it up. He came in human form to restore us to the paradise we lost through disobedience and to die for our sins, so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally for them ourselves. He wants us to spend eternity in heaven in his presence. He gives us the choice.

1 Epiphany - Tuesday

first posted 1/10/06

Genesis 3:1-24, The Fall of man

Hebrews 2:1-10, Christ superior to angels

John 1:19-28, The testimony of John

God created man and woman and placed them in the Garden of Eden, which is the perfect goodness of God’s creation; paradise. The serpent represents Satan, the tempter. He began tempting them by questioning God’s word. When the woman repeated God’s command not to touch or eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, or they would die, the serpent contradicted God’s word. The serpent insinuated that God just told them that so that they wouldn’t eat the fruit and become like God; their eyes would be opened and they would know good and evil. When the woman saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food, a delight to the eyes and to be desired to make one wise, she ate the fruit and gave some to her husband and he ate. Then their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked, and they made aprons to cover their nakedness.

They heard the Lord walking in the garden in the cool part of the day, and they hid themselves from God. God called to the man, and asked where they were. The man replied that he had hidden himself because he was naked. God asked him how he knew that he was naked; God asked him if he had eaten the forbidden fruit. The man blamed the woman, and God asked the woman and she blamed the serpent.

God cursed the serpent and consigned him to be at enmity with mankind. God cursed the woman, greatly increasing the pains of childbirthing, but yet desiring her husband sexually. God also consigned her to be subordinate to her husband. God cursed the man because he had listened to his wife and had disobeyed God’s word. As a result God cursed the ground from which man had been created. Man would henceforth have to work hard to produce his food from the ground.

The man called his wife’s name Eve (in Hebrew the word is similar to the word for “living”) for she was the mother of all living. God made clothing from skins and clothed them.

God declared that mankind had become like God and the angels of his heavenly court, knowing good and evil, and God didn’t want them to seize the fruit of the Tree of (eternal) Life which was also in the Garden. So God cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden, and placed a cherubim (superhuman beings; guardians of sacred places) to guard the entrance to the Garden to guard the way to the Tree of Life.

The author of Hebrews warns that we must pay closer attention to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or else we will drift away from it. If the Old Covenant of God’s Law was valid and every sin or disobedience received a just retribution, we cannot hope to escape God’s condemnation if we ignore his plan of salvation (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). God’s plan of salvation “was declared at first by the Lord, and has been attested to us by those who heard him” (Hebrews 2:3) and by signs and miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 2:4).

The world to come (the new creation; the kingdom of God in heaven; paradise), is not to be ruled by and for angels, but by Jesus and for his followers. Jesus, although much higher than the angels, became lower than them for a short time (during his earthly ministry to bring us to salvation) but now has been glorified, has been given authority and dominion over all creation.

We do not see the complete subjugation of all things in creation to him yet. But we do see Jesus, having become humble and obedient, enduring suffering and death so that he might experience death for each one of us, now crowned with glory and honor. It was God’s gracious will to allow Jesus to come to spiritual maturity through suffering, so that he could be our leader to guide us to spiritual maturity and our eternal inheritance.

The Jews (the Pharisees, the legalistic dominant religious faction of Judaism) sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to John at “Bethany beyond (east of) the Jordan” River, who asked John who he was. John confessed that he was not the Christ (Messiah). So the religious authorities asked if he was Elijah (1 John 21; see 2 Kings 2:11; Malachi 4:5), or one of the prophets (who was to return to announce the coming of the Christ), but John said no. So they asked him to describe himself, and John replied that he was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,” (John 1:23), in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 40:3).

The religious leaders asked why John was performing baptisms if he were neither Christ nor Elijah. John replied that he baptized with water, but there was one present in Israel whom they did not know, for whom John was not worthy to be his most menial slave.

God’s intention and purpose has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who will willingly trust and obey him. When God began this creation he created it so that we could have free will to choose whether or not to obey him. He knew that we would be disobedient of his word. God defines sin as disobedience of his word. He declared that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

God built into creation his only plan for our salvation from sin and eternal death; that plan is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and come to a saving personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 17:26-27) and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives, (John 1:32-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17)

God’s creation was very good (Genesis 1:31); it was paradise, lost because of disobedience of God’s word. Eternal death came into the world through sin (Romans 5:12-14). Satan deceived Adam and Eve by telling them they would not die, and indeed they did not die “immediately,” but they lost the eternal life they had been given. They lost the providence and fellowship of God. God’s plan of salvation is designed so that it cannot be “earned,” purchased, or taken by force or deception by mankind; only by God’s free gift, received only by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

Satan’s temptation appeals to the vulnerability of our human nature, our lust of the eyes (covetousness), our lust of the flesh (illustrated by satisfying physical hunger with food), and human pride (the desire to be like God; compare 1 John 2:16-17). Satan used the same temptations during Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, but Jesus overcame them by applying the word of God (Luke 4:1-13).

The author of Hebrews warns that unless we accept God’s plan of salvation on God’s terms we will suffer his eternal condemnation. There is a new creation coming which will be eternal paradise in the presence of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, created for those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus and have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ will be forgiven and saved from God’s eternal condemnation. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

God’s plan was first revealed through Jesus Christ, and is testified to by those who have heeded Jesus’ words and have experienced the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is our example and illustration of surrendering our own will to God, humbling ourselves and becoming obedient to the Lord, and growing to spiritual maturity through self-sacrifice. Christian believers are to be disciples of Jesus Christ. As we trust and obey Jesus we will receive the gift of his Holy Spirit so that he can guide us and lead us to spiritual maturity.

John, the Baptizer, is an example of humility and submission to God’s will. He lived in the wilderness and was fed there by God’s providence. He didn’t seek any worldly status or success; he simply trusted and obeyed God’s word and Spirit. He wasn’t even consciously aware that he was the “Elijah” who was to come to announce the coming of the Messiah (although Jesus declared that he was; Matthew 17:10-13), but he accomplished the Lord’s purpose.

In contrast to John, the religious leaders wanted to silence what they considered a rival to their worldly spiritual authority. The religious leaders sought worldly status and authority rather than submission and obedience to God’s word.

Christians are called out of the “Egypt” of the sinful worldly culture, into the “wilderness” of discipleship in Jesus Christ, where he will lead us by his presence within us through his gift of his Holy Spirit, to spiritual maturity and into the eternal Promised Land of his kingdom in the heavenly paradise.

1 Epiphany - Wednesday

first posted 01/13/04

Genesis 4:1-16 Cain and Abel

Hebrews 2:11-18 Our potential realized only through Christ

John 1 (29-34) 35-42 John’s testimony

Eve bore sons to Adam: Cain and Abel. Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a farmer. In time they each made an offering of the first fruits of their yield; Cain, of the produce of the ground, and Abel, of the firstlings of his flock. Abel’s offering found favor with God, but Cain’s did not. Cain became angry. The Lord asked why Cain was angry, and told him that if he did well (“did what was right”) he would be accepted. If he didn’t do what was right, he must overcome the desire to sin.

Cain led his brother out into the field, and there Cain killed his brother. The Lord confronted Cain, and Cain denied responsibility for his brother, but the Lord knew what Cain had done. The Lord punished Cain by banishing him from farming, and made him become a nomad, but he had mercy on Cain and protected him from death.

Jesus shared in our human nature, so that he could free us from bondage to sin and the fear of death. He himself suffered and was tempted. Therefore he is able to help us in our struggle. He is able to be a merciful and faithful high priest for us to God; his death on the Cross being a continual offering of sacrifice to God to pay the penalty and make amends for our sins. Although Jesus is God (Colossians 2:8-9, John 20:28), he regards us as brothers (and sisters); members of his family (Hebrews 2:11-13).

John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the Lamb of God (the perfect Lamb, to be slain as a blood sacrifice as an offering for sin) who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). John’s mission was to announce the coming of the Messiah. He himself did not know the Messiah in advance, but God revealed him to John when John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (John 1:31). John witnessed the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of a Dove, and the Holy Spirit remained upon Jesus (John 1:32). The Lord had told John that this would be the sign that this was the Christ (John 1:33).

John testified to his disciples that Jesus was the Lamb of God (the Messiah), and they left John and became disciples of Jesus (John 1:35-39). One of the disciples was Andrew. He went and found his brother, Simon, and told him that he had found the Messiah, and brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus already foreknew that Simon was the son of a man named John (Jesus also demonstrated prescience the next day when Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus; see v. John 1:47-49). Jesus gave Simon a new name, “Cephas” (or “Peter;” the Aramaic and Greek words, respectively, for “Rock”).

Cain was jealous of his brother, and his anger led him to sin. Cain denied any responsibility for his brother. Cain deserved to die for his sin. God knew what was in Cain's heart; Cain could not conceal his sin from God. God’s justice required punishment, but God also showed mercy, and protected him from death at the hands of others.

We are all, with Cain, under the same bondage to sin and death (Romans 3:23). Jesus is all-knowing; he knew all about Simon before Simon had ever met Jesus. Jesus knows what it is like for us to be tempted. Jesus shared the same human nature so that he could free us from that bondage. The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus sets the example of how to treat our “brothers,” giving his life for us on the Cross, so that we might not have to die eternally for our own sins. Only through Jesus are we able to resist the temptation to sin; apart from him we have no power to resist. When we trust in Jesus and obey him he gives his Holy Spirit to us, who helps us to resist temptation. Cain is who we are, apart from Jesus.

Andrew is an example of a good brother. Once he had “seen” Jesus, had found Jesus and recognized who he was, he wanted to share Christ with his brother, Simon. Because Andrew brought his brother to Jesus, his brother became Simon Peter, a great preacher (Acts 2:14-41) and the head of the Church in Jerusalem.

The Lord doesn’t want us to die. The Lord told Adam and Eve that if they chose to follow their own will rather than obey God they would die (Genesis 3:3). Satan tempted them to believe that God didn’t mean what he had said (Genesis 3:4).

All human flesh dies. We have all been created to be eternal; we will spend eternity living in Heaven in God’s presence, or dying in Hell with Satan and his demons. The death to avoid is eternal death and destruction in Hell. (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 9-10). There is no such thing as reincarnation: people die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We have all chosen to follow our own will rather than to obey God. Therefore we are all under the condemnation of eternal death.

Abel’s blood cried out to God condemning Cain (Genesis 4:10); Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, pleads to God for our salvation. Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 41:6). Jesus came to give his life for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally for our sins ourselves.

1 Epiphany - Thursday

first posted 01/14/04

Genesis 4:17-26 The Sons of Cain

Hebrews 3:1-11 God’s call upon his people

John 1:43-51 Phillip calls Nathanael

Cain was cast away from the presence of the Lord, because of his sin of the murder of his brother, Abel. Cain married and had a son he called Enoch. In the generations that followed, cultural development can be traced. Cain built a city and called it by his son, Enoch’s name. The fifth-generation decendant of Cain was Lamech, whose sons became musicians and smiths, as well as shepherds.

The advance of wickedness is also apparent. While Cain had murdered his brother in a fit of jealousy, Lamech now boasts of killing people in revenge, with no attempt to make the retribution fit the offense. Meanwhile, Adam and Eve had another son who they named Seth, and Seth had a son he called Enosh, “At that time men began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26b)

God, in Jesus Christ, is calling us to be reconciled to him. Jesus is portrayed as the perfect heavenly fulfillment of the role of Moses. (Moses is the imperfect human representation and forerunner of Christ.) God is calling us through Jesus. The author urges us to respond to that call now, while there is opportunity. Otherwise we will be subject to God’s wrath on the Day of Judgment.

Jesus went to Galilee. “And he found Phillip who was from Bethsaida (just north of the Sea of Galilee, on the eastern bank of the Jordan River) and said to him ‘Follow me’” (John 1:43). Phillip found Nathanael and told him he had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael replied cynically, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) Phillip replied, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

Jesus saw Nathanael coming and said of him “Behold, an Israelite in whom is no guile!” Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, and Jesus replied that he had supernaturally “seen” him earlier when he had been standing under a fig tree. Nathanael was amazed and declared that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Jesus told him that he would see greater things than this revelation; that Nathanael would “see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (i.e., Jesus; John 1:51).

Cain’s punishment for murdering his brother was banishment from God’s presence. Cain went off and began to pursue his own worldly interests, and became the founder of a city which he named after his firstborn son Enoch. In just a few generations we can see how society became diversified and advanced, but also how wickedness advanced.

Cain’s act of murder in the heat of jealous rage had advanced to cold-blooded brutality. There’s a hint of developing sexual immorality, in that Lamech was not content with just one wife, and began the practice of polygamy (Genesis 4:19). (Originally God made one wife for Adam; see also Genesis 2:24).

Meanwhile, by the third generation of Adam, the sons of Adam were so estranged from God that they had to begun to “call upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26b). They had lost the intimate fellowship with God which Adam and Eve had enjoyed in the Garden before their fall through sin. [To me, at least, the sons of Cain suggest, symbolically, the origins of the Gentiles, and the sons of Adam represent God’s people, fallen and seeking redemption].

Because of sin, man became estranged from God. By the third generation from Adam, men began to call out to God, trying to restore that relationship. From the time of the Fall of Man, God has been working to restore that relationship. Jesus is God’s call to us offering to restore our relationship to God.

God began that restoration by calling Abraham, beginning the people of Israel, who were to be God’s people. When God’s people came into bondage in Egypt, God called Moses to be the one to lead them out of bondage in Egypt through the wilderness into the promised land of Israel.

Moses became an image illustrating the Messiah whom God promised to send to save his people from bondage to sin and to lead them through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly promised land of eternal life in God’s presence. Jesus is God’s call to us to be restored to peace and fellowship with him, now and eternally.

Jesus is the “bridge” across the chasm of sin which separates us from God. Although skeptical, when Nathanael came to see for himself, Jesus revealed himself to Nathanael, by showing him that he had foreknowledge of Nathanael. Jesus identified himself to Nathanael as the fulfillment of Jacob’s vision of a stairway (Jacob’s ladder) to heaven, restoring access to God (John 1:51; see Genesis 28:6-17). Nathanael came to the certain knowledge that Jesus was the Christ (John 1:49).

Those who have found Jesus, who have responded to God’s call through Jesus and have been restored to peace and fellowship with the Lord, want to share his Gospel with their friends. They go to their friends and tell them who they have found, and invite their friends to “Come and see” for themselves. If we respond in faith, the Lord will reveal himself to us.

1 Epiphany - Friday

first posted 01/15/04

Genesis 6:1-8 Noah finds favor with God

Hebrews 3:12-19 Warning against disobedience

John 2:1-12 The water turned into wine

Mankind had been multiplying since the creation, and had become increasingly wicked. The Lord was grieved by the wickedness of mankind, and decided to wipe out all the living creatures on earth, but Noah found favor with God.

Believers in Jesus are exhorted to guard against an evil and unbelieving heart which would lead them to fall away from God. Believers share in the benefits of Christ only if they hold fast to their faith until the end. We are reminded of God’s punishment of the rebelliousness of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness. Those who were disobedient and unbelieving were excluded from the Promised Land.

Jesus was the guest at a wedding in Canna in Galilee, along with his mother. The host, the bridegroom, ran out of wine, so Jesus’ mother, Mary, told Jesus. Jesus replied that his hour had not yet come. Mary nevertheless told the servants to be ready to do whatever Jesus told them.

There were six jars standing nearby, for the Jewish rites of purification, so Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water and take them to the steward. When they had done so, the steward tasted the water, which had become wine, and not knowing where the wine had come from, told the bridegroom that he should have served this wine first, because it was better. Then after the guests had drunk freely they would not have noticed the poorer quality of the other wine. This was the first miracle Jesus did, and his’ disciples’ faith in him was reinforced.

God judges and punishes sin and wickedness, but he rewards those who trust and obey him and do what is right in God’s judgment. Noah found favor because he trusted and obeyed God. The author of Hebrews reminded Christians of the same message, using Israel’s experience in the wilderness as an example.

Although Jesus had not yet revealed himself, his mother knew who he was [Mary had believed God when God revealed it to her at Jesus conception (Luke 1:26-38)], and she had faith that Jesus would be able to solve the problem of the shortage of wine. She told the bridegroom’s servants to be prepared to do whatever Jesus instructed. Because they were obedient, the wedding was a success; no shortage of wine marred the festivities, and the wine that Jesus supplied was better than what they had started with. Jesus’ disciples’ faith was also strengthened, as they witnessed what Jesus did.

The Lord is holy and righteous. He wants us to follow his commands so that our lives can be full and good, as he created and intends for them to be. His commands are for our best interest; not to make us miserable. Our lives are like the marriage feast. We may think that we can direct our own lives according to our plans, but we won’t know how much better they would have been, if only we had trusted and obeyed Jesus, unless we do. Unless we do what Jesus says, ultimately the “wine” will come to an end and the party will be over.

From the first sin by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Bible is a record of God’s Judgment against disobedience and unbelief. Adam and Eve didn’t believe that God meant what he said when God told them they would die if they disobeyed his command not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis Ch. 3).

God punished Cain for murdering his brother, but spared Cain’s life. Cain’s descendants became more and more wicked until God judged and destroyed them by The Flood. But God spared Noah, because Noah trusted and obeyed God.

During the wilderness wandering, God repeatedly demonstrated his judgment and punishment upon sin. God loves us and doesn’t want anyone to perish. God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world not to punish the world, but to save it. He who believes and obeys Jesus is not condemned. He who does not believe and obey Jesus is condemned already (John 3:16-18), unless he repents and turns to Jesus.

The Lord has promised that there is a Day of Judgment coming when he will judge everyone who has ever lived on earth. (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Saving faith in Jesus is faith which one acts upon; it is not enough to claim to believe in Jesus and yet not keep his commands (Matthew 7:21-23). As we trust in Jesus and begin to follow his directions, he will reveal himself to us, and our faith will be strengthened. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy is the (person) who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).

1 Epiphany - Saturday

first posted 01/16/04

Genesis 6:9-22 Noah builds the Ark

Hebrews 4:1-13 Rest which God promised

John 2:13-22 Cleansing of the Temple

The earth, although God's creation was good (Genesis 1:31), had become corrupt through the increasing wickedness of man (see Genesis 4:17-26). God decided to destroy the wicked from the face of the earth. Noah was righteous and had found favor with God, so God instructed him to build a houseboat to hold himself and his sons and all their families, along with breeding pairs of all the animals, and enough food for all, and Noah did what the Lord commanded.

God has promised rest from the trials of this life, but we only receive the promise by faith and obedience. The wicked and rebellious will not be allowed to enter that rest. The Sabbath rest is intended to recall God’s rest after the work of creation, and to point to the rest which awaits those who trust and obey the Lord.

Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. He entered the Temple and found merchants selling animals to be used for sacrificial offerings, and Jesus drove them out of the Temple. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers (Roman coinage, which was the legal tender, was regarded as profane and had to be exchanged for Jewish money to pay the temple tax). He told the merchants to take their things away and stop making God’s house a house of trade. The disciples recognized that he had thus fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be zealous for the House of the Lord.

The Jewish religious authorities challenged Jesus’ authority to do this, and Jesus replied “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). They thought Jesus meant the Temple in Jerusalem, but Jesus was talking about his body as the temple of God. After Jesus had risen from the dead “his disciples remembered that Jesus had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken” (John 2:22).

The Lord judges and condemns sin. In Noah’s day the Lord destroyed the wicked, but saved Noah and his family, because they believed and obeyed the Lord. The Lord has promised to return to judge all who have ever lived on earth. (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46) Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life, the eternal rest with him which God has promised, in heaven with the Lord. Those who have rejected Jesus and disregarded Jesus’ words will receive eternal death and torment in Hell with Satan and his demons.

The word of God is utterly reliable; what the Lord promises, he fulfills. God promised a Savior, the Messiah; Jesus fulfilled that promise. Jesus said repeatedly that he would rise from the dead; he rose from the dead, just as he said. Jesus said he’s going to return to judge everyone who has ever lived on this earth, to punish the wicked and disobedient, and to save those who have trusted and obeyed him. Jesus is God's only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6) It’s not enough to believe that Jesus is the Christ; faith must lead to action based on that faith. Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46; see also Matthew 7:21-23).