2 Lent

2 Lent - Sunday

first posted 03/06/04

Genesis 41:14-45 Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream
Romans 6:3-14 Dying and rising with Christ
John 5:19-24 Jesus does the will of his Father

When Pharaoh was troubled by dreams, his chief butler remembered Joseph from his time in prison, and told Pharaoh about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh sent for Joseph and had him brought from the dungeon, and when he had been cleaned up they brought him to Pharaoh. Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph replied that it was not any ability of his own, but God, working through him.

Pharaoh told him his dreams of the seven gaunt cows consuming seven fat cows, and seven lean ears of grain consuming seven fat ears, and Joseph told him that the dreams foretold seven years of famine. Joseph told Pharaoh to appoint someone wise to prepare reserves of food during the years of plenty for the years of famine, and Pharaoh appointed Joseph, since Joseph was obviously the wisest of the wise men of the land. Pharaoh made Joseph second only to him, and gave him authority over all the land and its people. Pharaoh clothed Joseph in fine clothes, let him ride in the second chariot in state ceremonies, put a ring of authority upon his finger, and gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

Believers are not to abuse God’s grace (unmerited favor) by continuing to sin. We have died to sin, so we should not continue to live in it. Christians have been baptized into Christ’s death so that we may be raised to new life through Christ’s resurrection, by the power of God. If we share in Christ’s death, we will surely share in his resurrection. Our old sinful self was crucified so that our sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved by sin. One who has died is freed from sin.

But if we have died with Christ we will also live with him. Having been raised from death, Christ will never die again; death no longer has any power over him. His death was death to sin; the risen life he lives to God. So we must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ. We must not let sin control us. We’re not to yield to sin and become tools of wickedness, but instead we are to yield ourselves to God, like people who have been raised from the dead, and become instruments of God’s righteousness. Sin has no power over Christians, since they are no longer under the old covenant of Law, but under the new covenant of grace.

The Son of God does the will of his Father, and the Father reveals his will to the Son. As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father has given all authority to judge to the Son, so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Those who do not honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent him. Those who hear Jesus’ words and believe that God sent him have eternal life; they will not come into condemnation, but have passed from death to life.

Joseph is, in one sense, a portrait of a “believer” (a Christian). God had promised him in a dream that Joseph would be in a position of authority and honor. Joseph had to go through a lot of trials on the way. He was sold into slavery in Egypt, falsely accused and imprisoned. After he interpreted the Chief Butler’s dream, he languished in a dungeon for two more years while the butler went back to his career and forgot all about Joseph. But through it all Joseph trusted in God, and God was working out his plan for Joseph. God caused the butler to remember Joseph. God’s plan to bless and honor Joseph began to be fulfilled, and Joseph gave God the credit (Genesis 41:16).

We are all like Joseph in the sense that we are all in the “prison” of sin and death. All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 6:23) and the penalty of sin is eternal death. Through Jesus Christ, we are freed from that prison. Through Jesus, we are brought out of the dungeon of sin and death, we’re cleaned up, given royal garments of righteousness, given authority to accomplish God’s will in all the earth and share in God’s glory, and brought into close personal fellowship with the Lord.

Jesus taught by word and example what it means to be a son (or daughter) of God. He is the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14 KJV), the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15), but he is the pattern, and the means, by which we become “adopted” sons and daughters of God. (We will not become “gods,” and we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus; not by any “good deeds” we do.) Jesus came to do God’s will. As we learn to be obedient to God’s will, God will reveal his will to us, and he will fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we can accomplish his will.

When Joseph was released from the dungeon and made Pharaoh’s second in command, Pharaoh’s “right-hand man”, Joseph served Pharaoh as serving God. He could have used his great power and position to indulge his own selfish interests, but instead he was obedient to God’s will and worked to carry out God’s plan to save many people from famine and death. Christians have been released from prison, cleaned up, and made God’s right-hand men and women. God has a plan to save many people from eternal famine and death, and it’s God’s will for his “adopted” sons and daughters to work to accomplish that plan. Have you allowed Jesus to release you from your prison and restore you to life? Are you faithfully serving him and helping accomplish God’s plan of salvation?

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)?

2 Lent - Monday

posted 03/06/04

Genesis 41:46-57 The coming of the famine
1 Corinthians 4:8-20 (21) The coming of the Kingdom
Mark 3:7-19a Jesus appoints his disciples

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered Pharaoh’s service (his slavery and imprisonment had lasted 13 years; Genesis 37:2-3). During the seven years of abundance Joseph stored up in every city, from the surrounding areas, surpluses so vast that they could not be measured. Before the famine came, Joseph had two sons by his wife Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. He named the first-born Manasseh (which means “making to forget”) saying that God had caused Joseph to forget all the hardship and his separation from his Father and his kin. He named his second son Ephraim, (“Fruitful”) because Joseph realized that God had caused him to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.

Then the seven years of plenty ended, and the seven years of famine began. There was famine throughout the world, but in Egypt there was “bread” (Genesis 41:54). “When all the land of Egypt was famished, they cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.’” “Joseph opened the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in Egypt. Moreover all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth” (Genesis 41:56-57).

The Corinthian Christians were acting like they were royalty. Paul uses irony to convict his hearers. He says that he wishes he had the kind of wealth and privilege the Corinthians seem to think they’re entitled to. They seem to think they don’t have to suffer the trials and tribulations that disciples of Christ are subjected to in this world; that they are exempt from the obligation to work for the kingdom, to forgive their enemies, endure persecution and deprivation, to be rejected and mistreated by the world.

Paul is admonishing them in love as a father disciplines his children. Paul is more than a guide [a “custodian” (Galatians 3:24 RSV); a slave charged with the responsibility of raising the child of his master; like a “nanny” or a tutor] Paul urges his hearers to follow his example. For that reason Paul sent Timothy to them to remind the Corinthians of Paul’s teaching. Paul is planning to visit the Corinthians, and then the Corinthians will be held to account to Paul for their behavior. Paul’s authority is not mere words, but the power of God. So his hearers’ response to Paul’s words will determine whether they will experience, as a consequence, harsh discipline or gentleness and love, when he comes.

Jesus’ reputation as a healer grew, so that he was forced to withdraw from cities to more open areas like the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:45). Even there, it was necessary to tell his disciples to have a boat standing by, to prevent him from being crushed by the crowds (Mark 3:9-10). Demons recognized and acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 3:11; see 1:23-24; James 2:19. Jesus told those he healed not to publicize it. [Crowds seeking only what Jesus could give them physically (healing, bread, etc.) were making it difficult for Jesus to accomplish his mission of bringing spiritual healing and spiritual sustenance]. Jesus called his disciples, invited them into intimate fellowship with Jesus, and appointed them to go out to preach and heal people spiritually (Mark 3:14). One of the Twelve eventually betrayed Jesus.

God had a plan for Joseph, to raise him up to a position of power and authority, so that Joseph could carry out God’s plan to save the world from famine and death. Joseph trusted and obeyed the Lord through many years of suffering before God’s plan began to be revealed. Joseph acknowledged that God is able to reward our suffering with blessings that will so far out-weigh the trials that the trials will be forgotten. Joseph also realized that God is abundantly able to make us fruitful in the midst of adversity.

The Corinthians wanted the glory of being the favored ones of the King of the Universe, Jesus Christ, but they didn’t want the suffering, work, and responsibility that go with it. Jesus demonstrated that if we want to wear the crown of eternal life, we have to bear the cross; we have to surrender our will, and become obedient to God’s will. We have to do things Jesus asks us to do which will make us unpopular with those who are worldly.

Jesus called his disciples to live in close personal fellowship with him, and to go out and preach and provide spiritual healing. Discipleship isn’t just one big feast with the Master, and all the free bread you can eat.

Jesus, in one sense, is the “Joseph” to whom the world must come and do what he says, who supplies the bread that the world must have to survive the famine. In another sense, Christian believers are the “Joseph” who has been freed from the prison of sin and death, appointed to a position of great honor and authority as representatives of the Lord, and charged with the administration of God’s plan to save the world from spiritual famine and eternal death. Christian believers are called to be Jesus’ disciples; to have intimate fellowship with Jesus, and to go out to preach and to work for spiritual healing. Christian believers are “Timothy.” We have been sent by Jesus to remind the world of Jesus’ teaching, as Paul sent Timothy, and as Jesus sent the Twelve.

Jesus is coming in power and authority to deal with the wicked and disobedient, and to reveal his love to those who are trusting and obeying his teachings. How we respond to Jesus’ message, proclaimed by scripture and by Jesus’ disciples, the “Timothys,” will determine whether we will experience Jesus’ condemnation and punishment or his love and salvation. If we have been freed from our prison of sin and death by Jesus, are we willing to take up the call and responsibility to administer God’s plan of salvation to a famished and dying world? Or do we expect to sit around in luxury and comfort and expect God to serve and please us? Are we preparing for the day of famine?

2 Lent - Tuesday

first posted 03/08/04

Genesis 42:1-17 Joseph’s brothers come to buy food
1 Corinthians 5:1-8 Church discipline
Mark 3:19b-35 A house divided

There was famine all over the earth. Jacob (Israel) learned that there was grain in Egypt, so he sent his sons, Joseph’s brothers, there to buy grain. He did not allow his youngest son, Benjamin, to go because he was afraid some harm might befall Benjamin. Joseph was Governor of Egypt, Pharaoh’s second-in-command. All who came to buy food had to deal with Joseph. The brothers came and bowed down to Joseph, and he recognized them, but they did not recognize him.

Joseph pretended he didn’t know them and treated them roughly, and asked them where they had come from. Joseph remembered the dreams that he had had, of his brothers bowing down to him. Joseph accused them of being spies, and they denied it, and told Joseph about their younger brother and their father in Canaan. So Joseph told them that they must send one to fetch the younger brother as proof of their sincerity, and meanwhile the others would be arrested and held in prison. Then he had them all placed in prison for three days.

Paul had learned that one of the members of the Corinthian congregation was living with his father’s wife (which was against both Jewish and Roman Law), and yet the members of the congregation were arrogant about their righteousness while they tolerated this sin among their membership. Instead of boasting of their righteousness, they ought to be mourning. Paul commands them to excommunicate this member from their congregation. Paul hopes that by removing the offender from the sanctuary of the congregation into the power of Satan, that the individual’s soul may eventually be saved, although he will suffer in his flesh.

The boasting of the Corinthians is not good. Sin of one member spreads and contaminates the whole body of the congregation like a little yeast permeates dough and causes the whole loaf to rise. Using the symbolism of the Passover tradition, Paul tells the congregation to purge itself from the old leaven of sin so that it may be “unleavened bread” (sinless). Christ is the Passover Lamb which was slain as a sacrifice for our sins. We should therefore celebrate the Passover festival (i.e. the sacrament of Holy Communion; the Eucharist; the Lord’s Supper), not with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

As Jesus’ fame spread, the crowds coming to him were becoming intense, so that he and his disciples could not even eat. His friends went to him to take custody of him, because they thought Jesus was having a nervous breakdown. Scribes from Jerusalem accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelsebul (the pagan god who was the rival of the God of Israel; i.e. Satan), “the prince of demons.” Jesus responded to these charges in parables, asking how it could be that Satan would cast out Satan, since a kingdom or a house divided against itself can no longer stand. If Satan were divided, he would no longer have power to continue. One cannot enter a strong man’s house and plunder it, unless he can first subdue the strong man.

Jesus warned them that every sin on earth can be forgiven except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, for they had accused Jesus of having an unclean spirit (i.e. a demon). Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside and called for him. The crowd told Jesus that his family was outside asking for him, and Jesus replied that his mother and brothers, his family, were those who do the will of God, who has sent Jesus for the very purpose of doing God’s will.

The promise God gave Joseph in the dreams many years before was fulfilled. Joseph was in a position of great power and authority, as the dreams had foretold. When they sold Joseph into slavery, his brothers had contempt for their brother. The idea of bowing down to him was repulsive to them. But now the prophecy had been fulfilled, and now bowing down to Joseph was not only a good idea; it was mandatory. Now Joseph had come into power and he had power of life-and-death over them. He had power to imprison them for as long as he chose.

The Corinthians were arguing among themselves over which members were the most righteous, based on which pastor had performed their rite of baptism. They were boasting of their spiritual maturity while they were tolerating flagrant immorality within the congregation. Their behavior demonstrated that they were neither righteous nor spiritually mature. Paul warns that the Church cannot and should not tolerate willful sinfulness within its membership. (The whole Passover tradition is full of symbolism and Christian significance and is worth your further study.)

The Church is doing no favor to anyone by allowing willful sinners to remain members in good standing. In fact, by tolerating sin within the Church, we are depriving the sinner of the motivation to repent and the opportunity to be saved. The church that tolerates sin within its membership is implicitly assuring willful sinners that they are saved while the willful sinners’ behavior demonstrates that they are not saved.

Jesus is not “schizophrenic.” His undivided commitment is to do God’s will. Jesus said that one cannot serve both God and Satan (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Jesus, and only Jesus, can set us free from slavery to sin. Church members who willfully sin are *choosing* not to obey God’s will.

Jesus regarded the members of his family to be those who are committed to doing God’s will; not those who merely happen to have been born into, or made members of his earthly household. How can the Church allow Satan to enter and have free reign within the Church? Will the Church voluntarily surrender the power and authority of God which has been entrusted to it, so that Satan can come in and do what he pleases among us? The current events are controversies over the legalization of “gay” marriages, and appointment of openly “gay” people as Church clergy and bishops. Can you imagine what Paul would have to say about that?

Joseph is an illustration of the return of Jesus, in authority and power, on the Day of Judgment. On that Day, all the earth will have to come and bow before Jesus. Jesus will be the only source of the “bread” of eternal life (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). We are all guilty of participating in the plot to kill Jesus by crucifying him. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).

We are all like Joseph’s brothers who were guilty of plotting to kill him, and unwilling to bow down to him and submit to him. Now is the time to repent and bow down and submit to Jesus as our Lord and Savior; now is the time to obtain the “bread” of eternal life. On the Day of Judgment it will be too late! Jesus will have the power to throw those who have rejected him into the prison of eternal death and destruction in Hell. Only those who have trusted and obeyed him now, before that Day, will be saved.

2 Lent - Wednesday

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

posted 03/09/04

Genesis 42:18-28 Joseph’s brothers tested
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11 Church discipline
Mark 4:1-20 The parable of the soils

Joseph’s brothers had been forced by world-wide famine to come to Egypt and bow down to their brother, whom they didn’t recognize, in order to buy bread. Joseph had pretended not to know them, had accused them of spying, and had placed them in prison for three days. On the third day he brought them before him. He had told them he would send one back to fetch the youngest brother, Benjamin, as proof that they were honest men, while he held the other nine in prison, but now he relented, saying that he feared God (that he tried to serve and please God).

Instead he allowed the nine to return with food for their families, while he held one brother, Simeon, in prison as surety. Joseph secretly instructed his servants to give each of the brothers a sack of grain, and to hide the money each had given for the grain in the mouth of the sack. When the brothers had gone a day’s journey, one of them found his money in the mouth of his sack, and they were filled with fear, asking, “What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:28)

Paul told believers not to associate with immoral men, not meaning the worldly, because that would be impossible, but referring to immoral people who claimed to be Christians. Anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ who is guilty of immorality or greed, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness or robbery should not be allowed fellowship in the church. God judges those outside the church.

The Church is charged with the responsibility of judging those within the church. If there is a grievance between Christians, the matter should be adjudicated by the church, rather than going before a secular court. The world will be judged by the saints, so why should the righteous seek judgment by the unrighteous. The fact that there are lawsuits among believers is defeat for Christians. It would be better to suffer wrong than to bring suit against a fellow Christian.

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Neither those who practice immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, nor thieves and robbers, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers will inherit the kingdom of God. Some believers have been guilty of such things in the past, but they have been “washed…sanctified (made ritually clean, dedicated to God’s service) …justified (absolved of guilt) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Jesus sat in a boat close to shore and taught the crowds on the shore. Jesus’ fame had become so great that he had to adopt this method to keep from being trampled by the crowds (Mark 3:9). He taught them many things in parables, of which the parable of the sower is one example. A sower sowed seed, and some fell on the path, and birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was no depth of soil. It sprouted quickly, but when the sun rose it withered, since it had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew and choked it, so that the seed produced no harvest. Other seed fell in good soil, and it produced a harvest of thirty, sixty or even a hundred times the original sowing. Jesus said that if we have ears, we should use them to listen to what he is saying.

When Jesus was alone with the larger group of followers beyond the inner circle of the Twelve, he explained the meaning of the parables. Those who believe in Jesus and do what he teaches are given understanding, but to the undecided and unbelievers, Jesus’ teachings are parables, since they must decide for themselves whether to believe in Jesus and follow him or not.

Jesus explained that the “seed” in the parable is the word (the Gospel). The soils represent the hearers. Those along the path have grown hard by their experience in the world. When they hear, Satan comes along immediately and takes away the word which they heard. Those represented by the rocky soil are those who receive the word enthusiastically but who have no depth of soil. The seed sprouts, but as soon as conditions get demanding, the seedling withers and dies. The thorny soil represents those who hear the word but allow the cares and pleasures of the world to crowd in and choke out the word so that it proves unfruitful in their lives. The good soil represents those who receive the word and allow it to take root and produce a harvest.

Joseph recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. Joseph knew how his brothers had treated him before, when they had plotted to kill him and had sold him into slavery. Joseph challenged their sincerity, and created a test of their honesty. Would they abandon Simeon, the brother being held as surety, to save their own lives? Would they keep the money that had been returned to them, and hope Joseph hadn’t noticed?

Some of the Corinthian Christians had been immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexual*, thieves, robbers, greedy, drunkards or revilers in the past (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Paul’s point is that when we accept Jesus as our Lord, we must acknowledge our sins and change our ways. Our subsequent behavior reveals whether we have truly believed and been converted. Paul tells believers not to tolerate willful sinners among the fellowship of believers.

According to Jesus’ parable of the sower, one can tell what kind of “soil” people are by the fruit that they yield from the sowing of the Gospel. Good soil does not produce the thorns of sin and disobedience. We are responsible for the kind of soil we prove to be. If we allow thorns of sin and disobedience to grow, that is what we will harvest.

Joseph is, in one sense, a parable of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph is a picture of Jesus. Jesus is God’s “governor” who controls access to the only supply of the “bread” of eternal life. The whole world must come to him in order to survive spiritual famine and eternal death. In the past we have *all* participated in the plot to kill Jesus –we have all participated in Jesus’ crucifixion- because we have all been guilty of sin (Romans 3:23), and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). We all made it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross so that we might be forgiven and saved from eternal death. In that sense, we are all Joseph’s brothers.

When we come to the Lord seeking relief from spiritual starvation and seeking the “bread” of eternal life, he knows us! He knows what we’ve done in the past. He’s willing to give us a chance to prove that we’re sincere, but he’s not going to be trampled on by a mob seeking "free bread" (Mark 3:9). Our subsequent behavior will reveal what kind of “soil’ we prove to be.

* Because of the current controversy over same-sex marriage and the appointment of openly “gay” bishops (and clergy), I think it’s important to note that the word which is translated “homosexual” in the text (RSV, footnote “j”) is translated from two Greek words which mean “effeminate sodomite.” I think it’s pretty hard to deny that “homosexual” is an accurate translation.

2 Lent - Thursday

Thursday, March 11, 2004

posted 03/10/04

Genesis 42:29-38 Joseph’s brothers return home
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Warning against licentiousness
Mark 4:21-34 Parables of the Kingdom

When Joseph’s brothers returned with grain for their families, they told Jacob, their father that they had been required to leave Simeon as surety until they could return with their youngest brother Benjamin as proof that they were honest men. As they emptied their sacks of grain, each of the brothers found his bag of money, which was to purchase the grain, in the mouth of the sack, and they were all dismayed.

When they returned to their father, Jacob, Jacob said that that he was sure that he was going to be bereaved of Benjamin and Simeon (in addition to Joseph whom he thought had died long ago). Then Reuben promised his father that if Jacob allowed him to take Benjamin to Egypt, Reuben would personally guarantee Benjamin’s safe return or forfeit the lives of Reuben’s own two sons. But Jacob was unwilling to let Benjamin go, because he believed that Joseph, the older of the two sons of his beloved wife Rachael, was dead, and Benjamin, the younger son was the only remaining son of Rachael.

Corinth was a center of licentiousness in Paul’s time, and Paul was addressing societal attitudes which threatened to infiltrate the congregation. Although Christians are freed from the obligations of the Law of Moses, that does not mean that they should do whatever they please. Just because something is not illegal does not make it beneficial. The prevailing libertine attitude was that sex was a natural appetite like hunger, and that gratifying sexual appetite was as natural as eating. Paul rejected and contradicted this philosophy. The body is not meant for immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. The philosophy of “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die” is wrong, because God raised Jesus from the dead, and will raise us up to immortality also.

Since the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, our bodies are temples of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19), and we are members of the body of Christ. When a man is sexually united with a woman they become one flesh. Similarly when a person is united with the Lord he becomes one in Spirit with the Lord. How then can a believer allow himself (or herself) to be united with a prostitute and become one flesh with her (or him)? Believers must remember that we were slaves to sin and death who have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ, and are obligated to serve and glorify God with our bodies.

Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, using parables (stories of common daily experience which convey spiritual meaning and allow the hearer to decide for himself how to interpret and respond to Jesus’ message). Jesus said that one does not light a lamp and then hide it under a basket or under the bed. It is not God’s intention to keep his will a secret from us, and we cannot hope to conceal our thoughts and deeds from God.

We should use our ears to hear and listen to (apply) Jesus’ words. We should be selective about what and who we listen to. We will be rewarded according to our deeds. Those who appreciate what God has done for them will receive more; those who do not appreciate what God has done for them will loose God’s blessings. The kingdom of God is going to come, with or without our awareness or participation. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It begins as a tiny seed, but when it matures it becomes large beyond our understanding.

Reuben is an example of Christian love for others. He had saved Joseph from his brothers' plot to kill him, but was unable to restore him to his father as he had intended (Genesis 37:19-22). Now he was willing to risk the lives of his two sons to guarantee the safe return of Benjamin, and the restoration of Simeon. He put the best interests of others ahead of his own, and he demonstrated that he loved his father.

The Corinthian believers were tempted to adopt the prevailing attitude of self-gratification of the society in which they lived. The world says “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die; look out for number one; you only go around once in life…grab for the gusto.” Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
God loved us enough to send his only Son to die on the Cross to save us (John 3:16). Jesus knowingly and willingly went to the Cross to die as a sacrifice for our sins, so that we might be saved and have eternal life in the kingdom of God with him. If we realize and appreciate what Jesus has done for us we will love and live to serve and please him.

God’s intentions are not a secret, and our deeds are all known to God. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). God doesn’t want us to perish but rather to have eternal life with him in his eternal kingdom. (John 3:16). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6).God promises that he has already given the life of his only begotten Son to save us and bring us home to Heaven.

We will all be accountable to the Lord on the Day of Judgment (John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:31-46). We will be rewarded according to what we have done, as Jesus has promised (Mark 4:24). Those who have realized and appreciated what God has done for us through Jesus’ death on the Cross and his resurrection from the dead, will receive eternal life with him in the Kingdom of God.

The world says one thing; God says something else. Be careful who and what you listen to and believe. Faith is like a mustard seed. If we simply say “yes” to Jesus in sincerity, and begin to act on that faith, that is the tiny seed of faith which the Lord will cause to grow into maturity of eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Have you said “yes” to Jesus? Are you listening to (and applying) his teaching in your daily life.

2 Lent - Friday

Friday, March 12, 2004

posted 03/11/04

Genesis 43:1-15 Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt
1 Corinthians 7:1-9 Directions concerning marriage
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus calms the sea

When Joseph’s brothers’ and father’s households had eaten the grain they had obtained in Egypt, they were forced to return for more, because the famine was still severe throughout the world. The brothers realized that it would be futile to go back to Egypt without bringing Benjamin, because that was the condition which Joseph had set on their previous visit. Their father, Israel (also known as Jacob) blamed them for telling Joseph about Benjamin (they did not know that it was Joseph that they were dealing with, and that he had recognized them). But they replied that Joseph had interrogated them carefully, and that they had no way of knowing that when they had told him about Benjamin, that he would require them to bring Benjamin back with them.

Judah promised his father that if Israel allowed Benjamin to go with them, that Judah would be personally accountable for his safe return. Israel reluctantly agreed, but told them to take a gift of the choice products of the land: balm, honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Also they took double the money, thus returning the money paid for the first food, which had been returned to them in the mouths of their sacks. Israel prayed that God would have mercy on them, and accepted whatever would happen. So the brothers returned to Joseph in Egypt with their brother Benjamin.

The Corinthian Church existed in a very sexually permissive society, and Paul had just dealt in his letter with sexual immorality. There had apparently been some correspondence (1 Corinthians 7:1a) from the congregation regarding marriage and sexuality, and Paul replied that he personally favored celibacy, but that marriage should be upheld in order to avoid the temptation to immorality. Marriage is to be monogamous and each partner is to be submissive and responsive to the other. Neither is to withhold conjugal rights from the other, except perhaps by mutual agreement for a short period of spiritual devotion (i.e. as a form of fasting). Paul didn’t insist that anyone should marry, and he himself did not. He felt it was better to remain single, but that marriage is the only acceptable outlet for sexual expression.

One evening, after dealing with large crowds all day, Jesus suggested that they cross over the Sea of Galilee by boat. Out on the sea, a great windstorm arose creating waves that threatened to swamp the boat, but Jesus was asleep in the stern on a cushion. The disciples awakened Jesus and said, “‘Teacher, do you not care if we perish?’ Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:38-39). Jesus asked the disciples why they were afraid; did they not have any faith? The disciples were utterly amazed and said “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

The clan of Israel (Jacob) was going through difficult times. There was world-wide famine. They had to deal with Egypt in order to obtain food to survive. Israel has suffered the loss of one beloved son, Joseph, and now must risk loosing the only remaining son of his beloved wife, Rachel. They did the best that they could under the circumstances; they returned the money they owed for the first supply of food, they brought Benjamin, as Joseph had required, and they brought a nice gift. Then they committed the outcome to God in prayer and trusted in him.

That’s essentially what the Corinthian Christians needed to do. They were surrounded by a licentious secular culture, with many sexual temptations. Corinthian believers did not need to be swamped and shipwrecked by the secular storm of temptation around them. They simply needed to do what was right in the eyes of God and trust the Lord to bring them through. The standard of behavior is God’s word, the Holy Bible, not what’s acceptable in secular culture.

The disciples were frightened by the raging storm around them; they couldn’t understand how Jesus could be peacefully sleeping through it. Didn’t he care what was happening to them? Jesus had completely committed himself to God’s will, and he trusted completely in God. No matter how bad things might seem, nothing can prevent God’s will from being accomplished. The only real security is to seek, accept, and abide in God's will. Jesus rebuked the wind and sea and they obeyed him. If we have Jesus “in the boat with us” in the midst of the storms of life, we can have peace. When we call on him he will calm the storm. Who is this that even wind and sea obey him? Do we obey him?

2 Lent - Saturday

Saturday, March 13, 2004

posted 03/12/04

Genesis 43:16-34 The brothers return to Joseph
1 Corinthians 7:10-24 Marriage and slavery
Mark 5:1-20 The Gerasene demoniac

When Joseph saw that his brothers had brought Benjamin, he told his steward to prepare for them to have lunch together. The brothers were apprehensive about being brought to Joseph’s house, so they told the steward that they had found the money for the previous purchase of food inside their sacks of grain so they had brought it back to return it. But the steward claimed that he had received their money, and that God must have placed that money in their sacks. They were given the opportunity to wash up and their animals were cared for, and they prepared to present Joseph with the gift they had brought.

When Joseph came home, they gave him the gift, and bowed down to him. Joseph was moved to tears when he saw his brother Benjamin, and had to excuse himself until he had regained control of his emotions. When he returned the food was served. Joseph sat at one table by himself, the brothers at another, and the Egyptian household staff at another, since Egyptians consider it an abomination to eat at the same table with Hebrews. The brothers were amazed to find that they had been seated according to birth order. They all received portions from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as large as the others.

Paul taught that divorce is expressly contrary to the Lord’s will, but that if divorce occurs, the divorcees should either remain single or be reunited to each other. Paul’s teaching regarding believers married to unbelievers was his own opinion, since he had no express revelation from the Lord on the topic. Those who are married to unbelievers should remain married unless there is strife caused by the difference in faith. The children of such marriages are regarded as Christian. There is no way of knowing whether an unbelieving spouse may eventually be converted.

Each believer should try to lead the life God has assigned to him. One should continue the life one was leading at the time of one’s conversion, rather than immediately trying to make radical changes. Rituals and outward signs of conversion are not necessary; the important thing is to obey the Lord. Similarly, worldly obligations need not hinder a Christian’s relationship to the Lord, although a believer should not willingly submit to any domination by another which would interfere with serving the Lord.

After Jesus had calmed the sea (Mark 4:35-41), Jesus and his disciples arrived on the east side of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gergasenes, or Gadarenes; Gergasa was a town on the east shore of the sea, and a member of the Decapolis, a federation of ten cities in the region including Gadara, which is south-east of the sea). They encountered a demoniac who lived the cemetery. When he saw Jesus the demonic ran to Jesus and worshiped him and acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God.

The man was possessed by many demons, and they begged Jesus to allow them to enter a herd of about two thousand pigs which were feeding on the hillside nearby. Jesus allowed them to do so, and the pigs stampeded down a steep bank into the sea and drowned. The herdsmen fled and reported in the city and the surrounding area, and the local people came to see. They found the demoniac sitting there, cleaned up and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

Those who were eyewitnesses told what had happened to the man and to the pigs, and the locals begged Jesus to leave their neighborhood. As Jesus was getting back into the boat the former demoniac begged to go with him, but Jesus told him to stay in the area and proclaim what the Lord had done for him. So the former demoniac began to proclaim Jesus throughout the region of the Decapolis, and people were amazed.

The brothers had sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt because they were offended by the dreams Joseph had that his family would bow down to him. It had been God’s will and plan for Joseph to rise to the position of authority through suffering, so that Jacob’s (Israel’s) household (and the nation of Israel) might be saved from famine. Now the brothers were forced by famine to go to Egypt and deal with Joseph, bowing down before Joseph and very much under his power. It was absolutely essential to their interest to submit to him and show him respect. Joseph had absolute power of life or death over them. Joseph knew who they were before they realized who he was.

Paul’s teaching about personal relationships was based on the principle that believers are not to willingly allow anything to interfere with our obligation to serve the Lord. Marriage is a legitimate relief from bondage to sexual temptation (1 Corinthians 7:8-9), but marriage brings worldly obligations (1 Corinthians 7:28). Marriage of believers to unbelievers is to be avoided, but where a married person becomes a believer, it is no sin to remain with an unbelieving spouse, unless the conversion causes strife which would prevent the believing spouse from serving the Lord. Anyone who is under another’s control at the time of conversion should seek to change his circumstances if it is possible to do so, but is not disqualified if he cannot; The Lord recognizes our circumstances and does not require the impossible from us. We only need to serve him to the best of our ability.

The Gerasene demoniac had been dominated by a legion of demons. The demoniac came to Jesus and worshiped him, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus freed him from his slavery to the demons and restored him to a useful life of testifying about what Jesus had done for him. The Gerasene people were afraid of Jesus; they rejected him and sent him away. They should have been glad that the demoniac, who had been a local nuisance, had been healed. Pigs were regarded by Jews as unclean (sin), but these people were preoccupied with the worldly business of raising pigs. They were as much slaves to sin as the demoniac had been the slave of the demons, and Jesus was the only one who could set them free, but they sent him away. They went back to raising pigs, but the former demoniac went on to Christian ministry.

In one sense, the story of Joseph is a parable of the Day of Judgment. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23), just like Joseph’s brothers had sinned against him. There is a day coming when we are going to be held accountable to Jesus (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). He knows everything about us, even if we haven’t yet realized who he is. In that Day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10), whether we like the idea now or not. In that day he will have the power of eternal life or eternal death over us. In that Day we will hope that he will forgive our sins, but it will be too late for us to do anything to change our fate.

Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6), just like Joseph was the only source of bread for his brothers during the famine. Those who trust and obey Jesus now will be forgiven and receive eternal life. Those who reject Jesus and refuse to obey him now will receive eternal death and destruction in Hell with Satan and his demons (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). We imagine that we are free. We are all either servants of the Lord or we are servants of Satan. We are free to choose, and now is the time to make our decision. Who is your Master?