7 Epiphany

7 Epiphany - Sunday

Proverbs 1:20-33, Wisdom’s warning

2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Ministry of reconciliation

Mark 10:35-45, Disciples seeking honor

Wisdom is described as a prophetess of the Lord. She prophesies in the streets and market places, the ramparts and gates of the city. She asks how long the spiritually ignorant will enjoy their lack of spiritual knowledge; how long will the scoffer delight in scoffing? Heed (listen and apply) wisdom’s reproof (criticism; reprimand), and you will learn her teachings. Wisdom has called to the spiritually ignorant and the scoffers, but they have not heeded; they have refused to listen; they have ignored her counsel and refused her criticism. Therefore, wisdom will laugh when calamity befalls them, and will mock them when panic comes upon them.

The panic and calamity will be like a whirlwind and a great storm. The scoffers and spiritually foolish who didn’t seek wisdom while she could be found will be in distress and anguish. Then they will seek wisdom, but will not be able to find her; they will call but she will not answer, because they hated knowledge and the fear (have awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord. Those who would not accept wisdom’s counsel or correction “will eat the fruit of their way” (Proverbs 1:31). Those who are spiritually ignorant are killed by their rejection of wisdom, and fools are destroyed by their complacence, but those who take heed and apply wisdom’s teachings will dwell in security, and need not fear evil.

Paul and all “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples know the fear of the Lord, and try to persuade others. They are confident of God’s approval, regardless of what others think of them, but they hope their character can be recognized by their hearers. Paul is not trying to build himself up in the opinion of his hearers, but to give them a response to those who judge Christians by worldly standards of status and position. Christians are not, as some had accused Paul (and Jesus Christ; Mark 3:21) of being “beside themselves” (“crazy;” emotionally “unhinged"). Paul said that if he was “hysterical” it was for God’s glory, but if he were in his right mind, it was for discipling believers. Christians are to be controlled by the love of Christ. Since Jesus died for his followers, his followers are to live, no longer for themselves, but for Jesus who died and was raised again for their sake.

From now on Christians no longer consider Christ from a worldly perspective although we once did. “Therefore, if any one is in Christ (see Romans 8:9), he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our spiritual rebirth and new (eternal) life is (a gift from) God through Jesus Christ. God reconciled us to himself and gave us a ministry of reconciliation. In Christ, God offers reconciliation to the world. God promises, in Christ, not to hold us accountable for our sins, and entrusts us to extend the message of reconciliation to others. Thus we become ambassadors of Christ; God offers his reconciliation in Christ through us, his “born-again” disciples. For our sake, God made his Son, Jesus Christ, to take and bear our sin, although he Jesus himself was pure and sinless, so that we could bear the righteousness of God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

On the way to Jerusalem, (where Jesus knew he would be crucified; Mark 10:33), disciples James and John asked Jesus to do them a favor. Jesus asked what they wanted, and they asked him to make them sit on each side of Jesus in his glory (in his kingdom in heaven). Jesus said that they didn’t understand what they were asking. Jesus asked them if they were able to accept the same earthly destiny, and if they were as willing and obedient to accept God’s will as Jesus was. They replied that they were. Jesus declared that they would share the same earthly destiny and be required to have the same acceptance and obedience, but that Jesus had not been given the authority to give James and John the special position and honor they desired. Those things had already been prepared.

The other ten disciples were resentful when they heard James’ and John’s request, and Jesus called them to him and told them that worldly leaders seek power and recognition over others, but the kingdom of God has different standards. In God’s kingdom those who are great are those who are the most humble and servants of others, just as the Son of man (Jesus) didn’t come with worldly pomp as a king, but humbly as the suffering servant of all, “and to give his life as the ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Wisdom, described here, is divine wisdom, not what the world falsely calls “wisdom” (see 1 Corinthians 1 18-25; 2:6-8). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it” (Psalm 111:10a, b). God’s word is divine wisdom. Those who do not know, trust and obey God’s word are spiritually “illiterate” (uneducated; “ignorant”). Today is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2); now is the time to give heed to God’s wisdom. Those who take heed and apply the divine wisdom of God’s word have no reason to fear evil or God’s judgment and condemnation.

Paul learned the fear and the wisdom of God, and his ministry was to persuade others. Paul’s fear of God (his awe and respect of God’s power and authority) led to the wisdom of God, and Paul’s personal knowledge of God. As a result, Paul was reassured of God’s love and forgiveness through the indwelling Holy Spirit which Paul received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. So Paul could be confident that he had God’s approval. He had no reason to fear God’s judgment and condemnation of him, nor the world’s! Paul wasn’t trying to build up his own status in the world; but he wanted credibility for the sake of the salvation of others.

Paul was no longer living for himself, but instead for the Lord. Our forgiveness and salvation is a gift from God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The gift of 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). We have been forgiven and reconciled to God so that we can pass his forgiveness and reconciliation on to others.

James and John were still thinking of Jesus’ Lordship in worldly terms. Jesus was teaching them a new way of thinking and living. They were transformed by the Resurrection of Jesus, and by the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) Both James and John later suffered for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. James was the first apostle martyred, executed by sword by Herod (probably beheaded; Acts 12:1-2). John was later exiled to the tiny island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea (Revelation 1:9).

Are you willing to hear God’s word of warning? Are you willing to accept correction from God’s word? Are you willing to serve the Lord? Are you willing to serve others? Are you willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel?

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)?

7 Epiphany - Monday

Proverbs 3:11-20, Divine wisdom

1 John 3:18-4:6, Christian discernment

John 11:17-29 Jesus is the resurrection and the life

We are exhorted not to resent the discipline of the Lord or to reject his correction, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, like a good parent disciplines a beloved child. Real happiness in life is experienced by those who find (divine) wisdom and understanding. The benefits are greater and more precious than gold and silver or jewels. Nothing else compares with (divine) wisdom. Wisdom (portrayed as a prophetess of the Lord) offers long life, riches and honor, and her ways are pleasantness and peace. “She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her” (Proverbs 3:18). Those who grasp her will be truly happy. The Lord created the earth and the heavens by his wisdom and understanding. God’s knowledge guides the processes of nature.

Christians are to show true love for others by their deeds; not merely in unsubstantiated words and claims. By sincere love for others we can be reassured that we are in truth, and can stand before him without condemnation. God knows everything about us and discerns our innermost thoughts and attitudes. If we keep his commandments and do what pleases him we can have confidence before God and be assured that he will give us whatever we ask (according to his will). It is God’s command that we believe in the whole person and character of Jesus Christ, and that we should love one another, as Jesus has commanded. “And by this we know that he abides in us, by the (Holy) Spirit which he has given us

We are counseled to “not believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). There are many false prophets. “Every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God” (1 John 4:2b-3). The spirit which denies Jesus Christ is the spirit of antichrist. “Born-Again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples have overcome Satan, the antichrist, evil spirits, and false prophets, through Jesus Christ within us (by the gift of his Holy Spirit), because the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ within us, is greater than the forces of evil.

False prophets, false “christs,” and the forces and spirits of evil are of this world; those who are “worldly” listen to (and are deceived by) them. Christians are of God (“re-born” and “sealed” by his Holy Spirit). “Whoever knows God listens to us (“born-again Christian disciples and apostles); and he who is not of God does not listen to us” (1 John 4:6). Christians are thus able to discern spiritual truth from error.

Lazarus, of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha, had gotten sick. They were close friends of Jesus, and the sisters had sent for Jesus. Jesus had delayed coming, and Lazarus had died. (John 11:1-16). When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been the tomb four days. Bethany was close to Jerusalem and a many Jews from Jerusalem had come to console Mary and Martha. “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she got up to meet him, while Mary sat in the house” (John 11:20).

Mary told Jesus (calling him "Lord") that if he had been there her brother would not have died, but that even now she knew that whatever Jesus asked of God, God would give him. Jesus told her that her brother would rise again. Martha said that she knew that Lazarus would rise in the resurrection at the end of time. Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:26)? Martha said, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world (John 11:27).

In contrast to what the world falsely considers wisdom, true wisdom is divine wisdom, the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:17-25, 2:4-8), and this Creation, this present world, has been created according to the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God by which this world was created includes Jesus Christ, his one and only plan of salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right) from sin (disobedience of God’s word) and eternal death.

God’s word declares that the fear (awe and respect for the power and authority) of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). Those who seek God’s wisdom will find the tree of (eternal) life which we lost through sin (Genesis 3:24; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Seeking God’s wisdom begins with reading and heeding God’s word. Jesus Christ is the ultimate manifestation and embodiment of God’s word to this world (John 1:1-5, 14), and the gift of his Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives, (John 1:32-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17), is the ultimate personal manifestation to us individually in our physical life in this world (John 14:21). 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).

The Apostle John was “discipling” Christians. He was teaching believers to trust and obey Jesus’ commands and God’s word (Jesus' word is the word of God; John 14:24). He was teaching them to apply Jesus’ teachings in their daily lives. Through obedient trust in Jesus we will receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, who will continue the discipling process in us to spiritual maturity.

New believers are warned not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits. The Spirit of the Lord will authenticate himself to us personally. The Holy Spirit will never lead us to do anything contrary to God’s word, or anything to hurt others or ourselves. Believers need to read the Bible to come to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ and to be able to discern false prophets and false teachings. Any average reader can read the entire Bible in one year (See Links to free Bible study tools; sidebar, top right). Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth process through daily fellowship with the Lord in God’s word.

Jesus is the resurrection and eternal life. Jesus raised Lazarus (and others) from physical death to demonstrate that he had authority over life and death in both the physical and spiritual senses. Jesus’ own resurrection demonstrates the reality of life beyond physical death. Jesus promises that those who believe (have obedient trust) in him will never die eternally, and that those who are reborn to eternal life through faith in Jesus will live for eternity. Eternity begins now, in this world; this is our only opportunity to receive forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal death, to seek and come to a personal relationship with God (Acts 17:26-27), broken by our sin, but restored through faith in Jesus Christ by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit.

7 Epiphany - Tuesday

Proverbs 4:1-27, Good parenting

1 John 4:7-21, God is love

John 11:30-44, Lazarus raised from the dead

A good parent teaches his child to remember his parent’s instructions and obey his commandments. He instructs his child to seek wisdom (not worldly wisdom but the wisdom of God, by which the world was created; Proverbs 3:19-20; see Proverbs 9:10; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24). The way of wisdom is uprightness. The good parent teaches his child to turn away from wickedness and evil. The good parent wants his child to remember his words and to do them, so that the child may have a good life. The child is counseled to guard his heart from impurity, because from his heart “flows the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23); to avoid lying and deceitfulness, and to walk the straight path of righteousness, not turning from it to yield to temptation to evil.

John urged Christians to love one another because love is God’s nature, and those who are born of God (“born-again” by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit; John 3:3, 5-8) share God’s love for us with each other. Those who are unloving or hateful do not know God. God revealed his love for us by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die as a sacrifice for our sins, so that we might live eternally through Jesus. God did this, not in return for our love for him, but while we were sinners in rebellion against God (Romans 5:8). Jesus gave his life for us so that our sins might be forgiven. If we realize God’s love for us we should love one another. No human has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God (who is revealed to us through Jesus) will abide in us (through the gift of his Holy Spirit) and his love will be matured and completed in us.

The gift of God’s Holy Spirit within us is our assurance that we abide in God and he in us. Those who have been “born-again” have experienced and testify that Jesus is God’s son and the Savior of the world. Those who confess that Jesus is God’s Son abide in God and God in them. We know and believe God’s love for us (through personal fellowship with him through his indwelling Holy Spirit). Love for one another is evidence that we abide in God and God in us. When God’s love has grown to maturity in us we will have no reason to fear God’s judgment. Perfect love overcomes fear, because mature love does nothing deserving punishment. We love because we have experienced God’s love for us. One cannot love God if one hates one’s brother. How can we love God whom we cannot see, if we cannot love our brother who is right here. Failure to love our brother is a violation of God’s commandment.

Lazarus had been dead four days before Jesus arrived in Bethany. When Martha had heard that Jesus had arrived she went out to meet him while Mary had stayed in the home with the mourners. After Martha had talked to the Lord (John 11:17-27), she went and told Mary that Jesus had arrived and was calling Mary. Mary went to Jesus, who had not yet entered the village. When the mourners saw Mary leave abruptly they followed, thinking that she was going to the tomb to mourn. When Mary came to Jesus she fell at his feet saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and also the mourners who had followed her, he was deeply moved and wept also. The mourners realized how much Jesus loved Lazarus, but some said “could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying” (John 11:37)?

Jesus asked where Lazarus had been laid, and Mary took him to see the tomb. It was a cave, sealed with a stone. Jesus asked for the stone to be removed, and Martha told Jesus that there would be a stench, because the body had been in the tomb four days. Jesus told her that if she would believe she would see the glory of God. The stone was removed and Jesus prayed, thanking God the Father for hearing (and granting) what Jesus asked. Jesus wanted the witnesses to know that this miracle was by God’s power, and not sorcery. Then Jesus called Lazarus by name, and commanded him to come out. The dead man came out, covered with burial wrappings, including his face. Jesus told the people to unbind Lazarus “and let him go” (John 11:44).

As our Creator, God is the Father of every one of us, whether we acknowledge him or not. He created us and wants to give us good, abundant life. He is the epitome of a good parent who loves each one of us, and he has given us his word (the Bible) so that we can find and learn divine wisdom and live the good, abundant life God intended for us. God created the entire universe through his divine wisdom, and knows that we cannot have a good life apart from obedient trust in God’s word.

God reveals himself successively to us. His Creation reveals his goodness, wisdom and power. He has given us his word, the Bible, which reveals his love, character and faithfulness more fully. He gave us his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the invisible God revealed in human form (Colossians 1:15). Jesus’ words and deeds reveal God more fully, but the ultimate revelation of God to us individually and personally is the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit within us. Every successive revelation of himself testifies to his goodness and love for us. When we are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) we experience that love and goodness directly and personally.

God’s purpose for Creation has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey him. God has given us the freedom to choose whether to obey him or not. God knew that we would have to learn to trust and obey him, and that we would need forgiveness for sin (disobedience of God’s word), so God designed a plan of salvation into the structure of Creation (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus Christ is God’s only plan for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal death (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 personal relationship with God (Acts 17:26-27) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ reveals God’s love for us and is the example for us of an obedient trusting Son of God. God’s plan of Salvation in Jesus Christ is a wonderful manifestation of God’s love for us, motivating us to trust and obey the Lord, from love rather than by fear of punishment.

The mourners with Lazarus’ sister, Mary, realized, from what Jesus said and did, that Jesus loved Lazarus very much. Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying, but he wanted people to know that he had the power and authority to raise the dead to life, to the glory of God.

Jesus’ word has the creative force of God. God created the universe by his word (Genesis 1:3). Jesus was careful to not to command faith in his hearers. He referred to himself as the Son of man, so that his hearers would be free to decide for themselves who they believed him to be. When he spoke a command, to the forces of nature (wind and sea; Matthew 8:26-27), to forces of evil (demons; Matthew 8:31-32), and even to the physically dead, they all obeyed immediately.

Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment to judge the living and the dead, in both the physical and spiritual sense. On that day Jesus will command, and all the dead will come forth from the tombs, some to eternal life, and some to eternal condemnation and destruction (John 5:28-29). We are all like Lazarus, spiritually dead, and spiritually bound because of sin. Jesus is the only one who is able to command our release and to give us new, eternal life, beginning now, in this world, through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. 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).

7 Epiphany - Wednesday

Proverbs 6:1-19, Character traits to avoid

1 John 5:1-12, Victorious faith

John 11:45-54, The Sanhedrin plots to kill Jesus

We are warned against several personal faults. We should not enter into a legal obligation to a neighbor, particularly someone we do not know well. If we have become so obligated, we are warned not to let pride induce us to continue in it. Rather we should seek release from such an obligation, even if it means humbling ourselves and irritating our neighbor. Idleness should be avoided. Evil-mindedness will lead to disaster. Seven bad character traits are pride, deceit, meanness, wicked intentions, evil actions, false witness, and troublemaking.

Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are children of God. Anyone who loves the Father loves his children. Loving God produces obedience to God’s commandments; following God’s commandments is the way to demonstrate love for his children. God’s commands are not unreasonable. Whoever is born of God overcomes the world and our faith results in that victory. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God results in victory over the world.

We receive Jesus by the water of our baptism and by the cleansing of his blood shed on the Cross for our sins [which we receive in the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Holy Communion)]. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, bears witness. God’s promise is secured by our baptism, our believing participation in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and the testimony of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

If we believe the testimony of men, God’s testimony is much more reliable. Those who have believed in the Son of God have the testimony in themselves; they have come to know Jesus personally through the Holy Spirit. Those who do not believe God have called God a liar, because they have rejected the God’s testimony concerning his Son. “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life” (1 John 5:11-12).

Because of Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44), many Jews (Judeans) believed in Jesus; but some reported Jesus’ miracle to the Pharisees. The Jewish religious council of chief priests and Pharisees gathered to rule on this matter. They were afraid that if they allowed Jesus to continue preaching and working miracles, that everyone would believe in Jesus, and the Romans would come and destroy the holy place (the Temple) and the nation. But Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, told them they knew nothing; that they did not understand that it was in their best interest that one person should die for the people, so that the whole nation would not perish.

Caiaphas said this, not of his own authority, but he prophesied, because of his office as high priest, that Jesus should die not only for the Jews but for all who would become children of God (through faith in Jesus). From that day, the Jewish authorities plotted to execute Jesus. So Jesus no longer went about openly, but stayed with his disciples in a town near the wilderness called Ephraim (in the Judean hills about 14 miles north of Jerusalem).

Christians are (adopted) children of God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. As our good Father, God has given us his word, the Bible, to guide and shape us into the kind of people his children are to become, and to help us avoid things which will harm us and prevent us from having true life. Jesus is the fulfillment and embodiment of God’s word in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is the illustration and example of what God’s children are to be.

In these proverbs God warns us not to come under the power and authority of anyone other than God. We must be careful not to become entrapped in worldly commitments that interfere with our obedience to the Lord. God also warns us to make the most of the time we’ve been given in this life, not wasting time in idleness, nor wasting time in misdirected activity pursuing worldly goals or wickedness.

We come to faith in Jesus through hearing or reading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the illustration of God’s love for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). If we recognize God’s goodness and love for us, we will love him, and the way to express that love is in obedient trust in Jesus and God’s word. As we trust and obey Jesus he will come to us personally and individually through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17). We will be “re-born” (John 3:3, 5-8) through his Holy Spirit within us It is by living in obedience to the Holy Spirit that we have true, eternal life, personal fellowship with the Lord, and the gifts, guidance and power to trust, obey, and serve the Lord. That is the saving faith which overcomes the world. 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).

We are baptized into Jesus Christ by water for repentance as a covenant with the Lord to trust and obey him. As we live out that covenant promise, Jesus will baptize us with his Holy Spirit. Holy Communion (“the Lord’s Supper;” the Eucharist) is the fulfillment of the Passover feast, in which Jesus became the sacrificial “Lamb” and shed his blood on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s word). Jesus’ blood saves us, marking us as his people, so that we can be “passed-over” by the destroying angel. Jesus nourishes us spiritually and maintains our fellowship with him in his indwelling Holy Spirit through the elements of the Communion.

God’s promise of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in fellowship with him are secured by our baptism, our faithful participation in Holy Communion, and by the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit within us. “Born-again” Christians have the testimony of God’s promise within us.

The Jewish religious leaders were jealous of Jesus’ popularity. Their religion had become their personal “empire” rather than God’s temple. They saw Jesus as a threat to their “religion.” They were afraid that if Jesus was allowed to continue teaching and doing miracles everyone would believe in Jesus. They were afraid that the Romans would react by destroying their temple and their nation. Caiaphas, the High Priest, prophesied that one person, Jesus, would die so that the whole nation would not perish, and that he would not die only for the Jews, but for all who would become children of God through faith in Jesus.

The temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 A.D. and the people were scattered throughout the world. The nation ceased to exist, until the Jews began returning following World War II. The Jewish leaders’ plot to crucify Jesus didn’t save them from the destruction they feared. They had God’s word and prophecy, but they failed to recognize and receive Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. They had allowed commitment to worldly pursuits to become more important than God and his word.

In many ways the Church and “Christian” nations, particularly America, are in a very similar situation to Israel at the time of Jesus’ First Advent (coming). The Church is the “New Jerusalem;” the “New People of God,” and America is the “New Promised Land.” We are warned to be careful that we don’t put our worldly plans and worldly pursuits ahead of God’s will and his word. Church leaders and members are warned not to allow their congregations to become “personal empires,” their “religion,” instead of a personal fellowship with the Lord through his Holy Spirit. God had left his temple in Jerusalem long before it was physically destroyed by the Romans, and the Jews didn’t notice his absence.

7 Epiphany - Thursday

Proverbs 7:1-27, Warning against adultery

1 John 5:13-21, Christian assurance

John 11:55-12:8, The anointing at Bethany

We are advised to keep the Lord’s commandments, because they are the way to real, eternal life. Wisdom is portrayed as a woman, and insight as her sister. We are urged to make them our sisters and friends, instead of consorting with adultery which is wicked and deadly. Adultery is illustrated as an enticing woman. Temptation overrules common sense; the victim fails to realize the danger. The way to adultery is the way to death. Spiritual adultery is also described and condemned. Spiritual adultery is the performance of religious ritual without inner commitment to apply faith to life by obedience to God’s word (Proverbs 7:14-15).

John wrote his message to those who believe in (trust and obey; see also 1 John 5:10-12) the name (the character, power and authority) of the Son of God (Jesus Christ). Those who trust and obey Jesus and pray according to his will can be assured that God hears our prayers, and if we know that he has heard us we can be confident that we have received what we request (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right).

Christians are to pray for fellow believers who sin unintentionally. Continuous, deliberate sin is not to be tolerated (1 John 3:16; and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the one unforgivable sin; Mark 3:28-29). Those who are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the indwelling Holy Spirit do not sin because they are guided by the Holy Spirit and empowered to resist Satan. “Born-again” Christians are of God (and protected from Satan’s power), but the whole world is in the power of Satan. “We know that the Son of God has come (in flesh, and also by his indwelling Holy Spirit) and has given us understanding, to know him who is true (God) and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Christians are to avoid any form of idolatry (including pride of self).

The season of Passover, (the commemoration of God’s deliverance from bondage and death in Egypt, celebrated in March-April) was at hand. Many Jews went to Jerusalem to (ritually) purify themselves before the feast. There was a lot of speculation and anticipation regarding whether Jesus would also come to Jerusalem for the festival. The religious leaders had given orders that if anyone knew Jesus’ whereabouts they should inform the authorities so that they could arrest Jesus.

Six days before the Feast, Jesus came to Bethany to the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and his sisters, Mary and Martha. They prepared supper for Jesus. Martha served, and Lazarus was at the table with Jesus. Mary took a pound of expensive ointment and anointed Jesus’ feet with the ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, filling the air in the house with the fragrance of the ointment. Judas, one of the twelve disciples, who later betrayed Jesus, criticized this extravagance, suggesting that the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Judas didn’t really care for the poor, but he used to steal from the moneybox. Jesus told Judas to leave Mary alone; there would always be opportunities to help the poor but there would not always be an opportunity to do something nice for Jesus.

God has given us his word, the Bible, to guide us into true, eternal life, and to warn us about the dangers and consequences of sin (disobedience of God’s word). He has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, as the example and demonstration of the way we are to live in order to find true, eternal life. Those who trust and obey Jesus receive the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit within them to help them understand and remember God’s word, to guide them in the way to live according to God’s word, and to empower them to overcome temptation and fulfill God’s will for them.

Physical adultery is sin because it injures everyone connected to it, and leads to spiritual, eternal death. Spiritual adultery is also spiritually deadly. Any person or thing which we love as much as or more than the Lord is idolatry, which is spiritual adultery. Spiritual adultery is also the performance of any religious ritual, without the inner commitment to live in obedience to God’s word, like marriage without the intent to be faithful to the marriage vows.

God’s word contains wonderful promises but also ominous warnings (a carrot and a stick). Those who trust and obey Jesus and pray according to God’s will can be certain that the Lord hears and answers their prayers. We can pray for and receive forgiveness for unintentional sin, but continual deliberate sin must not be tolerated within the Church. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the one unforgivable sin, because characterizing the love and goodness of God’s Spirit as evil indicates the spiritual lostness of the individual, and cuts him off from the means of forgiveness, salvation and restoration (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Those who are “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit are freed from the fear of physical death and the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15). 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). It is possible for one to know with certainty whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit or not (Acts 19:2). It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have fellowship with Jesus and God the Father (John 14:21).

Christians are warned to avoid any form of idolatry or spiritual adultery. Some modern examples of idols are career, home, family, wealth, power, pleasure, and pride of self.

Mary and Martha are examples of followers of Jesus who loved him and did what was pleasing to him, not withholding any effort or expense. They trusted and obeyed Jesus and from their experience in his presence knew that they had eternal life beyond physical death, as Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus showed, and as they would soon witness in Jesus’ own resurrection.

Judas was a “nominal” disciple and follower of Jesus. He let selfish pride and love of money interfere with his calling in Jesus. He didn’t love Jesus and he didn’t care about Mary and Martha or the poor. Judas betrayed Jesus for a few silver coins, and he wound up physically and eternally dead. The Jewish religious authorities are warnings to Church leaders and members who think their “religion,” their rituals will save them, without a personal fellowship with Jesus through his indwelling Holy Spirit. They clung to their religious tradition and rejected a personal relationship with the promised Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We can be like Mary and Martha and personally witness the risen Jesus and have close personal fellowship with him through the gift of his Holy Spirit within us. If we love Jesus we will seek to know and do what is pleasing to him. As we become his obedient, trusting disciples and followers of his words and examples, he will give us his personal presence within us by the gift of his Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17; Revelation 3:20). What kind of disciples are we? Do we love Jesus and want to know and do what pleases him, or do we covet for ourselves the love, praise and offerings that belong to him?

7 Epiphany - Friday

Proverbs 8:1-21, Divine wisdom

Philemon 1-25, Reconciliation

John 12:9-19, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem

Wisdom is portrayed as a prophetess. Her wisdom is the divine wisdom of God, by which the world was created, in contrast to worldly wisdom (see Proverbs 9:10; 1 Corinthians 1:17-24; 2:4-8). True wisdom produces and demonstrates righteousness, truth, prudence, and discretion; there is no wickedness, deceit or perversion; no pride, arrogance or evil works. Divine wisdom is required if leaders are to rule justly. Divine wisdom can be found by those who seek it diligently. The rewards of divine wisdom are true wealth and eternal prosperity.

Paul was writing to Philemon, a resident of Colossae, in Phrygia (western Turkey). On an earlier missionary trip by Paul to that area, Philemon had been converted to Christianity. The church at Colossae met in Philemon’s home. Onesimus, a slave of Philemon’s had robbed his master and run off. He came under Paul’s influence while Paul was under house arrest in Rome and had been converted to Christianity.

Paul was writing to effect reconciliation. Under Roman law, Philemon had absolute authority over the life and person of the slave. Although as Philemon’s Pastor Paul had the right to command him, he preferred to ask him to forgive Onesimus (whose name means useful) so that Philemon’s goodness might be voluntary rather than compulsory. Paul suggests that it is by God’s will that Onesimus should be reunited, not as a slave but as a brother and partner. Paul requests that Philemon attribute to Paul’s account any debt that Philemon felt was due him, and reminded him that Philemon owed Paul his own inestimable debt for his salvation.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus and his disciples came to Bethany, which is only a couple miles from Jerusalem, and where Jesus’ close friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. News that Jesus was in Bethany attracted a large crowd to Bethany. The people came not only to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus, who Jesus had raised from the dead. The Jewish leaders planned to kill Lazarus in addition to Jesus, since Lazarus’ resurrection was causing many people to believe in Jesus.

The next day the crowd learned that Jesus was on his way from Bethany to Jerusalem, so they took palm branches and went to meet him, crying "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name (poser and authority) of the Lord, even the King of Israel" (John 12:13b)! Jesus had obtained a young donkey and rode on it, manifesting himself as the Messiah and fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. At the time, his disciples did not understand the significance, but after Jesus’ resurrection, they realized the connection between what had been written about him in scripture and what had happened.

The people who had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus had testified to this miracle, which is what had attracted the crowd to watch Jesus enter Jerusalem. The Pharisees reaction was that it seemed that the whole world was turning to faith in Jesus, and they were powerless to prevent it.

Divine wisdom is the wisdom of God. The entire Creation is built and functions according to divine wisdom. What the world falsely calls wisdom is not true, divine wisdom. Divine wisdom is required if rulers are to govern justly. We can find and possess divine wisdom if we seek it diligently. God wants us to have divine wisdom. The word of God is divine wisdom, and Jesus is the fulfillment and embodiment of God’s word (John 1:1-5, 14) and of divine wisdom. Jesus is the ultimate King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the ideal ruler of his people. Those who are subjects to his reign will be most blessed.

Philemon had come into the kingdom of God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ by the preaching of Paul. (The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth.) Philemon was being discipled by Paul. Although Philemon had the right to own slaves and the power of life and death over them by his earthly citizenship, Paul was teaching Philemon to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. The worldly kingdom gave Philemon what it called justice, but denied justice to Onesimus. Paul as a disciple and apostle was teaching by word and example the higher righteousness (blamelessness), justice and wisdom of God’s kingdom; he was working for reconciliation and peace.

In Jesus, both Philemon and Onesimus were brothers.

The Jewish religious rulers are an illustration of worldly leaders who lack divine wisdom, although they were “religious” and considered themselves authorities of God’s word. They thought they were righteous and just even though they were plotting to kill Jesus the Messiah, God’s anointed eternal Savior and King, God’s Son. They also planned to kill Lazarus. Their only “justification” for murder was jealousy and religious rivalry; Jesus and Lazarus were threatening the Jewish leaders’ power and status over the people of Israel.

Jesus entered Jerusalem, knowing that at the end of the week he would be crucified. He is God’s anointed Savior and eternal King, but he entered Jerusalem as the King of Peace, humbly riding on a donkey (in fulfillment of scripture; Zechariah 9:9), instead of entering as a victorious king of war, in a chariot, with his army. The crowds went to meet him and hailed him as God’s anointed King of Israel.

We are engaged in a spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil in this world. Jesus is the only just and righteous eternal king who can save us from the forces of evil. Satan is the ultimate ruler of this world, behind the human worldly rulers. Each of us must choose whether to be subject to Jesus Christ the eternal King of Kings, or to the worldly kingdom. We are slaves to the earthly kingdom, and only Jesus can set us free from bondage to sin and eternal death (see god’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). We can escape from that slavery and be reconciled to God only through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the power and wisdom (and righteousness) of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people, including the disciples, did not realize that the scriptures were being fulfilled. It was only later, after Jesus had been glorified (raised to eternal life) that they realized the connection between the scripture and the events they had witnessed.

Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment to judge the living and the dead in both the physical and spiritual sense. At his Second Coming he will come in great power and glory as the victorious King. If we hope to be ready for Jesus’ return we must be his disciples now.

Are you ready for Jesus’ return? 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)?

7 Epiphany - Saturday

Proverbs 8:22-36, Wisdom at creation

2 Timothy 1:1-14, Testify with boldness

John 12:20-26, The cost of discipleship

Wisdom was the first-born of creation. All creation was established according to divine wisdom. (Divine wisdom is distinct from the wisdom of the world; divine wisdom is the true wisdom of God, by which the world was created; Proverbs 3:19-20; see Proverbs 9:10; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; 2:4-8). Wisdom is pictured as a master craftsman who attended creation. Therefore we are well advised to live according to God’s wisdom; to listen to God’s instruction and not neglect his teachings. “Happy is the man (or woman) who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:34-36).

Paul was an apostle (messenger; one who is sent with a message; a missionary) of the Gospel of eternal life through Jesus Christ in accordance with God’s will, writing to Timothy, his protégé and spiritual child, offering a blessing of grace, mercy and peace (grace and peace were traditional forms of Greek and Hebrew salutations; real grace and peace, and in addition, mercy, are revealed and received only from God through Jesus Christ).

Paul was thankful that Timothy was following the faith of his mother and grandmother (who were Jews; Timothy’s father was Greek, a Gentile), serving the Lord God through faith in Jesus Christ, as was Paul. Paul urged Timothy to “rekindle” the gift (of the Holy Spirit) within him received by the laying on of Paul’s hands (Acts 19:2, 6). Paul wanted Timothy not to be shy or ashamed about expressing his testimony by the power, love and self-discipline of the Holy Spirit. Paul asked Timothy not to be ashamed, either, of Paul’s imprisonment, and to be willing to suffer also for the gospel in the strength God supplies (through the gift of his Spirit), who saves and calls us with a divine commission, not because we are worthy, but by his will and his merciful generosity which he gave us long ago in Christ and has now been revealed in Jesus’ incarnation (manifestation in human flesh; John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus has abolished eternal death and revealed eternal life through the gospel of Jesus Christ, to which Paul had been appointed to be a preacher, apostle and teacher, for which he was suffering imprisonment and persecution. But Paul was not ashamed to be a prisoner, because he knew and had personally experienced the risen eternal Jesus and the truth of what he believed, and was certain that the Lord is able to guard and preserve what had been entrusted to Paul until the Day of Judgment. So Paul exhorted Timothy to follow, in faith and love, the sound apostolic doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which Timothy had received from Paul, and to guard the truth which had been entrusted to Timothy by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It was the Passover season, and Jesus had come to Jerusalem. There were also some Greeks (Gentiles) among those who had come to Jerusalem for the feast. These came to Philip, and asked to see Jesus. Philip, a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, went to his fellow disciple Andrew, who was also from Bethsaida, and Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus told them that the hour had come for the Son of man (Jesus) to be glorified. Then Jesus told them that a seed must “die” and be buried in order to bring forth fruit; otherwise it remains unproductive. So also one who loves his life looses it, and one who hates his life in this world will have eternal life. Jesus told them that if anyone chooses to serve Jesus he must follow Jesus and do as Jesus does. God will honor anyone who serves Jesus.

God built and established this Creation according to his divine wisdom, but divine wisdom is not what this world falsely calls “wisdom.” God has intended from the beginning of Creation to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey him. The meaning and purpose for this lifetime is to seek and come to a personal fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), which is only possible through obedient trust in Jesus Christ (John 14:6, 15-17, 21).

Divine wisdom is portrayed by the teacher in these proverbs as the “first-born” of Creation. Divine wisdom is the Word of God, who was attendant and active in Creation, and who is fulfilled in God’s Word and embodied God’s Word in the coming of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3, 14). Jesus is (the incarnation of) the power and wisdom of God in human flesh (1 Corinthians 1:24).

Jesus is not an afterthought; God knew from the beginning of Creation that in order to give us free will to choose whether to trust and obey God, he would have to provide a way of forgiveness and salvation from God’s eternal condemnation, so that we could learn by trial and error to trust and obey God. God’s Pan of Salvation (see sidebar, top right) is wonderfully gracious and just. God’s forgiveness and salvation are available to every one as a free gift, to be received by faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9); no one can buy it, earn it (by doing “good deeds”), or take it by deception or force. Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) is eternal death, all need and can receive God’s entire forgiveness and salvation. Instead of being forced by God to obey God’s word by fear of eternal destruction, we are free to choose to do God’s will by love, when we discover that his will is loving, reliable and in our best interest.

Timothy had been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the Holy Spirit through Paul’s preaching of the Gospel and Paul’s “laying on of hands.” [In my own experience, the “laying on of hands” occurred at my Baptism as an infant (and at Confirmation at age 13) but I did not receive the “anointing” with the indwelling Holy Spirit until I began to fulfill my Baptismal vows in my 30’s by beginning to trust and obey Jesus Christ. I understand Baptism as a covenant, a “contract,” between God and the baptized. When the candidate keeps his promise, God, who is entirely faithful, keeps his.]

Paul urged Timothy to “rekindle” the gift of the Holy Spirit which he received through Paul. Perhaps Timothy needed to fulfill his vows of obedient trust and begin to apply Jesus’ teachings in his own life (like I), or perhaps he had received the indwelling Holy Spirit, but had drifted from obedient trust. (I have experienced others who described a sense of the Holy Spirit “coming and going” which I suggest may have been due to some reluctance on the person’s part to do some specific thing that the Lord was asking, perhaps like Jonah, the reluctant prophet; Jonah 1:1-3:3.)

Paul was discipling Timothy. Paul was urging Timothy to fulfill the calling God had prepared for him. Paul taught that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s mercy and grace prepared long ago (at Creation) and that Jesus is the fulfillment and “incarnation” of that mercy and grace. Jesus has revealed God’s eternal plan and has demonstrated the truth of the resurrection and of existence beyond physical death, by his own resurrection from the dead.

Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus) had personally experienced the risen Jesus (in his encounter, on the road to Damascus, and in his “re-birth” through the gift of the Holy Spirit; Acts 9:1-9, 17-20). Paul learned to trust the power and faithfulness of the Lord within him by the Holy Spirit and had become convinced by experience that the Lord was able to guard and preserve Paul unto eternal life in God’s kingdom. Paul urged Timothy to follow, in faith and love, the sound apostolic Gospel of Jesus Christ (taught by the Apostles including Paul, and recorded in the New Testament scriptures) which Timothy had received from Paul, and to guard the truth which Timothy had received through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The risen Jesus opens the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45).

Jesus warned his disciples that they would have to endure suffering in this world in order to follow him. The Gospel is contrary to the “wisdom” of this world. Jesus gave us the example of how to live according to God’s word and God’s Spirit in this world, and he was hated and killed for it. But he demonstrated by his resurrection that his way is the way to eternal life (John 14:6). A disciple of Jesus must follow Jesus example and teachings. This world and worldly people will not honor the disciples of Jesus Christ, but God will. If we want worldly honor and success we will loose eternal honor and eternal life.

Jesus is the “first born” of Creation” (Colossians 1:13-15); the “first-born” to eternal life from physical death (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18). Paul is the “first-born” of all modern, “post-resurrection” (since Jesus’), “born-again” Christian disciples and apostles. Paul was following Jesus’ teaching and example, guided by Jesus’ Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). He was proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded. He was enduring suffering for the Gospel. He was fulfilling the “Great Commission” which the risen Jesus gave to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), to be fulfilled after they had waited and received the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).