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Deuteronomy
33:1-5, The blessing of Moses
1 John 2:12-17, True relationship to God
John 6:41-47 Bread from Heaven
This is the introductory praise of the Lord from Moses’ blessing of the
tribes before his death. The Lord came from Sinai (where God made the
covenant of law with the people) and dawned upon Israel from (Mount) Seir (southern border of Israel).
He shone forth from Mount Paran (in the
region of Kadesh-barnea, from which Moses
sent the scouts to scout the land of Canaan).
God came from the angelic hosts of heaven “with flaming fire at his
right hand” (his awesome power; see Exodus 19:18). God loved his
people; they were consecrated to the Lord, so they were in his care.
They followed God’s leading and received direction from him through
Moses. The Lord was declared king in Jeshurun
(a term of endearment for “Israel,” meaning “upright”)
in the tribal assembly.
The author (probably the Apostle John), is writing to all Christians,
in various stages of spiritual maturity. He assures the newest
believers that their sins have been forgiven for Jesus’ sake. The
fathers (mature Christians, leaders) have a personal relationship with
the Lord. He assures young disciples that they have overcome the evil
one.
He reminds
all Christians not to love this world or the things of
this world. Anyone who loves this world or material things does not
truly love God the Father, because all that is in the world leads away
from God. It is the things of this world which lead us to sin through
the lust of physical gratification, the delights of the mind and
emotion, and trust in material possessions. This world passes away, and
so do worldly desires and pleasures, but those who do the will of God
will live eternally.
Jesus had declared that he was the bread which came down from heaven,
and the Jews (of Capernaum;
John 6:24) challenged his statement, since they thought that they knew
that Jesus was the son of Joseph and they knew Joseph and Jesus’
mother. They didn’t believe Jesus’ claim to have come down from heaven.
Jesus told them not to dispute his statement. Jesus told them that no
one can come to him unless they respond to God the Father’s leading,
and Jesus will raise (to eternal life), on the Day of the Lord, those
who respond to that leading. Jesus quoted Isaiah 54:13, “And they
shall all be taught by God,” (John 6:45) and said that those who have
learned from the Father will come to Jesus. Jesus declared that no one
has seen God the Father except Jesus, who is from God. Jesus declared
that those who believe have eternal life.
God revealed himself to Israel
at Mt. Sinai, and established his
covenant with them. God loved his people. Because they were consecrated
(set apart; devoted) to the Lord through the covenant, they were in
God’s care and protection. God led them through the wilderness into the
Promised Land. The people declared God their King, and they followed
his leading.
God has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. Christians are to be
consecrated to the Lord. The Lord is our King. We cannot love and serve
both this world and the Lord (Matthew 6:24). The Lord wants to lead us
into his eternal kingdom. We must choose whether we will follow Jesus
or follow the world.
The Jews had not learned from God’s Word because they didn’t recognize
Jesus as God’s Son or hear God’s Word in what Jesus said. They were so
involved with the things of this world that they missed God’s will and
purpose for them in Jesus Christ. They knew and saw Jesus’ earthly
father in Jesus, but not his heavenly Father. They were so preoccupied
by worldly things that they weren’t able to feel and respond to the
Father drawing them to Jesus.
We can learn enough about God from scripture to recognize that Jesus is
the Christ, God’s Son, but we cannot truly know God without a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ through his indwelling Holy Spirit.
Jesus is God’s fullest revelation of himself and the fullest revelation
of Jesus is through his Holy Spirit.
We can
learn enough about Jesus
Christ from scripture to make a personal commitment to accept him as
our Lord, but when we begin to be his disciples and follow him in trust
and obedience, he will manifest himself to us personally by the gift of
his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21-23). Jesus promised that those
who believe in him will have eternal life. Only Jesus baptizes with the
Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus
(John 14:15-17). 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).
Is Jesus
your Lord? Are you
Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received
the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are
you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that
Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you
will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
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