5EpiphanyOdd

5 Epiphany - Sunday

Isaiah 57:1-13, Against idolatry

Hebrews 12:1-6, Christian discipline

John 7:37-46, Who do you say Jesus is?

The righteous die, but worldly people, including apostates among the congregation of Israel, don’t learn from their example. They do not understand that the physical death of those who are devout is not a calamity but a deliverance from calamity. The righteous enter into eternal peace and rest; it is the upright who lie down in peace and rest.

Those who are not the people of God through obedient trust in God’s Word are illegitimate children, the offspring of spiritual adultery and prostitution. Who do they mock by their unbelief? They are the children of sin and lies. They continue to practice idolatry (loving anything as much as or more than their love for God). Impotent, inanimate idols will be the reward and inheritance of those who worship and trust in idols. Do they imagine that God will be appeased by their idolatry? In abandoning the Lord for idols they have made their “bed” and will have to lie in it; they have made a contract and will have to keep it. They have loved wickedness and pursued it.

Who do idolaters fear more than the Lord? Has God’s forbearance caused them not to fear his power and authority? God knows their thoughts and deeds, and all their “good deeds” will not help them. When calamity strikes, let their idols deliver them. Their idols are so impotent they can’t withstand a puff of breeze. But those who trust and obey God will find safe refuge in him and will inherit the land and God’s holy mountain.

Our Christian lives are like an athletic competition and the great multitude of saints who have gone before us are like spectators. So we are urged to be like athletes, putting aside anything which will hinder our performance and to run the race with perseverance, following the example of Jesus Christ, who is the “pioneer” (who blazed the trail for us to follow) and perfecter, our “trainer,” who coaches us in faith to victory and spiritual maturity.

Jesus endured the cross and its shame for the joy of eternal life and fellowship with God the Father and all his disciples, which was promised to the winner, and he has now been enthroned at the right hand of God. Think about the tremendous hostility Jesus endured from sinners, so that we may be encouraged to persevere and not loose hope. Most of us have never had to shed our own blood in our resistance against sin. Remember also that the Lord disciplines us like a good father disciplines his children for their own good out of his love for us.

Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (an eight-day harvest festival also commemorating Israel’s wilderness wandering). On the last day of the feast, the most important day, Jesus publicly proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).

When the people heard this, some were convinced that Jesus was the prophet (who was expected to appear before the Messiah) and some thought Jesus was the Messiah (Christ), but others did not, because they expected the Messiah to be a descendant of David and come from Bethlehem, David’s hometown). The people were divided over Jesus’ identity, and some wanted to arrest Jesus, but no one did. Temple officers returned to the Jewish high council without having arrested Jesus and when they were asked why not, they said that no one had ever spoken like Jesus did.

This life is like an athletic competition between the forces of evil and the forces of good. The wicked seemingly prosper while the good often seem to die young. It isn’t the person with the most clothes (or material possessions) when he dies who wins, as a bumper sticker suggests. Physical death comes to both the rich and the poor, but worldly people don’t realize that physical death is not the end of life. There is eternal existence beyond physical death (John 5:28-29). The question is: Where will we spend eternity?

There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived on earth will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this lifetime. Jesus is the standard by which all will be judged (Matthew 25:31-46). Those who have trusted and obeyed the Lord will spend eternity in paradise, in the eternal kingdom of God, in fellowship with the Lord. They will have eternal peace with God and their brethren, and eternal rest from the struggles of this temporal life. They will inherit the eternal Promised Land and the Mountain of God.

Those who have rejected the Lord and have refused to trust and obey him will spend eternity in the torment of eternal death in Hell. Those who have worshiped the idols of wealth, power, success, pleasure, home, family, and career, or any of the other “gods” of this world will find that their gods are impotent to deliver them from eternal condemnation. Their worthless gods will be their inheritance and eternal destruction will be their eternal reward.

All of us have sinned (disobeyed God’s word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for forgiveness of our sin, salvation from eternal death, and restoration of fellowship with God (eternal peace and rest; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus Christ frees us from bondage to sin and the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Christians are called to be “athletes” in the competition between good and evil in this lifetime. Training for the “competition” requires self-discipline and sacrifice. We must put aside those things which would hinder us, and place ourselves in the guidance and training of our coach, Jesus Christ, who is our example, and trainer who will give us the ability and power to be victorious.

Jesus persevered in obedient trust in God through the suffering of this present life and received the prize of the eternal throne of his Father in heaven. He has won the victory, and as we follow his example, we will share his reward.

Christian “athletes” are disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that anyone who is spiritually thirsty, who recognizes the need for the “water” of spiritual, eternal life, should come to Jesus, who alone is able to supply that “water” of eternal life. Jesus is the rock in the wilderness of this world (1 Corinthians 10:4; Exodus 17:6), through whom God supplies the “living water” of the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit within us is the spring of spiritual life which sustains us into eternity. 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 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)?

5 Epiphany - Monday

Isaiah 57:14-21, Grace and consolation

Galatians 6:11-18, The marks of Jesus

Mark 9:30-41, True greatness

The prophet declared that a cry will go forth calling for the way to be built up and prepared, and every obstruction to the people’s way will be removed. God, the high and lofty one who dwells in eternity and whose name is holy promises that although he dwells in a high and holy place, he is also with those who are humble and contrite in spirit, to revive their heart and spirit. God is not only or always angry and contentious; he also gives renewal and spiritual life as well as physical life.

God was rightly angry at Israel (his people; the Church) for continuing to sin. God punished them and hid his presence from them, but they kept on pursuing their own will instead of following God’s will. Although God knows their shortcomings he will heal, lead and comfort them. Those who truly repent will receive the fruit of their confession. God will give peace to his people and heal them. But the wicked are like a stormy restless sea, stirring up dirt; “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21)

Paul wrote a postscript to the Galatians in his own handwriting. Paul said that those (the “circumcision party”; Galatians 2:12 REV; Judaizers) in the church who were insisting that Christians must keep the Jewish Laws, of which circumcision was the mark (seal), wanted to make a good showing in the flesh (they wanted to look “spiritual” in the eyes of men). Those who advocate circumcision (legalism) do not themselves keep the law (no one can; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 21).

The legalists are rejoicing in the flesh (of those they persuade to submit to legalism) whereas Paul’s satisfaction and rejoicing is in the Cross. The mark of circumcision is of no benefit in freeing us from bondage to sin and death (Galatians 5:2-4); it is Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross that frees us and makes it possible to be re-born into a new creation. Paul offers a personal example: he is not threatened by challenges from legalists because he bears on his body the mark of Jesus.

Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples for his crucifixion, telling them, for the second time (see Mark 8:31, 10:33-34), that the Son of man would be delivered into the power of men who would kill him and that after three days he would rise, but the disciples did not understand and were afraid to ask him.

On the way to Capernaum the disciples were debating who was the greatest among them. In Capernaum, Jesus knew what they had been discussing, and he had them gather around a child. Jesus told them that the greatest in the kingdom of God was the one who was the servant of all. Jesus told them that whoever receives a child in Jesus’ name receives Jesus, and whoever receives Jesus receives God.

John mentioned that they had seen a man casting out demons in Jesus name, and had told him to stop, but Jesus said not to forbid such, because anyone who does a good deed in Jesus’ name will be unable soon to speak ill of Jesus. Those who do not oppose Jesus promote his cause. Anyone who helps a disciple for Jesus’ name's sake will be rewarded.

God is great beyond our comprehension. He is eternal and holy. He has created the Universe, including our world, by his Word. He has created us and given us physical life, and only he can give us spiritual renewal and eternal life. We are far beneath him, but he seeks fellowship with us. He knows our shortcomings, but he is able and willing to heal, lead and comfort those who are humble and repentant. Those who truly repent will receive the fruit of their repentance, which is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are healed and revived from eternal condemnation to eternal life and fellowship with the Lord. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that gives us the peace of God, his guidance, comfort and the ability to serve God. 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 first century Church was being disturbed by the false teachings of “legalism,” requiring Christians to keep the Jewish Laws, and it is still a problem in the Church today. No one is able to be righteous by “good deeds” or by keeping the Law (Galatians 2:16). Keeping the Law and doing good deeds has only the outward appearance of righteousness; it impresses other people, but not God, who knows our shortcomings.

God promises to revive the spirits of those who are humble and contrite, and to heal, lead and comfort those who are humble and repentant. He does that only through Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross as a sacrifice, once and for all, for the forgiveness of our sins, by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus’ death made possible the gift of his Holy Spirit (John 16:7). Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12). Only Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

Paul is the prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul bore the marks, the signs, of Jesus in Paul’s flesh; his suffering for the Gospel, but also the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-19).

Paul is an example of one who was humble and contrite, a servant of others in Jesus’ name, who received God’s promise of revival and re-birth to spiritual, eternal life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul is the example of Jesus’ teachings applied in the life of a disciple. He was a “child” of God through whom people received Jesus Christ by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).

Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission which the risen Jesus gave to his disciples, to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit first (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then go into the world and make born-again disciples of Jesus Christ who would make other born-again disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching each of them to obey all that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2).

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ word is the Word of God (John 14:24). Jesus taught by word and example; he showed us how to be “children” of God. His word is absolutely reliable and true. Jesus is the only Way; Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word, through the prophet, to prepare the way to forgiveness, restoration to peace and fellowship with God and to eternal life (Isaiah 57:14; John 1:23; 14:6).

5 Epiphany - Tuesday

Isaiah 58:1-12, Obedience; not ritual

2 Timothy 1:1-14, Testify with boldness
Mark 9:42-50 Warnings of Hell

The Lord told the prophet to cry out, sounding a warning like a trumpet announcing a fast, declaring to Israel their sins and transgressions. Israel seeks God’s presence and seeks to know God’s will, as if they were doing righteousness and not disobeying God’s word. They ask for God’s judgment in their favor without obedience to his will. They ask why God seems not to notice their fasting and humility toward God.

God replies that they fast to seek their own pleasure and oppress those under their authority. They fast, but they quarrel and fight. That kind of fasting will not cause God to listen to their supplications. Is God pleased with a ritual humility, sackcloth and ashes?

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh” (Isaiah 58:6-7)? Then God’s people will be a light in the world God intended them to be; then God will heal them. Then righteousness will go before them, and God’s glory will protect their backs. Then the Lord will hear and answer them when they call.

If God’s people are to be spiritual light in the darkness of this sinful world, they must remove the yoke of oppression, discrimination, false accusation and slander from their midst. If God’s people give their resources to help the hungry and afflicted they will be spiritual light in the world, and have joy and gladness. The Lord will be their constant guide, and satisfy them with good things, blessing them with health and strength.

God’s people will be like a well-watered garden, or like a spring whose waters never fail. “And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in” (Isaiah 58:12).

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, respectively; 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. He 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.

Jesus said that anyone who causes one of the “little ones who believe in me” to sin will receive a punishment that is worse than physical death. Jesus warned that the consequences of sin will be worse than the loss of an eye or a limb. No sacrifice or loss we endure in this life in order to avoid sin is too great, in comparison with the eternal punishment for sin of eternal death and destruction in the hell of unquenchable fire.

Fire and salt are purifiers. They were used to make sacrificial offerings holy. Salt that has lost its salty nature is worthless, and cannot be restored. Believers are called to be “salt.” They are to maintain their distinctive character as disciples of Christ; otherwise they cannot be influences for purity in this world.

God’s people are called to be “salt” (offering purification) and “light” (spiritual enlightenment) through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the darkness and sin of this present world (Matthew 5:13-14). God’s prophets are to sound the warning to people of their sins and call them to repent and turn to obedient trust in the Lord.

In a sense all of us are God’s people because he is our Creator. In another sense, the Church is the New Israel, the New People of God. America (with other “Christian” nations) is also, in a sense, the New Promised Land, and the New Israel. God’s warning through his Word and his prophets applies to us in each of those contexts. If we seek God’s presence, if we seek to know and do God’s will, we must trust and obey God’s Word. If we want God’s blessings we must be obedient to God’s will.

God rewards obedience, not outward appearances or religious ritual. God is not pleased or glorified by people who ignore those who are hungry, poor, homeless, or oppressed, nor by people who oppress, discriminate, falsely accuse and slander others. If we want God to hear, answer and bless us, we must be obedient to his Word, fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). We need to be Jesus’ disciples living in accordance with Jesus’ teachings, which are the Word of God (John 14:21, 24).

Paul is the prototype and illustration of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8: then known as “Saul;”Acts 9:1-20) disciple of Jesus Christ, living in accordance with Jesus’ teachings. He was making “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught, in obedience to Jesus’ “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20), and Timothy is an example. Paul had discipled Timothy to “re-birth” through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then Paul was encouraging Timothy to be “fired up,” ablaze by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim his testimony, guided and empowered by the power, love and self-discipline of the Holy Spirit within him.

Paul knew and had personally experienced the risen Jesus, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:5), and also by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit through Paul’s discipling by Ananias (Acts 9:17-18), and knew with certainty, by personal experience, the truth of the Gospel which he believed and preached. He encouraged Timothy to follow and preserve the sound apostolic (as taught by the Apostles, including Paul) scriptural (as recorded in the New Testament) Gospel of Jesus Christ which Timothy had received from Paul. Paul was confident that the Lord could preserve the truth of the Gospel which was entrusted to Paul, and the salvation which Paul had received through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, and Paul encouraged Timothy to follow his example.

God’s grace (unmerited favor) is free, but it isn’t “cheap!” If we want God’s forgiveness, we must trust and obey him. We must be willing to deny our own self-interest and commit to doing God’s will rather than our own will. We must give up the opportunity to profit at the expense of others, and seek others’ best interest ahead of our own.

5 Epiphany - Wednesday

Isaiah 59:1-21, Call to national repentance

2 Timothy 1:15-2:13, Exhortation to endurance

Mark 10:1-16, Teaching about divorce

No one is beyond the reach and strength of God’s arm to save. God is not hard of hearing, either, but the iniquities of Judah, the remnant of God’s people, have caused a separation between the people and their God and sin has caused God to turn away and not listen to their cries. The hands of God’s people have been defiled with bloodshed and sin; their mouths have spoken lies and wickedness. Injustice and lies prevail; mischief conceives and brings forth sin.

The people spend their time and effort producing only what benefits evil, like hatching a poisonous snake’s eggs, or producing poisonous spiders’ webs, which promotes the work of snakes and spiders, instead of weaving clothes which would benefit the naked. Their thoughts and their works are evil and their deeds are violence, their highways lead to destruction. They don’t know the ways of peace and justice. Their roads are crooked so that no one who follows them will find peace.

Because of sin, justice and righteousness are far from the people. They seek light and brightness, but find only darkness and gloom. They grope like the blind and stumble at noon as though in twilight. They are more like dead people instead of healthy and vigorous. They seek justice and salvation but they are far from them.

It isn’t that they’re unaware of their sin, but they deny the Lord and turn away from following him, talking of oppression and revolt, conceiving and speaking lies from their hearts. Truth has been slain in public forums, and righteousness banished. Anyone who departs from evil becomes a prey.

The Lord saw and was displeased; he wondered why no one intervened; then his own arm (God himself intervened; Jesus Christ is his ultimate intervention) brought him victory and righteousness upheld him.

God’s “champion” is armed with the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation (compare Ephesians 6:14-17); vengeance and fury are his clothes. He will repay everyone according to his deeds. The people of the earth will fear his name and his glory from the farthest ends of the earth, because he will come like the rushing of a mighty flood, driven on the wind of the Lord. And he will come to Zion (Jerusalem; the Holy City of God) as the Redeemer (Savior; one who ransoms us from the sentence of eternal death) to those in Jacob (Judah; the remnant of Israel) who turn from transgression (disobedience of God’s word).

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit which is upon you and my words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or out of the mouth of your children’s children, says the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore” (Isaiah 59:21).

Paul urged Timothy to be strong in the grace (unmerited favor of God) which is only in Christ Jesus. Paul urged him to continue the process of Christian discipleship: The Apostolic Gospel which Paul proclaimed and had taught Timothy, Timothy was to teach to faithful people who would faithfully and accurately teach to other faithful people (who would then continue the process).

Paul told Timothy to accept Timothy’s share of suffering for the Gospel, as a good “soldier” of Christ. As a military soldier’s first responsibility is to his service and his superior officer, a Christian “soldier” must not allow civilian pursuits to interfere with his mission for Christ.

As an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules, neither can a Christian receive an eternal reward unless he obeys Jesus’ teachings. As the farmer should have the right to be fed first from his crops, it is the faithful Christian disciple who receives the first portion of his eternal inheritance now, and is sustained and nourished by God’s Word and his Holy Spirit.

Timothy must remember to focus on Jesus Christ, the descendant of David (the Messiah; Christ; the eternal heir to the throne of David) risen from the dead, the essence of the Apostolic Gospel. Paul was in chains and in prison for that Gospel, but worldly people cannot restrict and hinder God’s word. Paul was willing to endure whatever suffering came, for the sake of fellow Christians and to share the salvation (from eternal condemnation) and eternal glory which is in Jesus.

If we have died (to our selves and the things and ways of this present world) we will live (eternally) with Jesus. If we endure suffering (for the Gospel) we will share in Jesus’ eternal reign. But if we deny him, he will deny us. If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, because faithfulness is his character.

Jesus left Galilee and went to Judea (southern third of Israel). The Pharisees (a religious faction emphasizing the keeping of Jewish Law) tested Jesus by asking him if divorce was legal. Jesus asked them what Moses (the patriarch who had received the Law from God) had taught. They answered that Moses had allowed divorce.

Jesus said that Moses had allowed divorce because of the hardness of human hearts, but that God’s intention from the beginning of creation was that man and wife were to become one (one flesh). “What therefore God has joined together let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:9). His disciples asked Jesus about this privately, and Jesus said that whoever divorces his or her spouse and marries another commits adultery.

The people were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples told them to stop. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and told them to let the children come to Jesus and not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to and can only be received by those who come in faith and innocence, like a child. “And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them” (Mark 10:16).

God is abundantly able to save us from our worldly and our spiritual enemies, but our sins separate us from God’s care and protection. Isaiah’s description of the sins of Judah is just as true of our society and even our Church today. Even within the Church people are spending their lives doing what benefits evil. They seek justice and salvation for themselves while denying it for other. They are unaware of their sins and deny them to the Lord. They seek God’s presence and spiritual “enlightenment,” and expect God to answer their prayers, without trusting and obeying God’s Word. This is human nature, apart from the Spirit of the Lord.

God has intervened to save creation from the sin and wickedness of mankind. Jesus Christ is God’s right arm, God’s Champion of righteousness and salvation. Jesus Christ is not an afterthought; he has been “built in” to the very structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). God’s eternal plan has always been to build an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him.

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to personal knowledge of and fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), which is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ. God gave us this life, with the freedom to choose right or wrong, knowing that we would have to learn by trial and error to trust and obey him.

God knew that we would all sin (disobey God’s Word; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), and God designed a plan of salvation as a gift to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s only Plan of Salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus is the Redeemer and Savior of all who turn from sin to trust and obey Jesus. God’s covenant is with those who turn from sin to faith in Jesus, and God has promised that he will put his Spirit and his Word within us for all eternity (Isaiah 59:21).

God’s Word promises that Jesus will come like the rushing of a mighty flood to execute God’s wrath and punishment upon the enemies of God and God’s people, those who refuse to trust and obey God’s Word.

Paul (formerly called Saul of Tarsus) is the example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple of Jesus Christ. When he had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-20), he began immediately to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and began to fulfill the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his born-again disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Paul was discipling Timothy, teaching him to obey all that Jesus taught his disciples, and guiding Timothy to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Paul taught Timothy that a disciple must serve Jesus and keep Jesus’ commands, like a soldier obeys his commander, and like an athlete must compete according to the rules.

Paul was discipled by Ananias (Acts 9:10-17). Paul faithfully and accurately learned and transmitted the Apostolic Gospel (taught by the Apostles, including Paul, and recorded in Bible), to others like Timothy, and taught them to do likewise (2 Timothy 2:2). Faithful Christian disciples receive the first portion of their eternal inheritance now in this present world, and are nourished and sustained by God’s Word and his indwelling Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples who trust and obey Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of God’s word, God’s covenant, of Isaiah 59:21.

The Pharisees were trying to gain God’s favor and blessing by doing “good deeds.” They followed the letter, but not the spirit, of the Law of Moses. They didn’t love God, or they would have loved God’s Son. Their attitude on divorce reveals that they weren’t committed to doing God’s will. They were trying to manipulate God to do what they wanted, without their commitment to trust and obey God.

God’s forgiveness and salvation is by grace (a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:8-9). We don’t deserve it and cannot earn it, buy it, or take it by force or deception. Jesus taught his disciples that eternal life in God’s Kingdom can only be received by those who come to Jesus with the obedient trust and innocence of a small child. The Pharisees were of the very opposite nature.

5 Epiphany - Thursday

Isaiah 60:1-22, The future glory of Zion

2 Timothy 2:14-26, Shepherd and flock

Mark 10:17-31, The rich man

The prophet foresaw the coming of the Messiah, the Lord’s anointed Savior and King. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). Spiritual darkness covers the earth and unbelievers, but the Lord (the light of the world; John 8:12; compare John 1:1-5; 14) will arise upon the people of God, and his glory will be seen in them. Isaiah prophesies that nations and kings will come to that light.

Israel will be restored; her sons and daughters will return. Israel will rejoice. The Lord will again prosper her “and the wealth of nations shall come to you” (Isaiah 60:5c, 11b). Camels will come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense, proclaiming the praise of the Lord (compare Matthew 2:1-12). The flocks of the nations will be given for offerings on the Lord’s altar, and God will glorify his house.

The sons and daughters of Israel will return from afar by ship, bringing gold and silver for the name of the Lord and the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified his people. “Foreigners will rebuild your walls and kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I smote you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you” (Isaiah 60:10).

Kings will come to Zion in procession; nations and kings who will not serve God’s people will perish and their kingdoms will be destroyed. The sanctuary will be restored to beauty with cedar from Lebanon. The former oppressors of Israel will bow humbly to them and acknowledge Jerusalem, the City of the Lord and of the Holy One of Israel.

Whereas Israel had been forsaken and hated, the Lord will exult them and make them an eternal joy. They will know that the Lord is their Savior and Redeemer. The New Jerusalem will surpass former city in beauty and security. There will be peace and righteousness; there will be no more violence or destruction within their borders.

The Lord will be their everlasting light by day and by night, replacing and surpassing the sun and moon, and God will be their glory. Their days of mourning will be ended. All God’s people will be righteous and will possess the land forever; they are the result of God’s work and care. The least of them shall be great. The Lord will hasten it in his perfect timing.

Paul urged Timothy to remind his congregation that faith requires discipline and endurance, and to tell them not to quibble over words (faulty interpretation of scripture), which is not helpful but destructive to hearers. Timothy was urged to be worthy of God’s approval in rightly handling the word of truth (God’s word; the Gospel) like a skilled craftsman.

Godless chatter (false doctrine) should be avoided because it leads to more and more ungodliness, and is destructive, like gangrene, unless avoided or removed. As an example, Paul mentions two members of the Ephesian congregation who were spreading the false doctrine that the resurrection had already occurred. Such false doctrines damage the faith of some. Instead one must hold onto God’s firm foundation (God’s Word and the apostolic Gospel of Jesus Christ).

Two solid principles are that the Lord knows those who belong to him, and that those who belong to the Lord depart from iniquity (wickedness; sin). Christians are be purified from iniquity so that they can be consecrated to God’s service, ready for any good work. So believers must shun youthful passions (self indulgence; lusts of the flesh), and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace so that they can “call upon God with a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

One must not get involved in “stupid, senseless controversies” (2 Timothy 2:23) which cause quarrels. “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, and correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

A rich man came to Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus asked him why he had called Jesus “good,” because no one is good but God alone. Jesus reminded him of the commandments against killing, adultery, theft, lying, defrauding, and the commandment to honor father and mother. The rich man replied that he had kept the commandments from his childhood. Jesus looked at him with love, and told him that he lacked one thing; he should sell his possessions and give to the poor, so that he would have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Jesus. At that the man was saddened and he left, because he had great possessions.

Jesus told his disciples that it will be hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus told them it will be harder for the rich to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. His disciples were exceedingly astonished, and asked who then can be saved. Jesus said that what is impossible for men is not impossible with God; all things are possible with God.

Peter began to say that the disciples had left everything to follow Jesus. Jesus said that those who have left houses or family or land for Jesus’ sake and the Gospel will receive, now, in this time, a hundred times more houses, family and lands, although not without persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

God’s Word is absolutely trustworthy and true. The test of prophecy as God’s Word is in its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). This text of Isaiah was probably written during the fall of Babylon to King Cyrus of Persia and the period of the Jewish exiles’ return to Israel over about one hundred years. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the temple rededicated in 516 B.C.* Foreigners and foreign kings, Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, did rebuild the walls and the temple (Ezra 1:2; 6:8-10; Nehemiah 2:7-8).

Israel’s exile in Babylon had been because they had refused trust and obey God’s Word, and had not heeded many warnings by God’s prophets, but God had promised to bring Israel back after seventy years exile (Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10; 587 - 517 B.C.; Seventy years is a virtual life sentence for adults at the time of the deportation). God punished Israel but also restored a renewed people to the Promised Land. God’s purpose was not to destroy them but to restore them.

The promise of restoration applied to Israel in the time of the Exile, but it also applies to his Church today. In a sense, we are in exile in the Babylon of this world, but God has promised that when we learn to trust and obey him here, he will bring us, restored to spiritual, eternal life, into the Promised Land of his eternal kingdom.

Isaiah foresaw the coming of Jesus Christ, God’s anointed eternal Savior and King. Isaiah’s prophecy that camels bearing gifts of gold and frankincense would come from afar to proclaim praise of the Lord was fulfilled in the visit of the magi (wise men; Matthew 2:1-2, 11)

The Church and “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples are the “New (revived) Israel” who are called to reflect the light of Christ in this world, so that people will be drawn to that light. The Church is to be the “New Jerusalem” on earth, a copy of the eternal City of God in heaven.

God is working among his people to teach them to trust and obey Jesus, so that they will personally know him as their Lord and Savior. Jesus gives his disciples spiritual enlightenment through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The Lord purifies his disciples through his indwelling Holy Spirit and gives them Jesus’ own righteousness. God’s people will know that they possess the eternal Promised Land through the 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). Our salvation is the work and care of God for us.

Paul was a born-again disciple making born again disciples, teaching them to trust and obey Jesus, in fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission to his born-again disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Timothy is an example of Paul’s discipling.

Paul taught that Christian disciples need discipline and endurance. We need to know and apply the Scriptures (the Bible), so that we can preserve and proclaim the scriptural (recorded in the Bible) apostolic (as taught by the Apostles, including Paul) Gospel faithfully and accurately. There are many false doctrines in the nominal “Church” and the world today.

Christians are to stop participating in wickedness and sin (disobedience of God’s word). We need to be purified and consecrated to the Lord, guided, and empowered through his indwelling Holy Spirit, so that we are ready to serve the Lord in the good work he has for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

Our salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9), but in order to receive it we have to be willing to give up our self-centered interests and trust and obey Jesus. We must give up what we want in order to be able to do what God wants. Discipleship requires discipline and endurance.

The rich man wanted eternal life, but he wasn’t willing to give up his material possessions for it. The rich man called Jesus “good” but didn’t recognize that Jesus was God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). The rich man thought he kept the commandments, but he broke the First Commandment, which is to love God above anything else (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:36-37). Jesus’ disciples gave up their worldly lives to be with Jesus, and found they had everything they needed in Jesus.

* The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Ezra 6: 15n, p. 580, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

5 Epiphany - Friday

Isaiah 61:1-9, The Lord’s favor

2 Timothy 3:1-17, Last Days
Mark 10:32-45 The cost of discipleship

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me (the Lord’s servant) because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted (or poor), he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn in Zion (Jerusalem; the Holy City) –to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit” (Isaiah 61:1-3d). God’s people will be like oak trees of righteousness, mighty, long-lived, evergreen; the planting of the Lord to glorify him. They will restore the ancient ruins, repair former destructions and ruined cities, “the devastations of many generations.

Aliens and foreigners will be servants of God’s people. God’s people will be priests of God, and people will recognize them as ministers of God. God’s people will receive food and riches and glory of the nations.

The punishment (Isaiah 40:2) of God’s people will be replaced by a double portion of blessing; their dishonor will be turned to rejoicing. They will receive a double portion of (their inheritance in) the (Promised) Land. Their joy will be everlasting.

The Lord loves justice and hates robbery and wrongdoing. Each person will receive according to their deeds. God’s covenant with us is an everlasting covenant. The descendants of God’s people will be known throughout the world. Everyone who sees them will acknowledge that they are God’s people and have been blessed by God.

In the last days (these days; the interval between Christ’s ascension and his return on the Day of Judgment) there will be times of stress. People “will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, profligates, fierce, haters of good, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion, but denying the power of it.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Christians should not fellowship with such people. The wicked will include “those who make their way into households and capture [the] weak, [who are] burdened with sin and swayed by various impulses, who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7). There will be people who oppose the truth (God’s word; the Gospel), “who are of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith” (2 Timothy 3:8), who oppose Christ as the Egyptian Sorcerers opposed Moses (Exodus 7:11), but they won’t prevail against God’s Word any more than the Egyptians did.

Jesus and his followers were on the way to Jerusalem. His followers were afraid of what awaited Jesus, and were amazed at his determination, since he was out in front, walking ahead of them. Jesus gathered the Twelve (disciples; apostles), and told them for the third time (see also Mark 8:31; 9:31) that he would be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, who would condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles, who would mock, scourge, spit on and kill him; and after three days he would rise. James and John (two of the Twelve) asked Jesus for positions of special honor in his kingdom. Jesus told them they did not understand what they were asking.

Honor in the kingdom of heaven is obtained at the cost of suffering in this world for the Gospel. Followers of Jesus will have to share in the suffering for the Gospel which Jesus suffered, but honor in the kingdom of heaven will be determined by God’s will.

The other ten disciples were indignant that James and John had attempted to gain status above them, so Jesus gathered the Twelve and explained that things work differently in the kingdom of heaven than the way they are done in this world. Here those of the highest status are served by those under them, but in God’s kingdom, the servant is honored above those who are served. Those who want honor in God’s kingdom must give up their own comfort and status and serve the needs of others, as Jesus taught by his personal example.

Isaiah was a faithful servant of the Lord, guided and inspired by God’s Spirit. He foresaw and prophesied the coming of the Lord’s perfect servant, Jesus Christ, and that prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus (Luke 4:16-21) in the synagogue in Nazareth were he had been brought up. His own hometown rejected him and his proclamation of God’s Word to them resulted in their anger and attempt to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:29-30).

Jesus didn’t seek the world’s approval, because human nature is sinful and the world does not value the righteousness of God (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Jesus sought only God’s approval, and the miracles Jesus did and his resurrection demonstrate God’s favor.

Isaiah warned that there will be a Day of Judgment, when God’s vengeance will executed upon the enemies of God. Each one of us will be accountable and will be repaid, according to what we have done in this life. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in heaven, but those who have rejected Jesus and have refused to obey him will receive condemnation to eternal death and destruction in hell (Matthew 25:31-46).

True Christians cannot expect that they will be treated any better by the world than Jesus was. We’re to carry on the mission of forgiveness and salvation Jesus came to bring. We’re called to live according to God’s will and to seek his approval, instead of seeking worldly approval. We’re to be priests and ministers of the Lord to a sinful, eternally dying world. We may experience persecution for the Gospel, but the Lord comforts us and turns our sorrow into joy, even now in this world, by his indwelling Holy Spirit, in a foretaste of the true joy we’ll experience in his eternal kingdom.

These are the Last Days of this temporal creation, and Paul’s description of the fallen nature of our world is as true now, or even truer, than it has ever been. People are lovers of self and pleasure, instead of lovers of God, and many hold the form of religion while denying and without experiencing its power.

There are many examples of corrupt and counterfeit faith. Many nominal “Christians” do not know the Bible or the scriptural, apostolic Gospel, and so are vulnerable to any false doctrine which comes along. Many in our world today overtly oppose Christ and the truth of God’s Word.

The fact that Jesus knew he was going to his Crucifixion and yet resolutely headed for Jerusalem amazed his disciples. At that time, his disciples were still “carnal Christians,” because they had not yet been “born-again” and they still conformed to the values of this world. They were still seeking honor and recognition according to worldly standards.

After Jesus’ resurrection and their “rebirth” through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, they were transformed. They no longer sought worldly approval, but only the Lord’s approval (Acts 4:19-20). They had boldness and power they had not possessed before (compare Luke 22:54-62 with Acts 2:14-40).

5 Epiphany - Saturday

Isaiah 61:10-62:5, Vindication of God’s people

2 Timothy 4:1-8, Fight the good fight

Mark 10:46-52, Mark 10:46-52 Blind Bartimaeus

The people of God greatly rejoice in the Lord and exalt in him, because he has clothed them in the garments of salvation and righteousness, as a bride and her groom adorn themselves for their wedding. The Lord will cause righteousness and praise to come forth from his people, as a garden brings forth vegetation from sown seeds, so that all nations will see God’s goodness and faithfulness.

The prophet will continue to proclaim Zion’s imminent salvation and vindication until it is fulfilled by the Lord and witnessed by the nations and rulers of earth, like blazing light in the darkness of this world. Zion (God’s people; the Church) will no longer be called forsaken and desolate, but will be given a new name by the Lord. Zion will be a crown of beauty in God’s hand. She will be called God’s delight (Hephzibah) and her land will be called “married” (Beulah), because God delights in her. Her sons will be faithful to her like a young man marries a virgin, and God will rejoice over her as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

Paul taught Timothy to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He exhorted Timothy to proclaim the Gospel, in season and out of season; to convince, rebuke, and exhort; to be patient and unfailing in teaching. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own liking, and will turn away from listening to the truth and will wander into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4). He taught Timothy by word and example to be unshakable by circumstances but instead to endure suffering, to be an evangelist and fulfill his ministry.

Paul is an example of a faithful disciple and apostle (one who is sent with a message; a missionary) and evangelist who had “fought the good fight, …finished the race [and] …kept the faith.” He and all faithful disciples who have loved Jesus’ manifestation and Jesus’ return will receive the reward of righteousness in the Day of Judgment.

On his way to crucifixion in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples passed through Jericho. As they were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, and he began to call out, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). Many rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be silent, but he kept calling out to Jesus. Jesus stopped and asked that Bartimaeus be called to him, so the multitude told Bartimaeus to take heart, because Jesus had called him.

Bartimaeus threw off his mantle and sprang up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Jesus to do for him, and Bartimaeus asked to receive his sight. Jesus said, “Go your way; your faith has made you well. And immediately Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus on his way.

The prophets of the Lord will continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s plan of salvation (which see, sidebar, top right), forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God’s Word), salvation from eternal death, and vindication of those who have suffered persecution for their faith in and proclamation of Jesus Christ in this world. God’s salvation of his people will be witnessed by all people who have ever lived in this world (John 5:28-29).

God’s salvation is imminent! Now is the Day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2b). No one knows whether one will live until tomorrow. Physical death is a certainty for each of us. We need to use our time on this earth to come to a personal relationship with God (Acts 17:26-27). Jesus Christ is the only way of forgiveness, salvation and restoration to personal fellowship with the Lord (Acts 4 12; John 14:6; 23-24; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Paul was the prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-20). He was following Jesus’ Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples to carry out after they had been born-again by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul had discipled Timothy unto Timothy’s “rebirth” (2 Timothy 1:6-7) and then continued to disciple him as Timothy began to proclaim the Gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-5) and make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2).

Christians are to be born-again disciples like Paul and Timothy. We are to seek the gift of the Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). We can’t fulfill the mission of Christ to bring forgiveness and salvation to the world in our own strength. That can only be accomplished as we are guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It takes born-again disciples to make born-again disciples. 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).

Paul urged born-again Christian disciples to proclaim the Gospel in season (when it is popular, or with texts that make us feel good) and out of season (when people don’t want to hear it, or with texts that convict us), to convince people of its truth, to rebuke what is contrary to God’s word, to warn urgently, and to incite people to actively seek and receive forgiveness, salvation and spiritual rebirth through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

Paul declared that the day would come when people would not endure sound teaching, but would instead get teachers who would teach what the people wanted to hear and what made them feel good; that they would turn from the true scriptural apostolic Gospel, and believe in myths instead. That day has come; the evidence is everywhere.

Authentic Christians are born-again disciples of Jesus who trust and obey Jesus’ teachings. Paul and the other original Apostles received the Apostolic Gospel from Jesus, and faithfully and accurately transmitted it to others, and that Gospel is recorded in the New Testament. Born-again Christians are to endure suffering for the sake of the Gospel, to be evangelists, and to fulfill our ministry in accomplishing Christ’s mission, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need to hold on to the true apostolic Gospel, and we will receive the reward of righteousness on the Day of Judgment.

Bartimaeus is an example of every one of us, before we come to faith in Jesus. Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Bartimaeus was physically blind, but had enough spiritual insight to recognize that Jesus was the son of David (the Messiah; the Christ; the eternal heir to King David’s throne), and to recognize his own blindness. He called out to Jesus to have mercy on him, and Jesus asked what he wanted Jesus to do for him. Bartimaeus believed Jesus could heal his blindness, and by Bartimaeus’ faith, Jesus declared him healed. He immediately received sight, and he used that healing to follow Jesus (Mark 10:52).

Some people came to Jesus for healing (or feeding; John 6:1-27), and went away satisfied with what Jesus had done for them physically. Some, like the Pharisees, refused to recognize and confess their spiritual neediness (John 9:40-41). Both missed the opportunity for spiritual healing that only Jesus can offer. The only way to receive spiritual healing is to trust and follow Jesus’ way.

Disciples of Jesus Christ are announcing to the world that Jesus is passing by! Each individual must choose for themselves how to respond to Jesus, and the choice has eternal consequences.