Our Bible reading is about to pay rich dividends.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in the last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world; who being the brightness of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4
It’s all about Jesus! That’s why we are reading the New Testament three times this year and the Old Testament only once. This is because now everything is spoken in the Son. God speaks Jesus.
This week, we are finishing John’s gospel and entering the Book of Acts. Titus, Philemon, and then off we go into Hebrews. 1 Samuel begins our journey, out of the four hundred years of judges, into prophets and kings. Three men will be seen: Samuel, Saul, and David. Psalms continue and we finish Ezekiel and begin Daniel.
John 19 – 21
Jesus turns’ Pilate into a puppet leaving Pilate afraid and trying to release Jesus, but the scriptures must be fulfilled. Jesus is crucified and John records three sayings of Jesus on the cross that are not shared in the other three gospels. In Chapter Twenty, Jesus is resurrected, and Mary Magdalene is the first one to see and hold Jesus. Jesus brings peace to the apostles and reproofs Thomas a week later for insisting he must see to believe. In Chapter Twenty-one is breakfast by the sea, with Peter being recommissioned into following Christ in humility and simple obedience.
Acts 1 – 4
Explosion! The Church is launched after Jesus spends forty days with His apostles presenting Himself alive and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. They must wait for the Holy Spirit, after Jesus’ ascension into heaven they are back in the upper room, one hundred and twenty praying in one accord. A sound from heaven of a rushing mighty wind fills the whole house and tongues of fire sit upon the heads of everyone present. Peter preaches the resurrection of Jesus to the right hand of God, Who having received the Holy Spirit in His coronation pours out what we are seeing and hearing. God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. Repent, be baptized for the remission of sins and all shall receive the Holy Spirit.
Chapters Three and Four record the miracle of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, five thousand men believe in Jesus Christ. The Sanhedrin arrests Peter and John who appear before them the next day in the boldness of Jesus Christ filled with the Holy Spirit. Threats are made, but Peter and John are undeterred. They return to their company and pray Psalm 2 and ask for more boldness and power, God shakes the house and fills everyone with the Holy Spirit.
Titus 2, 3
Relationships within the church are given to the older and younger men and women, bondservants, and the call to all to be Jesus Christ redeemed from every lawless deed, purified for Himself, His own special people, and zealous for good works. Chapter Three calls us into proper relationship to authority, good works, and humility to all men. Final directions are given, a charge to be careful to maintain good works, avoiding foolish disputes, and divisive men, after the first and second admonitions.
Philemon
One Chapter is a personal letter to Philemon from Paul on behalf of Onesimus a runaway slave of Philemon, who has now become a believer in Christ and now a minister to Paul. Paul wishes for Onesimus to stay and serve him but will not without Philemon’s permission.
Hebrews 1 – 6
My favorite book which clarifies the High Priest’s ministry of Jesus – Melchizedek the better priesthood, better hope, better covenant, better promises, purchased with better sacrifices – the sacrifice of Jesus. Chapter one establishes what God has given Jesus in His resurrection having become better than the angels. Chapter two establishes Jesus had been made lower than the angels for the suffering of death, now crowned with glory and honor. He has destroyed him who had the power of death, the devil, and freed us from the fear of death forever.
Chapters Three and Four are the call to hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm to the end. We are admonished three times, out of Psalm 95, to soften our hearts in hearing His voice, rather than hardening our hearts as in the day of rebellion if we are to enter His rest. Chapters Five and Six introduce Jesus, Who has become our High Priest by God’s calling, having been perfected and having learned obedience from the things He suffered. So much to share but can’t. They have become lazy, and need the milk of the word and cannot handle the word of righteousness. Then, what maturity looks like in revelation and patience.
Psalms 133 – 137
We finish the Psalms of Ascents in Psalm 134 with the blessing of unity, commanded blessing, and a call to lift up our hands in the sanctuary. Psalm 135 calls us to praise and bless the Lord. Psalm 136, to give thanks to the Lord for He is good for His mercy endures forever. Psalm 137 is the sorrow of the captives of Zion by the rivers of Babylon.
Ezekiel 47, 48
Healing waters flowed from under the threshold of the temple to the east, increasing in depth the further out they flowed, bringing healing to whatever they touched. A Picture of the living water from the Throne in Revelation 22. The new land is divided with boundaries to the twelve tribes of Israel. Districts are given surrounding the city with a place for each tribe and the name of the city from that day shall be “THE LORD IS THERE.”
Daniel 1 – 3
The first three Chapters of Daniel are amazing. No longer a prophet to Israel, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-Nego, are brought into Nebuchadnezzar’s palace to be taught, tested, and brought into favor. This s a fabulous account of honoring God in a foreign land. Chapter Two becomes an impossible demand from the king, and God answers Daniel’s prayer for the dream and its interpretation. In Chapter Three, Nebuchadnezzar makes an idol from the dream representing himself, and Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-Nego are tested in the fiery furnace. They refuse to bow down and worship the image. They are met in the furnace by the fourth man and come out not even smelling of smoke. There is so much in these first three Chapters.
