Month: December 2018

Daniel 7 offers us a vision seen by Daniel himself. The vision was of four terrifying beasts, each of which represented a particular nation. These nations have come and gone by our time in history, but they were said to be nations that would battle against the saints or the LORD’s people. The overarching theme of the vision, though, is the Ancient of Days, and His entrusting authority to the Son of Man. This speaks of God the Father, and Jesus. We know this time is yet future even for us, so Daniel was given the opportunity to see visions that related to his time as well as to the end of time. The visions disturbed Daniel, as well they ought to have done. Neither the present nor the future is always easy for God’s people but in the end we win, because God wins. Daniel’s vision made that clear.

Daniel 8 offers us another vision of Daniel. In it, The Medo-Persian Empire is represented by a ram, and Greece is represented by a goat. The goat overcame the ram, just as Greece would one day overcome the Medo-Persian Empire. Many consider Daniel’s message to be written after these events, because they are so precise as to what happened. But if the LORD is the one who gave the vision, then we would expect it to be precise! We’re told even after Daniel was given the explanation for the vision he still did not understand, and it made him sick for some time. Many in our day hurl themselves into the study of the prophecies relating to the end times, and Daniel is certainly among them. The challenge is Jesus told us no one knows the day or time when He will return. Even He didn’t know. That means we must invest the best part of our time in being ready when He retreats, whether it’s today or decades from now. Living in a state of readiness only happens when we put Jesus first and live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Daniel 9, Daniel offers a prayer of repentance to the LORD. He admits the LORD was right in sending the people of Israel into exile. He admits the people disobeyed the LORD and didn’t follow the Law of Moses. Yet, he calls on the LORD to show mercy and to restore the people. The prayer is filled with acknowledgement of what the people have done, but calls on the LORD to do what He does: show mercy. That is such a vital reminder for us! We must call on the LORD to forgive and restore us when we turn away from Him.

As we return to Mark 6, we see Jesus returning to Nazareth, His hometown, and while the people recognize Jesus’ authority and ability to heal and deliver people, they reject Him, because they have known him throughout His life. Next, Jesus sends out His disciples to minister in the towns and villages of Galilee. When King Herod heard of the miraculous power of Jesus, he said it was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Then Mark recounts how Herod had been the one to execute John, because of a promise he made to his wife’s daughter at a dinner party. As the chapter continues, Jesus feeds the five thousand, and then sends the disciples on ahead of Him in a boat. This gives Jesus the opportunity to come to them walking on the water. The disciples are, of course, amazed at Jesus’ power to defy the laws of nature. After this, they crossed the Sea of Galilee once again, and landed at Gennesaret. There Jesus healed everyone the people brought to Him. We see God’s Kingdom breaking in everywhere Jesus goes. That is also how it ought to be when we go places where people experience life challenges they can’t handle. As the salt and light Jesus called us to be, our presence ought to change their reality and bring wholeness in their lives, too.

Daniel 4 records King Nebuchadnezzar praising the God of heaven for who He is and all He does. Then it moves to a second dream the king had. This dream he told to his advisors, but none could interpret it. He called Daniel once again, and Daniel interpreted the dream. The news wasn’t good for the king. The dream was about a tree that grew majestically, but was then cut down and bound with iron. The tree represented Nebuchadnezzar. He had grown great, but also proud. The LORD’s plan was to humiliate him for seven years. He would go mad, and eat grass like a cow. The dream came true a year later as Nebuchadnezzar was bragging about the majesty of the kingdom he had built. He immediately became like an animal and the madness lasted for seven years. When the seven years were up, he looked up to heaven, and immediately the LORD restored him. This meant he was able to retake his thrown, and for the time being He once again praised the LORD of heaven. 

As we move to Daniel 5, we also move decades ahead in time. Belshazzar has become the king. We’re told he threw a party for all the nobles, and he used the sacred cups from the Temple in Jerusalem that Nebuchadnezzar had brought to Babylon when he destroyed the Temple. As the party was continuing, A hand appeared and wrote on the wall. The message was indecipherable to the king, and to his wisemen. Once again, Daniel was called and he interpreted the message. He started by telling the king that his father (more likely his grandfather, or great grandfather), Nebuchadnezzar, had suffered seven years for his great pride, and now because he had not learned, he, too would suffer. The suffering was more immediate as the king was killed that night, and King Darius of the Medes took over the kingdom.

In Daniel 6, we find King Darius falling for a trap set for him by his advisors who were jealous of Daniel. They convinced Darius to pronounce that for the next thirty days if anyone bowed down before any god except the king himself, that person would be thrown into a den of lions. The other advisors knew Daniel would not obey the edict, as he prayed to his God several times each day. Once the trap was set, the advisors went and found Daniel praying to the LORD. They brought him to the king, and asked the king what had to be done. The king couldn’t change the edict, or make an exception, so Daniel was thrown in the lions’ den.  The king stayed up all night, and refused his usual “entertainment.” He went to the lions’ den at daybreak and shouted to Daniel to see whether his God had protected him. Daniel responded immediately, that yes, the LORD had protected him. The king had Daniel taken out of the den, and the advisors who had set the trap and their families thrown into it. Before they hit the floor of the den, the lions lunged, attacked, and killed them. Once again, we see the LORD’s protection of Daniel as He upheld his integrity rather than bow down to false gods.

As we return to Mark 5, we come to an account of Jesus performing three miraculous healings. First, He healed a demon-possessed man in the land of the Gerasenes. Second, he healed a woman who had suffered from a bleeding disorder for many years. She touched His robe as He was on His way to heal a little girl. Because of her faith Jesus healed her. He even called her “daughter.” This was the only time in the gospels Jesus used such a term of endearment. Finally, Jesus raised the little girl from the dead. One detail that I never knew about the first miracle, the healing of the demon-possessed man, whose name was “Legion,” because he had many demons, was when Jesus got to that side of the lake, only He got out of the boat. The reason is the land was Gentile land, and by getting out of the boat there, He was ceremonially unclean. He didn’t subject the disciples to that, but He was willing to go there to bring healing to the man, and His message of Good News to the people. The people rejected Jesus and asked Him to leave. When Legion asked Jesus if he could go with Him, Jesus told him to go back to his home and the surrounding towns and tell everyone what the LORD had done for him. He responded, and the people who heard His testimony were amazed. These events show us that no human condition or situation, even death could stop Jesus from bringing the impact of the Kingdom of God to earth!

Today, we turn to the Book of Daniel. If you are part of New Life Christian Ministries, you will recall we worked our way through the entire Book of Daniel in the summer of this year (2018) during weekend worship.  You can watch the videos of those messages by going to www.newlifexn.org. Daniel isn’t a typical book of prophecy in that Daniel and three of his friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael (aka Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo) were young Israelites who were carried off to Babylon, when King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, and carried many Israelites into exile. For Daniel and his friends, the exile was different. They were drafted into training as advisors for the king. Daniel turned out to be the wisest of all he advisors, because he continued to follow the LORD. As we read through Daniel’s twelve chapters, we’ll read of miraculous events and amazing visions. The visions depict times which were in the immediate future as well as the end of time, so many of the events have already happened, but some are yet to occur at the end of time. Let’s turn to this book that will be familiar to many.

In Daniel 1, we read of Daniel and his three friends being carried off to Babylon, and being put in the training program to become advisors to the king. Immediately, Daniel balked at eating the rich foods provided by the king. He wanted to eat a diet of vegetables and fruits. He convinced the man charged with their welfare to let them try this simple diet for a period of time and then to examine them against the rest of those in training, who were eating the king’s rich foods. The young men were healthier than the rest, so they were given permission to continue their simple regimen. As the training was completed, Daniel and the other three Israelites proved to be wiser in all matters than any of the others among the kings advisors and magicians.  The chapter ends by telling us Daniel served throughout the entire reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.

 In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He called his advisors, enchanters, and magicians to tell him what the dream was and then to give its interpretation. The pagan advisors told the king no king on earth had ever asked such a thing, and he would have to tell them what the dream was and then they could interpret it. The king was incensed and told them he would kill them all if they didn’t tell him the dream and its interpretation. When king’s men came to get Daniel and the other three, he asked what was going on, and why the urgency? The captain of the king’s guard told him the situation. Daniel asked for time to pray, and told the other three to pray. The LORD gave Daniel both the dream and the interpretation. The dream was of a man with various types of metal and other materials, starting with gold in his head, bronze in his chest and so on. Daniel told the king of the dream, and then told him it represented four kingdoms each successively weaker that started with King Nebuchadnezzar himself. When the King realized that the LORD had given Daniel the dream and the interpretation, he acknowledged Daniel’s God, as the God of heaven, and promoted Daniel to the highest post in the kingdom. He also promoted Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael next to Daniel.

Daniel 3 shifts the attention from Daniel to his three friends. The chapter begins with King Nebuchadnezzar making a golden statue of himself and commanding that everyone bow down and worship it. Hannah, Azariah, and Mishael would not. Therefore, the king had them bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. Before they were thrown in the king gave them a chance to bow down to his statue. The young men told the king their God could deliver them, but even if He didn’t they wouldn’t bow down to the statue. With that the king flew into a rage and had them thrown into the furnace. It was so hot the men who threw them in were killed, yet the men were unharmed. In addition to that, the king saw four men in the furnace, and not three. Many think it was Jesus or an angel. In any case, after that the king had the men called out of the furnace. He once again gave glory to the God of heaven, and promoted the three to a higher position.

As we return to Mark 4, Jesus tells several parables to the disciples, including the Parable of the Sower. He also tells them why He tells the parables. As we’re returning to the book for the fifth time, these accounts are becoming quite familiar to us by this time. Let’s remember Mark emphasizes Jesus amazing works, much more than His teaching, so these parables were of great importance to Mark. As we read them, we see Jesus uses parables to explain what the Kingdom of God is like. As we seek to understand God’s Kingdom, and grow to live more and more as citizens of the Kingdom, it’s important for us to read these parables, consider Jesus’ explanations, and then live out the implications or applications. After all information-application=information, but information+application= transformation. The chapter ends with action once again: Jesus calms a storm. Much of the action to this point has been Jesus healing the sick and casting out demons. Here He shows His followers He has power over nature as well. We must always remember God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are supernatural beings. That means they can do acts of power that go beyond any natural ability or strength. Let’s remember that the next time we’re at the end of our natural abilities, and call on the supernatural power of God to move in, through, and beyond us!

Ezekiel 47-48 are a unit, with the start of the chapter telling us about a river that flows from the Temple to the east.  The river brings life, as wherever it flows will be fresh water fish and creatures of all kinds. Having recently been to Israel, this is an incredible concept, because tot he east of Jerusalem is arid land that looks nothing like it will support creatures of all kinds. The river will supply the nation with fresh water as well as food. As the chapter continues and flows into chapter 48, the LORD tells Ezekiel how the land of Israel will be divided up among the twelve tribes. In extensive detail, each tribe is given specific dimensions and areas where they will live. The LORD also talks about land to be given to the sojourners in the land. Thus, the book ends on a positive focus, with the future of Israel sure and bright.

As we return to Mark 3, we’re reminded of how Jesus provoked the religious leaders by healing on the Sabbath. While Jesus’ concern was for the well-being of the man with the withered hand, the religious leaders were concerned about their traditions. They saw Jesus’ action as a rebellion against their traditions, and went immediately to the Herodians to start planning how to get rid of Jesus. Think of that: They wanted to kill Jesus, and He hadn’t called His twelve disciples yet! In fact, after a session of healing the sick and demon-possessed, Jesus went up a mountain and called the twelve disciples. Since it was pointed out to me about thirty years ago, I have always recognized the importance of a small word in the description of why Jesus called the twelve. First, He called them to be “with” Him.  He wanted them to be part of His life, day-in and day-out. He was always teaching them and showing them how to offer ministry to the people, but He desired to be with them.

The remainder of the chapter focuses on two events. First, Jesus took on the religious leaders for saying that He was casting out demons by the Prince of Demons. He pointed out this was ridiculous, because no kingdom divided against itself can stand. Then He pointed out that to attribute the works of the Holy Spirit to the devil is an unpardonable sin. Second, Jesus’ mother and brothers wanted to see Him, but they couldn’t because of the crowd gathered around Him. When someone told Him His mother and brothers wanted to see Him, He asked this question, “Who are my mother and brothers?” It seems like a strange question. But He answered it by saying whoever does God’s will is His mother, sister, and brothers. In our lives as Jesus’ followers, our spiritual brothers and sisters might well become closer to us over time than our biological ones, because we are united to each other by the blood of Jesus, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 45 lays out the dimensions of the land for the Temple, for the priests, for the people of Israel and for the princes. It also lays out the command for righteousness to be practiced by all the people of Israel, particularly the “prince.” The LORD outlines the official weights and measures for the people, and the ordering of when the special feasts and sacrifices shall be, including the observance of Passover. The chapter shows us the LORD intended to reinstitute Israel in holiness.

Ezekiel 46 offers more instructions for the prince and for the people for the observance of the Sabbath. The Prince was to sit at the east gate on the Sabbath. That gate was to be closed except on the Sabbath, and when it was opened the prince would enter by the vestibule and sit in the gate. The people who came to the Temple and entered the north gate were to leave by the south one, and those who entered by the southern gate were to leave by the northern one. They were not to retrace their steps, but to go forward. This is a powerful image of how we who follow the LORD are not to turn back. In other words, once we have repented – turned around – we are to keep going straight.  As the chapter continues, Ezekiel is given instructions about how the outer courts were to be arranged, and what sacrifices were to be offered when. He is also given instructions for boiling pots for the meat and where they were to be located. While all this might seem strange to us, given that Jesus is our once and for all sacrifice, the point of it all is the LORD was going to reestablish righteousness and worship among the people. The LORD was going to be first, and the people were going to live in obedience.

As we return to Mark 2, we find Jesus having His first run in with the religious leaders. In Capernaum, as Jesus was ministering in a house, a group of four men carried their paralytic friend to Jesus for healing. When they couldn’t get in the door of the house, because of the crowd, they opened a hole in the roof, and let their friend down in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw the man’s friends’ faith, He told the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” This raised a great discontent among the religious leaders. They asked how Jesus thought He could forgive sins, the prerogative of God alone. Jesus responded by asking whether it was easier to forgive sins, or tell the paralytic to get up and walk? To show His power to forgive sins, He healed the man physically.  All were amazed.

Next, Jesus called Levi or Matthew, a tax-collector to follow Him. This also raised the ire of the religious leaders. When Levi invited Jesus to a meal at His home, along with all his friends, who were mainly tax-collectors and other assorted sinners, the religious leaders asked why Jesus would eat with “them.” Jesus responded the healthy don’t need a doctor but the sick. (Jesus pronounced something vital for us: there are no “them.” We are all sinners.)

Next, the people raised a question with Jesus about fasting. They wanted to know why John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fasted, but Jesus’ disciples did not? Jesus responded that no one fasts during the wedding feast, and so long as He, the “bridegroom” was present His disciples wouldn’t fast, but when He was gone they would.

Finally, Jesus’ disciples raised the ire of the religious leaders by plucking and eating heads of grain from a field on the Sabbath. The religious leaders considered this work. Jesus’ pointed out how King David had broken the law in his day with impunity, because of the necessity of the situation. Now, He pointed out He was “Lord of the Sabbath,” and what He was doing was okay. Jesus wasn’t flaunting the Law of Moses. He made it quite clear in the Sermon on the Mount that He took the Law quite seriously. What He wouldn’t tolerate, though, was toying with the Law, and making it into a man-made set of instructions that could be followed religiously, so the followers would consider themselves righteous.

Ezekiel 42 continues the description of the inner portion of the Temple, and then moves to describing the outer courts. The total Temple are measured 500 cubits square. 500 cubits is 750 feet, so the Temple area is to be 562,500 square feet! Having recently been to Israel, and seeing the Temple mount area, we were told the Temple mount is the size of seven football fields or 315,000 square feet. While it is most impressive, the future Temple will cover an area more than twice as big.  The LORD’s finished work is always greater than anything we could think or imagine.  

Ezekiel 43 tells of the LORD’s glory entering the Temple. Ezekiel describes it as being the same as he saw at the very beginning of his prophecy at the Chebar Canal. The LORD spoke to Ezekiel and told him to share this vision with the people and to tell them He would be with them forever, and they would sin no more. After this description, the LORD described the new altar that was to be constructed for sacrifices, and also the types and numbers of sacrifices that would be necessary to consecrate the altar.

Ezekiel 44 tells of the holiness of the East gate leading to the Temple. Because the LORD’s glory entered there, no one shall be permitted to enter the East gate. Only the prince of the nation might sit there and watch the sun as it rose in the east. The LORD also offered another command that the people would be holy. He condemned the priesthood for leading the people astray, but then reestablished the levitical priests of the line of Zadok as the ones to minister over the people. They had not turned against the LORD in the past, so they would be His servants in this future restored Kingdom.

As we return to Mark 1 for the fifth time, the gospel ought to be familiar to us. We remember it contains only sixteen chapters, and is the shortest of the four gospels. It is more “action-packed,” and contains less teaching from Jesus’ mouth than the other gospels. Mark 1 starts with a record of John the Baptist’s ministry. We find no record of Jesus’ birth as in Matthew and Luke.  We see Jesus first at His baptism by John. Mark’s record is brief, as is his record of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. When Jesus starts His ministry, His message is the same as that of John: Repent! For the Kingdom of God is near. He also adds something: Believe the gospel.  Jesus has not only come to call the world to repentance, but also to bring the good news of salvation through His sacrificial death and resurrection. We don’t see that in its fullness in chapter 1, but it will become apparent quickly in Mark’s gospel. We read, too, of Jesus calling the first four disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Jesus starts His ministry of teaching and healing in a big way, as He enters Capernaum, teaches in a synagogue, casts a demon out of man, and then heals the sick and demon-possessed of the entire town. After that long day of ministry, Jesus gets up in the morning and goes off by Himself to pray. This was Jesus’ pattern: start the day in solitude with His Heavenly Father. When the disciples came to find Him, they had an agenda for Jesus: Let’s go back and have another day of amazing ministry in Capernaum. But Jesus knew His calling. He said they must go throughout Galilee and teach in the synagogues. That is why He came. We are introduced in the closing verses of the chapter to a common theme in Jesus’ life and ministry: As He was going from one place to another, a leper came to Him. As we read Mark’s gospel, and all of the gospels to one degree or another, we find Jesus was often approached by individuals and groups “as he was going…” In those moments, Jesus didn’t say, “I’m too busy for you.” He stopped, listened and helped. In this case, Jesus touched the leper and healed Him. The touch is significant, because in touching the leper Jesus became ceremonially unclean. But we learn an important truth: Before Jesus, when someone touched a leper that person became unclean. When Jesus touched a leper, the leper became clean!

Ezekiel 39 continues the prophecy against Gog. We read the entire people of God will be destroyed, and the defeat will be so extensive it will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury all the dead.  The LORD tells the birds and wild animals they will feast on the flesh of these mighty warriors, because they will all be dead. The chapter ends with another promise of restoration to the people of Israel and Judah. The LORD tells them He will put His Spirit in them.

Ezekiel 40 offers a vision of the rebuilt Temple. This vision took place twenty-five years after the people had been carried into exile, so it was still a long time before the people would return. Yet, the LORD offered Ezekiel an extensive description, and a vision of the restored Temple, including the dimensions of the gates, the outer courts, and the inner court. He described chambers where the priests would stay who had charge of the Temple and of the altar. The descriptions are precise, and continue into Ezekiel 41. In this chapter, we read descriptions of the inner Temple with it’s many chambers, and carvings. This Temple was to be much larger than the original Temple built in Solomon’s time. Because we know the second Temple which was built when the exiles came back from Babylon, was smaller than Solomon’s Temple, it is likely the Temple we are reading about is the Temple we will have in the time of Jesus’ return. The description of the Temple continues into Ezekiel 42, as we will see tomorrow.

As we return to Matthew 28, we come to the most powerful incident in the history of the world: Jesus’ resurrection. Some would say without His birth there could have been no resurrection, which is true. Others point to the crucifixion and say this was the supreme moment in human history, because Jesus satisfied God’s wrath when He died in our places. That is also true. Yet, if Jesus had never risen from the dead, no one would celebrate His birth nor remember His crucifixion. Without the resurrection, Jesus was just a martyr, but with it He is Lord and God, as Thomas would say, the first time he saw Jesus after His resurrection. Matthew offers us one detail about Jesus’ resurrection that none of the other gospel do. Matthew tells us the guards went to the Jewish leaders to tell them Jesus had risen, and the Jewish leaders came up with a story about the disciples taking Jesus’ body away to make it look like He had risen. We’re told that the Jews believed it up to the day the gospel was written. Indeed, Jews the world over believe that account to this day. Jesus was, however, quite alive, and He appeared to the disciples before returning to heaven. Matthew tells us of only two post-resurrection appearances by Jesus. The first, was to the women who had gone to the tomb, to finish embalming Jesus. When they saw Jesus, He told them to have His followers meet Him in Galilee. Eventually, they did meet Him there. He told them to go into all the world and make disciples of every nation. We call these words the Great Commission. As Jesus’ followers living nearly 2,000 years later, we haven’t completed the task. Our challenge is to go to our homes, places of work or school, out into our communities, and then beyond them, eventually to the ends of the earth, making certain every person has the opportunity to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.  That’s the task we must complete, because every person must have the opportunity to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord in his or her lifetime, before it is too late.  Thank God for His amazing grace and mercy in our lives, shown through Jesus’ call for us not only to be disciples, but to make disciples everywhere!

In Ezekiel 36, the LORD prophesies to the mountains of Israel, yesterday the mountains of Israel. The prophecy concerns the current situation–the devastation of the people for their sins, as well as the future return of the people. The mountains have borne reproach, but in the future they will be populated with the LORD’s people once again. The LORD also testifies to the holiness of His name, and tells Ezekiel that holiness required the punishment of the people. The chapter closes with the LORD’s promise that He will bring His people back, and will put His Spirit in them. He will take out their hearts of stone, and replace them with hearts of flesh. This is the most promising chapter of promise we have seen in the entire prophecy to this point!

In Ezekiel 37, we read the famous account of the valley of dry bones. Ezekiel is shown a valley filled with dry bones, and the LORD asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel offers an excellent answer, “LORD, you know.” The LORD always knows, and in this case He brings the bones together, and then puts the muscle and skin back on and breathes the breath of life into them. This is a promise that the people will come alive once again. After this image, the LORD tells Ezekiel to take two sticks, one representing Israel and one representing Judah and to tie them together. This symbolizes the nation of Israel will be reunited, and “King David” will rule over it once again. What a tremendous chapter! In one great and miraculous sweep of will, the LORD will restore the land, the people, and the nation.

Ezekiel 38 starts the prophecy against “Gog of the land of Magog.” Many believe this is an end-time prophecy, because the LORD says it will happen in the “latter days.” Gog will come against Israel, and the LORD’s wrath will come against Him. (And tomorrow we will see the final outcome!)

As we return to Matthew 27, we read the events from Jesus being brought to Pilate for judgment by the Jewish leaders, to the time of Jesus’ being put in the tomb. It is literally, a dark time. Judas hangs himself; the people request the release of Barabbas, a murderer, instead of Jesus the innocent one. Jesus is mocked by the Roman soldiers who would crucify Him. When Jesus was crucified, the skies literally turned dark.  In His darkest moment, when Jesus felt the weight of the sins of the world on Him, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” It doesn’t get darker than that. But as the old saying goes, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”  When Jesus was entombed, the Jewish religious leaders went to Pilate and asked for guards to watch the tomb, because of Jesus’ claim He would rise from the dead.  As we’ll see tomorrow (and as we already know) the soldiers were no match for what was about to happen!

In Ezekiel 33, the LORD tells Ezekiel he is the watchman for Israel. In the discourse, the LORD tells Ezekiel if the swordsmen come and Ezekiel cries out and the people are destroyed their blood will be on themselves, but if he does not warn the people their blood will be on him. Then the LORD gets more specific and tells Ezekiel that if he tells the people of their wickedness and they repent, they will be saved, but if he doesn’t tell the people and they don’t repent, their blood will be on him. The role of the watchman is vital, and the Apostle Paul uses it in Acts 20 with the Ephesian elders to tell them that he has been a faithful watchman to the Ephesian church and is, therefore, innocent of every person’s blood. The close of the chapter tells us that Jerusalem has fallen. All the prophecies have now become a reality.

In Ezekiel 34, the LORD condemns Israel’s “shepherds,” their priests and leaders for eating the sheep, and not caring for the lost and sick. He tells them He will become the shepherd for the sheep. He will be the one who cares for them and calls them back. (This is another message of hope for the people!) He then tells the “sheep,” He will divide between the sheep. The fat sheep, the ones who have pushed and shoved their way instead of caring for the lean sheep, will be judged. Always in the Book of Ezekiel we find judgment and mercy. We ought not be surprised, because the day of judgment comes for all of us.  We will be judged based on what we have done with the Good Shepherd, Jesus.

In the brief chapter, Ezekiel 35, the LORD condemns Mt. Seir for her joy at Israel’s destruction. Any who gloat over the pain of God’s people, will be judged for that stance. The LORD asks why they did not help, rather than plan to come in and take over the land. As a result, the people of that land will be destroyed.

As we return to Matthew 26, we read of the last moments of Jesus’ life before His arrest, and the first few hours after His arrest. Jesus ate a meal, which we might call the next to the last supper, at the home of Simon the Leper, (who must have been healed by Jesus. Otherwise, he would not have been permitted to be in his home!) At the meal a woman came and anointed him with expensive perfume. The disciples were upset at the “waste” of money, but Jesus affirmed the woman’s action, saying she was preparing His body for burial. That must have sounded strange to the folks in attendance, even though Jesus had warned His followers He would be arrested, found guilty, beaten, crucified, and buried. He told them He would also rise after three days.  As we read through the chapter, Jesus hosts the “Last Supper,” at which He announces His betrayal, and transforms the Passover Meal into a remembrance of the New Covenant. Then they go to the Mount of Olives where Jesus tells the disciples they will all fall away. Peter protests, but Jesus tells him, he will deny even knowing Jesus three times that night. Jesus then goes and prays in earnest for the “cup” to pass from Him. This is the cup of His Father’s wrath which Jesus will “drink” for the sins of the world.  Later, Jesus is arrested and put through the mockery of a trial, where He is condemned to death by the Jewish leaders. Peter, meanwhile, had followed at a distance, and as Jesus said denied knowing Jesus three times. Lest we be too hard on Peter, each of us has betrayed and denied Jesus in our lives. The lesson to be learned is Jesus’ words are always true. We must live them out, and we can only do that in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our goal is to put Jesus first in the power of the Holy Spirit, so when the temptation to deny or forsake Jesus comes, we will overcome!

Ezekiel 30 follows up chapter 29, which was a prophecy against Egypt, with a lament for Egypt. This pattern has become consistent over the past several chapters with the LORD first pronouncing judgment against a nation through a prophetic pronouncement, and then following it up with a lament. The lament is quite extensive, and includes the names of many of the major cities of Egypt. The common theme is each will be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. The men will be killed by the sword and the women will be carried off into captivity. The judgment comes for Egypt’s idolatry. The LORD would use an idolatrous nation, Babylon, to destroy other idolatrous nations, but in the end those who turn from Him always receive judgment. Babylon’s time would also come.

Ezekiel 31 offers a pronouncement of doom specifically for Pharaoh of Egypt. The chapter includes a metaphor using trees to compare Pharaoh and Egypt to Assyria, and even to the garden of God. But after a long discourse pointing out that all these “trees” would go down to Sheol, we come back to the world of reality and it is Pharaoh who will be “cut down.”

Ezekiel 32 offers another lament for Pharaoh and Egypt. Pharaoh considered himself a “lion,” but the LORD says he was a “dragon,” in the Nile and the LORD was going to catch him in His dragnet and cast him onto the land, where he would be destroyed. Pharaoh’s death (and the death of Egypt) would be “watched” by the nations that had already been destroyed, (from Sheol we assume). We are given a long list of the lands and kings that would watch and wail, just as we had the same type of pronouncement for Tyre. As we have continued through the Book of Ezekiel, we have seen the LORD is not a “local” God. He is not only the God of Israel, but the God over all the nations, and He stands in judgment against them for their idolatry, pride, and unwillingness to know and serve Him.

As we return to Matthew 25, Jesus tells three parables of the Kingdom. Each one makes it clear we must be ready when Jesus returns. The first parable is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. All were waiting for the bridegroom (Jesus) to come. Five of the virgins were wise, as demonstrated by their bringing extra oil for their lamps, in case the bridegroom was delayed in his coming. the other five were foolish–they didn’t bring extra oil. When their lamps were out of oil, the five foolish bridesmaids asked the wise ones to give them some oil. The first five wouldn’t do so, because they might not have enough left for themselves. While the foolish virgins went to search for a place to buy oil (which wasn’t likely to be found in the middle of the night!) the bridegroom returned. The foolish virgins were locked out when they came to the wedding. What a clear reminder of our need to be ready for Jesus’ return.

Next, Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents, so named, because a master went on a trip and entrusted his money (talents) to three of his servants. He gave one five talents, another two, and another one. We’re told each received the amount that accorded with his ability. While the master was away, the first two servants doubled their master’s money, while the third one buried the money and did nothing with it. Upon the master’s return the first two servants were lauded by the master for their faithfulness, and told to enter the joy of their master’s kingdom. The master called the third servant lazy and wicked and cast him out. Again, the parable shows us our need for diligence and readiness as we wait for our Master’s return.

Finally, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. In this parable Jesus tells us directly when He returns He will divide people into “sheep” and “goats.” The sheep will be the ones who have met His needs, by doing acts of service and kindness to those around them in need. The goats will be the ones who have left the deeds undone.  While this is not a treatise on works-righteousness, that is being made righteous by our works, it is a reminder that we aren’t to sit under a tree and wait for Jesus to come back. Our task is to be diligently about the work of the Kingdom as we wait for Jesus’ return. In each of the parables, the faithful ones are rewarded, while the unfaithful ones are punished. While some modern folks might be “upset” by this truth, it is found over and over again in Jesus’ life and ministry. That means we must take it seriously and live our lives accordingly.