[NOTE: For those who are continuing the 1-year Bible reading plan we started on April 1, 2018, just go to the end of this entry and you will find the Day 360 – 2 John; 3 John; Jude; Luke 19 summary!]
In 2 Samuel 13, the prophecy of Nathan regarding David and his household starts to come to pass. First, David’s son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, retaliated by killing Amnon. The report that came to David said Absalom had killed all of his brothers, but it was only Amnon. Absalom ran away, but eventually came back to Jerusalem, and David was “comforted” by this return. While every family has its dysfunctions, King David’s family shows us how far a family’s dysfunction can go when its leader sets a poor example.
In 2 Samuel 14, Joab conspires to have King David bring Absalom back to Jerusalem by having a woman of Tekoa, tell a story about her son who had killed another, and seeking David’s help in the situation. When David told her he would help her, she asked why the king put his own son in the same situation. David asked the woman if Joab had put her up to it, and she confessed he had. David permitted Absalom to come back to Jerusalem, but he was not permitted to live with David, and David did not see him for two years. Absalom then convinced Joab to get David to permit him to see his father. It seemed that all was well, but in 2 Samuel 15, Absalom turned the hearts of the people against his father, by showing them favor, and judging their disputes. It took four years, but eventually Absalom staged an attempted overthrow, and had himself pronounced king at Hebron. David didn’t attack Absalom or go to Hebron to defend himself. He simply packed up and left. He made a few strategic moves, such as having the Ark of the Covenant stay in the city, so it would be protected, and because it would be there if the LORD saw fit to have David retain his throne. In addition, he had some trusted advisors pretend to have rebelled against him, so they could thwart Absalom’s planning. The situation was dire, but as we will see, God was not yet finished with David.
As we return to Mark 11, we look once again at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The sequence of events included the people acknowledging Jesus as a descendant of David and honoring Him in a way they had not done before. Jesus cursed a fig tree that wasn’t bearing figs, and overturned the money changers’ tables in the Temple, demonstrating His authority to protect His Father’s house. Jesus explained the lesson of the withered fig tree, and how faith in God can move mountains. At the end of the chapter the religious authorities challenged Jesus’ authority, but as always Jesus was ahead of them. He asked where John the Baptist’s authority originated. The leaders wouldn’t say, because they knew the people thought John was a prophet, so they didn’t want to offend the people by saying John’s authority was merely human, but if they said it was from God, Jesus would ask them why they hadn’t obeyed him. So, they said they didn’t know. Jesus responded He wouldn’t tell them from where His authority arose. We can never outwit Jesus, because He is both wiser than us, and He is always at least one step ahead of us. Our goal as Jesus’ followers is to give Him the credit He is due all the time, not just once as the folks did on the first Palm Sunday so long ago. Also, we must submit to Jesus’ authority daily, so our lives will be lived to His glory and praise.
Day 360 – 2 John; 3 John; Jude; Luke 19
Today we turn to 2 John, 3 John and Jude. Each of these letters is brief, and in the big picture of God’s word might not even seem to be incredibly important. But as Paul reminded Timothy all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and correcting us in His ways.
In 2 John, John address the letter to “The elect lady and her children.” This could be a local Christian church. In any case, John’s message is similar to that of his larger focus in 1 John: stay faithful and obedient to Jesus. One additional focus comes to light: we must offer hospitality to true believers, but we want to avoid doing so for false teachers. John closes by writing he has much more to say but wanted to do it in person than through a letter. This reminds us our faith is first and foremost a relational faith. It is not simply words of instruction.
In his brief 3 John, John praises Gaius a local church leader whose faithfulness to Jesus and the Church are evident. At the same time he points to Diotrephes as an object lesson in how not to live as Jesus’ follower. Diotrephes was arrogant and resistant to offering hospitality to those who deserved it. Again, John closes by writing he had much to say, but wanted to say it in person rather than with pen and ink.
Jude, who was likely another half-brother of Jesus, wrote to correct false teaching, to challenge some false teachers directly, and also to encourage the faithful to continue in their obedience to Jesus. This brief letter closes with one of the most beautiful ascriptions of praise or doxologies in the entire Bible: 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (ESV) As we return to Luke 19, we read of Jesus’ powerful interaction with Zacchaeus, who was a tax-collector, but Jesus treated Him with love and respect. As a result, Jesus proclaimed Zacchaeus had received salvation. Jesus then told the Parable of the Ten Minas, which reminds us Jesus expects us to “multiply” whatever He entrusts to us in serving His Kingdom. Following this we read of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, where Jesus is acknowledged as the Son of David. Unfortunately, the accolades were short-lived as a brief five days later the same crowds were shouting, “Crucify Him!” The chapter closes with Jesus driving the money-changers out of the Temple. Jesus’ confrontations with the religious leaders as we move through the next five days will prove to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the religious leaders will fulfill Jesus’ prophecy by arresting Him, trying and finding Him guilty, and turning him over to the Romans to be crucified.