[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 361 – Revelation 1-4; Luke 20 summary!]
In 2 Samuel 16-18, we read the record of David’s continuing retreat from Jerusalem, of Absalom’s arrival there, and of Absalom’s defeat and death. The high points of the chapters are: 1) David was cursed by Shimei a Benjamite as he was leaving Jerusalem. One of David’s men wanted to kill him, but David’s response was his own son had rebelled against him, how much more this Benjamite. 2) When Absalom entered Jerusalem, Ahithophel, his advisor, told Absalom to go in to David’s concubines as a sign he was taking over the palace. Then he told Absalom to go after David with 20,000 men at that time and destroy him, before he made it across the Jordan. Hushai, one of David’s trusted advisors, who had stayed behind in Jerusalem to confound Absalom’s plans, told Absalom to wait until the next day, and to amass all of Israel against David. This plan saved David’s life and set into motion Absalom’s defeat. Ahithophel was so upset that his plan was not received that he left the group, went home, and hanged himself. 3) Absalom and his army went after David the next day. David had told his commanders and all his troops to deal gently with Absalom, but when the time came, and Absalom was literally caught in a tree, Joab killed him. When the troops returned from battle, they returned to find David sobbing in remorse for Absalom’s death. That is how chapter 18 ends. A day that was a great victory for David appeared to be more like a defeat. All these events are the living out of the consequence of David’s sin with Bathsheba. While David repented of the sin, the consequences remained. What an important lesson for us to remember: God will always forgive our sins when we repent, but the consequences of our sins may remain with us. We can escape from sin and eternal death, but the consequences of our actions often remain.
As we return to Mark 12, we read one of the longest sections of teaching in Mark’s gospel. Jesus has entered Jerusalem. Holy Week has begun. He has cleansed the Temple, and now He takes on the religious leaders. First, He tells the Parable of the Tenants, an obvious illustration of how the religious leaders were going to kill Him. Then He faced several tests from the religious leaders, passing each one easily. In the first test the religious leaders asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. They saw this as a “lose-lose” question for Jesus. If He said, “Yes,” they would say He was disloyal to Israel. If He said, “No,” they would turn Him into the Romans. Jesus didn’t answer either yes or no but told them to render to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God. Next, the Sadducees who didn’t believe in the resurrection (That’s why they were “sad, you see!”) came to him with a story about a woman who was married to seven different brothers over time, because each one day in his turn , and asked whose wife she would be in the resurrection, because she was married to each? Jesus answered that in heaven we are neither married nor given in marriage, but we are like angels. Then He pointed out that in the time of Moses when God appeared to Moses, He told Moses, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…. At that time, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been dead for a long time, but Jesus’ point was God said they were alive, proving the resurrection is a reality. Finally, Jesus was asked which commandment in the Law is the greatest. The test here was Jesus might answer in a way the religious leaders could argue was “wrong.” Once again Jesus demonstrated His command of the Law by stating the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and another commandment is like it: to love our neighbors as ourselves. No one could argue with that answer. Jesus closed out His time with the religious leaders by pointing out the Messiah is both the Son of David and the Lord of David, which astounded the crowd. He warned the crowd about the hypocrisy of the scribes. Then chapter 12 ends with Jesus pointing out the faithfulness and generosity of a poor widow, who gave her last two coins as an offering to God. Jesus said this was a greater gift than the “generous” gifts of those who gave a great quantity of offering, but only out of their surplus. Jesus’ interactions in chapter 12 show us no one is wiser than He, and no one is more faithful than He. As some political leaders have been described as “presidential,” we would have to describe Jesus as “Messiah-like,” because He was, indeed, the Messiah!
Day 361 – Revelation 1-4; Luke 20
Today we turn to the final book of the Bible: Revelation. This book has caused a great deal of controversy through the millennia. The book is a record of the vision Jesus revealed to the Apostle John, about the “end times.” The controversy has often been over whether the book provides a “time line” for the end, which can be determined from examining it. Some claim the book was only given as a comfort for those who suffered so deeply for their faith in Jesus in the first century but has no instruction for today. As with the rest of God’s word, it had meaning for the people in the time it was written and for today. As we read through Revelation, we will find some bizarre images, which some take literally, while others take metaphorically. On this much we can agree: Revelation makes it clear Jesus willreturn and when He does He willestablish His kingdom and reign forever!
Revelation 1 starts with a “beatitude” that is a blessing for those who read it aloud, and for those who hear it and keep it. We’re told what it records is for a time that is “near.” (While we might see 2,000 years and county as anything but near, we must remember in God’s timing 1,000 years are as a day.) Next, we’re told the letter is addressed to the seven churches that are in Asia. In chapters 2 and 3, we will read specific letters to each of the churches, but here they are greeted, and then John tells us many characteristics of Jesus in language taken mainly from images of the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament. Here’s how He is described: 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.Revelation 1:13-16 (ESV)
We read the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. While the letters are addressed to seven individual churches, numerology is important in the Book of Revelation. The number seven symbolizes God, perfection and completeness. Thus, the “seven churches,” can also symbolize the one universal church. As we will see, the letters are written in a specific format with a salutation, then comes either commendation, condemnation, or a combination of the two. Finally, the letter closes with encouragement to continue doing well to receive a reward, or a challenge to correct the errors or face permanent condemnation. Let’s look at each of the letters briefly:
The first letter was addressed to the Church in Ephesus. The letter starts with commendation for not permitting false teaching in the church. But then comes the condemnation: you have abandoned the love you had at first. The challenge every church faces is to hold the tension of truth andlove. The Ephesian Church had tipped to the side of focusing on truth but letting go of love. This leads to legalism and Pharisaism. Jesus challenged them to regain their love or their “lampstand” would be removed. Yet, those who held true would be given the opportunity to eat from the tree of life!
The next letter was addressed to the Church in Smyrna. This church received only commendation for holding true during times of trial and suffering. They were told a time of imprisonment was coming that would last “ten” days. The ten is in quotes because it is a symbolic number. Round numbers and multiples of tens often signify indefinite periods of time in this book. The promise to the Smyrnans is those who stand firm or conquer the period of suffering, will not be hurt by the second death–by hell.
The third letter was addressed to the Church in Pergamum. Once again, Jesus commends the people for their faithfulness in suffering, but condemnation comes in the form or renouncing those who participated in sexual immorality and the teachings of the Nicolaitans. As we see, while these words were directed at the Church in Pergamum at that time, the words are true of people in all churches of all times. The reward for victory was to be given a white stone with a new name only to the one who received it. That means having a special name given to you by Jesus that only you and He know!
The fourth letter was addressed to the Church in Thyatira. It holds commendation for those who have been faithful, and have endured suffering with patience. Yet, it also condemns those who practice sexual immorality. This letter makes it clear that some of each group were part of the church, and those in sin were called to repent. Those being faithful were called to remain faithful. The promise for those who overcome in this situation, is they would rule the nations with Jesus!
The letter to the Church in Sardis, which is found at the beginning of Revelation 3, contains only condemnation. They have a reputation for being alive, but they were dead. Imagine being told that by Jesus! It isn’t how we appear on the surface the matters, or what people think of us. What matters is how our hearts stand before Jesus. He promised those who overcame white robes, symbolizing purity and victory. He also promised them their names would never be blotted out of the book of life.
The sixth letter is addressed to the Church in Philadelphia. This church receives only commendation. Jesus tells them He has opened a door for them that no one can close. He tells them He will bring false believers in front of them to bow before them. He tells them if they continue to remain faithful as they have been, He will make them “pillars” that will stand forever. What a promise!
The final letter, to the Church in Laodicea, is famous for the line, “Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Billy Graham often used this verse to invite non-believers to put their faith in Jesus. But Jesus addressed it to those who were supposed to be following Him but weren’t. He said they were “lukewarm,” and because of that, He would spit them out of His mouth. Again, we see how it applied to the particular church to whom it was written, but it also applies to ever believer who has ever lived. Our goal is to be “hot” for the Lord, and not “lukewarm”!
As we move to Revelation 4, we experience our first celebration of worship in heaven. As we read the chapter, the imagery is hard to imagine. That is as it must be. How can anyone describe the indescribable? John attempted to tell us what heaven is like with earthly words and images. Until we experience it ourselves, none of us will be able to imagine it fully. Thankfully, John paints us several pictures of God, the “throne room,” and other parts of heaven. As we read through the book of Revelation, our minds will be informed, and our spirits will be touched!
As we return to Luke 20, Jesus’ authority is questioned by the Pharisees, but Jesus turns the question on them, and asks where John the Baptist’s authority originated. They couldn’t (or wouldn’t) answer the question, so Jesus left their question unanswered as well. Next, Jesus tells the Parable of the Tenants, which we’ve experienced before in Matthew and Mark. The gospel writers saw this as a clear statement of how the religious leaders were going to treat Jesus, and three of the four included it. Next, we read of the religious leaders testing Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, followed by a question about the resurrection. The chapter closes with Jesus asking the leaders whose son the Christ/Messiah is? He showed them the Messiah is both the Son and the Father of David. We see again it’s always best not to test Jesus, because He always passes, and usually makes the “testers” look foolish in the process.