Chris Marshall Resources

In Matthew 11, the disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus to ask whether He was the One who was to come, or if they should look for another?  The question was John’s not theirs.  John had been arrested for his work, and as he sat in prison, he wondered whether Jesus was really the Messiah. Jesus’ answer was a quote from Isaiah’s prophecy of what the Messiah would do.  Jesus affirmed John as the greatest man ever born of woman, and then said the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.  As the chapter continues Jesus condemns Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their unwillingness to trust Him as Messiah and to repent.  Finally, Jesus tells the crowds if any are tired and overburdened to come to Him, because His “yoke” is easy, and His burden is light.  The yoke was used to couple two ox or cows together to multiply their work.  When we yoke ourselves to Jesus every burden and work is lightened and made easier.

In Matthew 12, Jesus tells the religious leaders He is Lord of the Sabbath, when they question Him about His disciples picking grain to eat on the Sabbath.  Jesus also heals a man on the Sabbath, which evoked their wrath.  Jesus pointed out to everyone that He is God’s chosen servant.  When the Pharisees say Jesus cast out demons by the prince of demons, He responds that every sin we commit will be forgiven but sin against the Holy Spirit.  He defined the sin against the Holy Spirit here as attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus went on to tell us a “tree” is identified by its “fruit,” meaning we can judge between Him and the religious leaders by the work accomplished.  Jesus told the people who would not give them a sign of who He was except for the “sign of Jonah,” which referred to His three days in the tomb, as Jonah had been in the belly of a great fish.  Next, Jesus tells a parable warning of the danger of having an evil spirit cast out of a person, without the person then being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Finally, Jesus’ mother and brothers come to see Him, but Jesus responds His mother and brothers are those who do the will of His Father in heaven.

In Matthew 13, Jesus told the Parable of the Sower, and told the disciples why He told parables.  After that, He explained the Parable of the Sower.  Then Jesus told the Parable of the Weeds, and of the Mustard Seed and Leaven.  Then He explained the Parable of the Weeds. After Jesus tells several more parables, He was rejected in Nazareth.

As we return to John 16, Jesus continues His farewell discourse to the disciples, which included more information about the Holy Spirit as well as words of comfort that they would be sorrowful (at His death), but eventually their sorrow would turn to joy. 

Matthew 8-10 are action-packed when compared with the teaching chapters of Matthew 5-7.  Matthew 8 starts with Jesus cleansing a leper.  This miracle is recorded in Mark 1, so we see the Gospel writers didn’t always record the events in the same sequence.  They did record the details quite similarly in most cases.  Some have seen these “discrepancies” as “proof” the gospels were made up stories and not actual events.  The slight variations in details are what we would expect if various witnesses had seen the same thing happen and told someone about it.  Matthew was with Jesus from Matthew 9 on, so he wasn’t there for all the events recorded.  Mark is thought to have written his gospel from Peter’s perspective.  In any case, Matthew tells us about Jesus healing the leper, then the centurion’s servant, then Peter’s mother-in-law and many others.  Next, Matthew interjects the account of Jesus telling a few men the cost of following Him.  Finally, we read what is the account of “Legion” in Mark 5, but here is the account of two men filled with demons.  This is an important detail, so it might have been two separate events.  However, Matthew also has Jesus ride two donkeys at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem rather than the one recorded in the other three gospels.  The details differ, but the point is the same: Jesus has powerful authority over evil spirits.

In Matthew 9, Jesus heals a paralytic, but first forgives his sins.  This causes an uproar among the religious leaders.  Next, Jesus calls Matthew to follow Him, and Matthew throws a party to introduce Jesus to his friends.  This causes another uproar among the religious leaders, because Jesus was hanging out with tax collectors and other “sinners.”  Jesus pointed out He came to call the sinners, not the righteous to repentance.  John the Baptist’s disciples come to ask Jesus why his disciples didn’t fast?  They noted they fasted, as did the disciples of the Pharisees.  Jesus pointed out no one fasts when the wedding feast is taking place.  Jesus was comparing Himself to the bridegroom, and He said His disciples would fast when He was taken away.   After this, we find the record of Jesus healing a dead girl, and a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years.  Next Jesus healed two blind men, and finally a man who was deaf and unable to speak.  Matthew shows us Jesus’ power to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth in all these examples.  As Jesus surveys the crowds, He turns to the disciples and tells them the “harvest” is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Then He tells them to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers.

As chapter 10 begins, Jesus calls those He just told to pray for workers as His twelve disciples and sends them out on their first missionary endeavor.  Jesus gave the twelve extensive directions before sending them out.  He told them to rely on God’s provision.  He told them they would be persecuted.  In the midst of that, they were to rely on God’s provision.  He promised them if they remained faithful, they would receive great rewards even for the smallest act of kindness done in Jesus’ name.

As we return again to John 15, Jesus continues His discourse with the disciples before His arrest.  He uses a powerful analogy to show the disciples how vital it is for us to stay “connected” to Him.  Jesus says He is the vine, and we are the branches.  He makes the point clear: If we remain in Him, we will bear fruit, much fruit, and more fruit.  If we don’t stay connected to Him, we will die.  Jesus reiterates His new commandment for us to love one another.  Then He tells the disciples the world will hate them, because it first hated Jesus.  He promises the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will come to be with them, and He will bear witness to them, and they will bear witness to the people about Jesus.  What a powerful reminder that remaining connected to Jesus means living in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Matthew 5-7 are Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  These three chapters contain so much powerful content!  This is our fourth time reading through it, so the teachings ought to be part of our store of “information” about Jesus.  The key for us, though, is to take the information and let it transform us by applying it in the power of the Holy Spirit.  As you read these three chapters today, select one section, and pray through it asking Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit and let you live it out.  For example, it could be Matthew 7:12: Do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Ask Jesus to empower you to treat others as you would want to be treated.  Better yet: Ask Jesus to empower you to treat others as He would treat them!

As we return to John 14, we return to one of the most powerful statements Jesus ever made.  We find it in John 14:16: I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me!  The entire chapter contains some of Jesus’ final words to the disciples before His arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.  But these words remind us no one but Jesus can lead us to our Heavenly Father.  No one but Jesus can give us truth for living, and no one but Jesus gives us the life that is truly life.  The word John used for life is “zoe,” which is God’s life.  It is different than the typical word the Greeks used for life, which was “bios.”  We use the word bios to make our English word, biology. But zoe is the abundant life Jesus told us He came to bring in John 10:10.  Here in John 14, He reminded us He doesn’t only have such life to offer us.  He is that life!

As we turn to Malachi, we find a prophet who served after Haggai and Zechariah.  Their calls to return to the LORD and to build the Temple had been partially heeded, as the Temple was rebuilt.  However, the people’s hearts had not returned to the LORD.  Malachi condemned the priests for their unfaithfulness, the people for their lack of true worship, for their injustice, and for their unwillingness to offer tithes to the LORD.  Malachi refers to both John the Baptist and Jesus, calling them “messengers” of the LORD. 

In Malachi 1, the LORD tells the people of Israel of His love for them and reminds them He loved Israel but hated or rejected Esau.  Thus, the people needed to return to the LORD. The LORD rebukes the priests harshly for offering blemished animals to Him.  He reminds them that a son offers allegiance to his father, and a servant to his master, but He is their father and master and they offer “blind” and “lame” sacrifices to Him.  He asks them whether the governor would accept such offerings and calls them to repent.

In Malachi 2, the LORD continues to rebuke the priests for their failure to offer true worship.  He tells them they will be humiliated and their offspring as well.  He reminds them of His relationship with Levi, and how the priests were blessed in earlier times, because they honored that relationship.  The LORD also rebukes Judah as a whole.  One of the chief complaints the LORD offers is the men’s lack of commitment to their wives.  He tells them He hates divorce and calls them to honor their commitments to the wives of their youth.  As Malachi 2 closes we start to read about the LORD’s coming messenger.  (Remember, the chapter and verse distinctions are artificial, so chapter three is a continuation of these closing verses.)

In Malachi 3, we read about the messenger of the LORD who will come and prepare His way.  This is a prophecy about John the Baptist.  We’re told the messenger will condemn the injustices practiced by the people and call them to faithfulness.  In this chapter the LORD focuses on how the people have “robbed” Him.  He even asks rhetorically, “How can a man rob God?”  He answers His own question: In tithes and offerings.  While we live after the time of Jesus, in an age of grace, not Law, the point here is so vital: Everything we have belongs to God.  When we fail to recognize that and keep everything He has entrusted to us for ourselves we are robbing Him.  We must be generous as He is generous.  He tells the people to “test” Him.  In so many places, God tells us not to test Him, but here He tells us to test His generosity and faithfulness.  When we are faithful God is more so!  The LORD tells the people, He will put the names of the faithful in a book of remembrance.  What an amazing picture for us, and we know in the final book of the Bible, Revelation, we read of the Book of Life, where the names of the faithful are recorded.  This book is also referred to in Daniel, so we can be sure of its reality.

In Malachi 4, the prophecy ends with a picture of the coming day of judgment.  In that day the people will be separated into those who are faithful and those who are not.  The LORD promises to send His messenger, who will be like Elijah, the final promise of the final prophet of the Old Testament is the message will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.  He tells us if this does not happen it will usher in destruction.  As we look around in our day, we see the need for this prophecy to be fulfilled.  The hearts of many fathers and children are not toward each other.  We must all repent of our part in that and move toward our children or parents as the case might be.  We can only do that in the presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, but we must do it.

As we return to John 12, the chapter begins with Jesus being anointed by Mary, Lazarus’ sister.  Some in the group, led by Judas Iscariot complained about the “waste” of money, because the ointment Mary used was costly, and the money it would have brought could have been used to feed the poor.  On the face of it, the argument seems sound.  But Jesus proclaimed Mary’s act was the generous one, because it showed her deep love for Him.  We must never let our desire to do the expedient thing in Jesus’ name, overcome our desire to do the loving thing. Following this, Jesus marches triumphantly into Jerusalem, and is recognized for who He is: The King of kings.  The triumph is short-lived as more bickering erupts between Jesus and the religious leaders and people.  They still don’t understand who Jesus is, and when He tells them He must be “lifted up” i.e. crucified, they respond with their theology that the Messiah must remain forever.  In the end, Jesus tells them He came to save the world, not to judge it.  The distinction He makes is powerful: The word will judge the people, not Him.  In other words, when we know the truth and reject it, we are judged by our response to the truth.  Jesus came to offer us a saving relationship with Him, and when we do, we move from darkness to light.  How vital it is for us to take that step, because unless we do, we will face the judgment we brought on ourselves for that failure, when we face Jesus at the end of our earthly lives.

Zechariah 12-14 flows as more of a unit than some of the other chapters have.  The overall tone of the chapters is the restoration of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem in the days ahead.  We find references to the future time of Jesus once again, as at one point we’re told, they will “look upon him whom they have pierced.”  This could be a reference to Jesus.  We also find that in the time that is prophesied, the LORD will live among the people.  This is most certainly a reference to the end time.  We’re told those who still remain against the LORD’s people will die horrible deaths, but the remnants of the nations will come to Jerusalem and worship the LORD.  As is nearly always the case, this prophecy ends with a proclamation of the LORD’s mercy, His goodness, His ultimate triumph, and the triumph of His people.

As we return to John 11, we read one of the most amazing accounts in Jesus’ life: the raising of Lazarus.  We’re introduced to the situation, when someone comes to tell Jesus His friend, Lazarus, is sick.  Jesus tells the disciples it will be okay, and that Lazarus has fallen asleep.  The disciples think, “If he’s sleeping, he’ll get better.”  But Jesus was referring to Lazarus having died.  Jesus doesn’t arrive at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha until four days after Lazarus has died.  Jesus has two poignant encounters, one with each of the sisters, and ultimately breaks into weeping, before calling Lazarus to come out of the tomb.  Can you imagine what it was like?  Everyone thought Lazarus was dead and gone. Now, here he stood, alive!  We might think when the Pharisees heard about this amazing miracle, their minds would have changed about Jesus, and they would have proclaimed Him as the Messiah.  Precisely the opposite happened.  They decided because Jesus had done such a miracle, they needed to get rid of Jesus before the people turned to Him and caused an uprising that Rome would be compelled to squash.  Speaking prophetically without knowing it, one of the leaders said, “Better for one to die than for the whole nation to be destroyed.  Jesus would, indeed, be the one person who died not only to save Israel, but to save the entire world from our sin!

Zechariah 9 starts with a proclamation of judgment against the nations surrounding Israel.  Then the LORD foretells the coming of the Messiah, who will be humble and riding on a donkey.  This is the prophecy we turn to when we read Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Finally, we’re told the LORD Himself will appear and lead His people.  What an amazing future we have to look forward to as God’s people!  We also see how a prophecy can speak of the immediate future, the distant future, and the time of the consummation of history, when Jesus returns.

Zechariah 10 promises the restoration of Israel and Judah.  The LORD starts with a rebuke of the false shepherds that have served in Judah but moves on to proclaim although the people of Israel and Judah have been scattered, they will be brought back, and they will be so numerous the land will not hold them.  The LORD offers a powerful rebuke against Egypt and tells us the Nile will be dried up as part of the process of restoration.

In Zechariah 11, we return to the LORD renouncing the wicked shepherds, and in the midst of that, the LORD tells us the shepherd will receive wages of thirty pieces of silver, precisely the amount Judas received for betraying Jesus.  The thirty pieces of silver were poured out in the potter’s field, which again refers to the events in Judas’ life.  While it isn’t always possible to make the connections between the prophecies we find in the Jewish Scriptures and the life of Jesus, in this case the connection is much more obvious.

As we return to John 10, Jesus offers us the image of Himself as the Good Shepherd.  For anyone familiar with the Jewish Scriptures or Old Testament, Psalm 23 comes to mind immediately.  In it, King David proclaimed, “The LORD is my shepherd.  I shall not want.  Analogously, Jesus tells us as the Good Shepherd, He lays down His life for His sheep.  As we might expect, this once again brought disagreement among those who heard Jesus.  The religious leaders condemned Jesus again.  They said He had a demon, but others among the Jews said He didn’t speak as one with a demon.  As the conversation continued, Jesus told them He and His Father were one, which brought about more condemnation.  While we’re only halfway through John’s gospel, it’s easy to see the direction of Jesus’ interaction with the religious leaders is leading to His crucifixion.

In Zechariah 5, the visions continue to flow.  First, we read of a vision of a flying scroll. The scroll is a scroll of judgment.  One side pronounces judgment against stealing, and the other side against swearing falsely.  Next, comes a vision of a woman in a basket.  The basket represented sin, and the woman wickedness.  It was being carried to the land of Shinar.  The point of both visions: judgment is coming on the sins of people.

In Zechariah 6, we read about a vision of four horses with chariots.  They remind us of the four horsemen in the Book of Revelation.  Their purpose was to go out and patrol the earth.  They represent both God’s watchful eye and His Spirit.  Next, we return to Joshua, being crowned as king.  We aren’t sure whether he is the Branch, or whether this will be another king name Joshua–Yeshua–or Jesus!

In Zechariah 7, the LORD calls for justice and mercy.  He reminds the priests and the people their fasts were not for the right purposes, and when they ate and drank, they did it for themselves, not in honor of the LORD.  He called the people to stop oppressing the poor, the orphan and the widow, and to bring justice and mercy to the land.

In Zechariah 8, the LORD promises Jerusalem’s return to prominence and the people’s return to blessing.  Old men and women will again sit in the gates, and children will play in the streets.  The remnant will no longer be small, but the people will regain their former greatness–as they remember the LORD and follow in His ways.

As we return to John 9, we remember Jesus being questioned by His disciples about a man born blind.  They assumed, as people often still assume today, that someone must have sinned for such a tragedy to occur.  Jesus’ responded the man was born blind so God’s glory could be demonstrated.  Then He healed the man.  Of course, the healing took place on the Sabbath, which provoked the religious leaders.  Once again, a heated debate ensued, and the religious leaders asked the man what he thought about Jesus.  He told them Jesus is a prophet. They refuted his position, saying Jesus was a sinner, because he broke the Sabbath.  The man responded with one of the most powerful testimonies ever: I don’t know about that.  What I know is I was blind, and now I see!  How many of us could say the same thing: I was blind, but now I see?  Our blindness might have been purely spiritual, or it might have been emotional or intellectual.  Whatever our blindness, Jesus enters in and gives us sight!

Today we turn to the book of the prophet Zechariah.  He also ministered during the time of the return of the exiles from Babylon, (or Persia, because they had overtaken the Babylonians by this time.) While Zechariah condemns the Israelites for their lack of faithfulness, he also prophesies the people’s return, and ultimately the coming of the Messiah!

Zechariah 1 begins with a call to return to the LORD.  Darius has become king, replacing the Babylonians, and the seventy-year period of exile is coming to an end.  As the chapter continues, we read a vision of angelic horsemen who have been traveling over the earth and seeing the other nations at rest.  The LORD tells them, those nations will be punished for their part in Israel’s continued exile.  Next, comes a vision of four horns and four craftsmen.  The horns “scattered” Israel, Judah and Jerusalem.  The craftsmen came to eliminate the horns’ power.

Zechariah 2 consists of a man with a “measuring line,” who is told to measure Jerusalem.  The good news for the people of Israel is Jerusalem is going to become a city without borders, and the LORD Himself will put a wall of flame around it to protect it. Remember: This is a vision.  It doesn’t mean a literal wall of flame necessarily.  It simply means Israel will have no enemies able to come against it. 

Zechariah 3 offers an amazing vision of Joshua the high priest who is accompanied by an angel and Satan.  Satan, of course, is there to accuse, while the angel is told to put pure vestments on Joshua.  Joshua is promised he will rule over the people, and that the LORD will send “The Branch,” which is an image for Jesus, to rule the people.  This is more good news for Israel.

Zechariah 4’s vision is even greater for Israel, as it shows a golden lampstand, and two olive trees, which it turns out to be a promise that Zerubbabel, who laid the foundations for Jerusalem and the Temple will also finish it.  He is promised it will not be by his power or might, but by the Spirit of the LORD that this will be accomplished.  The hopes of the people who heard this prophecy must have soared.

As we turn to John 8, we read one of the most poignant accounts in Jesus’ ministry.  The religious leaders once again wanting to trap Jesus, bring a woman caught in adultery to ask Jesus what judgment ought to be carried out against her.  They assumed they had Jesus, because if He said to carry out the judgment the Law of Moses required: death, they could accuse Him of being unmerciful, but if He said to let her go, they could accuse Him of disobedience to the Law.  Jesus had a different response: go ahead and stone her…but the one who is without sin cast the first stone.  That led to the religious leaders departing one by one, until only the woman was left.  Jesus turned to her and asked where her accusers were?  She responded that none were left.  Jesus said He didn’t condemn her either, but to go and sin no more.  What a powerful message: no condemnation, but a call to go and lead a new life!  The remainder of the chapter is another all-out battle between Jesus and the religious leaders.  Jesus proclaims Himself the light of the world.  The religious leaders deny that and challenge Him.  Jesus responds if they knew the truth it would set them free.  Those were fighting words, because the religious leaders assumed they knew the truth.  Jesus ultimately told them they were children of their father, the devil.  The last and most telling statement Jesus makes in the chapter is “Before Abraham was, I am.”  The “I am” reference here, is to claim the name of God: Yahweh – I am.  Without any doubt, Jesus marked Himself for death with that statement.  No human being could claim to be God, which is what He had done.  The religious leaders would do whatever it took to see Jesus eliminated.  Please, understand: Jesus is God, but because the Jewish leaders wouldn’t accept this truth, the path to the cross was becoming more certain all the time.

Haggai served as a prophet during the time when the exiles were returning from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.  The people quickly got distracted from the task, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah called them to return to it.

In Haggai 1, the LORD declared through Haggai the people must rebuild the Temple.  Illustrations of cause and effect were offered, because the people lived in “paneled houses” while the LORD’s house remained in ruins.  The illustrations were in every area of life the people’s return on their work or investment was little.  That was because the LORD was not blessing their work.  He would bless them, when they remembered Him and His house.  With this reminder, the people returned to the work of rebuilding the Temple.

In Haggai 2, the LORD promises His glory will return to the Temple.  Although the rebuilt structure was smaller than the original, and any who could remember the original would weep, the LORD promised in the latter days the Temple would be greater than the first.  The people had continued not to see the return on their efforts they expected, but the LORD promised when the Temple was completed, they would, that He would bless them even though they were an “unclean” people.  The book ends with the LORD promising Zerubbabel, the governor, that his prominence would surpass that of kings.

As we return to John 7, the fighting over Jesus continues.  This time it takes place in Jerusalem.  Jesus went to the city for the Festival of Booths, and while He was there the people were divided over whether He was the Messiah or not.  Jesus continued to confront the religious leaders, even as they said they were committed to eliminating Him.  These confrontations, which have already seemed heated will continue to the point Jesus ends up condemned and crucified. While such a reality devastates us all: That we would crucify the God of the universe, that was His plan of redemption for us.  It is the truest example that in allthings God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Zephaniah prophesied during the reforms of King Josiah of Judah. Zephaniah spoke of the coming “Day of the LORD!”  This day has two meaning throughout the writings of the prophets: 1) judgment against His own people for their sins, and various other nations for their sins that took place in their times; and 2) the LORD’s ultimate return and establishing of His Kingdom forever.

In Zephaniah 1, the LORD pronounces judgment against Judah for their sin, and also speaks of the day of the LORD.  In that time, no one will escape the LORD’s hand, many nations will be brought to task for their sin against the LORD.

In Zephaniah 2, the LORD pronounces judgment against all of Judah’s near enemies for their sin against Judah as well as for their own sin.  While we have seen the LORD’s hand go against His own people throughout our readings, because He always judges sin, it is no small matter to attack His people, or to fail to help them in their times of need.  The nations surrounding Judah and Israel had done both.

Zephaniah 3 starts with judgment for Judah and the nations, for their evil at every level.  Then as we draw to the end, the LORD tells us He will bring people from every nation to Himself.  Finally, we’re told Israel will be restored and those who are humble and lowly will experience His favor.  As is typically the case, in the words of the prophets, words of hope are the final word.

As we return to John 6, we read again of the only miracle performed by Jesus recorded in all four gospels: the feeding of the five thousand.  Only in John’s gospel, though, does this amazing incident turn into an extended battle not only between Jesus and the religious leaders, but also between Jesus and most of His followers.  The point of contention is Jesus’ statement He is the Bread of life and people needed to “eat His flesh and drink His blood,” which was obviously intended figuratively, but which they all took literally.  By the time the discussion ended, everyone had left Jesus but the twelve disciples.  Jesus asked them, “Are you going to leave, too?”  They responded with a question and a powerful statement: :To whom shall we go? You hold the words of life.” It must have been a challenging day for everyone, but at the end of it, Jesus had made clear the preeminent place He must hold in our lives, if He is truly our Savior and Lord.