October Archives

October 1

John 5:1-47

Mark 2:23-28

Matthew 12:1-8

Luke 6:1-5

Mark 3:1-6

Matthew 12:9-14

Luke 6:6-11

Matthew 12:15-21

The anguish and heartbreak of the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda is difficult to imagine and yet Jesus tells him to stop sinning or something worse will happen. We know by the rest of the Scriptures that Jesus is referring to the practice of sin. Belief without repentance is a foolish and wholly inadequate intellectual exercise. It is an empty exercise because a response is not a non-response. [You will have to think about that one for a minute.] A response to teachings involves a rejection or an acceptance, and either response is only known in its manifestation. In other words, there is no such thing as an invisible response. [Am I getting through?] True commitment validates true belief.

Jesus makes several references here to His deity. He makes it clear that He is the Lord of the Sabbath indicating by strong implication that He is Lord of all.

I love what He says about the Scriptures (the Old Testament) – that they speak of Him. He implies if you study the Scriptures to find eternal life, and don’t find Jesus there, then you have not found eternal life.

October 2

Mark 3:7-19

Luke 6:12-16

Matthew 5:1-12

Luke 6:17-26

Matthew 5:13-48

Luke 6:27-36

Matthew 6:1-4

So far, Jesus draws the big crowds mainly because of the miracles, but they are fascinated with His manner of speaking also.

I am thankful that Luke writes of prayer as the main method that Jesus uses to choose His 12 personal students. Luke writes that He prayed all night. Jesus’ commitment to prayer is shown in other places as well, but I don’t think there is another place that says He prayed all night. This must have been something. The exchange of the Father and Son is inexpressible to even imagine. And then there is the time He must have spent praying for them – for their failures – their growth – their strength – their future – even their ultimate martyrdom.

Jesus teaches that the intent of the Law, which is the intent of God, is that one’s attitude be Godly – not just actions. His words at times seem impossible, but we will later learn how it can be possible.

October 3

Matthew 6:5-7:6

Luke 6:37-42

Matthew 7:7-20

Luke 6:43-45

Matthew 7:21-29

Luke 6:46-49

Jesus moves so perfectly into His teaching called the Lord’s Prayer. As I write this I am preparing to minister to a congregation from this very text. It would be easy for me to write of just the first 2 words of the Lord’s Prayer to the neglect of the other points in this selection. But I think instead I will write about these 2 words as the key to the rest of the points.

Our Father. When the relationship contained in these two words is recognized, all of the other becomes do-able. Because we have His Spirit. And so our attitude about money and possessions becomes strongly contrasted with the attitudes of the world. When the relationship in these two words is enjoyed as it should be, there is no worry about tomorrow. No lack of respect for God and others. No lack of diligence in prayer. The fruit in your life seen by others will be unmistakable. They will see one who has been with Jesus – one whose house is built on a solid foundation.

October 4

Matthew 8:5-13

Luke 7:1-17

Matthew 11:1-19

Luke 7:18-35

Matthew 11:20-30

Luke 7:36-50

I wonder what the reaction of the Jews was when Jesus said many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites…will be cast into outer darkness… Jesus only spoke truth and He was fearless. He did not water down the truth to avoid offending someone. But He was (and is) the greatest with compassion, as we see in the benevolence to the grieving widow in raising her son from the dead.

John the Baptist must have wondered why Jesus had not come and rescued him. He must have felt certain that Jesus was the Messiah, but then became concerned as he languished in a dungeon.

When we consider the oracles of woe pronounced on Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, we can understand why it is so blessed to believe Jesus without seeing a bunch of miracles. Miracles do not produce faith. The Word of God produces faith. And as God wills, miracles are granted to show the authority of the Word. Or to simply demonstrate the Lord’s compassion on the fatherless and the widows.

October 5

Luke 8:1-3

Mark 3:2-30

Matthew 12:22-45

Mark 3:31-35

Matthew 12:46-50

Luke 8:19-21

Mark 4:1-9

Matthew 13:1-9

Luke 8:4-8

Mark 4:10-20

This is one of those readings that seems impossible to write on a single page. It seems I should just bow to God and leave the text to work in my heart. From the disciples who were chosen, to the women who were delivered, to the religious elite who blasphemed the Spirit of Christ, I am guided on a winding path that leads to that first farmer. From the good tree and bad tree and fruit of like kind, to the glorious Good Message in the 3-day weekend Jonah spent in the belly of a big fish. I even pass by a family this morning that loves Jesus but thinks He’s gone over the deep end. And now, here I am, at the trail head where the farmer starts spreading the seed. For this fleeting moment, I am not a 50-year old man but a 7-year-old boy surrendering to Christ – Satan took the seed so quickly (but he did not get it all). Fast forward – an 18-year-old man/child stands helpless as the remaining seed struggles to find root among the rocks. A few seeds around me seem to prosper nicely – only to be choked out by materialism. But God preserves the boy and retains the young man; and God gives increase in a field just beyond – a field called Grace.

October 6

Matthew 13:10-23

Luke 8:9-18

Mark 4:21-29

Matthew 13:24-30

Mark 4:30-34

Matthew 13:31-52

Mark 4:35-41

Matthew 8:23-27

Luke 8:22-25

The lessons on listening are sobering to me because I can be such a poor listener and such a poor concentrator when reading. The real problem here is that Jesus says when people do not listen, then even what they currently know is taken away from them. I understand this because I have experienced it. No one is static in knowledge. Nobody sits still in the knowledge of the Lord. We are either going forward or backward. Jesus does not allow “buffet” followers – those who want to pick and choose. We either take the whole of His teachings or else we shall forfeit those teachings we have accepted. I think this was what happened with Judas. He apparently had the mindset that Jesus would successfully bring His kingdom in by leading a violent revolution. It seems that Judas accepted some of the Lord’s teachings, but his rejection of others caused him to lose what little he had.

Regarding the storm, I am struck by Jesus’ commitment to rest. He understood the concept of power naps. When we consider the power of the storm that He slept right through, it seems to me - the Lord wrote the book on power naps! But the disciples did not pick up on the Lord’s commitment to rest. I think they would neglect rest and then collapse, when really needed the most (like at Gethsemane).

October 7

Mark 5:1-20

Matthew 8:28-34

Luke 8:26-39

Mark 5:21-43

Matthew 9:18-26

Luke 8:40-56

Two miracles – a little girl, and an adult male. One has died physically and one spiritually. One consumed by the limitation called death. One consumed by the limitation called life. Who knows what caused the man to “go over the deep end?” In view of the thriving pork business, it does not appear the Jewish neighborhood was following the ways of the Lord. This is proven even more powerfully by their rejection of Jesus. When a community follows a course other than God’s, the natural result is a “giving over” to evil. While this community had many examples of this, the demoniac from the caves was the most dramatic example. No question – he was bonkers! And he wasn’t about to let this entourage pass without a confrontation – without making a spectacle of himself.

And then there is the 3^rd miracle – the “tweener.” This one is about the woman with the hemorrhage, and it tells us something about faith and something about the Lord’s power that the other miracles do not. We must never minimize the importance of active belief. It is truly powerful, but we must never fall into the trap of thinking the faith is powerful in and of itself. Sure, we must believe, but it is highly recommendable our faith humbly embraces the will of Him Who is the source of all power. That is the only way our faith can make us whole.

October 8

Matthew 9:27-34

Mark 6:1-6

Matthew 13:53-58

Matthew 9:35-38

Mark 6:7-13

Matthew 10:1-42

Luke 9:1-6

The verse Mark 6:4 is striking to me, because we are so often taught that God will call the wife or family when He calls the preacher; but Jesus indicates quite differently here. There may be times when difficulties, rather than unity, come into the family when the call of God goes out. Moses endured a separation that may have even led to divorce and remarriage. We must do all we can to reflect in our marriage, the relationship of Christ and the Church. We know that through the centuries the Church has failed in many ways, but Christ has never failed. Christ Himself told us that sometimes the Good News of Jesus Christ will divide a home.

Jesus seems to feel overwhelmed by the crowds and their needs. This is just one more way in which He is able to identify with our limitations, because when He walked this earth, He felt them too.

October 9

Luke 9:7-9

Mark 6:14-29

Matthew 14:1-21

Mark 6:30-44

Luke 9:10-17

John 6:1-15

Mark 6:45-52

Matthew 14:22-33

John 6:16-21

Mark 6:53-56

Matthew 14:34-36

There is probably no greater area of the Gospels for the work of harmonizing, than the 4 accounts of the feeding of the 5000. The varied perspectives work together perfectly to be a single unified testimony that Jesus really wants us to get. One of several references to this is Mark 6:52. This verse says the disciples still did not get it (understand). Get what? Get the significance! - The significance of what? - The miracle of the multiplied loaves! We are told the reason they did not get it is because their hearts were hard and they did not believe. But what exactly did they not believe? What exactly is the “significance?” The context of the walking on the water, calming the storm, and docking the boat instantly, indicates (to me) that the “significant” thing that was not yet “believed” was that –

Jesus commanded nature.

(But that’s still not it.)

He commanded it because He created it.

(But that’s still not it.)

They did not understand that -

Jesus is more than a Prophet sent from God.

He IS God!

(That’s it!)

Do you get it?

October 10

John 6:22-71

Mark 7:1-23

Matthew 15:1-20

Our earthly thinking is so limited and so flawed. We must have the Spirit of God open our understanding and take the roots of God’s Word deep into our hearts and minds.

When Jesus spoke about manna and the Bread of Life, the context shows us that the feeding of the 5,000 was intended to be a living illustration that Jesus IS the Bread of Life. They should have GOT IT! But they did not, and now Jesus is explaining and they still don’t get it. And then He speaks in the most radical terms possible when He says you must eat my flesh and drink my blood to have eternal life. He did not start with words this dramatic, but He eventually decided to “lay it all out on the table.” And He “lost” a large number of His followers.

One of my favorite verses is Peter’s answer to Jesus, when asked if they (the Twelve) would leave too. Peter said, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life.” To whom indeed! Peter and the others knew that the ultimate goal of the Lord’s Words and actions was eternal life (not temporal life) to all who believe.

October 11

Mark 7:24-30

Matthew 15:21-28

Mark 7:31-37

Matthew 15:29-31

Mark 8:1-10

Matthew 15:32-16:4

Mark 8:11-21

Matthew 16:5-12

The Gentile woman provides such a wonderful lesson for us all in how to approach God. We should never reach toward heaven with anything but Jesus. Our accomplishments are nothing – God’s work is everything. It is His justice and our sinfulness that must exclude us. It is His mercy that extends grace in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ.

Why did Jesus put His fingers in the deaf and mute man’s ears and then touch his tongue with spit? Perhaps to help the man’s faith, but that seems unlikely. Could not Jesus proclaim His healing? One thing this entire section emphasizes is that Jesus is the Creator of the universe. He creates from nothing. And He does it sometimes through processes understood only by Him. I suppose we could dig deeper and perhaps identify stronger possibilities. But sometimes when we do that we end up imposing our own imaginations on sacred Scripture. The disciples still did not get it. Jesus is Lord!

October 12

Mark 8:22-30

Matthew 16:13-20

Luke 9:18-20

Mark 8:31-9:1

Matthew 16:21-28

Luke 9:21-27

Mark 9:2-13

Matthew 17:1-13

Luke 9:28-36

Oh boy! Yet another miracle in which Jesus used spit. I used to think that this was just some kind of odd faith-builder, but I now think it could be something more. I won’t dwell on that here. The man must have had some kind of accident or degenerative disease that blinded him. We are not told he is blind from birth and he does seem to recognize what trees should look like and what men should look like even before he sees clearly. This miracle is such a huge lesson to me, because we must learn to see people as Jesus sees them. And frankly, with our blurred spiritual vision, we too often see them as having little more value than trees. If man has no eternal soul, then he is indeed nothing more than a walking tree. But that is not the image we should be seeing. Only an anointing from Christ - only the saliva of the Son of God with the DNA of the Son of Man with the fallen soil of earth applied once again by the Creator to the blinded eyes of man, can bring sufficient clarity to see the image of God in the sons of men. Only the Spirit of God can bring us to love them as ourselves. May we see Jesus as Peter, James, and John saw Him – as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, fully pleasing to the Father.

October 13

Mark 9:14-29

Matthew 17:14-21

Luke 9:37-43a

Mark 9:30-32

Matthew 17:22-23

Luke 9:43b-45

Matthew 17:24-27

Mark 9:33-37

Matthew 18:1-6

Luke 9:46-48

Mark 9:38-41

Luke 9:49-50

Mark 9:42-50

Matthew 18:7-35

What a pitiful scene this is – the tormented boy – the desperate father. And into the midst of this scene walks the Lord of Glory. While the accusing crowd and the confused disciples step back, the Messiah begins an interview.

I do not think the Lord needed the information. I think He knew that the people needed to talk about it. It is possible He constrained Himself to the limitations of His humanity, but we know in at least some cases that He demonstrated His omniscience clearly. One of the most interesting (and puzzling) questions is the one Jesus asked the father of the boy, “How long has this been happening?” What does time have to do with anything? Is the Lord just making small talk or cultivating faith in the man? Or is it even more mysterious, because other accounts of demonic activities in the Gospels and elsewhere indicate these forces are regimented with specifically assigned tenures.

October 14

John 7:1-9

Luke 9:51-56

Matthew 8:18-22

Luke 9:57-62

John 7:10-8:20

The intensity is really starting to build as the Passion Week draws closer. The section opens with Jesus’ own brothers scoffing and dogging Him. That will change after the Resurrection, but for now, one has to wonder how Jesus felt. Certainly, there was no wavering in His commitment to His Father and His mission; but one has to wonder if His human emotions felt the sadness – the heartbreak – from the disbelief of His own loved ones. I think we miss it sometimes – just how alone Jesus was from the human perspective, but the text says He resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

One recurring phrase is “His time had not yet come.” We should all be perfectly clear, Jesus was not moving foolishly toward catastrophe. He was moving toward His final fulfillment of His Father’s will. God Himself was the orchestra Conductor during this whole symphony. He doesn’t sidestep the evil that men intend – nor does He author it; He employs it for the good of those called to His purpose. There is no lack of culpability in sinful men and women, and there is no lack of Sovereign omniscience and omnipotence - working all for the glory of His unfailing love.

October 15

John 8:21-59

Luke 10:1-11:13

Probably the thing that stands out the most in this section is the way Jesus talked to people. I can hardly believe that anyone could read this section (especially John 8) and still think that Jesus is weak and sugary. He is loving – no question about it, but He is not weak. He did not bring a message of mercy without delivering a clear message of justice. This is an offense to the world, because His message was as much a message of exclusion as it was of inclusion.

Luke has written such powerful elements of the Gospel of Jesus in this section. He sends out the 70 in pairs and ultimately taught them that their source of joy should be their heavenly citizenship. He thanked the Father and taught a lawyer (as well as all of us), that the one we might normally consider an enemy is one to be considered a neighbor. We learned about Mary and Martha and the nature of devotion. And of course, Jesus taught the importance of persistence in prayer. I am reminded every day that the Bible is inexhaustible, and today is no different.

October 16

Luke 11:14-12:34

How could anyone read this section and not want Christ more than the things of this world? I don’t think the actual word “freedom” is used anywhere in this section and yet the theme of genuine freedom in Christ saturates it.

I also think the manner in which Jesus speaks to the scribes and Pharisees is notable. Most seminaries (I think) would have to flunk Him, at least in the area of using non-offensive language in the content of the message. Nevertheless, Jesus tells them precisely what they are doing. And while they consider His words to be insulting, they do not deny them. No, instead they purpose to kill Him. I think that is because He told the truth about them – it was too clear – and it hit too hard. They could not stand it.

But I return to where I started – with the marvelous liberation of knowing God has given us the Kingdom, and He is happy to do so.

October 17

Luke 12:35-13:21

John 9:1-41

This morning, for the first time in a year and a half, I will speak to the congregation. But for now, (humanly speaking) I am alone, very alone. And yet, here I sit with the Lord – my Lord – my constant companion, and a flood of thoughts. I consider this testimony I will give and consider this section I am reading this morning. When I wonder why I have gone through all I have gone through and I think about what God has done in my life; and now the pulpit is loaned to me, I think “this has happened for the glory of God.” Father, may it all be for your glory! May the people see that they must be ready for Your coming, and not be devastated by the division that may be caused from serving You. May they repent and bring forth fruit. May our every purpose be to bring You glory by doing good to others. Father, may we trust that even the smallest act of faith can spread and affect everything around us. Father, open our eyes! For Christ, amen.

October 18

John 10:1-42

Luke 13:22-14:24

If we could just remember this picture that Jesus gives of the thief and robber that sneaks over the wall of the sheepfold.

Ø Then we would begin to understand the invisible battle being waged for our souls.

Ø Then we would be less frozen and afraid when the enemy comes in like a flood.

Ø Then we would grip the Sword of the Spirit and stand firm in faith.

And if our faith was weak and we became afraid (not of the enemy, but of ourselves), we would run – we would flee – the youthful lusts and other temptations that try to overwhelm us. Sometimes we can stand in the name of Jesus and sometimes we must run to the arms of Jesus (without hesitation).

I wanted to write a little about Jesus’ timeless lament over Jerusalem, but I am most compelled to mention the amazing argument Jesus presents in John 10:34-38. The Lord does not employ typical exegesis, and says something that could easily be (and is by many today) misunderstood. But the potential for misunderstanding is relieved when Jesus presents the logical conclusion of His argument - His Deity. Jesus is the Son of God.

October 19

Luke 14:25-17:10

John 11:1-37

Possibly my favorite illustration of the Lord is “The Lost Sheep.” I guess because I have been astray for so much of my life and the Father has been so gracious. My second favorite is the Prodigal.

In verse 16:12, we could learn a lot about credit when it says, “if you are not faithful with other peoples money, why should you be trusted with money of your own.” And a little after that (vs. 13), “You cannot serve both God and money.” But it seems to me that is exactly what one does when one binds himself with debts from credit extended to him so he could enjoy something earlier than if he saved for it. I do not refer to needs, but to falsely perceived needs or just sheer entertainment. And because of the impatience due to lust, the person pays more! That is serving money and the Bible says, that person removes his ability to serve God as he should. I am grieved today because there are people I love very much who serve money and who cannot be trusted “with other people’s money.”

October 20

John 11:38-57

Luke 17:11-18:8

The tension really seems to escalate in this section. Jesus knows the time is near, but the timing is important. Passover approaches but it is not yet here. The priests already want to kill Him and have determined to arrest Him. So He lays low in a place near the wilderness.

I am fascinated by the account of the 10 lepers, one of which (a Samaritan) returned when he realized he was healed. Lord, it has taken so long – so much of my life to return – to see my healing and return to You.

And then there is the story of the persistent widow seeking justice, reminding us that the injustices parading before us everyday are limited. The tenure of the parade is limited.

Because right between these 2 presentations is the description of the return of the Son of Man. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

October 21

Luke 18:9-14

Mark 10:1-12

Matthew 19:1-12

Mark 10:13-16

Matthew 19:13-15

Luke 18:15-17

Mark 10:17-31

Matthew 19:16-30

Luke 18:18-30

It is interesting how the positions of the Pharisee and the tax collector are described.

Ø One stood “by himself;”

o The other “at a distance.”

Ø One rejoiced in his separation;

o The other lamented.

Ø One considered himself better;

o The other, worse.

Ø One considered others unworthy;

o The other considered himself unworthy.

Ø One used the sinner as his standard of measurement;

o The other, the righteousness of God.

Ø One looked out in pride;

o The other looked down in shame.

The Pharisee was not called a sinner by Jesus; the tax collector was.

The Pharisee was not called “justified” by Jesus; the tax collector was.

This leads so perfectly into the Lord’s words about marriage and divorce, the accessibility of the Kingdom of God through childlike faith, and the relativity of wealth. And maybe the most important thing of all, the impossibility of salvation from man’s perspective.

Also just a quick note about the man with wealth: Jesus loved the man (Mark 10:21).

October 22

Matthew 20:1-16

Mark 10:32-34

Matthew 20:17-19

Luke 18:31-34

Mark 10:35-45

Matthew 20:20-34

Mark 10:46b-52

Luke 18:35-19:27

I think this is our nature to think that we deserve something based on our work rather than the agreement (the covenant), and the sheer grace of God. Sometimes in the workplace we want to tell the employer how his whole philosophy of business management is wrong, and even indict him. We forget that when we were without a job and no hope for income, we only desired gracious acceptance and placement – any place. Oh how we should all take care, having begun in grace through faith, to not depart from it through corrupt and egocentric thought. May God help us – may we not succumb to the spirit of the age.

It is so easy to second guess the teaching methods of Jesus when we consider the perpetual ignorance and cluelessness of the disciples. But if we did such foolishness, we would simply be ignoring the big picture.

The contrast between the worker and the investor in the Kingdom of Heaven is interesting, isn’t it?

October 23

Mark 14:3-9

Matthew 26:6-13

John 12:1-11

Mark 11:1-11

Matthew 21:1-11

Luke 19:28-40

John 12:12-19

Luke 19:41-44

John 12:20-36

The way this Bible arranges things chronologically would make one think that the woman who anointed the head of Jesus with expensive perfume is the same as Mary, who John says anointed the feet of Jesus. But even though the reaction to the extravagant use of expensive perfume is similar, the differences are glaring and I think we must conclude they are different.

Many people were following Jesus because of Lazarus. They believed that He had power over death. It is ironic that this will contribute to His false conviction and execution. It is also ironic that after His resurrection, many will believe on Him once again because of His power over His own death.

Most of the people who were acting all jazzed about the Lord still did not know that He was the Messiah. At best they only considered Him to be a prophet from Nazareth. And when the Gentiles began to seek Him, that’s when He said, “The time has come.”

October 24

John 12:37-50

Mark 11:12-14

Matthew 21:18-22

Mark 11:15-19

Matthew 21:12-17

Luke 19:45-48

Mark 11:20-33

Matthew 21:23-27

Luke 20:1-8

This first part in John is so powerful, because when the context of John and the other Gospels (as a whole) is applied, we begin to enjoy a wonderful enrichment (as well as addition) to our knowledge of God. There are other places which tell us that many believed in Him. This passage appears to say the opposite. I wrote that this area tells us much about God, but I should add we learn much about man also. Or specifically about man’s heart. It is deceitfully wicked and very fickled. The words and actions of our Lord affected many men’s hearts, who then turned to him; but many also turned away when they realized He wasn’t teaching the legalism they had always been used to. And just like the Pharaoh, after one sees all these miracles and hears all these proofs, and acknowledges His Lordship and then turns and concludes that He is not Lord; there can be a hardening or blinding so that their whole perspective of truth changes.

October 25

Matthew 21:28-32

Mark 12:1-12

Matthew 21:33-46

Luke 20:9-19

Matthew 22:1-14

Mark 12:13-17

Matthew 22:15-22

Luke 20:20-26

Mark 12:18-27

Matthew 22:23-33

Luke 20:27-40

It is the day after the incredible gift of ministry-opportunity you gave me. The last two Sundays, the privilege of the pulpit was shared with me. And Father in Heaven, my heart is overwhelmed with the honor and blessing. I thought yesterday of the foolishness of preaching being employed in the process of the glorious Gospel of God. To think that God would employ an instrument of flesh like me, is too much to process. But then God did not actually say preaching was foolish, He said the message preached was foolish – meaning foolish to those who are perishing.

The first section makes me think, Lord, how I must be ready to obey when You say, “Go.” I don’t want to say one thing and do another. Father, I can’t thank You enough for allowing me to see some of the fruit. It is encouraging, and yet I know it is foolish to think about this from a selfish viewpoint. Your Word and Your Spirit is “all and only” that which can turn the hearts of men from the spirit of this age.

And of course, we know from the text that we may be allowed to suffer persecution.

October 26

Mark 12:28-34

Matthew 22:34-40

Mark 12:35-37

Matthew 22:41-46

Luke 20:41-44

Mark 12:38-40

Matthew 23:1-12

Luke 20:45-47

Matthew 23:13-39

Mark 12:41-44

Luke 21:1-4

Why are these the most important commandments? Because if we followed these commandments we would fulfill all other commands from God without ever hearing or reading them. Jesus told the fellow that he was not far from the Kingdom of God. I was wondering what it would take to bring him on into the Kingdom. What might the next statement from Jesus be if He wanted to push the guy to decide for or against? Of course, Jesus chose not to push him further at least not in that setting, one-on-one. But if that had been a tactic of the Lord’s I think the statement would have been, “So – now - will you do it?”

Because I think the only distance (the “not far”) the man was away from the Kingdom was the distance between saying and doing. He talked like he believed in the Lord, but he needed to bring forth fruit that proved his repentance was genuine.

October 27

Mark 13:1-23

Matthew 24:1-25

Luke 21:5-24

Mark 13:24-31

Matthew 24:26-35

Luke 21:25-33

Can’t help but note the grand finish of this section. “My Word will never pass away.” So, on the “importance” scale, where should we put this “Word” that Jesus speaks? (Obviously, rhetorical.)

Ø Some place importance on physical condition, but Paul says that only brings a small profit.

Ø Some place importance on money, but Jesus said service to money eclipses service to God.

Ø Some place importance on earthly possessions but Jesus said all of it will pass into nothing.

But the Words of Christ bring infinite profit, absolute prominence, and eternal life. This is to me the most vital lesson in this section.

The rest of the section is heavily debated and sometimes divided over. I am inclined toward a partial-preterist view. I do not think “this generation” refers to the generation at the time Jesus was speaking, but rather to the time when the signs begin to appear. Also, the tragedies of 70 A.D. have been repeated (and worse) many times.

October 28

Mark 13:32-37

Matthew 24:36-51

Luke 21:34-38

Matthew 25:1-46

The phrase “Only the Father knows,” sort of grabs me. In addition to this context, it might be applied to many others. But it might be a little different now. It seems that when the Son of Man walked this earth, such information was not available from Him, but I suspect this could now be worded, “Only God knows.” Sometimes we apply human standards to our God, our Father, and because of this, we misunderstand terribly Who God is.

The parable of the Bridesmaids is so sobering. We find ourselves asking, “How could all 10 have fallen asleep?” We should not lose this alert - that there is this sense of delay in all of them. They lost their alertness, were overwhelmed by slumber, and they fell asleep. If all 10 had oil but still slept, what do we need to do to stay awake? The first thing they did when they were awakened from their slumber was prepare their lamps. Perhaps the slumber could be avoided if the lamp is kept trimmed. But this is a parable, right? We have a lamp, oil, and the responsibility to trim. How do I keep the lamp trimmed? Probably the best instructions on lamp trimming can be found in two notes.

1. Oil represents the Spirit.
2. The lamp represents the Word.

If we focus on one to the exclusion of the other, we will “miss the boat.” The Spirit and the Word are a package deal – never independent – never exclusive of the other – never.

May we wake up, and ask ourselves, “Does the Lord know us?”

October 29

Mark 14:1-2

Matthew 26:1-5

Luke 22:1-2

Mark 14:10-11

Matthew 26:14-16

Luke 22:3-6

Mark 14:12-16

Matthew 26:17-19

Luke 22:7-13

John 13:1-20

Mark 14:17-26

Matthew 26:20-30

Luke 22:14-30

John 13:18-30

We have not come yet to Peter’s denial, but we have come to Judas’ betrayal. There has been much comparison of them, usually focusing on how they handled their consciences afterwards. But what about the act itself? The lesson is powerful - there is a difference between betrayal and denial. Peter had already proven his courage when he used his sword against the many Roman soldiers. Now he is in the courtyard of the high priest, and I don’t think he is denying knowing the Lord in fear for his safety. I think he does not want to lose his close position to the Lord. The fact that he even got into the courtyard was mind-blowing! The reason I think he was more concerned with staying there than he was with safety is because he did not try to escape after the first denial. I simply think it all began impulsively and then got out of hand. But Judas deliberately handed Christ Himself over to those who would kill Him.

I am grateful for how the tone is set for the Last Supper in the book of John with the washing of the disciples’ feet.

October 30

John 13:31-38

Mark 14:27-31

Matthew 26:31-35

Luke 22:31-38

John 14:1-15:17

I was amazed as I read this part of John 13. Jesus recognized what it would feel like to the disciples to suddenly not have Him physically with them any more. He was everything to them and slowly they were beginning to realize that the entire Universe was His. It could be one of the most devastating things imaginable! How can that be compensated for – how can that devastation be avoided? Jesus has a foolproof solution. He gives them a new commandment. You might say it is the third commandment. “Love each other.” But that’s not all of it. He says to do it “just as I have loved you…” The first two commandments (upon which the Ten Commandments hang) speak of loving God with everything you are, and loving your neighbor as yourself. These are never to be diminished in the least. But now He says love someone else. Love your brother. Isn’t my brother and my neighbor the same? Could be, but not necessarily, and Jesus is clearly speaking about a very special, very important direction for our love to be directed. When we read the Epistles of John, we also see special attention is given (and is to be given) to the relationship of the brothers and sisters – the Church. It is very important. It is very special. Do not love your brother as you love yourself. Love him as “I have loved him.” Two reasons:

1. The world will see a preview of the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. You are going to need each other (desperately).

October 31

John 15:18-17:26

I am very glad this chronological daily reading Bible made the unit for this day as it did; because the uninspired divisions notwithstanding, it is most certainly a unit by necessity – by its very nature.

Our Lord warns His disciples of just how harshly they will be treated and why. He does this so that when it happens, instead of being driven from Him, they will be driven closer to Him. And how could the next subject be any more perfect – the subject of the Holy Spirit. Christ will go, so He can come – to comfort, to counsel, to encourage, and to reveal things to come - all from the mystery of revelation within the Godhead.

Everything that Jesus says is intended to bring peace, but to insure the certainty of this, He prays (John 17) as never a man has prayed before or since. It is a prayer of relationships, glory, and sharing and caring and joy!

Ó 2004 C. E. Briggs