Sunday, November 28, 2010

Manna in the New Testament

Monday, November 29, 2010: John 6:29 – 33 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

What is the work that God wishes you to perform? Have faith in Jesus Christ, the life-giving Manna sent from heaven.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010: John 6:47 – 51 (NKJV)

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

What did Christ declare Himself to be? The bread of life: this is the sacrifice of His flesh on the cross.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010: John 6:57 – 58 (NKJV)

As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

What word here characterizes the Father? Living, for in Him is life, everlasting life.

Thursday, December 2, 2010: Hebrews 9:2 – 4 (NKJV)

For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

What happened to the manna in the Ark? This pot of manna never decayed.

Friday, December 3, 2010: Revelation 2:17 (NKJV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

What is the hidden manna? Jesus Christ, our eternal life, is the hidden manna.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Revelation, not Revelations.

Monday, November 21, 2010: Revelation 1:1 – 2 (NKJV)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Who revealed what (Let us be sure) to whom? This is Jesus Christ’s Revelation, given to Him by God, to show His servants (us) what is to come.

Tuesday, November 22, 2010: Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

What does ‘keeping the written words’ mean? This is not law that we follow, but words to read and understand as the Holy Spirit imparts wisdom to us. Even hearing the words brings God’s blessings.

Wednesday, November 23, 2010: Revelation 1:4 – 5a (NKJV)

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

Who imparts grace and peace? The triune God: the Eternal Father, the Holy Spirit (referred to here as sevenfold) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving, November 24, 2010: Revelation 1:5b – 7 (NKJV)

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

What has Christ done and what will He do? He loved us, washed away our sins in His blood and has made us a kingdom of priests (alternate translation) to God. And there is a promise of His return with every soul watching.

Friday, November 25, 2010: Revelation 1:17 – 18 (NKJV)

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

What is the surprise in the statement? We mortals say, “I shouldn’t be alive!” He, the ever-living One, says “and was dead!” He tasted death for us that we might live for evermore.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Writing & Tradition

Monday, November 15, 2010: John 21:18 – 19 (NKJV)

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

What commission did the apostle Peter receive from Jesus Christ? (Feed My sheep) Follow me in death.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010: John 21:20 – 22 (NKJV)

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Is a commission of Jesus Christ for only one man? Yes, and a private one at that. John was not Peter’s business.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010: John 21:23 – 24 (NKJV)

Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

What did some hear when Jesus Christ answered Peter about John? Some disciples heard that John would not die.

Thursday, November 18, 2010: 2 Peter 1:13 – 18 (NKJV)

Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

What was Peter telling believers in his letter? He was reiterating Jesus Christ’s prophecy and feeding the sheep.

Friday, November 19, 2010: 2 Peter 1:19 – 21 (NKJV)

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

What statement is Peter making? Peter states that the word of prophecy confirmed by its fulfillment is sure.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

What happened at Christ's death?

Monday, November 8, 2010: Isaiah 53:10 (NKJV)

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

What about Christ was to be the offering for sin? The prophet Isaiah declares that God would make Christ’s soul the sin offering.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010: Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV)

Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.

What do the words of Christ on the cross, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do” have in common with this Prophecy? They are the fulfillment of the prophecy: Christ poured out His soul willingly and asked god to forgive those who were crucifying Him.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010: Psalm 16:10 (NKJV)

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

What are the differences in these two lines? The first is a prophecy about Christ’s soul; the second, about His body or flesh. His soul was temporarily in Hades and His body was neither corrupted nor defiled.

Thursday, November 11, 2010: Acts 2:30 – 32 (NKJV)

Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

What point does Peter make on the day of Pentecost? Peter points out the fulfilled prophecy that Christ rose from the dead.

Friday, November 12, 2010: Luke 23:45 – 47 (NKJV)

Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’Having said this, He breathed His last.

So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

Lastly, what happened to Christ at His death? His Spirit was in the hands of the Father, His Soul went to Hades and His battered but incorruptible Body went into the tomb.