Irony

Monday, September 26, 2011: John 18:28 (NKJV)

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.

What was the irony? Neither Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, nor the Jews would enter a Roman home so they could eat a Passover lamb. Ironically, they did not recognize the true Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011: Luke 23:18 – 19 (NKJV)

And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”— who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

What was the irony? Bar Abbas, which means Son of the Father, was released. He was a rebel, a thief and a murderer. Ironically, they rejected the true Son of the heavenly Father.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011: Matthew 27:24, 26 (NKJV)

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

What was the irony? Washing hands in public does not absolve one from responsibility. Pilate declared his innocence from blood. Ironically, Pilate then gave the order to crucify Jesus Christ.

Thursday, September 29, 2011: Matthew 27:25 (NKJV)

And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

What was the irony? The guilt of shedding innocent blood was freely accepted by some of the Jews present. Ironically, it is His blood that pays for a believer’s sins.

Friday, September 30, 2011: Mark 15:16 – 20 (NKJV)

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

What was the irony? Jesus Christ is called the Lord of hosts, the commander-in-chief of God’s armies. Ironically, the Roman soldiers made a mockery of bowing before Him and worshipping Him as a joke.

Light of the World

Monday, September 19, 2011: John 1:4 (NKJV)

In Him was life and the life was the light of men.

Why would life be the light of men? This speaks to that spark in our minds called intelligence.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011: John 8:12 (NKJV)

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

What is the promise to those who follow Jesus Christ? His followers will walk in the light of the new life which only He gives.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV)

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Can the gospel be hidden? Yes, the gospel is hidden from the spiritually blinded person.

Thursday, September 22, 2011: 1 John 2:8-10 (NKJV)

 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

What is the new commandment? Love your brother.

Friday, September 23, 2011: Romans 13:12 (NKJV)

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

What is pleasing to God? After believing in Christ, we live holy lives, prepared for battle.

The Sheep/Goat Judgment

Monday, September 12, 2011: Matthew 25:31 – 33 (NKJV)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Background: This Sheep-Goat Judgment is only found in Matthew’s gospel. This is an analogy, not a parable.

Who will be separated? The nations (ethnos) will be divided into sheep on Christ’s right and goats on His left.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 and Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Matthew 25:34 (NKJV)

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 25:41 (NKJV)

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Who speaks to the sheep and the goats? The King addresses the sheep: ‘He’ addresses the goats. To the sheep, Jesus Christ is Lord and King.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

What is the outcome? The sheep are invited into the kingdom of heaven, the goats are told to depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil.

Thursday, September 15, 2011: Matthew 25:35 – 36 (NKJV)

for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

What is the reason given? Sharing food, drink, shelter and clothing is the inward service and visiting the sick and imprisoned the outward ministry.

Friday, September 16, 2011: Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

What is the implication? Implied in this is love for fellow man and love for God. Such love comes only as a result of being born again and having the new creation inside.

Disclose

Topical Background: the Greek verb ‘emphanizō’ is variously translated as informed, signify, showed, declare plainly and appear. Here God communicates with mankind.

Monday, September 5, 2011: John 14:21 – 22 (NKJV)

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

How do we answer this question? In simply reading the Word, He reveals Himself to us daily.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011: Romans 3:21 – 22a (NKJV)

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

What does ‘apart from the law’ mean? We sin because we have a sin nature. Christ did not: the Law and Prophets witness this. He becomes our righteousness.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011: 1 John 4:8 – 9 (NKJV)

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

What is the evidence of our life in Christ? I believe it is this getting together of minds that express love towards each other because He is our savior.

Thursday, September 8, 2011: 1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,   Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,   Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,   Received up in glory.

Why does this theological poem qualified as being ‘without controversy’? It is beyond human understanding: it has to be taken by faith, till faith is replaced by sight.

Friday, September 9, 2011: 1 John 3:4 – 5 (NKJV)

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

What is an explanation for the great theological statement ‘God manifested in flesh’? There was no sin nature in Jesus Christ: only He could die for our sins.