Disciples and Apostles

Disciples and Apostles

I regret the delay: my DSL service was interrupted. Dan.

Monday, July 28, 2008: Matthew 4:17–20

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Background: this is the start of Jesus Christ’s ministry.
Did Peter and Andrew’s call make them Jesus Christ’s disciples? No. To become His disciples they had to first leave all and follow Him.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008: Matthew 10:1–2a

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:

Background: this is the early part of Jesus Christ’s ministry.
Were the disciples of Jesus Christ also Apostles? No, but the 12 Apostles were all disciples.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008: Luke 6:12–16

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

How did the disciples of Jesus Christ become Apostles? Jesus Christ called His disciples to Him after a night of prayer, choose 12 and named them Apostles.

Thursday, July 31, 2008: Luke 24:46–48

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Background: this is Jesus Christ after resurrection but just before ascension.
What were the apostles to be (eye) witnesses to? Christ suffered and rose from the dead. A sinner’s repentance leads to remission of sins in the Name: Jesus Christ.

Friday, August 1, 2008: Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Were the original twelve the first Apostles? No, Jesus Christ was THE APOSTLE sent from and by God.

Good Samiratan, Ugly Lawyer?

Monday, July 21, 2008: Luke 10:25

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Background: the parable of the Good Samaritan (and the Jerusalem ministry of Jesus Christ) is only in Luke’s Gospel.
What was strange about the lawyer’s question? The lawyer had to be challenging what Jesus Christ had said. The lawyer’s error was in the expectation that he himself could do something to ‘earn’ eternal life.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008: Luke 10:26–28

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

Can anyone obey the commandments? None but the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He had eternal life as a consequence.
Why, then, did Jesus Christ have to die? A man perfect in God’s sight was the only sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin for mankind.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008: Luke 10:29–32

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

Why did the priest and the Levite (the family from which priests were chosen) pass by?
If they touched blood, they would become unclean themselves. This parallels “I’m late for work!”

Thursday, July 24, 2008: Luke 10:33–35

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

Who is a Samaritan? A person regarded as inferior to Jews and not to be associated with.

Friday, July 25, 2008: Luke 10:36–37

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

What was the effect of the question at the end of the parable? Jesus Christ gently lead the lawyer to answer his own question.

A More Excellent Way to Love

Monday, July 14, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:1–3

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Background: Paul’s (AD 55) answer to the Corinthian Church about the most important spiritual gift ends with an intriguing ‘more excellent way.’
How does ‘have not love,’ render the use of your spiritual gift? Not having love makes you (or your gift) noise, nobody, and profitless.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:4–7

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

How does having love change your use of spiritual gifts? Your spiritual gifts become God’s Body-building way, molding you and your interaction with others into a reflection of Christ.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:8–10

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

How is love different from spiritual gifts? God is love: love is perfection. Spiritual gifts are limited and fleeting; they evaporate into our future perfection.

Thursday, July 17, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:11–12

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

How is the way of love analogous to growth? Putting on love is the evidence of God’s actions in your spiritual growth. This is growth of hope in the knowledge of eternity.

Friday, July 18, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:13

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

How is love the greatest? Faith is based on Christ’s finished work of love; hope is built on His resurrection from the dead. Both are only needed till we see Him.
Love for us is why He did this: shouldn’t we love Him in return?

Church = Body?

Monday, July 7, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:14–16

For in fact the body is not one member but many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

Background: Paul, in Ephesus, replies to questions from the Corinthian Church in AD 55 during his 3rd missionary journey. (He had established the Corinthian Church in AD 52 during his 2nd journey) The question about which Spiritual Gift is most important is addressed in Chapter 12. After giving a list, Paul uses the metaphor of a body to explain the Church using its gifts. Just like a body exists for a short time and dies, the Church meets as a body occasionally. (Twice on Sundays and once during the week, perhaps.)

Can a member disqualify himself from the body? Using any excuse for not attending a meeting of the Church is like a hand detaching itself from the Body.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:17–19

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

Can you choose which member you are in the Church? No, God decides according to His pleasure: you are to recognize your gift and use it.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:20–22

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

Will your Church be better off without one nasty member? This is like the mouth rejecting the stomach because it hurts! No, all the members are needed.

Thursday, July 10, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:23–25

And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

We cover parts of our body and not others: what is the Church in analogy? We treat new members with care, not burdening them with strong spiritual food.

Friday, July 11, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:26–27

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Is this a reference to the local Church you attend? Yes, you feel for a member who is going through difficulties. But you are not aware of problems in a Church down the street. In extension, you cannot stay home: you must become a member of a Church.

Conclusion: the chapter ends with Paul showing a better way! This is LOVE, the subject of Chapter 13, which will be for next week.

Out of Pawn

Monday, June 30, 2008: Galatians 3:11–14

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Background: The letter to the Galatians was to explain that we are not bound to live the Law, but to live by faith.
What is the CURSE of the law? We were under its penalty. Christ has paid the price for us. We don’t have to pay the penalty and have the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008: Galatians 4:1–7

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

What is the problem of being under the LAW? We have the presence of the Law above us. Christ has removed the presence of the Law from us. No longer slaves, we are sons of God. Ours is now the Law of Love!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008: Ephesians 5:15–20

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5–6

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one

What does redeeming the time mean? We spend our time earning money; with this we buy things. If we need money in an emergency, we pawn our possessions and buy them back when we can. Redeeming time is a metaphor: if we are wise, we make use of time by doing what God wants us to do. The opposite of this is getting so deep in debt that we take a second job just to meet payments, but have no life left.

Thursday, July 3, 2008: Isaiah 52:3

For thus says the Lord: “You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money.”

Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.
O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

What does redeemed w/o money mean? The price paid by Jesus Christ for our sins was His death on the cross. His being raised from the dead implies that we are no longer under the penalty of death.

Friday, July 4, 2008: 1 Corinthians 15:51–57

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is this mystery? Not all believers in Jesus Christ will suffer death. At the last trumpet, we shall put on incorruptibility and immortality!

Hnshackled Automatically!

Monday, June 23, 2008: Acts 12:3–5

And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Background: The Lord has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven. He has left His apostles the Great Commission of spreading the gospel. The Jews still reject the gospel of Jesus Christ. Herod probably wanted to finance a project and needed favor with the Jewish leadership. He had arrested James, the brother of John and put him to death. Seeing that it pleased the Jews, he now he arrests Peter.

What was the restriction imposed on Peter? Peter was under arrest and given to four squads of soldiers to guard personally around the clock in prison.
What was the conspiracy to release Peter planning? The believers in the early Church prayed constantly to God for Peter’s release.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008: Acts 12:6–8

And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”

What was Peter’s condition that night? He was asleep, chained to two soldiers, with prison guards at the doors of the cell.
What miraculous events took place? An angel stood by peter, a light (invisible to others) shone, and his chains fell off.
In spite of these miracles, what was Peter to do? He was told to get dressed and follow the angel. He did.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008: Acts 12:9–10

So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Did the prison have an automatic iron gate as main door? At that moment, yes, it did. The words ‘of its own accord,’ is automatic, an original Greek word!

Thursday, June 26, 2008: Mark 4:13–14, 26–29

And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word.
And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Background: The Lord Jesus Christ spoke to His people, the Jews in parables about the Kingdom of God. It was a spiritual Kingdom and a parable was a heavenly story with an earthly meaning; an analogy to understand spiritual things with earthly examples. The seed is the Word of God, the Bible.

How does a seed become a plant? Automatically! The words ‘by itself,’ is automatic, an original Greek word!

Friday, June 27, 2008: Daniel 4:35–37

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Background: Daniel foretells the pride of the King and its consequences. The warning is forgotten. After spending seven years in a brutish fashion, the King recognizes God as sovereign. Recognizing Gods heavenly kingdom, the King repents of his pride and receives his understanding back.

Why should we pray instead of fighting our battles? Because only the hand of God cannot be restrained.

Bon Voyage!

Bon Voyage!

All words in red come from the same word in Greek, ἀνάγω; an-ag'-o; to lead up; by extension to bring out; specifically to sail away; depart, launch, lead, loose, offer, sail, set forth, take up.

Monday, June 16, 2008: Luke 2:22

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
Background: A firstborn male, the baby Jesus is redeemed as required by the law in Exodus 13:15.
Why was this redemption by sacrifice needed? It was to remind Israel that God (not Moses) had brought Israel out of bondage (a picture of sin) by the 10th plague, the death of Egypt’s firstborn. The terrible price paid was to be epitomized of God giving His own son to be sacrificed for mankind’s sin.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008: Matthew 3:17-4:1

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

… and Luke 4:5

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Background: Before Jesus Christ launched forth on preaching the gospel, he underwent baptism by John the Baptist. He allowed Himself to be taken (or instantly transported) first by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and next by the Devil to strategic locations.
Why was Christ tempted? To please God, one must be obedient to Him in all respects. This was to prove Christ as one tested by temptation.

Wednesday, June 18, Luke 22:66–67a

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, “If You are the Christ, tell us.”
Background: These are the events that followed Christ’s late night arrest. After He preaches the gospel flawlessly, the administrators fault Him before the leadership of the Jews.
Is the question asked an accusation? No, it is an attempt to build a case by self-incrimination. This has never been correct procedure but a blatant miscarriage of justice.

Thursday, June 19, 2008: Romans 10:6–9

But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Background: In Romans 10, Paul is concerned about his own people, the Jews, attempting to get right before God by what they do. He emphasizes that it is faith in what Christ has already done that makes us right before God.
What do the two questions mean? These rhetorical questions are simply saying that you can’t do the impossible: only Jesus Christ has done this and God has raised him from the dead.

Friday, June 20, 2008: Hebrews 13:20–21

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Background: This is almost the end of the letter to the Hebrews. It’s a blessing and contains a profound concept: it is not what you do, but what God does in your surrendered life.
How does the concept ‘great Shepherd of the sheep’ fit in? Jesus Christ shed His blood as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind. After His death, God brings Him up from the dead and declares Him as the one who has brought His sheep into eternal protection.