LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 16:18-19, “And I also say to you that you are Simon Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Jesus

 

Jesus took his disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi to teach them an object lesson. This area had been named by Herod’s son Philip to honor the Emperor of Rome. It was an area of great natural beauty. It was an area that was also the center of worship of false gods. The source of the Jordan River was nearby;  the river flowed out of a cave that led [people to declare it was the river Styx which led to the underworld (from our Tour book). The region was also known as Panais, named after the Greek god Pan.

 

There was also another name for this cave – “the gate of hell”. Pan was said to have the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat. He was not worshipped in temples but in natural places such as caves. We were told that a statue of Pan was located in the cave here. The worship of the god Pan included sacrifices, drinking, and sexually immoral rituals.

 

The “gates of hell” represent all the demonic forces and all Satan’s evil strategies to destroy the followers of Jesus Christ (the Church) or His mission in the world. Jesus taught that deception, doctrinal error, and the enticement of sin would come against every Believer, every denomination, and every local church will experience these forces in some degree. It seems to me that these forces are certainly at work in the world today.

 

But Jesus also taught that “in spite of Satan doing his absolute worst, the Church that He would build cannot, in the end, be overcome by Satan” (LSSB). Jesus told Peter he had “the keys to the kingdom”; those keys represent the authority to enter into His kingdom for both Jews and Gentiles. Do you remember after the disciple were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Peter preached and 3,000 were saved? A few chapters late in the book of Acts, Peter received a vision while at the house of Cornelius about the door to the kingdom opening for the Gentiles.

 

The “keys of the kingdom” also included the authority in heaven and on earth the Father had given to Jesus. Jesus now was giving this authority to Peter and to the Church. This authority for proclaiming the gospel also included the authority to bind demonic activity and disease, and to loose people from their sin, addictions, and sickness through the salvation Jesus Christ offered through His death and resurrection.

 

Understanding the meaning of the region of Caesarea Philippi changed my entire thought on the verses that followed. I wonder what else I have missed because I did not know the full meaning behind the name of a region. I am probably going to read a little slower and do more research to understand the full meaning of God’s Word from now on. Perhaps, that was the point of the impression of Caesarea Philippi for me.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 16:13, When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

 

I am not sure I have recovered from the day we went to see “the region of Caesarea Philippi”. Take out your Bible and read Matthew 16:13-20; if you don’t, I might lose you. There is so much teaching in these verses, so much I have missed by not studying the history and significance behind a region. I am going to break down the teaching here into two parts because of space allowed for each page of the blog. You do not want to miss tomorrow!

 

I have written on the two questions Jesus asked His disciples before. They may be great questions for each of us to consider again as we face the issues of these last days. He asked them, “Who do men say that I , the Son of Man, am?”. And the question each of us must answer, “Who do you say that I am?”.

 

When answering the first question, the disciples gave answers others thought – John the Baptist (thought to be a fanatic), Elijah (thought to be a powerful teacher), or one of the prophets (from the notes in the DJSB). I am not certain that most people’s thoughts about Jesus have changed today. People may realize He was an historical figure. There are those who believe He was a good teacher or even a prophet. Few believe He was the Son of God. I wonder if many think about Him at all except to ridicule Believer’s beliefs and attempt to remove any forms of worship and symbols relating to God’s Word. Freedom of speech and freedom to worship Jesus Christ are certainly being attacked today.

 

The more important question that must be answered is, “Who do you say that I am?”. It is a question every person must consider and answer. Every person must decide who Jesus is to them; the answer determines if one walks on the broad way or on the narrow way to eternity. Peter understood that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus told us a very important truth. Jesus is revealed to us as Savior through the Holy Spirit. How we each respond to the Holy Spirit is the most important response we will ever make. To respond “yes” places us on the narrow road to eternal life in God’s kingdom.

 

There has been misunderstanding placed on the statement Jesus made about Peter. When He told Peter that He would build His church on “this rock” He was stating that He would build His church on the truth of his and the other disciples' statement that He “was the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus used a play on words here when He called him Peter; the Greek word for Peter is Petros, meaning small stone. When He said, “upon this rock” He used the Greek word Petra which means a massive rock and that is what the church would be built on; the church would be built on Peter’s the statement about who Jesus is.

 

The question for each of us today is to affirm who Jesus is to you. Take a moment to be with Him and tell Him who is to you. I doubt He gets tired of you telling Him!

 

I cannot wait to write about what we learned about Caesarea Philippi!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 4:18, And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea; for they were fishermen.

 

We began Wednesday morning of our tour by taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. It was not really much of a ride because our ride consisted of three boats (It took that many boats for our entire group.) going a short distance and then being tied together, side by side. We spent time in worship – singing and the teaching of the Word by Pastor Ed Newton (they were in the middle boat). I must admit that this time was quite inspirational and informative. The boats were replicas of what the fishing boats were like at the time the disciples fished on the Sea.

 

Did you know that 70% of the miracles Jesus did were done around or on the Sea of Galilee? I had never considered that. But, as I listened and saw (as our tour guide pointed out) where He called His disciples to “follow Him”, walked on water, calmed storms, multiplied the loaves and fishes, and told the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, I better understood the importance of this area. Each of these happenings have their own story and significance.

 

The captains of the boat told us that if we had been there the day before we would not have been able to do what we were doing on this day. The day before the wind was causing three-to-four-foot waves. It was not difficult to think about one of my favorite stories concerning the disciples in a boat on the Sea as the waves were them making it difficult to get to the other side of the Sea. I can imagine their fear as Jesus came to them, walking on the water. You know the events where Peter told Jesus to “command me to come down out of the boat”. Jesus did so, Peter walked on the water for a few steps, took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves, began to sink, and cried out to Jesus for help.

 

It might seem that Peter was acting foolish and this was not a wise thing to do. When Jesus told him to “Come”, Peter was obedient, got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Can you think of any prophet or any other person who had done that? The notes in the David Jeremiah Study Bible give us an important lesson, “What people focus on becomes magnified in fearful circumstances”. Do you understand Peter did walk on the water until he took his eyes off of Jesus? Perhaps someone reading this needs to read this and remember to keep their eyes on Jesus as they walk through difficult circumstances; being reminded of this has helped me through some things! When I have taken my eyes off Jesus and focused on the situation or circumstances, those “things” seem to dominate my thinking and actions and, just like Peter, I begin to “sink”. The DJSB states, “the difference between fear and faith is focus” – I am going to try to remember that thought!

 

One other thought about this event. Peter did not fail; he got out of the boat while the other disciples stayed within the safety of the boat. Peter walked on the water! When he began to sink, Jesus was right there to help him get back up. That is good teaching for each of us to remember when we face difficult circumstances. It must have been a good feeling for Peter as he and Jesus walked back to the boat – together!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

 

This verse relates to the thought that the faithful followers of the Lord must do so by faith. I am using it to explain that my expectations about what I would see in Israel were much different (most of the time), than what I saw. At times, I was amazed at the difference between Jewish culture and my traditional view of the Bible; the meaning was not changed – my understanding was clarified and expanded.

 

Let me give some examples. We went to Mount Carmel, the site the prophet Elijah challenged the prophets. It was an easy journey by bus to ascend to the peak that stood 550 meters above the Coastal plain (from our guidebook). I could not help but wonder what the route was for

Elijah’s walk to get there. This day was the only day we experienced rain; I was disappointed that I was not able to take in the significance of what happened here. By the way, you will see this quite often as I relate our experiences. The views were spectacular from this position as many historical areas could easily be seen. There was a Carmelite Monastery built here; wherever we saw a significant historical site related to Bible history, there was a church or monastery built by a religious group.

 

From Mount Carmel we drove a short distance to see the Jezreel Valley, the future site where the battle of Megiddo (Armageddon) will take place. This is the valley the Bible names as the location of the final battle between the King of kings and the Lord of lords and the Antichrist and his followers will take place (Revelation 16:14-16). When we got to the location to view this valley, two thoughts came to me. First, we passed by the ruins of where Solomon had built a fortification to oversee the valley. An historical fact that would not be related to the Bible. Solomon’s “palace” or residence was not very large. We left the area by way of 150 steps that went down into an area where water was stored and secured in case of a siege by enemy forces. A fortification needs water and this area was important to be secured.

 

The other thought I had as I observed the Jezreel Valley was the farming that was taking place. What had I expected? Life continues to happen while we wait for the return of our Lord. I could not help but let my “sanctified” imagination see the Biblical account of what was going to happen in the future in this valley. I could imagination the forces of the Antichrist gathering from around the world to battle against the Lord Jesus Christ and His saints (that’s us!). Read Revelation 14:17-20 and you will see the Antichrist and his followers are so soundly defeated that the blood of the dead will be up to the bridles of the horses for 1,600 furlongs. I had to look this up in terms I understand – this would cover about 200 miles reaching a depth of about 4 feet. I had to consider the peace and life today contrasted with what was going to be the future.

 

Think about this statement I heard or read a long time ago. On any given day, we are only seven years (the length of the Tribulation) away from this event happening. It makes me desire to be diligent about my walk on the narrow way to eternity in God’s kingdom and to be watching and listening for the trumpet to sound for His faithful followers to join Him in eternity!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” God

 

I pray that all of your Christmas time with family was wonderful. We were blessed to be able to celebrate with both of our daughters, sons-in-laws, and grandchildren. We had a great time!

 

Are you ready for another prophecy about the birth of Jesus? Too many in a quick reading skip over this verse and those preceding and following it. You know the story of the disobedience of Adam and Eve as they partook from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God spoke two curses when confronting the serpent; He cursed the ground and He cursed the serpent. The curse on the ground will eventually be resolved but not until we see the events described in Revelation 20-22. One thing to notice, is God did not curse Adam and Eve. Instead, He actually blessed them. That blessing, however, did not go without consequences.

 

Scholars believe that verse 15, above, is the first promise of man’s redemption, the first gospel, the Good News – actually the best news ever! It predicts the ultimate victory for humanity, for whosoever would believe in the Seed of the woman. Read carefully and see the prophecy that God already had a plan to defeat Satan and evil, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” In this prophecy, God promised that Christ would be born of a woman and would be “bruised” which happened through the crucifixion. But, He would rise from the dead to destroy the power of sin, and death for all who would believe; at His second coming, the Lord Jesus Christ will “bruise” Satan’s head and completely destroy Him.

 

The coming of the woman’s “Seed” was fulfilled in Matthew 1-2, Luke 2, and Galatians 4:4. Even in this judgment there was mercy. The judgment pronounced on the serpent contained words of hope! The offspring of the serpent and the woman have been enemies throughout time. Satan will always be the enemy of all Believers who have placed their hope in the “Seed” of the woman. Those who take sides with Satan will always be at war with those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. As we read and study God’s Word, we know the end of the story. Satan and his followers will be totally defeated and spend eternity in the “lake of fire and brimstone”. Until that time warfare between Satan and God’s children will continue.

 

It is important to know that even before the time sin entered the world, God had a plan for crushing Satan’s head. His plan was for His Son to be born of a virgin, to teach and show who the Father was, to die on a cross, and to rise again to offer salvation, redemption, to all who would believe. 1 John 3:8 tells us, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

 

As Believers, we stand strong in the power of Jesus Christ each day as joining the battle between good and evil. Give thanks today for stepping into our lives to save us and make us part of God’s family!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2: 9-12

 

“A Savior is born”; a Savior to whosoever would believe in Him. Notice that the “Savior is Christ the Lord”. No one can have Jesus as Savior without living with Him as Lord!

 

Merry Christmas to each of you and your families! In the midst of all the festivities and gatherings be sure to take time to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Jesus

 

I have been trying to process our trip to Israel since we have been home. I have been trying to picture Bethlehem as it was when Jesus was born; it was definitely different from what we experienced. I have tried to imagine Mary and Joseph coming into the “little” town full of people there because of the registration required and finding no room to stay in. It was obviously much different than all those who tried to stop us in order to sell us “stuff”. It had to have been much different from the political challenges present there now.

 

I have tried to think back about standing in the cave or stable that the baby was born. Everything was too rushed to even consider that we were in the area considered the birthplace of our Savior. And then we were off to the next place. As I write this, at least I have the memory of being in Bethlehem and that is something I never thought would happen.

 

The question I am sure you have is why the verse above for today? What a gracious invitation the Messiah, our Savior offers to us at this season celebrated to be His birth! It is an offer to “all you who labor and are heavy laden”; to those who carry the troubles of life and the sins of their own sin nature. You know what I mean – the routine of life, the overworked or those striving in order to “move up the chain”, and the tensions all around us. Those who are “heavy laden” are having to endure life because of something laid on them form some other source. Often this results in “burnout” and just giving up.

 

“The baby born unto us” came to live in human form to not only provide a way back to the Father through the salvation He offers but for those who believe to walk the narrow way of righteous living every day. When we come to Jesus as our Savior, we become His servants and do all we can to be obedient to His direction (We get His direction from reading and studying his Word!). If you have been reading this blog for long, you know I am talking about the way we walk the narrow way to eternal life in His kingdom. When we come to Him in this way, He sets us free from the burdens we face, gives us rest, peace (the Prince of Peace), and the Holy Spirit leads us as we walk the narrow way. The writer of Hebrews wrote, ”Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). That means as God’s people, we do not need to fear that we will be turned away when we come to Him with our prayers, our needs, our hurts; we do not need to try to hide any of this from Him. When we do, He gives mercy for what we have failed in and grace for what we need right now. The trials and cares we carry with us right now will be tolerated because He is helping us carry them.

 

Without the birth in Bethlehem, we are on our own. With Bethlehem’s story we can find peace with God and are able to come boldly to Him with every need we have. What a blessed event it was (is)!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 9:7a, Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,

 

We are examining the rest of the prophecy regarding “for unto us a child is born”. That verse continues “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end”. This a prophetic statement concerning the establishment of Christ’s reign on earth. Isaiah expected that Jesus would bring God’s rule of peace and righteous government to earth. “The child born unto us” would not only be “Everlasting Father” and “Prince of Peace” regarding deliverance from sin and death but He would (will) establish a government of peace in His millennial kingdom.

 

Isaiah did not make a distinction between a first and second coming. Later in his writing “he would describe a King who comes as a Suffering Servant (52:13 – 53:12); In 11:1-10, Isaiah describes this king coming again to establish a government of peace in His millennium reign” (DJSB).

 

There is other prophecy that supports the establishment of a kingdom of peace. Go to Daniel 2 and read Daniel’s explanation of the Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about the statue.  Verse 34-36 is an important verse that might be overlooked when reading this chapter. “You watched while a stone was cut without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them into pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, and the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the earth.” That stone is the “child [that] is born unto us” whose “government and peace there will be no end”. With the second coming of Jesus this prophecy will be fulfilled.

 

But wait, there is more. Jesus Himself talked about this coming kingdom in a parable – the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32. The mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, but when grown, it becomes a great tree; He said the birds of the air build their nests in it. He said that His kingdom will have small and humble beginnings but will result in a large and significant result. Christ’s kingdom, His government will increase when His gospel is spread throughout the world.

 

The prophecy continues by saying this about the kingdom, “peace there will be no end”. It is encouraging to know there is a day coming that the “Prince of Peace” will sit on the throne where His peace is established. One thousand years of peace will become peace without end. 

 

When we consider this season where we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us get beyond a day we open presents and all that stuff and take time to consider what the birth of a child truly means. Prophecy has been fulfilled. The Savior has been born unto us. As we celebrate His birth, take the time to remember what that means to you as a Believer but also what it means as we draw near to His return and the establishment of His kingdom. It should make each of us desire to walk the narrow way into eternity in God’s kingdom.

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 9:6-7a, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end.

 

We just cannot go through the Christmas experience without reading the prophecies about the birth of Jesus. Pastor Ed Newton shared the importance on prophecy in his message this weekend. He said that there were 324 prophecies telling of the coming of Jesus. Of those prophecies 324 of them were fulfilled. He also said there were an additional 48 Messianic prophecies that told of the coming of the Messiah and each one of them were fulfilled as well. The important point of this is 372 prophetic statements that the Messiah, would come into this world to redeem all who would come to Him; they all were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

 

The prophecy above speaks to the birth of the Messiah being at a specific time in history. Isaiah uses five names that would characterize or explain His purpose as the Messiah. “His name will be called Wonderful”. When He came into this world, He was a supernatural wonder. Angels announced His birth to shepherds. They went to see Him and went away praising and worshipping God for the things they had seen. Wise men from the East were guided by a star that eventually rested over Bethlehem. When they saw Him, they bowed and worshipped, giving to Him gifts; they left returning home in a different direction being obedient to directions given them supernaturally. He transcends our human knowledge because he is God, He showed His character by what he did and by what He taught. He is called Wonderful because He is wonderful!

 

“His name will be called Counselor”. The Messiah would reveal the mind of God. He would be perfect wisdom, council from God’s perspective, and have words of eternal life. He would reveal the perfect plan by which all people could be saved.

 

“His name will be called Mighty God”. In the Messiah, all the fulness of Deity would exist in human form, He is Almighty God. Because of this, He removes our sinful nature of rebellion against God. Believers have all they need in Jesus.

 

“His name will be called Everlasting Father”. Do not confuse this with the Messiah being the Father, although He and the Father are one (John 10:30). The Messiah would come to reveal the Father. “The Messiah would Himself act toward His people eternally as a compassionate father who loves, protects and supplies the needs of His children” (LSSB).

 

“His name will be called the Prince of Peace”. Government leaders continue to seek “peace” in this world. The “peace that comes with the Prince of Peace is peace with God for all would believe through the deliverance from sin and death. Peace on earth will truly come when the Messiah returns to this world as the King of kings and Lord of lords to defeat the devil and his Antichrist and establish His reign on earth. In The Revelation 3:21 we are told the day is coming when He will reign forever.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

John 1:12, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name.

 

The first few verses of the Gospel of John do not fit the narrative of the Christmas story since John does not write about the events we celebrate. Yet it does contain the important answer to the question of why? Why did the Son of God come to walk the earth in human form? Verse 14 tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace.” The Son of God “entered human life with all the limitations of human experience” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible). Humanity and deity were united together in this baby! The term “only begotten Son” does not mean He was created at some time in history; It refers to the fact that He is the One and only Son of God from all eternity. He was preexistent with God having the same nature and spirit or heart as the Father. Born as baby, He left heaven and entered human life through human birth.

 

John would write that The Word would be the light of men that would shine in darkness. His life was the light that would shine for all men and women, for all who would believe in Him. To believe in Him (as Savior and Lord) makes His truth, His nature, and His power available to the who believe. John wrote, “In Him was life and the life was the light of the world. And the light shines in the darkness”. The light of Christ shines in the dark, evil and sinful world controlled by Satan.

 

 Jesus speaks of believers as the “light of the world” when teaching what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. Today, Believers are to be light in this world that is growing darker and darker. The gospel of Christ gives light to all who hear His message of grace and forgiveness in order to choose to freely accept or reject that message; those are the only responses one who hears can choose from. Sadly, too many choose to reject Him. Those who reject Him live apart from Him and remain indifferent to Him, uninterested and unresponsive to the narrow way to His Kingdom. It is not difficult to see how rejecting the Light of the World is allowing the growth of darkness to be more and more dominate around us.

 

For those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and made Him the Lord of our life, John writes in verse 16-17, “And of His fulness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth through Jesus Christ.” Grace and power is constantly given Believers through Christ; Believers are given one blessing after another. The Son of God was given to all who believe to live within us, to renew and restore our spirits, and to re-create us into His image.

 

 In the busyness of all you do as we celebrate the birth of the Son of God, take some time and reflect on this truly wonderful time of the year. Do not allow anything to interfere with the fact that God sent His Son and “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name”. Be the light He has given you; shine to those around you and those in this dark world we live in.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 2:25, And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

 

It is interesting to really consider the shepherds. The revealing of the birth of the Messiah to those thought to be so lowly regarded by society is an important reminder that no matter what a person has done, no matter how “unclean” a person might be due to sin, he/she can come just as he/she is. Through the salvation Jesus Christ offers, anyone can be cleansed and made a new person through Him.

 

I am going to stop writing about our journey in Israel to focus on some aspects of the Christmas story. I am skipping ahead to Joseph and Mary presenting the baby Jesus to the Lord, His Father, in the temple in Jerusalem. We must not forget that this was a time of lukewarm spiritual conditions; there was rampant unbelief and ungodliness. Paul would write in Ephesians 2:12 that the time was on, “without hope and without God in the world”.  Yet, a man named Simeon had focused all his attention on the coming Messiah. The verse above states, “this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel”; he was diligent in watching and waiting because “it had been revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ”.

 

I would interject that this might describe the world and time we live in today. I look at what is going on around us and I see tremendous ungodliness and people who have placed their hope in everything but God. In a devotion by the Dr. James Kennedy Foundation, this statement was made. “When religious hope dies, all real hope dies with it.”  It continues, “without God, the aspirations, strivings, and wishes of countless hearts are weighed down by defeats and sorrows; they are broken by hopes never materialized and saddened by relationships gone sour.” I believe we live in a world very much like what Paul wrote about above.

 

We need to be like Simeon who was filled with the Holy Spirit and waited patiently and watched diligently for the coming of the Messiah. But we are waiting for the return of the Messiah as King of kings and Lord of lords. Titus 2:13 encourages us, no it admonishes each of us to be, ”looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”. Like Simeon, who had been told the Messiah was coming and was devout in waiting for Him, we, too, must be diligent and devout in watching for His return.

 

Two words were used to describe Simeon – “just” and “devout”. “just” means righteous. It indicates that a person was right with God both in heart and in actions. God wanted people in the Old Testament to be “just”; it was a righteousness that came from the heart based on true faith. God wants His people, today, to have a righteousness that comes only through the salvation His Son offers to all who come to Him as they are” (just like the shepherds). “Devout” means Simeon read and studied the Old Testament scriptures (that is all he had). He knew the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah. Being “devout” he was a man dedicated to prayer; prayer goes hand-in-hand with studying God’s Word. Because of Simeon’s devotion, the Holy Spirit revealed to him he would not die until “he had seen the Lord’s Christ”. Simeon “knew immediately and absolutely, and with authority this baby was the Messiah” (DJSB).

 

I use this scripture today to remind us that Jesus Christ is our only hope; the baby born in Bethlehem is the hope for all who have placed their faith in Him. It is not enough to just receive Him as Savior! Each of us must become “devout”, to be diligent in watching and waiting for His return. Each of us must realize our greatest blessing will be “to see the Lord’s Christ” face to face, to be ready for His return and live for eternity with Him in His glorious kingdom1

 

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible

 

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 2:8, Now there were living in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night.

 

I have learned so much more about the shepherds from seeing the “traditional” place where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. This place has been named the Shepherd’s Fields. While there, Pastor Ed Newton taught us some things about the shepherd; his first sermon back from the trip was about the shepherds. Allow me to share what I learned. See if you are able to see the significance of the angels appearing to them.

 

The shepherds were considered unclean, thought to be lowlife and scavengers. They could not testify in a court of law nor could they even participate in the Passover celebration. The shepherds the angels appeared to were no ordinary shepherds. These shepherds were given the task to watch over and care for the lambs to be sacrificed in the temple. They would wrap the lamb’s leg joints in swaddling cloths to protect them when they knelt to lay down at night. Remember that no blemish could be on the lambs sacrificed. The announcement that the sign of the baby born, the Savior, would be that He was wrapped in “swaddling cloths”; the shepherds knew this baby was the sacrificial Lamb of God. Do not forget that the shepherds laid the “newborn” lamb wrapped in the swaddling cloths in a manger.

 

Permit me to include one other thing about the swaddling cloths. I was amazed to learn that the priests would cut into strips their linen garments worn in the sacrificing of the lambs. They would use these strips of linen (swaddling strips, if you will) as wicks for the menorahs. They were used to provide light where there was darkness. Jesus would proclaim in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Here we have one more indication of Scripture working together to reveal Jesus as not only the sacrificial Lamb but as the Light of Life in this dark world.

 

I have included a picture of the cave where “tradition” states these shepherds brought their sheep at night. It was in the limestone of the area – thus the need to wrap the legs joints in order to protect them from the limestone. It was touching to sit in the cave and sing Joy to the World.

 

Take the time to read Luke 2:8-20. When doing so, notice that the glory of the Lord shone above the shepherds. The shekinah glory of the Lord (1 kings 8:10) had been absent from Israel for 400 years, the time between the Old and New Testaments. It seems strange that it should appear over the place of the shepherds. Paster Ed would say this past weekend that instead of over the place of Jesus’ birth, it was over the shepherds. He said, “because of the birth of Jesus, the unclean (the shepherds) can now come to Him just a they are”. That translates to all who call upon His name to be saved. They were “greatly afraid”; they were told to “fear not’. It is an important message for all people today. “Jesus had come to reconcile humanity to Himself. People want to be saved from many things – bad marriages, debt, others’ sins – but He came to save individuals from their sins” (DJSB).

Notice one last thing about the shepherds. Remember what was thought about them at this time. With the announcement of the birth of the Savior by the angels, they had become the first group of people to hear the gospel message preached. They had the choice to respond to it or not. Yes, they responded positively by going to see this Savior. They left “glorifying and praising God for all things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” The shepherds now became evangelists who told all they had seen and heard.

 

Did you catch the significance of the shepherds? Our experience, our walk on the narrow way to eternity in God’s kingdom must continue to be fruitful and not become nonchalant or cooled because of time. Christians ought to be the happiest, most joyful people because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We ought to be the evangelists God desires us to be every day. Let the shepherds be our example by “glorifying and praising God for all things that they [we] had heard and seen, as it was told them [us].”

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 2:6, So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

 

The drive from Nazareth to Bethlehem took about an hour and a half. That is so different from the journey Joseph and a very pregnant Mary took to get to Bethlehem to be registered in Joseph’s ancestorial city. The emperor had issued an edict for a census to be taken – for the purpose of taxation and recruitment.  By the way, this journey was to fulfill the prophecy found in Micah 5:2. The journey by bus was around 100 miles; For Joseph and Mary, it may have been around 90 miles; it is estimated to take them about a week to make the trip.

 

When they finally got to Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay except with the animals – in a cave. We have been taught so much for so long about a “barn-like structure” where the animals were kept at night. However, the animals were kept in a much different setting than our stories have taught us. The animals were kept in a “cave” with their owners living above them. The greatest event in history, the miracle that took place in Bethlehem, occurred in the most humbling of circumstances. Jesus, who is described in The Revelation as the “King of kings” was not born nor did He live like a king in this life. No, He was born into and lived a humble and simple life. Bethlehem means “house of bread”. Isn’t it interesting that this town is where God’s Son became flesh. In John 6:33, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Jesus is the sustenance that nourishes our spiritual life.

 

He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. As we were told the shepherds that the angels appeared to, were in charge of raising and keeping the sacrificial lambs in the temple safe and without blemish. They would wrap the legs of the lambs in swaddling cloths to prevent them from being hurt or marked when they laid down at night (more on the shepherds tomorrow). When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, swaddling cloths were used to wrap Him to keep Him warm and protected, and to keep Him secure. Don’t miss the significance of this! New born lambs would also be wrapped in swaddling cloths to be sure they were without any blemish or infirmities.  The shepherds protected the sacrificial lambs with swaddling cloths and the baby who would be the sacrificial Lamb of God for you and me was kept safe and secure by those same swaddling cloths. The temple lambs had to be without blemish; the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of all who would come to Him had to be without fault as well.

 

The newborn temple lambs wrapped in swaddling cloths would then be placed in a trough, away from the other sheep; that was the Jewish law. Where was the baby Jesus placed? Yes, in a feeding trough that we call a manger.

 

The “traditional” location of the birth of Christ has a church over it; every traditional place having any significance to the life of Jesus has had a church built over or beside it. “The Church of the Nativity is Bethlehem’s most famous site and one of the most important churches for the Christian world” (from our guidebook). To say there was a lot of people there is an understatement! We were rushed through the church, rushed down to and through what was to be the cave the Lord was born in because of the people waiting to see it. The manger was also there. My pictures came out blurry, but there was not too much to really see. It would have been nice to be able to take in the real significance of what we were seeing. We found this to be true at many places we saw.

 

Sunday night, we returned to this church as the pastor of Community Bible Church, Ed Newton became the first American to preach at the lighting of Bethlehem’s Christmas tree. I am not sure I will never sing or hear Christmas songs mentioning Bethlehem as the birth of Christ the same. Jesus was preached where there are those who do not want to hear about. The world has changed! I found it interesting that the Bethlehem’s mayor (who is a Christian) thanked Pastor Ed for “bringing Jesus back to Bethlehem”!

 

“Oh, little town of Bethlehem ….”

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.”

 

 Matthew is quoting Isaiah 7:14, “which says the virgin will conceive; in Hebrew, the word translated virgin is preceded by a definite article, indicating that the young woman would not be just “a” virgin but “the” virgin” (from notes in the DJSB). Mary fulfilled the prophecy. Both Matthew and Luke write the mother of Jesus was a virgin. Pastor Ed Newton speaks of 350 plus prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of the birth of Jesus. He reminds us that if even one of the prophecies is false, then the entire Bible is unreliable.

 

The Biblical revelation of the conception of Jesus by a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit without the intervention of a human father, and the birth of Jesus while Mary was still a virgin is opposed by liberal theologians and those groups considered cults. The importance of the virgin birth of Jesus cannot be overemphasized! “For Jesus to be our Redeemer, to pay for your sins and my sins, He must be, in one person, fully human, sinless, and fully divine” (from the notes in LSSB). The LSSB continues, “The virgin birth satisfies all three of these requirements.” To be human, Jesus needed to be born a human being; the only way this could happen was to be born of a woman – Mary. The only way to be born sinless was to be conceive by the Holy Spirit. The only way to be fully divine was for God to be His Father. Luke 1:35 states, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” The birth of Jesus was not by natural means but by supernatural means. Jesus was born a divine person with two natures – divine and sinless human. Let me add what the DJSB has to say about this, “Jesus Christ could literally be said to be the Son of God on earth (although He was already – and forever – the Son of God in heaven, before He was born to Mary).

 

Let’s put this in perspective. There never was a time when Jesus did not exist; there will never be a time when He does not exist. It was God’s plan from the very beginning for His Son to enter into humanity through the virgin birth. Mary heard the announcement from the angel that she was “highly favored among women” (even at the age 0f 13-15). Her response, “Let it be to me according to your word”, is one that all of us as Believers should be to God’s Word.

 

The virgin birth is the place to begin the Christmas season. The Son of God living and suffering as a human, just like you and me, allows Him to sympathize with our weaknesses. As the divine Son of God, He has the power to deliver us from the bondage we are under due to our sinfulness. Because He is both divine and sinless human, He qualifies to serve as a sacrifice for the sins of every person and to be High Priest to all who come to Him.

 

We did not go into Nazareth. It was pointed out to us as we drove by. Perhaps that is because the population there is dominated by the Arab people today. Yet, the experience of being near where this most wonderous event took place makes one pause and reflect on the true meaning of the season we have enter in. Take the time to reflect what God the Father has done for you through His Son today.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.