February 15th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 39:1-40:38 ~ Mark 1:1-28
Psalm 35:1-16 ~ Proverbs 9:11-12

Big reading day today! We wrap up the book of Exodus and begin the Gospel of Mark!

Old Testament - Today is the final day of readings from Exodus.  I hope that your reading this past month about the Israelites Exodus from Egypt and their emergence as a nation under Moses' leadership has been a good learning experience for you?  It has been for me - thanks in large measure to the wonderful Comments everyone is posting up each day!  Thanks everyone.  More than anything - I hope that reading about God's interactions with his covenant people in Egypt, the plagues, the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, the Ten Commandments, and the plans for the Tabernacle has expanded your understanding of who God is and God's story?  If anyone wants to reflect back on what may have been an interesting learning for you in Exodus this year, please do post up in the Comments section below.

Personally, a couple of learnings for me this year from Exodus that I will share are these - 1.  Moses' leadership really stood out to me this year as I read through Exodus.  And it was interesting to me that his leadership grew over time.  Early on in Exodus Moses was asking God to "please don't choose me to free the Israelites from Egypt - pick someone else" and then by the end of the book Moses has gained enough faith to fast for 40 days on Mt. Sinai and enough confidence to ask God to "show me your glory."  I think we can see in Moses how God can transform a person's life completely  - and how God can transform our lives completely - if that person enters into a responsive, faithful, loving and obedient relationship with God.   Point #2 of my learnings this year - my interest and knowledge in some of the intricacies of the tabernacle has grown, which has been wonderful.  Bible.org's commentary on Exodus chapter 40 titled "The Consecration of the Tabernacle and the Presence of God" is at this link.

New Testament - Yesterday I didn't really get a chance to post up my closing reflections on the Gospel of Matthew this year.  I think the main thing that really stood out to me in the Gospel of Matthew readings this year was how powerfully truthful and insightful Jesus' teachings are in the parables.  Some of the parables really took on new life & meaning for me this year as I read through Matthew.  It is such an amazing thing - every time I read the Bible - or re-read portions of the Bible I should say - I gain some new insight that I never saw before.  I hope that has been the case for you as you read through Matthew this year?  Please feel free to post up any closing reflections on your reading of the book of Matthew in the Comments below if you'd like.  And today we begin the Gospel of Mark!

~Mark~
Author: Mark
Place: Rome
Date: A.D. 60-65
Content: John Mark was a companion of the apostle Paul. He finally settled in Rome where he wrote down the remembrances of the apostle Peter. Thus Mark’s Gospel reflects the words of an eyewitness of the events he describes. Mark’s purpose was to put together an expanded Gospel message. Hence it centers upon the acts of Jesus rather than his words and devotes a disproportionately large amount of material to the last week of Jesus’ life. Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ public ministry and preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Several explicit predictions of his coming death are made (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34, 45) and then Jesus goes to the cross to die for the sins of the world.
Theme: Mark depicts Jesus as the Servant of God who came to do God’s will. The miracles, healings, victory over demons, and personal power show the world that Jesus was no ordinary servant, but was truly the Son of God (Mark 15:39). Jesus’ resurrection authenticated all that he did, and now we await his return in glory from heaven. Mark also wrote to encourage the Roman Christians in a time of persecution.  (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pages 21-22)  Excellent commentary on the Gospel of Mark is at this link.

You'll notice in Mark chapter 1 today that there is no nativity narrative - Mark and John's Gospels do not have the nativity narrative.  Verse 1 starts off powerfully with - "Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God."  (Good News = Gospel.  Gospel comes from the Old English word godspel, which means "good story"  or "good tidings" or "good news" and accurately translates the original Greek word: evangelion.)  And what is the Good News?  It is that God has provided salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is very Good News indeed!

I know I mentioned this when we read through the Baptism narrative in Matthew, but I think this is so powerful, that I want to mention it again.  All three persons of the Trinity are involved in Jesus' Baptism - 1.  the Father speaks 2. the Son is Baptized 3. the Holy Spirit descends on the Son.  Verses 10 & 11: "And when Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.""  Per Tyndale's commentary today, Jesus was baptized 1. to begin his mission to bring the message of salvation to all people; 2. to show support for John's ministry; 3. to identify with our humanness and sin; 4. to give us an example to follow.

Psalms - Per Zondervan's NIV Study Bible, Psalm 35 today is an appeal to the heavenly King, as divine Warrior and Judge, to come to the defense of his servant David who is being maliciously slandered by those toward whom he had shown only the most tender friendship.  I like verse 10 a lot - "I will praise him from the bottom of my heart: "LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the weak and helpless from the strong? Who else protects the poor and needy from those who want to rob them?"" Have you recently praised God from the bottom of your heart?  Do you think that anyone/anything compares with God?  Do you believe that God has rescued you and protected you?  Perhaps many times when you have not even realized it?  I think about this on occasion.  It is my hunch that God literally rescues us and protects us dozens if not hundreds if not thousands of times each and every day.  And I think we typically miss it....  If we knew it, I am sure we would be praising Him from the bottom of our heart very frequently!

Proverbs - Today we read in Proverbs chapter 9 verse 12 - "If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." This is one of the simplest and yet wisest verses that has jumped out at me in a long time!   Do you believe this Proverb to be true? How about if we go one step beyond this Proverb – If we become wise, will it also benefit others around us? Maybe based on how we will live our lives? And conversely, if we don't acquire wisdom would it be fair to say that others around us may suffer? Could it be that gaining wisdom is both a self-giving and self-less pursuit all at the same time?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - What are some things about the book of Exodus, which we are wrapping up today, or the Gospel of Matthew that we wrapped up yesterday, that stood out to you this year?   What new thing did you learn about God and his people in Exodus this year?  What new thing did you learn about Jesus and his teachings in Matthew this year?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

Exodus 39-40:38

Our comments have been about either directly or indirectly about obedience. Obedience in following the Great Commission, obedience in using the gifts, talents and abilities, as well as our time to doing what God has called us to do, that is what we seem to be focusing on or drawn to as we read through the scriptures these past couple of days. Whether it is in building the Tabernacle, in the past, or submitting our time, talent and treasurer to God, the last word is Obedience.

Probably because that has been the single most constant thread I believe that runs through the majority of our posts for the past several days, the following verse caught my eye and imagination,

So all the work of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed, and the Israelites did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses they did it exactly so. (Exodus 39:32 NET.)

Because my imagination was fired up regarding obedience, I went on a little word hunt.
In the Hebrew, the majority of time we read the English word “obey” in the Old Testament (KJV), it is this word, as per Strongs:

H8085
שׁמע
shâma‛
shaw-mah'
A primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.)

Mike what have I learned in reading Exodus this time around. I’ve learned the power of obedience. It is not what I think or even what I want, it is what God says. And it is just not about going and doing. It is about giving careful thought and interacting with what God has said; and the only way I can do that is to not just to listen but to hear intelligently. Listening and hearing are two separate things.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Luciano Del Monte (Luch)]

Further to the obedience theme, I noticed again in reading my NLT version of Exodus 39:1-40:38 that the phrase "just as the LORD had commanded Moses" is used at least 12 times, and if you count the previous couple of chapters it goes up to 17, but who's counting? In my Life group the other night we noticed that right from the beginning in Genesis 2:15ff thte LORD God gave Adam and Eve explicit commands. We live in a society that hates the word 'obedience' or 'commands'. But how about John 14:21 a verse my mentor gave me right out of the blocks when I first began to follow Jesus in 1974. "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. and I will reveal myself to each of them." The bottom line, and I think is my big lesson from Exodus, the more we obey in the details, the greater the possibility of experiencing the presence of the Lord.

I love the last verse of Exodus 39:43 where it says that Moses inspected all their work AND BLESSED THEM...I was encouraged by this simple leadership idea that as a spiritual leader I need to make sure I am concretely blessing those in my sphere of influence with words and deeds of appreciation.

[Anka]

The book of exodus to me showed how God used people inspite of their weakness,inspite of excuses and fear...even when in anger Moses threw away the tablets of stone,God gave him another chance...when Aaron made himself a priest to the idols he made...God still gave him a second chance.I just love it that God still is full of compassion and mercy inspite of us.
God bless you all

[John]

Exodus -What I learned:

There was a reason for each plague thrown against Egypt. I always just thought they were from "bad to worse to worst".

I had no idea that each plague was directed at a particular god of Egypt. And the last plague was a foreshadowing of Christ - with the first born being killed, and innocent blood shed, so people could be saved (delivered). A divine stamp of God's "Authority and Power".

Exodus in my life:

1) Patience: Moses spent 40 years in Midian, and Israelites spent 40 years in Wilderness. I need to trust God and have patience as his plan unfolds in my life. Sometimes, that is very difficult. Like a baby, I often want things done for me and to me - right NOW.

2)Obediance: Already addressed by others. I think it is important to also recognize that disobediance has consequences.

3)Deliverance: Exodus opens with Israelites in captivity in Egypt and ends with the glorious presence of God in the Tabernacle. I am so thankful that I have been delivered from the "slavery of sin" and will eventually be brought into the glory of his presence. Meanwhile, while on my journey I am indwelt by the Holy spirit - my body is now the tabernacle, and His Glory is in me.

[John]

Matthew lessons:

This blog is fantastic. It not only has kept me on track in my One Year Readings, but the posts have been terrific. Sometimes I read and think "Great insight", or maybe I will think "that can't be right" and go off and research the point. Either way I am led to a deeper reflection or study of God's Word - and that my friends - is a Good Thing.

I never really thought about the "Great Commission" before yesterday. I knew it existed, and I thought some day I will get involved in missions on a personal level. But I never understood the depth of the command and the obligation for "teaching them to obey(observe)..." in a complete fashion (aorist tense discussion).

A huge thank-you to Andrew for being the catalyst that launched me down that path of discovery.

This blog fulfills one of my desires regarding Christianity. I have always been intrigued with the "Inklings" of C.S. Lewis and Tolkein. The weekly meeting group at Oxford, that sat and discussed topics regarding "faith". There was not always agreement, but there WAS always an expression of different thoughts. I have prayed about this often the last 20 months.

Well, God is generous and good, and He gave to me in abundance. I asked for a weekly meeting group with an open exchange of ideas, and he led me here - to a daily group. Seven (7) times more than I asked for in prayer.

[Ramona]

John,

As I read your last post, tears welled up in my eyes. I no fully what you are feeling. Several years ago I became involved in a bible study group in a church, not the one I call my home, I was a teacher and amazed at the biblical literacy that permeated throughout leadership. As I stood in the middle of the floor that served as a fellowship hall, something in my spirit spoke to me about being a part of a One-Year-Bible Group/Study. At that time I thought I was suppose to begin one there but I didn't know how?

I had to travel almost two hours each way to get to this church and it seemed to me that almost everyone there had no intent in studying God's Word. They would rather work from what they thought God wanted, instead of what God's Word said. This happened back in 1999.

Little did I know that what I heard would manifest itself fully in 2006. In 2004, I went through two groups/sits that professed to have a heart for going through the bible, but what they had was a desire to form a “pity” party. This journey confirms that knocking, seeking and asking works.

[John]

Mark:

I have never read Mark straight through before now. I used to think of it as being "so" sparse and bare. As such, I would reference it, but never read it completely.

Matthew was written for the Jewish nation, Mark is written for the Gentiles, specifically Romans. Matthew writes of Jesus as "King", Mark as a "servant".

The Romans were people of power and action. They wanted to know of this servant: "Is Jesus able to do the job?" - J. Vernon McGee

As such, the Romans were not interested in geneolgy or pedigree. They wanted references.

Mark gives them two (rare for him) Old Testament references in Isaiah and Malachi of the forerunner to Christ.

But straightaway in the Gospel - two give witness that Jesus is the Son of God. What better references than God himself in Mk.1:10-11, and the unclean spirit (demon) in Mk 1:23-24. Two supernatural sources, that would make people sit up and take notice.

Jesus' first miracle of casting out the unclean spirit demonstrated his power. He taught as one who had authority, but this miracle demonstrated that Jesus HAD the Power and Authority as one who is the "Son of God".

[John]

Chip,

Isn't it amazing that there are people who make the claim that the Trinity is not ever mentioned in the Bible.

They are right (I think) that the word - "Trinity" - is never written in the manuscripts we have from that era.

However, as you point out, it IS displayed here, in a beautiful concise scene by Mark.

[Jim M.]

Even though we are into Mid-February, it is still early enough in the year for you to get this book to compliment your daily Bible reading:

"The MacArthur Daily Bible"
Read through the Bible in one year, with notes from John MacArthur.

You can find it on www.amazon.com or go to “Grace to You” www.gty.org/home.php

[Andrew B]

Re things learned so far this year:

The main thing for me, I think, is a deeper appreciaion of the OT. In some ways I still find it odd that there is so much of it by comparison with the NT. However, I am now getting a better perspective of the OT as the context for the New.

The whole history of a troublesome people told through the OT makes it clear why the only way for God to get through to us was for Jesus to come and accept being Himself the atoning sacrifice for our sin.

Exodus is explaining the whole concept of of atoning sacrifice - so remote from our experience. We really need to try to smell the blood, the smoke and the burning flesh. And Jesus says, "that is now done with, this bread is my body, broken for you, this wine in my blood shed for you." Images from the film "The Passion .." rerun in my head.

And we symbolise all of that with a wafer or a fragment of bread and a sip of wine from a chalice. It makes it all seem so remote and abstract.

The detailed description of the Tabernacle and the whole sacrifice routine has grounded it for me in an earthy reality.

[Andrew B]

Ramona,

Re my use of 'dumping' at the end of yesterday's comments: the thoughts behind that were something like:

if we interpret the 'Go' in Mat 28:19 as an imperative and we head out with a go get'm programme to teach, baptize and disciple 'them', systematically, programmatically, without really hearing the Spirit, it could be that we are building human institutions rather than the Kingdom.

[Anka]

I also feel especially grateful to God for the oportunity to be here.When I realised almost every one here's a seasoned christian and nobody seemed to mind my childish questions,I really felt blessed indeed.
I do really appreciate you all and as I pray for christians to unite,I see it happening already.God is amazing.
God bless you all

[Andrew B]

Anka,

Faced with the glory of almighty God (the way Moses was on the mountain) I think we are all pretty childish.

Anyway, childlike is cool in the Kingdom. And all questions seeking the truth are good questions.

Blessings,