February 9th One Year Bible Readings

Exodus 29:1-30:10 ~ Matthew 26:14-46 ~ Psalm 31:19-24 ~ Proverbs 8:14-26
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Old Testament - Today in Exodus chapter 29 we read about the dedication of Aaron and his sons as priests!

Verse 37 stood out to me in this chapter: "After that, the altar will be exceedingly holy, and whatever touches it will become holy."  It's interesting to consider the verses prior to this - with the 7 days of sacrifices of young bulls.  For some reason this verse reminded me of Jesus and how people could simply touch the tassels of his robes and they would be healed.  I think it's fair to say that Jesus was much more holy than this altar was - and Jesus did not require purification rituals or sacrificing of bulls to make Jesus holy, as this altar did.  Jesus "embodied" holiness!  (and we'll get to the power of Jesus' body in today's Matthew readings...)  Below is an image of the altar of burnt offering in use:

In Chapter 30 we read about the incense altar:

I read a commentary that said the incense from this altar represented prayers to God from his people.  We can see this similarity in Revelation chapter 8 verses 3 & 4: "Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out."  It is wonderful imagery to realize that our prayers to God are like fragrant incense!

New Testament - Today in Matthew 26 verse 14 we read: "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver." The NIV Study Bible says that 30 pieces of silver was equivalent to about 120 denarii.  Laborers at that time typically received 1 denarius for 1 day's work.  So, Judas was basically paid about 4 months worth of work for the betrayal of Jesus.  Sad...  Bible.org has a powerful essay on "The Biography of the Betrayer" at this link.    Below is a fresco from the early 14th century by the Italian Renaissance Florentine painter Giotto titled "Pact of Judas."  In this fresco the two priests on the right discuss Judas's treachery, while the third plots with Judas, who is in the clutches of the devil...

Verses 26 through 28 today certainly will remind us of why Communion / the Lord's Supper is so important to us as believers in Jesus.  This all took place the night before Jesus was crucified.  The bread represents Jesus' body, given for us.  The wine represents Jesus' blood, poured-out for many through Jesus' atoning death. 

Verse 35 always stands out to me whenever I read it: "No!" Peter insisted. "Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!" And all the other disciples vowed the same." I guess what jumps out at me in this verse is the question - are we really any different from Peter?  Would we proclaim that we would not deny Jesus if you asked us straight up?  Yes I think we would proclaim that.  But then...  I get to thinking.   About how we live our life sometimes.  About the decisions we make.  About maybe even the bad habits we foreswore off when we were a new Christian.  And yet...  do we still find ourselves going back to those bad habits - back to those sins?  And, if we are doing this conscientiously - are we in a way denying Jesus when we knowingly sin now?  Are we at times denying Jesus as our Lord by our actions?  At times, are we really that different from Peter?

The Garden of Gethsemane... verses 38 & 39 are heartbreaking: "Jesus told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." Jesus went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.""  Zondervan's commentary on these 2 verses really seemed to shake me up a bit about what Jesus did for us - and how we was not a typical martyr - "Jesus did not die serenely as many martyrs have.  He was no mere martyr - he was the Lamb of God bearing the penalty of the sins of the entire human race.  The wrath of God was turned loose on him.  Only this can adequately explain what took place at Gethsemane."   The atonement was coming the next day.  And Jesus knew it.  And he prayed for God's will above all else.  And God's will was done.  And those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God must be so thankful for Jesus' fervent face down prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane...  Through Jesus' atoning death, we are saved from our sins.  We are saved from God's wrath.  I think it's really worth reflecting upon - Jesus took God's wrath in our place.  Think this qualifies Jesus as Savior?  Below is Italian painter Sebastiano Conca's beautiful "Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane" from the year 1746:

Psalms - This is a wonderful look at God's goodness in Psalm 31 verse 19: "Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world." Do you believe that God's goodness is indeed great?  Are you honoring God with your life and your actions and your thoughts each day?  Do you believe that God is storing up blessings for you?  Do you believe that God will bless you if you go to him for protection?

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 8 verse 22 is powerful to consider as it speaks of Wisdom: "The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else."  If Wisdom was created before anything else, think this lends some credence to intelligent design?  :)

Worship God:  Matthew 26:26-28 reminded me of the song by the Christian band Kutless called "Sea of Faces".  This song reminds me of Communion every time I hear it - "I see the city lights all around me - Everyone's obscure.  Ten million people each with their problems - Why should anyone care? And in Your eyes I can see - that I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world. Lost in a Sea of Faces. Your body's the bread, Your blood is the wine. Because you traded Your life for mine...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rj6_TVmMWY

Do you feel lost in a sea of faces?  Click here and be Found!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on three verses of Scripture today: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" Matthew 26:26-28 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you will examine yourself and confess your sins to Jesus before partaking in the Lord's Supper. Pray that you will fully receive Jesus when partaking in the Lord's Supper.

Comments from You and Questions of the Day: Do our readings in Matthew today remind you of Communion / The Lord's Supper at your church?  Is this a positive remembrance for you?  How important is Communion / The Lord's Supper to you personally these days?  Do you look forward to this remembrance at your church?  Have you ever experienced Communion / The Lord's Supper with others in settings outside of your normal worship experience?  Maybe at a prayer gathering or outside or in other beautiful settings?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

Exodus 29:1-30:10
(Matthew 26:14-46)

Expensive stuff being used in the dedication of the priests who are to serve God; however, God being a God of beauty and “wealth,” He has made sure what He has requested from the people they have. God supplies all our needs and proved it by orchestrating a great transfer of wealth from the Egyptians to the Israelites (Ex. 3:22; 11:2,3). Just as he provided Abraham with a ram in the thicket on top of a mountain for a sacrifice He Himself commanded(Gen 22:7-8), God provided His son, the Lamb of God who was more beautiful, more costly and definitely more precious than anything we have on the earth.

The anointing oil used and to be poured on the head of Aaron can be tied into today’s Gospel reading. Jesus was not just at any garden, he was at Gethsemane, which means “oil press.” This was the place where olives were brought to be “crushed” by the presses so the oil would flow freely. In the NLT rendering Jesus speaks these words,

He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me."(Matthew 26:39).

There is no anointing oil, precious oil, very fine oil, without the olive first being crushed. The anointing is what gives us power and authority to be Christ’s representative upon the earth. It is the anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage. Where better to fulfill the words of the prophets inspired by God to speak than in a place where Olive trees grew and where the olives were crushed into fine olive oil.

Jesus is our altar and when we touch that alter by believing on Him we are made holy, just as when someone or something touched the altar of the Tabernacle in sincerity is altered so are those who touch Jesus but we now have eternal benefits.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Raeann]

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
At my church communion is the first Sunday of the month, I love having communion with the entire congregation is shows are ONENESS with JESUS in my opinion.

[Joseph Doud]

Glad to see someone that loves the Lord. Thanks for the post.

[Janice Hash]

Isn't there a little bit of Judas and Peter in all of us? Judas wanted to reshape Jesus to fit his own purpose of freeing the Jews from Roman occupation. Peter said he would never deny Jesus but when times got tough he did that very thing. There is no way we can even begin to understand the physical and spiritual agony Jesus experienced in the garden that night, but we do know that by faith in God and prayer we can get through all circumstances.

[Tonya]

I love communion and attend a church where it's not done monthly so when we share it, it's truly a treat for me. My favorite communion experience was during my best friend's wedding 10 years ago. She and her husband are both ministers and they served communion to all of us at the wedding. It truly blessed me.

[John A.]

Janice,

"Isn't there a little bit of Judas and Peter in all of us? Judas wanted to reshape Jesus to fit his own purpose of freeing the Jews from Roman occupation. Peter said he would never deny Jesus but when times got tough he did that very thing."

To me Janice, this is an outstanding comment!!!!

[John A.]

Matthew 26:14-46

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

There is a slight difference in Mark from the other three gospels that gives some people problems.

Did the cock crow once or twice before
Peter's third denial?
Matthew 26:34-35,74-75; Luke 22:34,60-62;
John 13:38 and Mark 14:30

The apologetic answer is here:
http://www.carm.org/diff/Matt26_33.htm
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Gethsemane

Translation of Gethsemane - is "oil press". The olives are place on a stone bowl of some size, and then a huge stone is rolled around on top of them squeezing evry last drop from the olives.

That is how Christ felt. He was overwhlmed with sorrow about the impending crucifixion, that he was near death. He was pressed so hard that Jesus, actually sweated blood from his pores.

“[Sweating blood] is a known medical condition called hematidrosis…[which is] associated with a high degree of psychological stress.” - Metherell, Alexander. Interview with Lee Strobel. The Case for Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998: 260.
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Jesus' Temptation?

Satan had tried to tempt Jesus while Christ was in a weakened state - three times satan tempted. Christ responded each time with Scripture.

Luke4:13
"When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." NIV

Personally I believe that here in Gethsemane satan perceived it as the opportune time to tempt again. Jesus was in a weakened state from the impending crucifixion. satan at this point knows Jesus has said he will be put to death. satan understood God's plan - this was an attempt to get Jesus to give it up.

'Why go through with this Jesus? God really loves you? Why would he have you killed if He loved you? Do you realize how much pain is involved - here - let me show you. Are these people really worth your sacrifice? They are probably asleep right over there where you left them. Don't be a fool, give it up, you do not have to do this?

Doubts, lies, deceit. Satan never changes. There were three attempts in the wilderness and I beliee three rounds here in Gethsemane.

The attacks came in three waves, and Jesus' response - each time Jesus went to prayer.
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Response to temptation

We have two options as exemplified by Christ: God's Word and prayer.

Jesus got stronger with each round of prayer. Jesus called God "Father" when speaking in public, and only on the cross did he call him God (Eloi). Here is the only recorded time when Jesus went into a highly personal address to God - "MY FATHER".

The first round - is there anyway out, if not they will be done.

The second round - if not possible MAY your will be done. ( asubtle stronger difference)

The third round - the same, but probably with stronger conviction. Jesus was getting stronger throgh God's grace and strength bestowed on Him by God through the Holy Spirit.

We know Jesus prayed for an hour the first time, and probably for long periods the second time. We only have a few lines recorded. Why? Because that is what God reveals and perhaps the lesson is - when faced with temptation - pray. It is ok to pray for things to go away, but always acknowledge and be willing to follow God's Will. Be dependant on God for the grace and strength to get through the temptation.
======================================================
Sleeping Apostles

The Apostles slept. They did not watch and pray. Jesus prayed and survived temptation and went on to the cross. The apostles slept, and they failed in avoiding temptation, because they scattered at the cross rather than standing by their Messiah.

How many times do we spiritually sleep when we should be going to God for strength and grace? How many times do we fail to avoid temptation because we do not go to God's word or to Him in prayer?

[John A.]

Exodus 30
The Altar of Incense

Poured out on burning coals the incense produced a delightful aroma in the Holy Place. It was the offering of the person whose sins had been forgiven by blood and who then went on to express the fragrance of love and worship, which was most pleasing to God.

The Golden Altar speaks to us of the worship of Jesus Christ and God's people through him as our high priest and mediator. It was only on the basis of His one sacrifice on the altar of the cross that worship is made possible.
http://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Golden_Altar_of_Incense.htm

[Chris D]

Questions/comments about some verses that stood out to me:
Exo 29:37 "...and whatever touches it will become holy." In 1KI 1:51 (Adonijah) and 1KI 2:28 (Joab), the horns of the altar are grabbed/seized. So in their seizing of the horns, did they become holy?

Matt 26:25 "Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” This is followed immediately in the text by the last supper. It struck me as strange that there is no "Peter-like" comment made to Judas, or gasps of disbelief or questioning. Instead, Jesus identifies Judas as His betrayer and then moves right on (at least as far as we are told) to the new covenant.

And finally, in Matt 26:29, when Jesus says "Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom", what might "new" mean? (...until the day I drink it new ...)? And is this to be after all the apostles have died or after His new kingdom is established? Just some thoughts I've had.