June 2nd readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
2 Samuel 19:11-20:13 ~ John 21:1-25
Psalm 120:1-7 ~ Proverbs 16:16-17

Old Testament - Today is a great day of readings in Second Samuel!  David returns to Jerusalem!  I love the entire flow of today's readings as David crosses the Jordan River toward Jerusalem and shows incredible kindness to Shimei, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai along the way.  However, don't forget the name Shimei just yet - the "rock thrower & curser" when David fled Jerusalem a few chapters back...  On David's deathbed, later in our readings in First Kings 2:9, David will pass along to his son Solomon these instructions: "Bring his (Shimei's) gray head down to the grave in blood..."  But, this day was not a day of bloodshed, but a day of amnesty, as David exclaimed in 2 Samuel 19:22 today: "This is not a day for execution but for celebration! I am once again the king of Israel!" An image of Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, meeting David on his return to Jerusalem is below:

In Second Samuel chapter 20 today we read about the revolt of Sheba from the tribe of Benjamin.  Zondervan's commentary today points out that an important thing to keep in mind here is that tribal jealousy still was brewing over the transfer of the kingship from Benjamin (Saul's tribe) to Judah (David's tribe).  Sheba appeals to the Israelite suspicion that David favored his own tribe over the other tribes.  As this chapter progresses Joab again shows his true colors by murdering Amasa.  I'm beginning to wonder about Joab...  he's ruthless.  I suppose as being the commander of the army for so long, this was his "job" to be ruthless?  Let me know your thoughts on Joab in the Comments section below.  Ramona, thanks for the comment in yesterday's readings saying "Joab operated out of Justice with no Love."  Great point!  In Amasa's case, Amasa was part of the rebellion against David led by Absalom, so again here Joab is acting out "Justice"... (and certainly no Love...) I wonder if we ever fall into this trap in our lives today as well?  Operate in an unbalanced way showing nothing but Justice, and yet no Love?  Or, on the other hand do we sometimes operate with just Love, and no Justice?  Should we be operating with a balance of Love and Justice?  Or should one (Love or Justice) outweigh the other in our life?  Below is a stained glass window showing Joab killing Amasa while pretending to greet him:

Bible.org's commentary on today's Second Samuel readings today titled "David's Return to Jerusalem" is at this link.

New Testament - John 21 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible in so many ways!  I suppose first and foremost is because of a beautiful modern day book written by the late Henri Nouwen titled "In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership", which is based on this chapter and Jesus asking Peter 3 times if he loves him.  Has anyone else read this book by Nouwen?  If so, please post up reviews in the Comments section below.  I know I make a lot of book recommendations on this blog over the course of a year, but if there is just 1 book you read based on my recommendations (other than the One Year Bible of course :), "In the Name of Jesus" by Henri Nouwen would be the book.  In this book Henri writes about the end of his life ministry where he is a spiritual director at a L'Arche Daybreak community in Toronto, working amongst mentally handicapped.  It is so incredible to read about how Henri learns from what the world would see as "the least of these" and how Henri realizes in his Christian ministry throughout his life he's been fighting 3 temptations:
1. the temptation to be relevant.
2. the temptation to be spectacular.
3. the temptation to be powerful.
I could go on and on about this book, but the last thing I will say is that it is so beautiful how Henri ties his learnings in this book to Jesus and Peter's Q & A here in John 21. If you serve in any way, shape, or form in Christian ministry (or even if you don't :), please pick this book up.  You will be blessed by it immensely!

Okay, back to the Bible.  :)  Below is an image of the risen Jesus from today's readings by the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias is the same Sea, just another name for it) by artist William Hole:

One of my absolute favorite red letter quotes from Jesus in the Gospels arrives today in John 21.  Verse 12: ""Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said."  There is something about the simplicity and beauty and every-day-ness of this command from Jesus to the 7 disciples that I just absolutely love!  Can you image Jesus saying this to you?  Can you imagine Jesus making breakfast for you on the beach?  In the words of the famous Mercy Me song, "I can only imagine..." 

Okay, now onto the big question probably for many of us from today's readings is why did Jesus ask Peter 3 times if he loved him?  Many commentaries call these passages "the reinstatement of Peter" - meaning that he was reinstated as the rock / confessor of the foundation of Jesus' church based on Matthew 16:16.  And that he needed this reinstatement after denying knowing the Lord 3 times before his crucifixion (and the then rooster crowing, as we know...).  Interestingly, Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion has the following suggestions on the original Greek used when John wrote about this Q & A exchange between Jesus and Peter:  "Two different Greek words are used for "love." The first two times the word agapo, which means devoted love, is used.  When Peter refuses to use the same word, Jesus turns to the word phileo, which indicates the love of friendship.  Peter accepts this word and admits that he loves Jesus in this way.  Peter was humbler now than earlier in his life, and was making no claim to superior love (see John 13:36-37)."  In verse 18 Jesus says to Peter: "The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go."  The early church understood this as a prophecy of crucifixion.  Peter would be a martyr and tradition suggests that he was crucified upside down.  Below is a beautiful stained glass image of this exchange between Peter and Jesus -

Okay, I realize this has been a long post today... but the last thing I want to point out is that I love Jesus' response to Peter when Peter asks about what will happen to John and Jesus says this is verse 22: "Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me."  I think this is a great word from Jesus to both you and me today as well!  How often do we worry about others and their relationship with the Lord?  How often do we perhaps think that we are so saved, and "they" are so not...?  Or how often do we wonder why someone seems like they are so blessed, and perhaps we think that we are not?  Well, what does Jesus say to all of this to you and me today?  I believe he would say the same words from verse 22:  "What is that to you? You follow me."   Indeed, let us not worry so very much about others.  But let us worry instead about ourselves simply following Jesus! 

Bible.org's commentary on today's John readings titled "What is this thing called Love?" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 120 is the beginning of 15 Psalms known as "songs of ascent."  Commentaries suggest that this could mean the ascent of the 15 stairs to the Temple in Jerusalem - or more likely the annual religious pilgrimages and the ascent to Mount Zion in Jerusalem.   Are you ready for the next 15 Psalms of Ascent?

Verse 1 in this Psalm should be encouraging to each of us - "I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer."  Do you have troubles in your life?  Have you brought them to God in prayer?  Will you?  Will you allow him to answer your prayer?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 120 today titled "I am for Peace" is at this link.

Proverbs - Proverbs 16:16 today teaches us: "How much better to get wisdom than gold, and understanding than silver!"  Do you believe this Proverb to be true?  How do you spend the majority of your time in your life - pursuing wisdom & understanding or pursuing money?  What are some ways in your life you can spend more time pursuing wisdom & understanding and less time pursuing money?

Comments from you & Question of the Day - What are your thoughts on our readings in John today with Jesus asking Peter 3 times if he loved him?  Why do you think this was asked of Peter 3 times?  Was this a "reinstatement" of Peter?  What are your thoughts overall on this closing chapter of John today?  (Acts begins tomorrow!! :) 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

[Andrew B]

I share Mike's enthousiasm for this chapter of John. What is it about the breakfast scene that catches me?

There is the recognition of the figure on the beach. The disciples are out fishing, maybe trying to get back to 'normal life' after the death of Jesus. And there is this sudden leap of hope as they realise it is Jesus. And, as Mike says, the down to earth, homeliness of the invitation to breakfast.

The church we went to when I was a child met for breakfast on a Monday morning. A demonstration of the relevance of being church all week. Starting the working week being church, having breakfast with Jesus.

[Ramona]

I just noticed a similarity of how David handled his enemies, those who came against him outside of a relationship with him and those David knew. I have been observing how if David knew the people who challenged him, he showed tremendous mercy and delayed judgment, if they had judgment at all. Yet, for those He knew not, judgment was usually swift. It just occurred to me that David, being a type of Christ, is doing what is afforded those who either have or don’t have a relationship with Christ. Whether or not we experience judgment with no mercy is based on our relationship with Christ. Of all the sins that we can commit, the one that is surly fatal, is our non-acceptance of Jesus Christ’s salvation.

I am not sure if even that can be or really is God judging us, as much as our seeing what God has to offer and rejecting that gift. Doing that puts the one who has rejected that gift on the judgment seat by their own volition. God does not send them to their death they take themselves. Hmmm! Must do some rethinking.

Ramona

[Vance Brown]

2 Samuel 19 (NKJV)
18
…Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.
20
For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
22
And David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”
23
Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

NOTE:
It took courage for Shimei to come to David and ask for forgiveness. Yes, it could be that he was simply shrewd, knowing that he would need to “posture himself politically” with the king who was now obviously in power until a moment arose when he could oppose David again.

However, I take the view that Shimei saw that God Himself had proved that David should be king, and had established David as king. Thus, Shimei was truly asking for forgiveness.

David’s strength as king (he could do whatever he wanted) tempered by humility and grace is an excellent picture of truly meekness and gentleness. We are called to be like this.

Was it right for David to later tell his son Solomon to have Shimei killed for his rebellion against David, as in I Kings 2:9?

Yes, for he is king. King David is a good picture of Jesus. He is the most meek and gentle, Perfect Man on the earth though He is the King of kings – no one is able to oppose his power and authority.

Jesus is gracious. Yet, at the end of the world—because God will not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:6, 7)—Jesus Himself will judge the world as in Acts 17 below.

Acts 17 (NKJV)
31
because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

God’s love—Jesus’ love—is holy. God’s holiness—Jesus’ holiness—is loving.

~~
Thank God that God always gives us time to repent and provides gracious and loving means of repenting. Thank God that God is merciful and loving.

For we are all at God’s mercy! —for who can oppose God? Thank God that He is truly merciful, taking the initiative to give us all many chances to be restored while on earth.

Psalm 130 (NKJV)
3
If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
4
But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.

~~
John 21 (NKJV)
Verse 15: Jesus – Do you agapao me?
Amplified: “…with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion...”
Peter – You know that I phileo you
Amplified: “…deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend…”

Verse 16: Jesus – Do you agapao me?
Amplified: “…with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion...”
Peter – You know that I phileo you
Amplified: “…deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend…”
Verse 17: Jesus – Do you phileo me?
Amplified: “…deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend…”
Peter – You know that I phileo you
Amplified: “…deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend…”

Thank God so much that Jesus takes us where we are, and then loves us enough to never leave us there.

Vance

[john b]

mike,

certainly do appreciate the book rec... I like a lot of folks started out with Max, then graduated to Yancey then on to Manning and Tozer and others... But can't wait to to get into Nouwen... I have heard of him but haven't read this book... Thanks for rec

jb

[SissySue]

Amasa ~

I don't get it.

As the commander of Absalom's army, Amasa (David's sister Abigail's son), David gives him Joab's (son of Zeruiah--another of David's sisters) position:

"And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab."

Was David angry at Joab and Abishai (sons of Zeruiah) because of Absalom?

While it may have been to better his own position, Joab seems (to me) to have been very loyal to David and gave him good counsel about many things, including mourning for the death of Absalom -- jeopardizing his own men's desertion.

"22 David replied, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?" 23 So the king said to Shimei, 'You shall not die.' And the king promised him on oath."

I am confused.

[SissySue]

"11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead."

~
Alright, I cannot be the first to wonder about this and other texts that indicate Jesus was not recognized from his "earthly form:"

"None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?'"

Was it because in His glorified body that all of the "burdens of the world" were removed from Jesus? You know, when people have a pained expression, they often look totally different from someone who is at peace. A smile can light up a face, whereas someone in distress can be almost unrecognizable as the same person.

Anyone wonder about these passages where Jesus was not recognized after his resurrection?

[Anka]

David sure didn't have a heart that was filled with vengeance...he forgave Shimei and didn't send a hitman to wipe out Joab like he did Uriah.
Yes I did wonder what it was about Christ that made the guys He spent so much time with not recognise Him...and what did he do during the time after his ressurection(cos he sure wasn't staying with the disciples anymore....)
Guess I've gone into my question mode again...
God bless you all

[Andrew B]

Re SissySue's question:

I think some of the factors to take account of are:

- people thought Jesus was dead and gone (or maybe alive and gone), so they did not expect to bump into Him again. So they see this person who seems familiar but is in a situation which they just can't place. Who is this? Why do I have the feeling I know him?
- and, as you suggest, I can imagine there was something different about his looks from when they last saw Him before the crucifixion.

[John]

Recognition of Jesus (or lack thereof)

Just going to propose something here as the question came up by several people - and I have thought of it quite often.

Is. 50:6
I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.

The concensus is this is the Messiah speaking in Isaiah 50:6. We will get to this later in our readings, but lets assume for the moment it is Jesus speaking thru Isaiah.

Let's also assume that the romans in their torture of Jesus DID pluck out his beard. Besides painful, it also vastly changes one's appearance. Think about how many people you have known that have shaved off a beard - did they not look remarkably different?

Mary saw him at the cross badly beaten and with beard reduced or gone - maybe her eyes were too tear-filled to recognize Jesus until he said her name.

Their is no indication in John 20 that the disciples recognized Jesus until he showed them his his side and hands.

The same with Thomas.

Maybe John because he was youngest and perhaps had the best eyesite recognized Jesus from the cross, or maybe he just put two and two together from the fish caught after Jesus' instructions. Or with the above recognized Jesus' voice.

Regardless, although this was a glorified physical body, I think (as Andrew B. suggested) maybe that the effects of the beatings and plucked beard were evident on Jesus' visage.

Would explain why the disciples still thought the question even when they knew it was Jesus. He just looked - so different.

John 21:12b
"None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord."

I wonder when I read Rev 5:6a
"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain,.."

Slain (gk. "sphazo")
1) to slay, slaughter, butcher
2) to put to death by violence

I wonder if when we get to heaven, if Jesus will not only have the holes in his hands and feet, but if he will still bear some vestige of the physical beatings He took - in my earthly state of mind - I do not think I could hold it together if I came upon my Savior still bearing those reminders of His sacrifice for us.

All this is just conjecture on my part - as I thought to understand why these people who were intimate with Jesus did not recognize Him at first glance.

[John]

Shirley and Yvonnelistening:

I agree with Sue. Fuller explanation below is from Believer's Commentary :

20:22 This is one of the most difficult verses in the entire Gospel. We read that Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The difficulty is that the Holy Spirit was not given until later, on the day of Pentecost. Yet how could the Lord speak these words without the event taking place immediately?
Several explanations have been offered: (1) Some suggest that the Lord was simply making a promise of what they would receive on the day of Pentecost. This is hardly an adequate explanation. (2) Some point out that what the Savior actually said was, “Receive Holy Spirit,” rather than, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” They conclude from this that the disciples did not receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness at this time, but only some ministry of the Spirit, such as a greater knowledge of the truth, or power and guidance for their mission. They say that the disciples received a guarantee or a foretaste of the Holy Spirit. (3) Others state that there was a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at this time. This seems unlikely in view of such statements as Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4, 5, 8, where the coming of the Holy Spirit was still spoken of as future. It is clear from John 7:39 that the Spirit could not come in His fullness until Jesus was glorified, that is, until He had gone back to heaven.

20:23 This is another difficult verse, about which there has been a great deal of controversy. (1) One view is that Jesus actually gave His apostles (and their supposed successors) the power to forgive sins or to retain sins. This is in direct contradiction of the Bible teaching that only God can forgive sins (Luke 5:21). (2) Gaebelein quotes a second view: “The power promised and authority given is in connection with the preaching of the Gospel, announcing on what terms sins would be forgiven, and if these terms are not accepted, sins would be retained.” (3) A third view (which is similar to the second), and the one that we accept, is that the disciples were given the right to declare sins forgiven.
Let us illustrate this third view. The disciples go out preaching the gospel. Some people repent of their sins and receive the Lord Jesus. The disciples are authorized to tell them that their sins have been forgiven. Others refuse to repent and will not believe on Christ. The disciples tell them that they are still in their sins, and that if they die, they will perish eternally.
In addition to this explanation, we should also note that the disciples were given special authority by the Lord in dealing with certain sins. For instance, in Acts 5:1–11, Peter used this power, and it resulted in the death of Ananias and Sapphira. Paul is seen retaining the sin of an evil-doer in 1 Corinthians 5:3–5, 12, 13, and remitting sin in 2 Corinthians 2:4–8. In these cases, it is forgiveness from the punishment of these sins in this life.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[John]

Sue,

David agreed to replace Joab with Amasa, who was the captain of Absalom's army. This was to put Joab in his place and to offer a gesture of reconciliation to the former supporters of Absalom. - David Guzik

Joab did kill Absalom and rebuke David over mourning. Perhaps he was right in both, but this seems to be a reaction by David.

[Lilian Chikezie]

i want to be recieving bible stories from you people so that i can be inspired more through that i realy love what you guys are doing is realy good and i know almight God in heaven wil be happy with that too becouse through what you are doing so many souls are converted thus you are wining souls for him.