New City Catechism — Week 23

The New City Catechism — Week 23

Question 1 — Why must the Redeemer be truly God?

Answer —That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.

Acts 2:24 (ESV)24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Be encouraged, Sinner & Saint, that God has not abandoned us to our failures and shortcomings. The beauty of the Gospel, that stands apart from all other bits of news we hear— the beauty of Christianity that stands apart from all other worldviews is a message of God not leaving us to our own devices. Rather, the Gospel is good news that tells of God’s love—a love that is so great, not even heaven could contain it. A love that compelled God to take on human flesh and die for us. 

Why must the Redeemer be truly God? It was necessary for Christ to be God so that in his human nature, he might be completely obedience to his Father’s plan, perfectly suffer for us and the effectiveness would not be mitigated due to being only human.

God’s plan for redemption could not have been met without a divine presence showing up and doing what was necessary to atone for a church made up of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. It was only God who could bear the weight of his own anger and wrath against sin, die, and yet not be overcome by it. As the New Testament has shown us, Jesus as fully human is able to sympathize with our human weakness yet was without sin. And as the divine was poured out into human form, Christ was able to do what no other person could do—bear the weight of sin of all his people.

This week, as we think and reflect on the divine nature of Christ, we can get caught up in the deep theological questions that have been debated from the days of the early church. Instead, rather think about God’s extreme love for us, and what he was willing to do for us so that we might be saved from out sin and have a restored relationship with him for all eternity. God did that by sending his Son—pouring out his divinity into human flesh. He was obedient, even to the point of death, and on the cross he bore our sins and died.

New City Catechism — Week 21

The New City Catechism — Week 21

Question 1 — What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God.

Answer —One who is truly human and also truly God.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The beauty of the Christian faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) all those years ago, is a truth that transcends time and space. I mends broken hearts and overcomes obstacles built by sinfulness and worldly desires. The Gospel is the good news delivered to the saints two millennia ago and told of a Redeemer who came to make right the wrong and save the sinner to suffer no more.

Week 21 of the NCC tackles a deep subject in Christian theology. On the surface, the question and answer are short, but in truth, they serve as a door to a garden filled with God’s truth and gospel beauty.

What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God? The Bible makes clear that it must be one who is fully human but also fully God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God is both fully man and fully God. If we were to go back and look at the early confessions of the early church, believers saw with clarity what the New Testament said with regards to the nature of the Son of God.

If we were to just take one of those confessions, the Nicene Creeds, we read,

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made.

The early church drew from the well that is the Scriptures of who the Son of God is and His nature. They determined just as the New Testament taught, he was fully God, but also fully human.

If we were to look at what the Bible says, we see that the New Testament writers were not confused on the nature of Jesus, as they wrote clearly on the divinity of Christ.

Hebrews 1:1–3 (ESV)1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

As the Holy Spirit led and directed human authors of Scripture, their words were God’s words. And God as author directly, gave insight into his great gift of Redeemer to the world.

But also, the Bible speaks to the human nature of Jesus in great detail. The Gospel accounts give in-depth details into Jesus’ life as a human. During his ministry, Jesus ate and drank, he grew tired and slept. Jesus felt sadness as well as joy—he felt pain, bled and even died in his humanity. Thinking of Paul’s words to the Philippians, the Bible help us understand how this was possible. God emptied himself (the divine) into human form to become the God-man.

Philippians 2:4–8 (ESV)4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

But the real question is why was it necessary for Jesus to be both human and God. If we were to look at all of Scripture and how God’s designed his creation and the way for atonement to take place, sacrifice is the conduit for which one can attain the forgiveness of sins. When we look to the Son of God, Jesus had to be both human and divine for God’s wrath to be appeased and God’s people to be saved.

If Jesus was only God when walking on the earth, it would have only been God. There would have been no temptation, because God cannot be tempted (James 1:3). If Jesus was only God when he lived here on the earth, he wouldn’t became hungry like the rest of humanity, he wouldn’t have never grown tired, and so forth. He would have been a Savior that was far removed and never been able to relate to those made in his own image. But in-fact, Jesus who is fully divine, was also fully human and as Philippians 2 tells us, he emptied himself and became like us in human flesh. And even more so, the Bible says, 

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God? We need one who knows the struggles and pains and hurts we all face. He must know the temptations we experience every day, but in order to be the Redeemer, he must face them and never fail. And that is exactly what the Bible says about Jesus, he was “tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

When we look inward, we are able to see the sin that lives inside us. We are able to see the pain we inflict, the damages we have caused and the dead-end road we travel. We need a Savior—we need a Redeemer. God knows this and that is why he sent his Son Jesus Christ to save us. He is one that came, understands our sufferings and struggles. But then, in a moment of swift victory, he takes them all, in his body and nails them to the cross and saves us from our sin. That is why we worship him. That is why we call him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

New City Catechism — Week 15

The New City Catechism — Week 15

Question 1 — Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?

Answer —That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior.

Often, the Bible is described as a rule book. People look at the Bible and say it is nothing but a long list of rules that people must keep, as we are all part of this reward system where God gives and takes away. It is true that there are many commandments and statues in the Bible—but the Bible isn’t just a book about rules. It is a story about God and his plan for the redemption of all things through his Son Jesus Christ. There are rules, but there is more.

Here at week 15 we are still working through the purpose and work of the law. We’ve established that the Bible teaches that no one can keep the law, so what is its purpose? Week 15 helps to better understand the law and that its purpose comes in many forms.

First we see that it helps us better understand who God is and his nature by what he requires of his people. God is holy and he is holy above all else. He separate and different from all else in creation because he is its source. Where the world might go in one direction, following the desires of the flesh, God is consistently holy. He radiates holiness, righteousness, goodness, and love.

But also, the law is given to show us our sinful nature and the problems of the human heart. The heart is wicked above all else ( Jer. 17.9). We are from birth sinful people that will always choose something else other than God. We lean towards evil and choose disobedience the majority of the time. The law is given as a set of rules to help God’s people stay on track, pursue holiness, and live a life that honors the Creator.

And while the law does all that and tells us about the human condition, it overwhelming point to the fact we need to be saved from our sinful nature. We need a savior, and God in his love freely offered his son to save us. Jesus is the Savior that came and saved us from ourselves and the wrath of God that is to be poured out on sinners in judgment. We see what God does, and how Jesus kept the law, and his great love for us—that is motivation for us to live a life that honors him, because he did what he did not have to do, but did so that we might have a relationship with him.

This week, as you reflect on Q&A 15, understand this—the Bible is not just a book of rules. It is a guide book that leads us right to the cross of Christ. It tells us of our sin within, the darkness that is in us all, but also of the light of the world that came to save us from that darkness and free us from our sinful nature.  

New City Catechism — Week 14

The New City Catechism — Week 14

Question 1 — Did God create us unable to keep his law?

Answer — No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.

Romans 5:12 (ESV)

12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

I remember as a small child being taught that my actions have consequences. I remember being taught this and reminded constantly throughout my childhood. This was probably due to that fact that I was always in church—if the doors were open, I was there. But also, as my wife can attest, I was always in trouble. I was the kind of kid that liked to push the limits of everyone around me and it wasn’t until later in life that I realized the truth that my grandparents, teachers, and pastor were trying to instill in me—actions have consequences.

But even as that is so very true, we sometimes think our actions can only go so far and affect so many people. It is in those moments when we go to the Bible and we are reminded just how far reaching our actions go and how deeply they are rooted in the fall of Genesis 3.

God made everything good in the beginning. Mankind lived and worked in the garden as God walked along side us. Adam and Eve had no troubles or problems until they were deceived, sinned, and broke the only law God gave them. And from that moment, their actions led to a consequence that has affected the entire human race and all of creation.

God made us capable of keeping his law, apart from sin. But now that sin exists in the human heart and present in creation, we cannot. Sin messes up the mind, heart, and body. It leads us astray, away from God and everything that we were born to be. The sin that our first father and mother committed has been passed down through every generation all the way up to us today. We are born with sin because of the sin committed in the garden.

As God looks at us in our desperate state, he has mercy on us. God could have left us to our sin and die in the bed that we have made, but the Bible is a story of redemption. Romans 5 tells us of the gift that God gives that comes in the form of mankind, but absent of the sin that is in the rest of humanity. Jesus was born free from the inherited sinful heart; he fought sin every single day of his life, and then died in our place to redeem us from the consequential death that came from our sin.

This week, as you reflect on Q&A 14, examine your heart. It doesn’t take much to see the state and condition of the human heart and the sin that is there. How does that change the way you think about yourself, family, and others? From there, then consider the price God paid to remove that sin and transform you into something that better reflects our God and his design. We cannot keep the law of God, but we can live in hope because of the work of Jesu Christ.

The New City Catechism — Week 13

The New City Catechism — Week 13

Question 1 — Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?

Answer — Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed.

Romans 3:10–12 (ESV)10as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

On August 8, 1974 after a long and difficult political scandal that included the attempted cover up of the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, president Richard Nixon gave a speech declaring his intention to resign from the office of President of the United States. The speech given and the resignation came just one day before Nixon was expected to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives.

As Nixon leaves the White House, famously shown walking onto Marine One, the disgraced president exits as the most powerful man in the world and breaking the oath that he made to all the American people in thought, word, and deed.

History looks back at Nixon as the man who was fierce, arrogant, and would do anything to stay ahead of his political opponents. Often when history looks back at people of the past who made their mark on the world, it is often the negatives that are highlighted over the good they may have accomplished. It would be the same for Nixon. But when looking deeply at the state of the human condition, we can easily see that the President was and is a product of the fall  and sin is what prevents us from living up to the standard God has set before us.

Can we keep the law of God perfectly? The simple answer is “no.” We cannot. Sin has corrupted and derailed what God made “good” in the garden. It prevents us living as part of God’s design. And that is where the NCC comes in to help us articulate what the Bible says about the human condition.

We break God’s law consistently. We break it with our thoughts. We break it with our words. We break it with our actions. We are fallen people who sin against God and man. If we were left to our own devices we would live and die in our sin. But the Bible is a book of hope. No mere human can keep the law of God. We couldn’t because we can’t. We sin and because of that sin, we are unable to do what is good, but always lean towards what is evil.

But that hope is found not in a mere human, but in the Son of God who comes and lives a perfect life for us so that we might one day be free of the constant sin we commit. God is gracious and loving and sent his son so that we might be saved from what we are prone to do. Through Christ, we are given relief from the sin in our lives. Through Christ we are redeemed from the sin in our lives. Through Christ we are saved from the death the sin in our lives produces.

Remember this—the Bible speaks to our condition so that we might know and not live in darkness. We are sinners, but that is no excuse to sin. We are sinners and need to be saved. That is where God in his mercy comes in—he sends his Son to do what we could not and be what we could never achieve so on our own, so that we might be with God and he might be with us!

The New City Catechism — Week 12

The New City Catechism — Week 12

Question 1 — What does God require in the ninth, & tenth commandments? 

Answer — Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us.

James 2:8 (ESV)8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

In our final week looking directly at the Ten, Q & A 12 deals with the final horizontal commands given to us. These final commands are directions for us to live by so that we might live our lives that honor other people but also honor God and his standard of living for all mankind.

Deceitfulness & lies are common in the world we live. People lie to get ahead. People lie to get what they want. People lie to avoid their problems and people are inherently deceitful. It is part of who we are—not to say that was part of our design. God made us in his own image and in the garden, prior to the fall, there was no sin present or in the human heart. There wasn’t even a reason to lie, for the environment in which man lived was perfect. But that is no longer the case. Sin has wrecked the human condition and now we sin & lie. Because that is true, the Bible helps us by giving us the words of God and his direction for our life.

The Bible is clear on that direction and standard.

 Exodus 20:16 (ESV)16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

The Bible tells us to not lie, but that command is not limited to only our neighbor. Time and time again the Bible instructs God’s people to live in the light and speak truth. Truth is what God projects & is what is expected of anyone who follows him. God hates lies and will hold all people accountable to for them. Consider what the author of Proverb says regarding the ninth commandment,

Proverbs 6:16–19 (ESV)16There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

19a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

But God’s instruction in the Ten doesn’t end with lies, but rather coveting. Coveting is a sin that grows from a thought and then into action. Coveting is a desire that can become a sin of commission if not checked at the gate of our heart. The sin that comes from coveting is adultery, murder, theft.

Coveting is a sin against God and not just others because coveting is desiring what belongs to another person. Thus sinning against God and not living in the contentment that comes with knowing God & his blessings. Coveting is a heart issue that the Bible addresses, because God knew it would deeply affect his people. That is why the Ten, when recorded in Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5, gives specific examples—areas of life God knew Israel would struggle.

Deuteronomy 5:21 (ESV)21“ ‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

When we look at the last two of the Ten, we see a pattern. A pattern that is numbered with the rest. God wants us to live holy lives with him and also others. We struggle and we sin, but we would be blind to such sin without the law. The law is the standard, and when we cannot meet that standard, sin attaches itself to us. It points out our flaws & failure and all our mistakes.  

But just as 1 Cor.15 tells us that the power of sin is the Law, it also tells us that we can find victory, despite our constant lies & coveting, in the work of Jesus Christ.

Once we trust in Christ, the Bible gives us a new command—“go and sin no more.” Our eyes are opened and now we see better than we did before. We live in victory of the cross and that victory gives us the ability to fight sin every single day.

So this week, look at your life, identify the sin and fight it. Maybe you lie—you have the ability through the victory of Christ to not live a life of deceitfulness. And if you live with a passion for the belongings of others, give them to Christ and ask for the gift of contentment. God is able to grant these things to us if we trust in him.

The New City Catechism — Week 11

The New City Catechism — Week 11

Question 1 — What does God require in the sixth, seventh, & eight commandments?

Answer — Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love. Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them. Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.

Romans 13:9 (ESV)9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Bible is a book that contains the words of God that teaches us how to have a healthy relationship with God & also other people.

We live in a world that is created by God and filled with people made in his own image. You cannot step out of your house and not see the hand of God in his creation or the work of your neighbor. God’s presence and your neighbor’s footprint is everywhere. Because of that and the inevitable interaction with both, the Bible gives us commandments and nudges us in the right direction so that we can live in harmony with both.

The first half of the Ten Commandments are vertical commandments that deal with us and our relationship with God. But now we are deep in the horizontal commandments that help us live better lives with other people that also honor God.

The Bible does not beat around the bush when it comes to God’s desire for his people and how they are to treat one another.

Exodus 20:13–15 (ESV)

13“You shall not murder.

14“You shall not commit adultery.

15“You shall not steal.

The majority of civilizations throughout history lived by a moral code and most are unaware of the source of that morality. The source is the Bible and its author—God. Civilizations throughout history have lived and governed by a moral code, but that doesn’t mean that they were able to keep it. Jump to today, and we as Americans live in a land governed by laws, but yet still there are flaws and cracks in our laws and ethics.

Murder is a sin against both God & man. Because God is the only one who gives life, he is the only one who has the right to take it. Murder in any form—whether against another or oneself is sin. The Bible makes it abundantly clear,

Genesis 9:6 (ESV)6“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Another area of life that God address in the Ten is adultery. God has a desire for us to live sexually pure lives because he knows sexual sin is a perversion of what was once made “good”, but also because sexual sin can lead to other sin. The NCC does well by showing that we should “abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in a single life” and going on to call us to avoid all “impure actions.” God has a desire for us to live a life with others that honor each other but also honor his design.

The last area for week 11 is stealing. If anyone has ever had anything stolen from them, they know the hurt that theft causes. You worked hard for what you own and it can be devastating when someone takes what doesn’t belong to them. God knows the burden of hard work and celebrating finished work. God know what it means to plan, put in the long hours and then see the payoff in the end. Because of that, God tells his people not to steal. Do not take what does not belong to you. Do not steal other’s possessions, or your company’s time, or your neighbor’s wifi. We might try and justify our actions at times, but the Bible does not give any room for our own sinful excuses. The Bible says, “do not steal.”

This week as you read over week 11 and reflect on the  Q & A, examine your own life and look for areas to which you can improve. Christ is our strength when we have our morality crises and he is the constant in the storm to help us and lead in the path of life—the path that leads us right to the throne of God.

The New City Catechism — Week 10

The New City Catechism — Week 10

Question 1 — What does God require in the fourth, and fifth commandments?

Answer — Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

Leviticus 19:2–3 (ESV)2“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. 3Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

The American calendar is made up of many dates celebrated by various people among various cultures. New Years, Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Thanksgiving are all days celebrated and great days to celebrate the meaning our nation and those we love. But there is a special day that rolls around every week that was made for us and for something we need desperately—rest.

Rest is a practice rooted in the creation account. The Bible shows us in Genesis 2  God rested from his work, and in the Ten Commandments God establishes the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day that was made not for God, but for us. We were given a day where we can and should rest from all work and devote ourselves to things that get neglected during the busy work week.

Today, Christians don’t gather or worship collectively on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until after the resurrection of Christ did Christians begin to gather and worship on Sunday, calling it the Lord’s Day. Sunday is an important day for believers and should be treated in the same way as the Sabbath in the Old Testament. We gather, limit our work, worship, and love our families more on Sunday because Sunday is special and important to us!

Another area that is very much a part of our culture as Americans is the family-unit. The family is extremely important in healthy development of children and worship. God created and designed the family. And in the fifth commandment, God commands children to love their parents, respect, and obey them.

The Bible says in Exodus 20:12, if children obey their parents, God will bless them throughout their lives. Because of sin, children from their very first years are disobedient and breed trouble for their parents. So often we ask why God commands certain things in the Bible, but we really don’t have to look farther than our own childhood to see why.  

If we honor our parents, the promise is applied; and if we honor our parents, we honor God. We do these because we love them both our parents & God, but also we know that our God is one who blesses those who are obedient to his commands.

This week, live with anticipation of the Lord’s Day where we gather with our brothers & sister in Christ to worship our Savior who has accomplished so much for us. And with Mother’s Day behind us and Father’s Day ahead, live to honor your parents. It is good and acceptable to God.

The New City Catechism — Week 9

The New City Catechism — Week 9

Question 1 — What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?

Answer — First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.

 Deuteronomy 6:13–14 (ESV)13It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—

God has set a standard for the lives of His people. When we look at the Old Testament, and the Law given to Israel, we see the Ten Commandments as the foundational piece from which all the Law rests.

The Bible gives us a concise list to help us when we start the journey of following Christ and make a heart-decision to give our lives over to Him. The Ten Commandments help every believer live a life that honors God and others and also to live a moral life. 

Consider the first three,

3“You shall have no other gods before me. 

4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 

5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 

7“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. – Exodus 20:3–7 (ESV)

First, for a people that was delivered from the most powerful force on the earth, Egypt, why would God require such a commandment in Exodus 20:3? It is because there has always been and always be the temptation to be like the nations and worship their gods. But the Bible tells us there in only one, true, and living God. All others are made to deceive mankind and lead them in a direction opposite of God. 

The Second commandment builds upon the first. The God of Creation is not made by human hands nor has a need to even be served by us (Acts 17:24-25). He is entirely different from all the other gods of the nations, because all are made by human efforts. Idolatry was a major problem among the nations and God foresaw it would also be a problem with Israel. So he establishes this second commandment built upon the first. You shall not worship idols. 

The Third is a call for God’s people to cherish and value the name of God above all else. Because God’s name is so precious and valuable to us, we should be careful in the ways we use it and never take it in vain. Where we might evoke the names of celebrities, politicians, or personal heroes, we should be careful when using the name of our God. Deuteronomy 6:13-14 tells us to fear God. Fear is healthy for any believer because (1) we recognize the power and might our God possess, (2) fear is a form of reverence. God is our God, and we respect & love Him above all else.

So this week, as you reflect on the first Three commandments, pray and ask God to use the Ten to shape your life, your relationship with God, and how they might make you a better follower and disciple of Jesus Christ. 

The New City Catechism —Week 6

Question 6 — How can we glorify God?

Answer — We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law. 

Deuteronomy 11:1 (ESV)1“You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at what God has created. God has created all that exists, including us. And because God has made us— special and for a specific purpose, we should live a life that is driven by a desire to glorify God in all things.

We glorify God by enjoying all that comes with knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. Just as a husband enjoys his wife and being with her, we too enjoy the beauty and presence of God. We love him and are obedient to his commands and his law. We do these things not just because God tells us to do them, but we do them because we love God and are grateful for the things he has done.

This week, as we look forward to Resurrection Sunday, reflect on what Christ has done for you and examine your own life. Are you living a life that glorifies Him? Do you love God and are you living a life that walks in step with God and one that follows his will, commands, and law?

The New City Catechism — Week 5

The New City Catechism — Week 5

Question 5— What else did God create?

Answer — God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule. 

Last week we saw that God created us in His own image and with a purpose. We were made to reflect Him and represent Him in all of His creation. Just as we are special above all other created things, God made more so that He and we might enjoy them.

The Bible shows us in the opening lines of Scripture that God made all that is made. But what is remarkable about the way that God creates, that separates Himself from the way we create things, is that He does so through the spoken Word. 

The God of the Bible stands alone in power and glory and the God that we serve creates through His voice. The Bible says in Genesis’ creation account, God just speaks and matter, time, planets, stars, animals, and mankind are created. God does not need to rub sticks together to make fire, or drill in the earth to find oil to go on and create more. We are limited in our abilities, and that is how we create, but not so for God. We serve a God that can speak and galaxies exist—and also at any moment, reverse creation down into nothing.

But another awesome observation we find through the lenses of the New Testament is who the spoken Word is.

John 1:1–3 (ESV)1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John though the inspiration of the Holy Spirit helps us see that the spoken Word is actually a person, and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus made the matter that makes up the universe and created time itself. Jesus made the planets and stars—he filled the earth with animals and water. Jesus, the Son of God who came down to earth and died on a cross for us is the one that made and designed all that we observe in the universe and it is all good in his eyes.

So this week, as you reflect on Question 5 and its answer, rejoice in the truth that our God is the one who has all power. Our Savior is the one who created you and the matter that makes up the screen you are reading on now. And He is the one who holds all things together by His powerful Word. 

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)31And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good…

The New City Catechism — Week 4

The New City Catechism — Week 4

Question 4 — How and why did God create us?

Answer — God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory.

Mankind has come a long way since the garden. History has shown us the amazing things we have done and discovered. We have stumbled across new continents, built great works with our hands, painted beautiful art and chiseled from stone masterpieces. We have looked up at the stars, planets, and our moon and are now closer to them than we ever have. We have changed and done so much since we were created, but one thing has been consistently the same— How & why we were created.

In a world of gender confusion and identity crises, the Bible make clear from the opening pages of Scripture who we are and why we were made. We were made to reflect the image of God in creation and we were made as a pair. Male and female we were created. There are two genders, perfectly made by God to complement each other and fulfill our mandate here on earth—to know God and enjoy Him forever.

The NCC helps us find specific answers in the Bible to questions the world is asking over and over again. We were made in God’s image to know Him, love Him, to live with Him, and ultimately glorify Him. As God’s representatives here on earth, that is our primary mission. We are to make known the glory of God, and spread the glory of God by telling any and all of God’s love displayed in His Son Jesus Christ. 

In a world of confusion and constant change, followers and disciples of Jesus Christ have a sure and steady direction to follow lay before us since the foundations of the earth. We are made to make disciples and spread the glory of God. If we hold true to Christ, and live a life in service to Him, our life will be filled with clarity, not confusion, our lives will be full with the love of God. 

Genesis 1:27 (ESV) 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The New City Catechism — Week 3

The New City Catechism — Week 3

Question — How many persons are there in God?

Answer — There are three persons in the one true and living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Trinitarian doctrine is a part of God that orthodox Christendom has affirmed since the very early years of the church.

The Bible teaches that the One God of all creation exists in three distinct persons— Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. All three persons of God exist in communion with each other and are equal in substance, power, and glory. Each have their role within the Godhead and work to achieve God’s will in Creation.

Each person is active and working from the very beginning of history, and it is through the lenses of the New Testament we see this more clearly. In Genesis 1 we see all three persons active in the creation account—God the Father is speaking, the Spirit of God is hovering over face of the deep, and as the author of Hebrews tells us, the Son creates all that is created.

We also have the Godhead speak to themselves when creating man in God’s own image. In Psalm 45 the Psalmist speaks of the throne that belongs to Christ. Isaiah 63 tells how Israel rejected & grieved the work of the Holy Spirit. And in Isa 48:16 we have Jesus speaking of his soon mission to earth accompanied by the Holy Spirit. 

But that’s not all—in the New Testament, we have at Jesus’ baptism, the Son being baptized by John the Baptist, the Father God speaking, and the Holy Spirit descending, and then right away Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.

Those are just a few examples of all three persons of God presented in the Bible together at once. Many people wrestle with trying to wrap their mind about how One God can exist in three persons, but for us it should be something we should embrace. We live in a world where people believe they should know the answer to every question and when they are found absent, a quick internet search gives them what they need. But that is not the case for the personhood of God.

God’s nature is inherently mysterious, and we should be okay with that. We are limited in our grasp of the universes and God, and we should be okay with that. There is day in the future that has been prepared by God, made possible by the Son, and guided to by the Spirit if we trust in the promises of the Word of God. God is beautiful and mysterious and in many ways uncomprehendable. Embrace the God of Salvation, embrace the mystery, and trust that one day we will see our God face to face and know him better than we know him today. 

2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The New City Catechism — Week 2 — What is God?

The New City Catechism — Week 2

Question 1 — What is God?

Answer — God is the creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. He is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable in his power and perfection, goodness and glory, wisdom, justice, and truth. Nothing happens except through him and by his will.

For thousands of years, mankind has been wrestling with our question this week and seeking to know in clearer and fuller ways what is God and who He is exactly.

 I think about the journey of mankind from the garden to where we are now and how often we have strayed off the clear-cut path to find God and have found ourselves lost on shortcuts trying to answer that question. We have invented new religions, followed gurus, made pilgrimages, built cathedrals and so on in our pursuit of answers—but all of them have led to dead ends and us short of answers.

What is God? The Bible tells us clearly throughout scripture and shows us we are without the need of the input of others to help us know the answer. The Bible is sufficient to tell us all we need to know about God and who He is—for any and all who come asking.

God is creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. If we were to just pause and try to wrap out mind around that statement. The God of creation is so powerful and the stretch of influence so wide, He is at this very moment holding together everything and everyone. That means from microscopic atoms to vast stars in our galaxy. I can’t help but think of the author of Hebrews when he says,

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

But the Bible doesn’t stop with telling us what God does, it also tells us who He is. He is eternal (has no beginning and no end), He is infinite (has no limits), He is unchangeable in his power and perfection, goodness, glory, wisdom, justice, and truth. God is everything we cannot be and everything we need in this life and beyond. God is the source of life and goodness and wisdom and truth. In a culture that is confused on these things, the Bible speaks clearly on the questions mankind has been asking for thousands of years. 

But of final note, nothing happens except through God and by His will. God is sovereign over all things. Just as a king rules with absolute authority over his kingdom and his word is final, so is God over all that exists. Because of this truth, we can sleep easy at night and live our lives to the fullest due to the fact God is in control.  

When we look at all the Bible says about God and what He does, another remarkable takeaway is to see that all that God is, is displayed perfectly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the clear-cut path that leads us to heaven’s gates and right to the front row before the throne of God. If we seek after Him, we will find answers and hope—things our world desperately needs and is searching for today.

Psalm 86:8–10, 15 (ESV) 8There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.  10For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God…. 15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

The New City Catechism — Week 1

The New City Catechism — Week 1

Question 1 — What is our only hope in life and death?

 Answer — That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

There is a single idea and truth that separates Disciples of Christ from everyone else in our world. It is a truth that is projected through the creation-shattering story of Eden, and in the fallen world of Noah.  It is found in the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and heard in the slave camps of Egypt. It is what guides Israel in the wilderness to a new home. It is the strength of kings and whispered among exiles.

It was displayed at the fullness of time in a baby born in a manger and again on a cross. On the third day, Sunday, God pushes back the darkness of this world and makes accessible to us what was revealed thousands of years ago—Hope. Hope that we are not alone and we belong to the God who loves us so much He gave his Son.

Believes today, can along with the church throughout history find peace and hope knowing that every bit of who we are is safe and secure in the final work of Jesus Christ. From body to soul, life and in death we belong to God and our Savior Jesus Christ. There is nothing that can change that for those who trust in Christ. 

We often look at the sin we have committed and think it is too great for even God to work through. But God’s own Word tells us that He is able and willing to go the extra mile for you. Just look at the Son of God and His sacrifice for you, and see that God is able.

Today, tomorrow, next week, and every day until you breathe your last breath, live in the hope knowing you belong to God and that He is our only hope in life and death.

 6The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. —Romans 14:6–8 (ESV)

Passion Week— Good Friday

“Good Friday”

The day seems so counter to what many of us reading the gospel accounts would consider “good.” The final leg of Jesus’ mission has come and there is but one more step to go. Jesus has been delivered over to the chief priests, who will soon hand Him over to the Romans and by midday, crucified.

All of the gospel writers record the events of Friday. Some of them go in greater detail, showing more of Jesus’ suffering with the Jews, and others with the Romans. John, a witness of much of what happened gives vivid detail on Jesus’ treatment in the hands of both the Jews and Romans.

As Thursday night rolls into Friday morning, Jesus goes before the High Priest who leads an unlawful trial in the middle of the night. Jesus is then handed over to Pilate where they are hoping he will find Jesus guilty of insurrection. Pilate finds no guilt in Jesus, but determines this to simply be a local issue involving two Jewish sects. 

But there story turns, and the horror of the day is revealed. Pilate fears a revolt by the people and delivers Jesus to be crucified. In John 19, Jesus is handed over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. But in their eyes, they have a local celebrity and will enjoy their time with Jesus. They mock and torture Jesus long before He is ever forced to carry His cross. John tells us the Roman soldiers flog Jesus— no doubt this being the infamous Roman scourging. Often times, those who are held in Roman custody would not survive such treatment. Because Jesus was the supposed “King of the Jews” the Roman soldiers fastened a crown made of thorns, place it on Jesus’ head, and given a purple robe to wear. Purple would have been a color for royalty. He is then taken before the crowd to be displayed, and here the crowd demands He be crucified.

Jesus is then forced to carry His own cross to Golgotha, and there He would be nailed to the cross, hang there for a time, until the full weight of sin was borne in His body. It is at the end, John tells us that when all had been accomplished, Jesus exclaims with a final word of victory, “it is finished.” Jesus yields His spirit, dies and completes the mission long planned in eternity-past. Sins have been atoned, redemption is made for God’s people. 

Good Friday is good because God took the worst possible thing, Jesus being crucified, and brought about the greatest possible good. At the moment of Jesus death, in Matthew 27:51 the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. That curtain symbolized the seperation between God and man. At the moment of Jesus’ death and the words “it is finished” the seperation between God and man was removed. Jesus’ death removed our sins and any and all barriers that separate us from God.

The grace of God on Good Friday is displayed in the terrible, horrific, beautiful, victorious cross of Christ. Jesus takes our place, becomes our substitute, bears our sins in His body and casts them away, never to be seen or recalled in again. 

This day, at the end of our work week and all the busy things of life—remember the price that was paid for you. Jesus’ victory on the cross accomplished much, and it was all for your sake. He was pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities and by His stripes, we are healed. May Jesus Christ be praised.  

Passion Week— Thursday

The day has finally arrived. Thursday would bring the longest twenty-four hours of Jesus’ life. On Wednesday, the preparations were made, and on Thursday at Sundown, millions of Jews in Jerusalem would observe the Passover Meal. 

Passover began at sundown on Thursday, and it is with the start of this meal, the longest day of Jesus’ life. 

In Matthew 26:17-19 Jesus is finalizing the preparations Thursday afternoon, and by evening Jesus, His disciples and family are in the upper room. It is here Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29). Matthew’s account focuses only on the details of the meal, with Jesus speaking of a new covenant made in His body and blood. Matthew also includes details of Judas’ soon betrayal. Matthew then jumps quickly to the latter parts of the evening, where Jesus departs the upper room, takes the eleven disciples, and goes to the Gethsemane. It is here Judas will find Jesus as hand him over to the officers of the chief priests.

John’s account spends much more time on the events of Thursday evening. In John 13:1-17:26, much more time is spent on the direct conversations between Jesus and the twelve. Jesus warns them of what will come in the next few hours, but promises their sorrow will turn to joy. John 17 includes once of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. Here in the garden, Jesus prays for you and me. Those who have yet not been born, but will come to faith in the risen Savior. It is a powerful moment and shows Jesus’ love for His people.

Going forward, remembering how the Jewish days works, Passover goes through sundown the next day. Over the next hours, Jesus will go before an unlawful trial (Matt. 26:57-68) and the chief priest will falsely accuse Jesus of blaspheme against God. The Jews will mock and beat Jesus, and when they are satisfied, knowing they cannot simply kill Jesus, they deliver him over to Pilate.

Our Friday contains much of Jesus’ Thursday. Looking forward to Good Friday, we see the long and sorrowful day Jesus has had. He spend the day with His disciples in preparation of the Passover Meal,  the upper room discourse where Jesus says many things to the ones He loves before He is gone, the short trip out of the city, across the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives to a special place called Gethsemane—there he would pray and wait for the betrayer. It is here, the beginning of the hardest part of His mission begins. The marker of the beginning of the end is with a kiss (Matt.26:49).

Today, reflect on this last full day Jesus has with His disciples and family. This would be the last intimate moment and peace until after His excruciating death and victorious resurrection. Consider the burden Jesus carries, as Thursday approached and he knows that if he wavers even for a moment, all hope of redemption is lost. But Scripture testifies to the obedience of Jesus and His determination to finish the mission, no matter the cost. 

Why did Jesus endure the suffering, mocking, and ridicule? He did it for you and me and all those who would believe in Him. God’s love for His people is displayed in His Son Jesus, and through the cross of Christ, He makes sorrow turn to joy and defeat into victory. May Jesus Christ be praised. 

Passion Week— Wednesday

The day before Passover, Wednesday contains more behind the scenes planning and less direct teaching. It is on Wednesday we have the gospels speaking to the chief priests’ plot to kill Jesus & Judas’ plans to betray Him. Wednesday is also the day we find Jesus’ disciples preparing the upper room for Passover and the Last Supper.

In Luke 22:1-13, we find Wednesday’s events spilling over into Thursday. It would have a busy day for the disciples and the entire city. Markets would have been filled with locals, pilgrims and those from surrounding areas. During Passover, Jerusalem was a bustling city full of life and energy. It would be in this city God would reveal His ultimate plan for the redemption of mankind.  

One of the themes we see throughout the gospels is the Jewish leadership’s hatred for Jesus. Jesus was everything they wanted to be. He was popular with the people, He taught in a way that was captivating, He had power to do things that no one else could do. Jealousy and hatred fueled the flames over the past years and now the chief priest were going to act. 

Luke’s account in chapter 22 speaks to the plotting of the Sanhedrin and immediately includes Judas Iscariot. One of the twelve would betray Jesus into the hands of sinners and lead to his eventual death. For someone reading the gospel story for the first time, it is no doubt a shock. Judas was one who ate, traveled, and witnessed the coming of the Kingdom of God through his Master—and yet jealousy and greed gave way to his heart. Luke’s account speaks to Satan’s involvement in the betrayal, connecting Luke’s previous point in the temptation of Jesus, 

13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
— Luke 4:13 (ESV)

This “opportune time” was now, and Satan in all of his cleverness, used one of the Twelve in his plan to defeat the Son of God. 

But one thing is very clear in all of the gospel accounts, Jesus is aware of what is going on around Him and is in complete control. 

1When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
— Matthew 26:1–2 (ESV)

Jesus is in control. He knows His time has come. He knows He will be betrayed. He knows it is by one of His own. He knows He will die. Thursday’s intimate meal in the Upper Room proves all this to be true. 

For us today reflecting on all the events of Passion Week, we see the devotion of Jesus and His obedience to His Father’s plan for redemption. He knows there is only one way to restore creation to its pre-fall state. He knows there is only one way to redeem mankind. He know the only way is the cross. And so he presses on. With the enemies gathering outside the gates, and a betrayer in the camp, all that is left is a final meal with his faithful (but often at times oblivious) disciples. All that is left is for the sacrifice to be made and the final enemy defeated. 

Jesus is worthy to be praised, not only for His sacrifice on the cross, but also for His willingness to go as far as needed to save us from sin and restore our relationship with God. May Jesus Christ be praised.

Passion Week— Tuesday

Tuesday morning we find Jesus returning to Jerusalem and making a point to go straight to the Temple. There Jesus is met with the crowd and also the chief priests. Here they try to trap Jesus in questions about His authority, taxes, and the resurrection of the dead. 

The Gospel of Matthew devotes an enormous of content to the Tuesday of Passion Week. Matthew 21:20-25:46 covers Jesus’ defense of the chief priest’s questions, many parables, teachings on taxes, the great commandment, the second coming, and much more. 

Tuesday was a full day for Jesus. Even after the excitement created in the Temple yesterday, Tuesday no doubt left Jesus tired exhausted. There is also the fact that Friday is now a day closer and Jesus is ever-aware of this. Preparations are being made. The upper room is to be reserved, food is to be prepared, and betrayal plotted.  

Jesus teaches through many parables on Tuesday, one of them being familiar to most,

28“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’29And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. — Matthew 21:28–32 (ESV)

In these parables, Jesus is confronting the crowd and the chief priests with the reality they have created. It was assumed, the chief priests, Pharisees, and other religious leadership would be welcomed first into God’s embrace for all the works they have done. But Jesus had come to set them straight. Self-righteousness and piety had corrupted the relationship between God and Israel. That is why we see Paul in Galatians speaking to Jesus coming at the “fullness of time.” Israel needed to be saved from their own leadership.

Jesus tells all who are listening on Tuesday in the temple, using the two sons as the illustration, it is better to delay and still come, than never to come at all. Jesus came to save sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes. But the best option is not mentioned, even though Jesus knows this. What is better than saying “I will not come” but come later, or “I will go sir” but never come at all? The best option is when we hear the good news of the gospel and see who Jesus is, we run to Him, love Him, and never look back. 

In the Parable of the Tenants , we have Jesus speaking about his death. The Kingdom of God is like man who builds a vineyard and putting his servants in charge he leaves for another country. When it is the season for harvest, the servants kill all the vineyard owner sends—even his own son. How will the owner of the vineyard respond?

Unknowing to them, the crowd seals their own fate, 

Matthew 21:41 (ESV)41They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

 The Passion of Christ was always part of God’s plan. Jesus was always the one who would come and set right creation and restore the relationship between God and His people. Disciple and correction was needed. Jesus knows His Father’s plan and is obedient, even when all others sent were killed. Jesus even speaks to the vineyard being taken away and given to another people—even the crowds reach this logical conclusion.

All of the parables and teachings on Tuesday, from the Temple to the Mt. of Olives are part of a larger picture being painted by Matthew as he reflects on all that he heard and saw. Looking back, no doubt Matthew wrote in detail all he could remember, because he knew what Jesus was doing. He was preparing His disciples, and later those who would read His words for His death, resurrection, and second coming. 

Take time today, go back and read Matthew’s account of Tuesday. What are the moments that standout to you?

Do you get angry at the blindness of the crowds and the plotting of the chief priests? Does the words of Jesus on the second coming worry you?

Have you considered, as Jesus teaches openly with the crowds and privately with His disciples—in the back of His mind is the cross? Such a thought should near break us. That is our Savior. The one who presses on for the sake of His people.

For us as the reader, we can find hope and encouragement in the days leading up to Jesus’ death. He is in absolute control of history. God’s plan is not changed by men and women and their success and failure. God’s plan was for His Son to die on the cross to atone for the sins of his people, rise from the dead never to die again and return, fully and absolutely ushering in the Kingdom of God. May Jesus Christ be praised. 

Passion Week—Monday

This devotion is part of a series for our church as we wait in anticipation for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Considering reading the passages associated with the day of Passion Week.

 Monday— Jesus Curses the Fig Tree & Clears the Temple

The Monday following Palm Sunday is marked with actions of Jesus, not yet seen by the disciples, both of which seemly leave them confused with what just happened. After the Triumphal Entry and the crowds that followed Jesus from Galilee for Passover correctly recognized Jesus for who he is—the King of Israel. In the days following Sunday, Jesus will actively work to complete His Father’s plan for atonement and also speak encouragement into the lives of his disciples.

Monday morning, we find Jesus and His disciples returning to Jerusalem from Bethany. In Matthew 21:18-22 we find Jesus confronting a fig tree on the side of the street and cursing it—effectively ending any chance it would bear fruit again. 

Why does Jesus curse a fig tree? What did the fig tree ever do to deserve such a curse? Those are the kinds of questions that come to my mind. But as we know from reading the life and actions of Jesus, He does everything for a reason. The curse and his actions have greater meaning than we know. For the disciples, they surely didn’t understand. It would take the next day for Jesus to explain the entire meaning of the curse. The tree represents faithless Israel—and the heart of the nation, Jerusalem. Both are beautiful in appearance, bloom in such a way that causes the traveler to stop and behold its beauty, but when time comes to show its fruit, it has none. Because of that, Jesus curses the tree to show His disciples and later us how God responds to those who are faithless and claim to have faith, but bare no fruit. 

How do we respond to such an event?

Jesus demands we do something with the faith He has given us. Action is required. If we do not do something with the life God has given us, and if we live as Israel in the time of Jesus, than we should not be surprised when God intervenes in our life with curse, punishment, or discipline. The beauty of Jesus and his sacrifice should bring about a change in our lives and unstoppable desire to serve Him and His people. We were made for more than the curse and the curse is not our destiny.

But Monday doesn’t end there. We find Jesus in Mark 11:15-19 entering the Temple and driving out all the merchants. To understand why Jesus did this we need to understand the background.

This was Passover Week. Thursday night, along with Jesus and His disciples, millions of Jews would be celebrating Passover. Many of them had come hundreds of miles, much farther in distance than even Jesus and His disciples. To put this in modern terms, this was the “Super Bowl” of festivals in the Jewish calendar. All of these people would be sacrificing in the Temple leading up to Passover. Many of these people were poor and simply because of the great distance traveled, animals for sacrifice and goods for the week could not be carried. Therefore they needed someone to provide these goods. This is where we see the evil and Jesus stepping in to correct the situation.

The money changers and merchants were taking advantage of the people no doubt. They were set up in the Temple, and Jesus had a problem with both. This would have been quite a scene for everyone involved. Within the whole event, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach.

17And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” — Mark 11:17 (ESV)

In Jesus’ mind, the religious establishment had allowed these merchants to take advantage of the people, thus creating a “den of robbers” in His Father’s House.

Reflecting on this moment of Passion Week, we see this only furthering the anger and blood lust of the chief priests and scribes. They already hated Jesus, and now He embarrassed them in front of their people.          All of this is part of Jesus’ plan and journey to the cross. This event will be another accusation used by the chief priests in the unlawful trial early Friday morning. After these events, Jesus returns to Bethany with His disciples. For us, we look on Monday and see it as one day leading up to the crucifixion and eventual resurrection. Going forward, each day will increase in content recorded by the gospel authors, as well as the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leadership.