MORNING
Psalm
113
B1 What does this mean?
C1 The Psalmist is excited. He praises God. Note how God is described
as the God, not just a local god (...From the rising of the sun to
its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised)! Compare: Malachi
1:11 NIV My name will be great among the nations, from where the
sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings
will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the
nations," says the LORD Almighty.
C2 There is only one God. He is described at being greater than all
things that exist. Compare Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah 44:8 NLT Do not
tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you
long ago? You are my witnesses--is there any other God? No! There is
no other Rock--not one!"
C3 Even though God is so high (exalted), He is still mindful and
caring for us, animals, and all His creation.
C4 God has the ability to help us and does. He answers all prayers
(yes, no, wait, or this instead). God knows best. His ways and
decisions are done in wisdom, love, and holiness.
B2 How do I apply this to my life?
Let us count the many ways God has blessed us.
EVENING
John
1
B1 What does this mean?
C1 Jesus is the Word
D1 The beginning refers to creation. Jesus was already there.
D2 He was in the beginning with God (that is the Father). The Trinity
(Godhead) is one essence with 3 persons.
D3 Everything that had a beginning of existence was created by Jesus,
God the Son.
D4 He had the principle of life. He can give life; He can take life.
He gave life to all that is living is it planned way whether plants,
animals, humans, or angels.
D5 This life was the light for people, not animals or plants. He gave
light to us, but Adam despised it and deliberately sinned. Light is
equated with truth, revelation, God's works, etc. Here most likely
the idea that we can only find forgiveness, fellowship,
reconciliation, etc. only through Jesus Christ, the Light of the
world.
D6 The principle of life is in God. The light that shines from God
cannot be extinguished. He has no beginning and no end. Nothing can
overcome God. In the same way, nothing can overcome Jesus, God the
Son, unless He allowed it (as He did in His passion).
C2 John the Baptist
D1 Is the forerunner who announces and prepares people (especially
Israel) for the earthly ministry of the Messiah, Jesus.
D2 John was not the light (though many thought so). John witnessed
about the Light, especially at Jesus's baptism, where John saw the
likeness of a dove (the Holy Spirit) alight on Jesus, the Passover
Lamb for the sins of the world.
D3 Many people have preconceived ideas about what God looks and acts
like, but this is wrong. It takes revelation to reveal Him. John gave
this revelation plus Jesus's life was authenticated by prophecy,
miracles, His teaching, His death, His burial, His resurrection, and
His ascension.
D4 The new birth (think of John 3) is not from physical as birth or a
nationality (Jew). It is only from those who believe.
D5 We realize God's law through Moses. We realize grace and truth
through Jesus Christ only. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve.
Truth is reality. Both are only under in the perfect sense through
Jesus's life and teaching.
D6 The bosom of the Father refers to the oneness of God, not
literally coming out of God's chest.
C3 John's testimony.
D1 He is not Messiah.
D2 He is not Elijah.
D3 He is the forerunner as spoken of by Isaiah, the prophet. See
Isaiah 40:3.
D4 Robertson, in his notes, writes: The early writers note the
differences between the use of Λογος — Logos (Word) for the
Messiah and πωνη — phōnē (Voice) for John.
D5 John baptized with water because people repented of their sins.
Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit because people believed in,
trusted in, and called upon Jesus for salvation.
D6 Many of John's disciples (followers) followed Jesus because of
John's testimony. One of those who followed John, then Jesus was
Andrew. Andrew went and told his brother Peter about Jesus. Peter
went to Jesus to see for himself and followed Jesus, too. We are to
be witnesses.
D7 Come and see is a good testimony. We can read the Scriptures. Did
Jesus exist? Yes, it is reasonable for Jesus's enemies wrote about
Him, for example, Tacitus and early Jewish writers who were enemies
of Jesus (or at least, not followers). It is reasonable to believe
the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written in the
first century CE, because of other late first century writers and
early second century writers. See Cold Case Christianity and search
for “Are the Gospels Reliable?” So so other Christian apologists.
D8 Phillip believes in Jesus because of the testimony of Jewish
prophets. He tells Nathanael about Jesus. Jews for Jesus have a good
article about the prophecies about Jesus here.
D9 Verse 51 probably refers to the Ascension of Jesus (Acts chapter 1
and see John Wesley note on this passage). Compare Isaiah 64:1, Acts
7:56 (Stephen's testimony concerning seeing Jesus), Mark 14:62
(Jesus's coming at the end of the Millennium), John 20:12-13 (His
resurrection with the angels message at the empty tome), and Genesis
28:12 (Jacob's dream).
B2 How do I apply this to my life?
I have a reasonable faith in Jesus.
I
hope
to have a devotional every day on John’s
Gospel starting with the last chapter of Luke’s Gospel.
This
is
the way I do my devotions. You may notice grammatical and spelling
errors. It is my hope you will also start or continue in your daily
reading and thinking about
the Scriptures. I do this Monday through Friday. It is a 3 year plan
of reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the Old Testament, which
takes 3 years, and reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the New
Testament once a year for a total of 3 times. So, I read through the
Old Testament 1 time and the New Testament 3 times over a period of 3
years.
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