November 18 / Isaiah 2-4

Isaiah 2-4

Dear RTB’ers,

Occasional confusion in Isaiah. What does he mean by “in the latter days” (Isaiah 2:2), or “in that day” (Isaiah 2:11,17,20; 3:7,18; 4:1,2), or For the LORD of hosts has a day… (Is. 2:12a) What and when are the “latter days” or a day, or especially “that day”? I get the sense that most references to a “day” have to do with judgment by the Lord against wrongdoers and their wrongdoing, but is that against Israel’s leaders, or all the Israeli people? OR, is Isaiah predicting the End Times? The Lord’s DAY!! Jesus’ RETURN!! And, it seems to be the case that some of these references are more immediate and some are far off, possibly even “eternity off”. We don’t know for sure; we just know that the Lord chooses HIS day, whenever that is, and He does whatever He wishes on that day. Still, I wonder…

With all that uncertainty and judgment on those days, we are left in today’s reading with hope for Israel and mankind in the final day mentioned: In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. … Then the LORD will create … a cloud by day, and … a flaming fire by night… (v. 4:2, 5) Shades of Moses and the Israelites in the Wilderness…!! Truly, the Lord watches over His people!

Blessings!

See also: June 9 (2023) / Isaiah 6; Isaiah 1-2.

November 17 / Isaiah 1

Isaiah 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we begin three weeks of the prophet Isaiah. I admit to a bit of nervousness as we begin this book. The prophetic books are the most difficult for me to understand, mostly (I think) because I’m never sure of the current history in which the author is writing. That’s clearly the case with large portions of Isaiah, but fortunately we have been introduced to him during our reading of II Kings, especially in his relationship with King Hezekiah. My Study Bible noted that Isaiah was a contemporary with Amos, Hosea, and Micah – and we have already read those three prophetic books. So, with that background maybe Isaiah will not be so confusing to us.

One other Study Bible note that helped me is that during Isaiah’s life Judah was under attack by Aram (Syria), the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Edom, and Philistia; by Assyria (King Sennacherib); and by Babylon (King Nebuchadnezzar). We’ve already seen Isaiah’s activity in II Kings with those first two sets of foreign invaders.

Finally, as to content in this first chapter… I’m always taken by the prophets speaking God’s chastisement of Israel’s sacrifices, especially Isaiah 1:10-14 today. Here’s a sampling: I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts … incense is an abomination to Me … Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. God will not even listen to their prayers (Is. 1:15)! Again, we’ve read pronouncements like this in Amos and Hosea. God, however, is a loving God and a Redeemer; He wants Israel (and us) to turn from our wicked ways and seek Him, as in the following oft-cited verse: Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (v. 18) Yes, He is a loving God.

So, let’s enjoy Isaiah together! As John commented yesterday, your comments and questions are more than welcome!!

Blessings!

November 16 / John 21:15-25

John 21:15-25

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we end John’s gospel. It will be early next year that we’ll read Matthew and be through with all four gospels. But today, John’s closing. And for many people, a bit of a confusing closing! So, first, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” (vv. 15, 16, 17) It’s easy for us to connect Jesus’ three times asking the same question with Peter’s three denials on Good Friday. But a question remains, why did Jesus change His follow-up response from Feed My Lambs to Tend My Sheep to Feed My Sheep? I don’t have an answer for that, even though I’ve heard numerous sermons and talks on that very question. One item of information is that Jesus uses the Greek word, agape (a deep, abiding love) the first two times He asks, then the word, phileo (more like “friendship”) the third time, so maybe Jesus is challenging Peter’s love – is Peter’s love for Jesus a really deep agape love? My guess is that there is something about increasing demands that Jesus is asking of Peter with each additional response. Maybe the rest of you have heard better explanations?

I could make more comments on this reading, but so could you! Let’s hear from you, comments or questions!

Blessings!

See also:

November 14 / John 20:11-31

John 20:11-31

Dear RTB’ers,

Each of the four gospels reports Jesus’ Resurrection appearances. Mary Magdalene is the one Resurrection appearance reported in all four gospels. Today we have the most personal account of Jesus appearing to her and of her reporting back to the disciples. Surprisingly, John is quite detailed in reporting their meeting, he does not mention the disciples’ unbelief at her report. See Mark 16:9-11 and Luke 24:8-12 for accounts of their unbelief.

John’s is the only gospel that reports on the disciples in a room with … the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews… (v. 20b), and of Thomas not being there and not believing their report of having seen Jesus. We joke a bit about Thomas’ disbelief, even labeling him “Doubting Thomas”, but to me the real story is Jesus making the effort to give Thomas a personal meeting. He had an eight-day wait and I wonder about his musings during that time. Did he wonder about his lack of faith? Did he pray to God asking that he see Jesus personally? Did he regret his brash comment, Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe. (v. 25b) A full eight days and he’s the only one of the eleven on the outside. But Jesus knows how Thomas feels and He makes an appearance that is reported billions of times over the centuries! Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28) We need to embrace Thomas’ words. My Lord. My God.

Blessings!

See also:

November 13 / John 19:38-20:10

John 19:38-20:10

Dear RTB’ers,

As I was putting together the reading list for this month I thought it curious that the STS authors would combine the end of chapter 19, Jesus’ burial, with the beginning of chapter 20, the Resurrection. As I am reading it today, I see that these readings are not at all about the Crucifixion or the Resurrection, but are about the Tomb – about Jesus’ body being placed in the Tomb and then the Empty Tomb. And it makes me think differently.

Joseph and Nicodemus were deliberate in placing Jesus’ body carefully in the Tomb, including 75 pounds of spices to anoint His body, then following prescribed practices in wrapping His body in linen. [NOTE: 75 pounds is a lot; our chicken feed sacks on the farm were either 40 pounds or 50 pounds, and they were heavy! No doubt, Nicodemus had help carrying the spices!] So the end of chapter 19 has Jesus’ body carefully in the Tomb. (Matthew 27:66 even goes a step further: So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. See also Mt. 27:62-65.)

Then in the beginning of chapter 20 we do not yet have a resurrected Jesus per se; we have only the Empty Tomb. John’s gospel goes into detail describing the scene – Mary Magdelene’s report, the race to the Tomb, and the scene at the Tomb, even describing the linen wrappings: He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. (vv. 20:6b-7) The NASB has the face-cloth even …folded up in a place by itself.

All of this action, all of this description about the Tomb, not about Jesus’ Crucifixion or Resurrection. Ending our reading with verse 20:8 forces us to wonder with Peter and John (the disciple whom Jesus loved?) what was going on! Where is Jesus’ body? Has someone stolen it? And if stolen, why did the thieves bother with so much detail with the linen wrappings!! What’s going on?? What do we tell our friends?

Are you curious with Peter and John (and me)? Where is the body? Imagine the conversation among the disciples! Where is Jesus’ body…??!!

Blessings!

See also:

November 12 / John 19:17-37

John 19:17-37

Dear RTB’ers,

Yesterday’s reading was about Jesus being flogged and taunted and delivered over to be crucified. I offered no personal comments, instead asking that you read those verses a couple of times and do your own reflecting. Today we read of Jesus’ Crucifixion and I ask the same as yesterday, that you read and re-read and ponder on what you’ve read. Your own thoughts, what the Holy Spirit brings to your heart will be far better than what I can add to the reading.

Blessings!

See also:

November 11 / John 18:28-19:16

John 18:28-19:16

Dear RTB’ers,

No comments today, folks. But I do ask that you read these verses a couple of times in different translations and that do your own reflecting.

Blessings!

See also:

November 10 / John 18:1-27

John 18:1-27

Dear RTB’ers,

It’s good that we have four gospel writers, especially when John is so different from the other three. A couple of items on that… First, John does not go into Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, even though he was one of the three who went forward with Jesus. To me, that’s one of the most moving parts of any of the four gospels. Second, John is the only gospel writer who reports that it was Peter who cut off Malchus’ ear, but he does not mention Jesus healing it, as does Luke 22:51. Finally, there is no Judas kiss – only Judas leading the crowd and Jesus asking them whom they seek.

Beyond Jesus’ arrest and questioning, the main story in today’s reading is Peter’s denial. Every time that I read of these challenges by the locals, when I put myself into the story I wonder what I would have done if I were Peter. Knowing myself, I’d have probably tried some lukewarm response, like I had heard Him speaking a few times. But when challenged further, I think I also would have also failed to acknowledge Jesus as my leader, especially if I take myself back to my late 20s or early 30s. What about the rest of you? Would you have stood up for Jesus? Let us hear from some of you!

Blessings!

See also:

November 9 / John 17 #2

John 17

Dear RTB’ers,

John 17, Jesus praying for Himself, His disciples, and us…! After teaching and speaking with His disciples, Jesus took the time to speak with His Father, and John recorded His words for all of us to read centuries later. Personally, I am touched when I read this chapter; to me, it’s Jesus at His most personal moments, His most personal words. And as I’ve often said, I can imagine myself being one of His disciples and reading His words being applied to me (as one of the disciples), but then I hear Him speaking further directly for me today, I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (v. 20), and that blows me away! And then I think of Peter and Paul and Philip and other disciples and all His followers sharing the word with the world down through the centuries, all the way to us today – and that also blows me away!

So, a couple of verses to highlight… And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (v. 3) If we know Jesus and the Father, through knowing Him, we have eternal life. Period. Done. It’s now, not just Heaven later. It’s here now, daily, forever.

I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (vv. 14-16) Here in the USA we do not feel the world’s hatred as much as Christians in many parts of Africa and Asia, but it’s there nonetheless, more subtle, more quiet – the world’s resistance to live by God’s Law and not their own fascinations. It affects us probably a lot more than we can know or imagine.

Finally, as noted above, verse 20. Have a great day, y’all!!

Blessings!

See also: