Wealth can often bring problems which are unexpected and very harmful. In the passage we find, initially, the prophet speaking judgement on Tyre, a region on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Success in commerce had resulted in a dangerous self-sufficiency. They thought their city was unassailable. This was a type of harlotry in God’s sight. The destruction of Tyre came about because its wealth was fuelling pride.

We find that people today often see their wealth as being their security. This also is a form of harlotry. Jesus’ words in the New Testament sound a warning about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Our stronghold needs to be in God rather than wealth.

There is a type of parallel to Tyre in the New Testament in the life of a woman who had been a harlot. She, however, found forgiveness for her sins in Jesus Christ and used some very expensive perfume to ‘anoint’ Jesus. It seems she knew he would have to go to the cross. He was going to pay the penalty for people’s harlotry so that they could freely receive forgiveness through faith. Jesus was far richer than any person or city but became poor so that others can be rich in him.

 

 

 

We often find that we need to learn the same thing over and over again. In this passage, King David made the mistake of not relying on God to deal with someone who had greatly insulted him, Nabal. David allowed himself to seek revenge. In Jesus, however, we see the complete opposite.

Abigail, the wife of Nabal, showed great wisdom by going to David with a gift and graciously appeased his anger toward her husband. This is like what Jesus did at the cross where He took the punishment for sin. Gracious intervention overcomes sin.

We are also to leave judgement to God. Nabal died and Abigail became David’s wife. Just as Abigail’s wisdom rescued David from his sins, so too we need to respond to Jesus’ wise words. He calls us to turn from our sins, trust in him and follow him.

 

 

 

In stark contrast to what we see around us today, in this passage, we find that David was not hungry for power. Saul, the existing king, was hunting David in order to kill him. Because of unusual circumstances David had an opportunity to kill Saul but didn’t take it. He cut off the corner of Saul’s robe instead.

David already knew that the kingdom would be his but he wanted to make sure that it was in God’s way, not his own. This is a bit like Jesus when he was tempted by Satan to take a ‘short cut’ to becoming King. Jesus knew that He must only become King through the cross … he had to die and be raised again to life. In this way others could be saved by His sacrificial love.

In Jesus we see the powerful choice to be weak because God will, in his timing, do what is right. We are to leave it to God to judge. He will vindicate his people because they know the kingdom is already theirs through the cross. All people need to seek refuge in Jesus Christ, God’s anointed King..

 

 

 

We live in a world that is broken. Hope for the future is found in God himself. In the book of Isaiah there are promises of someone who would come to set things right. God has kept his promise about a king who would come and rule in such a way that no king before had ever done … justice to the poor, righteousness and delight in serving the Lord.

Through this king, loving God translates into loving others. The leader that God has promised would rule in such a way as to bring peace to the world. Who is this person? The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who gives the ‘living water’ which truly satisfies our deepest need and transforms our lives.

Justice and mercy, peace and righteousness will fill the earth. Through His death on the cross and resurrection Jesus brings us out of slavery to sin and into the freedom of serving God. In him our sins are forgiven and we have a new hope and a new future. In him we have a reason to sing.

 

 

In the early part of this passage Jesus said that He is the light of the world. The wrong things that people think and say and do are like darkness. This is what is called ‘sin’. Jesus came to change that. Later in the chapter He said that He could make people free. This was a surprise to the Jews. They thought that they were already free because they were part of Abraham’s family from long ago. The freedom Jesus was speaking about was different to what they thought. Jesus was speaking about being free from the control of sin and having God as their friend. How can people get this freedom which Jesus gives?

The wrong way to get this freedom is to trust in the things which we already have. It might be thinking we are God’s friends because we are part of a family. It might be because we think we have done a lot of good things like going to church. It might be because we think we are already a ‘good’ person. All these are the wrong way to be free from the control of sin.

The right way to be set free from the control of sin in our lives is by trusting in Jesus and not anything or anyone else. What Jesus did on the cross, when He died a terrible death, was as a payment for people’s sins. When we trust in Jesus and what He has done for us our sin is taken away. God doesn’t hold it against us anymore … ever.  Because of this, sin cannot control us any longer and we become God’s friends. We can then live to please Him by doing, saying and thinking things that are right.

 

 

 

In this passage we find that the people were speculating about Jesus because he had come from Galilee. They did not accept who he claimed to be, and actually was, as ‘the light of the world’. His coming had, however, been predicted a very long time before by the prophet Isaiah.

The natural position of all people is ‘darkness’. This is because ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’. Jesus came as the light which the darkness cannot overcome. He is the one who was without sin. He promised that those who follow him would ‘walk’ in the light.

In order to see his light we must first understand our own darkness. In this way the meaning of the cross becomes clear to us. Jesus went to the cross, even though he was innocent. Through trusting in what he has done for us, as a substitute and sacrifice, we are brought out of darkness and into the marvellous light … forgiven and set free.

 

 

 

People are often quick to condemn others but many don’t realize that everyone of us deserves condemnation. This is because we have all thought, said and done wrong things. It could be referred to as the ‘plank and splinter theology’. We can be very quick to see the splinter in another’s eye whilst forgetting that there is a plank in our own eye which prevents us from seeing  clearly.

In this passage a woman is brought to Jesus who has been caught in the act of adultery. This was forbidden and very serious because the punishment was stoning to death. What those who were accusing her did not understand was that, as Jesus had said, ‘anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery in his heart’. This is not to condone adultery in any way but Jesus saw their motive which was to trap him. His response to them is also a challenge to our own attitudes.

Jesus says to them ‘let he who is without sin cast the first stone’. One by one they slipped away as their own hearts were pierced. They were not in any position to condemn the woman. The most important thing was, however, that Jesus, unlike all the others, had never committed wrong. He was perfect and so he could have judged the woman. Instead he says to her ‘neither do I condemn you … go and leave your life of sin’. At the cross Jesus, though innocent, underwent a type of ‘stoning’ for our sins. Why would we not turn from our sins and give our lives to the one who gave his life for us.

 

 

There are many different  opinions on who Jesus is. Some talk of him as ‘deceived’ others say that he was ‘demon possessed’ still others that he was a good moral teacher. Everyone, it seems, has an opinion on who Jesus is or was. In the passage, verse 43 sums it up by saying ‘the people were divided because of Jesus’. He, however, is the one who knows his identity.

The Jewish festivals presented  images of life-giving water flowing out to heal people. Jesus is saying that this is the moment the people have been waiting for … he has finally come to give all of that to us. The people would always thirst if they were just pilgrims going to festivals… there is something about religion which always keeps people thirsty.

Jesus said that he is the water of life … that he was going to put the river inside our hearts so that we would never be thirsty again. Rivers of living water flow to God’s people through the working of the Spirit. He provides the connection to Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Religion suffocates life but the Spirit streams life. Jesus wants people to come and drink of the life-giving water of forgiveness which comes from him. The first step towards having a drink is to acknowledge your thirst.

 

 

 

Discipline can be defined as ‘training in order to obey’. We see discipline in the preparation of athletes for the Olympics. We also see it in the relationship between parents and children. Parents, however, don’t always get it right. It is often more about them than the development of the child.

When it comes to God and his people, he always gets it right. Paul reminds his readers in this passage that they need discipline because, in this world, they will suffer for their faith. Discipline is for their good. It is actually a sign of God’s love. It is not about punishment but about submission to God’s will, which leads to maturity.

Jesus Christ was perfected in his role as Messiah through suffering so that, in looking to him, God’s people would not lose heart. They are to seek peace as they live in a troubled world, knowing that they have no power of their own. The gospel, of which they are stewards is God’s power … forgiveness through Jesus’ death and resurrection, received  by faith alone.

 

 

 

It has been said that faith is the great ‘cop out’. There is a faith, however, which is not wishful thinking but a gift. It is based on the person and work of Jesus Christ … his life, death, resurrection, ascension and ongoing ministry.

In this passage we see one example after another of people who had this faith. This is for the encouragement of other believers. These examples provide confidence that a better resurrection is going to happen. Every person mentioned did something as a result of a futuristic focus.

This faith is based on God’s actions in the past, in Jesus Christ, so that there can be confidence in the future.  Jesus is also the best example of perseverance. He looked to his future glory and joy. In this he was sustained. Christians today are to fix their eyes on him.  Faith comes by hearing God’s word. Biblical faith is not a ‘cop out’ … unbelief is.