Pictures of the Lord Jesus from Genesis 37

Just a few skeleton thoughts from this interesting and well-known chapter, let's look for comparisons and contrasts with our Lord Jesus.

• v2 - Shepherd character - John ch 10 - "I am the Good Shepherd..."
• v3 - Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children... - "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased..."
• v3 - The timing of Joseph's birth (Jacob was in old age and Rachel had been barren!) - Think of the Lord Jesus - "When the fullness of the time was come..." Christ came at the right time, according  to God's schedule!
• v3 - The coat of many colours - The Saviour had a distinctive coat too, woven from the top throughout, and without seam. Really his coat speaks of his lovely seamless character, no gaps, flaws or joins and of course without sin! This is what made the Lord so distinctive amongst men, not so much a coat of many colours.
• v4 - His brethren hated him - Psa 69 - "Those that hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head"
• v5 - Joseph brought a vision/message from God - Christ fully told out the Father, He was the message! The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us...
• v13 - Sent by the Father, a willing servant - Lo I come... The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world...
• v14 - Sought his brethren's welfare - Concerning Christ - "He came unto his own..."
• v15 - He was found wandering - This could never be said of the Saviour! Every step was purposeful and planned, always in the right place at the right time.
• v20 - Come now therefore and let us slay him - Think of Mk 12 - "this is the heir, come let us kill him..."
• v22 - Reuben hoped to deliver him once again to his father - Think of the Lord Jesus, of him it is said that "God spared not his Son but delivered Him up for us all..."
• v23 - They stripped him of his coat - We spoke earlier about that distinctive coat of the Lord's speaking of his lovely character. Although he was stripped of his coat at Calvary (they cast lots for his garments) they could not divest him of his beautiful sinless character, neither could they tarnish it! In fact his flawless character is only enhanced and seen in it's fullest glory at Calvary.
• v24 - They cast him into a pit, there was no water in it - Interesting that the scriptures make specific mention of the lack of water. When we think of the Saviour we think of the depths of his suffering at Calvary, both at the hands of men and bearing the judgement for our sin there. There were waters for Him there - Psa 69 for example: "Waters are come in unto my soul, I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me..." We remember the words found in Genesis chapter 1, God gathered the waters unto one place... and that was Calvary. "All thy waves and thy billows have passed over me..."
• v25 - They sat down to eat bread - Calvary - "sitting down they watched him there..."
• Gen 42:21 - We saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear... Interesting detail here found a few chapters later. We think of Pilate when he brought forth the Saviour arrayed in mockery and disdain - "Behold the man!" They saw and looked upon him... Concerning the soul - Isaiah says he "poured out his soul unto death... he shall see of the travail of his soul..." Unlike Joseph however, I don't think the Saviour 'besought' or pleaded with his tormentors... Surely he suffered as the willing victim! We are told exactly what was said from the cross, there were no protestations or remonstrations.
• v28 - Both were sold for a pittance - Give me my price, so they weighed for my price 30 pieces of silver...
• v33 - The father looked upon the blood - Of course Jacob was deceived by the blood of the kid of the goats, it wasn't his son's blood. Think of God the Father when he looked down upon Calvary, that mercy seat where the Saviour shed his precious blood to atone for sin once and for all! "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" We are told that Christ is our Passover! We are justified by his blood, it cleanses us from all sin, and makes peace by the blood of His cross!

I trust these simple thoughts will be a blessing and encourage others to add to and develop these thoughts.

Yours in Christ, Mark

Whom do men say that I am?

Matthew 16:13-17

I was thinking recently about these verses and it led to a satisfying mini-study, which I am always pleased to engage in! I was thinking about each of the parties mentioned here and what comparisons and contrasts there are in relation to the Saviour.

John the Baptist - John of course bore direct witness to the Lord Jesus and 'prepared the way' for him. Maybe the clear and authoritative preaching of Jesus reminded the people of John? John very much came with the message "Repent and be cleansed!" and so did the Saviour as he came into Galilee with the message "Repent and believe the gospel"

Elijah - Elijah was also a man marked by clear and powerful preaching, but maybe here the emphasis  might be upon his miraculous power, and prophecies which could only come from a direct and regular dialogue with God. Elijah could call down fire from heaven, and on several occasions predict and prophesy events that indeed came to pass (James 5:17, also his prophecies against Ahab and Jezebel etc) 

Certainly we remember that the Lord Jesus could call upon his Father God and he would answer him, as Father to a Son, nothing was denied him! Time and again we read of the Saviour departing to be alone in prayer, often to a mountain or desert place. Surely here was one who had an unbroken fellowship and dialogue with the Father. As far as miraculous power is concerned, we surely can agree that this was witnessed time and time again, just look at Matt 14:14, 36 - so many were healed and blessed by him! 

I find it interesting however as we think about these things, that we read in Matt 26:53 "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Surely an Elijah would have done this, the prophet of fire and thunder?! The Saviour could have, but did not. His face was set to go to Calvary and there accomplish the Father's will.

Finally I think there is a final nice contrast between that great man Elijah and the perfect man, our Lord Jesus. Remember in James 5:17 we read that "Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are..." and we also read a similar phrase regarding the Saviour in Hebrews 4:15 "...was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Yes there is the difference, Elijah was as much and such a a man as we are, including his sinful nature, but our Lord Jesus was entirely different - a man tested in all things in like manner as JND puts it, but sin apart!

One of the prophets - This is an interesting phrase, and really got me thinking. Here are a few brief and simple thoughts regarding the prophets that we could consider, and indeed study further in order to put more 'flesh on the bones' so to speak:

• Nathan - the prophet who could put his finger right on the problem, remember he boldly proclaimed to King David "thou art the man!" Surely we can recall the incisive wisdom and perception of the Lord Jesus, who knew as soon as he beheld someone just exactly what they were thinking and what the problem was. 
• Isaiah - the most quoted prophet by the Lord Jesus. It was Isaiah of course that the Lord read from in Luke 4. Surely then we are reminded of the Word of God? Here was the Word made flesh, dwelling amongst men! 
• Jeremiah - the tender prophet with the human touch - surely this speaks to us of our Saviour? He was indeed a man of compassion, grace and mercy, who wept at the graveside of Lazarus, truly 'a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.'
• Ezekiel - the prophet who could speak much about sheep and shepherds! Think of John 10 just as one example; the Good Shepherd speaking about the sheep.
• Daniel - the prophet who would not be defiled by the heathen king's food and drink. Remember our Lord Jesus COULD NOT be defiled! He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" we could bring other scriptures regarding his spotless sinless character to mind also!
• Hosea - that prophet who was obedient to a fault, no matter what God asked him to do! Surely we think of the perfect obedience of our Saviour, who was daily God's delight, "in whom I am well pleased". We recall concerning Him "...becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of the cross." JND.
• Joel - his name means 'Jehovah is God' and spoke much of the need for national repentance and the blessings this will bring. Our Lord Jesus pointed men to God, he was God with us! "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18 The message of the Saviour was very much, repent and be converted! He could weep over Jerusalem, and sought the repentance of the nation, but sadly we recall that "he came unto his own, and his own received him not." John 1:11
• Amos - his name means 'burden bearer' thus giving us straightaway a direct picture of the Lord Jesus - Isaiah 53 springs to mind, as does Matthew 11:28-30 and 1 Pet 2:24. Also Amos was the humble herdsman of Tekoa, we can think of scriptures regarding the humility of our Saviour and the lowly place he took! Philippians 2, Matt 11:29, Zech 9:9
• Jonah - Of course Jonah speaks loudly of the Saviour, as he was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the deep! Matt 12:40-41 He too was a sign to his generation, as was the Saviour to every generation! However we can see contrasts as well between the two. The word of the Lord never needed to come to our Lord Jesus a second time, he was ever the perfect servant.
• Micah - His name means 'who is like Jehovah?'. He could speak prophetically of the Lord of course, with his proclamation of Bethlehem being the birth place of the Messiah (5:2) He could say "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord". We remember that the Saviour was led by the Spirit, driven by the Spirit and full of the Spirit... 
• Nahum - His name means 'compassion' - time does not permit us to mention all the occasions when the Saviour was moved with compassion!
• Habakkuk - The prophet who could say "the just shall live by his faith." How lovely to think of the Lord Jesus where it says "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God..."
• Zephaniah - A descendant of King Hezekiah, the king who was remarkable in that he lived when he should have died! (2 Kings 20:1-6) We think of our Lord Jesus, who (humanly speaking) died when he should have lived. Isaiah says he was 'cut off' and indeed the Lord Jesus himself said regarding his life "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Jn 10:18. The Lord Jesus came from the kingly line of Judah, and he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." Isa 9:7
• Haggai - The man with a message and burden for the house of God. Remember the Lord Jesus could purge the temple - "make not my Father's house a house of merchandise". The disciples remembered the word (Psa 69:9) where it says "the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" He too could speak of his Father's House, a place he has gone ahead to prepare for you and for me! Jn 14:2-3
• Malachi - This prophet could speak wonderful words such as "I am the Lord, I change not" - surely we're reminded of Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." We also have several little pictures of the Church I believe in Malachi. 
• We have a dialogue between God and his people, as there is a repetition of "ye say" versus "thus saith Jehovah". Surely we are encouraged to enjoy a dialogue with our God as we think of the exhortations to prayer - "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb 4:16
• We have a collection of people described for us in Malachi who fear the Lord and speak often of him. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name." (3:16) I realise I am taking this out of context as the verses really speak about the Second Coming of the Lord to the earth, and the godly remnant in that future day, but surely we see a picture of ourselves, as this is our present privilege as we gather as companies of the Lord's people to 'speak often of Him'! 
• The following verse also says "And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels" - again I realise I am perhaps taking this out of context (see note above) but I think an application is permissible, for surely the scriptures speak much of a glorious prospect ahead for the believer with Him in heaven? I remember the words of the Lord Jesus in John 17: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me..."

I hope that these few simple and largely undeveloped thoughts will be a blessing and encouragement. Please remember that these simple devotionals are always a good spring board into further study!

Yours in Christ,

Mark

Announcing Burton Bibles!

Hi guys, just a quick post to let you know that something I have been working on for the past few weeks has now gone live! After years of frustration at not being able to find decent Bible shops in the UK I have decided to set up my own, yikes! 

In partnership with Cambridge University Press I have set up a webshop www.burtonbibles.com and I have also launched an accompanying YouTube channel with Bible overviews and other useful Bible related content, as well as an Instagram account with lots of lovely Bible pictures and overviews which can be found here

It is early days but I'm hoping that I can help fellow believers find their next lovely Bible that they will treasure, read and study, but moreover a Bible that is RIGHT for them in terms of size, print and binding.

Please give the channels and site a look, and I will appreciate your support and prayers over the coming months as we get things going.

Yours in Christ,

Mark

Three Men at the Pool of Bethesda

Just some simple thoughts from John 5, the man healed at the pool of Bethesda. Bethesda means 'House of Mercy, or Kindness' and so is it not fitting and entirely appropriate that into this place steps the Saviour, the perfect embodiment of all kindness and mercy! Does Psalm 117:2 not say "For his merciful kindness is great toward us..."

In this scene we read of three men referred to:

• "A certain man" - An infirmed man, impotent and helpless who had lay stricken for 38 years. It is interesting that this man had been in this state for longer than the Lord Jesus had been upon the earth as a man! I think it is lovely to think therefore that even before he came into this world, his eye was upon this man, knowing one day they would meet and he would be blessed as a result. Surely we think of ourselves in this regard; "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world..." Eph 1:4

• "I have no man..." - This man had no man to help him in his despair, his situation was hopeless! His plight is touching; "While I am coming into it myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me..." How typical of men and of this world! This 'me first' attitude, the survival of the fittest, illustrating the selfish cruelty of men. How unfair, how this poor man was disadvantaged! Thank God that the Saviour steps in to redress the balance, here is mercy and compassion, here is one who will help! We thank God that our God is not the God who only blesses those who get there first, those who step ahead of others and cut in! Praise God that he looked on us in our helpless state - "For by grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast." Eph 2:8-9

• "...what man is that..." - The outraged Jews enquired of the healed man. Of course they discovered it was the blessed man of Galilee! Son of Man, yet Son of God, here we see the two met together beautifully, just as they did at the tomb of Lazarus, his compassion and care for his fellow man, and yet his omnipotence to heal and bless. Empowered after 38 years of weakness and wretchedness... "He healed me and gave me back my strength..." Christ put others first, despite the Sabbath, this was far from the Jewish way, they were outraged! He would later go to the cross of Calvary to die for others, and there they would mock him again - "He saved others, himself he cannot save." We notice that their cold-hearted hypocrisy would surface again even at Calvary, as it is John who records; "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away." They would not even let him alone then, as he died on the cross! Well might we sing - "Hallelujah! What a Saviour!" We thank God that Christ put others first, he thought of us and came to our aid in our deep need.

We trust these simple thoughts will be a blessing to all.

Mark

King Saul - A Brief Devotional

I was thinking recently about Christ as the rejected king that the Jews didn't want - "we will not have this to reign over us!" It put me in mind of the king that God rejected, the man Saul. There is a lovely comparison between the two.

• Saul was the king who was very much the people's choice, although God put him there. Our Lord Jesus Christ was ever God's choice - ('behold my Servant'... 'this is my beloved Son')
• Saul was a man physically that the people desired, and would look up to (literally for he was head and shoulders above them). Think of the Lord; "There is no beauty that we should desire him" "He hath no form nor comeliness..." Although the Lord Jesus was head and shoulders above them all morally! Perfect and sinless He was.
• Saul was marked by disobedience to the word of the LORD, his disobedience in 1 Sam 13 in acting as a priest and offering burnt offerings instead of waiting for Samuel to come, and his disobedience in ch 15 in not annihilating the Amalekites left God no option but to reject Saul from continuing and prospering as king of Israel. None of this could be said of our blessed Lord as his 'meat was to do the will of him that sent him'... ('I delight to do thy will'... 'I do always those things that please the Father')
• Remember that there was a time when Saul showed an astonishing lack of compassion for his people, when he enforced a fast upon them. I can't help but think of the time our Saviour looked out upon the people and saw them as sheep not having a shepherd, and moved with compassion he fed them miraculously in the wilderness! He would not send them away faint and hungry.
• Saul was also marked by a lack of self-control and often lost his temper. The Lord Jesus was always in control, and was marked by meekness and was gracious even in the face of extreme provocation - ('I am meek and lowly'... 'when he was reviled he reviled not again, and when he suffered he threatened not.')
• Saul was an extremely jealous man, wanting something that was not his, and driven by bitter envy. Of our Lord Jesus it is said that the earth is His and the fullness thereof, there was nothing he desired that was not his already by right. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor - what a contrast! Our blessed Lord humbled himself, and made himself of no reputation, while Saul raged and clung onto power with everything he had.
• We read that an evil spirit came upon Saul and tormented him, sent from God. I can't help but think of the Lord Jesus, who was full of the Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit, and driven by the Spirit.
• Saul was the man who wouldn't go down into the valley to face the giant. Driven by self-preservation he would let a teenage David go down instead to claim the victory for God. Think of our Saviour who would say "Here am I, send me", who willingly went down into the depths, and of whom it could be said "I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me... all thy waves and billows have passed over me..."
• Think of Saul's end - his death was one of shame, failure and defeat on Mt Gilboa. Now think of our blessed Saviour, who died on Mt Calvary. Yes it was a death of shame ('cursed is every man who hangeth upon a tree') but his death was one of victory, not defeat! He triumphed over death, hell and the grave, a death which brought many sons to glory!
• Saul had his kingdom taken away from him, it would not endure forever. I am reminded of our Lord Jesus - "he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." 

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun doth his successive journey's run, his kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more." 

Praise be to his name! Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

We trust that these simple thoughts and meditations will be a blessing to us.

Mark

Christ and the Judges

I was thinking about some contrasts and comparisons between our Lord Jesus and the Judges of the Old Testament, and I think there are some interesting points to note. This is very much a work in progress and I expect to add to this in the coming days as appropriate.

Remember that the the days when the Judges were raised up were dark days spiritually speaking for the people of God. Joshua had died and they had rebelled, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, and disobeying his voice (Judges 2:2, 11). Out of his love and compassion, God raised up Judges or Deliverers to save them (2:16) This certainly reminds us of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he came into the world at a time when the people had wandered far from God, saying the right things with their lips but their hearts were far from Him (Matt 15:8). Into the darkness came a Light, the Light of the world! "And the darkness comprehended it not" (John 1:5)

Just think of some of these 'saviours' and their characteristics in relation to the true and perfect Saviour!

• Othniel - of him it is recorded that "the Spirit of God came upon him" - when we think of the Lord Jesus we remember that he was LED by the Spirit (Matt 4:1), he was DRIVEN by the Spirit (Mark 1:12) and he was FULL OF the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) how lovely to think that the Saviour was ever guided and led by the Spirit, in sync with the Father's will. He was driven from within by the Spirit, ever moving with purpose and conviction. He was full of or 'full up' with the Holy Spirit, meaning he was controlled and directed by it!
• Ehud - God;s left-handed right-hand man! The stand out feature of this Judge was his 'homemade' double-edged sword, surely speaking to us of that Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12).Surely we cannot help but think of the Lord Jesus of whom it is said "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." (John 1) He was the very Word of God, he embodied it and fully told it out!
• Gideon - we are reminded of the few that fought against the many, described in that Midianite dream as - "a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it". I cannot help but think of one who took those humble small barley loaves, and multiplied them to the blessing of many! Remember they said on that occasion "but what are these among so many?" (John 6:9). Just as in Gideon's day, they were vastly outnumbered. But as is so often the case God uses "the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Cor 1:27)
• Think of Jepththah - Here was a man marked by speaking unwisely. He made a foolish and rash vow, to his great cost! Think of the Lord Jesus, a man who confounded and amazed men with the wisdom and grace of his speech! Satan was defeated by his words, men marvelled at wisdom, remember the words of the Proverb; "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (25:11) surely an appropriate application to our Saviour.
• Finally think of Samson - God's mighty but weak strong-man! Here was a Nazarite from birth, who failed and was defiled. We remember that the Lord Jesus was the perfect fulfilment of a Nazarite, he was wholly separated and consecrated to God! We also remember that he could not fail, or be defiled, he was "without sin", he did no sin, he knew no sin and in Him is no sin!

Samson had a triumphant end, and there are some lovely pictures of the Lord Jesus;

• Remember he was betrayed by a close one
• He was humiliated and suffered many things at the hands of wicked men
• He was led out to the place of death, as our Lord was (Mark 15:20)
• Both cried out to God, one was answered, but for the other the heavens remained silent (Matt 27:46)
• We remember that their deaths fulfilled their life work, or purpose. Of Samson it is said "So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life." (Judges 16:30) When we think of the death of the Lord Jesus we are reminded that "...he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." (2 Cor 5:15) He died that we might live! "Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." (1 Thess 5:10)

I hope that this provides some food for thought and encourages us to look closer at these things, this is just a start of what could be a nice study, given more time and application.

God bless!

A New Beginning To A New Year!

Joshua 1:1-17

Joshua is facing a new beginning now that his predecessor Moses is gone. He faces a future full of uncertainties perhaps, but rather than dwell on this he is exhorted by God to look back and reflect. The same is true for us as we look forwards to 2018 with all it's uncertainties and potential problems and challenges for us as Christians, but we do well to reflect on God's goodness to us and be encouraged as we go forwards with Him!

Joshua could look back on a history of God's tremendous goodness. In fact God had reminded them previously "Ye have lacked nothing" (Deut 2:7).
Yes the way had been hard at times, but the Lord had always been there for his people - "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee" - Note that neither his ability nor his presence are in doubt here!

There are TWO exhortations from the LORD for Joshua:

1. Be Strong and Courageous - this is repeated several times in these verses. God reminds us that the Christian pathway is not a cake-walk but requires us to respond to the challenge and be strong and of good courage! Paul offers similar words to Timothy to embolden him and encourage him to stand fast and be ready for the challenges and responsibilities ahead. As we enter a new year we need similar exhortation, God asks us to be strong and courageous in 2018!
2. Love and Live God's Word - The encouragement is to meditate upon it night and day, to depart not from it... that God's Word should be upon our minds and our mouths continually! If we do this in 2018 we are assured of "good success wherever you go". We are reminded of the similar words of Psalm 1 -

"Blessed is the man... his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Surely as we look towards 2018, we can be encouraged by remembering and recalling God's goodness previously and rise to the challenge of a new year by being strong and courageous in our Christian lives, and loving and living God's Word.

I can't think of a better mindset with which to embark on another year! :0)

Lovest thou me?

I was looking at John 21:15-17 recently at the end of the year and was challenged by looking at these verses slightly differently to how I normally have done.

Concentrating on the words spoken to Peter, there is a question ot be answered, followed by a 'call to action'. When viewed simply we can be challenged in the same way; Do we truly love Him? If so then we need to respond with action!

Three times over the question is posed to Peter, so this was clearly something the Lord wanted to hit home - If you love me, prove it and do something! In Peter's case it was to 'feed my sheep', but for us it could be any number of things that we can change in our lives, in order to manifest and evidence our sincere love for Him.

It may be that as we look back over 2017 we realise we have had a 'mixed' year, full of ups and downs, and it may be possible that we haven't been everything we could have been spiritually, I know this is certainly true of me! But I take heart as this was also true of Peter! He had recently denied his Lord three times, but nevertheless the Lord was still interested in Peter, his love for Him and his potential to serve him going forward. The same is true of us, so we should take heart and carry on!

It is very easy for us to pay 'lip-service' in the matter of our love for the Lord Jesus. We often quote verses such as "we love him because he first loved us" and "whom having not seen we love", but in reality, is this love for Him backed up by actions in our lives? Do we say we love him when we sporadically attend our local Church meetings, seldom read our Bibles, and make decisions in our lives that put the Lord low down our list of priorities and therefore show a lack of love for Him?

John will again revisit this challenge later on in his first epistle;

"Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

The Lord is looking for actions and choices to be made if we say we love Him, not mere good intentions and well-meant statements! If we say we love Him then let us follow up in deed and in truth!

It would be a great start to the new year if we were to make a change in our lives, make a sacrifice, do something differently and demonstrate our love for Him!

"Lovest thou me? Feed my sheep."

The Lord vs The Temple

A few thoughts regarding the temple and the Lord Jesus.

The temple was something for God on earth, and how true that was of the Lord Jesus Christ! He truly was something for God down here on earth, he was God manifest in the flesh, and he daily brought pleasure and delight to his father God as he walked down here. He walked and worked always in the current of God's will and exclusively for his glory. Unfortunately, in the Lord's day the same could not be said of the temple.

Let's look at a few verses together...

The Lord Jesus Presented in the Temple as a Baby (Luke 2)
The first time we read of the Lord Jesus in the temple we read of the encounter with Simeon, that ageing righteous and devout man; “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

What tremendous words! Of course these could only be said of the Saviour, for only he was the light of the world, and the Saviour of sinners.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2)
We remember that as a boy of 12 when discovered by his parents in the temple he could say; "Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?"

Truly the Saviour was ever driven by the work that he had been sent to do, and that single purpose drove his every word, thought and deed.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (John 2)
"And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”"

His disciples recorded the zeal he had for the things of his father God. Sadly a place for God had become a place for men. The things of God were now secondary to the convenience and greed of men. The temple had become corrupted and defiled, and needed such a cleansing.

How lovely to remember that our Lord Jesus could never be corrupted or defiled! There was never anything that needed to be removed, or purged out, for he was "all fair without, all pure within!"

"Thy stainless life, Thy lovely walk,
In every aspect true,
From the defilement all around,
No taint of evil drew."

The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8)
We go from the Sinless One to a sinful woman, what a contrast! Here the Lord Jesus in the temple courts was presented with one who was a sinner of some repute, there could be no doubt of that, as she was caught in the very act. Here the Saviour taught those hard-hearted and hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees, that sin could be dealt with righteously AND forgiven! He taught them that grace and compassion were just as important as truth and righteousness, and he had come to provide that more excellent way, a way for sinners to be saved. Remember he could say “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

His words are lovely; "And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”"

The Widow's Mites (Mark 12)
"Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”"

This woman was noted by the Lord, and he took the time to call his disciple to him and use her as an example to show the value of true giving, as God sees it. She had cast in all that she had, and the Saviour noted it, how lovely! I thought of another at the temple that day who 'gave all', of course our Lord Jesus Christ. The Saviour spoke of the abundance of men that day, compare this to the Saviour himself, the most abundant one! The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof... all things were made by him and for him... he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor. He humbled himself in coming down from the realms of glory into this sinful world. And he knew physical poverty whilst he was here too.

In going to Calvary however, he truly gave all - he gave himself! He 'offered himself without spot to God'... the use of sacrificial language there in Hebrews not without significance, as we think about the temple as being a place of sacrifices and offerings.

We praise God for the Lord Jesus Christ! Well might he have said in Matthew 12 "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple."

Amen!

Behold!

We are often exhorted (and rightly so) to direct our hearts and minds towards the Saviour when we gather to remember him on a Lord's Day morning. To take a fresh glimpse with the eye of faith as it were and 'behold' him, in other words to survey his person and character and meditate upon him. This can only be a good thing, as it will surely draw out worship from our hearts!

I was thinking of a series of scriptures that use this word 'behold' in connection with the Lord Jesus and hope that it draws our eye towards him again. I shall list the ones I was thinking of briefly here, with little or no comment, so you can add your own thoughts and meditations.

1. "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth..." Isa 42:1
1. Here is the prophet speaking the mind of God, speaking of the Lord Jesus, the perfect servant
2. A man in whom his soul delights, how different from all other men! He was daily his delight (Pro 8)
2. "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child... Luke 2:34
1. What a statement! Behold this child... the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!
3. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29
1. The Lord Jesus at the commencement of his earthly ministry
2. The perfect spotless Lamb of God (hinting back to the Passover Lamb)
3. Also hinting forward to the time he would offer himself as the Lamb, without spot to God for the sins of the world
4. As they turned to behold, they would see a normal man, no beauty that they should desire him!
4. "and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" Matthew 11:19
1. This was the Jews perspective, their assessment!
2. What a friend we have in Jesus!
3. The common people heard him gladly
4. He cam not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance
5. "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" John 11:36
1. For once their assessment was correct! Him whom thou lovest is sick...
2. A glimpse at his humanity - he is touched by the feelings of our infirmities!
3. A man of sorrows...
4. How we could put this statement over the cross, in relation to ourselves, behold how he loves us!
6. "Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!... and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!" John 19:5 & 14
1. His suffering at the hands of men - their mocking tones
2. They set him at nought
7. "And the people stood beholding." Luke 23:35
1. The scene at Calvary, what a sight would have met their eyes...
2. His visage was marred more than any mans
3. His pierced hands and his feet, his precious blood shed!
4. "See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!"
8. "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke 24:39
1. A risen Saviour, we believe it and rejoice!
2. Lovely words - "that it is I myself!"
9. "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." John 17:24
1. What a wonderful prospect awaits us!
2. Faith will give place to sight, we shall see his face!
3. "but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2

I trust these simple thoughts will be a help and blessing to us all.