Exodus 2:1-10 The Deliverer Arrives

Moses' parents were Amram and Jochebed, both from the tribe of Levi.  "Hebrews 11:23 commends both the father and the mother for trusting God.  Certainly it took faith for them to have normal marital relations during that dangerous time when Jewish babies were being killed," my commentary said.

In Acts and Hebrews, we're told that Moses was seen to be "no ordinary child," and it is evident that God had a special purpose for him, my commentary continued.  Moses' mother was trusting God by putting her son in the basket in the Nile, and God didn't fail her.

And when Pharaoh's daughter came to the river to bathe, "God used a baby's tears to control the heart of a powerful princess ... A baby's tears were God's first weapons in His war against Egypt."

"He used Miriam's words to arrange for the baby's mother to raise the boy and get paid for it!"  The princess named him Moses, meaning "born" or "son" in Egyptian, and sounding like the Hebrew word meaning "draw out".  "Years later, his name would remind Moses of the God who rescued him and did great things for him in Egypt."

Father, this child surely must have known You had a plan for him.  As a man, Moses could certainly look back and see how You had communicated with him and guarded him.  I'm so thankful that You've begun doing the same with me.  I love going over what You've already done in my life, preparing me for what You still have to show me.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Exodus 1 -- Life In Egypt Just Got Rough

Jacob and his sons had migrated to Egypt at God's command to escape famine in the land they were inhabiting.  He'd already prepared the way, putting Joseph as second in command of Egypt.  For their lifetimes and many more, God caused the Egyptians to bless them as they had brought blessings to Egypt.  They'd watched the dynasties come and go, until finally a pharaoh came to power who'd never heard of Joseph or what he'd done.  The Jews had become a significant minority in Egyptian society, and he saw them as a national security risk, deciding that invaders might form an alliance with them to overthrow the Egyptians.  

Reversing the idea of emancipation, he three them into slavery in an attempt to reverse their population growth, but it had the opposite effect!  When afflicting the adults didn't work, he tried killing all Jewish boys at birth.  He probably thought he'd absorb the girls into the Egyptian race through marriage to Egyptian slaves, my commentary said.  "But Genesis 3:15 and 12:1-3 said that God would not permit such a thing to happen, and He used two Jewish midwives to outwit Pharaoh.  This is the first instance in Scripture of what we call today "civil disobedience" -- refusing to obey an evil law because of a higher good."

Seeing that so many Jewish boys were surviving birth, Pharaoh decided to put the entire ethic Egyptian population into action, getting them to report the presence of male Jewish babies so that they could be drowned in the Nile.  That river was sacred to the Egyptians, yet it would be polluted with decaying bodies!  "The real cause of the conflict announced in 3:15 was the enmity between the people of God and the children of Satan:  a conflict that still goes on in the world today."

Father, it's always so amazing to watch Your plan at work throughout history and despite Satan's best efforts to thwart Your plans!  Guide me as I read this again to see how even this prepared the world for the arrival of Your Son.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 28:16-20 The Commission

My commentary stated that the ascension did not occur at the place and time described in these verses, "but later, after He had ministered to His disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:44-53)."  It said the "Great Commission" does apply to us as believers, so we should understand the factors that are involved.

1)  An authority -- Jesus had authority -- the right to use power," so we may obey Him without fear.  No matter where He leads us, no matter what circumstances we face, He is in control ... The early church operated on the basis of the Lord's sovereign authority.  They ministered in His name.  They depended on His power and guidance.  They did not face a lost world on the basis of their own authority, but on the authority of Jesus Christ."

2)  An activity -- "While you are going, make disciples of all nations," is how verses 19-20 translate... "Being a disciple meant ... apprenticeship ... a disciple attached himself to a teacher, identified with him, learned from him, and lived with him.  He learned, not simply by listening, but also by doing ... It is not enough to win people to the Savior; we must also teach them the Word of God.  This is also a part of the Great Commission."

3)  An ability -- "Jesus is also present with His people as they scatter into the world to witness.  Had He remained on earth, Jesus could not have fulfilled this promise.  It is when the Spirit came that Jesus could be with His people no matter where they were."

Father, help me to not stop telling others about You.  It was so great to see many of the young people You have led me to disciple during this holiday season.  Thanks for reminding me of that joy to help me keep doing it! 

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 27:57-28:8 The Resurrection

After Joseph and Nicodemus placed Jesus' body in the tomb, they had a large stone rolled over the entrance.  My commentary said, "The disciples had forgotten that Jesus promised to rise from the dead on the third day, but His enemies remembered."  They asked Pilate for guards and also sealed the stone to the face of the rock.

At dawn on Sunday, as the women were coming to anoint His body, an earthquake and an incredibly bright light occurred, and an angel told them He had risen and would see His disciples in Galilee.  As they headed to tell the disciples, Jesus appeared to them and they worshiped Him.  

Father, on the day we celebrate Your Son's incarnation, I am amazed at Your timing that I am also reading of His resurrection.  This just shows me how short this life is compared to eternity, and I'm glad I'll be spending it with You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 27:45-56 Rejected By The Father

My commentary labeled this section "Rejected By The Father".  Once Jesus was affixed to the cross, darkness engulfed the land for three hours.  In Jewish history, there had been three days of darkness before the first Passover in Egypt, my commentary reminded us, so we can know that this darkness was similar -- not an eclipse or a sandstorm.

"After three hours, the darkness left.  Then Jesus cried, 'My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?' (Psalm 22:1).  It was during the time of darkness that Jesus had been made sin for us.  He had been forsaken by the Father!  That darkness was a symbol of the judgment that He endured when He was 'made a curse' for us ... How could a holy God look with favor on His Son who had become sin?" my commentary said.

At the moment of His death, "three miracles took place simultaneously:  The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; an earthquake opened many graves; and some saints arose from the dead," my commentary continued.  "The torn veil indicates that He conquered sin; the earthquake (similar to what Moses experienced on Mount Sinai when the law was given) suggests that He conquered the law and fulfilled it; and the resurrections prove that He defeated death."

Father, I envision Your Son on that cross in that terrible darkness, taking on the weight of the sins of the world, mentally flashing through scenes of every filthy act of every human who'd ever lived or would ever live.  It pains me to think of the suffering He endured when my own sins were put on Him and He was judged for them.  What agony I was a part of producing!  Forgive me.  Thank You for Your sacrifice.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 27:27-44 The Hours Before Crucifixion

"History states that Christ died, but theology explains, "Christ died for our sins."

Jesus had been up all night, during which he had been mocked by the soldiers.  They'd stripped Him and placed an old soldier's cloak on his bleeding back and a crown of thorns on his head.  Then they childishly acted out fake homage.  Some spat on Him and hit Him in the head with the reed they'd provided as His scepter, as had been prophesied in Isaiah 50:6, my commentary said.

He carried His cross part of the way, until the soldiers drafted Simon from Cyrene to get the procession moving along again.  They tried to give Him a narcotic drink to dull the pain, but He refused.  "He did the will of God in complete control of His faculties, fulfilling Psalm 69:21."  The soldiers gambled for His clothing, fulfilling Psalm 22:18.  The crucifixion was performed next to what in our day would be a highway, and passersby heaped scorn on Him, as did the Jewish leaders after He was affixed to that cross.  

Father, I marvel that You could even show such love to humans the way we treated Your Son.  You had every right to destroy the world, but instead You loved it.  Thank You for Your infinite love!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 27:11-26 The Undoing of Pilate

My commentary started this section by showing how Pilate fit the bill for his position in this drama:  "He was not liked by the Jews because he did things that deliberately violated their law and provoked them.  He was not above killing people to accomplish his purposes."  Wee, he ought to get along great with that Jewish council!  Sounds just like them!  

The Jewish council had carefully crafted three charges against Jesus specifically designed to require Pilate to act:  "1) He was misleading the nation; 2) He was forbidding the payment of taxes, and 3) He was claiming to be king."  These got Pilate involved, because they threatened Roman rule."

Pilate, ever the politician concerned about maintaining his lifestyle, chose the "claiming to be king" charge.  "If he could deal with this revolutionary properly, Pilate could please the Jews AND impress the emperor at the same time," my commentary said.  However, once he and Jesus talked, Pilate was convinced Jesus posed no danger, and he was ready to free him.  Even a side visit to Herod, though, didn't go his way.

He then saw another opportunity in the annual tradition of releasing a prisoner during Passover.  He picked the vilest man in custody -- one no person would want released in his town -- yet the Jewish leaders incited the crowd to select him over Jesus!  The leaders were beginning a riot that they always fought against during Passover!  Pilate relented, and went down in history as the man who condemned Jesus to die.

Father, I know it was actually my sin that Jesus died for, taking them from me and placing them on my behalf upon Himself and facing Your wrath over them so I would never have to.  Even acknowledging this, I still find myself adding to that list of sins, yet He died for all of them -- even my future sins.  I will never be able to finish saying thank You when I see You both someday!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 27:1-10 The End of Judas

The Jewish Council had met illegally, deciding Jesus' fate at night, so they reconvened in the morning to properly condemn Him to death.  Judas apparently witnessed the illegal trial, according to my commentary, and realized that Jesus had been condemned to die.  That made me wonder just what he'd been expecting of Jesus when he made the deal with the council for the 30 pieces of silver.  My commentary doesn't say.  If he truly expected an earthly kingdom and was convinced of Jesus' divine powers, might he have thought that Jesus was holding back or too timid to begin the hoped-for insurrection against the Romans to establish the earthly kingdom Judas expected and wanted to be a big part of?  Was his treachery his own way of forcing the issue, in the belief that, when pushed, Jesus would have to begin the process of instituting that earthly kingdom?  My commentary said Judas' response to the death sentence was remorse and regret.  The words in Matthew 27:3, it said, "indicate, not a sorrow for sin that leads to a change of mind and action, but a regreat at being caught, a remorse that leads to despair."  Now he realized that his dream was all over.  There was to be no place for him and no kingdom on earth, and he also likely feared the Romans would round up the whole crew for execution.

He tried to give back the money, but the priests, in their unbelievably kosher attitude, said it was tainted and they couldn't keep it.  He threw it at them and left, and he committed suicide.  They used the money to buy land for a cemetery to bury Jewish strangers who died in Jerusalem.  Their hypocrisy sickens me.  Judas' misunderstanding of Jesus' true mission (if indeed he had completely misunderstood) is terrible.

Father, keep my mind on You and what You are doing in this world.  Don't let me ever believe anything that is not of You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 26:69-75 Peter Fails Christ

"Peter has been criticized for following afar off, but that was not his mistake.  His mistake was that he followed at all.  He was supposed to get out.  Jesus had warned Peter that he would deny Him ... Jesus had expressly commanded the disciples not to follow.  If Peter had listened to the Word and obeyed it, he would never have failed the Lord in such a humiliating way," my commentary said.

John also had followed with Peter and gotten both of them entrance into the high priest's house.  He was a part of this failure.

Instead of watching and praying, to keep them from temptation, they'd fallen asleep and later entered into temptation and Peter fell.  

"Mark's account of this event indicates that the cock crowed twice.  after the third denial, the cock crowed for the second time ... the first cock-crowing was a warning to Peter, and he should have left the scene immediately."

But after the resurrection, Jesus took Peter aside and restored him to his discipleship.  He then did the same publicly.  Peter learned "to put no confidence in his own strength."

Father, help me not to make rash decisions based on my own confidence, but to obey You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 26:57-68 The Arrest

Those who arrested Jesus did not take Him straight to the house of the high priest.  Instead, they first stopped at the house of Annas, who was sort of the "godfather" behind the office of high priest.  Five of his sons had served as high priest, my commentary said, and now his son-in-law, Caiphas, was high priest.  (The Romans were limiting the term of high priest to suit them.)  

Witnesses could not be found that could truthfully present charges, so two false witnesses altered a statement He had made, reporting that He said, "I can destroy the temple of God and build it again in three days."  

Jesus would give no reply to the charges, even though the temple He'd referred to was His own body, and they were the ones doing the destroying.  

"Caiphas knew that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, so he put Him under oath to declare this.  The clever priest knew that Jesus could not avoid replying.  Jesus did affirm that He is the Son of God.  He applied to Himself Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13, both of which were messianic passages ... He predicted His resurrection and ascension."

Strangely, the Sadducees, which included Annas and Caiphas, did not believe in resurrection, and they only believed the five books of Moses were authoritative.  But, they pounced on Jesus' use of Psalm 110 and Daniel 7 and His claims about the coming resurrection!"

Father, years ago my own intellect got in the way of my beliefs about You and Your Son, just as theirs did here.  Please keep me humble and help me not to think I know better than You do.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 26:31-56 More Betrayal

Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane after the meal.  The name means "oil press", and with oil often symbolizing the Holy Spirit, it certainly seems fitting.  It's tempting to say that a long day, travel, and a big meal can lead to sleepiness, but Jesus commanded His disciples to watch and pray, and gave Peter personal warnings, yet all of them failed to obey His command.  Even His use of the prophecy in Zechariah 13:7 had no effect.

I cherished my commentary's discussion of Jesus agonizing over what was to come.  It's  easy to say that Jesus the divine had come to see what we humans cherish about physical life and that He was agonizing over the upcoming loss of it.  But my commentary said, "Jesus was not wrestling with God's will or resisting God's will.  He was yielding Himself to God's will.  As perfect Man, He felt the awful burden of SIN, and His holy soul was repelled by it.  Yet as the Son of God, He knew that this was His mission in the world.  The mystery of His humanity and deity is seen vividly in this scene."

Judas' multiple kisses used to identify Jesus to the guards were repulsive, particularly since Jesus identified Himself to them.  

Father, it's beyond our ability to understand the nastiness of sin that Your Son must have felt.  I can never thank Him enough for taking on mine!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 26:17-30 Faithfulness vs Betrayal

"Faithfulness vs. Betrayal" is the title my commentary uses for this section.  It's amazing to watch God and Jesus at work providing for the Passover meal.  The disciples were to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water.  That sounds crazy to us, but in those days, women carried the water, not men.  This man would lead them to the upper room for the meal's preparation.  They'd then be able to find a perfect lamb, have it slain in the temple courtyard, then roast it whole.

"Up to the very end, the disciples did not realize that one of their own number, Judas, was the traitor.  They did not see any difference in the way Jesus treated Judas, which is remarkable testimony to our Lord's patience and love."

During the Passover meal, Jesus announced the presence of a traitor.  Each asked Him, "It isn't I, is it?", expecting a "no" answer.

Judas was sitting on Jesus' left, and John on His right.  "It was an honor to be given a morsel of bread by your host.  Jesus gave the bread to Judas, and Judas accepted it, knowing full well that he was betraying his Lord."

"Judas's treachery was predicted in Scripture and was part of the plan of God.  But from the human point of view, Judas was guilty of a base crime and was completely responsible for what he did.  Divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not in conflict, even though we may not be able to understand how they work together to fulfill God's will."

Father, You are all-wise and all-knowing.  I often don't understand how Your divine sovereignty works in light of my human responsibility, but I am so glad You offer grace.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Matthew 26:1-16 Worship, Not Waste

We read of Mary pouring very expensive ointment on Jesus, which He identified as worship and preparing His body for burial.  Judas was incensed by this, calling it waste, saying that it could have been sold for a great deal of money and given to the poor.

Jesus certainly cared for the poor.  He'd fed them twice in large numbers, healed them, and urged His followers to do likewise.

"Jesus didn't criticize the disciples because they were concerned about the poor.  He was concerned about the poor, and we should be, too.  He was cautioning them against missing their opportunity to worship Him.  They would always have opportunities to help the poor.  But they would not always have the opportunity to worship at His feet and prepare Him for burial," my commentary said.

Judas was the one who'd caused such a stir about wasting the money.  He wasn't a true believer, thinking Jesus was going to be a military savior of Israel, and that as His treasurer, he'd be appointed to an important post.  He was worried about the waste of a few ounces of liquid, but totally unconcerned about the waste of "his opportunities, his life, and his soul."

Father, keep pointing out the important things to me.  Show me how to best love those You put in my path.  And help me to relish worshiping You and Your Son.

Matthew 25:31-46 Sheep, Goats, and Brethren

My commentary titles this part "Christ's Coming And The Gentile Nations" and explains how Jesus will judge individuals who are not Jewish.  It says this is not the Great White Throne judgment being discussed, for that is to take place after Jesus' 1000-year reign.  "This judgment takes place on earth immediately after the battle of Armageddon, before the kingdom is established on earth, for the saved are told to inherit the kingdom."  It also has nothing to do with salvation by good works.

There are three groups mentioned -- sheep, goats, and brethren, and Warren Wiersbe says the brethren represent believing Jews from the tribulation period.  Sheep represent saved Gentiles, while goats represent unbelieving Gentiles.  It's his belief that the believing Gentiles stepped up to help believing Jews who will not take the mark of the beast and will therefore be unable to buy and sell during that time period.  The goats represent those unbelievers who did not care what happened to the believing Jews.  My commentary said, "There are sins of omission as well as sins of commission.  Not doing good is the moral equivalent of doing evil (James 4:17)."

It does say that the sheep were blessed but the goats were not cursed, and it reminds us that "Matthew 25:41 does not state that the everlasting fire was prepared for the goats.  It was prepared for the devil and his angels.  God never prepared hell for people.  There is no evidence from Scripture that God predestines people to go to hell.  If sinners listen to Satan, and follow his ways, they will end up where he ends up -- in the torments of hell.

Father, thank You for saving me from that destiny.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford