Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

No Shepherd for Israel! #3

Sunday, July 14, 2024

“Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace” (2 Chronicles 18:16 KJV).

Why does Israel have no shepherd?

In keeping with the Jews’ agrarian or agriculturally-based way of life, the Bible makes multiple references to shepherds and their sheep. Of course, just about everyone knows (or, used to know, anyway) Psalm 23:1: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Also, Psalm 79:13: “So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.” Or, Psalm 95:7: “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,….” Finally, Psalm 100:3: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Then, we come across other passages, and these are quite dreadful. “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:1). “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace” (Jeremiah 50:6). “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:12).

During Christ’s earthly ministry, the situation is just as bad. “But when he saw the multitudes, he [Jesus] was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

Again, there is no shepherd for Israel….























@font-face<br> {font-family:”Cambria Math”;<br> panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;<br> mso-font-charset:0;<br> mso-generic-font-family:roman;<br> mso-font-pitch:variable;<br> mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face<br> {font-family:Cambria;<br> panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;<br> mso-font-charset:0;<br> mso-generic-font-family:roman;<br> mso-font-pitch:variable;<br> mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}@font-face<br> {font-family:Humanist521BT-Light;<br> panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;<br> mso-font-alt:Cambria;<br> mso-font-charset:77;<br> mso-generic-font-family:auto;<br> mso-font-pitch:auto;<br> mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face<br> {font-family:”Bookman Old Style”;<br> panose-1:2 5 6 4 5 5 5 2 2 4;<br> mso-font-charset:0;<br> mso-generic-font-family:roman;<br> mso-font-pitch:variable;<br> mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal<br> {mso-style-unhide:no;<br> mso-style-qformat:yes;<br> mso-style-parent:””;<br> margin:0in;<br> mso-pagination:widow-orphan;<br> font-size:12.0pt;<br> font-family:”Cambria”,serif;<br> mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;<br> mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;}.MsoChpDefault<br> {mso-style-type:export-only;<br> mso-default-props:yes;<br> font-size:10.0pt;<br> mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;<br> mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;<br> font-family:”Cambria”,serif;<br> mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;<br> mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;<br> mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;<br> mso-font-kerning:0pt;<br> mso-ligatures:none;}div.WordSection1<br> {page:WordSection1;}

Tokens #7

Friday, June 21, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

Going over to Isaiah 44:23-26, we read of a prophecy. It is both short-term (to be fulfilled in the centuries before Christ) and long-term (to be brought to fruition beyond our day). Israel’s redemption and Jerusalem’s restoration are in view.

“[23] Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. [24] Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; [25] That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; [26] That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:….” In this context, “tokens” (verse 25) evidently refer to the signs or omens that the false prophets foretold—and JEHOVAH God prevents (“frustrates”) their predictions from coming to pass, instead choosing to bless Israel (delivering her from the curses of her transgressions).

When betraying the Lord Jesus, Judas Iscariot had arranged to secretly identify Him before the apostate Jews and unbelieving Roman officials: “And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely” (Mark 14:44). The companion verse is Matthew 26:48: “Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast [securely, firmly].” We can gather how “token” and “sign” are used interchangeably here; they are indications or signals.

Though we have read of many “tokens” in the biblical record, several more remain for us to locate and explain….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #6

Thursday, June 7, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Read Psalm 2: “[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. [4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. [6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” The order of the prophetic program was: (1) the Lord Jesus Christ’s First Coming with consequent rejection and crucifixion (verses 1-3; cf. Acts 4:24-28), (2) Father God responding in wrath and war during Daniel’s 70th Week and Christ’s Second Coming (verses 4,5), and (3) Christ’s Millennial Kingdom Reign in the Earth (verse 6).

Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, knew the outpouring of wrath and war were to follow the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:16-21,34-36; cf. Joel 2:28-32). Stephen, also filled with the Holy Ghost, finally saw the wrath just moments away, with the one-year extension of mercy on Israel of Acts chapters 1–7 now expired (cf. Luke 13:6-9; cf. Matthew 12:31,32)! See Acts chapter 7: “[51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:…. [55] But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Unlike Psalm 110:1 (cf. Acts 2:34-36), Christ was no longer “sitting,” but “standing” in preparation to return and destroy His enemies! Yet, no wrath came….

NOTE: Concerning our New Testament Survey Project, we have now begun studying 1 Corinthians verse-by-verse. Those videos will be archived here.

Christ’s Spit #4

Friday, May 31, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

As the Lord Jesus Christ was compassionate toward these disabled men of Mark chapter 7, Mark chapter 8, and John chapter 9, so He is merciful even now toward the entire world. Billions of souls are still spiritually blind, deaf, and speech-inhibited. Deceived by the evil world system, they cannot see, hear, or speak the simple Gospel of the Grace of God. Yet, we can and will!

“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Just like the Lord imparted physical health to the disabled, so He offers to graciously provide us with spiritual health. On Calvary’s cruel cross, He took upon Himself the penalty for our sins. He suffered as our substitute, that we not pay for our sins forever in Hell and the Lake of Fire. “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Romans 3:23-28: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Also read Romans 4:1-5.

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30,31). Here is how we have the spit (life) of Christ applied to our account!

*NOTE: Saints, by God’s grace, we have now closed 13 full years of daily Bible studies here at “333 Words of Grace!”

Christ’s Spit #3

Thursday, May 30, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

Re-read Mark 8:22-25. As we can see, Christ again employed spitting as a method of healing. This time, He ministers to a man who was blind. Why did He spit on the man’s eyes? Recall our earlier comments as touching the miracle in chapter 7. These eyes are functionally dead. If they are to work as the Creator intended, He must intervene by imparting life and lubrication (saliva) to them. He does just that, thereby showing Israel how He can restore them to see spiritual truths clearly.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2; cf. Matthew 4:16). “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness” (Isaiah 29:18). “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house…. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:6,7,16).

Re-read John 9:1-7. The Lord Jesus cured this blind man by first spitting on the ground, mixing His saliva with the clay/soil, and then placing this concoction directly onto the man’s eyes. Finally, He sent the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man returned with his sight! What we want to see here is Jesus’ spit (life) was again instrumental in restoring organs that were functionally dead. The washing with water rinsed away the dirt and spit. You can see verses 10-15 for additional information. Israel is granted spiritual sight, free from the blindness of sin and Satan!

Still, there is more….

Christ’s Spit #2

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

Re-read Mark 7:31-35, today’s Scripture in its context. Listening to these verses, we understand this poor man was both unable to hear and speak properly. However, the Lord Jesus healed him… in a most bizarre way. He spit on His finger and then touched the man’s tongue! While we find that rather disgusting, that was the way Jesus chose to cure him. Why?

If we come to appreciate more about saliva, we can get a better understanding of Jesus’ procedure. Approximately 99 percent of saliva is simply water. (The other one percent is made of various enzymes and proteins that aid in tasting and digesting food, and protecting from tooth decay.) The man’s tongue is functionally dead. In Scripture, water symbolizes life. “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6). “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb…. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:1,17). Thus, one way to look at the Lord’s behavior here is Him imparting water/life to the man’s tongue.

Moreover, saliva lubricates our tongue and lips to facilitate our speech. We can also see Christ as moistening the man’s mouth, making it easier for him to talk for the first time in who knows how long! What is being demonstrated here? Israel, now converted from Satan, can speak forth God’s Word to evangelize the Gentiles in the Millennial Kingdom (see Zechariah 8:20-23, for example). Read verse 23: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”

There is still more….

Christ’s Spit #1

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue” (Mark 7:33 KJV).

Why did Christ spit while healing people?

Today’s Scripture in context: “[31] And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. [32] And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. [33] And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; [34] And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. [35] And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.”

Now, Mark chapter 8: “[22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. [23] And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. [24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. [25] After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

Finally, John chapter 9: “[1] And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

We study this more fully….

Spiritual Calligraphy #12

Saturday, May 18, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Read this excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, Christ’s Kingdom Constitution of Matthew chapters 5–7. It is Israel’s prospect in the ages to come, and complements today’s Scripture: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Also, Matthew 13:43: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Our parallel passage as members of the Church the Body of Christ is Philippians 2:13-16, what we read earlier.

Whether the nation Israel living in accordance with the Law of Moses (time past), or we the Church the Body of Christ conducting ourselves in agreement with the Pauline epistles of Romans through Philemon (but now), or the redeemed nation Israel functioning under the New Covenant or Law of Messiah (ages to come), it is the life of the one true (Creator) God being revealed in and through His people. He is thus glorified in His creation. Yet, if they do not walk in their respective identities, they will give an occasion for Satan’s people to sneer, laugh, and discredit them.

Indeed, it can be spiritual calligraphy—God the Holy Spirit’s attractive handwriting on the pages of Scripture being brought into the very details of human existence. Or, it can be spiritual cacography—hideous words and repulsive deeds that are not even worth mentioning or thinking about. To state it another way, either it will be a “sinner’s gospel” or a “scoffer’s creed.” We would do well to remember grace living as taught in Romans 6:1-14, Ephesians 5:1-20, Colossians 1:9-13, and Titus 2:11-15. It is our choice to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, so any poor decisions we make will not be God’s fault. May we choose spiritual calligraphy! 🙂

Spiritual Calligraphy #5

Friday, May 10, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

God’s purpose in giving Israel covenants was to bless Gentiles too, as the Apostle Paul argued when citing several Old Testament verses in Romans 15:8-12: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written [Psalm 18:49], For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith [Deuteronomy 32:43], Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again [Psalm 117:1], Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith [Isaiah 11:10], There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.”

The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Peter, reminded Israel of the covenant God made with their forefathers: “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:24-26).

As per this “the gospel of the circumcision” (Galatians 2:7—Peter’s Gospel), Israel was to believe the Gospel of the Kingdom (Jesus is Christ/Messiah). In Christ’s kingdom, they would teach the Gentiles (today’s Scripture). Alas, the Jewish people overwhelmingly refused to receive Jesus as Christ, whether during Matthew to John or early Acts. God could not reach the Gentiles because His chief nation, Israel, was unbelieving, thus failing to become His earthly people whom He could utilize.

Moreover, Israel had become utterly disgusting in the eyes of the Gentiles. In spite of God’s plan, the nations saw the Jewish people as a hypocritical group no better than the rest of the world….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #9

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

Whether John the Baptist’s preaching, or Christ’s preaching, or the 12 Apostles’ preaching, the Gospel of the Kingdom was used to call the Jews to repentance (change in mind). Read about early Acts now, as in Acts 2:38-41: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Focus on the Apostle Peter’s urging, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (verse 40). “Untoward” means crooked, perverse, warped. Interestingly, the Greek word is “skolios,” from which we get “scoliosis” (abnormal curvature of the spine). You can also see “crooked” in Philippians 2:15 with respect to the Gentile world. In Acts 2:40, it is Israel who is “untoward” (think of “not toward,” the opposite of “toward”). This “generation” of Israel is evil, unbelieving, Christ-rejecting. Remember, Calvary was only seven weeks prior to Peter’s sermon. The Apostle encourages his Jewish audience to believe his message (Jesus is Christ) and thus deliver (isolate, detach, separate) themselves from their apostate (unbelieving) nation.

The Book of Hebrews was written during latter Acts, with Peter’s words in mind. Situated in its context, and contrary to popular belief and widespread ignorance (!), today’s Scripture in no wise—no way, no manner—describes Gentiles gathering in church buildings on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays, or any other day during the duration of the Dispensation of the Grace of God. To use Hebrews 10:25 as though it were applicable to us is to fail (miserably!) to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)….