Category: Jesus as Israel’s Messiah

You Builders! #5

Saturday, August 30, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

“But he [Jesus Christ] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). God as Creator wants to fill humans with His life. He gives those people His Word, that they might believe it. Yet, as Adam and Eve did not fill their soul with His Word in Genesis chapter 3, neither did the ancient nation Israel.

Nearing the end of his earthly life, Moses counseled Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 4, verses 1 and 2: “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” To wit, “Do not abandon or alter the LORD’S words to you! Believe and obey them as they are!”

Influenced by corrupt religious leaders (“builders”) for many centuries thereafter, Israel slowly but surely drifted from the pure Word of God. These spiritual leaders were nothing but “blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14). They “built” garbage doctrine into God’s nation, worthless teaching, manmade religious traditions substituting the living words of the living God. Basically, there was no edification (building up) of sound Bible doctrine, just a 1,500-year-long accumulation of spiritual trash (false information).

Accordingly, when it came time for Israel to function as God’s kingdom of priests to the Gentiles, there was no unadulterated Word of God in their national soul or individual souls. Thus, in rank unbelief, they rejected Messiah-King Jesus who corresponded to the sound Bible doctrine they had refused, thereby rendering them unable to be His kingdom of priests. This was the basic theme of those early Acts sermons, including today’s Scripture.

We summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

You Builders! #4

Friday, August 29, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

After Peter healed the lame man who had laid helplessly at the Jerusalem Temple’s “Beautiful Gate” for years (Acts 3:1-11), a Jewish crowd gathers and Peter preaches Jesus Christ to them (verses 12-26). The lame man represents incapacitated national Israel, whose sin problem prevents her from entering into God’s blessings (Millennial Kingdom). In his sermon of chapter 4 (the context of today’s Scripture), Peter refers to that same impotent man (verses 9,10; cf. verses 14,22).

Read Peter’s words in verses 9 and 10, just before he spoke today’s Scripture: “If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole [healthy].” Here are the facts. The resurrected Jesus Christ, whom Israel rejected and crucified weeks or months earlier, is really responsible for the lame man’s healing, which insinuates Jesus Christ alone can save and bring Israel into a position of kingdom blessings. They must therefore stop resisting Him and trust Him as their Messiah-King!

Today’s Scripture and its next verse: “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” As the Holy Spirit speaks to Israel through Peter, the Apostle declares how the Lord Jesus Christ is “the stone, the head of the corner,” the very same individual whom the “builders” rejected (“set at nought” means “made nothing of, despised, considered worthless”). Israel’s religious leaders whom Peter now addresses, are these very “builders!”

How are these religious leaders “builders” though? Along with the terms “stone” and “the head of the corner,” we recognize the metaphor is taken from a construction site….

The Kingdom of God is Within You #6

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).

Is there really a “mis-translation” in the King James Bible here?

It was not simply God would become a man, Jesus Christ incarnated, to instantly sit on David’s throne. The nation Israel was to receive Him in faith first. Yet, for three years, only a believing remnant trusted Him. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). This believing remnant would inherit the kingdom, not the entire nation (which was comfortable in unbelief!). By the time of today’s Scripture, Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders were already plotting Jesus’ execution. “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him” (Matthew 12:14). “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him” (Mark 3:6). “And they were filled with madness [craziness!]; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:11).

Re-read today’s Scripture and context: “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (verses 20,21). After almost three years of earthly ministry during which they relentlessly rejected Him, refusing to have Him reign over them as Messiah-King, why would they suddenly be looking for a literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom? It was obvious He would first have to die on Calvary’s cross as a rejected monarch (check Luke 9:18-22,31,43-45; Luke 11:53,54; Luke 18:31-34). The kingdom would be delayed until after His crucifixion—not cancelled.

Hearts of unbelief such as this resulted in His literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom being held off until His Second Coming….

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel #7

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24 KJV).

What precisely are these seventy weeks of Daniel? How do they form the backbone of prophecy?

Daniel 9:25-27: “…the Messiah the Prince… Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week….” Two “princes” are in Daniel’s seventy weeks. One is “Messiah the Prince… Messiah,” Jesus. The other is “the prince that shall come,” the Antichrist, who will sign a seven-year peace treaty with Israel (Daniel’s 70th Week). Basically, he flatters lost Israel with lies and rebuilds their Jerusalem Temple (see Daniel 8:13,14) that the Romans destroyed in A.D. 70. Animal sacrifices under the Law will resume… temporarily.

Remember, Daniel’s 70th Week is divided “in the midst” (verse 27)—42 months and 42 months, or 1260 days and 1260 days, or 3½ years and 3½ years. Why? Midway through those seven years, the Antichrist “shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). For this “abomination of desolation,” and the Antichrist’s military betrayal of Israel/Jerusalem, see Matthew 24:15-21, Mark 13:14-19, and Luke 21:20-24.

That final week is halved because the Antichrist is assassinated (Zechariah 11:15-17; Revelation 13:1-18), “the man of sin” (first half) transforming into “the son of perdition” (second half) (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4). An evil spirit reanimates his corpse—a counterfeit resurrection (!). The Antichrist now claims to be God Himself (really a fake messiah!), and continues reigning for the remainder of Daniel’s 70th Week with more worshipping him or being executed for refusal. Ultimately, the true Messiah (Jesus) returns in power and great glory to end it all and save redeemed Israel (Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:11-21)!

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel #6

Monday, April 28, 2025

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24 KJV).

What precisely are these seventy weeks of Daniel? How do they form the backbone of prophecy?

Let us repeat. In Daniel 9:16-23, God sent Gabriel to instruct Daniel because the Prophet sought clarification regarding Israel’s redemption and Jerusalem’s restoration from the Babylonian Captivity. A series of prophecies during seventy weeks of years (490 years) will lead up to Christ’s Second Coming and Israel’s subsequent kingdom glory. Today’s Scripture reveals six purposes or goals of these seventy weeks of Daniel.

Firstly, to “finish the transgression.” Israel’s “transgression”—all her “stepping across the boundaries,” or her national sin—will be done away. Redeemed Israel stops crossing the borders of righteousness God has erected. She will cease rejecting the LORD’S words and finally accept her Messiah (see Matthew 23:31-39; Luke 11:46-52; Acts 7:51,52).

Secondly, to “make an end of sins.” Israel quits wallowing in her unbelief and disobedience to God. Thirdly, to “make reconciliation for iniquity.” On the national Day of Atonement at Christ’s Second Coming, God forgives Israel’s sins via the New Covenant based on Christ’s shed blood (Acts 3:19,20; Romans 11:26-28; cf. Leviticus chapter 16; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah 33:7,8; Hebrews chapters 8–10). Remember, Christ’s blood was shed when Messiah was “cut off” (killed) in Daniel 9:26.

Fourthly, to “bring in everlasting righteousness.” God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom is founded (Jeremiah 23:5,6; Hebrews 1:8,9; Revelation 20:4-6). Fifthly, to “seal up the vision and prophecy.” All of God’s promises to Israel are ultimately fulfilled. Lastly, to “anoint the most Holy.” The sanctuary will be cleansed and the Shekinah glory (God’s presence) returns to the newly-rebuilt Millennial Jerusalem Temple (Daniel 8:14; cf. Malachi 3:1; Matthew 23:38–24:1; cf. Ezekiel 43:1-6).

At Christ’s Second Coming in Revelation chapter 19 to conclude Daniel’s 70th Week, God remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—exactly as He promised in Leviticus 26:42,45. He makes the Promised Land His land and Israel His people in that literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom of Revelation chapter 20.…

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel #5

Sunday, April 27, 2025

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24 KJV).

What precisely are these seventy weeks of Daniel? How do they form the backbone of prophecy?

Today’s Scripture highlights seventy weeks of years, or 490 years overall. Daniel 9:25-27 divides them into three segments: “seven weeks” (49 years) followed by “threescore [3 times 20, or 60] and two weeks” (434 years) followed by one last “week” (7 years). Verse 25 declares these seventy weeks commence with “the going forth of the commandment to restore and to [re-]build Jerusalem [what the Babylonian invasions destroyed]… the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” Nehemiah 2:1-8 fulfills this circa 445/444 B.C., roughly a century after Daniel prophesied it.

“Seven weeks [of years]” (49 years) is the length of time from the commandment of Nehemiah chapter 2 to the completion of the Hebrew Bible with Malachi (circa 397/396 B.C.). Another “threescore and two weeks [of years]” (62 weeks of years, or 434 years) brings us up to A.D. 32. Featuring years of 360 days each, God’s calendar in Daniel closed the first 69 weeks of years (483 years) just days before Calvary when “the Messiah” was “cut off” or killed (Daniel 9:25,26; cf. Isaiah 53:8). Daniel’s 69th week of years ended on the very Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey a few days before His crucifixion (see Luke 19:28-44, noting that significant “thy [Israel’s] day” and Israel’s pitiful ignorance of it in verses 41,42!).

Messiah Jesus died after Daniel’s 69th Week, leaving the last week of years unfulfilled even today. This final week is Daniel’s 70th Week of Daniel 9:27, to run its course after our dispensation closes. Incidentally, the war against Jerusalem in Luke 19:43,44 is that of Daniel 9:26, corresponding to the battles of Daniel 11:5-20. Conflicts against Jerusalem will eventually lead to the diabolical Antichrist’s rise to power and his one-week (seven-year!) peace treaty in which he promises to protect and bless Israel and Jerusalem (see Daniel 11:21-45). We are in the “gap” between Daniel’s 69th Week and Daniel’s 70th Week, our dispensation totally isolated from the seventy weeks of Daniel….

Christ Liveth in Me

Sunday, April 20, 2025

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

“He is risen” is not a simple blasé cliché!

When Jesus’ disciples came to His tomb on that glorious Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago, they were startled to find it empty! Angels inform them that He has resurrected, but they are still in shock (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8). Jesus Christ Himself must later explain the Scriptures to them regarding what happened those last few days (Luke 24:44-46).

However, until Paul’s ministry, Christ’s finished crosswork is not preached as good news for salvation. Peter and Israel’s other apostles simply preach that Jesus Christ is now resurrected to “sit on [David’s] throne” (Acts 2:30)—that is bad news for much of Israel, for they still reject Him, weeks and months after His resurrection and ascension. Throughout early Acts, Israel’s apostles warn her that Jesus Christ is coming back to judge them.

When we come to the Apostle Paul’s ministry, we learn that we Gentiles can benefit from Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Israel’s rejected Messiah is now our way to heaven! Yes, Israel hated Him, and demanded that He experience the most awful method of execution devised, but God allowed it in order to accomplish His will. Satan attempted to hinder God’s will by having Christ killed, but all that did was provide the method whereby God could save us pagan Gentiles. Calvary’s finished crosswork frees us from Satan’s evil system and gives us a chance to be God’s people (Acts 26:17,18)!

As people who have trusted Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins, that crucifixion is our death to self and sin, and that resurrection is our raising to walk in newness of life—His life (today’s Scripture; cf. Romans 6:1-11)!

Indeed, Jesus Christ is alive, and He lives in and through those who walk by faith in God’s Word to them, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon! 🙂

HAPPY EASTER!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study by the same name. That study can be read here or watched here.

Messiah’s Joy Amidst Calvary’s Grief #1

Friday, April 18, 2025

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

Do you ever wonder what our Lord Jesus Christ was thinking about while He hung there on Calvary’s cross?

Psalm 22:1-21 provides us with a glimpse of Jesus’ thoughts as He endured that awful crucifixion: He is greatly tormented physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Various verses in Psalm 69 provide additional insight, especially as death begins to close in on His soul. Written about 1000 B.C., these and other “Messianic psalms” graphically describe assorted events in our Lord’s earthly life (in this case, His crucifixion)… centuries before they occurred!

What Jesus Christ thought about while suspended on Calvary’s cross was the Holy Scriptures. He had faith in the Old Testament passages that applied to Him. No matter what happened to Him, He knew it was His Father’s will, and His Father would be glorified. As He stated earlier, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup [of Thy wrath; Revelation 14:10] from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36). “…The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29bc).

Do you realize what today’s Scripture is saying? Jesus Christ felt immense physiological and spiritual pain, but He thought about the overall view: “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (cf. Psalm 16:8-11). Yes, the Old Testament spoke of His suffering, and those Scriptures must be fulfilled, but it also testified of His glorious kingdom that would follow, and those Scriptures also were to be fulfilled in due time! “…The sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11). While it did not diminish the extent of His distress and suffering, Jesus Christ kept in memory the glory His Father would give Him once He had endured the crucifixion (Philippians 2:8-11). It gave Him such joy. He felt grief unspeakable, but He also had joy unfathomable!

Our archived Bible Q&A: “Where was Jesus during the three days between His death and resurrection?”

Our archived Bible Q&A: “Are Christians obligated to observe Passover?”

Without Blemish and Without Spot #3

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:…” (1 Peter 1:19 KJV).

How was Israel to see Jesus Christ was “without blemish and without spot?”

Passover/Calvary is two days away (Matthew 26:1,2). Israel’s chief priests, scribes, and elders connive to deceitfully arrest and murder Jesus. At Simon the leper’s house in nearby Bethany, Mary pours ointment on Jesus’ head (unknowingly preparing Him for burial). Judas Iscariot schemes with the chief priests to betray Christ for 30 silver pieces (verses 14-16). Jesus eats an early Passover with His 12 Apostles (verses 17ff.). On the Mount of Olives, He prays, before being betrayed and apprehended. His unjust, nighttime trial concludes late the next morning. Sentenced to death (!), He is crucified at 9 A.M.; He lets Himself die by 3 P.M. (Mark 15:25-38).

Israel could have verified Jesus as Messiah-Redeemer during those four days between Palm Sunday and Calvary. Rather than wrongdoing, He cleansed the defiled Temple, demonstrated God’s power, preached the truth, upheld the pure Mosaic Law, defended and expounded the Hebrew Bible, and exposed Israel’s perverted religious leaders. Scripture testifies of Christ Jesus during His last days: “the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4), “just [righteous]” (Matthew 27:19), “I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4), “I… have found no fault in this man… No, nor yet Herod…” (Luke 23:14,15), “I have found no cause of death in him” (Luke 23:22), “this man hath done nothing amiss [no wrong]” (Luke 23:41), “I find in him no fault at all” (John 18:38), “I find no fault in him” (John 19:4). (Cf. Matthew 27:23; Mark 15:14; Luke 23:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; cf. today’s Scripture)

Matthew 27:24,25: “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the [Jewish] people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” Israel knew Pilate was correct; however, they could not care less that Jesus was innocent. Like all other sinful (deceived) children of Adam, they refused God’s sinless Son as their King: they demanded He be crucified as an imposter (John 19:15)!

Without Blemish and Without Spot #2

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:…” (1 Peter 1:19 KJV).

How was Israel to see Jesus Christ was “without blemish and without spot?”

Christ rides the donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11). (Passover, His death, is about four days away [cf. John 12:1,12-16].) Entering the Temple, He cleanses it of the thieves who had been utilizing “God’s religion” to deceive and rob His people; there, He heals the blind and lame (Matthew 21:12-14). Israel’s religious leaders grow envious when children praise Him (verses 15,16).

Sleeping in nearby Bethany for the night, Jesus returns to Jerusalem in the morning to curse the barren fig tree (verses 17-22). God will never reinstitute the Mosaic Law, for it has produced no spiritual fruit in Israel. In the Temple, Israel’s religious leaders demand of Christ where He received His authority, and slyly dodge His subsequent question about John the Baptist (verses 23-27). He then issues three stinging parables: they do not follow God as they claim (verses 28-32), they willfully reject and scheme to murder His Christ—yes, He knows!! (verses 33-46), and they further refuse to believe on Him (22:1-14).

The Pharisees collaborate to get Jesus to say something incriminating before the Temple crowds (verse 15): they send delegates to ask Him about paying taxes (verses 16-22). The Sadducees then attempt to trick Him with a resurrection riddle (verses 23-33). A lawyer of the Pharisees finally asks Him about the great Law commandment (verses 34-40). Christ answers all three issues wisely! He asks them a question now, which they cannot answer; they are silenced (verses 41-46). Matthew chapter 23 follows—His severest censure of these false religious leaders (cf. John chapter 8)! He finally curses unbelieving Jerusalem, declaring that God’s house has become her house. Exiting the Temple, He walks to the Mount of Olives; in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, He delivers His magnificent end-time “Olivet Discourse.” Calvary is soon!

Indeed, when Israel was appraising the Passover lamb for slaughtering, sinless Jesus entered Jerusalem. He was the true Passover lamb, “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (today’s Scripture), to be sacrificed for us sinners (1 Corinthians 5:7). Would Israel sacrifice Him in faith? Or, in unbelief? Let us see….