Tag: ALS

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Prophecy XIII

From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  (Matthew 16:21-23, NASB)

This account is from Apostle Matthew.  He was an eye witness as Jesus began to prepare the disciples for what was about to take place, His arrest, torture, crucifixion, and resurrection.  Other Gospel accounts speak of the apostles’ grief, or their failure to understand.  But Matthew’s story tells of Simon Peter’s “rebuke,” and Jesus’ declaration that Peter was a “stumbling block.”

Jesus’ prophecy of His own coming demise must have been hard to understand.  He had been telling the disciples that He was the Son of God.  He had performed miracles and healed the sick and the crippled.  How could the authorities arrest this Man and put Him to death?  And what was this about being “raised up on the third day”?  

Peter to the rescue!  He wouldn’t let the prediction of Jesus’ demise come true.  He, along with the Zebedee brothers, was part of Jesus’ inner circle.  He would be Jesus’ bodyguard.  Jesus would have nothing to worry about.  He would talk some sense into Jesus, straighten Him out.  What could go wrong?  Wait, what? 

“Get Behind Me Satan.”  Found at Catholic for Life, https://www.catholicforlife.com/tag/get-behind-me-satan/

Satan?  Jesus rebuked Peter’s rebuke by calling him “Satan.”  “A stumbling block.”  That he was “not setting [his] mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Many of Israel’s people were looking for a political Messiah Who would expel the Roman occupiers and rule Israel with justice.  The disciples, despite all the time they spent with Jesus, didn’t comprehend what this was all about.  Jesus didn’t come to the earth He created to free them from Rome, He came to free them from their sins.  To do that, He had to go to Jerusalem, and present Himself as the Lamb of God, a sacrifice acceptable to God the Father. 

Imagine how Peter felt at Jesus’ rebuke.  Not long before this, during a discussion about Who Jesus is, he had confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 16:16)  Jesus praised him, and was ready to hand him the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Now the Christ was calling him “Satan”!  Did Peter have a demon?  I don’t know.  Perhaps Jesus was giving him a wake-up call.  After all, He had The Plan, The Big Picture, and He wanted Peter on board. 

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan of redemption to bring men and women back to peace with Him.  He would eventually send His Son to earth, and He would act as a sacrifice.  He would take the punishment we deserve as a substitute for our salvation.  We deserve to die for our sins.  Jesus paid the price for us.  Our part is to accept His sacrifice, and ask Jesus into our hearts. 

Worship:  “Victor’s Crown,” by Darlene Zschech and Kari Jobe
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Prophecy XII

Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.  (Psalm 69:20-21, NASB)

Psalm 69 is another written by King David, a portion of which is recognized as a prophecy of the suffering that Jesus Christ would endure at the end of His life on this earth.  Its title is “A Cry of Distress and Imprecation on Adversaries.”  There were many times that David felt anguish as his enemies pursued him, and many times he asked God for help in defeating and punishing them.  The parallels with what Jesus felt at the end of His life are interesting. 

First, there’s the reproach that “has broken my heart and I am so sick.”  Jesus was abandoned by His friends, the disciples.  Worse, His Father turned His back on His Son during the hours of torture and crucifixion.  Jesus also suffered humiliation and mocking from people as He hung on the cross.  Physically, He became so sick in the Garden of Gethsemane in anticipation of what was about to happen, He began to sweat drops of blood. 

Jesus, too, would look for sympathy and comforters, and find none.  He took several of the disciples along to the Garden.  He asked them to stand watch while He prayed.  They fell asleep.  Not once, but three times.  When the crowd came with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus, His friends scattered.  Simon Peter later denied knowing Him three times. 

Psalm 69:20 image.  Found at Bible Hub, https://biblepic.com/41/psalms_69-20.htm

Part of Matthew’s account of the crucifixion includes the fulfillment of the prediction “they gave me gall for my food.”  Gall is a kind of poison.  From Matthew:  “And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.”  (Matthew 27:33-34)  

Matthew also tells of the completion of the prophecy “and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”  Again, from Matthew’s narrative, as Jesus was about to die:  “And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, ‘This man is calling for Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, ‘Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.’  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.”  (Matthew 27:47-50)

I wonder if what Jesus went through and experienced is a picture of hell?  Hell is described in the Bible as a place of agony.  It’s a place where if one is sent, he will be separated from God for eternity.  King David uses the term “reproach.”  He says there would be no sympathy, no comforters.  Those sound like good descriptions of hell.  Jesus went through all that, and He was separated from the Father while He endured it.  Jesus went through hell, which is what we deserve.  He took the punishment we deserve so we don’t have to.  To escape God’s wrath, we need to accept Jesus’ sacrifice, and make Him the Lord of our lives.  Accept God’s most precious gift of Jesus.  That’s what Lent and Resurrection Sunday are all about. 

“Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Performed by the Bethany Oratorio Society of Lindsborg, Kansas. 
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Prophecy XI

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  (Luke 2:33-35, NASB)

The text is a portion of Dr. Luke’s account of Simeon’s encounter with the Holy Family just days after Jesus’ arrival on the earth He created.  The second chapter of Luke documents that after eight days (the Law of Moses required eight days for the mother’s purification), Joseph and Mary took their Baby to the Temple to present Jesus to the priests for circumcision and dedication, and to offer a sacrifice.  (vv. 21-24)  
They met Simeon, “righteous and devout,” who was “looking for the consolation of Israel.”  Luke says that the Holy Spirit told Simeon he wouldn’t die before he would meet the Messiah.  (vv. 25-26)  The Holy Spirit told Simeon just Who this Baby was.  Simeon took Him in his arms, and thanked the Lord in what is known as “The Song of Simeon.”  (vv. 27-32)  That’s where we pick up the text above. 

In a story normally told during Advent, Simeon’s prophecy is important for Lent, as he foretold the anguish Mary would experience in the future.  But first, Simeon predicts that Jesus “is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel.”  Jesus Himself would say that He came to save sinners, not the self-righteous, which was a criticism at the Pharisees.  He says that Jesus would be opposed, such that “thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  Jesus was opposed by the Temple elites, who ironically claimed to be looking for the Messiah–just not this One.  Especially during the critical last week of Jesus’ life on His earth, we see revealed the thoughts from many hearts. 

Screen Shot 2017-02-02 at 2.46.18 PMThe Sword that Pierced Mary’s Soul.  Found at https://taylormarshall.com/2017/02/sword-pierced-marys-soul.html

Simeon tells Mary that “a sword will pierce even your own soul.”  I’m sure Mary didn’t understand.  She had just given birth to the Savior of the world, HER Savior, HER Lord.  What could possibly go wrong?  Yet “the sword” would be seeing her son after being tortured beyond recognition; watching as He tried to haul the cross to His place of execution; watching as they nailed her boy’s hands and feet to the wooden cross; and finally, watching as He hung dying, while the people and the priests mocked and insulted Him. 

The prophecy of the “sword” which would pierce Mary’s heart is part of the Christmas story, and an integral part of the story of Resurrection Sunday.  The encounter with Simeon at the Temple left Joseph and Mary “amazed at the things which were being said about Him.”  It had been quite a week.  Simeon’s prophecy must have left Mary wondering . . . 

Worship:  “Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry
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Prophecy X

 . . .  I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”  (Psalm 22:6-8, NASB)

Psalm 22, written by King David, is “A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.”  It’s prophetic as it foretells the agony that Jesus would feel upon being abandoned by His Father and  His companions, the disciples;  and rejected by the people of Jerusalem.  Indeed, Jesus quoted the psalm’s first line as He hung on the cross, shortly before He died:  “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”  (v. 1)

It was true that Jesus had become “a reproach of men and despised by the people.”  The Sunday prior, He had made His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem.  The people shouted “Hosanna!” and covered His path with their cloaks and palm branches.  It was triumphant indeed.  And here, days later, the people wanted Him crucified, the punishment of the most heinous of criminals.  They “sneer[ed] at” Him; “separate[ed] with the lip”; and “wag[ged] the head.”  These were, and are, common insults in the Middle East, and our Lord endured them to accomplish His mission.  In His humanity, His heart was broken. 

Psalm 22:6-8 image.  Found at https://slideplayer.com/slide/14376399/

As predicted in the psalm, people wondered why God didn’t save Him.  At the foot of the cross, the chief priests and the Temple scribes mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  (Matthew 27:42-43)  Even “the robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.”  (v. 44)

The Christ came to His earth fully God and fully man.  In His humanity, He suffered from the abandonment of His Father and the disciples, and rejection by the people.  He was brokenhearted.  He endured not only the physical pain of torture and crucifixion, but the mental anguish of the rejections.  He endured all this punishment and pain willingly, and He did so for me and for you.  It was all part of His Father’s plan to save us from our sins.  Would you acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice today? 

Worship:  “Above All,” by Lenny LeBlanc
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Prophecy IX

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?  (Isaiah 53:6-8, NASB)

This passage is another from Isaiah’s prophecy of “The Suffering Servant,” one of many describing the advent, life, and death of Messiah, manifested by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Isaiah’s narrative here goes into the “why” of Jesus’ sacrificial suffering and death. 

We “like sheep have been led astray.”  How?  Every human being “has turned to his own way.”  The Bible says there is not one of us who is good.  There has to be a way for us to be made right with God.  The solution?  The “Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”  Jesus took the punishment we all deserve.  When He was being tortured and crucified, God placed all the sins of the world squarely on His shoulders.  This added immensely to the pain He suffered.  My sins would’ve been enough to endure, but Jesus had everybody else’s, too. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6How is your walk with God? Are you walking far away from Him?Some of us believe that we have...
Isaiah 53:6 image.  Found at The Word for the Day, https://thewordfortheday.tumblr.com/post/183292025562/all-we-like-sheep-have-gone-astray-we-have

While He was going through this horrific torture, Jesus “did not open His mouth.”  He at one point told His disciples that He could’ve called legions of angels to come rescue Him, but He did not.  A Bible study I did last Lenten Season ended the devotional with these words every day:  “He did so willingly, and He did so for you [me].”  Isaiah compares the future Messiah’s attitude when subjecting Himself to this brutality to a “lamb that is led to slaughter.”  “He did not open His mouth.”

Jesus would be taken away “by oppression and judgment.”  Isaiah asks if any of the people would bother to consider if Jesus was to take all this punishment in their place, to take the punishment they deserve (“to whom the stroke was due”).  My guess is this is a rhetorical question as the people, who welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem only days before by spreading their cloaks and palm fronds in the road in front of Him, now wanted Him crucified. 

Every one of us has a sin problem.  Jesus paid the penalty we all deserve by going to the cross.  He came to earth for that reason, so we could all have fellowship for eternity with His Father in heaven.  Would you call on Jesus’ name today if you haven’t already?  “He did so willingly, and He did so for you.”

Worship:  “All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Performed by the Brussels Choral Society.
“He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Artist unknown. 

Mustache Update:  Here’s my progress on the 12th day of Mustache March: 

Rollie Fingers - San Diego Padres - 1978.jpg
Rollie Fingers, found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollie_Fingers#/media/File:Rollie_Fingers_-_San_Diego_Padres_-_1978.jpg

Just kidding, this is Rollie Fingers, former Major League pitcher, and Hall of Famer.  As impressive as that ‘stache is in the picture, it’s even more so in person.  When we were stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson in the early ’80s, I used to get to at least one spring training game for my Cleveland Indians.  One day I was walking past the visitors bench, and there was Rollie, mustache and all.  As I said, impressive!  My outstanding Nurse Meghan wants me to grow one like this.  Please check back in five years. 

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Prophecy VIII

Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:4-5, Berean Study Bible)

This passage from the Prophet Isaiah is more from his prediction of “The Suffering Servant.” Isaiah details more of how Jesus took on our sins, and the manner of His torture and how He died. 

Isaiah says, “He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows.” Jesus bore the weight of all the sins of the world, and all our griefs.  That’s quite a load!  He did so out of love for us all, and He did so willingly.  He acted as a sacrifice so that He would stand in our place and take the punishment we deserve.  Further, “we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.”  Only days after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was now considered the among the worst of criminals.  The “we” includes you and me.  We would’ve acted no differently than that hostile crowd in condemning Him.  Surely if Jesus was who He said He was, God would rescue Him.  But God did not. 

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”  He was pierced and crushed for our sins.  Jesus would later show His piercing wounds to Thomas the Doubter:  “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.’  Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!'”    (John 20:27-28)  Because of His wounds, we can be free from the chains of sin today.  “By His stripes we are healed.”  Before He was crucified, Jesus was tortured beyond recognition.  He was whipped with a device that had shards of metal embedded in the whip.  The torture ripped His skin apart, hence the “stripes.”  We are “healed” by those stripes from the ravages of sin by putting our trust and hope in the name of Jesus Christ, Who endured the punishment we deserve. 

By His Stripes We Are Healed

“By His Stripes We are Healed.”  Found at http://davidtue.com/biblical-promise-healed-stripes/

A few years ago I attended a Passover Seder with a Messianic congregation (the Last Supper was a Passover meal).  The Rabbi took a piece of matzah and pointed out that Jesus is represented in the unleavened bread.  He noted the holes throughout (“He was pierced for our transgressions . . . “); and there were markings resembling stripes (” . . . and by His stripes we are healed.”).  I don’t know if the unleavened bread of Jesus’ time on earth mirrored the matzah we have today.  It’s possible that the unleavened bread Jesus shared with His disciples portended the torture and crucifixion through which He was about to endure. 

MatzahMatzah, unleavened bread.  “He was pierced for our transgressions . . . by His stripes we are healed.”  Found at https://www.ou.org/holidays/what_is_matzoh_or_matzah/

Jesus Christ came to the earth He created for one reason:  To die as a sacrifice to save us from our sins.  He took the punishment we deserve.  God sent His Son as a substitute for you and for me.  What God requires is for us to acknowledge that sacrifice, and to put our trust and faith in His Son.  Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior?  There is hope in His name. 

Worship:  
“Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Performed by the Royal Choral Society.
“And With His Stripes We are Healed,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Performed by The Brussels Choral Society. 
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Prophecy VII

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’  I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”  John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.  I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’  I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”  (John 1:29-34, NASB)

The Apostle John writes in this passage about John the Baptizer’s encounter with Jesus Christ.  There’s a whole lot of prophecy connected to this segment.  First, John the Baptist understands that he is the fulfillment of prophecy to prepare for the Messiah’s coming to earth.  Second, John has plainly stated that he is not Messiah, but One would follow him “who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.”  And third, his declaration “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” is prophetic in that it predicts how Jesus would die. 

John says that he didn’t immediately recognize Jesus as Messiah, but he saw “the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained on Him.”  It was God Who completed the picture:  “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”  It’s then that John proclaims “that this is the Son of God.”

Behold, the Lamb of God
“Behold the Lamb of God” found at Good Salt, https://www.goodsalt.com/details/lfwas1578.html

John’s declaration “Behold, the Lamb of God . . . ” was prophetic for the manner of Jesus’ purpose for coming to His earth:  He would end up being a sacrifice.  The Law of Moses prescribed animal sacrifices as a way for sinners to receive forgiveness.  When a lamb was presented, it had to be perfect–spotless, no blemishes, no diseases.  Jesus was required by God the Father to be perfect as well.  He lived a perfect life, free from sin.  Thus He was an acceptable sacrifice to the Father. 
John also says that Jesus would “[take] away the sin of the world.”  The only acceptable way for remission of sins is by blood sacrifice.  God requires blood for forgiveness of sins.  So for Jesus to take our sin away, He would have to be presented as a sacrifice, and shed His blood. 

Of course, Jesus did just that.  The animal sacrifices performed by the priests in the Temple had to be done over and over again, whenever there was sin.  The chief priests were required to enter the Holy of Holies once each year to atone for the sins of the people.  But Jesus’ sacrifice was good once and for all time.  God requires us to acknowledge His sacrifice, and pray to make Jesus the Lord of our lives.  Have you done so?  As we approach Easter, now would be a great time to ask Jesus into your heart! 


Worship:  “I am Yours,” by Darlene Zschech and Michael W. Smith

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Prophecy VI

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.  (Isaiah 53:2-3, NASB)

The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me?  (Isaiah 50:5-8, NASB)

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  The Lenten Season is meant to prepare our hearts to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who came to the earth He created, with the intent to offer Himself as a sacrifice.  If we acknowledge that sacrifice, and turn to Him for forgiveness of our sins, then we will be made right with God the Father, and enjoy fellowship with Him in heaven for eternity. 

The Old Testament prophets not only foretold of the advent of Messiah, but prophesied of the way He would live and die.  Let’s look at the passages above from Isaiah. 

Isaiah 53 passage:  This excerpt is part of Isaiah’s description of “The Suffering Servant.”  As part of God’s plan, Jesus left the majesty and comfort of His heavenly home and humbly came to His earth on the greatest rescue mission in history, to save you and me.  He took the form of a man (“He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him . . . “).  There was nothing visibly different about Him.  Humans would have expected God to appear in a much more stately (Godly) form.  Jesus was “despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . . ”  Most people, and certainly the ruling elites, rejected His message.  They tortured, then crucified Him.  In His humanity, He must have been brokenhearted.  “We did not esteem Him.”

“Despised and Rejected of Men,” by Sigismund Goetze (1866-1939).  Found at Cassandra’s  Musings, http://cassandramusing.blogspot.com/2017/03/despised-and-rejected-of-men.html

Isaiah 50 passage:  Jesus was entirely obedient to His Father’s plan.  Even as He was preparing for the horrific torture that was about to happen, He asked God to “remove this cup” from Himself; but just as quickly, “not My will, but Thine be done.”  Jesus submitted Himself to the horrible abuse He suffered.  He knew that His Father had His back.  Therefore He wasn’t worried about what men could do to Him.  That’s a great lesson for all of us who have trusted in Him for our salvation! 

“Messiah,” by George Frideric Handel, is traditionally a Christmas piece.  But the piece covers the prophecies of Messiah’s birth, life, death, resurrection (“Hallelujah”), and beyond.  Below is a movement based on the passages above. 

Worship: “He Was Despised,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel. Performed by Laura McAlpine, mezzo soprano; and David Briggs, organ.

It’s a tradition during Lent to give up something one loves as a manner of sacrifice.  ALS has left me with not much left to sacrifice.  So . . . I think I’m going to give up playing golf.  

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Heirs

. . . for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God . . .   (Romans 8:13-16, NASB)

In his letter to the church at Rome, Apostle Paul writes about fear versus love in the spirit of adoption as children of God.  

In this passage, he starts by contrasting “living according to the flesh” with living “by the Spirit.”  The former leads to death (“you must die”), while with the latter, “you are putting to death the deeds of the body, [and] you will live.”  This is another way of discussing the “deeds of the flesh” vs. the fruit of the Spirit (see “Fruit,” February 21, 2022, below).  Paul goes on to explain that “all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  It’s far better to be called a son or daughter of the living God, than to be outside the family! 

Next, Paul says that those who are led by the Holy Spirit “have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba!  Father!'”  Sons and daughters of God have been adopted into the family; therefore there is no reason to fear.  Anything.  Not anyone, not circumstances, not death. 

Romans 8:15 poster.  Found at Women in the Word, https://t2womenintheword.blogspot.com/2017/06/he-is-our-abba-father-romans-8.html

According to Bible Gateway, the term “Abba” referring to God as Father is found three times in the New Testament.  Here’s a discussion on the meaning of the word: 

“The spoken language of Jews in Israel in Jesus’ day was Aramaic, and abba is an Aramaic word for father that indicates an intimate relationship. One way to render this term in English could be “Dad.” Although the Old Testament refers to God as a father in several passages, it was highly unusual for Jews to use the term of endearment Abba to refer to God. The term reveals Jesus’ close, personal relationship with God the Father, and following Jesus, Paul used it to represent believers’ relationship with the Father as well.”  (Reese, Christopher.  “What Does “Abba” Mean in the Bible?”  February 21, 2022, Bible Gateway Blog, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/what-does-abba-mean-in-the-bible/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklybrief)

Last, Paul tells us how we know we’re adopted into God’s family:  “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”  The Holy Spirit Himself tells us that we are sons and daughters of the One Who created the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in it.  One word:  Awesome!  Are you a son or daughter of God?  The way to make sure is to ask Jesus to come into your heart. 

Jack and Jan Catton came to visit us recently.  Jack was one of my roommates at the Air Force Academy, and Jack and Jan are among our closest friends.  Jan’s parting words to me were, “No fear.  No fear.”  No fear, Jan.  I’m a son of God Most High!  As an adopted son, I can call Him “Dad!”

The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.  (Proverbs 29:25)

Worship:  “Freedom Hymn,” by Austin French


triple ace robin olds in front of an aircraftColonel Robin Olds in Vietnam.  Found at Sandboxx, https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-man-behind-the-stache-why-mustache-march-matters-to-airmen/

Tuesday begins the month of March, also known as “Mustache March” in the United States Air Force.  It’s an unofficial tribute to Colonel Robin Olds, who was a wing commander in Vietnam.  He had a mustache that definitely exceeded Air Force standards, and was thus a hero to his troops.  He was later the Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy (before my time there), and he was a hero to the Cadet Wing  Across the Air Force, Airmen will grow mustaches and have contests in their units at the end of March to see who grew the best ‘stache.  I’ll be participating g in Mustache March this year.  Why?  Because even with ALS, I can.  Growing facial hair is one of the few things I can still do! 

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Brothers

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.  It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever. (Psalm 133, NASB)

Psalm 133 is attributed to King David.  The title is “The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.”  It’s a Song of Ascents, which means it’s a song pilgrims would sing as they went up to the Temple Mount to worship.  The theme of this psalm is unity among the faithful, and has implications for Jesus’ Church today. 

King David says that it’s good and pleasant “for brothers to dwell together in unity!”  How good is it?  He compares it to the feeling of anointing oil being poured over one’s head; and to the dew on Mt. Hermon rolling down on the other mountains of Israel. 

Oil was used to anoint people and things, to consecrate, or set them apart for service to the LORD.  The oil was composed of a specific recipe that God gave Moses as part of His detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle.  Moses poured the oil over his brother Aaron’s head to consecrate him for service as the first High Priest.  According to Free Messianic Bible, “Anointing oil represents the Ruach of God, His Spirit, which was poured over Aaron the High Priest (Kohen Gadol) and other priests to set them apart as holy and fit for His Temple service.

“When we worship the Lord together in action by loving each other, we are clothed with His Ruach (Spirit) in unity.”

Moses anoints Aaron as High Priest by pouring specially prepared oil over his head.  Found at Free Messianic Bible, https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/hinei-mah-tov-behold-how-good-and-pleasant-it-is-for-brethren-to-dwell-together-in-unity/

Free Messianic Bible also explains “the dew of Hermon”:  “Most of Israel receives virtually no rain from May through September, yet during these months the coastal lands are blessed with life-giving moisture as the night breezes carry mist from the Mediterranean Sea, spreading it over the parched ground, nourishing and reviving plants and foliage.
“The mountains of the snow-covered Mount Hermon at the most northern point of Israel are also known for spreading abundant mist throughout the night to the hills below and the land beyond.”

According to King David, it was in Zion that “the LORD commanded the blessing–live forever.”  God provided Messiah, Jesus Christ His Son, King David’s descendant, so that if we believe in Him, we will “live forever.”  As for brothers dwelling “together in unity,” we’re commanded to love one another.  Paul wrote that this is one way for people to know we belong to Jesus, that brothers and sisters in Christ love one another. 

The Grim Reapers of ’76 show off our class rings in the spring of 1975.  I’m standing, third from the left. 

Speaking of brothers, I’d like to pay tribute to my brothers from the Air Force Academy.  Specifically, Cadet Squadron 31, the Grim Reapers, Class of 1976.  God put us all together in the fall of 1973.  Twenty two of us started our sophomore year together, and we all graduated on 2 June 1976.  While we didn’t always “dwell together in unity,” for the most part we got along pretty well.  I think when we graduated, we parted as friends.  Most of us keep in touch to this day.  These guys had a profound impact on my life.  I can’t begin to say how much I learned from them.  Of all the fighter squadrons and organizations of which I’ve been a part, I’m most proud to be a ’76 Grim Reaper!  I love them all. 

Worship:  “Hinei Ma Tov (Behold How Good),” by Paul Wilbur

Source:  “Hinei Mah Tov – Behold! How Good and Pleasant It Is for Brethren to Dwell Together in Unity.”  Free Messianic Bible, https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/hinei-mah-tov-behold-how-good-and-pleasant-it-is-for-brethren-to-dwell-together-in-unity/