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Who Came to Jesus, a Centurion or
Jewish Elders?
According to Mt. 8:5-13 a centurion
approached Jesus directly to request the healing of his
sick servant. Lk. 7:2 says that some elders of the Jews were sent. It would
not be uncommon for a Roman centurion to send Jews, familiar with the
culture of Jesus, to request the healing first, then to make a direct
personal request.
A Sign or No Sign?
Jesus was disturbed that religious
leaders demanded a “sign” to “test” Him. Mk. indicates that no sign
will be given Mk. 8:11-12. Mt. and Lk. Indicate that no sign will be given
except the sign of Jonah being in the belly of the large
fish for three days and nights Mt. 12:38-39, Lk. 11:29-30. Consider that
Jesus made this comment more than once. His indication in Mk. may have
stopped short of mentioning the “sign of Jonah.” After all, the point of
the story was to criticize the seeking of “signs” in general. Here we
see how we should read the Scripture in its context to understand why the
words were said the way they were.
Jesus criticized the Pharisees for
asking Him for a sign from heaven. Mk. 8:11-13 Then, in Mt. 12:38-39 it’s
indicated that the only sign of the Messiah would be the symbol of Jonah
which parallels Jesus’ death. Further analysis of the
intent of Jesus makes this no contradiction. The intention of Jesus was to
criticize the Pharisees for requesting an ‘immediate’ sign, as in a
magical demonstration. Jesus wanted their focus to be on the longer-term
sign of the death and resurrection that was tied to the model of Jonah.
Genesis One and Two
Some enemies of the Word think that
these two chapters contradict each other.
Gen. 1 is clearly a methodical account
of Creation, all six days. We know this from the opening words, “In the
beginning “ and by the methodical system of steps marked off as “days”
each marked off with there being evening and morning one day. It describes
exactly what happened on each day.
Gen.2 has an entirely different
purpose. It discusses what happened to heaven and earth once they were
created with the emphasis on the creation of man and woman on the sixth day.
This of course is what Scripture is about, the story of salvation.
For instance when it says, “God
planted a garden” this does not rule out that other vegetation had been
formed. This phrase simply refers to a special place.
Where Did Cain Get His Wife?
In Gen. 4:17, “Cain lay with his
wife, and she became bregnant and gave birth to Enoch.” Up to this point
in the biblical narrative no other women had been mentioned as being born.
But this isn’t the purpose to tell all that happened, but the story of
salvation.
Adam and Eve had other children beyond
Cain, Able, Seth. The last was born when Adam was 130 years old Gen. 5:4.
Seth, in turn also had sons and daughters Gen. 5:7. Considering the long
life spans, Cain had plenty of time to take a wife from either Adam or
Seth’s daughters. And that early in man’s development there would not be
a problem with marrying to close genetically.
Homiletics part 4
The Chameleon
Some of
you have seen a lizard called the chameleon. Certain chameleons can
quickly change color, and even develop spots and streaks that seem to be
part of their background. They can turn green, gray or brown if they
are standing on a green, gray or brown background.
Those of us who love the Lord Jesus should
"show our colors" --let others know you belong to the Lord.
Do not be like the chamelon who changes color with his surroundings.
If you have to be with unsaved girls and boys at school and in other
places, do not act as they do and do naughty things. Let others know
you are different because you have a new life!
Salt Creates Thirst
At a missionary meeting some young people were
discussing the text, "Ye are the salt of the earth."
One suggestion after another was made as to
the meaning of "salt" in this verse.
"Salt imparts a desirable flavor,"
said one. "Salt preserves from decay," another
suggested.
Then at last a Chinese Christian girl spoke
out of an experience none of the others had. "Salt creates
thirst," she said, and there was a sudden hush over the room
Everyone was thinking,
Have I ever made anyone thirst for the Lord Jesus Christ?"
The Lost Boy
Once a little boy was lost in the woods.
The alarm was sounded; a church meeting broke up; the whole congregation
and neighborhood responded. Fishermen abandoned their nets and
merchants closed their shops. Plows were left in the field and
washing in the tub. Everyone turned out to hunt for the little
fellow. There was a feverish haste. The night was dark and
harm might befall the little fellow. After hours of search, he was
found, and oh, the joy that was felt because of the rescue!
Today that boy is grown. He is lost
again! But none seem to care. Mom and Dad are busy with other
things. The church does not seem to care. No alarm is sent
out. Yet, a far worse fate awaits him now. You see, he is now
lost in sin! Do we really care? Enough to do something?
Pastor Koenig
B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 103
I Cor. 16:9
"For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are
many adversaries."
Aug.31, 2007
Take the Task He gives you gladly, Let His Work your
Pleasure be.
These words from a hymn remind us of the joy of serving
Him. For the East Africa Trip in Oct.-Nov. two more men are coming to
work with the brethren. Loren Hansen and Russell Schmitt will join Larry
Hansen and Pastor Mayhew. We thank the Lord for these volunteers. We
also praise our God for the work of our 16 CLC brothers and sisters who
helped our sister churches in India
recently.
BIBLE QUESTIONS -part
6
Who Was the Correct Father
of Jotham?
In Mt. 1:9 in the genealogy of
Jesus it states, “Uzziah the father of Jotham”(Uzziah is Greek).
In Old Testament times Azariah is referred to as Jotham’s father 2
K. 15:1-7, 1 Chron. 3:12. Later in 2 Kings, he is referred to as
Uzziah 15:32-34. Likewise he was referred to elsewhere as Uzziah 2
Chron. 26,27:2, Is. 1:1, 6:1, 7:1. This is simply a normal situation
of an individual bearing two names that are similar in meaning.
Azariah means “God has helped.” Uzziah means “God is my
strength.”
Zechariah,
Son of Berekiah, the Last Martyr
Jesus said Zechariah son of
Berekiah was the last martyr of the Old Testament Mt. 23:34-35). Most
people assume that the last martyr was Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, who
was stoned in the Temple court as ordered by King Joash 2 Chron.
24:20-22. However, there were many martyrs since Zechariah ben
Jehoiada, who died circa 800BC. In fact, the last martyr mentioned in
Scripture is Zechariah, son of Berekiah, just as Jesus indicated Zech.
1:1.
The
Name of Nehemiah’s Opponent
Nehemiah refers to his opponent
using two names. In 2:19 he uses the name “Geshem” while in 6:6 he
refers to him as “Gashmu”. It is not uncommon for people to have
more than one name. In this case the difference is based on the common
usage of the Arabic speaking people, who typically end names with a
“u” and the Aramaic/Hebrew speaking people whose names usually
omit the short vowel endings. The book of Nehemiah uses the common
Arab reference in one case and the common Hebrew reference in the
other.
Jehoiachin’s
Curse
God placed a curse on Jehoiachin
in Jer. 22:30 that this king of Judah would be considered childless,
that “none of his descendants would sit on the throne of David.”
Of course Jesus sits upon the throne of David. And Jehoiachin is
included in His genealogy Mt. 1:11-12 Of course God’s special and
unique plan was having the Holy Spirit “overshadow” Mary to
conceive Jesus. No human male was necessary. Jesus had the unique
position of being born of a human mother and the Spirit of a perfect
God. But through the male line He did inherit His lineage as King.
Homiletics part
5
Testing
A blacksmith known for his strong
faith, had a great deal of illness. He was challenged by
an unbeliever to explain why his god would let him suffer.
He explained, "I take a piece
of iron, put it into the fire to bring it to a white heat, then
I strike it once or twice to see if it will take temper. I
plunge it into the fire again, then I put it on the anvil and
make a useful article out of it.
If it will not take temper when I
first strike it on the anvil, I throw it into the scrap heap and
sell it for a half-penny per pound. I believe God has been
testing me to see if I will take temper. I have tried to
bear it as patiently as I could, and my daily prayer has been,
'Lord, put me into the first if you will; put me into the water
if you think I need it; do anything you please, O Lord, only do
not throw me on the scrap heap.'"
The Example of the Pine
One day a boy and
his father went into the mountains. They took shelter from
a storm in the lee of some great gray boulders that lay like
sleeping giants close to the crest of a lonely ridge. As
the two looked upward, they saw the wind lay its grim hands on a
mountain pine that towered from the summit of the ridge.
It was a sentinal that could escape no danger, an outpost to
receive the first shock of the enemy's attack. Savagely
the wind tore at it, shook it violently, and howled through the
branches.
To the boy, the tree, strong though
it was, seemed about to be torn to pieces. "Look,
Father!" he said, pointing upward, "what the wind is
doing to that pine!" The full fury of the blast just
then made the pine shudder and sway. It heaved desperately
against the black sky.
"Storms are an old story to
that tree," said the father. "A tree like that
lives in a struggle from the time it is high enough to catch the
first breath of air. Tennyson says a tree is
'storm-strengthened on a windy site'. The strongest trees
are always those that have weathered the greatest number of
gales. Besides, the question is not what is happening to
the tree, but what is happening in the tree."
"The pine does not really seem
to mind fighting the storm, does it?"
"No, because it is able to
withstand the strongest wind," the father answered.
"It is the same with us. It really does not matter
what happens to us, but it matters a great deal what happens in
us."
Pastor Koenig