The Living Word

Bible study on the set readings widely used by various churches and chapels and a weekly storytelling video. Also at www.medium.com/the-living-word and https://thelivingword.substack.com

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Light to all mankind: Sunday Dec. 29 + Jan 5, 2019-2020

December 26, 2019 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

TLW52 for Sunday, December 29 + Sunday, January 5 (Christmas 1 + Epiphany)

Isaiah 60:1-6 — the light appears to the nations

60:1-3  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Darkness covers the earth… but the Lord… and His glory appears” – a picture of our world clouded by pervasive sin but God’s glory in His people shine as a beacon in this spiritual darkness as God always intended, Gen. 12:3

4  “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you;  your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.

“All assemble and come” – following the exile, alluded to in Isaiah 49:13-22, the words of 49:18 and 22 are repeated in the regathering of those who have stayed faithful; looking further still to the Gentile influx and the New Jerusalem.

5  Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;  the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

6  Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

“Riches of the nations will come… camels… bearing gold and incense…” – the picture is of caravans of wealthy pilgrims on a journey to worship, in the day of the Lord. In a partial fulfilment, one particular caravan of wealthy Gentiles did seek and find the Lord a year or two after His birth, Matthew 2:1 and 11 (below).

Isaiah 63:7-9

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us – yes, the many good things He has done for Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses.

“I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD” – the nation of Israel rebelled repeatedly and suffered the consequences, God’s nature throughout Scripture is unfailing, gracious and merciful love, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness” in His words to Moses, Exodus 34:7 .

8  He said, “Surely they are My people, children who will be true to Me”; and so He became their Saviour. In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

“The angel of His presence” – an expression of the Lord drawing near to His people, sorrowful for their suffering even though the result of their own sin. “Come near to God and He will come near to you,” James 4:8a.

REFLECTION  Augustine explained the Old and New Testaments as, “The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed. ” Each perspective is needed to understand the other – evident here in the well-known prophecies of Isaiah which show God’s historic purpose in the Gentile dignitaries coming to worship the infant Jesus as their Lord, and the reconciliation and unifying of believers in the growing church.

Matthew 2:1-23 – the light in the sky signals the light of the world

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”

“Magi from the east” – probably Zoroastrian sages from Persia with an awareness of the Scriptures from Daniel’s time, Daniel 5:11.

3-6 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;  for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

“Teachers of the law” – the professional scholars knew of the foretold Messiah and where He was to be born, yet didn’t believe it and made no move to visit Bethlehem just beyond southern outskirts of the city.

“Shepherd My people” – Matthew’s word for “rule” from “He will will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord”, Micah 5:4, thereby referencing the whole prophecy.

7-8 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

“I too may go and worship Him” – Herod wanted to kill him, not worship Him. Threatened by the announcement of a “king of the Jews”, he completely failed to understand who this Messiah, Jesus, was.

9-10 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

“The star… went ahead of them” – astronomical theories founder here, as the supernatural light moved, and to a position only six miles away.

11-12 On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

“Gold, frankincense and myrrh” – the two aromatic commodities, like the gold, were extremely valuable, and God’s providence for the refugee family.

13-15 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,  where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My son.”

“Fulfilled” – an emphasis of Matthew’s writing of this ‘Jewish” gospel and the second fulfilment he mentions, following his quotation of Micah earlier.

16-18 When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

“Rachel weeping” – at the time of Babylon’s slaughter Jeremiah personified mourning mothers  as Rachel. Bethlehem was a tiny village and the number was probably no more than about 20. Outrage though this was, it was Herod (who had murdered members of his own family to safeguard his throne)  and historians of the time did not record it.

19-20 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

“An angel of the Lord appeared” – another way the Lord drew near at a time of need and gave clear revelation to Joseph. Herod died shortly after overreacting to the threat he so wrongly perceived; Jesus did not come for Herod’s throne but for his salvation.

21-23 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

“Archelaus” – a son of Herod the Great and like his father; the Romans sacked him for misrule and appointed governors, of whom (later) Pilate was one.

“Nazarene” – a play on words recalling a number of prophecies, that the Messiah would be a nesir, branch, Isaiah 11:1, from a place of insignificance (like Nazareth) and despised, Isaiah 53:2-3.

REFLECTION  This part of the story reminds us that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted, although freewill allows man’s moves to control and minimise what God intends for good. For Herod, it was about political control, maintained by deceit and brutality. For the priests and law experts it was their power from religious status. Both were played out throughout the life of Jesus the Nazarene, but the good news is that His death fulfilled God’s higher purpose – and bought our freedom.

Ephesians 3:1-12 – Mystery about God’s purpose becomes our enlightenment

Eph. 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles —

2-3 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

“The administration of God’s grace” – Paul makes an important aside to explain his extraordinary mission, the former persecutor helping Jewish and non-Jewish Christian believers see themselves as graciously accepted by God through Christ, and so to accept each other.

4-6 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

“This mystery” – meaning a truth once hidden but now revealed, that Jewish and Gentile believers have equal shares in the new covenant of salvation in Jesus.

7-9 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

“To preach… and make plain [what] was kept hidden” – it was plainly stated in the OT but no one understood it, God’s unrestricted blessing promised through Abraham, and offer of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.

• For further study, read Gen. 12:3, Isaiah 49:6, Gal. 3:28-29.

10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“His intent” – God’s plan was for His family of believers, united and reconciled, to be a demonstration of His kingdom order cheered on by supportive angels, over and against demonic rulers and authorities.

12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Hebrews 2:10-18 

10-12 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what He suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

“Pioneer of… salvation” – Jesus went before us as the Eternal Son who became human, identified with us, and died a human death as his own sacrifice, so that we could accept what He had done on our behalf.

13 And again, “I will put my trust in Him.” And again He says, “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.”

14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

“So that by His death” – one of the most explicit statements about Jesus needing to become human to fulfil the requirements of a high priest, Hebrews 5:1-3, to break the hold of sin and death on us and to confer on us the holiness lost in the fall.

16-18 For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

“Make atonement” – because Jesus, fully divine, also fully shares our humanity, He uniquely can provide the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.

REFLECTION  Paul, the apostle with an appalling CV, writes to a fellowship of believers that no one could have predicted, where different races and social levels all worshipped as one. He writes to the Ephesians about a mystery, the hard-to-grasp achievement of an unlikely Messiah from an obscure village whose path to glory was all pain and shame. Through the Good News, what couldn’t happen, did happen. Through Jesus, fully divine, becoming fully human, He could take priesthood to a whole different level and break the power of sin and death over our lives. This is the Good News of what He has done for us, and by believing it and giving our lives to Him, we receive back what we could never earn – new and eternal life.

PRAYER  At this Christmas season, Lord, we remember to you our family and friends and neighbours, asking that (perhaps through us) many will come to the startling discovery of who Jesus really is and the Good News of what He has done for us.

Also read: Psalm 96

Filed Under: Epiphany, Year A

Sunday Dec 22 + Christmas Day 2019

December 18, 2019 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

TLW51 for Sunday, December 22 + Christmas Day, 2019.

Isaiah 7:10-16, Isaiah 9:2-7 — God’s sign of a light in the darkness

The virgin who conceives and gives birth to “God with us” foretold

Isa. 7:10-11 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

“Ahaz” – a notoriously faithless king of Judah who saw much of the population taken prisoner by Assyria and the northern kingdom of Israel, but not before Isaiah had urged him to put his trust in Yahweh, and even give him a sign.

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

“I will not ask” – feigning humility, Ahaz, true to form, does not want to turn to God.

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

“A sign” – as often occurs in OT prophecy, there is more than one fulfilment in view.

15-16 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

The sign for Ahaz to trust the Lord was a ‘type’ for the Virgin Mary in Isaiah’s betrothal, Isaiah 8:1-4,  and a son who would barely be a teenager before a political reversal occurred. However the Christian church has seen this prophecy mainly in terms of Immanuel, God with us, in Christ’s incarnation and birth.

Isaiah 9:2-7

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

“Deep darkness” – refusing to trust God put His people into spiritual confusion, but God in His grace purposed to bring light to them – and through them, “light to the Gentiles”.

• For further study see Isaiah 8:22, 42:6, 49:6; Matt. 4:15-16, Luke 2:32.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

“As in… Midian’s defeat” – freedom comes by trusting God, like Gideon’s tiny army, Judges 6-7, and finally in the Second Coming.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

“Greatness” – the child to be born to reign for ever has four ‘throne names’ emphasising his kingdom purpose, divine power, compassion and protection. “Everlasting Father” speaks to his caring nature, and does not mean that the Son and the Father are the same (the heresy of modalism).

REFLECTION  The story of God promising a sign to the unbelieving and rebellious king Ahaz shows how God is apt to shock us by treating us with so much more generosity than we deserve. This was a dark time for Judah, yet God was promising to break in with His presence and revelation. He wanted the king — just as He now wants us — to turn from our misplaced trust in other solutions and know that God is both greater, and far more able to save.

QUESTION  If God’s love cannot be earned, how do we respond to His love?

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-14 — God’s Son enters our human world

Angelic messengers appear to Joseph – and to shepherds in Bethlehem

Matt. 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

“Pledged to be married” – betrothal was a binding relationship requiring a legal divorce and financial settlement to end it. Joseph, a righteous man, was minded to spare Mary the shame if possible.

19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

“Her husband”  – or husband-to-be. Similarly in v.24 Matthews describes Mary as “his wife”, although not yet married.

20-21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

“Joseph son of David” – the angel prepares him to understand that the miraculous conception would be a son who would grow to fulfill the role of Messiah.

22-23 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

“Fulfill” – one of the 12 times Matthew shows the OT being worked out in Jesus’ life.

• For further study see, Matt. 2:15, 23; 3:15; 4:14; 5:17; 8:17;, 12:17; 13:14, 35; 21:4; 27:9.

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

“Until she gave birth” – the virgin birth is strongly inferred here; in Luke 1:34-35 it is stated clearly.

Luke 2:1-14

1-3 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own town to register.

“In those days” – Luke anchors the events of the birth in world events like the growth of the empire of the first Roman emperor and his introduction of poll tax, for a mainly Greek-speaking audience.

4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

“Register with Mary” – who was of taxable age and who may also have been of the house of David. They took a three-day journey over mountainous terrain to just south of Jerusalem where Micah 5:2 had predicted the Messiah would, be born.

6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

“No guest room” – a second room in a home. Bethlehem, a tiny village, would not have had an inn as in the traditional story.

8-9 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

“Shepherds living out” – in good grazing land where sheep were kept for sacrifice in nearby Jerusalem. No conclusion can be drawn for the time of year. Christmas was first celebrated in Rome in AD 354 and the December 25 date came later on still, to fit a Roman festival.

10-12 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Good news – Jesus is the person of the Good News which Isaiah had spoken about, Isaiah 52:7; 61:1

13-14 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

“Peace… favour” – the three titles used by the angels, Christ, Saviour, Lord, point to who receives the peace. It comes from recognising who Jesus is, submitting to Him and simply receiving from Him what cannot be earned.

REFLECTION  God’s holiness and divinity is a barrier to people who see themselves as ordinary and flawed and not even very ‘religious’. Yet in this story these are the very qualities that God seems to choose in revealing Himself and sharing His mission. Joseph, the jobbing tradesman, and the shepherds, considered a rough lot, better outside than in, were the very people God trusted to hear Him and act for Him… and they did!

QUESTION  Joseph and the shepherds were given vital roles in the event of Jesus’ birth. Where does God need us to step up to a role in His plan?

Romans 1:1-7, Titus 2:11-14 — Salvation offered to all freely in God’s grace

Jesus has secured for us a privilege humanly impossible to attain

Romans 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures…

“Servant… Apostle” – Paul introduces himself as a willing bond-servant to Jesus and one (with the Twelve) who has seen Him, Acts 9, and received His commission to be sent on His behalf.

3-5 …regarding His Son, who as to His earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake.

“Regarding His Son” – Paul headlines the good news, how Jesus came as a human by natural descent, was part of the Jewish royal line, died and was raised from the dead – then to be the means of grace for us to turn to Him in faith and receive new life. This will be expanded throughout the letter.

“Obedience that comes from faith” – faith comes first. The decision to believe and trust the Lord is a complete change of heart, which is evidenced in a change of values and behaviour.

6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Those Gentiles… called to belong” – Paul, a Jew,  was called to preach especially to non-Jews. In multi-racial Rome he needed to emphasise that Gentiles fully belonged – and were loved by God, v.7

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-14

11-12 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

“The grace of God has appeared” – Jesus has come as the living representation of what God has done FOR US rather than setting the bar of what WE MUST DO. Anyone, Jew or Gentile, male or female, can turn to Jesus and choose to receive His salvation offered. Not all will be saved, but all have the choice.

“Teaches us” – or instructs, coaches, encourages. We experience the ongoing grace of God by the Spirit of God, who helps and empowers us to live above ourselves.

13 …while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ…

“Wait for the blessed hope” – a clear focus on Christ’s return is holy living, 1 John 3:2-3.

14 ….who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

“Redeem us… and… purify” – the Lord wants us free of life’s sin and baggage so we can partner with Him in His mission.

REFLECTION  When Jesus appeared and started His ministry, crowds responded and people wanted to follow Him and ‘do life’ better. The enormity of what Jesus has done for us did not sink in until after His death, resurrection and ascension. It was Paul the apostle sent to go beyond Judaism with the good news of Jesus, who made plain what had always been there — God doing for us what we could never earn or attain. This is “receiving grace” and “being called to be His people” which is not following a religion but entering a relationship — the result of which is that we find ourselves doing what pleases God.

QUESTION  How overawed are we by what God has done for us? And how difficult is it to share that gratitude and joy with others?

PRAYER  Father, at this time of year especially, we overflow with thanks for Your sending of Your Son, Jesus, and the new life which is His gift to all who turn to Him. We pray that our families and communities may be impacted by the reality of Jesus this Christmas time — and for opportunity to play our part in sharing the message. Amen.

And also read : Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Filed Under: Advent to Christmas, Year A

Stages of revival: Dec. 15, 2019

December 9, 2019 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

TLW50 for Sunday, December 15, 2019 (Advent 3)

Theme: Stages of revival in the promised coming of the kingdom

Isaiah 35:1-10 — The watered desert  bloom is a picture of revival

A highway over the rough places will lead to the Lord

1-2 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;  it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendour of our God.

“Desert and… parched land” – in the preceding chapters of God has spoken through the prophet of judgment for the nations , including fertile Edom becoming a desert, Isa. 34:1-17. This includes Judah and Israel for their own rejection of God. This picture of the Messiah’s reign is a complete reversal – the whole world as a garden.

3-4 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.”

“Your God will come” – the essence of the good news is God’s coming to save His people.

“Vengeance… divine retribution” –  words that seem to conflict with a God whose overriding characteristic is mercy. In the preceding chapter, Isa. 34:8, this was about God’s justice in the context of Edom which had oppressed Israel at every opportunity. This is robust assurance to the faithful that their day will come.

• For further study, see Isaiah 40:9; 52:7; 62:11, Rev. 22:12, 20.

5-6 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

“Eyes… opened… lame leap… mute shout for joy” – unmistakeable signs of the Messiah’s appearance. Jesus quoted this passage when John’s disciples asked if He was the Expected One, Matt. 11:4-5 below.

7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

“Thirsty ground” – the  Arabah (Wadi Arava, south of the Dead Sea) is difficult, rocky, arid terrain with little rainfall – but there are rivers deep in the rock and ‘dry’ rivers like the Nahan Paran which can flood widely. God’s blessing in such a dry place is rain coming and rivers appearing.

8  And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.

“A highway” – Isaiah saw a built up level road across the wadis and rock outcrops, the Holy Way leading pilgrims to Zion. It represents a reversal of Isaiah 33:8, 34:10 when none could pass through.

9-10  No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

“Those the Lord has rescued” – the redeemed. The immediate picture is a safe and joyful homecoming from exiled captivity. Isaiah is also seeing beyond, to the sorrow-free time of final gathering of God’s people into God’s kingdom on earth.

• For further study, see Isaiah 25:7, 51:11; Hebrews 12:22-24; Rev. 21:4.

REFLECTION  Prophetic pictures in the OT seldom depict one time or event. A description of a process or changes that happen in stages, like the coming of Jesus and His kingdom, challenge our time-related and experience-limited logic. Once travel was difficult and limited; then there were regular buses; now look ahead to a time when no transport needed. So it is with the coming of the kingdom, first inaugurated by Jesus, God with us and incarnate like us. We come to know and trust Jesus as the Son of God, our Saviour and Lord, and we enter into new life with spiritual awareness and a sense of God’s kingdom order breaking in to our lives as we pray. But the time is coming when Jesus will return again, a majestic but shocking event when He will gather all those who are truly His. This is the “divine retribution” or judgment when He will call His own and provide a spiritual highway of safe passage for them to come to Him, their lord and king. This is the good news: The kingdom is coming, even now in incremental ways, and we see it with eyes of faith.

QUESTION  Are we intentionally journeying towards Jesus? If not, we are becoming more distant from Him; it is movement, one way or the other.

Matthew 11:2-11 – Jesus praises His forerunner, the great prophet John

Yet Jesus says the humblest born again believer is greater

2-3 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask Him, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

“John…in prison” – John the Baptist was imprisoned by the local Galilean ruler Herod Antipas for challenging the immoral relationship Herod has entered into with his half-brother’s wife, Herodias. John and his followers were confused – this captive was not set free, the “baptism of fire” had not yet occurred, Isaiah 61:1; Matt. 3:11-12. Hence the question.

4-5 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Back to Isaiah

“Report… what you…see” – Jesus’ priority with the needy of society and miracles that have been foretold are clear indications of his identity as the Christ, or Messiah. His quotation of Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1 would be clear to John, without Jesus prematurely declaring who He was to others.

6 “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.”

“Stumble on account of Me” – John and his disciples were shaken in their faith by expecting a more majestic kind of Messiah, and a more instant outworking of John’s prophetic words.

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

“A reed swayed” – a comparison of austere, unbending John, who cared little for public opinion, or the politician Herod whose emblem for his coinage was a reed, like the 5m-high ones that grew on the banks of the Jordan.

8 “If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.

9 “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

“Fine clothes… a prophet” – many who claimed to be prophets in the former kingdoms of Israel and Judah were simply courtiers supporting corrupt leadership. John intentionally positioned himself as one like Elijah – who was no establishment figure.

10 “This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send My messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

“Born of women” – normal human birth, contrasted (by implication) with new birth into the kingdom of heaven.

“Not… anyone greater than John” – John was the last of the OT prophets and also Christ’s forerunner, a unique role. Yet any born-again believer enter new life and becomes “greater” than John as part of the atoning work of Christ, something that John only saw in a shadowy way.

REFLECTION  Jesus’ baptism and entry into His ministry, starting in Galilee, was in any understanding of the word, a spiritual revival. It was fulfilling in part what Isaiah had prophesied – leaving part to come. It was also a part-fulfilment of John’s prophetic appeal to the crowds who came out to the wilderness region where he was baptising people in an act of repentance.  He was telling them to get their lives right with God because One far greater was coming, who would baptise, or drench, them in the Holy Spirit and also fire. This would be an encounter with the purifying fire and holy judgment of God as well as the impartation of the life and power of God by God’s Spirit. Any study of the various waves of spiritual revival over  the past few hundred years cannot fail to see the common factors: people turning to God, acknowledging their sin and recognising what Jesus has done for them, having a spiritual encounter that is life-changing and enduring. The kingdom keeps on coming in different waves of revival and of course “the One who is to come ” is the same Lord who is certain to come again” at the end of time, the fulfilment of what both Isaiah and John saw. This time it will be final: eternal belonging, one with God, or cast out to the torment of eternal desolation.

QUESTION  As the expectation and intensity of God’s presence with us rises in this Advent season, it reminds us what Advent is really looking forward to: not the first coming of Jesus, but the second. Are we ready for that?

James 5:7-10 — Be patient and know the Lord’s coming is near

Guard against judging others in the waiting season

7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

“Autumn and spring rains” – in a dry climate, critical watering times, seen as signs of God’s faithfulness and blessing, autumn rain to germinate and establish and spring rain to fill out the ear. The farmer saw the harvest coming in stages; so it is with the final harvest of the kingdom.

8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

“Be patient and stand firm” – early believers had to maintain faith while enduring cruel treatment, in the expectation of Christ’s imminent coming [parousia] when both oppressed and oppressors will receive their justice. Believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness, Proverbs 14:14, Matthew 5:12.

9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

“The Judge is… at the door” – the last days technically span any time period between Christ’s ascension and second coming and it is a time of enemy activity, exploiting tensions to incite believers to sin and open themselves up to the devil’s oppression. James warns against this temptation to sin.

10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

“As an example… take the prophets” – many prophets were persecuted for their obedience in challenging the prevailing opinions of those around them, like Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah – and John the Baptist, imprisoned by Herod Antipas and then executed on a whim

• For further study, read Matthew 11:2, 14:8-12.

REFLECTION  It is fair to say that the Lord is always about the work of revival, turning people’s hearts back to Him, in preparation for the great and final revival when He comes again. This is the meaning of the season of expectation of coming, or Advent. Christmas rightly celebrates the time of His first coming, but all these passages remind us not to look back, but to live as those looking forward to what is to come – and it could be at any time. It is a call to preparation, in the awareness that the Judge is standing at the door. We need to be right with Him for when that time comes – and the only way is that of the One who said “I am the Way”, the only name under heaven by which we can be saved. However much different religious ideas dress it up, it comes down to a heart decision to accept Christ personally and live for Him and with Him – no one and no one’s action can do that for us. All three of this week’s Bible passages are like a theatre spotlight picking out Jesus in every scene and action – and reminding us WHO it is all about.

QUESTION  What does it mean in practice to live as those who know that the Lord’s coming is near?

PRAYER  Father, as we look forward to celebrating the day that remembers the incarnation of Your Son, help us to also look beyond that event and discern how You may be preparing for an even more sudden arrival to rule and reign in all of this world. Then all that does not already belong to You will be taken – and all of us that doesn’t own You as Lord. May Your Holy Spirit be active in our hearts and communities, leading us back to You in all our ways. Amen.

Filed Under: Advent to Christmas, Year A

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Welcome to The Living Word

You get a lot more out of the Sunday service readings if they are already speaking to you. TLW is about reading and re-reading these Scriptures with some commentary to bring out what is hidden and make connections with cross references. This is different from liturgy because it is a Bible study, putting the Bible passages in sequence from OT, through the NT gospel era, and then through the lens of the post-resurrection, early church in the power of the Spirit. Enabling this progressive revelation points to a theme.  The translation used is the readable and widely-used 2011 edition of the New International Version (NIV) Bible. Commentary is drawn from a wide range of sources and is Bible-centric and theologically neutral. As we read and reflect and allow the Holy Spirit to help us hear God through His word during the week, we prepare ourselves to hear afresh and receive the Sunday sermon in church or chapel.

For convenience, use the ‘Subscribe’ box below to receive a short email with the Bible passage and notes for each weekday (and that’s all!).

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A little about me and my vision for The Living Word

I live in the Marches, a green and beautiful expanse of hills between England and Wales where churches and chapels share duty to the Christian faithful in every valley, and churchgoing is still part of the community life. However, there are few Bibles to be seen in these buildings, and home-based groups for fellowship and Bible study are rare.

I want to encourage Sunday worshippers in churches and chapels to enjoy reading the Bible during the week, to get used to hearing God for themselves through His word, and to be  spiritually prepared for the message they will hear on Sunday from the lectionary readings they all share. It is no substitute for meeting and worshipping together, nor for Holy Spirit-inspired preaching. It supports both by encouraging the personal growth of church and chapel members of any denomination. It offers faith encouragement for those no longer able to, or no longer wanting to take part in, formal physical church.

My background is not in churches that use the lectionary and I bring a breadth of tradition and spiritual understanding to the writing.  I have pastored a number of churches and been involved in a variety of other missional initiatives with a ‘kingdom of God’ agenda.

As well as The Living Word and its weekly video I also post regularly on www.freshbread.today and www.thelivingword.substack.com with a podcast as well as video and written content. There is also a Facebook page at fb.com/TLWbiblestudy

Revd Ian Greig BD (Hons), DPS

SEE ALSO other Living Word Publications

Substack newsletter and podcast (free subscription) — audio podcast, video and written content all in one place

Fresh Bread Today — the freshest bake, with a bit of a tang, unpackaged and uncut. His word to live by, today.

Believe the Good News – finding the good news and encouragement all through the Bible

GLOW – God’s Love Over Weobley, encouraging prayer and spiritual fellowship. With a local flavour for this NW Herefordshire village.