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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April 4: The message of the empty tomb

March 25, 2021 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Magnolia buds next to Weobley church
Image credit: Ian Greig

The Living Word is a Bible study on the set readings for April 4 according to the Revised Common Lectionary (shared by many denominations) which brings out the theme:

The message of the empty tomb is for all who believe 

• See also article linked to this post Jesus is Lord for all who turn to Him

OT Isaiah 25:6-9 — The heavenly banquet celebrating no more death for all who joyfully trust the Lord for salvation

NT gospel Mark 16:1-8 — The women find the stone rolled back, an empty tomb and an angel who explains: He has risen!

NT letter Acts 10:34-43 — The good news of peace with God: everyone who believes and trusts Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through Him


Isaiah 25:6-9 — Victory on the Lord’s mount swallows death for ever

The heavenly banquet for all who trust the Lord and are joyful in His salvation

6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines.

“On this mountain” — the mountain of the Lord. Jerusalem is taken as symbolic of Zion, the heavenly city, Isaiah 1:8, 1:27, 2:2, 24:23.

“Rich food… aged wine” — God’s grand Messianic banquet at the end of time. “Rich food” is symbolic of great blessings and “the finest of wines” speaks of a spiritual outpouring.

7-8 On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; God’s salvation through Jesus is fo r all people. He will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove His people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

“He will destroy the shroud… swallow up death for ever” — the first of two remarkable promises by God. Death, the great swallower, Psalm 49:14 ESV, is itself swallowed up in victory, 1 Cor. 15:54.

• For further study, see Revelation 7:17, 21:4

“The sheet that covers all nations… the tears from all faces” — the second remarkable promise, not only will God destroy death but He will do it for ALL people (five repetitions of ‘all’), not just the chosen people of Israel. This anticipates Christ’s death and , now resurrected, empowered to confer new life on all who come to Him in repentance and faith.

• For further study, read Romans 6:1-10.

9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

“They will say” — the new community of those belonging to God will respond in humility but also exuberant joy.

Reflection

SUMMARY  The picture of the heavenly banquet contains two promises that must have been difficult for Isaiah and his original hearers to grasp. First is that death, which stalks everything living until it can devour it, would be itself devoured and human sorrow and disgrace with it.

The second promise, just as extraordinary to those first hearers, is that wiping away tears and removing disgrace will be for all. Not just for God’s own, the nation of Israel, but all people of every nation — with much repetition of the “all”.

APPLICATION  The nature of religions is that they are exclusive. Apart from major world religions, the ordering of Christian faith into a great many strands of competing membership and practice is man’s way of organising and holding on to God’s free gift. Isaiah’s words show us with great clarity that God’s heart is to invite all who respond to His love to put their trust in Him and know His salvation.

QUESTION  Is Christian faith something we should be receiving, or giving away?

Mark 16:1-8 — The angel explains the empty tomb: He has risen

The women on a dawn visit to the tomb find the heavy stone rolled back

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

“When the Sabbath was over” — no purchases could be made until sunset on Saturday evening. 

“Anoint Jesus’ body” — Jews did not practise embalming but this was an act of special devotion and love. They were not expecting resurrection.

2-3 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

“Who will roll the stone away” — the heavy stone closure was shaped to roll and set in a groove for closure.

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

“Had been rolled away” — an act of God, not to let Jesus out but to allow witnesses to see what had happened. There is no mention of the seal on the tomb or the guard. The women are unaware of the precautions the authorities had taken, Matt. 27:62-66. Matthew reports that an angel moved the stone, Matt. 28:2-4 and an earthquake occurred. 

5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“As they entered” — a fore-chamber, with a smaller burial chamber leading off it.

“Young man…in a white robe… sitting” — the posture of authority, and in formal attire suggestive of a heavenly visitation. Matthew tells us he was an angel. 

• For further study, see Mark 9:35, 13:3, Luke 4:20 and Esther 8:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7-8; Mark 9:3; Matthew 28:2-3.

6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

“The Nazarene” — used by some as a slur. The angel may have been saying that the ‘despised one’ who was crucified, has now risen in glory.

“He has risen!” — one emphatic word in Greek. The angel emphasises the evidence of the Resurrection.

7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as he told you.’ “

“Go, tell His disciples” — a woman’s testimony was not allowed in court but Mark boldly cites the women as the first witnesses to the empty tomb and Christ’s resurrection.

“Disciples and Peter” — this detail only in Mark showing Peter was still very much included.

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Mark’s account focuses on the the early morning visit by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome. They set out at first light, on a mission of love and reverence, to reach the tomb where their Lord is laid out –– or so they believed. These women are the first witnesses of the empty tomb and the angel’s message: “He is risen! He is not here…” 

APPLICATION  Just as Isaiah’s words emphasise God’s heart that all are eligible to hear and believe for salvation in Jesus, Mark’s account puts women first, not last. On the Cross, death was defeated. At the tomb, God opened a sealed place of death, to reveal unmistakable evidence of Jesus raised to new life. We have to allow faith to rise above reason and trust in Jesus and His death and resurrection. Believing the Resurrection is a key to our receiving new life. 

QUESTION  Why did the women set out for a tomb they couldn’t open? What does this tell us about following God’s prompting, and His desire for ‘the last and least’ to be first on this occasion?


Acts 10:34-43 — The good news of peace with God through Jesus

Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name

34-35 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.

“Peter began to speak” — at the house of Cornelius, a Gentile Roman in Caesarea. 

“God accepts from every nation” but there is no suggestion that salvation is possible apart from the redemptive work of Christ. 

• For further study: that God does not show partiality in the OT and the NT, Deut. 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Romans 2:11, 3:29, 30; James 2:1. 

36 “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

“The message… to the people of Israel” — Jesus was the message, and the Jews were the first to hear it, but it was not exclusively for them because “Jesus Christ… is Lord of all”.

37-38 “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached — how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.

“You know what has happened” — the life and death of Jesus was known about, even to Romans living in Caesarea.

“After the baptism” — Peter’s summary begins with Jesus’ baptism and ends with the Resurrection, like Mark’s gospel which is based on Peter’s preaching, but in Greek.

39-40 “We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging Him on a cross, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen.

“Hanging Him on a cross” — literally, on a xylon, tree, the same word used in the Greek Septuagint OT to render Deut. 21:23 ESV “cursed by God is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”

41 “He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

“Ate and drank with Him ” — evidence of His bodily resurrection. 

• For further study, read Luke 24:42-43; John 21:12-15.

42 “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

“The One whom God appointed as judge” — this seemed heretical to many Jews who believed that God the Father is judge of the world, John 5:22,27.

43 “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

“All the prophets testify” — to the Messiah and that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins remitted.

• For further study see Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; John 5:39. 

“Everyone who believes… receives”— to receive forgiveness of sins, we have to believe: nothing more, nothing less.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Peter, after receiving a dramatic vision from God, finds himself in a household he would never have entered before, surrounded by God-fearing Gentiles waiting for him to give them a message from God. He begins by sharing his most recent lesson — as a Jew, he had to understand that God accepts worship from people of every nation and background, without favourites. Then Peter tells them how he saw all Jesus’ ministry from His baptism, through the healings and miracles in Galilee and then in Jerusalem, and finally stood by the cross on which Jesus died. But then, on the third day, Jesus was raised from the dead. He was seen by many witnesses including the disciples who ate and drank with Him. Now they were under His orders to tell all the people about Him, how He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead, and that everybody who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through Him.

APPLICATION  What we receive through entrusting our lives to Jesus, is what is our obligation to share — and the lesson here is about going beyond people who are like us. Peter found himself well outside his comfort zone with a Roman centurion — a Roman execution squad had put his Lord on the Cross — and a house full of ‘unclean’ Gentiles that no good Jew would associate with. But Peter had received an impartation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and subsequently, and had received a vision that shocked him out of his blinkered Jewish view of who had favour with God. Now he found himself sharing freely with people who were not like him. His hearers were drawn to God and ready to believe, but they didn’t tick a single one of the religious boxes. They were complete outsiders. And Peter tells them that it is about believing in and trusting Jesus — everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through Him. That’s our learning point: God is at work in people who may be quite different from us, but what we have been given, is for us to share with whoever God brings across our path — and gladly. 

QUESTION  What is within your comfort zone? And what would be reaching outside it look like, for you?

PRAYER  Father God, You sent Your Son, empowered Him to show Your love to the world and then had to endure seeing Him die in indescribable pain and shame. Why?
Because You so loved the world that You gave Your Son, that whoever, of any race, background or record, that truly believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life through Him.
We are deeply grateful as we let those words sink in for us, once again.
And we receive Your love and Your truth afresh on this Resurrection Day.
As the women went with that most exciting message that Jesus is alive — so show us people that we can share that good news with.
To His eternal glory and honour, Amen.


PRINT EDITION  The print edition of TLW is available as a PDF download to print on A4 paper as a four-page Bible-size handout. Permission granted to copy for your own use, for your house group of for inclusion/distribution with your church bulletin.

TLW13B-Apr-4-final-BookletDownload

Filed Under: Easter, Year B

March 28: The supreme Lordship of Jesus

March 18, 2021 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Sunset over the Welsh hills
Image credit: Ian Greig

This is The Living Word Bible study on the set readings for Palm Sunday, 2021 (Revised Common Lectionary shared by most denominations). We recommend you read the Bible passages as they stand first, let the Holy Spirit begin to speak to you, then for a deeper dive there is verse by verse commentary, reflections and questions — even a suggested prayer

Theme: The supreme, exalted Lordship of Jesus

• See also the linked article (on this page link to follow) which goes deeper into the teaching around the theme.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 link here — Prophetic praise is a fitting tribute to the One who has become our salvation

Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-16 — Jesus riding the donkey colt was gentle picture of a saving and serving Messiah 

Philippians 2:5-11 — Jesus who is God took the form of a servant, able to empty Himself of all privileges to become like us

• See also the linked article for this week The Reality of Jesus’ Lordship


Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 — Prophetic praise which anticipates Jesus

Words of praise which are fitting tribute to the One who has become our salvation

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”

“He is good; His love endures” — call to worship, recalling the covenant in God’s faithful, enduring love and goodness. Other psalms open this way, Ps. 105:1-2; Ps. 106:1; Ps. 107:1; Ps. 136:1

19 Open for Me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.

“Open for Me the gates” — spiritual gates through which the righteous pass, Ps. 100:4. This draws on the words and images of Ps. 24:3-4, 7. 

“The righteous” — The only One who can enter the gates of the Lord on His own accord is Jesus. He enables those who put trusting belief in Him to enter.

“The gate… through which the righteous… enter” — symbolises how those who believe and trust Jesus enter into fellowship with God. Jesus declared that He was the gate, John 10:9.

21 I will give You thanks, for you answered Me; You have become my salvation.

“My salvation” — the psalmist has been delivered from defeat and death. Post-resurrection we see the context as prophetic and descriptive of Jesus the Saviour.

22-23 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

“The builders” — are the the Jewish leaders. Jesus took this verse to be prophetic with His story of the vineyard owner and the son who was murdered.

• For further study on Jesus’ rejection and Jesus’ parable see Isaiah 53:3; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; 17:25 and Mark 12:1-12. 

“The cornerstone” — extra large foundation stone defining the size and building line, Isaiah 28:16, perhaps recalling the newly-built temple. A block judged to be flawed has become the maIN foundation.

24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

“This very day” — a more traditional rendering is “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

“Lord, save us” — Hosanna — ‘Save now’. A reminder of laying the temple foundation stone as an act of worship for the nation.

26 Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless You.

“Blessed is He who comes” — because He is the Cornerstone. These were words declared on special occasions. The crowd witnessing Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem a week before Passover used these words.

27 The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

“His light shine on us” — recalling Aaron’s blessing, Number 6:24-26.

28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

“Give thanks” — the people exhorted each other at the start of the psalm, v.1, and in closing they encourage each other to pledge “You are my God!” and to praise Him.

Reflection

SUMMARY  This psalm is clearly prophetic. Originally it would have been sung by pilgrim worshippers drawing close to Jerusalem and recalling the laying of the foundation stone of the temple which stood for the spiritual life of the nation, and the covenant with God. When Jesus entered the city a week before Passover, the crowd sensed this was a special occasion and this familiar praise was what they called out.

APPLICATION  The crowd “with boughs in hand, joining in the festal procession” shared the picture popular at that time of a Messiah bringing salvation in a victorious sense. Seeing how the Messiah was the Suffering Servant of Isaiah who achieved spiritual victory over sin would come later.

QUESTION  How would you explain to another how we are counted righteous?


Mark 11:1-11, John 12:12-16 — Jesus comes to Jerusalem as King

Riding the donkey colt presented a gentle picture of a saving and serving Messiah

Mark 11:1-2 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

“A colt… which no one has ever ridden” — in Jewish understanding, an object used for a sacred purpose cannot have been used for an ordinary one.

• For further study, see Numbers 19:2; Deut. 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7

“As they approached Jerusalem” — this introduces Mark’s third and final section.

“Bethphage and Bethany” — Bethphage was on the slope of the Mount of Olives hill about two miles east of Jerusalem, near Bethany, where Lazarus was brought back to life and where Jesus habitually stayed.

Mark 11:3 “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ “

“The Lord needs it” — elsewhere “the Lord” to Jesus in His divine identity, Mark 1:3; 2:28; 5:19. Here it points to the temple’s Lord returning to His house, Malachi 3:1

John 12:12-13 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

“The next day” — v.1 tells us it was six days before the Passover or Sunday.

“The great crowd” — the area around Bethany was a place pilgrims from Galilee would camp out. As Jesus followed the road to Jerusalem they cheered Him.

Mark 11:4-5 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”

Mark 11:6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

John 12:14-15 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

“Do not be afraid” — quoting from Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

“Seated on a donkey’s colt” — hardly a war-like figure. He counters the nationalist expectations of the crowd and fulfils the prophecy by showing that His kingship was not that of a warrior.

Mark 11:7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, He sat on it.

Mark 11:8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.

“Others spread branches” — leaves or lefty branches. Only John mentions palms, which pilgrims would have brought from the Jericho region as they didn’t grow near Jerusalem.

Mark 11:9-10 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!”

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes” — from Psalm 118:26 (above), one of the praise psalms traditionally sung at Passover, and especially fitting for this occasion .

John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

“Palm branches” — a symbol of Jewish nationalism. The crowd mistakenly saw Jesus as a political deliverer.

“Blessed is the king of Israel” — the people add to the words of Psalm 118 (above), perhaps with Zephaniah 3:14-17 in mind.

Mark 11:11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

“The temple courts” — a 30 acre expanse around the building.

“He looked around at everything” — for signs of its true purpose, leading people to worship of God.

“He went out to Bethany” — it appears that Jesus spent each night during Passover with His friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary, Mark 11:19; John 12:1-3.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Combining these two gospel accounts in roughly chronological sequence shows us how Jesus made His entrance to the city His mission statement. He chose a time when crowds were pouring into the city to demonstrate that He was indeed the Messiah — an action likely to be misunderstood by many at the time. Even Jesus’ twelve disciples had struggled to understand Jesus’ very difficult call to be the Suffering Servant kind of Messiah. It was in Scripture but most people had seized on the allusions to a successor to King David. They were expecting grand warrior deliverer, not a humble self-sacrificing one. 

APPLICATION  Following the resurrection, when the Holy Spirit was given, many would understand the prophecies and how God was working. This teaches us that the pre-crucifixion perspective, and the post-resurrection perspective, are like looking into the Good News from two different windows. The challenging moral teaching of the gospels — love your enemy, forgive as you are forgiven — become realistic aspirations by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit which the early church was experiencing.

QUESTION  Why did Jesus need the donkey for His entrance to the city?

Philippians 2:5-11 — Jesus who is God took the form of a servant

Such is His greatness He could empty Himself of privileges to become like us

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

“In your relationships” — written to people working out new life in Jesus and empowered by His Spirit. Their relationship with the Father through Jesus gave them love; their relationships with one another were to share that love.

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage…

“Being in very nature God” — Jesus is lit. ‘existing in the form of God’, in essence the very same as the Father, Hebrews 1:3. But this is not something lit. ‘to be grasped’ or held on to, but to give away.

7 …rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

“He made Himself nothing” — lit. ’emptied Himself’ or metaphorically, let go of status and privilege. He did not become less than God, or stop being in the form of God, but motivated by love, relinquished all privileges to be born as an ordinary Jewish baby bound for rejection and death on the Cross.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

“Even death on a cross” — crucifixion was death by excruciating agony and also a public statement of utter contempt : the complete opposite to the divine majesty of Christ in His pre-existent state.

9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name…

“God exalted Him” — lit. ‘super-exalted’, a word only occurring here.

“The Name above every name” — a title which alludes to the divine name Yahweh which in the Greek OT of Paul’s time was regularly translated as Kyrios, LORD, and used in v.11 (below).

• For further study, see Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:4-5.

10-11 …that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

“Every tongue acknowledge” — a strong word meaning ‘declare in agreement’. Paul is saying that everyone — angels, obedient followers and resistant unbelievers on earth, lost souls in hell and demons — will be compelled to agree with what God has already stated, Isaiah 45:22-24.

SUMMARY  Sometimes a poetic style, like this, was used as a mark of special respect to describe deities or people of the highest rank. Paul explains who Jesus was, pre-existing and in very essence, God‚ but able to hold this lightly. His love for mankind was such that He could let those privileges go to be made in human likeness, not as a lord but as a servant. He humbled Himself to die the worst death the Romans could devise, designed to destroy a person utterly. For this extreme demonstration of love and obedience, God the Father exalted Him to the most supreme honour of sharing the same heavenly title, the Name that every creature must defer to..

APPLICATION  True greatness is having nothing to prove, free to lay aside rank and privilege for a higher purpose. Jesus did not give up His divine nature but laid it aside so as to become fully man for a season — and suffer the fullest pain, slander and rejection that mankind knows.

QUESTION  We know about the events of Jesus’ life and ministry. We pray prayers in His name and even remember His new covenant in sharing bread and cup. But is He Lord of our money, politics, decisions, work, marriage — and attitudes?

PRAYER  Lord Jesus, You are the gate by which the righteous may enter and the Redeemer by whom we may be counted righteous. We join with heaven in declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! You were with the Father from the beginning, came to earth to do Your Father’s will, and now rule and reign in the highest honour and greatest authority. We submit our lives, our preferences and priorities, to You in reverent worship. Amen.


PRINT EDITION  A print edition to copy on A4 paper forming a four-page Bible-size handout is available as a .pdf from the link below. Permission given to copy for your own use, your home group or to go out or in a church bulletin.

TLW12B-Mar-28-final-BookletDownload

Filed Under: Lent, Year B

March 21: Promise of a New Covenant

March 10, 2021 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Early morning light on winter trees
Image credit: Ian Greig

This is The Living Word Bible study on the Bible readings set for Sunday, March 21 (Lent 5) according to the Revised Common Lectionary shared by many denominations. We recommend you read each passage as it stands, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you about it. Then for a deeper dive, there’s the verse by verse commentary, reflections — and a linked article that draws a message out of the theme. Ref. TLW11B. There’s a print version at the bottom, PDF download.

Theme: How Jesus has won for us a new and better covenant

• See also the linked article for March 21 ‘Understanding the new covenant in Jesus’


Jeremiah 31:31-34 — The promise of a new covenant of heart and mind

John 12:20-33 — Jesus speaks about His death also being His glory

Hebrews 5:5-10 — Jesus is appointed as the unique mediator in eternal high priesthood

And also read : Psalm 51:1-12


Jeremiah 31:31-34 — The promise of a new covenant of heart and mind

Jeremiah foresees a new relationship when God’s way will become innate

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

“The days are coming” — Jeremiah’s language for a special divine intervention to come, a prophecy about the Messiah. This passage is the longest quoted in its entirety in the NT.

• For further study, see Hebrews 8:8-12, 10:16-17.

“A new covenant” — by contrast with the Sinai or Moses covenant which became known in the NT as the old covenant or first covenant, Luke 22:20; 2 Cor. 3:6,14; Hebrews 8:7. The only mention of the New Covenant in the OT.

“People of Israel and… Judah” — historically divided, but to be brought together as part of this new move of God that became the Church.

32 “It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.

“Not like the covenant… they broke” —the first difference being that Jesus fulfills its terms, Luke 22:20. The blessing of the Moses covenant depended on Israel being loyal to God and obedient, but from the wilderness years to the reign of Manasseh they broke it frequently by turning to idolatry, Jer. 11:10.

33 “This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

“My law in their minds and… on their hearts” — the second big difference is that this covenant will be internal and through relationship, rather than external and a legal requirement. The Old Covenant invited God’s judgment for transgressions; the new covenant invokes the Holy Spirit’s help in living in its provision. The third difference is that while the old covenant regulated, the new covenant transforms and results in real change, 2 Cor. 5:17. Jeremiah describes what happens in the new birth through Jesus described in the NT.

34 “No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

“No longer will they teach” — the precepts of the old covenant had to be learned, but the new covenant is a relationship. Through Jesus, we come to know God in a personal way, and through the Holy Spirit, gain a heartfelt desire to live for Him.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Jeremiah foresees a time when the covenant established under Moses’ leadership at Sinai is replaced with a new and better form of partnership. The people found the old covenant difficult to adhere to, and there were frequent transgressions which brought God’s judgment. Jeremiah sees this pattern changing God’s initiative, and the old legal relationship being replaced by personal guidance. 

APPLICATION  Jeremiah does not speak of the Messiah directly, but the word he brings from God is clearly Messianic. The former covenant that defined how God’s people were to liven was a legal framework to be learned, practised and repented of when they got it wrong. Jeremiah saw something different — God putting a desire for holy living on people’s hearts. It would become instinctive. God would see people in this new covenant differently, as those forgiven and their debts redeemed, enjoying fellowship as His people. This is a picture of Jesus’ redeeming work.

QUESTION  If God’s law is now in the minds and hearts of His people, what is the value of hearing the Bible read and expounded?


John 12:20-33 — Jesus speaks about His death also being HIs glory

He invites all who will follow His self sacrifice to serve the mission of God

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.

“Greeks among those” — the festival crowd would have included many non-Jews of the Greek culture who were attracted to the Living God and Jewish morality.

21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

 “They came to Philip” — a disciple with a Greek name (like Andrew) who came from a city of Greek character. At the very time the Jewish authorities are plotting how to kill Jesus, Gentiles are seeking Him out.

 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23-24 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

“The hour has come” — Jesus repeatedly says in John’s gospel that his appointed time had not yet come. When these Greeks wanted to talk to Him, He finally said that it was time. It was nearly the time when He would draw “all people”, v.32 below.

“To be glorified” — meaning, to be crucified. What the Roman world viewed as humiliating torture, and the Jewish world saw as cursed, Jesus associates with His glory, or honour.

“Unless a grain… falls… and dies” — a seed in the ground ceases to be a seed, but from its death comes new growth — and a great many new seeds.

25 “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

“Loves… hates their life” — exaggeration to make the point about our values, either prizing quality of life for ourselves or holding it lightly for God. Following Christ may not lead to the Cross, but carries the cross of self-sacrifice.

26 “Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves Me.

“Whoever serves Me” — Not just Jews around Him but the Gentile Greeks also.

“Follow Me” — the path of self-sacrifice and disregard for status in this world, to fulfil eternal purposes, John 13:15, Philippians 2:5-8.

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

“My soul is troubled” — deeply agonised. The other gospels expand this at Gethsemane a week later, where He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me…”, Matthew 26:39.

28 Father, glorify Your name!’

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

“Glorify Your name” — show Yourself to be worthy of glory and honour. God showed His glory in Jesus’ birth, and in the ministry which showed God’s power to the world. The greatest sign would come in the crucifixion and resurrection.

29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him.

“The crowd… heard it” — the third of three instances of God’s voice being heard audibly.

• For further study, read Matthew 3:13-17, 17:1-13.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not Mine.

“For your benefit” — this was the Father validating the Son so that more people would believe.

31 “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

“The prince of this world” — gained his influence when Adam and Eve, assigned to rule on God’s behalf, chose to act independently from God and allowed Satan’s dominion as a result of their sin. Through the Cross Jesus Christ would assert His victory, deal with sin and grant freedom to those who trusted Him.

32-33 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die.

“I… will draw all people” — all kinds of people rather than everyone.

“When I am lifted up” — referring to crucifixion literally, but the Greek word usually meant being exalted or honoured, Matthew 23:12, Luke 10:15. John sees the Cross as the place where Jesus’ true glory would be displayed to all.

Reflection

SUMMARY  With Gentiles asking for Him, Jesus speaks about the awful prospect of His death by crucifixion. Knowing the time is near, He says that in this way He will draw all kinds of people — Jews and Gentiles — to Himself. He explains that being His disciple means holding life lightly. There is both dying and growing in the organic growth which glorifies God’s name. The crowd hears the thunder of God’s voice saying that the Son’s entry into the world, and obedience in dying for it, brings Him glory.

APPLICATION  This speaks to us about how Jesus sees people we regard as insiders, or outsiders like the Greeks in the crowd. Those who loved their position and influence in the establishment were working out how to arrest Him, while these second class citizens, hoping to speak to Jesus, heard God’s voice like thunder and Jesus saying how He would draw all people to Himself. 

QUESTION What values and priorities should the church of Jesus take from this story?


Hebrews 5:5-10 — Jesus is appointed to a permanent high priesthood

Sinless life and suffering obedience qualifies Him as a unique mediator

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

“Becoming a high priest” — the Son has been appointed by the Father in a summons backed up by two OT quotations. But this priesthood is on an entirely different level from Aaron’s. Jesus is uniquely qualified, both to represent God to man, and as the suffering servant, to represent man to God.

6 And He says in another place, “You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Melchizedek was a king and a priest, Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4.

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.

“Petitions with fervent cries” — especially at Gethsemane. These prayers confirmed the righteous obedience of Jesus.

8-10 Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

 “He learned obedience” — Jesus did not lack character quality in childhood but for this highest of roles was put to the severest of tests, making right choices to obey His Father throughout adult human life. He became uniquely qualified for a new kind of high priesthood as the guarantor of a new and better covenant. Now interceding for those who come to God through Him, He is able, following His sacrifice of Himself, to save them completely, Hebrews 7:22-27.

Reflection

SUMMARY   Jesus became uniquely fitted for a unique role as the eternal high priest of a new and superior covenant. Particularly at the end of His time on earth, He showed Himself to be obedient to His Father in the most extreme of tests. Facing up to the prospect of torture at Roman hands, He entered so fully into human suffering, He was, and is, fully able to represent man to God, and God to man as our eternal high priest.

APPLICATION We may feel we need to approach God through someone holy, but also understanding our human helplessness and pain. The one priest who perfectly fulfills this need is in heaven, and  it is He who has secured for us a better and more accessible covenant with God — through Him.

QUESTION If Jesus is now the sole and exalted holder of the high §priestly office, what now is the role of those who lead churches, teach the Scriptures and encourage our spiritual life?

PRAYER  Lord God, we are so grateful for Jesus making a way for us to be counted righteous as those that belong to Him, and to have direct and personal access to You through Him.
We have a new and better covenant with You because Your sinless Son became a prisoner to set us free, submitting to the pain and torment that brought Him death, for our life.
May our lives reflect the salvation of Jesus and the lordship of Jesus — in every activity and every relationship, in devotions and church, and in all the busyness of daily life.
We pray this through You, our Great High Priest, Jesus.
Amen .


Psalm 51:1-12

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet You desired faithfulness even in the womb; You taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.


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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!).

Unsubscribing is just as easy.

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.

 

 

 

 

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