"Babylon Falls" Sermon: Isaiah 47:1-15 (manuscript)

“Babylon Falls”

[Isaiah 47:1-15]

January 24, 2021 YouTube

            Last week we saw God confront idolaters again, and God argues that He is the Only God Who carries our burdens, and He is God Who providentially causes all things to happen according to His Plan.  There is no other.  All the gods – all the idols – cannot even bear themselves up, and they have no ability to cause the future to come to pass.

            This morning, we see God respond to the Babylonian captivity – even though it will not happen for one hundred years.  Since God is the God of Providence – since everything occurs according to the plan that God set forth before the Creation, God knows all things and can say how He is going to respond in the future.

            We see, first, God avenges His people.

“Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones and grind flour, put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers.”

Babylon considers herself the Queen of nations – she thinks herself the pinnacle of civilization – the land that will never fall.  But God tells her to sit in the dust – sit in the place of mourning.  She will no longer be called “virgin” – that is “tender and delicate” – this mighty empire with vast military force is considered fragile.  And God tells her she will be pulled down from her throne.

No longer will Babylon be the Queen of nations, she will fall from her throne, lose the fragility that made her different in a world of power, and she will be left to mourn that it is all over.  She is defeated.

Rather than being a queen, she is now a female slave handmaiden: no more veil, no more robe, her flesh exposed, as was common for female slaves of the day.  And rather than sitting on the throne, she will work in the mills and go to the rivers to collect water.

“Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.”

God exposes Babylon and humbles her so she will be disgraced.  God is taking vengeance on Babylon for her sin against the people of God – and God’s vengeance will affect the entire nation – no one will be spared.  Babylon will be seen for who she really is.

And it wouldn’t be odd for us to ask, “Wait a minute, why is God taking vengeance on Babylon?  Haven’t we seen that God sent Babylon to conquer Israel and Judah as their punishment for sinning against God?”

The first think we need to state is that God does not sin – God does not do evil.

So, is it wrong for God to send Israel and Judah into captivity for their sin?  No.

Did God force the Babylonians to conquer Israel and Judah?  No.

Did the Babylonians want to conquer Israel and Judah?  Yes.

            Is it a sin to conquer God’s people?  Yes.

So, Israel and Judah sinned, and God chose to punish them by not stopping the Babylonians from conquering them – the sin is entirely on the Babylonians.  Therefore, God takes vengeance against Babylon because all sin is against God.

As we continue, this is borne out:

“Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.”

God is Holy.  Therefore, He must punish sin.  Israel’s, Judah’s, and Babylon’s.

“Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms. I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy. You said, ‘I shall be mistress forever,’ so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.”

God tells Babylon to sit in the darkness – to be ashamed for who she is.  She will be brought down by God.  God uses Babylon to discipline His people, but Babylon does not show them mercy in captivity but punishes them exceedingly.

And God rebukes them, saying that they claim to be an eternal empire, but it is all over.  No matter how much they claim they will never fall, their end is written in God’s providential plan.

God uses evil people who want to sin to discipline His people.  And two things can be true at once:  it is right and good for God to discipline His people, and it is a sin that must be avenged for Babylon to conquer Israel and Judah.

It is a good thing that Jesus died on the cross for our sin, but it is a sin for those involved to put Jesus to death on the cross. 

It is God’s plan to have Jesus die on the cross, but His being put to death will be avenged.

            “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:23, ESV).

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” (Revelation 1:7, ESV).

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17, ESV).

The crucifixion of Jesus will be avenged, as will the murder of all those who believe in Jesus savingly:

“for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants” (Revelation 19:2, ESV).

Second, pride leads to a fall.

“Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children’: These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.“

Babylon has put herself in the place of God: “I am, and there is no one besides me.”

Last week we heard God say, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,” (Isaiah 46:9, ESV).

Babylon thinks too well of herself, to highly of herself – she believes herself to be far more important than she is – and in a face-off with God – that sin will be her fall.

The Pharisees come before Jesus believing that they do not need Him – they have kept the Law and are a shining example to all the people.  Their speech and judgment give God His good Name.

“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Mark 2:17, ESV).

It is through humility and repentance alone that we can come to God to receive salvation.

But Babylon believes she has no need – she is up on her throne.  And she boasts that she will never be a widow or lose a child.  But God tells her that – for her pride – she will become both a widow and know the loss of a child on the same day.  Despite her use of witchcraft to sustain her power, she will fall before the power of God and those who believe she will protect them will be cast down.

“You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’ But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.”

Babylon believes that no one will see her wickedness in the dark – no one has the power to stop her or take her down for her sin.  She is mighty and wise and thinks she cannot be defeated.  But God will bring her down as He plans.

Daniel is called before the King of Babylon to explain the writing that has appeared on the wall:  it is the destruction – the conquest – of Babylon:

“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

“Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

“That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old” (Daniel 5:24-31, ESV).

Jesus says, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 8-11, ESV).

Let us be humble in keeping with who we know we are, giving all glory to God, lest our pride cause us to fall like mighty Babylon.

Third, a false savior is no savior at all.

 Not only does Babylon believe she is greater than all and will never suffer or fall, but she also believes that should anything bad come her way, she will be able to defeat it – being her own savior.

“Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror. You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.”

Babylon believes her witchcraft and occult wisdom will save her from anything that comes against her.  She has astrologers to interpret the stars – and, admittedly, astrology and occult magic can scare people.  Look at the number of people in the United States who rely on fortunes and psychics and omens and horoscopes – who go to seances and have tarot readings done.  It may be terrifying – it may seem true.

Larry Norman sings:

“Forget your hexagram you'll soon feel fine, Stop looking at the stars, You don't live under the signs, Don't mess with gypsies, Or have your fortune read, Keep your table on the floor, And don't you listen to the dead” (“Forget Your Hexagram” https://genius.com/Larry-norman-forget-your-hexagram-lyrics).

Why?  God answers Babylon and us:

“Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before! Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.”

“Your witchcraft and occult wisdom are little sticks that burn up in the fire – they cannot save you.  They cannot even save themselves from the fire.  The coals they give you will not warm – their heat is fake.  All those you consider you friends and colleagues – all those who owe you – they will wander around like fools and blind men – they will not be able to save you.  Nothing you are or have is a real savior.  Only the Savior is a savior.”

And so, Babylon falls.

She falls for sinning against God and the people of God – and God takes His vengeance.

She falls for her prideful belief that she is greater than God – eternal and unable to be hurt.

She falls for putting her hopes of salvation in things other than the Only Savior.

Let us take stock of ourselves:

Do we believe that we are sinners in need of a savior – the Only Savior?  Do we come before Him humbly knowing we can do nothing to save ourselves? Do we have a right view of ourselves as sons and daughters of God – through Jesus Alone?  Are we thankful and obedient?

Let us pray:

Almighty God and Father, we come to You humbly knowing that we have sinned against You, and we come to You boldly, for Jesus has opened the throne room for us and we are forgiven.  Help us to be Your people to the world, so You and Your salvation would be known.  Keep us from pride and help us to view ourselves rightly as humans and brothers and sisters of Jesus.  Cause the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and follow Jesus in thanksgiving and obedience – not being afraid of witchcraft and occult wisdom, because You are God Alone.  And we pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"There Is No Other" Sermon: Isaiah 46:1-13 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq0Qrq8usfo&feature=youtu.be

"There Is No Other" Sermon: Isaiah 46:1-13 (manuscript)

 

“There Is No Other”

[Isaiah 46:1-13]

January 17, 2020 YouTube

            We return to our look at the book of Isaiah this morning.  We will remember that we have been introduced to Cyrus, the King of the Medo-Persian Empire, who will free Israel and Judah from the Babylonian captivity and send them back to their land with all the materials necessary to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.

            Let’s remember that at this point, Isaiah is prophesying – he is telling the people what will happen in the future – he is not just preaching about Cyrus.  We know this because Isaiah is preaching around 700 B.C., the Babylonians take Judah into captivity in 597 B.C, and Cyrus conquers Babylon and sets the people free around 538 B.C.  So, Isaiah is telling the people about the punishment they will receive in about one hundred years, and how they will be freed some sixty years after that.

            In chapter forty-six, Isaiah turns back to the problem of idolatry – which is the major problem – our major problem as well.  Sin generally comes down to our putting something in God’s place – whether it be an object we want or hold in high esteem, or our belief that we know better about a subject than God, or a flat-out refusal to obey God because of whatever.  When we sin, we commit idolatry – it is not just something that was done in the past with statues.  John Calvin famously said that humans are idol factories.

            So, God again makes His case against idols and idolatry.

            First, idols cannot bear themselves up.          

“Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.”

Judah is going to be taken into Babylon.  The chief gods of Babylon are Bel (also called Marduk) – the god of writing and wisdom – and his son, Nebo.  And God is warning Judah lest they start to think while they are in captivity that these so-called gods – these idols – are actually real powers who have defeated the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – that they are not real – they can’t even hold themselves up.

Bel and Nebo fall over, they break when they fall to the ground.  They need to be carried around on animals – they cannot move on their own.  They are burdens on the backs of the animals and they are burdens on the backs of the people who worship them.  They cannot relieve anyone’s burden, for they themselves are in captivity.  They can’t do anything without someone else doing it for them.

Likewise, the nation that are embroiled in idolatry will eventually fall.  The nation whose essence – whose being – whose purpose is following after false gods – will fall just like their gods.  And it doesn’t matter whether the gods are Bel, Nebo, money, power, sex, food, pride – whatever – it cannot stand.

Our gods – our idolatry – our sin – will either crush us, or it will crush Jesus.  It will either leave us in pieces under its burden, or Jesus will take the burden and give us His light burden.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28_30, ESV).

Jesus frees us from the burden of gods who cannot bear themselves up.

Second, God bears up His people from conception to death.

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

God tells Jacob and Israel that – unlike the idols who can’t even hold themselves up – God has borne them up from the moment of their conception – He carries them through the womb, and even in old age, God will carry them.  God made them.  God bears them.  God will carry them.  God will save them.

David writes, “On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God” (Psalm 22:10, ESV).

And “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16, ESV).

And for our salvation, God is the one who does it, as James tells us, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18, ESV).

God bears up His people from conception to death – including saving Israel from physical captivity and all who believe from spiritual captivity.

Third, idols are created in man’s image.

“To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.”

You may have heard someone say that God is not real – He’s just a figment of our imagination – something we have created in our own image to explain things we don’t understand. That of course, is not true, but it is true that every god except for the True God is an invention of humanity.

God challenges Judah to compare God with the idols:  God is Self-existent, All-powerful, All-knowing, the Creator of all, Sovereign over all, and so forth.  God goes where He wills and does as He wills.

What about idols?

Well, to have a nice idol, one that really “works,” you would need a good amount of money.  You would want your idol to be gold after all – to show how able you are to bring a god into your home and to expect only the best from it.

So, you take your gold – to make into the idol, and your find a gold craftsman, tell him what you want, and pay him in silver, and he crafts the idol – the god of your dreams, and you pick it up and take it home, and it falls over – like every other idol.

 You still must pick it up and move it from place to place – no matter how much it cost.

And if you pray to it, it still does nothing – it cannot hear – it cannot act – it is utterly impotent.  

Paul rebukes the men at the Areopagus, “Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:29-31, ESV).

What have you made into an idol? Have you compared its ability and stability to God?

Are you impressed with your body and your health?  Are you sure you will never get sick?  At the very least, we should expect to die and keep that thought before us, so we do not put too much hope in ourselves and our physical selves.  Covid is out there.

What about our money?  Do you have a good savings? Is your account insured by the government?  I’ve said before that that promise is only as good as the government – if the government fails or falls, your money will be gone.  We are to be wise with our money, but to put our hopes in it is foolish – it can be gone in a moment.

Has your intellect got you this far and you will continue to rise up through the ranks because of your great mind? There are so many diseases that affect the mind – to put your hopes in it is foolish.

Nothing we have or are compares with God.  God is always greater in every way.  To put anything in God’s place is to invite failure and destruction.

Idols are created in man’s image – whether they are physical or non-physical – they fall and turn to dust, but God, the One True God, does not.

Finally, consider the Providence of God.

“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”

The Providence of God is God’s plan and purpose.  And God takes Judah as a man and shakes him: “Remember this!  Stand firm! Recall this!  You sinners know very well what I am talking about – don’t pretend otherwise – remember your history – remember all you have been taught from the beginning until now!”  God shocks them to attention.

Think how we sit before our screens and let them wash over us.  We passively receive what they flash at us.  But are we listening with our minds?  Are we remembering what has happened in our past?  Are we remembering what has happened throughout all of history since the Creation?  Do we think about all the things that God has done?  All that has been recorded in the Bible for our good and instruction?

God says, “I am God.  There is no other god.  They are all idols – false gods. I am God.  There is none like Me.”

Gods says that before the Creation He determined everything that would happen from beginning to end.  This is His plan that is unfolding right now.  God has not been thwarted and He cannot be thwarted.

What God has said will happen.  What God has planned will come to pass.

This was a comfort to Judah, and it should be a comfort to us – God has planned everything out – there are no surprises for God – God doesn’t ever have to go to “Plan B.”  God has such knowledge and power that everything is coming to pass exactly as God determined it would before the Creation.

In fact, God tells Judah that it was His plan from before the Creation to call a bird from the east – Cyrus – thousands of years before he existed – to conquer Babylon and set the people of God free after they had served their exile.

Here this truth in the preaching of Peter, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:22-23, ESV).

The devil thought he had won – but he had accomplished God’s plan.

Our text ends:

“Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.”

God tells Judah that they are sinners and they have stubbornly acted against God, and that is why they will go into exile, but that obstacle is not great enough to keep God from doing exactly what He has always intended to do:  God will bring righteousness to His people, He will bring salvation to His people.  Salvation will come to Jerusalem and Israel will be the glory of God.

That’s our sure hope – it is hope because it hasn’t happened in all its fulness yet, but it is sure because it is the will and plan of God – not of us – not of idols.

Paul writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6, ESV).

Paul continues telling us what the Only God is doing for us – and all who believe:

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19, ESV).

            Idols will always fail and fall.  But God – there is no other – the Only God – bears us up through our entire life and He guides all of His plans to their completion.  He saves us to His Glory through His Son, Jesus, and we are His forever – and one day we will be received into the fullness of His Kingdom, righteous and holy with Him forever.

            Let us pray:

            Almighty God forgive us for sinning against You.  Forgive us for the idols we turn to.  Strengthen us by the Holy Spirit that we would turn from temptation and refuse to sin.  Help us to look to You Alone, believing that You are bringing all things to pass exactly as You have ordained – including the eternal salvation of Your people.  And we ask this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Two Baptisms" Sermon: Mark 1:4-11 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlzsHoMv6e4&feature=youtu.be

"Two Baptisms" Sermon: Mark 1:4-11 (manuscript)

 

“Two Baptisms”

[Mark 1:4-11]

January 10, 2021 YouTube

            The Gospel of Mark opens with an introduction to John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus.  In this section of text, we read about two different baptisms – both of which continue to be a part of the Christian life.

            First, John baptized for the repentance and forgiveness of sins.

“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

Baptism was a part of Jewish tradition for bringing Gentiles – non-Jews – into Judaism. Gentile converts would receive a ceremonial washing as part of their reception into the Jewish faith, and they would repent of their sins and be forgiven of their sins through the sacrificial system – and, of course, by God.

Christians – converts to Christianity – are also baptized in a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  This is explained differently depending on whether the Christian tradition baptizes infants, but the point is the same:

Christians are baptized – symbolizing being washed in Jesus’ blood and buried and raised with Him.  So, the water of baptism does nothing in itself – it is a sign and a seal – first presenting the Gospel in a picture form – we must repent of our sins, be washed clean from our sins, be resurrected to newness of life, and live for and in belief of Christ and for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Water baptism does not make a person right with God – no Jew or Gentile was washed with water and made right with God – it is symbolic of what God does in the person who believes in the Savior with a true heart-belief.

So, John’s baptism was a baptism of recognizing that you are a sinner – someone who has broken God’s Law and is at odds with God – in need of being reconciled to God. Modern baptism is the recognition that we are all sinners – we have broken God’s Law and must repent of it and become right with God to not suffer His Wrath.

Salvation – being made right with God – comes through belief in the Savior – in which forgiveness is granted. This can happen at any time in a person’s life – when God the Holy Spirt comes into a person and seals the symbol of baptism in the reality of salvation in them.

We will comment more on this in the second baptism.

But first we ought to recognize who John is and why what he is doing was scandalous.

“And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”

Who is John baptizing at the Jordan?  The implication is that there are Jews being baptized by John.  Baptism was for converts to Judaism – not for people who are already Jews.

So, what is Johns saying? Why are Jews coming to be baptized by John?

John’s baptism tells us that everyone is a sinner.  Everyone is at odds with God.  Everyone needs to be washed clean of their sins – be forgiven and made right with God.  Gentiles and Jews need more than the sacrificial system – the sacrificial system only offered forgiveness for the moment the sacrifice was made.  As you sin again – you are back to square one – worse than that – the sacrificial system never removed a person’s sin nature – so no matter how many sacrifices a person offered, he would still be a sinner, under the Wrath of God.  In coming for John’s baptism, Jews – and Gentiles – admitted that they needed something – Someone – more than the sacrificial system to make them right with God eternally.

Why did they come to John?

“Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.”

John looked like a prophet and spoke like a prophet and ate like a prophet, so they received him as a prophet – which he was.  And he announces that Jesus and Jesus’ baptism are superior to his own:

Second, Jesus baptizes with God the Holy Spirit.

“And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

            John – who the people are flocking to see, repenting, and crying out to God for deliverance – the first prophet in four hundred years – tells the people at the Jordan that Someone is coming Who is greater – Someone is coming Who is so great that he is unworthy to untie his filthy, animal waste spattered sandals.

            We will remember that people wore sandals or bare feet, so they would become filthy.  That is why foot washing was a custom of hospitality in those days.  If you were invited to someone’s home, someone would wash the guest’s feet as he entered the home.

            John, who was held in respect by the people, said that the One Who is coming is so much greater than he that it would be too high an honor for him to be allowed to untie His filthy sandals.

            One reason for this is that this One’s baptism is greater than John’s.  John’s baptism was for repentance for the forgiveness of sins – a washing with water – but the baptism that Jesus gives is the assurance of eternal forgiveness through the gifting of the indwelling of God.

            Jesus explains what this means:

            “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

            “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

            “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:4-15, ESV).

            God the Father and God the Son sent God the Holy Spirit to indwell everyone who repents and believes in Jesus as God the Savior to guide us in all truth.  The Holy Spirit helps us to understand what is true and what is not – what the Scripture means – when we need to repent – because we continue to sin in this world – and He empowers us to do all the good that God has given us to do in this world.

            As God the Holy Spirit indwells us, He glorifies Jesus through us and declares – teaches – Christ – to us – and helps us to understand all that has been revealed about God and His salvation.

            The baptism of John is a conditional promise to all those who remain in the faith and have repented of all their sins.  The baptism of Jesus is the assurance of salvation and the gifting of guidance and power in this life from God Himself.

Why did Jesus go to John for baptism?

Jesus is sinless – He never had a sin nature – there was never any sin to forgive in Him.

            “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

            John knows this though Mark does not record it.

            Matthew tells us:

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented” (Matthew 3:13-15, ESV).

John understands that Jesus has no need for his baptism, but John needs to be forgiven eternally by God – by the Savior – and indwelled by God the Holy Spirit for the assurance of being made right with God.

            Jesus explains to John that – for Him to be the Savior – He must experience everything humans experience – except for sin.  So, for the sake of His mission – for the sake of His being the Savior and sending God the Holy Spirit to indwell all those who believe – He must be baptized – and John submits to His request.

            John baptizes Jesus. “And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”

            As Jesus leaves the Jordan, the sky tears open – and John – and some others – but not all the people – see the Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove.

            Just as we who believe are indwelled with God the Holy Spirit – Jesus, in His humanity, was indwelled by God the Holy Spirit.  But Jesus is seen with the Holy Spirit hovering – and descending – over Him, and the Holy Spirit appears as a dove.  Why?

            Sinclair Ferguson points out the reasons for these symbols – these parallels in Jesus’ baptism. (Ligonier teaching video.)

            We wil remember what we read of Creation:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2, ESV).

Just as the Holy Spirit hovered over the first Creation, so He hovers over the new creation in us.  The world as we know it came to be through the ministrations of God the Holy Spirit on it, and so we become a new creation as God the Holy Spirit changes out our hearts and makes us into the Image of Jesus.

We find the symbol of the dove after the universal flood:

“Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore” (Genesis 8:8-12, ESV).

After the rain, in sending the dove from the Ark, the dove brings news of safety, news of assurance that the waters have receded and Noah and his family – all the people that God saved through the waters – and through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son – are assured salvation is provided.

In John’s baptism, we recognize that we are sinners and cannot save ourselves.  We repent of our sin and look to God for salvation.

In Jesus’ baptism, He becomes like us so He can be our Substitute and save us from the penalty due our sins.  He secures the promise of our salvation, and the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit that we would be purified and made into the Image of Jesus.

Let us glorify God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for His wisdom, salvation, and the assurance He gives us through the two baptisms that all those who have been saved by Jesus are eternally secure in Him – and have the guidance of the Holy Spirit now.

Let us pray:

Almighty God help us to be assured of our faith through baptism, Your work, and the work of the Holy Spirit.  Help us to understand the symbolism and rely on You Alone for our everlasting life.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Review: "The Daily Stoic" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utcArZMO3ys&feature=youtu.be

Review: "The Daily Stoic" (manuscript)

 

            This past year I read through the daily reading of The Daily Stoic:  366 Meditations on Wisdom, 

Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday.  I have reviewed Holiday’s “stoic trilogy” 

previously.

            As one might expect, each day has a reading from the Stoics, and then a short commentary that directs the reader to put the reading into practice.

            Holiday divides the readings into three disciplines:  the discipline of perception – understanding the difference between what we can change and what we cannot change, the discipline of action – living a virtuous life and becoming the person you want to be, and the discipline of will – understanding that we can only control our own use of reason.

            Each month in the three disciplines focuses on one aspect of the discipline.

            At the end of the book, Holiday invites the reader to sign up for daily readings and book recommendations I his e-mail.  He also has a glossary of terms and a list of books for further reading.

            I did not agree with everything in the readings – I suspect it is rare that anyone completely agrees with any author much less class of authors, but I found all of it helpful in one way or another in becoming more able to think clearly and responsibly – living a life worth living – by focusing on the realities of life, who I ought to be, and my inability to make others be other than they are.

            I will use this guide again, and I am following up on suggested reading and reading the stoics in full in primary editions.  It is well worth your time to pick up this book.

            For those who are interested, Stoic philosophy is the basis for cognitive-behavioral therapy.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Two Boys Kissing" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4koGj0Fz8U&feature=youtu.be

Review: "Two Boys Kissing" (manuscript)

             Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan is not a book to be judged by its title.

            This is the story of two young men – ex-boyfriends – who decide to break the Guinness World Record for the length of a kiss – over thirty hours.  The author explains in the afterward that his novel is based on the true story of two college student who break the world’s record.

            The novel is about relationships and who will be there for you in the end.  It features the couple who are no longer involved, a new couple, and a couple who have been together for some time, but the focus of the book is not sexuality.  I emphasize this because some will bristle seeing a review such as this on my channel.  There are many types of people in the world – good novels deal with all of them.

            In my reading of the book, the key to its story is found near the end where the author writes, “It’s one of the secrets of strength:  We’re so much more likely to find it in the service of others than we are to find it in service to ourselves” (153).

            I think that’s a great message.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Song of Achilles" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMo_EHTNycQ&feature=youtu.be

Review: "The Song of Achilles" (manuscript)

 

            The Song of Achilles is Madeline Miller’s first novel – I reviewed her second novel, Circe, previously.

            The Song of Achilles is about the Greek hero, Achilles, his part in the war to retrieve Helen, and his love of his companion, Patroclus.  Homer paints Achilles and Patroclus as having what we would now call a “bromance,” whereas later writers paint it as a homosexual relationship.

            Whatever the case may be in the literature, Miller’s work is engaging and enjoyably readable.  You get to see the human contradictions of one who is born half-god.  Achilles is humble and loving, and he is arrogant and petty.

            In the end, the reader sees Achilles as someone who wants the glory of war, but really couldn’t care less about Helen, but, if he had his druthers, he would live quietly with Patroclus.

            A very enjoyable read.

            Two essays the author wrote are appended to the novel, as well as a summary of the major players in the novel.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "In Search of the Wild Tofurky" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYucgK_iHCw&feature=youtu.be

Review: "In Search of the Wild Tofurky" (manuscript)

 

            Seth Tibbott’s In Search of the Wild Tofurky:  How a Business Misfit Pioneered Plant-Based Foods Before They Were Cool is the story of having passion and being in the right place at the right time.

            Tibbott loves nature and began by taking people out into nature for periods of learning and reconnection.  This led him to build tree houses for adults and seeking out healthful foods, such as tofu, and, in a hippie group, tempeh.

            Tempeh was Tibbott’s first big success – seeking to make Tempeh as popular as granola.  He had his ups and downs – doing the lion's share of the work himself and not being too concerned about how much money he made or lived on – though he was shooting for the magic goal of a profit of $1,000 a month.

            He did make a go of his tempeh business, earning more than he could have ever imagined – selling the company off when it became large enough.  Then he wondered what to do next – and friends introduced him to a stuffed tofu to replace turkey on Thanksgiving – and the rest is history.  Tibbott worked on the recipe and perfected it into what we can find on our supermarket shelves today.

            Tibbott is passionate – and this book is an encouragement to anyone who wants to make a business of their own.  It takes lots of hard work with years of not getting far.  Still, that is no guarantee.  It takes both having a vision or goal and being in the right place at the right time, as Tibbott was.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

"They Went" Sermon: Matthew 2:1-12 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv3FaMDjAfg&feature=youtu.be

"They Went" Sermon: Matthew 2:1-12 (manuscript)

 

“They Went”

[Matthew 2:1-12]

January 3, 2021 YouTube

            We look at the magi again this morning – looking at the passage preceding the one we looked at last week. 

Today is Epiphany.  An epiphany is a revelation, insight, or revealing, and we see that in this text – in a text that shows us that the magi went where they were shown to go.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,”

Sometime after Jesus was born, magi come from the east to Jerusalem.  The magi were a class of prophets, priests, and astrologers from the near east – likely Iraq and Iran.  Thus, they were Gentiles – not Jews.  Among other things, they studied the stars and made conclusions based on what they saw in them.

Herod, as we saw last week, is an Edomite – a descendant of Esau and the enemies of Israel – and someone whose allegiance is with the Romans.  He is an evil and paranoid king who kills anyone who he thinks is coming after his throne – which includes many of his family members.

The magi come from the east and end up in Jerusalem before King Herod.  The star – as we see momentarily – leads them from their homelands to Judah.  They interpret the star as an omen of the birth of a new king of Israel – and they assume that this king will be found in the royal palace of the current king.

“saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”

The magi are given an audience with King Herod.  They tell him that they watch the stars, and one of them – the uncommon star that moves and guides them to Israel – is an omen of the birth of a new king, and they have come to worship the new king.  They don’t question whether the King has been born – they know the omen says He has been born.  They understand that He is a different king – a king Who rules over the Jews and the Gentiles.

The magi assume the baby will be in the palace.  If not, they think – surely – the current king will know where his successor can be found.  Not only that, but there is something in the star – something in the omen that they conclude from it that prepares them to worship this newborn King.  Notice, they did not fall down before Herod.  They did not worship Herod.  But they know something about this new King from what they saw in the star.

We will remember that shepherds are told by angels of the birth of Jesus and they rush to see the Baby – Christ, the Lord.  And when they leave the manger, they go through hill and dale and tell everyone they come in contact about what they have seen – the coming of the Messiah.  Did anyone believe them?

Haggai prophecies, “And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:7, ESV).

God will shake the nations and send the treasures of all nations – the desire of all nations – to come in and God will fill His house with glory.

There is next to no evidence that many people believe that Jesus is the Savior prior to His public ministry.  A few did – perhaps some magi – some Gentiles – maybe a few others.

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;”

It is no surprise that when the magi come to Herod and say that they have seen his successor has been born and they want to see Him and meet Him and worship Him, Herod’s head spins around!  Herod is terrified that this little Baby is going to come after him and take his throne.  And all those who supported Herod – and who know how quick he is to slaughter people – are terrified of Herod because he could come after them and their children.

“and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

            Micah prophecies, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2, ESV).

            The Ruler is to be born in Bethlehem – and Herod probably knows that – he just wants his prophets to say it to the magi.  Bethlehem – meaning “the house of bread” – is an appropriate place for “the manna from Heaven” to be born.

As Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:48-51, ESV).

            This King comes from “of old” and from “ancient days” – from God Himself.

            Herod is terrified, but for the wrong reason:  Jesus will not depose him from his throne.  But He is the Savior, and Herod does not believe in Him as Savior.

            “Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. “And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.”

            Herod decides to set the magi up – he puts on his best suave buddy self and calls the magi to meet with him in private.  “I am so excited that you came to me!  I want to charge you to find out exactly where the newborn King is.  Find Him and come back and tell me so I can visit Him and worship Him as well.  How wonderful that this should happen during my reign.  I am humbled to know He is born and you will help me find Him.”

            The magi agree to return and tell Herod where He can find the newborn King Who is from old and sent by God – the One they are being led to by a star – the fulfillment of the salvation promise.

            The star comes out and they go.  They see Herod and they go.  They are off to worship the newborn King.

            Does the opportunity to worship fill us with the same excitement that they experienced?  Does His star rising in our hearts cause us to desire to be with Him and worship Him?  Are we more excited about Saturday or Sunday?

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Will you rejoice when the churches are all open again and we can worship together in the sanctuary?  Will you rejoice with exceedingly great joy?

After the magi leave Herod, the star appears again – and they are excited and joyful and jump up and down and hug each other.  They are being led to the newborn King!  They are being led to Him.  They are ready to fall down and worship Him for the privilege of being together in His presence.

Jesus says, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16, ESV).

“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Not only do they go where the star leads them.  Not only do they go planning to worship the newborn King of all people.  Not only do they plan to fall down before Him in humility and service.  They carry their gifts to Him.  From many miles away, they prepare their offering and bring it with them as part of their worship of the newborn King.

And the gifts are interesting – are they not?

They bring the Baby gold.  Gold is valuable, of course, but it is also the gift that you would give to a king.  They believe that Jesus is King, so it makes sense that they bring Him gold.  They worship Him as their king.

They bring the Baby frankincense. Frankincense is a type of incense that was to be burned in worship of God.  They believe that Jesus is God, and they give Him the incense that is for God – the incense that God said to burn for Him.

Now, the question arises – do the magi believe savingly in Jesus?  Do the magi truly understand Who Jesus is and Who He will say He is during His ministry?  Has God changed out their hearts by a work of the Holy Spirit?  Or have they been led as a witness they do not really understand?

We’re not told.  We never hear about the magi again.  We hope and pray that they were or became believers, but we just don’t know.  The most we can say is that – at the very least – they are witnesses to Who Jesus is.

The third type of gift they bring is myrrh.  This gift is somewhat odd.  Myrrh is a medicinal herb and one used in burial.

Mark records – as Jesus hangs on the cross, “And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it” (Mark 15:23, ESV).

Myrrh is an analgesic – among other things – is it used as a medication to help reduce pain.  It was something offered to the crucified to help reduce their pain as they suffer the most horrific death humans have imagined.

Matthew records of Jesus’ burial, “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So, he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews” (John 19:38-40, ESV).

This gift is as strange as the gift of frankincense – and we wonder again – did God give them insight into what would happen to Jesus?  We have no way of knowing.

We only know Mary’s reaction to all these things: “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19, ESV).

“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

The magi intended to keep their promise to Herod and tell him where Jesus is, but an angel tells them not to do it, so they go home to their country by another route.

Why?  So, when Herod rages with anger at them not returning, Jesus and His family will safely escape to Egypt – as we talked about last week.

When the magi see the strange star in the sky, they determine it is an omen of the birth of the newborn King of Israel, and they go after it.  They know the King has been born – a king for all the people.  They prepare their offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh – signifying that He is King and God, and He will die a most horrific death and be buried.  They go with exceedingly great joy to be able to worship Him.

What did they actually know?  What did they actually believe in their hearts?  We will not know until we are received into the Kingdom.

If you believe that Jesus is God and King, the Promised Savior, do you long to be with Him?  Do you rejoice to be with His people and worship Him?

May we go with more urgency and joy than the magi, for He is our Savior.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for the witness of the magi – that they went at the sign You gave them, prepared to give gifts and to worship Your Son, Jesus.  Stir up the fires in our hearts – even as we are limited in this time of Covid – that we would seek out ways to worship Him and worship together – and that we would pray for and long for – with great joy – the day when we can worship together as Your Church – and for the day when we will come before Jesus and fall down before Him in worship.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.