The Darkness before the Dawn

     We call this day “Good Friday.” There is debate about the origins of this title because it seems paradoxical that this day–the day that such a horrific event as the brutal execution of the Son of God–would be thought of as “good.” But regardless of the history behind the title given to this day, we can be sure it is indeed “good” because the events that took place on it form the cornerstone of the gospel. And the gospel, by very definition is “good news.” The cross is the necessary tragedy that leads to the triumph of new life in Christ through His resurrection. To put it another way, we must face the darkness of Good Friday before we embrace the dawn of Resurrection Sunday. In Mark 15:33–38, we are given Mark’s account of the final three hours of the crucifixion of our Lord. In these verses we find in shorthand the profound mystery of the cross–the significance of what was accomplished on Calvary through two signs.

The Cup Poured Out

This passage has an eerie overtone of darkness and judgment. We see in v. 25 that it was “the third hour” when Jesus was crucified, which would be 9:00 am. We know that Christ was exhausted, not only from the stress of the situation, but from the fact that He had been up all night undergoing multiple, illegal trials. We know that prior to being crucified He had been scourged, a brutal flogging that was done by multiple soldiers and carried out until they were exhausted or the commander told them to stop. The whip that was used in the flogging was laced with pieces of bone and metal which would embed themselves into the skin and rip away the flesh, exposing the tissue and even bone. Some people died as a result of merely being scourged. We know that after this a crown of thorns was placed upon His head, and that He was beaten with a reed, spit upon, and mocked. We know that He was forced to carry His cross to the place of the crucifixion until Simon of Cyrene was compelled to relieve Him. We know that when He reached Golgotha, nails were driven through His wrists and feet and He was hung upon the cross under the weight of His own body, His raw flesh dragging upon the wood every time He pushed upon the nail within His feet in order to be lifted enough to gasp for a breath, all while enduring the constant mocking of the crowd. Now, after having been on the cross for three hours, we are told in v. 33 that from the sixth hour to the ninth hour–from noon until 3:00 pm–darkness covered the whole land. This could not have been an eclipse because Passover always occurred during a full moon and a solar eclipse can only happen on a new moon. This was divine darkness–a sign from God about what was taking place. Darkness in Scripture is a sign of judgment. You may recall that one of the plagues of God’s judgment set upon Egypt for refusing to free the Israelites was a darkness that could “be felt” for three days (Exodus 10:21-23). In Joel 2:2, the day of God’s wrath is described as “a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” 
Near the end of this final three hours of darkness upon the cross, our Lord cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani," which is Aramaic for “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” Here our Lord Jesus is quoting from Psalm 22:1, which is a Messianic Psalm that depicts the crucifixion in vivid language. This particular Psalm predicted the mockers around the cross and their taunts, the torture of the crucifixion, the parched tongue of Christ, and the garments that were divided and garment that was left untorn. Psalm 22 is so clearly prophetic that Charles Spurgeon called it the “Psalm of the Cross,” and William Plumer said it may be called “The Gospel According to David.” Our Lord Jesus reminded His disciples after His resurrection that what had happened had been according to “my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Jesus, knowing this beforehand, speaks the very words of Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” This is one of the most profound and mysterious statements in all of Scripture: the Son of God saying to God the Father, “Why have you forsaken Me?” It is a mystery of all mysteries that during this time, the sweet fellowship the Father and Son had enjoyed from all eternity was broken as the Father turned away from the Son. Why would He do this? How could He do this? The answer is found in the fact that at the cross the Father placed upon Christ, the sinless One, the sins of all who would believe upon Him. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is what was prophesied by Isaiah when he stated that the Messiah “bore the sin of many” (53:12). The Apostle Peter used similar language when he said that “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). This is what we call imputation: the counting of something to be so. In other words, the Father thought of our sins as belonging to Christ. Isaiah 59:2 says that “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Habakkuk 1:13 says that God is “of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong.” And so, as the sins of the many are counted as belonging to the sinless One, the Father turns away.

But the Father did not merely turn away from Christ because of this imputation of sin; He simultaneously poured out His wrath upon Him for the punishment of that sin. Back in Mark 14:36, we are told that our Lord prayed to the Father in the garden, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” In the OT, the wrath of God was spoken of as a cup that would be poured out. Psalm 75:8 says that “…in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.” In Isaiah 51:17, the Lord said to Israel, “Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.” Typically, when we recall the scene of Jesus’ anguish as He prays in the garden, we understand Him to be in anguish over the physical torture he is about to undergo, and certainly this is true. Jesus knew the brutality of crucifixion, and in His humanity He was greatly distressed by the thought of what He would soon be facing at the hands of wicked men. But his prayer concerning the cup goes beyond the mere physical torment of the cross. The cup that he would be facing was the wrath of God against sin. And here in chapter 15 of Mark’s Gospel, we see our Lord Jesus experiencing the full measure of this cup. He did it for sinners like you and like me, that we might be forgiven. He is the propitiation for our sins, bearing God’s wrath to the end and in doing so changing God’s wrath for us into favor. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:25–26 that this was a demonstration of the righteousness of God because it proved that He is a righteous God who maintains justice and yet simultaneously reveals that He is a merciful God who forgives sinners. Isaiah, 600 years before the cross said of Him:

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

We must not mistake Christ’s words, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” as a cry of misunderstanding or dejection on Christ’s part. This is Him in His humanity bearing the weight of the cup, but He still refers to the Father as My God. And the words of the Psalm which He is quoting go on to announce the triumph and vindication of the Messiah which the Father brings about. Isaiah 53:10 says that “it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” Our Lord Jesus was fully submitted to the will of the Father. Remember that He prayed, “Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” John 10:17-18 records His declaration that “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” This is exactly what we see in vv. 35–37. The bystanders mocked at His cry to the Father, saying that He was calling Elijah to come and rescue Him. John tells us that at this point He said, “I thirst,” and so as we see in v. 36, someone gave Him some sour wine on a sponge (something they were more than happy to do because it would keep the victim hydrated and prolong his suffering). And they continue their mocking: “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” But Jesus had wanted the sour wine only to moisten his tongue in order to utter a loud cry before breathing His last. It was not a cry of anguish, but a cry of victory, as John tells us that He shouted, “It is finished!” Luke adds that He confidently cried out, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit,” a quotation from Psalm 31:5. At this point, the work was finished, the debt of sin had been paid. The wrath of God had been satisfied; the cup had been poured out.

The Curtain Torn in Two

We are told that immediately upon the death of Christ, “the

curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” This was the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies–the Most Holy Place–from the Holy Place. This curtain was an elaborately woven fabric that was 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide–and it was torn from top to bottom. The Holy of Holies was the place where the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat was. No one was allowed to enter this place except for the high priest, and that only once a year, on the Day of Atonement–and only with blood of a sacrifice, as we read in Leviticus 16:2, and as the writer of Hebrews reminds us in Hebrews 9. This is the second sign Mark records in relation to the crucifixion: the darkness was a sign of God’s judgment; the tearing of the veil was a sign of God’s deliverance. Not only had God’s wrath been satisfied and His righteous character vindicated, but the tearing of the curtain symbolized the access that sinners now have to the Father through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews tells us that “when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (9:11–12). In Hebrews 10:19–20, he says: “we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.” We who believe were once separated from God because of our sin, but our Lord Jesus bore that sin on the cross in order to open up to us the Holy of Holies, to give us bold access to Him through faith in His finished work upon the cross. Hebrews 9:15 says that because of this sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ “is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.”

This is the reason Good Friday is indeed “good.” The cup has been poured out, but not upon us. Christ has taken it for us–in our place. As a result, the curtain has been torn in two, giving us bold access to the throne of grace through faith in Jesus, who is our High Priest. This is the truth we glory in on Good Friday, even as we anticipate the celebration of the completion of the good news of the gospel on Resurrection Sunday. 

Oh No, Family Devos!!!

    This may be a familiar expression whispered among children in Christian homes when dad and mom announce that it's time to "gather 'round." What kids don't realize is that, while parents may not vocalize it, they have the very same angst about family devotion time. Especially for those parents who did not grow up in Christian homes (or grew up in Christian homes that didn't do family devotions), this can be a very difficult or even dreadful activity. For those who have forged ahead and made it a regular habit, it may be somewhat easier, but few typically make it past a week or two before it fizzles out as the kids are sawing logs long before dad finishes his "brief" homily.
Why is something that is supposed to be so impactful often just the opposite? And why is something that the pastor makes sound so simple so hard? Why do dads who leave church on Sunday morning inspired to be leaders in their homes and moms who are starry-eyed about their husbands' newfound zeal so frustrated by Monday evening? The basic answer to these questions is that there is simply a lack of understanding of what exactly you're supposed to do for "family devotions." You may see the value in family devotions, understand their impact, and be willing to invest the time, energy, and perseverance necessary to lead your family in this area. But every builder needs a set of blueprints and some tools in order to get started on a project, so let me walk you through a template for family devotions that I've come by through trial and error over the past several years.

Set a time
    Schedules will differ from one family to the next, so find a time that works best for everyone. My kids are still young and we are all home at least three or four nights of the week, so we like to do it at bed time. Don't be legalistic about this; learn to be regular but flexible. My rule of thumb is that, if we are home in the evening, we have what I call our 'Bible Time.' If we're out, we skip it and simply say a quick prayer as a family before bed.

Read the Bible
    This may sound like a no-brainer, but many parents with little children are afraid to read the Bible to them, thinking it will be over their heads. They look for the latest children's story Bible, complete with pictures. I'm not saying that these are all bad, but there is something about reading the Scriptures just the way God had them written that is powerful. Maybe your kids don't understand some things, but over time they will, and they will benefit most from hearing the pure, unaltered word of God from childhood (2 Tim. 3:15).

Use a devotional guide 
    This is not absolutely necessary, but it saves a lot of time in preparation and serves to keep your devotion times focused and interesting. A good devotional guide will list a passage of Scripture to read and provide some questions to ask your children. Some even provide a summary of the passage along with helpful illustrations. This can be an invaluable tool to help guide your family devotional time and follows the biblical pattern of the church coming alongside you as you bear the responsibility to "bring [your children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). You will also find that your children will be more involved since they already know something about the passage you're discussing. If your children are older, you can follow the same format, but make the question and answer time more of a discussion. Here are a few great resources that you may want to check out:

Generations of Grace Year 2 Family Devotional 

(this is a devotional that corresponds to the Children's Ministry curriculum of FFBC)

Long Story Short (OT)

Old Story New (NT)

ESV Family Devotional Bible

Pray 
    Avoid short, rote prayers. This does not mean that your prayers have to be super-long, drawn out supplications that put mom to sleep along with the kids, but use this time of prayer to model for your children how to pray. Pray through a couple of points from what you read and discussed in the Bible passage, thanking and praising God for who He is and what He's done, and confessing any sins that the passage has exposed about your family. Ask God to give all of you a heart of love for Him, and obedience to Him, and pray specifically for your children's salvation. Pray for your pastor and the elders of your church, and pick a "missionary of the month" to pray for. Finally, pray for one or two pressing needs in the lives of your family and your church family. This sounds like a lot, but if your prayer is focused it should not be longer than 5-10 minutes. Dad should lead in prayer, but it is good to include mom in the prayer time as well, and if your children are older, allow them to pray, too (perhaps assign them particular things to pray for).

Sing 
    Yes, sing! This may be the most intimidating part of the whole deal for some parents, but Scripture commands us to lift our hearts and voices to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving (e.g. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), and we need to teach our children to be comfortable with doing this. Not only this, but Scripture states that singing to one another is a form of teaching, and so through singing we are teaching and reinforcing the truths of the gospel that we are seeking to instill in our children. This means that we need to be careful to make sure that the songs we choose are not merely silly children's songs (although I'm all about some of these!), but that the bulk of the songs are filled with substance. This is a great opportunity to familiarize our children with the great hymns of the faith. I like to pick a "hymn of the month" and that way we sing one song enough times that our children come to know it well.

Keep the focus on the gospel 
    Finally, in everything you do, from what you emphasize in the Bible reading, to prayer, to the song you sing, keep the focus of your time on the gospel. This will keep your family's attention where it should be, exalting God for who He is and what He has done, and declaring our great need for Him and the salvation He offers in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This is what your children need to hear consistently, it is what you need to be reminded of regularly, and it will keep your devotion time from lapsing into a cold, moralistic routine.
There are many different ways to do a family devotion time; these are merely suggestions to help you get started. Some families get very creative and elaborate; some stick to the basics. I suggest you start with the template I've suggested and then begin to add elements or change them up however you see fit. One of the things that our family has added the past couple of years is 'story time.' We wanted our kids to enjoy reading, and kids love it when you read to them. We decided that, if we were careful about what we selected to read to them, we could not only encourage them to be readers themselves, but further reinforce their faith at the same time. Reading about a chapter per time, we have gone through series like the Chronicles of Narnia, and classics like the children's version of The Pilgrim's Progress. If your children are older, you could read more advanced books, or maybe take turns reading. Once you get started with a regular family devotion time, it is really quite exciting to begin to think of ways to improve it. 

Wherever you are with family devotions, I pray that these tips will help you and your children move from dread to delight the next time you call the family together.

The Gospel of Luke: Jesus is Savior

     The Gospel of Luke was intended to provide a document of proof concerning the life and ministry of Jesus Christ for a man named Theophilus (1:1–4). Luke desired that through this work Theophilus “might know the exact truth about the things [he had] been taught” (4). Luke diligently researched all of his information to assure its accuracy, and, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded one of the fullest accounts of the life of Christ. Luke structured his Gospel specifically to show God’s plan and purpose for the Lord Jesus Christ’s coming, earthly ministry, and atoning sacrifice, along with a view toward His second coming and establishment of the kingdom.
     The Gospel of Luke provides the most detailed account of the events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus. Beginning with a full recounting of the birth of John the Baptist, Luke introduced him as the unmistakable forerunner of the Messiah, who had been prophesied in the Old Testament, and who would perform his ministry “in the Spirit and power of Elijah…” (1:5–25). John’s father, Zechariah, prophesied concerning his son’s purpose as this forerunner, revealing that the mission of this One whom his son would introduce to the world was to bring fulfillment of Yahweh’s covenant to His people, offering salvation and forgiveness of sins (67–79). 
     While John was still in his mother’s womb, the angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary and announced to her that she would miraculously bear a child. This child’s designation and purpose were unmistakable: His name would be Jesus, for He would be the Son of the Most High who would fulfill the Davidic covenant as ruler over God’s kingdom forever (26–38). When the time came for Jesus to be born, an angel of the Lord declared his birth to shepherds who were tending their flocks in the fields, and his announcement further identified the purpose of Jesus as 
“Savior” (2:1–20). When Mary and Joseph went to the temple to fulfill their obligations under the Law concerning the child, both Simeon and Anna confirmed the identity and mission of Jesus, with Simeon’s proclamation building upon it even further: Jesus would be the Savior, not only of Jews, but also of Gentiles (21–38). Luke’s Gospel gives the only canonical glimpse into Jesus’ childhood subsequent to his birth, and this account shows that He was aware of His purpose from the beginning. He told his parents, who had been searching everywhere for him, “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (41–51).
     Luke 3 records the preaching of John the Baptist, who announced that men should repent and prepare their hearts for the promised Messiah (1–17). When Jesus came to be baptized by John, the triune God testified to His identity, and Luke followed this powerful witness with Jesus’ maternal genealogy which traced His ancestry backward through the Davidic line; all the way back to Adam (21–38). This again presented Jesus as the Savior of all men, not just Jews. Just before Jesus set out in His public ministry, Luke recorded His testing in the wilderness (4:1–13). While Adam had caved in under the pressure of temptation in the garden, the famished and weary Lord Jesus was shown to resist the schemes of Satan. This further validated Him as the One who was qualified to be the Savior of the world.
     Unlike the other Gospels, Luke introduced Jesus’ public ministry with the reporting of His reading a prophetic portion of Isaiah concerning the Messiah and announcing to all in the synagogue that He was the fulfillment of the passage. He then announced the sobering reality that Israel’s rejection of Him would open the door of salvation for the Gentiles, just as had been the case with the ministry of Elijah and Elisha (4:14–27).
     Luke 4:31–9:50 forms the second phase of Luke’s introduction of Jesus’ plan and purpose, recording Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee. Luke pointed out that, as Jesus began His ministry in Capernaum, the people were amazed at Him, for His teaching and His works were done with authority (32, 36). Jesus is shown to have authority over demons (4:35–36, 41; 8:26–39; 9:37–43), and these demons even became unlikely witnesses to His identity. He is also shown to have authority through His many miraculous acts of healing (4:38–40; 6:6–11, 18–19; 7:1–17, 21; 8:40–56; 9:11).

In connection with these healings, Jesus is shown to have authority to forgive sins (5:20–26; 7:47–50). Jesus even has authority over nature, as He gave the soon–to–be apostles a miraculous catch of fish, calmed the sea, and multiplied the food to feed the five thousand (5:1–11; 8:22–25; 9:12–17). Jesus is shown to have authority over the Sabbath, and this becomes the beginning of contention between Him and the Jewish leaders throughout the Gospel narrative (6:1–11). 
     Jesus is not only shown to have personal authority, He also delegated His authority to His disciples, giving them power to cast out demons and perform healing (9:1–6). This power was to be an authentication of their message as they spread the gospel of the kingdom throughout the towns and villages of Israel. Jesus’ choosing, training, and sending of these men form a prominent theme throughout the Gospel, and especially in this section. Jesus’ prayerful choice of the twelve whom He named apostles revealed that His plan and purpose would be far reaching (6:12–16). Even the inclusion of Judas Iscariot, who would be the one to betray Him, gave credence to the foreordained plan of God for the Lord Jesus.
     Luke 10:51 denotes a significant break in the narrative of the Gospel, for it is stated that Jesus “resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem.” From this point on until Jesus’ 'Triumphal Entry' into Jerusalem (19:28), the Gospel of Luke records this journey and the events that took place along the way. This section obviously forms the largest of the Gospel, for here Luke records much of Jesus’ teaching. He had, no doubt, given emphasis to Jesus’ teaching during His Galilean ministry (6:20–49; 7:28; 8:1, 4–21; 9:11), but this section gives even more attention to it. The subject matter of Jesus’ teaching becomes more focused in this section as well, as He relayed, primarily in parables, what the kingdom is like, and how its citizens will conduct themselves (12:1–13:9, 18–18:17; 19:11–27). The teaching carried with it a greater urgency as well, as Jesus was now approaching Jerusalem. The reason for the urgency and tension in Jesus’ teaching was the fact that early on He had foretold His coming crucifixion and resurrection to the disciples (9:22, 44). He continued to remind them of it throughout this latter section of the Gospel, although each time they did not understand (13:18; 17:25; 18:31–33). 
     Another point of tension, however, was due to His constant friction with the Jewish leaders which had begun, as noted above, early on in His ministry. This friction would turn into a full–scale attack when Jesus finally arrived in Jerusalem, and shortly, the Jews would have Him arrested and crucified. Luke records this unfolding drama from 19:28–24:53. In this final section of the Gospel, the Jewish leaders are shown to lead the would-be followers of Jesus into a blood-thirsty frenzy that results in Pontius Pilate’s reluctant sanctioning of His death (22:54–23:49). This ultimate rejection of the Messiah by the Jews was not an unexpected turn in the Gospel of Luke. The plan and purpose of Jesus had been stated from the very beginning of the narrative. Although the Jews’ rejection would result in the destruction of the temple, and great sorrow in the coming days (19:40–44), His death and resurrection would make it possible for a remnant to be redeemed, along with many Gentiles, and God’s promises would ultimately be fulfilled in Christ’s second coming (21:10–36).
     The preface of Luke’s Gospel is balanced by an epilogue that brings the sorrowful climax of Christ’s crucifixion to a joyful resolution. Jesus is confirmed as the Son of God and Savior of the world as He is shown to be risen from the dead. Luke added some interesting details about Jesus’ post–resurrection appearances to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and again to the eleven in Jerusalem. In both instances, He explained how the plan and purpose of God for Him had been spelled out in the “Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms…” (24:25–27, 44–47). Jesus’ final act before His ascension was to commission the disciples as His witnesses who would continue His mission in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit (48–53; cf. Acts 1:1–8). 

Thanksgiving: The Heart of True Worship

After a short lull in festivities following Halloween, the next major event on everyone's mind is Christmas. The retailers have been ready for weeks already, but now the typical American is thinking of decorations and Christmas music, and of course, this year, again, Star Wars. "But what about Thanksgiving?" you ask. Well, we still look forward to it as well, but for most, Thanksgiving has long taken on the same status as Memorial Day: a day off with family (oh, yeah, and yummy food...and football). But the real meaning behind the holiday is all but forgotten, being evidenced by the fact that many now refer to it not as 'Thanksgiving' but 'Turkey Day.'

You may remember the great story of the first Thanksgiving you learned in elementary school about Squanto and the Pilgrims, but it wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that president Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday, calling on all Americans to entreat God for His divine care to a hurting nation. From that first Thanksgiving celebration to its official recognition, Thanksgiving has been ingrained into the fabric of our country long before it itself had been recognized as such. In the early days, it was certainly called 'Thanksgiving' because it was a way for people to come together in order to thank God for His innumerable blessings. The Pilgrims well knew God's providential care in their lives, and despite horrific difficulty and loss, they turned their hearts toward God with gratitude.

While Thanksgiving may be nothing more than another festivity on the calendar for most today, to Christians, it should be much more than that, for thanksgiving is at the very heart of our worship. In fact, the Bible reveals that a lack of thankfulness is at the heart of all who reject the one, true God who has revealed Himself to them (Rom. 1:21). Repeatedly, Scripture calls us to be thankful. Take Colossians 3:15-17, for example:

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

That's a lot of thankfulness in just a few verses! Obviously gratitude is something that is vital to the Christian life. And while we are typically prone to be thankful only when times are good and we have an abundance, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." It is God's will that we be thankful at all times in all circumstances - the good, the bad, even the ugly! But just like anything God commands, He also supplies. Thankfulness flows out a of a heart that is filled by the Spirit of God, who produces within us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful, gentleness, and self control (Gal 5:22-23a).

So how can we cultivate thankfulness? Well, the context of Colossians 3:15-17 is the believer's response to his union with Christ. It is about what we are to do in response to the glorious truth that Christ died for our sins and then rose again, conquering sin and death and hell forever for all who will place their faith in Him. We are to put off old, sinful habits and put on new, godly ones in their place, and one of the glaring characteristics of the flesh is the propensity to grumble and complain. But the Christian is not only commanded to put off this tendency (Phil. 2:14), and to replace it with thankfulness (as we have noted above), and not only has he been given the empowerment to do so through the Holy Spirit, but he has been given the greatest motivation possible. When we think for just one moment about what we deserve for our sin against a holy, righteous God (see Rom. 6:23), and then think about what God has done for us in sending His Son to die in our place, instead of us - taking on all our guilt and shame and paying for it in full at the cross and then crediting to us His own perfect righteousness so that God can declare us not only innocent, but justified in His sight, what other response can we possibly have but thankfulness?! This is the very reason God commands us to "be thankful in all circumstances," because no matter how difficult those circumstances may be, we are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20)! And when we turn our minds away from our difficulties and just for a moment force ourselves to think about the many blessings God has given us, we should be overwhelmed.

Perhaps this Thanksgiving could be a time for you and your family to refocus your attention on God's goodness to you in sending His Son and providing all your needs. Some years ago our family endeavored to make Thanksgiving such a time, and so we began a family tradition we call 'The Journal of Thanks.' It is very simple, really. We have a typical journal that is reserved for one day of the year, and we spend some time going around the table, allowing each member of the family to state what he or she is thankful for over the course of the year. Mommy is the scribe, and this is helpful because we can read her handwriting and that makes it possible for us to spend some time reading the entries from the previous years. We've amassed several years now, and it is always amazing to read back through that journal and be reminded of the way our God has providentially watched over us and provided for us in our journey of life. Whether or not you have a similar tradition, I pray you will take time this Thanksgiving to rise above the smell of the turkey, the roar of the football game, and the stories of Uncle Bob, and give genuine thanks to God for all His blessings, especially for "His inexpressible gift" (2 Cor. 9:15)!

The Gospel of Mark: Jesus is Messiah

     The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, and the most abrupt presentation of the ministry and passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark presents Jesus as the long–awaited Messiah (“Christ”) who was to come and die for sinners and return to establish His kingdom through a fast–paced narrative of Jesus’ public ministry and passion. Unlike the other two Synoptics, Mark does not include any information about Jesus prior to the beginning of His ministry. The Gospel begins with the title: “The beginning of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Throughout the Gospel, Mark sets out to prove that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God, and what it means to be His follower.

The Witnesses
In order to fulfill his purpose, Mark recorded many testimonies of those who affirmed the deity of Jesus. The first of these was John the Baptist. Mark clearly identified John as the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah and recorded John’s message concerning Jesus. (1:2–8). This short testimony is brought to a close at Jesus’ baptism, when a second witness appears. This second witness is actually a dual witness of the Holy Spirit and the Father. (1:9–12). The Father audibly identified Jesus as the Son of God here, and again testified of this fact at the transfiguration of Jesus (9:7). A third testimony which appears twice in the Gospel is from an unlikely source: two demons whom Jesus cast out. On both occasions these demons identified Him as the Son of God (3:11; 5:7). A fourth testimony that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, was Peter’s confession. When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, Peter immediately identified Him as “the Christ” (8:29). Jesus Himself claimed these titles for Himself when questioned both by the Jewish leaders and by Pontius Pilate (14:61–62; 15:2). The centurion who witnessed Jesus breath His last exclaimed, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (15:39). Finally, the angel who greeted the women at the empty tomb indirectly testified to the true identity of Jesus, affirming the fact that He had indeed risen from the dead.


The Words
Woven throughout Mark’s presentation of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, is the message which He proclaimed. This message was an announcement of how one enters the kingdom of God, which is, essentially, to become a disciple of Jesus. Whenever Jesus would call someone to follow Him in the Gospel of Mark, He used the phrase, “follow me” (1:17, 20; 2:14; 8:34; 9:21; 10:21). From the very beginning of His ministry, He called people to “repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15). Jesus’ radical message was that only those who were willing to confess their sin and turn to Him in faith would be worthy of entrance into the kingdom (2:17). No amount of good works could earn one’s way into heaven (10:19). Jesus’ call was for men to humble themselves as little children and to deny themselves, giving up their own lives to follow Him. This would cost them, for not only would they be giving up their own lives, but they would then be identified with Christ, sharing in His reproach and sufferings (8:34–38; 10:15, 29–31).

The Works
Mark presents Jesus as having divine and messianic authority in several different ways. People observed from the outset of His ministry that He taught “as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Jesus’ teaching was unlike others,’ for He did not merely sermonize about Old Testament texts, He correctly interpreted and applied them, and added His own revelatory message. Jesus is also shown to have authority to forgive sin, which is clearly something only ascribed to God (2:5, 10–11). Jesus demonstrated His authority over the Sabbath (2:23–28; 3:1–5). As already

noted indirectly above, Jesus is shown to have authority over demons, casting them out by His word (1:23–28; 32–34, 39; 3:11; 5:1–13; 7:29–30; 9:25–26). Jesus also displayed His authority over the temple when He cleansed it of the Jewish leaders’ wicked practices (11:15–17). Jesus’ power over nature is shown in His ability to control the weather, to walk on water, and to multiply physical matter in the feeding of the five thousand as well as the four thousand (4:39–41; 6:38–44, 48–52; 8:1–9; 11:12–14, 20). Jesus displayed His authority by delegating His power to His disciples to cast out demons and perform miracles in His name (3:13–19; 6:7, 13). But the most extensive witness to Jesus’ authority, which stands in a category of its own is the many miracles of Jesus. Some of these miracles have already been mentioned above, but Mark presents the focus of Jesus’ miracles as restorative. Jesus healed all sorts of diseases and ailments in countless people (1:29–34; 40–41; 2:5; 3:1–5, 10; 5:27–29; 6:5, 56; 7:31–37; 8:22–25; 10:51–52). Jesus is shown to have power even over death, as He raised a girl from the dead (5:41–42). Of course, Jesus’ own resurrection is the ultimate testimony to His authority and reveals His own personal power over death (16). The climax of the Gospel of Mark is the passion of Christ, and His atoning work upon the cross on behalf of sinners. Only through His death and resurrection could He not only show Himself to be the only one qualified to save men from their sins, but actually accomplish this by becoming their propitiation. This theme is built up subtly and dramatically throughout the latter half of the Gospel with Jesus’ repeated disclosure of the near future events to His disciples (8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34, 45), and then finally realized in at the end (14–16). 
     Thus, the Gospel of Mark concludes with Jesus fulfilling His role as the Christ, the Son of God in becoming “a ransom for many” (10:45), and then rising again to someday return as the reigning King.

The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus is King

     The Gospel of Matthew is the most Jewish of the three Synoptics, as well as the Gospel of John. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, but he also emphasizes that He is the King. According to Matthew, Jesus is not only “King of the Jews” (e.g. 2:2; 27:11), He is also the King of all believers, for He rules over the “kingdom of heaven”/“kingdom of God" (e.g. 3:2; 11:11; 12:28; 19:24). 

 
The Rightful Heir to the Throne
     Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as King in at least four different ways. First, Jesus is shown to be the rightful heir to the Davidic throne by His genealogy through His earthly father, Joseph. The Gospel begins abruptly with the announcement of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, who is said to be “the son of David.” Introducing his Jewish emphasis, Matthew traces Jesus’ line back further to Abraham, the first Israelite, but it is worthy of note that he placed David first in order to stress the king motif. The genealogy actually begins in 1:2, and when David appears in chronological order, he is identified with a description (unlike anyone else in the list) as “David the King.” Thus, Matthew underscored Jesus’ kingship at least twice in the Gospel’s opening genealogy.

The One with All Authority  
  A second, less direct, and more general, presentation of Jesus as King in the Gospel of Matthew is the emphasis upon His authority. Early on in His public ministry, His hearers noticed that “He was teaching as one with authority, and not as their scribes” (7:29). Jesus claimed to have “authority on earth to forgive sins” (9:6). In addition to the numerous healings and exorcisms performed by Jesus, His authority over unclean spirits and disease is understood in 10:1 as He delegates it to His disciples and commands them to use it as they go out preaching “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (10:6). Jesus’ authority over the natural realm is displayed in His walking on the water and calming the sea (14:22–33), and His cursing of the fig tree (21:18–22). In 12:8 Jesus is once again shown to have authority, this time over the Sabbath. And finally, at the conclusion of the Gospel where His great commission is recorded, He states, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (28:18). Matthew showed that Jesus is King of the Jews and of all creation through His display of authority.

The Possessor of a Kingdom
    Third, the Gospel of Matthew reveals Jesus as King by way of implication through the fact of its announcement of a kingdom. The message of John the Baptist was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus’ message was identical, and so was that which He commanded the seventy disciples to proclaim in Israel (4:17; 10:7). The concept of a kingdom is absurd without a king, and Matthew makes it obvious who the King is.  John’s announcement of the kingdom is inextricably tied to the introduction of Jesus, as is Jesus’ own proclamation and that of His disciples. This assumption is realized fully in 20:20–28, which records the petition of the mother of the sons of Zebedee on behalf of her sons to be seated in two of the highest ranking positions in the kingdom. She asked Jesus to “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left." This obviously indicates that she knew exactly who the King was and Jesus’ reply reveals that He confirmed this understanding (23).

The King of the Jews
  Fourth, Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as King early on by giving Him this very title. “King of the Jews” was first used for Jesus by the magi who had followed the star to Jerusalem and inquired of Herod where they might find Him who had been born with this designation. It is not used again until 27:11 where Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” to which Jesus essentially replied, “Yes I am.” Although this title was inflammatory among His adversaries, it was a description of Jesus that was understood and welcomed by Him and His followers. Matthew capitalized on this designation for Jesus more than the other Gospels, once again highlighting both the Gospel’s Jewish flavor and Jesus’ kingship. In 25:31–46, Jesus is referred to simply as “King,” leaving no doubt as to His position.

The Nature of the Kingdom
  It is clear from the data presented above from the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus is King. But what is the nature of the kingdom over which He reigns? He has already been shown to accept the titles “King of the Jews,” and “King,” and His authority has been shown to stretch into the realms of all creation. But the Gospel of Matthew has much to say to help the reader understand specifically what is meant by the frequent term “kingdom of heaven” and its equivalent, “kingdom of God.”

Entering the Kingdom
  In the first public address of Jesus that is recorded by Matthew, He introduced the requirements of citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. All of these requirements are spiritual character qualities as opposed to outward religious duties (5:20). Only those who are willing to humble themselves are worthy of entrance into the kingdom (11:11; 18:1–4; 19:14). Jesus drew a line of separation between those who would enter the kingdom and those who would instead incur judgment (e.g. 7:21–23; 8:11–12; 19:23–24; 21:31). Jesus’ teaching concerning entrance into the kingdom, the conduct of its citizens, and the fate of all who would be excluded continued through parables (e.g. 13:1–52; 18:21–35; 20:1–16).
  This understanding of how one enters the kingdom was one of the major points of contention between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in the Gospel of Matthew, for it was the theme of Jesus’ teaching ministry. Although Jesus “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (15:24), and commanded His disciples to follow this dictum in their ministry on His behalf, He revealed that many Jews would ultimately forfeit their place in the kingdom and give way to the entrance of Gentiles (8:10–12; 21:43). Thus we can conclude from the Gospel of Matthew that the kingdom of heaven is not merely confined to Jews and that it is at least partially a spiritual realm.

Already, but Not Yet
  While the kingdom may be spiritual, the Gospel of Matthew assures the reader that it is much more. The kingdom seems to be something that is anticipated in the future throughout the Gospel, and the idea of someone sitting at Jesus’ right and left hands, mentioned above, seems to point to something more than a spiritual dominion. Forming a balance for the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (25–25) explained more about the nature of the kingdom. This text leaves no doubt that the kingdom is future, and it explains that Christ will return again in the future to “sit on His glorious throne” (25:31). Believers are called to be prepared for His return by serving diligently, and this service will be the basis upon which they will be rewarded greater opportunities in the kingdom (24:42–51; 25:14–30).  All of this indicates that Christ’s reign will be over a future, physical kingdom.
  As already noted, the Olivet Discourse also reveals that the kingdom will indeed be established in its fullness at a future time, although the specific date is unknown (24:36). Christ’s second coming, which will inaugurate the physical kingdom, is described as immanent, and yet contingent upon certain events transpiring prior to it. Therefore, believers are to “be on the alert.”
  The Gospel of Matthew does indeed present Jesus as the King, not only of the Jews, but of all believers. Kingdom citizenship is predicated upon humble submission to Christ as Lord. This initial entrance into the kingdom is a spiritual one over which Christ reigns in the hearts of men, and yet it looks forward to the realization of the kingdom in its fullness as a physical realm over which Christ will reign at His second coming.

Prayer Pointers from a Prophet (Part 3)

In our last post, we made the observation that, as much as prayer is a struggle for all believers, no matter how mature, much of the struggle begins with an inadequate understanding of how to pray. The goal of this series of articles has been to help in this regard. We've looked at four aspects and three attitudes of prayer, and in this final post we're going to add a few more attitudes that are essential to a healthy understanding of prayer.

The Attitude of Scripture Saturation
This may sound like a strange title for an attitude, but follow the logic. All of Daniel’s prayers were clearly driven by particular attitudes which he apparently cultivated throughout his life, but they were also driven by the word of God. We know this because the content of Daniel’s prayers was loaded with the word of God.  The most obvious example of this is found in Daniel 9:2, where he states that his prayer was based upon an observation in the book of Jeremiah, but the prayer is saturated with so many allusions to other Scriptures that critics have used this as an argument against the prayer’s authenticity.  The fact of the matter, however, is that all true men of God are students of the word of God, and Daniel was certainly no exception. His prayers were fueled by his knowledge of the Scriptures.
As mentioned, Daniel’s prayer in chapter nine was sparked by his meditation upon Jeremiah’s prophecy. He was obviously familiar with the Pentateuch, for he exhibits knowledge of  the curse that was promised for disobedience (Lev 26:14–39; De 28:15–68), and borrows from Exodus 32:11 (9:15). Other allusions and parallels could be noted in chapter nine, but even more striking are those found in the prayer of chapter two. Leupold calls this prayer “Daniel’s psalm,” and lists over a dozen quotations or allusions to other passages of Scripture. 
The richness of Daniel’s prayers was obviously rooted in his abundant knowledge of the word of God, and so it should be with the prayers of all believers. Daniel reminds us that we should never be without our Bibles in our regular times of prayer. Nor should we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17) throughout the day without being like the man in Psalm 1 who meditates upon the law of God day and night. This posture, or attitude toward the word of God will spill over into our times of prayer and we will find ourselves praying God’s word back to Him. Not only will this help us to grow spiritually and be a cause of delight for our Lord, but we will become more confident in prayer, knowing that what we pray is indeed in accordance with God’s will.

The Attitude of Humility
In all the dealings of Daniel recorded in his book, he is shown to be humble. From his appeal to the commander of the king’s officials in chapter one to his demeanor in the presence of the various kings before whom he had the opportunity to appear, to his response to the angelic messengers who revealed special revelation to him, he conducted himself in a manner of great humility. This attitude was a foundational aspect of his prayers. Wood comments on Daniel’s seeking of the Lord by prayer and supplications (9:3): “The stress of the verse is on Daniel’s attitude…The importance was not on what Daniel sought, but on his heart attitude in seeking.”  This attitude was humility, as is clear from Daniel’s fasting, sackcloth, and ashes which accompanied his prayer. These practices were not only outward symbols of humility, but served as aids to keep a person in a mindset of humility, reminding him that “he has not even deserved food from God” and that “not even the comforts of good clothing are his right and due reward.”   This was likely not the first time Daniel had employed these measures during prayer.  Another outward sign of Daniel’s humility is that his customary posture during his regular times of prayer was kneeling (6:10).  
Daniel’s outward signs of humility were matched by his words in prayer. The simple fact that he offered thanks to God for the revelation he received in response to his and his friends’ petition concerning the interpretation of the king’s dream revealed that he knew that his abilities were only gifts from the sovereign God of the universe (2:19–23). In chapter nine, Daniel first of all approached God as his Lord, completely surrendering to Him in an attitude of humility.  His confession was obviously undergirded by humility, for genuine confession cannot take place without a deep sense of this attitude. This theme is highlighted in Daniel’s two statements that open shame belonged to him and his people (vv. 7–8). 
Perhaps the most telling sign of his humility is seen in the petition, however. In verse 18 he stated, “…we are not presenting our supplications before Thee on any account of any merits of our own, but on account of Thy great compassion.” Daniel understood that with him and his people there was no hope, and so “he appealed to the only source of hope, the mercy of God.” 
Daniel exemplified an attitude of humility in his prayer life which should be emulated by all who would come before the throne of grace. While we are called to come boldly before this throne, it must always be remembered that it is only upon the basis of Christ’s righteousness, and none of our own that we are able to do so (Heb 4:14–16).

The Attitude of Waiting
A final attitude which characterized Daniel’s prayers is that of waiting. Both his prayer in chapter two and that in chapter nine were answered fairly quickly, but the reference to his regular prayer life in Daniel 6:10–11 reveals that potentially all and more  of the aspects and attitudes of prayer we have observed in him were routinely applied every day, three times a day for years. Daniel knew the Scriptures and he knew his people’s history. As he kneeled time and again with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he likely prayed a similar prayer to that in chapter nine many times. And he waited. He waited upon God, trusting Him that, in His time, He would fulfill His word and restore His people. Even though his heart must have ached over his situation, he remained faithful and patiently continued in prayer.
As the people of God in our day, we must be willing to wait upon the Lord no matter what situation in which we may find ourselves. In the good times as well as the bad we must trust that God has a perfect, sovereign plan for our lives and put our hope and confidence in Him even when it seems as though our prayers go unanswered.

Daniel stands as one of the great figures of the Bible to whom we can look for examples of many things: great courage, great faith, great character, and, as we have seen, great prayer. Daniel modeled several universal principles of prayer found elsewhere in Scripture, giving us a living example of what they look like in practice. By carefully studying Daniel’s prayer life and seeking to apply these principles in our own lives, we will discover that we, too, serve the same great God to whom Daniel prayed and find encouragement and delight in approaching the throne of grace.