The Astonishing Servant of Jehovah

By David R. Ferguson     In the final portion of the Book of Isaiah, a dramatic shift occurs. No longer is it the book about condemnation for Judah’s and Israel’s rebellion, chapters 40 through 66 of Isaiah are all about grace and salvation, and grace and salvation. Now, who’s going to bring this grace and salvation to the world? Who’s going to be the one to provide this deliverance? The answer is the Servant of the Lord, the Servant of the Lord. I say it twice because that’s how Isaiah says it. That’s how Jesus is designated here. The Hebrew word used is ebed, and it means slave or servant. It’s used many hundreds of times in the Old Testament. So what we have here from Isaiah is a prophetic Messianic reference to Jesus as the Slave of Jehovah, the Servant of Jehovah. He’s the One Who will bring salvation. He’s the One Who will bring us comfort. He’s the One Who will bring us the forgiveness of sins. He’s the One Who becomes the theme of this final section of the Book of Isaiah.     Now let’s go to chapter 53 for a moment, with just that kind of broad picture. And you will find in verses 13 of 52, “Behold My Servant, Behold My Servant,” My ebed, My Slave. This is the same designation that has been indicated much earlier in this section of the Book of Isaiah. This is the fourth of specific prophecies regarding this Servant to come. Chapter 42 is one, chapter 49 is another, and chapter 50 verses 4 to 11 is the third. This here is the fourth of what we would call Isaiah’s Servant songs, or Servant prophecies.     Now in this presentation of the Servant before us, the Prophet calls on us to look at this Servant and be astonished. This is the most complete, most powerful, and most important revelation of the Messiah in the entire Old Testament, right here in front of us in Isaiah.     In Isaiah 53, we read of the Suffering Servant to come. “All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way. But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He didn’t open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and as for His generation, who consider that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of My people to whom the stroke was due. His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief.”     May God bless you in the knowledge that His Servant died for you! May this knowledge grant you further peace in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life eternally in Heaven!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Redeemed

By David R. Ferguson

    Isaiah 43:1 tells us that we are redeemed, for God has redeemed us. Literally, this means God has purchased us and set us free. That’s what it means to be redeemed in this case, to be set free.

    Just as God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, and set them free, God has rescued us. Our baptisms teach us that in a very powerful way. The water overwhelming us in baptism reminds us of God’s people journeying to freedom through the Red Sea as a cloud of water overhead completely enveloped them in water, and years later they entered the Promised Land by crossing the River Jordan, the very same river in which Jesus Himself centuries later was baptized.

    Our baptism sets us free, but free from what? Well, what do we need to set free from? We’re set free from sin, death, and the Devil. But what would you say? How might you answer this today? What do you need to be set free from personally?

    Let me ask it a little differently: What keeps you up at night? What do you worry about, and just can’t seem to stop? Maybe that’s what God wants to set you free from – free from those things that keep you up at night. Just remind yourself that God’s got this. Turn your worries into prayers and be at peace.

    Or, let me ask it another way: Where in your life do you feel stuck, or maybe even trapped? Where in your life are you coming up short in how you want to live? God also wants to free you from whatever is causing you pain and anxiety. He won’t force you, but He wants to help you.

    God wants to set us free, and He has sent His Son into this world to bear our sins and to show us how to live. And our baptism into Jesus Christ set us free from our sin and from whatever is separating us from God’s love.

    Do not fear. In other words, cast away your fear and realize that God has redeemed you, God has purchased you, God has adopted you, God has made you a joint heir with His one and only begotten Son, and that God has set you free. Live in the truth and the promise of that freedom, and live free from fear and worry and anxiety that plague your heart. Trust God. And trust in God’s promise to you. There is nothing more freeing than letting go and letting God be the Source of all true joy and happiness in your life, not only now, but throughout eternity as well!

    May the Lord bless you in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

By David R. Ferguson

     In Hebrews 13:8, the writer says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." What’s significant about these three time periods the Holy Spirit instructed to be written: Yesterday, today and forever? Why does it matter that the Jesus Christ of today remains the same as the Jesus Christ of yesterday and the time to come?

    Yesterday is significant because it’s crucial that Jesus Christ be the same yesterday as He is today, because yesterday was when Jesus Christ showed us historically what He’s really like. The significance of Today is that it’s crucial that Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday, because today is when those of us who are His can have fellowship with Him. It’s how we relate to Him as the person we know by reading about His life and work He accomplished yesterday. Forever’s significance stems from it being absolutely crucial that Jesus Christ remains the same tomorrow and forever as He was yesterday and today, because all our hope for everlasting life and joy with Him hangs ultimately on us being able to relate to Him unceasingly.

    Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. What once was true about Christ always will be true about Christ, so we don’t need or want new doctrine. And what was once satisfying about Christ will always be satisfying about Christ, so we don’t need or want money as the means to lasting happiness. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever – the same truth and the same treasure. He’s also promised to save us. This promise is clear, and it’s also part of what makes Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. Paul wrote in Romans 10:13, "for, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." When a lost sinner comes to Jesus through obedient, saving faith, he’s saved by grace and prepared for Heaven. This, too, is a promise that will never change! Therefore, don’t let the Devil play mind games with you. If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, as the Bible teaches, then you’re saved and going to Heaven. If not, then you need to be saved by doing what the word of God tells us. Receive Him on His terms and be free by having your sins washed away in the watery grave of baptism today. Then you, as did the Apostle Paul, can have the same assurance to say, "For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Since He’s the same, He’ll never lose His saving power! As the Hebrews writer states in Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them."

    May the Lord bless you in knowing that Jesus is the way of life to life!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Christ in Genesis—The Creation of Man

By Ron Bartanen        The creation of man originated in the mind of God.  It would begin with the creation of “the heavens and the earth, and the preparation of a paradise for man’s habitation, a bountiful garden, the garden of Eden, to be available for man’s food supply.  It would not be accomplished through thousands of years of  unimaginable evolution, but through six evenings and mornings, each, followed by a “day of rest”, thus establishing a period of time we know of as a week, as described in Gen. 1:1 to 2:25.   The pre-flood diet for humanity was vegetarian, consisting of the fruit of the garden (1;29-30).  Everything was in readiness then for humanity.      With the garden in readiness for human occupation, Adam was physically formed from the “dust of the earth” (2:7)”.  However, man was unique from the animals. And said to be “in the image of God” (1:26).  God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”  Unlike the life of the animal-creation, man’s life is sacred in origin—the breath of the Creator.  It is thus described to Noah following the great flood: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man” (9:6).  The penalty established by God for murder is rightly the murderer’s surrender of his own life.       The sacredness of human life should also be recognized in the taking of a human infant’s life in the process of abortion, and be perceived as willful murder.  From the moment of conception in a mother’s womb, a human baby is a human baby, made “in the image of God.”     The account of the creation of man requires the recognition of Adam’s wife, Eve, the “mother of all living.”  “Male and female created He them” (1:27b; 2:18-24).  As is often noted, Adam’s wife was a part of himself—not of his head that she would rule over him, nor of his feet that he should walk over her, but from his side, nearest to his heart, that he might love her—a covenant of marital unity and loyalty.  The apostle Paul compared the love and unity of husband and wife to the love and unity designed in our relationship with Christ in Ephesians 5:22-35.       The attachment of Eve to Adam is seen in the fact that she was not taken from the “dust of the ground” as was Adam, but from what the King James version calls his rib (1:21),  I read that the word translated rib is “tzela”, which in Exodus 25:12-14 and 26:20 is translated as “side,” not “rib”.  Adam’s side was opened in the process of providing for him a wife.  It is interesting that this would fit this as a prophetic picture of the opening of the side of Jesus, whose side was pierced (John 19:24) to purchase His church “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).       As Adam in Genesis is seen as the head of the human race, Jesus is portrayed by Paul as the head of the church—the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 5:23).  In 1st Corinthians 15 he goes into more detail, likening Christ to Adam in the context of describing our resurrection.  He refers to Christ as the second Adam, declaring, “The first man, Adam, was made a living soul: the last Adam was made a quickening spirit…. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (vs. 15, 17),  He expresses our hope in Christ to be raised from the dead, wherein our corruptible bodies will “put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality” (v. 23).  In verse 22 he adds, “As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive.”      We can see Gen. 2:23-25 as the first marriage as so-defined by God as the marriage of one man (male) and one woman (female—the “one flesh” in the bond of marriage.  That’s God’s definition.       Man is the crown of God’s creation, but this is especially seen in Christ, the “Son of man” as well as the “Son of God.”   I’d suggest the reading of Hebrews 2, but especially verses 6 to 9, where Christ is portrayed as being made at His first coming “a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, (yet) crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (v. 9).

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

Luck and Salvation

By David Bragg
    Do you feel lucky? Arthur Priest was. Arthur worked below deck throwing coal into a steam boiler of steam-powered ships. Consider these benchmarks of his career:• In 1908 he survived the wreck of the Asturias. • In 1911 he survived the collision of the Olympic with the HMS Hawk. • In 1912 he survived the Titanic.• In 1916, during WWI, he survived sinking of the Alcantra and the Brittanic.• In 1917 he survived the torpedoing of the HMHS Donegal. His name was so closely tied to these “lucky” escapes that ship owners didn’t want to hire him, workers didn’t want to work with the “lucky” Arthur Priest (https://afrinik.com/).    As David penned the 68th psalm, he sings that God’s name is exclusively tied to salvation. Look closely to verse 20: “Our God is the God of salvation.” We see that same God working out a salvation of which David could only dream: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).     Salvation is not based on chance. It is not luck, such as Arthur Priest. Salvation is Jesus Christ. He alone can guide us through the unavoidable valley of death.

- David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/ If you are in the Greensboro, NC area, please join us for worship: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

A Soldiers' Spear

By David Bragg     Fantasy? Legend? The apocryphal “Gospel of Nicodemus,” written hundreds of years after the New Testament closed, sought to “fill in” the gaps in the inspired Gospels to satisfy people’s insatiable curiosity. It is there that we first encounter Dismas and Gestas, the two thieves crucified with Jesus, and Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus’ side. Even there, no names are assigned to the soldiers who hammered the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet.     The problem is that all this unwarranted speculation serves as a distraction to what is REALLY important. It is not the names of these criminals and soldiers that matters; else the inspired writers would have “filled in the gaps” for us. What is crucial is the fact that David prophesied that Jesus would be pierced 10 centuries before Christ was born (Psalm 22:16), and that John witnessed them as they were being fulfilled. And the REAL key, that Jesus indeed died on the cross, for the very ones who nailed Him there!     Why did Jesus die on the cross? For the sins of the world. Who nailed Him there? We did!

- David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/ If you are in the Greensboro, NC area, please join us for worship: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

Willing Spirit, Weak Flesh

By David Bragg
    In the late 1800’s, the race to reach the North Pole was intense. Explorers experimented with every available means of transportation in this quest. S. A. Andrée, a Swedish engineer, made his attempt in 1897, choosing to travel on a massive hydrogen balloon. Confident of success, Andrée even packed a tuxedo, fully expecting to attend numerous victory celebrations held in his honor.    Andrée never made it to the North Pole. After his departure his body was not discovered until 1930—33 years later. The anticipated celebrations never happened. His tuxedo, never worn, ended up preserved in a museum, a somber reminder of the expedition’s tragic outcome and unrealized dreams.    You remember that night as Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, struggling with the menacing challenge looming before Him. You can hear His plea to the Father, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). Don’t you rejoice this morning that the weakness of His flesh did not overcome the will of His spirit? Unlike Andrée’s celebration that never came, we have eternity to share in Jesus’ victory.

- David Bragg is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/ If you are in the Greensboro, NC area, please join us for worship: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about

Like a Fish Out of Water

By Glen Elliott       Every creature has an element in which it thrives. What is an ideal environment for one may not be for another (cf. Prov. 30:19). When we are uncomfortable in a particular environment, we feel like a fish out of water.     God is our ideal environment. He is the Giver of "every good and perfect gift" (Jas. 1:17). He created the world and set us in the beautiful, life-sustaining Garden of Eden to walk in sweet fellowship with Him. Sin interrupted our fellowship with God and brought death into the world (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:24; Rm. 5:12). What Satan touted as most desirable proved, instead, to be most uncomfortable. Instead of walking with God in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hid themselves from Him. The presence of sin caused them to feel like a fish out of water in the presence of God.     But God set into motion His redemptive plan through which our Savior and Redeemer would recreate an environment in which reconciliation with God could become a present reality (Gen. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:19). In Christ "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses..." (Eph. 1:7). Jesus makes us comfortable in the presence of the Father because He has taken care of the problem of sin. We no longer feel like a fish out of water, but part of His family.     As we walk in the light of His word, we are recipients of "all spiritual blessings" and in Him, the perfect environment for living a full and abundant life (1 Jn. 1:7; Eph. 1:3; Jn. 10:10). In His presence, we no longer feel like a fish out of water; but as one who has found his or her ideal environment. As Paul so beautifully expressed it: "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Ph. 1:21).     Apart from Jesus, we are "without God" in this world (Eph. 2:12). In Christ, we have strong hope for life everlasting (Hb. 6:19; Tit. 1:2). In Him, there is life (1 Jn. 5:11-12). This is where we belong. This is why our loving Creator sent His Son into the world to pay the price for our sins (Jn. 3:16). By His grace, we belong in His presence and look forward to our journey to our eternal home where we will abide in the light of His glory forever (Jn. 14:1-3; Rev. 22:5).

- Glen Elliott preaches for the Greenbrier church of Christ in Greenbrier, AR. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://www.gbcofc.com/

At the Perfect Time

By Andrew Beasley     Have you ever heard someone refer to a newborn baby as being perfect? The sentiment is understandable. Newborns are precious, innocent creatures who have yet to be jaded or corrupted by the world. Unfortunately, every person eventually loses that quality even ones parents continue to call them their perfect child. That is one of the distinguishing features between every human conceived by two human parents that is born into this world if they are blessed to live long enough to reach adulthood and accountability and Jesus of Nazareth.      John tells us that God loved the world to such a degree that He gave His only begotten, or some translations say unique, Son. Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, is the truly perfect son of God in that He is like God. He is Deity and cannot coexist with sin or darkness. But Jesus is not perfect simply because He is fully, one hundred percent God. But also, because He was fully, one hundred percent human and yet did not sin (Heb. 4:15). This makes Him our perfect mediator, intercessor and high priest. He is perfect in means of completion, being completely what humanity needed but also perfect in sense of quality in that He was pure, unblemished and spotless throughout His life.      Jesus of Nazareth, the perfect Son of God born in a little town of Bethlehem, a place that had been prepared for that moment.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

The Perfect Son

By Andrew Beasley     Was Jesus born on December 25th? Judging by what the Bible tells us we cannot definitively know when Jesus was born, but the details suggest late spring or early summer (Luke 2:8). Even then, we cannot know the exact date of Christ’s birth. Does that mean it should not be celebrated? We know that Jesus has made it clear how He wants us to remember Him and we have the privilege of participating in that memorial remembrance of Him every single Sunday (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Because he expressly commanded this to be done, we must do so. But that does not mean that celebrating His birth is something that we should not do.      Jesus, humbling Himself, took on the form of a man and fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6. Matthew makes it clear that this moment in time is the one the world had been waiting for when He says this is that which the prophet Isaiah spoke of (Matthew 3:3). Jesus of Nazareth would go on to be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins that we needed. He would become our intercessor, our mediator and our great high priest among other things.      So, as the world centers its mind on the fact that the perfect Son came into this world at the perfect time in a place that God had prepared, let us not denigrate them for doing so.      Instead, let us rejoice that this baby boy that Mary gave birth to was, indeed, God with us. Even if he wasn’t born on December 25th.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

One Lord

By Clifton Angel     What comes to your mind when you hear the word "Lord?" To some, it may just be another vain word in their vocabulary used to show amazement, surprise, or disbelief. To some, it may be an endearing description of God and Jesus that causes them to have comfort. How often, though, when you hear the word "Lord," do you think of a master to whom you have submitted completely the control of your life?     I want us to consider that in a world where there is only one true Lord (Ephesians 4:5), multitudes of people are submitting to "many other" lords. According to one dictionary, "lord" is defined as "someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler." The Apostle Peter wrote, "Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord" (1 3:15, ASV). This means in our minds, the only Lord over our lives, thoughts, actions, and words should be Jesus Christ. But how often is that true?     Is it possible that some have sanctified in their hearts family members as "lords" more than Jesus? Looking back a couple articles ago, I urged us to see the Scriptural fact that there is one church. Yet, how often do individuals choose their assembly of worship, not on what the Scriptures say, but on where their family attends? Or, how often will individuals continuously skip worship and Bible class assemblies because they have to tend to their families? (Note: I know there are very special occasions where it is the case that one has to care for another who cannot care for himself/herself; I am speaking of occasions when we choose family over Jesus).      Is it possible that some have sanctified in their hearts hobbies as "lords" more than Jesus? For example, it's Sunday morning, and instead of getting dressed for worship, many are getting dressed for the deer stands. It's Sunday morning, and instead of gearing up for Bible class, many are gearing up for a day at the lake. It's Sunday, and instead of focusing on worshipping God and giving Him our all, we're still thinking about our college's game the day before and what will be the new rankings.      Is it possible that some have sanctified in their hearts riches as "lords" more than Jesus? In their minds, it is only the accumulation of riches which will satisfy their souls (Ironically, they will find this not to be the case even if they become very wealthy). And so, the accumulation of riches—whether it be money or possessions—is what controls these persons' thoughts, actions, and words.      Who or what is your "Lord" or "lord?" Paul said there is "one Lord" (Ephesians 4:5), and Peter urged, "Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord" (1 Peter 3:15). Is Jesus your motivation for living? Is He the reason you choose the words you choose? Is He the reason you do the things you do?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Christ Has Risen

Andrew Beasley
    Many people have struggled with having faith in what they have read in Scripture. Some may struggle when they find the Bible teaches principles that are contrary to what they had been led to understand it did. Others struggle because they are unable to witness the events of the Bible with their own eyes. We have all encountered faith challenged people. Maybe at some point in our own lives we have been challenged in our faith ourselves.    It is a blessing that God does not call us to believe without evidence (Hebrews 11:1). As the world celebrates the Easter holiday today, and many have the resurrection of Christ on their minds, it is important to acknowledge that we are not simply expected to believe Christ is risen without evidence. After His resurrection, Jesus appears to several witnesses (even a group of 500 at one point). How do we know this? Through the eyewitness testimony recorded in the Gospel accounts of His life.    Paul makes the case for the consequences if Christ is not risen (1 Cor. 15:14-19) but concludes by saying “but, in fact, Christ has been raised” (1 Cor. 15:20). And so we celebrate not just this Easter Sunday but every week that our Lord is risen, and our faith is strengthened knowing that we do not believe this blindly but that evidence supports this truth.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

Those Whom Jesus Loves: Betrayers

By Andrew Beasley
    The problem of evil is one of many challenging subjects that humanity, especially those who believe in God, must wrestle with. It is frequently referenced by unbelievers as proof of why God cannot exist as they assert that a loving God would not allow evil to exist. However, studying God’s word will reveal to us that the problem of evil is addressed by God directly. In one instance in the Gospel of Luke, our Lord instructs those who are listening to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Lk. 6:27-28). In the Beatitudes Jesus teaches that we should be happy when we are persecuted, reviled and spoken negatively of for the cause of Christ because those who came before us were also persecuted, and the reward for enduring is great (Matt. 5:11-12).    One of the greatest acts of evil against Christ occurs by the hands of one of His closest friends, Judas Iscariot. We are familiar with the account of Christ’s betrayal to a similar degree that we are familiar with the crucifixion of Christ. The work on the cross was accomplished as much for Judas as it was for each of us. So, it seems that the problem of evil and how to address it has already been shown by Christ. Face it, handle it, and conquer it with love.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

Jesus Our Temple

By Jared Green     For centuries, the temple had been the hub of the Jewish religion. The temple served as God's dwelling place, the center for worship, and the place where atoning sacrifices were made. The temple even played a vital role in the life and ministry of Jesus. Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's forerunner, in the temple (Luke 1:11-20). It was in the temple that Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God for the coming salvation found in Jesus (Luke 2:29-32). It was in the temple that twelve-year-old Jesus said to his parents, "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49). It was at the pinnacle of the temple that Satan tempted Jesus (Luke 4:9). As Jesus began what we call Passion Week in Luke 20-21, we find Jesus using the temple as his own pulpit.     As integral as the temple had been, however, Jesus' death and resurrection changed everything. In fact, Jesus prophesied this coming change when he said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). While Jesus' audience could only think of the actual temple, we know that Jesus was speaking about himself. And the rest of Scripture agrees. In Revelation 21 :22, John said, "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." For Christians, Jesus is our temple!     Jesus is the presence of God. "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1 :3a).     Jesus is our access to the Father. "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2: 18).     Jesus is our atoning sacrifice. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).     Jesus is our mediator. "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).     Thanks be to God for his plan to send the Son to this earth, and thanks be to God for the salvation that is found in him. God loves you, and so do I.

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

There's Something Fishy About Jesus!

By Edd Sterchi   No, I have not renounced my belief concerning Jesus. I believe He is what the Bible has revealed about Him. He is God (John 10:30) who came to the earth in the flesh (Rom. 8:23). As God He is eternal (Heb. 13:8) and yet, made Himself subject to temporal limitations and temptations, and never sinned (Heb. 4:15). Thus, He could become our perfect sacrifice, bearing our sins on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). And we can be saved by contacting His blood through baptism (Rom. 6:3-5) and, after that, have continual contact through faithful living (1 John 1:7).   Having said all of that, I still think there is still something “fishy” about Jesus. Let me tell you what I mean. As early as the second century, Christians developed an acrostic from the Greek word for “fish.” Each letter was the beginning of the words of the phrase, “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” It was used to mark meeting places of the church during times of persecution. It also became a symbol of a professed believer of Jesus as the Christ and remains so to this day. Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the Savior of mankind! Have you “caught” Him?

- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/

"We Have A Law"

By Jim Faughn
    During the time devoted to the Lord’s supper during our worship service each week, I have made it a practice to read something that keeps my mind focused on the unjust trials and the crucifixion of Jesus. Sometimes the material that I read is from a book of devotional thoughts I have downloaded on my iPad. Those thoughts are focused on those events. Most of the time, though, I am reading about those events from one of the gospel accounts.     Recently, as I was reading from the Gospel of John, some words caught my attention. I had read them many times before, but they made more of an impact this time than they had previously.    The material I was reading was from the nineteenth chapter of John. You may remember that Pilate informed the Jewish leaders about the fact that he could find “no fault/guilt” in Jesus and told the Jewish leaders to crucify Jesus (v. 6).    It was at this point that…The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law,he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” (John 19:7)As I read those words recently, I thought of an application that I’d never thought of before. If my understanding of any scripture (or law) and/or any interpretation of the same keeps me from seeing Jesus, that understanding needs to be reexamined and either corrected or rejected.    It is interesting that, in another discussion with Jewish leaders, Jesus said…
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39-40)It seems to be fashionable today for people to concentrate on the person/personality of Jesus and have little regard for the text of Scripture. The rebuttal to that approach, at least in my view, is not to exalt the written word over the One who is identified as “the Word” (John 1:1). Instead, we would be better advised to remember that Peter told Jesus, “…You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).    It might also be helpful to remember that this same apostle, John, was inspired to write these words later in his account of the gospel:Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples , which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)    We need to make sure we do not divorce the text of the Bible from Jesus. To err in either direction is a serious mistake.

- Jim Faughn serves as and elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. Be sure to visit the following for more great articles: Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org

Jesus the Divider

By David R. Ferguson "Do not think that I came to bring peace on Earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to `set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' And `a man's foes will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:34-38)     Jesus was no trumpeter for politically correct thought or speech. He didn’t hesitate to draw a line in the sand, so to speak, and stated resolutely, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matthew 12:30). It’s only through our acceptance of Him as our Savior that we have any chance of coming to the Father. And if we aren’t with the Father, then come Judgment Day we will be cast into outer darkness where "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13:28).     Jesus also had no problem saying, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). Additionally, He said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).     With Jesus we know that we can find the way (the way: a well-worn path) through the narrow gate unto eternal life, for it is found in Christ Himself: "I am THE WAY, (emphasis mine) the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6b). Jesus didn’t say He was one of the ways, or one of many ways. Neither did He say, "Let's just agree to disagree." On the contrary, He was very exclusive in His statement. Once again, Jesus was no poster child for political correctness! And when it comes to matters of doctrine involving lost souls, we must do no less than Jesus and hold fast to "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3b). For in doing so we will be able to hear the following words on that great day, “Well done, good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:31).     May we have the courage to divide from the world and become united with Christ!     May the Lord bless you!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

It is Finished

By Bill Brandstatter
    The statement “It is finished” is considered by many to be one of final statements of Jesus as He hung on Calvary’s cross. What did Jesus mean when he referred to “it?” No doubt he was referring to the work the Father gave Him to do. (John 9:4) Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Obviously, all the lost were not yet saved when Jesus died. The process for saving them, however, was finished. Jesus put in motion the preaching of the gospel. He gave the Great Commission to His disciples so men could know what to do to be saved (Mark 16:15, 16). He shed His blood to open the door to heaven for Jew and Gentile alike.    Jesus also came that all men might have life (John 10:10). John tells us that “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) Jesus opened the door of life for all those who obey Him (Heb.5:9).     Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He most definitely did that when he drove out demons from men (Mark. 5:1-20).    Jesus came to set up His church. He laid the foundation (Eph. 2:20). He gave his apostles the entrance requirements and sent them out to preach. All this was done in order to finish the work the Father gave Him to do. (John 17:4)    “It is finished” shows authority.  To say “it is finished” is to say no additions are necessary. When man attempts to add, change, or modify the work of Jesus, he is denying the authority of that statement. God’s work of redemption is done, it is completed.    Peter noted that we have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, nothing more is needed. The plan of salvation is complete. Many today have yet to obey (Rom. 10:16). The old song we sometimes sing says, “Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.” Does that song apply to you? Is your salvation complete? What more must you do?     

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

Make It Relevant

By Bill Brandstatter     The cry among many believers today is "make it relevant." They want the worship services relevant to the way society is today. They want the preaching to relate to societal problems. Is the preaching relevant? Do we have to change our worship and our preaching to meet the needs of today's culture?     Let us answer these questions with a few observations. What could be more relevant to an immoral, ungodly, humanistic society in which we live than Jesus Christ and Him crucified? The message of the cross must have related to the society of Paul's day. In some ways it was even worse than today’s society. Paul stated regarding his preaching: “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16) Was Paul's preaching relevant? On another occasion Paul stated: "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Gal. 1 :10) Paul condemned just preaching what men wanted to hear. He also indicated he was in trouble if in that immoral, ungodly Corinth he did not preach the gospel?     When Paul preached the gospel what did he preach? Paul was first of all consistent in what he preached. A preacher who changes with the wind is not what God wants. Notice what Paul said about himself: "For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." (1 Cor. 4:17) Notice Paul's consistency in teaching everywhere in every church. This is also indicated in 1 Cor. 7: 17: "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so, I ordain in all the churches." Again notice "in all churches." Paul's message was the same everywhere he went.     We know some of what Paul taught. In Acts 19 he taught the brethren their baptism was wrong. They then obeyed the gospel. Was his preaching relevant? Was it fulfilling the needs of that day? To the church at Corinth Paul preached and "many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized." (Acts 18:8) Did Paul preach what was relevant?     What could be more needed or more relevant today than the good news or gospel of Jesus Christ? To cure loneliness, we need Christ. To help broken homes, we need Christ. To help failing marriages, we need Christ. To stop murder, suicide, etc. we need Christ, not a social gospel, not a felt needs message. We need Christ. If all individuals go to worship for is to be entertained, they are going for the wrong reason. We should go to be edified and built up in the Christian faith. This will help us to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph. 6:11) If we are after entertainment, there are a lot of places to go. If we want to be built up spiritually, we need to worship God. The worship needs to be such as pleases Him. If worship is decently and in order and not spontaneous and unexpected God will be pleased (John 4:23,24;1 Cor. 14:33). If Christ is preached and the gospel taught, the message will be relevant. If this occurs Christians should be strengthened and made stronger as a result.

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

To Face Him

By David Sargent     Basketball fans will recognize the name Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game.     On one occasion, Jordan returned to his beloved alma mater, the University of North Carolina, to watch a ball game. Arriving at the gymnasium with a friend, they noticed that the parking lot was full. The friend suggested that Jordan park his car in an empty spot reserved for those with handicaps.     Jordan refused the friend's suggestion and said, "Oh no, I couldn't do that. If Coach Smith (the UNC basketball coach) ever knew I parked in a handicapped parking zone, I wouldn't be able to face him."     Commenting on Jordan’s words and actions, Neil Richey writes: “We all have people in our lives that, when thinking of making a decision we ask, ‘What would so and so think if they found out?’  We want their respect so much that we manage our behavior so as not to let certain individuals down.” *     Consider facing God in judgment…  Recognize that He is omniscient: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight; everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:13     Because of our sin, we can’t “face” Him and expect Him to bless us because of our own righteousness.     Because of our sin, the holy God cannot “look” upon us with divine favor.   Habakkuk the prophet said of God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness” (1:13).  Isaiah said, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” – Isaiah 59:1-2     The only Way that we can “face” God in judgment is to be clothed with Christ.     God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we might be reconciled to Him (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21).  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21     In Christ, we can “face” God and receive His favor, but not because of our own personal righteousness – because compared to His holiness, our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  In Christ, we can “face” God and receive His favor because when He looks upon us, He sees the righteousness of Christ, because the blood of Jesus cleanses the sins of one who is found in Christ.     To be found “in Christ,” one must place his faith and trust in Christ (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ,” wrote Paul to the Christians in Galatia.  Then, as one continues to “walk in the light” of God’s Word, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse him from sin (1 John 1:7).     As hard as we may try, we can’t face God in judgment thinking that we can earn our way into His grace.  But because of Jesus, we CAN  face God and receive His grace.  Because of His mercy and His grace, it should be our greatest desire to live the rest of our days in humble, grateful, and trusting obedience, never wanting to “let Him down.”     Won’t YOU place your trust “in Christ” for your salvation by doing His will today?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org