TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 3:1-19; Luke 4:1-13
We have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. - Hebrews 4:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bumper stickers and T-shirts offer insights into much of popular theology. Consider the view of God revealed in the bumper sticker that reads: “When you do a good deed, get a receipt in case heaven is like the IRS!” Or consider T-shirts that say, “The devil made me do it.” No doubt people think this is a cute joke, but unfortunately it points to humanity's darkest moment.

For the past few days, we've seen how God's intentions for humanity are fulfilled in Jesus, the perfect human being. Today we'll see how Jesus demonstrates perfect trust in God's goodness, especially when that goodness is challenged by Satan.

We begin by looking at the first human encounter with the Devil in Genesis 3. Notice how Satan begins by raising doubt—“Did God really say . . .” He then tempts Eve by suggesting that God is motivated by selfishness, not goodness. She herself notices apparent benefits of the fruit (v. 6). But instead of blessing and wisdom, the fruit brings forth punishment and shame. Adam and Eve's failure provides the background for Jesus' temptation by Satan. Luke 3 ends by linking Jesus back to Adam, thereby setting the stage for the perfect human being to do what the first human beings could not do.

Once again, Satan begins by casting doubt on God's ability to provide. Rather than a lush garden, however, Jesus faced Satan after forty days of fasting in the barren wilderness. This recalls the forty years that the wilderness generation wandered in the wilderness. Yet Jesus' quotation from Deuteronomy 8:2-3 shows that He succeeded exactly where Adam and Israel had failed.

The next temptation concerned power. Complete dominion legitimately belongs to Jesus, but only following His willing sacrifice on the cross. Satan's offer not only involved perverted worship, it also denied the cross. Finally, Satan challenged God's ability to protect Jesus by twisting Psalm 91, but Jesus rebuked him with a correct understanding of Deuteronomy 6:16.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Hebrews 4:15 offers tremendous encouragement in our daily struggle against sin. Although some people wrongly claim that Jesus wasn't really tempted by sin because He's God, Luke 4 and Hebrews 4 show that, in His humanity, Jesus felt the full impact of Satan's onslaught. Unlike Adam, the nation Israel, or any other human being, Jesus resisted this attack. Thus we should never doubt that Jesus understands what we're going through. Instead we can be confident that we'll find help and grace in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:12-21; Colossians 3:5-11
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. - 1 Corinthians 15:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
The term genetics was first used publicly in 1906. Since then, scientists have discovered that genetic traits are located within the chemical structure of DNA molecules. Scientists have also been able to isolate specific genes responsible for particular diseases or cancers.

Even before the discovery of genes, however, humans long understood that certain traits were passed from one generation to the next. And although green eyes or shortness may be specific to certain human populations, Scripture shows us that sin has been passed to all humans from our common ancestor, Adam. This is Paul's point in Romans 5. Lest anyone think that sin only resulted from breaking God's Law, Paul shows that sin entered the world with Adam, long before Moses received the Law.

Paul then draws a parallel between Adam, the first human being, and Jesus, the perfect human being. Just as Adam was the head of fallen humanity that fell into sin, so also Jesus is the head of redeemed humanity that flows with eternal life. This distinction forms the backdrop for today's passage from Colossians.

Here Paul begins by exhorting the Colossians to live their lives in accordance with their true nature. The first list of sins (v. 5) concerns an improper use of one's body. Such sins are characterized by an insatiable desire for more, which is idolatry. The second list of sins (v. 8 ) concerns destructive speech. Because believers have a new nature in Christ (v. 9), they are to reject these aspects of their former lifestyles.

It's easy to read this passage in terms of what it means individually, but the Greek verbs here are plural. Thus the “old self” and “new self” describe the new humanity being created in Christ, although this also describes what's true individually for believers. This helps us understand why Paul explains the “image” that is being renewed (v. 10) in terms of redeemed humanity where the old barriers that separate human beings no longer exist (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The plural verbs in Colossians 3 have profound implications for what it means to be part of the body of Christ. Let's consider the second sin list (v. 8 ) again—each sin listed divides the body of Christ in some way. The most destructive sin in this regard is lying (v. 9) because it directly opposes the Spirit of Truth that dwells within believers. As you worship with other believers today, ask yourself if your words tear down or build up others within the body.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 2:20-25; Ephesians 5:22-32
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ. - 2 Corinthians 11:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to the Fairchild Bridal Group, publishers of leading U.S. bridal magazines, the average American wedding costs $27,852 for 165 guests! Couples spend an average of 14 months planning for this big event. Overall, weddings are a $125 billion industry. While it's right to celebrate this joyous occasion, focusing on just one day may overshadow the actual marriage. A biblical understanding of marriage, however, shows that the union between a man and woman points back to God's original purposes for humanity and forward to His intentions for eternity. For the past few days, we've been considering how Adam the first human anticipates Jesus Christ the perfect human. We conclude today by looking at marriage.

The fact that Adam and Eve were created last shows the key place that humanity has in relationship to all creation. Notice that Adam is given the task of naming the animal kingdom. This not only stresses human dominion, but it also shows Adam's need for a true companion. Adam's inability to provide this for himself is seen by the fact that he slept while God fashioned Eve. Thus the gift of male and female united as one completely depends upon God. Moreover, this first union pictures the community that God intends for all humanity—united with each other and with God in a loyal, permanent commitment of love.

The language of being united that's found in Genesis 2:24 later expresses Israel's relationship with God (see Deut. 10:20; 13:4). The book of Hosea develops this relationship, but the love that God has for His people comes to its fullest expression in Christ's relationship with church.

Ephesians 5 shows that sacrificial love is central to both human marriage and Christ's relationship with His church. Notice that Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 in reference to this great mystery. Whether expressed by submitting one's will or by laying down one's life, human marriage is intended to portray the greater reality of Christ and the church.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The emphasis on big, expensive weddings can be difficult for those who've never been married or whose experience in marriage has been painful. That's why it's important to realize that all believers look forward to participating in a wedding. Take time this week to meditate on the great wedding feast of Christ depicted in Revelation 19:6-8 and 21:1-22:6. Note especially all the bridal images that are used to describe this glorious event. Then rejoice because you are being prepared for the greatest wedding ever known!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 1:1-17; 2 Samuel 7:11-16
I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. - Revelation 22:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
On September 6, 2006, a little boy was born in Japan. Of course many Japanese boys were born on that day, but a little boy named Hisahito made headlines around the world. After 40 years with no male heir to the throne, the world's oldest monarchy, existing for 2,600 years, received the news it longed for.

About 2,000 years ago, in a different part of the world, another baby boy was born, to a very little fanfare. This boy could also trace His royal ancestry back thousands of years.

We've already looked at Luke's record of Jesus' genealogy. There the focus was on Jesus' humanity, tracing Jesus' lineage back to the first human, Adam. Matthew's Gospel, however, focuses on Jesus' royal line. Notice how Matthew starts with a brief summary: Jesus is the Son of David, thus establishing His rightful claim to the throne. Jesus as the son of Abraham establishes Him as a Jew and the channel through whom the blessings promised to Abraham would now flow.

Notice also that the only women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy are four Gentiles: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. This is somewhat surprising because Matthew's Gospel is generally considered by scholars to be for a Jewish audience. The inclusion of these women, however, helps to show that good news of Jesus' birth is also good news for Gentiles, whose providential involvement helped to preserve God's royal line until its culmination in the birth of Jesus.

The link to David is especially important. For several reasons the Lord forbad David from building the temple. Instead, the Lord revealed that He would build a house, or eternal dynasty, for David. Today's passage from 2 Samuel 7 contains God's promise to David. King David was without question one of the world's greatest kings. Yet God promised that one of his descendents would be even greater (vv. 12-13) and the throne of this Promised Offspring would endure forever (v. 13).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
For the past several days, we've focused on Jesus' humanity. We hope these studies have shown Jesus' deep sympathy for our human frailty. Unfortunately, many people stop here: Jesus was a good human being but nothing more. But if Jesus weren't God, His crucifixion would be a horrible, pitiful tragedy. Instead, His death atoned for our sins and opened up eternal life, because He now sits at God's right hand. It's essential to affirm both Jesus' humanity and His deity, which will be our focus from here on.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 2:5-11; John 10:22-39
Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. - Romans 9:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
There's a Christmas card that shows famous rulers and dictators throughout history, such as Caesar Augustus, Nero, Napoleon, Hitler, and Stalin. The caption on the front of the card reads: “Many men have tried to become God . . .” The inside of the card shows a picture of the baby Jesus, with the caption, “. . . but only one God has become man.”

This card could have easily been sent with Paul's letter to the Philippians—one of the strongest statements of Christ's divinity in the New Testament. Although Christ's very nature is God, He did not seize that divine nature, but rather poured out His very being by taking on the nature of a servant. How utterly different from history's pretenders! For the early church, claims to divinity probably brought to mind the Roman Caesars, who often used their supposed divine status to oppress and demand servitude. Instead, the truly divine Jesus humbled Himself, even dying by shameful crucifixion.

Those who crucified Jesus believed that His claim to be God was blasphemy, as seen in today's passage from John 10. Although everything that Jesus said and did revealed His true messianic identity, hearts closed to Jesus could not hear His voice or understand the significance of His works (v. 32). Only His sheep can truly hear His voice.

Jesus' citation of Psalm 82:6 was intended to disprove the claim that the term God could only apply to the Father. Rather, this scripture showed that “God” could refer to others beside God the Father. So Jesus' claim is not blasphemy because Jesus is God as the Son, whereas His Father is God as the Father.

Certainly for any human to claim equality with God is blasphemy, unless that human being is actually divine. Only one human has ever been able to make such a claim truthfully. The glorious exaltation of Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11) reveals God's full vindication that this claim is absolute truth.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we noted yesterday, many are happy to say Jesus was a good man. But like the Jewish leaders in John 10, Jesus' claim to equality with God may go too far for some people. It's not popular today to claim that Jesus is really God or that He is the only way to God. How about you? Are you uncomfortable with these core claims of Christianity? It's our prayer that this month's study will give you a growing confidence that truth about Jesus Christ offers the only real hope for a fallen world.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 98; Matthew 14:13-36
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. - Job 9:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
At this point in December you're probably getting tired of the Christmas music that seems to have been playing everywhere for the past month! Is it really reasonable to expect that a human soul can endure “Jingle Bells” or “Here Comes Santa Claus” several times a day for weeks on end? But don't let this barrage keep you from appreciating the many wonderful songs that celebrate this Advent season. Consider, for example, the classic “Joy to the World! The Lord has come; Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.”

The famed English hymn writer Isaac Watts based this carol on Psalm 98. It's not known what occasion in Israel's history prompted this psalm, but it's clear that the psalmist celebrates God's great faithfulness and victory. The first three verses celebrate the marvelous truth that God's faithfulness to His people reveals His saving power to the entire world (v. 3). Based on God's enduring goodness, the psalmist exhorts the entire world to worship God (vv. 4-6). The psalm concludes by praising the Lord for His coming judgment.

The idea of the created world joining in the worship of the Lord (vv. 7-8) might seem a bit odd to us, but it reminds us that the Lord is the rightful ruler over all creation. It's fitting for all the created order to praise Him as well as to obey Him, as today's passage from Matthew shows.

The story of Jesus walking on the water follows the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matt. 14:13-21). Both events show that Jesus is God because only God has complete control over the created world. Only God can transform five loaves and two fish into enough food for well over ten thousand people (factoring in women and children; see v. 21). Only God can calm the waves and walk on water. Only God can heal countless people (v. 36).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage from Matthew also shows that Jesus cares deeply for hungry, fearful, disease-stricken people. It's easy during Christmas to think that everything has to be perfect, including ourselves. But maybe you're hungering for something more, or feeling fearful and overwhelmed by your circumstances, or battling some physical ailment. This Advent, let's remember that Jesus came not for the well, but the sick (Luke 5:31). Even during this season, He invites us to come to Him just as we are—hungry, fearful, and sick.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 8:27-30; 9:2-14
“Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” - Mark 8:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Boniface left England as a missionary for the lands now known as Germany, he found a mix of heretical Christianity (which denied the full deity of Christ), Gnosticism, and pagan worship. Forty years later, in 755, as he prepared to preach and baptize new converts along the Borne River, a group of pagan bandits attacked. When some in Boniface's party threatened violence, Boniface reportedly said, “Fear not those who kill the body but cannot kill the immortal soul . . . Receive with constancy this momentary blow of death, that you may live and reign with Christ forever.” Like other martyrs before him, and many who would follow, Boniface glimpsed Christ's eternal glory and was able to put the most horrifying circumstance in proper perspective.

Jesus may have also sensed that His closest disciples would need a glimpse of His future glory to endure the ordeals they were about to endure. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the Transfiguration and confirm that it occurred just after Peter's bold confession of Jesus as the Christ. The Gospels also show that Jesus was slow to reveal His true identity because of the many misconceptions concerning the Messiah. Even when His disciples understood His true identity, He warned them to be quiet, rightly fearing that people would hail a political messiah, but shun a deliverer from sin.

The revelation of His true glory on the high mountain (probably Mount Hermon) was meant to keep them steadfast in the weeks to come, when all they believed about Jesus would be severely tested. Thus they needed to know the Son of Man, the Messiah, would not only have to suffer many things, including death on a cross, but that He would also have unspeakable glory. Although the disciples appeared to be beside themselves with this vision of Jesus' true glory, the words from the cloud confirmed Peter's confession, namely that Jesus is the Son of God, the true Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
All believers need to focus on Jesus Christ to maintain proper perspective in the difficult trials of life. Even so, it's easy to get distracted and to lose focus. Perhaps you need a fresh glimpse of Jesus' glory. Take time this weekend to meditate on the vision of Jesus' resurrected glory in Revelation 1:9-20. Like the first disciples, we need a clear vision of Jesus' glory to keep our focus during trials and difficult times. This vision also previews the glory that awaits us, all because of Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 6:17-26
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. - Mark 8:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
The recent movie, The End of the Spear, is a moving testimony to the gospel's power. The film traces the events following the 1956 murder of five American missionaries when they established contact with the Waodani tribe (formerly called the Auca) in eastern Ecuador. Just a few years later, several widows of these five men returned to the jungle and continued to share the gospel, urging tribe members to stop their murderous violence. In 1994, after years of visits, the Waodani asked Steve Saint, son of martyred Nate Saint, to live with them.

It would have been understandable if none of the five widows ever chose to return to the Waodani. In fact, some probably questioned the wisdom of bringing young children, such as Valerie Elliot or Steve Saint, to such a dangerous place. Instead, these families reflect the kingdom of God in action.

For the next few days, we're going to look at Jesus' teaching about the kingdom of God. Today's passage parallels the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel. Both accounts focus on the high ethical and moral demands of the kingdom.

The first part of today's teaching presents a series of blessings for followers of Jesus. This teaching reflects four aspects of God's blessing. In many parts of the world, believers are indeed poor and physically hungry because they are persecuted as Christians. Thus the blessings promised here are especially comforting. But even apart from physical deprivation, many with relative affluence recognize their spiritual neediness, hunger for justice, weep for a fallen world, and are rejected because of their faith. The final promise is the same: we can rejoice over deprivation this side of heaven because we look forward to something much greater in heaven (v. 23). The woes here are the direct counterpart of the blessings. They caution against complacency and indifference that can accompany present abundance.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Every nation has certain expectations of its citizens. The same is true for God's kingdom and those whose “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). How well do you align with the kingdom's standards? For example, do you hunger for the things that God does and long to be satisfied with His mercy, justice, and goodness? If you have more time, look at Jesus' teaching on loving our enemies (Luke 6:27-36) and not judging others (Luke 6:37-42). If possible, work through these passages with your family or a friend.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 4:1-42
The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! - 1 Kings 8:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Four days after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, the Biloxi Sun Herald ran an article entitled, “Religion in Biloxi Takes a Blow from Katrina.” The story described several historic churches that had been damaged beyond repair. Despite the fact that much of his own church had been destroyed, Ken Nuss, music minister of the First Baptist Church of Biloxi, had the right perspective when he declared: “God is still on His throne.”

It's easy for people to forget that places of worship are not ultimately what matters. That's exactly what the woman in today's passage was about to find out. Sometime around 400 b.c., the Samaritans erected a temple on Mount Gerazim, near ancient Shechem (about 30 miles north of Jerusalem). Even though this temple was destroyed in 128 b.c., Samaritans in Jesus' day still considered Mount Gerazim the only place to worship.

It's understandable that Jesus would be thirsty when He and His disciples arrived in Sychar, after walking all morning in the hot sun. Longstanding suspicions between Jews and Samaritans would have only been compounded by the fact that Jesus, a man, asked a Samaritan woman for help. Her discomfort no doubt increased considerably when Jesus revealed a superhuman understanding of her less than honorable lifestyle. Her sudden eagerness to discuss religious questions may have been an effort to draw attention away from her own circumstances, but it no doubt also reflected legitimate concerns.

At one level, she clearly understood that Jesus was a special man of God (v. 19), but she was still looking to a place, not a person, for spiritual answers. Jesus then plainly revealed His true identity to her (v. 26). It's astounding that the Samaritans urged Jesus to stay two days with them. In this way, an entire village came to understand that true worship is not located in holy places, but rather in the Holy One.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Hurricane Katrina showed that destroyed church buildings didn't affect God's sovereignty or the reality of the body of Christ. Indeed, many congregations were among the first to respond to their communities' needs, despite the destruction of their church buildings. You may live far away, but the needs in the Gulf Coast are still enormous. Prayerfully consider how you can help, if you haven't done so already. Ask your pastor about opportunities to assist through your denomination or church.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 18:9-17
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. - John 3:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
The status of children throughout history has often been precarious. Consider the advice found in a letter from a government worker to his wife at home in the first century a.d.: “Let me tell you that we are still in Alexandria. I beg you to look after the child, and as soon as we get wages I will send you something. If it is a boy, let it alone. If it is a girl, throw it away.” In much of the ancient world, a person did not attain legal rights until adulthood. Indeed, in some places today, the legal status of children is essentially nonexistent.

This harsh reality makes Jesus' teaching on the kingdom in today's passage nothing less than shocking. We begin with parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Many people today may know that a humble heart is what God desires, but the fact that the Pharisee was at fault would have been unexpected to Jesus' audience. Pharisees were generally viewed as positive examples of piety. Notice that Jesus addressed this parable to those “who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else” (v. 9). Notice also that the Pharisee is not thankful for something that God has done, but rather his boastful assessment of himself! Thus Jesus uses this Pharisee to confront all who are spiritually arrogant.

In stark contrast is the tax collector, who can barely stand in God's presence. He's painfully aware of his own sin, and knows full well that his only hope is God's mercy. His profound humility provides the link to the episode concerning people bringing their babies to Jesus.

Unlike modern politicians who love to be photographed holding a baby, the disciples no doubt thought that Jesus was too great to be bothered and wanted to spare Him for “important people.” Yet Jesus valued little children not only because they were truly precious in His sight, but also because they taught an important lesson about the kingdom of God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our achievement-oriented culture it's easy to define our success in God's kingdom by worldly standards. Hence we might focus on big names that draw thousands of people, or we confuse material affluence with godly blessings. Seldom do we look at tiny babies utterly dependent on their mothers or at toddlers running into their fathers' arms when something scares them as a picture of how God wants us to be in our relationship with Him. The attitudes appropriate in the kingdom are humility and helplessness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 25:31-46
The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory . . . and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. - Matthew 16:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the town of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just across the U.S. border from Laredo, Texas, the murder rate has skyrocketed recently. Nearly all the murders are drug-related. Townspeople feel powerless to do anything because many officials are either controlled by drug lords or are too fearful to execute justice. Even where officials try to render justice, there is only one Person who will render judgment with perfect justice, and that is Jesus Christ at the final judgment.

As we conclude looking at Jesus' teaching on the kingdom, it's fitting to consider what He said about the final events at the end of history. Today's parable likens groups of people to sheep and goats. Both groups are evaluated according to their response to Jesus.

The parable opens with a vision of Jesus in exalted glory. As the nations gather before Him, He renders judgment. This affirms that Jesus is God, because the role of final judgment belongs to God alone.

There's much debate about whether this parable refers to treatment of the poor and needy in general or messengers of the gospel in particular. Although Jesus was deeply concerned about the disadvantaged, the connection between the least of these brothers and Jesus Himself (v. 40) suggests that He has in mind servants of the kingdom. We clearly know from the book of Acts that sharing the gospel led to physical deprivation and imprisonment. Later church history confirms the suffering that accompanied those who brought the gospel to the ends of the earth or even to their own people.

This parable teaches several important truths about the kingdom: first, physical hardship is part of our calling as gospel messengers. Second, people's response to the gospel has eternal consequences. Those who receive the gospel and its messengers enjoy a heavenly inheritance; those who reject the gospel and its messengers receive eternal damnation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Bible's teaching on the final judgment isn't popular in a time that condones just about any belief or behavior. This passage forces us to reconsider our commitment to the gospel and willingness to suffer for it. If you do not yet know Jesus as your Savior, this passage shows that there are eternal consequences for rejecting Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 4:23-25
He has sent me . . . to bestow on them . . . a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. - Isaiah 61:1, 3
TODAY IN THE WORD
The statistics are staggering: 42 million people worldwide are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, 30 million of which live in sub-Saharan Africa. One third of those infected are between 15 and 24 years old. In Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Swaziland, one in three people has HIV/AIDS. The situation seems hopeless, but caring believers are making a difference. Mission organizations and churches are ministering to tens of thousands of orphaned children, assisting relatives who care for them and establishing safe, well-run orphanages. New doors for the gospel are opening up as health-care workers “go to young people . . . and initiate conversations about AIDS that lead naturally to the gospel,” says Dr. Paul Hudson with SIM (Serving in Mission) International.

HIV/AIDS make many people uncomfortable, and they would prefer to ignore it. In Jesus' day, leprosy also made people uncomfortable, but rather than shy away from the afflicted, Jesus healed them and had compassion on them. In the process, many came to saving faith in Him.

This aspect of Jesus' ministry was anticipated in Isaiah 61. Here we see the promised ministry of the Lord's Spirit-filled Servant. Isaiah uses beautiful language and imagery to show God's compassionate heart for the downtrodden and oppressed!

In Jesus, we see Isaiah's prophecies lived out. Today's passage from Matthew provides a summary of Jesus' early ministry in Galilee, but it's representative of His entire public ministry. Although there were other miracle workers in Jesus' day (usually in it for personal gain), what sets Jesus' healing ministry apart is His concern for both the body and the spirit of individuals. In verse 23 we see that He preached the good news and healed every disease and sickness. The desperate condition of many people living in the first century is evident in the large crowds following Jesus wherever He went, driven by the universal human desire for wholeness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We can learn much from the balance between preaching the good news and meeting peoples' physical needs in Jesus' ministry. Recall from the November issue of Today in the Word that we have been created as both physical and spiritual beings. Thus an effective ministry must consider both aspects of humanity. If you're interested in finding out more about Christian response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, we recommend SIM Windows of HOPE for AIDS (www.SIM.org).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 8:26-39
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. - Luke 4:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his commentary on the Gospel of Luke, scholar Darrell Bock describes a friend who had struggled with drugs, had dropped out of school, and was alienated from his family. Despite attempts at rehabilitation, nothing worked. Then his friend was introduced to Jesus and his life completely changed. His psychiatrist was amazed and his family talked about the power of “religion.” But this man knew that the real power was Jesus, who had delivered him from Satan's grip. No wonder Bock's friend identified so much with the man we read about today.

The Gerasene man was also on a path of destruction and was cut off from society. Like Jesus' power in Bock's friend, here we see Jesus' complete authority over the demonic realm, even a vast number of demons—the name Legion indicates several thousand demons.

Luke 8 shows the essential motivation of the demonic world: utter destruction. Once the demons are cast from the man whom they've tormented relentlessly, they destroy an entire herd of pigs. Their murderous intent is completely opposed to the deliverance and new life that Jesus brings.

This account is also helpful because it shows that some people do not welcome the new life that Jesus offers. The townspeople are terrified by what has happened and ask Jesus to leave. Perhaps they're afraid of Jesus' power, or perhaps they're afraid of more economic loss. It appears, however, that they were more comfortable with a chained demoniac in their midst than the unrestricted power of God.

Unlike the Gerasenes, many people in the Western world today are uncomfortable admitting the reality of demon possession, although many believers in other parts of the world readily acknowledge the demonic world. At the same time, however, many people in developing countries are often blind to the destructive, enslaving powers that do possess individuals, such as excessive drinking, illegal drug use, and other addictive behaviors.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage presents two realities. The first is the reality of the demonic world. We need to recognize the destructive behaviors that enslave people, and we also need to acknowledge an increased interest in Satanic cults and the demonic.

The second reality is Jesus' complete power over the demonic realm. He's still delivering people from Satan's grip, whether from demonic possession or from destructive addictions.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 11:1-44
The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. - John 5:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1705, English philosopher Samuel Clarke wrote: “The Christian Revelation is positively and directly proved . . . by the many infallible Signs and Miracles, which the Author of it worked publicly as the Evidence of his Divine Commission.” Like many people of his day, Clarke believed that the Bible was reliable and that it testified to Jesus' deity. Yet less than a hundred years later, many people began to deny such claims. Today it's not hard to find people who dismiss any possibility that the Bible's miracles are true.

There are good reasons to accept the Bible's testimony about Jesus' miracles. For one thing, Jesus' miracles confirm the pattern of how God revealed Himself in the Old Testament and how God will work in the future. Additionally, Jesus didn't perform miracles to impress people or for profit, but rather to point hopeless people to His saving power.

These points are clear in today's account. Once again we read not only about Jesus' divine power, but also about His tremendous compassion. Jesus knew that Lazarus' illness would eventually bring glory to God—not because death glorifies God, but rather because God's power would be revealed through Lazarus's death.

The fact that Jesus waited two days (v. 6) has caused much debate, but it's likely that Jesus waited so that four days would have passed after Lazarus's death. Jewish belief held that the soul hovered over the body for first three days after death. Thus in order to demonstrate that Jesus truly is the resurrection and life (v. 25), He knew that possible objections to Lazarus's resuscitation would have to be removed.

The outpouring of grief and Martha's fear concerning an odor coming from the grave confirm that Lazarus was truly dead. Yet at Jesus' command, the formerly dead Lazarus walked out of his tomb! What shock, joy, and praise his family and the others gathered around felt when they saw him!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Biblical miracles aren't crazy accounts of incredible events; instead, they reveal God's power. The accounts of people being raised from the dead, such as the young boys raised by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:18-36), and today's account of Lazarus, also show God's great compassion. Although these individuals eventually died again, their stories all anticipate the final resurrection of the dead. This resurrection is only possible through Jesus Christ, because only He was raised from the dead to eternal life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:12-26; Hebrews 10:1-18
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! - John 1:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the German poet, Heinrich Heine, was on his deathbed, a priest told him that God would forgive his sins. Heine rather flippantly responded, “Of course God will forgive me; that's His job.” Later the psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, commenting on Heine's words, said: “What it means to say is nothing else than . . . that's what he [God] is there for, and that's the only reason I've taken him on (as one engages one's doctor or one's lawyer).”

Thinking of God's forgiveness as simply part of His job description is pretty arrogant, to say the least! The Bible makes it clear that God isn't in our employ, waiting around to say “That's OK!” whenever we decide that maybe we've done something wrong. Instead, the Bible shows that our sin cost God dearly. In fact, forgiveness for sin is only possible because of the willing death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The necessity of Jesus' sacrifice is difficult for many people to understand. The same was true for the disciples. It's no coincidence that Jesus' crucifixion occurred during the Jewish Passover celebration. As the disciples would find out, the customary slaughtering of a spotless lamb for the Passover meal was a picture of Jesus' own sacrifice.

As Jesus sent His disciples before Him to make the necessary preparations for the Passover meal, they were no doubt anticipating an enjoyable evening with their Lord. But a somber note was sounded when Jesus predicted that He would be betrayed. An equally grave moment occurred when Jesus linked the breaking of bread with His own body, and the drinking of wine with His own blood, predicting His own death.

The author of Hebrews also shows that repeated animal sacrifices could never take away sin. Instead, only the willing sacrifice of Jesus' body could make people holy (v. 10). Because Jesus' death truly effected full forgiveness of sins, no other sacrifice is needed or could ever be effective (v. 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Unfortunately many people have ideas about God's pardon that are similar to Heinrich Heine. But when we understand the depth of Christ's willing sacrifice, it's hard to be flippant. Advent season is a good time to reflect on the purpose of Jesus' incarnation, namely, to take away the sins of the world. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you thoughts or deeds for which you need to be forgiven. Then confess your sins and prepare your heart to celebrate Jesus' perfect sacrifice as you join with God's people tomorrow in worship.