A Mother's Nudge

Scripture: John 2:1-12

Song: To God Be The Glory

Who has not seen and smiled at the nudging of an overzealous mother? The mother of James and John, wanted seats for her sons in the kingdom. Jesus’ own mother in the account before us heard that the wine gave out, and saw an opportunity. It was a public occasion, prime time for Jesus to unveil His identity. It was time for her son to go on!

Jesus’ reply to His mother was not disrespectful. Perhaps He even responded with an understanding smile. Mary certainly understood His remarks as only a mild but conciliatory rebuke, because she immediately told the servants to follow her son’s instructions. The sense of Jesus’ reply seems to be something like, “Woman, what am I going to do with you!” It was an exclamation of mild exasperation followed by the declaration that He knew what He was doing. “My hour,” He said, “has not yet come.”

So Mary, like all good mothers, nudged her son. None was prouder than she of all that her firstborn had and would accomplish. Luke tells us that she treasured in her heart all the episodes of Jesus’ youth. But little did Mary know what she nudged Jesus toward. The first of His miracles in Cana put Him on the uphill path to Calvary and brought closer the prediction of Simeon, “a sword will pierce even your own soul.” But even though she didn’t understand, God be thanked for that intuitive sense He placed in woman that makes her nudge when the time is right. And God be praised for Jesus who was willing to be nudged toward a destination He knew all too well.

Jason Moore

A Voice in the Wilderness

Scripture: John 1:19-34

Song: Christ For The World We Sing

John the Baptizer is one of the colorful characters of history, biblical or otherwise. His responses to the priests and Levites of Jerusalem sent to figure out his identity say much about the attitude of this zealot for kingdom righteousness.

John was a voice in the wilderness. He preached in the wilderness. But the wilderness of which the prophet spoke was not the landscape of Judea but the hearts of its citizenry. John was sent to blaze a trail in the hearts of a wild, untamed, desolate people. He was a courageous man. We need voices like his today.

John was a voice of humility. The fact that he only identifies himself in terms of his relation to the Lord is an indication of his lowliness of mind. He saw himself as having no importance aside from his connection to the Lord. We need voices like his today.

John’s was a consistent voice. Those that came from Jerusalem to challenge him were his own peers. They were priests and Levites. His father, Zachariah, had been a priest. But there was no bending on John’s part, no exceptions, no effort to impress. His message was the same no matter the audience: “Make straight the way of the Lord.” We need voices like his today.

John was a voice of urgency. He denied himself all comforts and luxuries to take the message to the people. He dressed in garb which fit his message. He wore the traditional raiment of repentance and fasting. He taught the people to mourn their sin and to hunger for righteousness. He had compassion for souls. We need voices like his today.

Jason Moore

Jesus' Baptism

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Song: ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

The baptism of Jesus is a bit of a puzzle to us. He was without sin and without need of repentance. Why His baptism then?

Jesus’ baptism endorsed the work of John. It said both to John and to the multitudes that Jesus approved of his activity as forerunner.

Jesus’ baptism endorsed the work of Jesus. It had been told John, that he could identify the Messiah by the Spirit’s descent at His baptism. John bore witness to this sign from heaven and gave additional testimony to Jesus’ sinlessness. His witness to Jesus’ identity was confirmed by the Father’s announcement: “This is My beloved Son.”

Jesus’ baptism silenced His critics. When the lawyers questioned Jesus’ authority, He questioned them concerning John’s baptism. The force of His question would have been blunted had Jesus Himself not been baptized of John. There was no room for anyone to accuse Him, not even the appearance of impropriety or neglect in His conduct.

Jesus’ baptism identified Jesus with sinners. Jesus had committed no sin, but He came to the Jordan with sinners to be baptized of John. He also offered the animal sacrifices of the Law, not because He needed to, but because He identified with sinful men who did.

Jesus’ baptism “fulfilled all righteousness” in all these ways and perhaps in others. It was not so much for Him as if He needed baptism as it was to show us we needed Him.

Jason Moore

The Shepherds' Visit

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Song: Joy To The World

The witnesses to the birth of Jesus are an enlightening study. You’d expect the birth of a king to be proclaimed from the balcony of the royal palace. But to shepherds at night in the fields of Bethlehem? These were the first to hear the announcement of David’s descendant, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The announcement to shepherds said something about the kind of King this was. This King like the news of His birth, “shall be for all the people.” Here was a King for the common man whose coming was announced by angels and praised by heavenly hosts. Here was a King for shepherds, and hirelings, for bag boys, and drive-thru workers, construction crews, and waitresses. Here was a King that could be approached and who made such access possible by dwelling among men.

The shepherds’ report said something about what kind of child this was. The events of Jesus’ birth must have overwhelmed His folks at times. Joseph and Mary were reminded at every turn that they were the guardians of no ordinary child. Some things didn’t change. They were still poor. Some things must have been a struggle—giving birth in the stables could not have been fun in any century. But then this—a visit from strangers who had no reason nor means to find you in an overcrowded city, in an unexpected place, who tell of a multitude of angelic hosts announcing the birth of a King and the site of His nativity. These little signs that “God was with them” helped make their burdens bearable.

Jason Moore

Sunday Morning Starters

Four Things I Must Not Forget Today:

1. The Body and the Blood - the price of my redemption.

2. The Lord - the object of my worship and reason for my service.

3. The Bible - the light to my path and standard for my judgment.

4. The Devil - the enemy.

Jason Moore

No Ordinary Birth

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Song: I’m Not Ashamed To Own My Lord

The birth of Jesus was like no other in the Bible. There had been miraculous conceptions by barren women but this one was unique. Jesus was born to a virgin. There was no question that He was no ordinary child, but the Son of God in the flesh, “God with us.”

The birth of Christ was like no other in the hope it proffered. In this child named Jesus the promise of deliverance first enunciated in the Garden would see fulfillment. The seed of woman would crush the head of Satan “for it is He,” said the angel to Joseph, “who will save His people from their sins.”

Many O.T. prophecies are fulfilled in the events of Jesus’ nativity. Joel predicted that the last days would be signaled by “young men seeing visions,” “old men dreaming dreams,” “sons and daughters prophesying.” Joseph’s dream, Zachariah’s vision, Elizabeth’s prophecy, the wise men’s dream, and so many other heavenly manifestations surrounded the birth of Jesus that no one can close his eyes to the events of that generation in Palestine. This child would be like no other.

Jesus was born to parents who witness that the Messianic hope was alive in Israel. Joseph was not only a good, but a righteous man, who before knowing the source of Mary’s conception planned not to disgrace her. Here was a man who understood something of the notion of “mercy and not sacrifice” that his son would perfectly model. Here was a man willing to risk the reproach of what appearances might suggest to outsiders. He was no ordinary man. But of course, neither was his son.

Jason Moore

From Glory to Glory

Song: O To Be Like Thee

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29; NKJV).

The Image of Christ. The heart of real discipleship is a commitment to be like Jesus Christ. The Christian is to be centered on the word of God because the word is where Christ is seen: “Then He said to them, ‘These things are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’” (Luke 24:44; NKJV). The Scriptures make Jesus come alive so He can live in our hearts: “…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27; NKJV)!

The Glory of GOD. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18; NKJV). Some translations say, “beholding as in a mirror;” others say, “reflecting like mirrors.” One implies contemplation; the other implies refraction. Which is accurate? Actually both. The verb katoptrizo can be translated either way. But which meaning did the Holy Spirit intend? In the context, the Spirit paralleled the Christian experience to the Mount Sinai experience of Moses (Exodus 34). After Moses beheld the glory of GOD, his face reflected the glory of GOD (2 Corinthians 3:7). Upon beholding GOD, Moses could not help but reflect GOD. The brightness he saw was the brightness he became. Beholding led to becoming. Becoming led to reflecting. Perhaps the answer to the translation question, then, is “yes.” Could it be that the Holy Spirit intentionally selected a verb that would remind us to do both? To behold GOD so intently that we can’t help but reflect Him? To behold is to study, to stare, to contemplate. This beholding is a serious pondering!

The Call. As we behold His glory, dare we pray that we, like Moses, will reflect it? Dare we hope to be mirrors in the hands of God, the reflection of the light of God? This is the call: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31; NKJV). From one level to another – “from glory to glory” – reflect GOD’S glory in your life!

Reflecting GOD’S Glory! It’s not about us; it’s all about Him! He sends the message; we mirror it! Beholding leads to becoming. Becoming leads to reflecting. Get in the word! Deny self, take up your Bible, and learn of Him! Gaze at His glory in the word! Reflect His glory in your daily life!

Jason Cicero