Comments for October 11

v. 6 - This is a verse with many beautiful overtones. A consideration of the following passages will bring them out. There is sonship, temple-building and rest all associated with Solomon here and, of course, with Jesus. 2Sam.7:13-14, 2Chr.1:9, Zech 6:12-13, Heb.3:3-6, 4:5

28:3 In recounting that he was not allowed to build a house for God David is drawing attention to what Nathan had said 1 Chronicles 17:4 But he adds information which neither 2 Samuel or 1 Chronicles contains, namely that the prohibition was because David was 'a man of war'.

v.9 - We are reminded over and over again that God sees all that we think as well as what we do. This reminds us not only of our care that we need to take over our thoughts but also of our great need for forgiveness.

:1-8 In the sight of the people David states that Solomon is the child of the promise and is to be king.
:9-10 David then exhorts Solomon
:11-21 David delivers the pattern of the temple and the details of the courses of priests etc: to Solomon explaining that this was all given to him by God.

So Solomon is presented to the people as the next king. Further David acknowledges that all the planning he has done is of God.

:2 Whilst we might think nothing of David 'standing upon his feet' we should remember that he was (1 Kings 1:1) old and frail at this time.

28:5 By this time both Absalom (2Sam 15:10) and Adonijah (1Kin 1:11) has sought to take the throne. David is careful to say that Solomon is God's choice. Setting a divine seal upon Solomon's reign.

V.8 As Moses looked out from Pisgah upon the promised Kingdom, so also the faith of David ranged forward to a wonderful fulfilment which he hoped for in his son. He emphasized this by actually quoting to Solomon the words of Moses' charge to Joshua (1Chron 22:12-13) As Moses called heaven and earth to bear witness to his last exhortation (Deut 30:19) so also David as we read in V.2 of this chapter.

V. 19  Is another example of Yahweh's communicating His will to be written down.  In this case, the blueprint for the temple could be consulted throughout its construction.  Clearly, David's imagination was not involved, neither was anything left to chance nor misunderstanding. That is true, of course, of all of God's Word as He unfolds His blueprint for humankind (2Pet 1:19).

It is well to regularly examine ourselves to determine whether we are genuine in our service to Yahweh, given the words of David to Solomon, which apply to us also: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts (v.9).

God designed the Temple, in the same way as He had designed the Tabernacle.  God gave the plans for the new Temple to David, who then relayed them to Solomon (1Chron 28:11-12,19).

V.4-5 In this exhortation to the people David shows that it was no one other than the LORD that appointed him king. It was not David's ambition, or valour, or his merit that led to his enthronement. It was the grace of God which chose the tribe, the family, and the person (himself) in the first instance, and now it is Solomon who is the LORD'S anointed.

28:6  So now David explains the short term fulfilment of the promise of 1Chron 17:13  by telling Israel that God had told him that Solomon was the chosen son who would reign after David and be His son. Of course this does not mean that the promise does not also speaks of Jesus. But Solomon clearly is being presented as the short term fulfilment.

V.9 Solomon at this time was full of promise and also of self dedication. David, who was aware of human nature, and never forgotten his lapses and failures, gives warning to his son "if you forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever". This would have been an echo of the instruction Samuel had provided for David (1Sam 16:7) 

28:11  In giving Solomon the ‘pattern’ to the temple he is handing over responsibility to Solomon to continue the work he has started. Are we equally willing to pass on the work to others or do we feel that we should hold on to jobs because we think we are the best people to do the work?

STRONG, COURAGEOUS AND WORKING

28:11 In giving Solomon the ‘pattern’ we are reminded that the tabernacle was also made according to a pattern – Exo 25:40

V.9 Solomon was told that if he sought Yahweh, He would be found.  Conversely, if Solomon forsook Yahweh, He would forsake him.  This principle runs throughout  scripture and applies to us today (2Chron 15:2; Isa 55:6; James 4:8).

28:20 The exhortation to ‘be strong …he will not forsake thee' sees David encouraging Solomon with the words that Moses gave to Joshua – Josh 1:5

First Principles>Kingdom of God>Existed in the past
During the 40 years wilderness journey, the nation became organised, laws were given, officials appointed, the commonwealth of Israel came into existence and BECAME KNOWN AS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Exo 19:6 1Sam 8:7 1Chron 29:11,23 2Chron 13:8
When Israel went out of Egypt ... Judah was his sanctuary and Israel his dominion Psa 114:1-2
Go to Gen 12:1-5 for more about First Principles>Kingdom of God>Existed in the past

1Chron 28:5 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Was overturned>History of fulfilment
2. Saul was made king 1Sam 9:15,16,27, 1Sam 10:1 followed by David 1Sam 6:13, Solomon 1Kin 1:32-34, 1Chron 28:5 then Rehoboam 1Kin 11:43, 2Chron 9:31.
Go to Deut 28:49 to see more details of the history of Israel and its overturning.

V.3 Jesus, who is the real temple of God, and the one who will inherit David’s throne, is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). It would be incompatible, therefore, for a man of war and blood to build the temple representing the Prince of Peace.

V.6 Solomon, whose name means peaceful, would not see war during his reign. He was acceptable for building the temple.

V.18 Chariot does not refer to a wheeled vehicle.  It relates to the seat (throne) which is between the cherubim - the place where Yahweh meets His people.

28:7 In speaking of establishing the kingdom forever is one of the many references to the promises to David

28:8-10        Having spoken to the people about God’s choice of Solomon David now turns his attention to Solomon. Solomon, in the audience of all the people, is charged with faithfulness.

RISE UP AND BUILD

We might not be building a temple with great quantities of gold, silver, timber or stone, but in ourselves, our families, and among believers, we are building a living temple. Paul said, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?" (1Cor 6:19) And Peter says, "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1Pet 2:5)

If we are building up a spiritual temple both within ourselves and as a group of believers, we should take to heart the encouragement that was given to Solomon when he was about to start building the physical temple of the LORD. David concluded his instructions to Solomon saying, "Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished." (1Chron 28:20)

So let us take courage and get on in a positive way to build up God's temple in our lives, among our families, and to strengthen other believers. This is God's will for us. He will not forsake us or fail us until the work is done.

28:3-4 David now reminds the whole congregation that even though he had not been permitted to build the temple Solomon was to do so at the instruction of God. Therefore the people, it would be hoped, would support Solomon in the work rather than just seeing it as one of Solomon’s projects.

28:7    A wonderful expectation and plan. However there is the often used word “if”. Blessing is conditional upon faithfulness.

Question: Have you noticed the particular wording of v2: "Then David the king stood up upon his feet"? What do you think this tells us about David's health at this time?

v2-3 implies that David had already started preparing for the temple when God told him he wouldn't be the one to build it.

Question: v11-12, 19 David had been given the plans to the House of God by God himself. How do you think that happened? How long would it have taken? Can you think of anyone else in the Bible who received plans from God?

28:9   The charge to Solomon that God will be found of those who seek for Him is represented to Asa – 2Chron 15:2

28:19   Having given Solomon all the patterns David now explains, lest anyone thought differently, that all that he had given Solomon had been shown to him by God. There is no desire on David’s part to take the gory to himself.

28:13   Solomon had a copy of the plans for the building. Now David ensures that he has details of how the worship was to be conducted. A building is of no use without people using it for the worship of God according to His plans.

28:17  Notice it is “pure gold” that is to be used. This is like the items for the tabernacle. To the untrained eye there would appear little difference between a gold alloy and pure gold. However God knew. This is the important thing we should learn. Even though others might think we are faithful servants God knows exactly what we are like and will judge us accordingly.

28:3    Whilst the promise to David recorded in 2Sam 7 does not specify why David could not build the house he had been planning here we learn it was because he was a warrior who had shed blood. Of course he had shed blood at God’s behest. Nonetheless he was not the man of peace that would build the house

28:5     David recognised that his “many sons” were from God. This is despite the evil behaviour of some of them. How do we view our children, especially if they turn away from God.

28:3  David recounts to the people the private words that God had spoken to him – 1Chron 22:8 – one might imagine that the people had for years wondered why David had not built a temple given his interest from early in his reign to focus worship in Jerusalem.

28:4-5 Notice David’s emphasis here. He is emphasising that God chose him and Solomon. A lesser man who was full of his own importance would instead have emphasised his own importance. We do well to try and realise our position. As believers in Christ we are nothing in ourselves – the Creator of the universe has chosen us, we did not first choose Him.

28:2-3 David reinforces the position of Solomon as the future king by appealing to the promise that God had made to him in 2Sam 7. There could be no doubt that Solomon was Yahweh’s choice. Adonijah should have realised that and accepted it rather than conspiring to take the kingdom from Solomon.

28:10 Whilst the next king of Israel is being appointed and the support of all the nation is required David did not forget that all was done also in the sight of God. Do we think of God’s involvement in the things we plan?

28:3 Earlier –  17:5  – we read explicitly that Nathan told David that God said that he could not build the temple that he had been planning.

v.5,9,14 - These verses make it quite clear that what was to take place was a miracle orchestrated by God. Compare this idea and related thoughts with Song 4:16, John 3:8

37:11 That the bones are 'the whole house of Israel' means that even though the return of Jews to the land of Israel in our day is a fulfilment of Scripture these words await their final fulfilment. It is a time when they will acknowledge God 37:13-14. The two sticks 37:15-17 confirms this interpretation.
This will be a time when Israel and Judah are reunited in way which never has happened since the days of Solomon.
May it be that we will witness these things as glorified saints ruling on the Earth with the Lord Jesus.

v.14 declares that in order to live we must have within us the Spirit of God. Without His power there would be no life, so whilst we might rightly argue that we no longer need the Spirit gifts that God endued on men during the days of the early church to establish His people for his name through Jesus, let us not forget that we are nevertheless filled with the Spirit with every breath we take, for without it there could be no life. Remembering this every day should help us to dedicate our lives to God, knowing that He is our only source of life, both now and for ever.

37:10 The breath came into them and they stood upon their feet is quoted Revelation 11:11 to speak of the two witnesses. Thus in some way the two witnesses of Revelation 11 convey some Jewishness.

37:3 'Lord … thou knowest' is Ezekiel's response to the questions as to whether the ones could live. John's response to the question as to where the multitude of the redeemed came from (Revelation 7:14). Both indicate that the deliverance was from God. It was outside the bounds of man's knowledge and understanding.

37:11  In speaking of the bones being "the whole house of Israel" Ezekiel is returning to the point he has already (Eze 6:5) made.

V.23 This restoration of the whole house of Israel is conditional upon their turning to God. It will be necessary for them to be cleansed. This will be effected by the circumstances into which they will be brought. The cleansing will commence in Judah, after the appearing of Jesus Zech 12:10 There will then follow a cleansing of the land. Zech 13:2

V.12 The restoration of Israel occurred after the Babylonian captivity. But, in recent years, the nation of Israel was re-born from the Diaspora.  However, in the ultimate sense, the nation will only be right in the sight of Yahweh when it becomes a theocracy.  That will occur when the Lord Jesus becomes its king (vs. 24-28).

If the prophecies in Eze 37-39 are in chronological order, and there really is a logical sequence running through these 3 chapters, then could it be that Jesus returns towards the end of Ez 37? It is possible. Obviously Eze 37:24, when it speaks of David, is referring to Jesus. I am quite aware that the traditional view in our Brotherhood has been that the battles of Zech 14 and Eze38 are the same. BUT, what if there are 2 battles?  Jesus returns at the end of Ez 37 at the time of the nations fighting against Jerusalem (Zech 14:2-4). Later, when the Kingdom is settled down in Israel, the northern army come down, and actually fight against King Jesus in Jerusalem. This really would be "an evil thought" (Eze 38:10-12).
It also follows that if Jesus is King, Israel will be without walls, bars and gates, and will be dwelling safely.  (Eze 38:8,11)     Then, with Jesus at the helm, the enemies are smitten, and the dead will take 7 months to bury (Eze 39:12).   I don't know if this is right - but it's an idea.  In reality, we shall have to wait and see.

37  The vision of the valley of dry bones should be seen against the background of the glimmer of hope presented in 36:8

37:10 The spirit of life entering into the bones and them standing on their feet echoes Ezekiel’s own experience as seen in Eze 2:2

37:18 And so the people, on being told the vision that Ezekiel saw, would ask for an explanation. This is rather like the enacted parables which Ezekiel performed which would elicit from his observers questions.

V.14 There was a gathering of Jews to the Holy Land to form the modern State of Israel in 1948.  After the latter-day events that will be explained in Ezekiel Chapter 38, there will be a further gathering of Jews.  Jews living in other countries will be brought to Israel to participate in the kingdom that Jesus will set up when He returns to earth.

37:12 In saying ‘I will open your graves’ we learn that what Ezekiel is speaking of is not the return from Babylon. Those who returned to Babylon had not died and been buried. Here the prophet is looking to the time when the nations will be spiritually reborn.

v 21,22 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Restoration clearly foretold
In Eze 21:25-27 UNTIL indicates a limitation to the overturning. Go there for more prophecies about Israel's restoration.

GIVING LIFE TO THE DEAD

Under the influence of the Spirit, Ezekiel was taken to a valley full of dry bones. He was told, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Eze 37:4-6)

This prophecy was given to Israel, showing how God would gather them from where they had been scattered and resurrect them as a great nation. But in his prophecy is also an application for us.

Ezekiel was told to prophesy to dry bones. The subjects of his prophecy were dead. Dry bones on the desert floor are good for nothing. But God wanted them spoken to, he wanted them to be filled out with flesh, and, most importantly, breath. Breath is the same Hebrew word that is often translated Spirit.

There are so many people around us who, as far as God is concerned, are dead, like dry bones in the desert of a world that does not hear God's word. Like Ezekiel, our job is to speak God's word to those people so that they might come alive and be filled with the Spirit of the LORD.

"Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD."

Eze 37:27;2Cor 6:16.

Have we got the emphasis wrong?

We are used to seeing this chapter interpreted in terms of the Jews returning to the land in recent history. And admittedly, 1948 was an amazing year. Israel was reborn as a nation for the first time in almost 2 millenia. But this chapter isn't primarily dealing with that. Just notice the emphasis throughout the chapter:

If we look at v9, we see the breath of life came "from the 4 winds", that is all Israelites throughout the earth. In v11 we read "the whole house of Israel" meaning all 12 tribes, even though the 10 tribes are lost we don't know where (for example, we call Israelis "Jews". This is because they are from the southern kingdom of Judah). In v16 the two halves of Israel are mentioned. In v17 and again in v19 they come together as one. Then v21 "surely I will take the children of Israel (the children of Jacob, who had his name changed to Israel, were 12 tribes)... gather them from every side" and finally v22 "I will make them one nation in the land".

So what's the emphasis throughout the chapter? All Israel. From everywhere. One people. One land. And in v22-28 one King and one place to worship. Now bear in mind that throughout the Bible account of Israel the nation had only had one king and one place to worship during the reign of David and Solomon. That's a tiny, tiny proportion of their history. Soon after that the nation was split in two and worship was divided North to South, Judah and Samaria, never again to be united.

Hopefully you can see now why I said that this chapter isn't about the return of the Jews. There's a much bigger issue at stake. Of far greater importance to God, and hence to Jesus and his followers, is that the nation be returned to unity under one King. That's Jews and Samaritans. This has been the purpose of God ever since Jeroboam set up the calves in Samaria, and the reason Jesus "needed to go through Samaria" (John 4:4) to show that Samaritans must come together with their Jewish brethren. Unity is the message of this chapter, not a Jewish only return.

37:9 We now learn that the ‘bones’ in the valley were not just bones from dead people. The people had actually been killed. This matches Rev 11:7,8 which uses other language from this chapter in Ezekiel

37:28   The whole purpose for the regathering and repentance of Israel is so that the whole earth will understand how God works with those who will serve Him. An important lesson that the mortal population will need to learn throughout the 1,000 year reign of Christ.

37:20-21        Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, speaks of the regathering of both Judah and Israel. So clearly this promise was not fulfilled with the return from Babylon. It is to be fulfilled when Jesus returns, though we may see a partial fulfilment in our days as Israel becomes a nation.

Eze 37:1-14.

It is generally understood that Ezekiel's vision of dry bones and their miraculously coming to life is a picture of God's restoration of the Jews to their land and Israel's becoming a nation again in 1948 after being in exile for ~1900 years. Has the whole of this prophecy in these first 14 verses been already fulfilled in our day and age, or is there a part of it that we have yet to see come to pass?

I think the second is a better way to understand what is happening. There are stages in this vision which appear to correspond to what has happened and is yet to happen with Israel.

Stage 1 - the bones scattered on the floor of the valley (Eze 37:2) = the Jews scattered among the nations prior to the Zionist movement beginning in the 1890's.

Stage 2 - the bones coming together along with tendons and flesh covering them, but no breath (Eze 37:7,8) = more and more Jews returning to the land, especially after the Holocaust and the eventual formation of the state of Israel (1948) through decree of the United Nations. It also describes their current status, I would think. But notice no breath from God at this time.

Stage 3 - God's breathing into them His Spirit (same word as breath) and the result - a vast army standing on its feet (Eze 37:9,10) = the future time when Israel is repentant and will be blessed in the kingdom age as the preeminent mortal nation, the nation all others will look up to as their great example (see Mic 4:8 as just one of many examples of this in prophecy).

In the previous chapter (36), Ezekiel writes of this when he says in Eze 36:25 that God will sprinkle clean water on them that they become clean from all their idolatry. Then in Eze 36:26 He says He will give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them (very similar phrasing to what is stated here in ch. 37). And the reason He blesses them in this way is due to their acknowledgment of Him (and from other passages, His Son as well) and a removal of their heart of stone and replacing it with a malleable heart of flesh (v. 26).

37:24 The reference to David their king ruling echoes the words of the earlier prophet – Hos 3:5

1. Eze 37:1-14 - the resurrected dry bones of the whole house of Israel (Hos 5:14-15;6:1-3;Mic 4:1-8;Rom 11:13-27;Gal 3:26-29):

2. Eze 37:1-3 - the bones represent disobedient and unrepentant Israel who chose death rather than life (Matt 23:27;Eze 37:11-14;Deut 30:19;Jer 50:17;Deut 28:25-26). In contrast, none of Christ's righteous bones were broken, corrupted, or had to be put together (John 19:36).

3. Eze 37:1-2 - "valley"<1237>. Eze 3:22-23;8:4 "plain"<1237>. Eze 39:11,15 - "valley"<1516>.

4. Eze 37:5-6 - "breath"<7307> giving new life (Eze 36:26-27;John 6:63;3:5;Gal 3:2;5:22;1John 5:6).

5. Eze 37:7 - "a noise"<6963> (Exo 20:18;32:17;Jer 30:5-7;Zech 10:8;1Thess 4:16); "a shaking"<7494> (Rev 16:18;Eze 38:19;Zech 14:5 - perhaps a literal echoing or type of a figurative earthquake).

6. Eze 37:8 - "but there was no 'breath'<7307> in them"

7. Eze 37:9 - "wind"<7307>, "wind"<7307>, "the four 'winds'"<7307> (Zech 6:5), "breath"<7307>, "breathe"<5301> upon these slain and should this be connected with Zech 14:2-4 (note Zech 14:4 word for "valley"<1516>)?

8.  Eze 37:9-10 has some similarity to Mark 13:26-27.

9. Eze 37:10 -  should this be connected with Eze 38:20;Zech 9:13-16;Joel 3:11-18 ? -

10. Eze 37:11-12 - should this be connected with Hos 6:1-3 ?

11. Eze 37:12 - I believe this is applicable to a national figurative resurrection of Israel after the Gogian invasion but might this have some application to the literal resurrection of the saints (Hos 13:14;1Cor 15:54-55;Rom 11:15)?

12. Eze 37:12-13 - "graves"<6913>, "sheol" is not used, is there any significance (note Matt 23:27)?

13. Eze 37:14 - now God's "spirit"<7307> is in the people and they will live; "place"<5117> also can mean "rest, remain, stay" though a different word is translated "rest"<4496> (Psa 95:11;Isa 11:10).  

14. Eze 37:15-28 - the parable of the two rejoined sticks (Judah and Israel/Ephraim):

15. Eze 37:16 - Judah joining with Israel as under King Solomon - "Ephraim"<669> means double fruit (Ephraim was one prosperous tribe of Israel whose name was sometimes used to refer to all ten tribes of Israel) and could this joining of the two tribes of Judah with Ephraim include not only the ten tribes but perhaps the spiritually grafted in Gentiles (Gen 46:20;Gen 48:19;Rom 11:13-27;Gal 3:26-29) with the "stick"<6086> echoing Christ's sacrifice on the wooden tree joining believers (Jew and grafted in Gentile) as one nation ?

16. Eze 37:16-20 - "stick(s)"(<6086> Heb word "ets" is never translated scroll or scrolls), "scrolls" are referred to by the word "sepher"<5612> (Isa 34:4); the rejoining is of people unified under one king (i.e. Christ) as we note in Eze 37:21-22 it is not a joining of the Bible with some other books but rather the forming of one nation.

17. Eze 37:23 - God will save and cleanse His people of their sins.

18. Eze 37:24-25 - "David"(<1732> Heb word means "beloved") refers here to God's servant Christ (note how this disproves a tri-equal trinity) who will be the shepherd king and prince over God's now obedient people forever; the Jewish conversion to Christ was foretold in Rom 11:15,25-28. 

19. Eze 37:26-28 - KJV - "'covenant'<1285> of 'peace"'<7965>, "everlasting"<5769>, "place"<5414>, "multiply"<7235>, "set"<5414>, "sanctuary"<4720>, "for evermore"<5769>, "tabernacle"<4908>, "God"<430>, "heathen"<1471>, "LORD"<3068>, "sanctify"<6942>.

20. the second temple echoing the millenial temple of Christ (Hag 2:6-9,20-23;Heb 12:26-29 ).

21. in the millenial era pastors feeding the flock with knowledge and understanding but apparently no ark of the covenant (Jer 3:10-17).

22. continuing description of the millenial era (Isa 2:2;60:13;Psa 68:29).

37:10 God made Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life – Gen 2:7. In a similar way Israel are given life. Life comes from God

37:13   God has a plan to fill the whole earth with the knowledge of Him. That will start with the regathered, repentant, Israel recognising Yahweh as God.

37:11   Ezekiel has already spoken of the bones of Israel, and their carcasses, being scattered – Eze 6:5 – Now the prophet returns to the same metaphor. But now it is a far more encouraging picture. Rather than being scattered the nation is to be re-born.

Eze 37:6,7

In Ezekiel’s vision, we see that the restoration of Israel in its two stages. First, there would be a physical return to the land, signified by the many stages beginning with the sinews, or ligaments that would join the bones, to which flesh (muscles) were added, and then skin. These all had to come together first before the “breath” (ruwach) could be given. So, in the second stage, there would be a spiritually revived nation of Israel returning to Yahweh — this body receives the breath, at the second coming of Messiah, as Ezekiel’s prophecy further reveals and has not yet been fulfilled.

Adonai Yahweh will breathe into this lifeless nation full of dead men’s bones, hard-hearted, secular, and skeptical, a nation who refused to listen, who will become a revived living nation and will “know that I am Yahweh,” which is not the case right now. Their knowledge of Yahweh is in the future tense, some-time after they are brought back to life. First the bones are assembled, then the muscles, then the flesh, then the breath, or spirit of life, then they shall know. Through the centuries, Ezekiel continues to speak to Israel who still refuses to listen. We have a nation with many leaves, but no fruit (cf. Exo 19:5,6). Indeed, Ezekiel’s eyes are our eyes as the spirit of Yahweh reveals to Ezekiel future events.

The physical return of the nation of Israel commenced slowly in its stages, beginning with the noise of Leon Pinsker, a Polish Jew, in 1878, after which he published his book, Auto Emancipation, in 1882, advocating the idea of Jews moving back to Palestine and buying property. This was the embryonic stage of Zionism. This noise increased with Theodor Herzl’s book, The Jewish State, which strongly urged a Jewish settlement in Palestine with self-government, and in 1897 the first Zionist congress met in Switzerland, the first official act to establish Palestine as a homeland. The embryonic stage now budded (cf. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002398.htm - budding begins several weeks after the embryonic stage), after which we had the Balfour Declaration in 1917, the nation of Israel now firmly established in 1947/8, with Jerusalem its capital in 1967. 1948 is not the "budding," as taught by the majority. Please read my notes on Isa 65:8.

Biblical numbers all deal with a nation, or people that pertain to testing, release, deliverance, captivity and judgment. The following years are very significant!

120 years (Gen 6:8) were the years that Noah preached before God executed His judgments on a wicked world. Yahshua tells us that the generation of the Fig Tree, or Israel, would be just like Noah’s day (Matt 24:37). God’s end-time, time clock is around Israel. We need to keep this in mind. The years given here are every bit as important as the wickedness of this Age.

100 years (Gen 15:13,16) is the first use of a generation being 100 years. Israel served Egypt for 400 years and come out in the 4th generation. It is interesting to note that the Mamluk Sultanate (Egypt), who had been reigning in Jerusalem since 1250, were conquered in 1517 by the Ottoman Turks. They remained for eight jubilees (8 x 50 = 400 years), that is, they were in Jerusalem for 400 years. Exactly 400 years later, in 1917, the Ottoman Turks were conquered by the British under General Allenby – on Hanukkah! The League of Nations conferred the Mandate for the Holy Land and Jerusalem to the British. Thus, from 1917, under International Law, Jerusalem was no-man’s land and remained so for one jubilee.

70 years for prophecy completion. Israel was in Babylonian bondage for 70 years (cf. Dan 9:24). 70 years is also the length of man’s life (cf. Psa 90:10). While Yahweh can and has extended man’s life, it shows that a period of 70 years is a complete generation of man.

50 years is the Jubilee when all debts are forgiven, slaves set free, and a time for celebration. J.W. Bullinger in Numbers in Scripture also associates 50 with the number of judgment. The flood lasted for 150 days (50x3).

40 years is a period of judgment and testing for individuals and/or nations. Yahweh led Israel out of Egypt 40 years (Psa 95:10). It rained 40 days and 40 nights during Noah’s flood. Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days. Elijah fasted for 40 days. Yahshua was tempted for 40 days.

The numbers 120, 100, 70, 50, and 40 are very significant numbers in Scripture. Since God’s end-time clock is associated with Israel and the city of Jerusalem (Eze 36, Eze 37; Dan 9), then these numbers must be taken into account beginning with the budding of the fig tree.

In 1897, the First Zionist Congress was held in Switzerland by Theodor Herzl. It was the first official act to prepare for an Israeli homeland. This was the budding of the fig tree (cf. Matt 24:32), which through the years matured. Add to this year 120, and it brings us to 2017/18.

In 1917, a jubilee year, the Balfour declaration gave the Jews the legal right to settle in Israel. The Holy Land was placed under British Mandate by the League of Nations, and literally belonged to no nation. A generation according to Gen 15:13,16 is 100 years. Adding 100 to 1917 is 2017.

In 1947/8, the birth of the nation of Israel. 70 years later may well mark the end of their independent theocratic nation. Israel will be 70 years old in 2017/18.

In 1967, a jubilee year, Jerusalem was now under complete Israeli ownership. Up until this time, Jerusalem was still divided by a strip of land, with Jordan controlling the eastern part and Israel controlling the western part.  50 years from 1967 is 2017/18, another jubilee year.

In 1977/78, Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel, signed the Camp David Peace Accords with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat initiated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. This incited the Arabs, they assassinated Sadat, which eventually resulted in two intifadas by Yasser Arafat, leader of the PLO. 1977/78 began a final time of testing for Israel. 40 years from 1977/78 is 2017/18.

Israel’s knowledge and relationship with Yahweh follows their being placed in the land first. When they receive the Spirit, or breath of life, they will be “born again” as a nation and people; Yahweh’s law will be in their hearts and minds, and will then acknowledge their Saviour, Yahshua the Messiah, as the King of Israel.

37:27   The promise that God’s tabernacle would be with them reminded those in captivity that the blessing spoken of in Lev 26:11 would be fulfilled, despite the fact that many of the curses of the later verses of that chapter had been brought against them.

37:14 We have watched the return of the Jews of the land of Israel. However, as yet, these words of Ezekiel have not been fulfilled as the nation does not have God’s spirit in them. They do not recognise God. This is yet to happen.

37:1       This vision – of a valley od dry bones – contrasts with the lovely vision – 40:1 – of the holy city and temple of the future age.

RIFTS AND RELATIONSHIP brEAKDOWN

A huge rift had taken place. What was once the twelve tribes of Israel was torn in two and became the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. And no, they didn't just call each other names over the fence and snub their noses at each other, they went to war and people lost their lives because of the hostilities between the two kingdoms. They grew different in their ideals and religion until there was no similarity between the two.

Relationships often break apart. If we fail to put work into them and heal small problems before they become big, marriages, parent - child relationships, sibling relationships, church factions, family groups, and even countries can split over the smallest things. Often it is unneeded, when with a little help the relationship could be mended.

The rift between Israel and Judah continued for hundreds of years. But in the days of Ezekiel, God made a prophecy that the two nations would come together again and be united. (Eze 37:15-38).

Are there relationship rifts in your life? If God can heal one of the greatest rifts of all time, he can heal yours too. Ask Him.  He is a God of unity and love, not a God of division. He wants us to get along. Ask God today to begin to heal any relationship divisions in your life.

37:9 the two sticks – Ephraim and Judah represent the two kingdoms of Israel. The north and the south being joined together in faithfulness to their God. The idea is seen again in Zech 10:6

37:27 It had always been God’s desire to dwell with His people. For that reason he told them how to keep the camp clean - Deut 23:14

37:11  In our day the nation of Israel trusts in its own strength. Indeed it has developed sophisticated defensive and offensive skills. However a time will come when their skills will be unable to deliver them “our hope is lost”. It is at that time that their God will intervene to save them – when they recognise their own inability to save themselves.

This is a lesson we need to learn in our own lives. We need to realise that we cannot save ourselves but have to place our confidence in the Creator who has given His son that we might have life.

37:4-6 The nation of Israel – the Jews – have never been totally eradicated despite the attempts to Pharaoh, Haman in the days of Esther and Hitler trying. We have seen a partial restoration of the nation into he land of Israel in the 20^th century. But what Ezekiel witnesses here is something yet future – the reestablishment of a Godly nation. This is truly the Hope of Israel. Is this what we are looking for?

37:15-22 When the kingdom of Solomon ended the nation of Israel became two separate nations – often warring with each other. Those in captivity would know that history well. Here was have the wonderful promise of a n=united nation at a time in the future. It has never happened yet but, as God said it would happen, we look to its fulfilment. It will be when Christ is in the earth again and the nation of Israel will truly be God’s witnesses.

v.17 - I have often wondered why the disciples lighted on this verse from Psa.69 on this occasion. Someone recently suggested to me that they thought that at one point during his life, David had leprosy, and Psa.69 was written during this time. This is pure speculation, but he undoubtedly was going through a patch in his life when he felt rejected in the same way that a leper would, and it was as a result of his sin. It does start to relate us to the rules regarding leprosy in a house, which creates a number of points of interest surrounding this incident, given that God's house here has become estranged from true worship. Lev.14:34-44

2:12 Below is a list of the occasions when we are told that His family members came to see him. Matthew 12:46 Mark 3:32 Luke 8:19 John 2:12
It is only in John that there is no indication of displeasure amongst them.
The unbelief of his family must have been a great sorrow to Jesus - only removed at the time of his death when his mother was at the foot of the cross and after his resurrection when he appeared to James 1 Corinthians 15:7 This experience of Jesus should help us to put into perspective our own families reactions - or lack of response to the message of salvation.
3:32 The 'witness' of the disciples is seen in the way in which they had 'seen and heard' about Jesus. Luke 7:22 John 3:32 Acts 4:20 22:15 and is the basis for the Apostle John's reminder 1 John 1:3

2:16 My father's house Genesis 28:21
In using this phrase Jesus is continuing the theme of Jacob's ladder from Genesis 28.

3:24 The mention that John had not yet been cast into prison is the only historical information we have about John's ministry. We do not know when he stopped. His words were truly fulfilled 'He must increase I must decrease' (3:30)

What was the sign of turning the water into wine all about?

In 2v11 we read it was for the purpose of manifesting his glory, so that his disciples believed in him. In 1v14 we read that the glory of Jesus was in fact the glory of the Father. Jesus was showing the glory of God in human form, human action, and human character. So how did turning the water into wine manifest that glory?

Jesus was raised out of the waters of baptism to visibly receive the spirit. This signified that he was the firstborn of those who would be born of "water and the spirit" (3v5, 1v13). This was the new creation, created by the working of the word of God upon a man (1v1,14). This creation was a new thing, of God, rather than of the flesh (1v13). In the wine was symbolised the natural, normal, earthly life, or in other words "the flesh" and its thinking. However good man made this, it would run out (cp. Luke 15v14, 16v9). The new wine, however, was much better than the old, but it was made of water and the spirit, rather than the natural way. Demonstrated here in symbol, was the way that the Glory of God could be manifested in man. This could never come about through natural means, but only by means that God would make available (Matt 19v26).

2:3-17 The combining in John's record of the miracle of turning the water into wine and the way that Jesus behaved at Jerusalem - casting out the money changers - at Passover time is to show that the Jews were unable to provide the wine for Passover because they were corrupt.

3:27 When Jesus answered 'that a man could 'receive nothing except it be given him from heaven'' we have  a thematic link with Jesus'' conversation with Nicodemus --see comment for April 11th 2004.

2:13-17 The cleansing of the temple grounds is the first cleansing, which occurred near the beginning of the Lord's ministry. The second cleansing comes near the end of the Lord's ministry (Matt 21:12,13). 

These two cleansings relate to the cleansing of a house from leprosy under the Law (Lev 14:33-57).  Then, the priest inspected the leprous house and commanded that it be cleansed by removing the affected stones, scraping clean the rest of the house, and re-plastering.  The priest would come a second time to inspect the house, and if leprosy had appeared again, then the whole house had to be destroyed. 

The Lord Jesus inspected His Father's house and found leprosy (spiritual rot).  After cleansing it, He came back a second time and found it still leprous.  The house had to be destroyed, which occurred in 70 AD. 

 2:11 Previously the disciples had believed Jesus; This prepared them for that moment when without hesitation when, they were to leave all and follow him

2:1-10 - Perhaps the inferior wine that ran out reflected the inadequacy of the sacrifices under the law which preceded the good wine sacrifice of Christ which is available for all believers who seek and submit to Christ. The third day may indicate the resurrection after being in the tomb. The water into wine may have symbolized the word made flesh (John 1:14) and that Christ fulfilled the law and the prophets and/or washed/buried the power of sin using the 6 jars (6 is the number of man and perhaps indicates the inadequacy of the ceremonial law) with his poured out blood. In a symbolic sense perhaps Christ is the bridegroom and believers are the bride of Christ (John 3:29). This third day may also be considered the seventh day beginning with John 1:27,29 as the first two days and thus suggests a future seventh millennial day marriage/rest when the lamb returns to be united with his bride.

2:25 We need to appreciate that Jesus ‘knew what was in man’ because he fully knew himself. Appreciating honestly what we are like will enable us to understand others better.

3:30 ‘decrease’ is the same Greek as ‘little lower’ in Heb 2:7,9 John’s status after Jesus’ baptism did not alter. He was always ‘a little lower’ than Jesus.

3:14 In quoting the example of Num 21:8 doubtless Jesus was speaking of the brazen serpent in the wilderness in a way which Nicodemus had never considered.

3:29 John the Baptist points out that the bride belongs to the bridegroom. The bride, then, must be brought to the bridegroom. This is exactly what John has been doing. (likewise, this has been the commission of believers through all ages, including today.) He is constantly pointing to the Lamb of God, hoping that many will follow.  

2:18 On this occasion and at the end of his ministry –Matt 21:23 - Jesus was challenged for casting out the money changers.

2:3,4 Nobody had yet seen Jesus perform a miracle.  And yet, Mary seemed to understand that He was able to do just that. 

Her indirect request for Jesus to produce wine was presumptuous.  Jesus' retort showed that Mary was out of her depth in understanding Jesus' mission or His relationship with His father. 

Jesus did, subsequently, produce wine for the wedding, thus displaying the first public miracle, by showing the power that His Father had given Him.  However, it was important for Him to make clear to His mother that He was not to be used as a talisman, to be employed at the whim of any individual. 

The lesson is for us also.  The Lord will employ His power on our behalf at His discretion, and always in keeping with the will of His Father.  We are encouraged to ask the Lord for help, but there we must leave it, trusting that the Lord will help according to His wisdom and mercy.  The answers to our requests may not be as we envisioned, but they will be the right answers for those operating in faith.

2:17 The way in which Psa 69:9 is used here teaches us that being zealous for God requires action. We also learn that Psalm 69 is speaking of the work of Jesus so we would benefit from going back and reading the Psalm with Jesus’ ministry in mind, looking for other things that speak of him

2:17 See Psa 59:10.

2:19,21 This confirms Jesus as being the true temple of God. That is the reason David, the man of war and blood, could not build the temple (see note for 1 Chronicles 28).

2:22 Perhaps the scripture being mentioned here is Psa 16:10.

3:5 Jesus endorses baptism as an essential element for salvation.

3:13 Jesus did not physically come from heaven as Trinitarians suppose. Jesus was born a man, by the intervention of the Holy Spirit, which came from heaven (Luke 1:35).  The Son of man which is in heaven (KJV) is eliminated in modern versions.

3:14,15 See Num 21:9.

3:17 Jesus did not come to condemn the world. However, he did not pray for the world either (John 17:9). The world likes to proclaim that Jesus' appearance brought…on earth peace, good will toward men.  More will be said in my supplemental Christmas in the December notes.

3:29 The friend of the bridegroom is the one responsible for making sure all arrangements have been made for the marriage.  Once the marriage has taken place, the duties of the friend are done. He slips quietly into the background while the bridegroom takes over.

3:19 The condemnation of Jesus – that men loved darkness – was a severe condemnation of Nicodemus and the Pharisees as he chose night time to seek Jesus out.

Why Miracles?

"...and his disciples believed on him" (v.11)

Miracles were not only to strengthen the belief of Jesus' disciples, they showed Jesus' power over nature. Miracles are not merely superhuman happenings, but they demonstrate God's power. Almost every miracle Jesus did was a renewal of the fallen creation - restoring sight, making the lame to walk, even restoring the dead to life. Jesus has the power through God to reverse the curse from the garden of Eden. God is continuing his original plan & purpose to "make man in His image" (Gen.1:26), even in those who are poor, weak, crippled, orphaned, blind, or with some other desperate need for recreation.

2:13    The indication is that Jesus went up to Jerusalem at each of the three feasts where it was mandatory that every male was to go to the place which God would choose. Deut 16:16

3:23    Aenon was not conveniently situated for the inhabitants of Jerusalem or southern Israel. However many made the long journey to be baptised. We see that many people still went to John to be baptised whilst Jesus was preaching indicating, possibly, that Jesus’ words caused people to respond to John’s baptism.

3:14    Three times John has Jesus speaking of being “lifted up”. Here, 8:28, 12:32. This is one of the themes which starts in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus.

John 3:13 What was Jesus saying here?

1/ That noone goes to heaven? Often quoted by Christadelphians to say we do not ascend to heaven.

2/ That Jesus came down from Heaven? Quoted by the churches to say Jesus was God on earth literally.

3/ Jeus could not be in heaven as he was stood on earth, so these words should be ommitted.

None of these! Like all scriptual problems we must understand the previous verses.

Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, what was Nicodemus's problem? He came in darkness not only physically but spirtually.

John 3:6-7 We see Jesus telling Nicodemus, "look Nicodemus you know who i am you have answered well you recognise who i am, but i am going to show you what you must do next, you must be BEGOTTEN (born here is begotton as it is masculine) of Spirit".

Nicodemus must change his thinking he must elevate his mind from one born of flesh (BORN of woman) to one that is BEGOTTEN (born of GOD).

Jeus then is telling Jesus in V13 "look at me Nicodemus i was born of a woman but Begotton Of God. No man can ascend upto heavenly thinking like i can, because my thinking comes from God beacuse i am begotton of him. Yet you must change Nicodemus becasue you are in darkness. Here is the example Nicodemus stood right in front of you for i am stood on earth yet my thinking is in heaven and You Nicodemus must change your thinking from one of darkness and flesh to one of spiritual and heavenly". Phil 2:5

Christ was talking about God manfiestation, Nicodemus didnt understand yet in John 1:51 Natahniel understood perfectly. Natahniel was thinking about Christ and linking him to the vision of Jacobs ladder, and it is Jacobs ladder than Jesus is reffering to here in John 3.

We also see here the nature of Christ shown a man born of woman and open to human failings but also a man BEGOTTEN of God therefore through his heavenly mind overcame darkness and flesh.

Follow these verses. Rom 10:6, Eph 4:9, Phil 3:20, Col 3:1

Rather beautifully we know that Nicodemus walked away thought upon these things and came to that true understanding.

3:10   Nicodemus was a chief teacher in Israel. And yet he had no understanding of Jesus’ words. He typified the Jewish understanding of the Old Testament teaching about Jesus. He had the “vail” on his heart – 2Cor 3:15

2:20-21         One wonders if the Jewish leaders were simply being obtuse in observing how long Herod’s temple was being built.

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

When Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, it was not just the guests at the wedding who benefited from his actions. His disciples saw it, other people heard about it, and anyone who has read their Bible has grown from hearing about it.

John summarised the miracle and it's effect in this way: "This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him." (John 2:11). It was turning water into wine that revealed the glory of Jesus, and was the motivating factor for his disciples to put their faith in him.

Think back to what you experienced when Jesus revealed his glory to you. What was the occasion, event or understanding that first enabled you to put your trust in him? The answer to this will be different for everyone. For John, it was turning water into wine, and so wrote about it to share that experience with us. We should do the same. By sharing what motivates us, we could help someone else, just as the story of turning water into wine has helped us see the glory of Jesus, and put our trust in him.

So let's share the glory that has been revealed to us, and our motivations for faith in him.

STARVE THE FLESH, FEED THE SPIRIT

When Nicodemus was told that a man must be born again, Jesus expanded on it, saying,"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3:5-6).

This reminds me a lot of the modern parable of the two wolves that both live inside of us. They are constantly at war. One is a very good wolf, and the other is very bad. One wants to do good things, to be kind, patient, joyful and loving, while the other is bitter, violent, angry and self centered. We might wonder which wolf is going to win. The answer is simple: The one that we feed.

So it is when flesh gives birth to flesh. The more we feed our flesh - our lusts, anger, selfishness and greed - the more those traits will give birth to more of the same inside us. But when Spirit gives birth to spirit within us, we are allowing God to change our wickedness into love for him and love for each other. The more love we have in our hearts, the more we will walk with the spirit and the more it will multiply within us, until it fills us completely with the character of God.

So let us starve the flesh and feed the spirit and have Gods Spirit grow within us.

2:6     The apparent vagueness of the size of the pots – “two or three” does not reflect uncertainty, or that the size did not matter. Rather the very use of the phrase “two or three” catches the way in which God required witnesses to events – Deut 19:15 – just as this action was a witness, though veiled, to the forthcoming sacrifice of Jesus.

2:15       This is the second passover recorded in Jesus’ life. The first was when he was taken to the temple at Passover time when he was 12. – Luke 2:41-42. There are a number of contrasts between the two occasions. One being on the first occasion the leaders were sitting talking about the law – Luke 2:46 whereas the second time they were sitting making God’s house a house of merchandise – JJohn 2:14

John 3:3,5-7

“… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God… Ye must be born again.”

When one understands what is needed for baptism, infant sprinkling falls on its own accord. Scriptural baptism requires two things: 1) Repentance and belief from the heart of the Scriptural doctrinal teachings. This is a principle, or true belief we must know. 2) The determination to walk in newness of life on rising from the baptismal waters is an ordinance, or ceremony (cf. Matt 28:19,20). They cannot and may not be separated from each other. Those who focus on point 1 at the expense of point 2 have failed to consider the cost of their actions. They have failed to see that baptism is making a covenant with God to live “in newness of life” in bearing fruit for Christ (cf. Rom 6:1-5).

Baptism is an outward sign of our covenant with God. If we do not change from fleshly to spiritual beings, we are covenant breakers! The whole purpose of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans was to have them understand the meaning of baptism in relation to Christ and to explain to them the extent of God’s merciful provision through baptism into Christ. We must do, likewise.

Baptism is very important to understand. 1) We must know what we are being baptized into (cf. Acts 8:35-38). 2) We must “consider the cost” in what we are about to do in becoming a disciple (cf. Luke 14:25-34). 3) Once we do, we are to “present” ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1,2). 4) We are to “walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4).

Disobedience to these commands has reaped a harvest of hatred and calumny at the hands of those we have been compelled to oppose, but we have also experienced much help and love at the hands of those who appreciate them and courageously and true-heartedly seek well-doing in Christ. We take courage, resolving to work as in Yahweh’s sight, while it is called today, refusing to sleep as do others being inflexibly bent on saving ourselves from this untoward generation (Acts 2:40).

2:19    The temple of Jesus’ body is the ecclesia which he purchased by his own blood. Eph 5:27 teaches that Jesus is the one who brings the ecclesias to life. Further Jesus seems to be alluding to Hos 6:2 where we read of  “us” being “raised up” on the third day.

2:7         whilst it might seem reasonable to see the word “brim”  when speaking of the level to which the waterpots were filled the word is the same word translated “from above” <507> in 8:23. It seems that the way the miracles is written about draws our attention to the Divine origin of the miracle

John 2:15

“And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen…”

Scourge is # <5416>, phragellion, “… a whip, i.e. a Rom. lash as a public punishment…”

Drove is # <1544>, gillul, from # <1556>, galal, “… to remove…” We read in Mark 1:12, “… the spirit driveth him…” driveth is # <1544>. Matthew uses the word, “led” in <321>, a different word, anago, # 321, “… lead…” Jesus cast out “demons” throughout the Gospel. Cast, # <1544> gillul, Matt 9:33, etc. Nothing aggressive is indicted in this act of driving out. Yet, from these words and a Roman flagellum, pictures and paintings portray men, women, and children cowering under Christ's whip! In NAZARETH REVISTED, by Robert Roberts, p. 113, he portrays it thus: “He flourished a whip of small cords about the ears of the chaffering rabble. He glanced scorching rebuke at them as he overturned their tables and scattered their money, and with imperative gesture, ordered them all out.” Christ did not go around swinging his whip around the buyers and sellers’ ears, nor did he drive out the people who were there to buy their sacrificial animals/doves, described as part of the “chaffering rabble,” out. Using the Law of Leprosy (Lev 14:33-57) that deals with any leprous house and apply it here to include driving out the buyers who came to offer sacrifices to God is totally out of context and false.

When Christ went to attend the Passover, he did not go prepared with a Roman scourge, a flagellum, usually made of leather, used to inflict severe, often fatal, punishment, but when he saw the injustice and profanity going on in the outer court, he made a rope out of the rushes (material used to make rope in ancient times) lying around for the animals to lie on, and used it as a whip not to chase out the merchants with it, nor to hurt the animals, but the whipping sound of the rope would scare the animals and so drive them out like any shepherd or cattle herder did.  

Among the so-called “chaffering rabble,” were sincere, obedient folks who travelled great distances to go to Jerusalem and could not travel with animals for the sacrifices, so had to buy them. They were taken advantage of in having to pay high prices for the animals and doves! If any “chaffering” was going on, it could not have been very successful, as their prices made the merchants and the High Priest’s family very wealthy. The account may be read in The Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah, Ch. 5, “The Cleansing of the Temple,” by Alfred Edersheim.

Up until Augustine, Bishop of Hippo from 396 to 430 A.D., whom Roman Catholicism formally recognized as the “doctor of the church,” no one interpreted this verse, or even implied that Jesus acted violently. The merchants were all cast out (Matt 21:12). It was not done aggressively, nor with a whip hovering over their ears (cf. v. 16, "he said"). Furthermore, since many worshippers came from different lands, their currency would need to be exchanged since the coins sanctioned for use at the Temple were only Tyrian shekels. It bore the image of Melkart, a Phoenician deity, also known as Baal to the Israelites. Pagan images ((cf. Exo 20:4) were brought into the Temple! They were to set up their tables outside the Temple, not within it! Christ’s righteous anger and righteous vindication extended to overthrowing the tables with the pagan coins that honoured a pagan god! The merchants, in using the outer court of the Temple for their traffic, profaned it. It was the Court of the Gentiles used for prayer and for learning about God’s Covenant. It was the only place where the Gentiles were permitted to enter. It was impossible for them to do so during this time with the animals there and the atmosphere filled with their clamour.   

The High Priest and Pharisees, the so-called spiritual leaders of their day, permitted it all to happen! They were more zealous for money than for maintaining the purity of God’s commands.  “Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” May we all be as zealous in our obedience to God.

3:26 clearly, after his baptism, Jesus’ work was not near to where John was baptising. Some for some time both John and Jesus were both baptising individuals. We might wonder why John was told about what Jesus was doing. Maybe they thought John would be jealous as it seems that more people were being baptised by Jesus had his disciples than were being baptised by John.

2:11 In saying that this was the “beginning” <746> of miracles we are reintroduced to the same word “beginning” used in  1:1. It is one of the 8 times that this same word is used in John’s gospel reinforcing the connection with Creation.

2:6 Water for purifying is for ritual cleansing of the flesh. Wine, by contrast , is a the token of the New Covenant which purifies the heart through the forgiveness available through the grace of God.

JOY OF A JOB WELL DONE

John the Baptist was at the point of the greatest joy of his life. He had been preaching and baptising Israel for the past few years and telling them that Christ was going to come. Now Jesus was there. This is what John said, "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:29).

John's joy was based on serving the bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was preparing the way for Jesus - and now that Jesus was on the path behind him, and that the way for Jesus was clear, John's job was done. His joy was that he had done his job well and that the one he had done it for was excelling. So John, knowing that he himself was about to decrease, that his ministry would dwindle, and that he would be killed, his joy was complete. I believe that this joy would have gone with him until his death soon afterwards.

Let us grow joy like John, a joy built on opening the way for Jesus to come into the hearts of the people around us.

John 3:3-5

“… If a man is not born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… How can an old man be born again? If a man is not born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

“Born again in Northern Aramaic means to change one’s thoughts and habits. Nicodemus spoke Southern Aramaic and hence did not understand Jesus.” HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT

Belief in complete immersion baptism of the water is not enough to save us. Jesus tells us both water and spirit are essential. This is so important because it lies at the heart of Jesus’ explanation of what it is to be born again.

Nicodemus did not recognize Jesus’ metaphor and interpreted it with natural eyes wondering how one can start over in life, especially when they are old. This is why Jesus further expanded in verse 5 on what it means to be born again. Nicodemus, a learned Pharisee and respected teacher who studied the Old Testament, one would think he would have had a better understanding and pick up upon reflection what Jesus meant. The Old Testament speaks of “water” and “spirit” throughout, the best example as it relates to Jesus’ explanation may be read in Eze 36:25-27. No wonder Jesus was surprised and exclaimed, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things (John 3:10)? His question carries a huge implication for us in studying and understanding God’s Word.

3:26 clearly, after his baptism, Jesus’ work was not near to where John was baptising. Some for some time both John and Jesus were both baptising individuals. We might wonder why John was told about what Jesus was doing. Maybe they thought John would be jealous as it seems that more people were being baptised by Jesus had his disciples than were being baptised by John.

3:2 This is the second time that inquisition into the new events in Israel were investigated. There were Jews sent to inquire about John the Baptist – John 1:19-23.