God's Word for You (Wednesday, Feb 17, 2010)
A Daily Devotion by Pastor Tim Smith
John 5:31-35
Jesus at Bethesda
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. (NIV)
Jesus’ message here is this: The Jews weren’t really looking for truth from John the Baptist, although they went out to listen to him; the people held that John was a prophet, and the leadership thought they should at least give him a look and a listen. But they were only moved emotionally by John; their faith wasn’t affected. And as for Jesus, they weren’t buying it at all. But Jesus appeals neither to himself nor to John; he appeals to God the Father and he appeals to the testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures.
To even a casual observer, it would appear that some of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah could apply to Jesus. What’s incredible is that all of them in fact apply to Jesus. The chances of every Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah—dozens of them—being genuinely fulfilled by one man are about the same as you taking ten years to hide a hundred pennies somewhere in the world and then giving me 24 hours to find them all.
Jesus did it, and he did it for you.
Something Extra:
Psalm 37:5-7
ג (Gimel)
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (NIV)
This passage begins with the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet gimel and the word gol, “roll.” We are told to “roll” or “turn over” our path to the Lord. When we turn over our lives to God and trust in him, putting our faith in him, he will bring us into heaven forever. Verse 6 anticipates the language of Daniel’s angel in the vision by the Tigris: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness (will shine) like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:2-3). God promises us eternal life, which comes to us by faith. We have nothing to do to earn our place in heaven; we turn everything over to the Lord.
ד (Daleth)
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes. (NIV)
The fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, daleth, is the first letter of dom, “be silent; be still.” It’s what the sun did when Joshua prayed for it to “stand still over Gibeon” (Joshua 10:12-13). The term “wait patiently” in the second line of the verse is an interesting Hebrew word which implies an agonizing longing felt within. No matter how much it hurts, we wait for the Lord. Even when people who don’t seem to deserve it prosper and become successful, don’t stop waiting on the Lord. Don’t take matters into your own hands. Wait for him, even when its agonizing; let his blessings come to you in his way, and trust in him above all things.
On him place thy reliance If thou wouldst be secure;
His work thou must consider If thine is to endure.
By anxious sighs and grieving And self-tormenting care
God is not moved to giving; All must be gained by prayer. (The Lutheran Hymnal 520:2)
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. His wife, Kathryn, attended Chapel from 1987-1990 while studying Secondary Education (Theater and Math) at UW-Madison. Kathryn's father, John Meyer, was also the first man to serve as a Vicar at Chapel.
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