Tag: humanity of Jesus

Walking in Truth. Walking in Obedience. Walking in Love.

2 & 3 John

Devotion by John Railton (IN)

II and III John are certainly the shortest of the Apostle John’s writings, often called letters, but perhaps more accurately referred to as postcards. Though they are short, they each pack a lot of applicable teaching, even for us today. John doesn’t name anyone in particular in II John, referring to himself as the elder, and to his recipients as the chosen lady and her children. Some have thought this may be because of ongoing persecution at the time, and not wanting to put a target on anyone’s back. On the other hand, he does address III John specifically to his dear friend Gaius.     

John uses the word truth around 55 times in the five writings attributed to him, depending on the version you use. That would suggest God wanted John to give a great deal of emphasis to truth! Jesus also had placed a great deal of emphasis on truth. I’m convinced that we should value truth as did Jesus and the Apostle John. In II John verse 2 he refers to “the truth which lives in us and will be with us forever.”  Our methods and ways have certainly changed over the ages, but the truth will never change. We must never allow the truth to be watered down or perverted in any way. There will always be varying opinions and ideas as to what the Bible says here or there, but the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus is the glue that holds the Church of God together. That is the gospel we preach.   

Walk this way! John reminds us in II John of three essential ways that we are to walk. He had great joy in V. 4 because he had heard of those who were walking in truth. Then in V. 6 he expects that we would walk in obedience to the Father’s commands. Later in V. 6 he reminds us of the command to walk in love. As we age, our gait sometimes changes. As believers we would do well to check our spiritual gait. Am I walking in truth? Am I walking in obedience? Am I walking in love?      

John emphasizes the truth of the humanity of Jesus, calling those who deny his humanity deceivers.

He further cautions us in V. 10, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching (the teaching of Christ), do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work!” We should be careful to never endorse, support, or otherwise participate in spiritual teaching that’s inconsistent with the teachings of Christ! Discernment is a must. 

III John continues with John’s emphasis on truth. He encourages hospitality and support for those who continue in the teachings of Jesus, He calls out an arrogant man by the name of Diotrephes who had a major problem with his walk. He neither walked in truth, in obedience to the commands, nor in love. John promised to confront him if he was able to be with them in person. In the same paragraph he commended Demetrius for his walk, his reputation, spoken well of by everyone. John had much more to say, but saved it for when he would see them in person. I kind of wish he had written more for our sake, but it is what it is. These are the words God knew we would need today.

Reflection Questions

  1. What value do you place on the truths of God as handed down to us in the 66 books of the Bible? What would John say about watered down truth in your life or in your church?
  2. How is your walk doing? In Truth? In Obedience? In Love? Is one limping along more than the others? What could be an effective spiritual fix for this limp?
  3. If the apostle John knew you and were able to come and see you in person, what do you think he would tell you to work on in your own life?
SGL.2025.DecemberFullPageDownload

Jesus as a Child

Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52

The Gospels describe only a few events associated with the childhood of Jesus. Considering the Greek word for “child” in Matthew 2:8, 11, and the fact that Herod sent to murder all the male children in Bethlehem that were 2 years old and younger, Jesus was months or even a year-old child when Gentile wise men came from the east to acknowledge the arrival of the King of the Jews.

What stands out in Matthew chapter 2 is the different reactions to the birth of the Messiah. The wise men asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” They came to honor the king. Most English translations have “worship” – but the word is often used in the Bible to designate proper respect and honor toward other human beings. These wise men represent Gentiles who acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, the King of the Jews, and by extension, their own king.

Herod “the Great”, on the other hand, when he heard that these Gentile wise men thought the king of the Jews had been born – Herod was troubled. Ironically enough, Herod was called the “King of Jews” at the time. But he had been given that title by the Imperial Roman Government. He wasn’t born as a descendent of David and given the title by God. His anti-Christ murderous deed is emblematic of the high and mighty humans who refuse to acknowledge that Jesus is God’s chosen king.

The persecution and attempted murder of the King Messiah by Herod also is a parallel to the persecution of God’s chosen people Israel. Matthew quotes a passage from the prophet Jeremiah to illustrate the parallel. The nations opposed God’s work through God’s firstborn servant-son Israel. Even so they opposed God’s work through God’s ideal Israel, God’s servant-son Jesus.

And like Israel God’s son, Jesus God’s Son went to Egypt and was brought out of Egypt by God into the land of Israel. Note that the land was called “Israel” in Jesus’s day, not Palestine (Matt. 2:20, 21). Evoking the ancient name “Philistine”, Palestine was the name given to the land by the Romans 100 years later.

When Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned from Egypt, they originally intended to return to Judea (Bethlehem) since Jesus was technically a Judean of the line of David. But because of the murderous nature of the new ruler in Judea, they went to Galilee instead (cf. Matt. 2:22-23 and Luke 2:39. Luke doesn’t record Herod’s murders or Jesus’s travel to and from Egypt).

Luke describes one other event in the childhood of Jesus. When Jesus was 12 years old, he stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Passover festival. We can see that by this time Jesus knew he was the Messiah, who would relate to God as Father, according to the promise of God to David (2 Sam. 7:14, Psalm 2:7, 89:26).

The humanity of Jesus stands out in these events. There is no declaration, as traditional Christianity claims, of God who was born a human. Rather, “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

-Bill Schlegel

Bill Schlegel is the author of the Satellite Bible Atlas and general editor of the One God Report podcast.

Bethlehem in Judah

Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Matthew 2 & Luke 2:39-52

Tomorrow we will read Matthew 3, Mark 1 & Luke 3 as we continue on our Bible reading plan.

2020-chronological-bible-reading-planDownload