Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 4-5
NT: Mark 2:13-28, Mark 3:1-6
Ps: Psalm 36
Pr: Proverbs 10:1-2

Gospel Thread - OT:

If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, he is guilty.

Leviticus 4:27 (NIV)

Ignorance is not a legitimate defense; sin is sin. God gave man His Law not to give new definitions for sin but rather to reveal and expose the sin that already existed. Rather than viewing the Law as an imposition, we should recognize that the Law was a great gift from God to man (see Romans 7:7-13). Man is guilty of the sin he commits, whether or not he does so with the knowledge that his actions are sinful. God holds man accountable for the sin he has committed. Therefore, God showed great love and grace to man, that He would give such a clear explanation of that which is sinful.

Gospel Thread - NT:

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.

Mark 2:22 (NIV)

Jesus is answering the Pharisees' challenge of His disciples' failure to observe rabbinical fasting requirements, and is using a practical example to explain his point.

As part of the fermentation process of winemaking, yeast feeds on sugar from the grapes, converting the sugar into alcohol and producing carbon dioxide gas as a by-product. In biblical times, new (unfermented) wine was placed into a wineskin and allowed to ferment. Fermenting the new wine in a closed vessel such as the wineskin would prevent the by-product carbon dioxide gas from escaping, thus causing the wineskin to expand. Therefore, placing unfermented (new) wine into a wineskin that had already been used to ferment wine would result in the (old) wineskin, which had already been expanded, to burst when the new wine fermented.

Jesus' point was that the gospel/new covenant could not be contained within the confines of rabbinical law and tradition. This analogy could be extrapolated in many ways, but I will leave the explanation as it is.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light

Psalm 36:9 (NIV)

Jesus is our source of both life and light. He is our fountain of life, and he is our light.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today. Note the explanation of how the location of disposal of burnt offerings foreshadows Christ's crucifixion outside of Jerusalem.

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 1-3
NT: Mark Mark 1:29-45, Mark 2:1-12
Ps: Psalm 35:17-28
Pr: Proverbs 9:13-18

Gospel Thread - OT:

SCRIPTURE

Leviticus 1:2 (NIV)

When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it

Leviticus 2:1 (NIV)

If someone's offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an animal without defect.

Leviticus 3:1 (NIV)

The first three chapters of Leviticus discuss the burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings. Here is a compilation of great posts discussing the correlation between the levitical offerings and Messiah.

Gospel Thread - NT:

Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

Mark 2:7 (NIV)

The teachers of the law were right about the former: only God can forgive sin; however, they were wrong about the former. Jesus did not blaspheme. He proved He was God by not only telling the man his sins were forgiven, but also healing his paralysis.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

No direct messianic or gospel reference in today's Psalms/Proverbs reading.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 39-40
NT: Mark 1:1-28
Ps: Psalm 35:1-16
Pr: Proverbs 9:11-12

Gospel Thread - OT:

⁹ "Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. ¹⁰ Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. ¹¹ Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them. ¹² Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. ¹³ Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. ¹⁴ Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. ¹⁵ Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come."

Exodus 40:9-15 (NIV)

As previously discussed, such uses of anointing are messianic references, at least in part. Here, it is the anointing that confers holiness and consecration upon the implements used in and for the tabernacle worship, just as it is through Christ - the "Anointed One" - that holiness and consecration are conferred upon us. Likewise, it is the anointing that consecrates the priesthood of Aaron and his descendants, just as through Christ we are consecrated into His royal priesthood.

Gospel Thread - NT:

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:4 (NIV)

Verses 2-3 quote Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

No direct gospel/messianic references in todays Psalms/Proverbs reading.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 37-38
NT: Matthew 28
Ps: Psalm 34:11-22
Pr: Proverbs 9:9-10

Gospel Thread - OT:

They made the lampstand of pure gold and hammered it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms were of one piece with it.

Exodus 37:17 (NIV)

This comparison might be a stretch, but perhaps the lampstand is symbolic of Christ. The lampstand provided light, and consisted of seven lamps - seven being the number for perfection, holiness, and completion: in other words, the number seven represents God. Note that, in heaven, the Lamb is called the lamp for the City of God (Revelation 21:23), and it is the glory God Himself who provides light in the City (Revelation 22:5).

Gospel Thread - NT:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

The Great Commission: the charge Christ has given to every believer, to spread throughout all the world and among all peoples the truth about man's need for a savior and the good news of God's grace in providing Christ to fill that need. It is at this point in history that a great turn begins - a turn that we will see completed as we move later into the book of Acts. The first part of God's great Plan for salvation is complete, and Jesus has just given His followers the responsibility to preach the gospel - in order that God might usher in the completion of His great Plan: Christ's triumphant return!

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Psalm 34:20 (NIV)

This verse is perhaps a messianic prophecy fulfilled by Christ on the Cross: none of his bones were broken during His crucifixion.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 35:10-35, Exodus 36
NT: Matthew 27:32-66
Ps: Psalm 34:1-10
Pr: Proverbs 9:7-8

Gospel Thread - OT:

and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

Exodus 35:21 (NIV)

God has always asked only for those who are willing, and whose hearts move them to act: to give, to accept salvation, to do anything (see II Corinthians 9:7). God does not force anyone to accept salvation any more than He forces anyone to sacrifice or to give. Granted, all of us will be held accountable for the decisions we make; but we are free to make the decisions as we will.

Gospel Thread - NT:

When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Matthew 27:35 (NIV)

According to the NIV footnotes, this verse fulfills Psalm 22:18.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Matthew 27:46 (NIV)

According to the NIV footnotes, Jesus is quoting Psalm 22:1.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Psalm 34:7 (NIV)

Some believe that Old Testament uses of the term "the angel of the Lord" refer to a pre-incarnate Christ.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 34, Exodus 35:1-9
NT: Matthew 27:15-31
Ps: Psalm 33:12-22
Pr: Proverbs 9:1-6

Gospel Thread - OT:

The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock.

Exodus 34:19 (NIV)

God claims His right to the firstborn offspring of every womb. I do not think it coincidental that God sacrificed His firstborn - and only - Son, Jesus Christ.

Gospel Thread - NT:

²⁷ Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

Matthew 27:27-30 (NIV)

As previously discussed, this is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:7.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33:12 (NIV)

As we saw in God's great promise to Abraham, God made Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob into a great nation - a nation He called His own, and to whom He promised great blessing and through whom His Messiah would come. Also a part of that promise, God declared that He would bless all nations through this nation of Israel. Through Jesus, His Messiah, God chose to adopt all who would come - to graft all believers into the family of Israel. Therefore, we indeed are a part of the nation whose God is the Lord - we are the people He chose for His inheritance!

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 32-33
NT: Matthew 26:69-75, Matthew 27:1-14
Ps: Psalm 33:1-11
Pr: Proverbs 8:33-36

Gospel Thread - OT:

And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

Exodus 33:19 (NIV)

The humbling truth of the gospel is that we have salvation only because God chose to have compassion for us, and to have mercy on us. Not one of us deserves anything other than physical and spiritual death and eternal separation from God because of our sin. How great is our God, that, though not all will choose to accept what He has freely given, He chose to offer His mercy to every person who will accept it!

Gospel Thread - NT:

⁷ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

Matthew 27:7-10 (NIV)

According to the NIV footnotes, this passage fulfills the prophecies of Zechariah 11:12-13, Jeremiah 19:1-13, and Jeremiah 32:6-9.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Psalm 33:11 (NIV)

Already, not even 1/6^th of the way through the Bible, it is obvious that God's plan for man's salvation were woven into the very creation of the world, and that God has remained active in carrying His plan through to completion. It is a blessing and a privilege to have such a candid view of God's plan and His working to fulfill that plan!

For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 8:35 (NIV)

Proverbs 8 is a proverb about wisdom. Thus, this verse tells us that whomever finds wisdom finds life. An overall reading of this chapter reveals a strong allusion of the Holy Spirit as wisdom. This verse also connects the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The point is clear: the way to life - to wisdom, to the Father - is a renewed spirit through Jesus Christ, who bestows upon us the Holy Spirit and life and wisdom.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 30:11-38, Exodus 31
NT: Matthew 26:47-68
Ps: Psalm 32
Pr: Proverbs 8:27-32

Gospel Thread - OT:

You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.

Exodus 30:29 (NIV)

This consecration - both of the tabernacle implements as well as the priests - was accomplished by anointing with the sacred anointing oil. Again, any reference the anointing in such instances as tabernacle/temple worship and the priesthood remind me of the messiah. Especially in this instance, I am reminded of the messiah, since God explicitly states here that anything that is anointed with the sacred oil is holy, and that whatever touches them will also be holy.

Gospel Thread - NT:

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?

Matthew 26:54 (NIV)

But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.

Matthew 26:56 (NIV)

This passage appears to be a fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7. Of particular note, though, is that Jesus knew what the scriptures foretold, exactly what would happen to Him, and how what would happen to Him would fulfill the messianic prophecies. Jesus had a choice of whether or not He would endure everything He suffered, and He chose to love mankind enough to endure it all.

⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." ⁶⁴ "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Matthew 26:63-64 (NIV)

It doesn't get much more point-blank than this exchange: "Are you the messiah?" "Yes." Jesus' claim here is so explicit that those who do not believe Him consider His words to be blasphemy, for He claims to be both the Messiah, and also to be God.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

¹ Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalm 32:1-2 (NIV)

Forgiveness: one of the great blessings of salvation through Jesus! For the believer, sin is covered by Jesus' shed blood, and the result is forgiveness. God chooses not to count our sins against us, because those sins are covered in Christ. Anyone who has experienced this forgiveness can appreciate the emotions of gratitude and relief that David expresses in this Psalm!

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 29, Exodus 30:1-10
NT: Matthew 26:14-46
Ps: Psalm 31:19-24
Pr: Proverbs 8:14-26

Gospel Thread - OT:

For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;

Exodus 29:42 (NIV)

The shedding of the blood of the sacrificial animals symbolized the blood of the Messiah to be shed for ultimate and perfect atonement for sin and propitiation of God's wrath upon the sin of mankind.

Gospel Thread - NT:

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28 (NIV)

Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover meal known as the seder, which consists of a particular order of events and rituals, including the recounting of the Passover story, the eating of foods reminiscent of and as commanded by God for the Passover, the washing of hands, the offering of various blessings, and, in particular, the partaking of four cups of wine: the First Cup, the Cup of Sanctification; the Second Cup, the Cup of Plagues; the Third Cup, the Cup of Redemption; and the Fourth Cup, the Cup of Praise. The entire meal is rich in messianic symbolism. Matthew here is recounting the part of the Passover meal centered around the Third Cup of wine. First, the eating of the afikoman, then the bareich, and finally the Third Cup of Wine.

The afikoman is a piece of bread, broken earlier, wrapped in linen cloth and set aside. It is the afikomen that Jesus breaks and distributes to the disciples during the Lord's Supper. The bareich is the blessing spoken over the Third Cup. It is this blessing that Jesus offers. The Third Cup of Wine is the Cup of Redemption (or Cup of Blessing). It is this cup that Jesus refers to as "my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Jesus is indicating that His blood will be shed in order to establish a new covenant between God and man. His blood will be shed as a propitiation for the punishment due for the collective sin of mankind, as an atonement and forgiveness for that sin, to redeem mankind from the bondage of and slavery to sin, and to bring God's blessing to man.

I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.

Matthew 26:29 (NIV)

The Fourth Cup of Wine is the Cup of Praise, and this cup symbolizes the time when God will gather His people to Himself. It is fitting that Jesus should tell His disciples that He will not drink of the cup again until He drinks of it in His Father's kingdom. For Christians, this fourth cup represents Christ's second coming, when He will gather His people to Himself, and prepare His bride for the great wedding banquet in His Father's kingdom.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

No direct gospel/messianic reference in today's Psalms/Proverbs reading.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 28
NT: Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 26:1-13
Ps: Psalm 31:9-18
Pr: Proverbs 8:12-13

Gospel Thread - OT:

Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.

Exodus 28:3 (NIV)

The garments of the High Priest foreshadow and symbolize our eventual High Priest, that is, Jesus Christ.

Gospel Thread - NT:

a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

Matthew 26:7 (NIV)

This anointing symbolized Jesus as the Christ, that is, the Annointed One.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

This passage is again perhaps a foreshadowing of Christ's lament during His persecution and his affliction on the cross.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.