September 17, 2017
Hymn 335 - I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Prayer
We’ve been looked at the different courts that Jesus was judged in. He is the Judge of all the earth, but here man was judging Him. The Jewish leaders condemned Him, because they said He blasphemed, but they needed the Romans to condemn Him, too, in order to get Him killed. Last week we saw them before Pilate, and they changed the story of what Jesus had done wrong in order it make it sound bad to him. However, Pilate found no fault in Jesus. This made the Jews angry.
As the Jews accused Jesus, they mentioned Galilee. Hearing that, Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod, who was ruler over Galilee, so that he wouldn’t have to deal with this problem. Herod just happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
Luke 23:8-11
This was the Herod who gave John the Baptist’s head to a girl who danced at his birthday party. At the time, John was in prison because he had rebuked Herod for stealing his brother’s wife. These things don’t say much good about Herod. He was much more interested in amusing himself than in helping other people.
Herod was happy to see Jesus, because he wanted to see Him do a miracle. Jesus had done many, many, miracles in public; amazing things that no one else could do. However, Herod didn’t say, “I wonder if Jesus can fix me; I’ve done a lot of bad things.” No, he wanted to be amused by seeing Jesus do a miracle. Herod was supposed to be a serious judge, and to sentence or release Jesus, but instead he was idle, and just wanted some entertainment. Jesus never did miracles just for fun, though. He was on Earth on serious business: saving souls. Herod didn’t feel any need of Jesus; except if He could amuse him.
Herod asked Jesus many questions. We’re not told what the questions were, but they were probably idle things. Jesus stood before him in dignity, but answered nothing. This showed what Jesus thought about Herod; He would have answered if Herod had asked the right question. The Jews accused Jesus vehemently, but Jesus remained silent; He didn’t even defend Himself.
Since Jesus wouldn’t answer him, Herod decided to make fun of Him. No doubt the Jews had mentioned that Jesus claimed to be king, and so Herod put a magnificent robe on Him, and mocked Him. How sad! Man should bow to Jesus, and own Him as Saviour, not mock Him.
Then Herod didn’t make a judgement at all; he simply sent Jesus back to Pilate. The other sad thing is that, before, Pilate and Herod were enemies, but they became friends on that day. It’s wonderful when you get saved, and become friends with others who love Jesus. Here, however, were two men that became friends in condemning Jesus.
So here we’ve seen Herod, an idle man, that didn’t want Jesus to fix him, but just wanted to see an amazing miracle for amusement. Instead, he saw a man who was humble but dignified. He didn’t pass judgement on Jesus, but sent Him back to Pilate.
Titus 2
Paul starts off the second chapter talking about age and gender. It may not be politically correct today, but God takes notice of these things.
Darby puts verse one as, “But do thou speak the things that become sound teaching”. In this chapter sound and sober are each mentioned three times. The Greek word that is translated sound is where we get the word hygiene. Mr. Kelly translates this as healthful or healthy. Here in our chapter it speaks about being spiritually healthy. We read the Bible for our spiritual health, and may we go on in the spiritual health these teachings provide. In the margin we find sober can also be translated vigilant. That characteristic can be a challenging one.
I think the characteristics in verse two are for all the children of God, but it is specifically written to aged men. Many may have an empty nest now, but they can still be a blessing to others.
Verse five, translated by Darby, is, “discreet, chaste, diligent in home work, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of”. Some young women in the home have a big job to do. I’m thankful for those who are not going out to compete in the business world. The world has turned contrary to some of these principles. It’s sad that some children don’t have the blessing of this. Sometimes it seems the desire for more homes and accessories is achieved at the expense of others.
For verses six through eight Darby has, “The younger men in like manner exhort to be discreet: in all things affording thyself as a pattern of good works; in teaching uncorruptedness, gravity, a sound word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us:“. Working out in the world requires one to be diligent and careful. In these verses we see we are to have healthy speech.The speech of the world isn’t always sound. Doctrine is what you believe. Most of the world is contrary to sound doctrine. Sound speech has to do with sound doctrine when verbalized. There are those who don’t believe the doctrine in the Word. We are apparently to make them ashamed to the point they can’t say any evil about it. They aren’t just contrary in their atheistic view point, even their morals are contrary to scripture. More and more atheists are becoming vocal about their view point. It’s important to be ready to engage with them. Darby and Kelly didn’t face these things. It’s a whole new set of challenges.
In one way or another, everyone is a servant. Those out working are “servants” to their boss. Purloining is stealing and robbery.
The way our work is done or the way we behave reflects on the doctrine of God. That’s what this is all about. Making the Gospel look good.
Hymn 215 - Happy they who trust in Jesus
Prayer