Today’s reading: Lev 20:1–22:33, John 9:35–41, Song 8:1–5

Today’s theme: The Light

Jesus brings light and He is light. If you go back to John chapter 1, you will see that the theme is not the word, but the Light. God is Light and there is no darkness in Him, it is the light of God that brings life, warmth, revelation and judgement. It is God’s light of revelation in His law that gives a clear distinction and definition of sexual sin, as seen in today’s reading.

Today we should give God thanks for the light of His Word, God the Holy Spirit and even the true church, as we shine in this dark world to the glory of God.

Leviticus 20:1–22:33

Don’t sacrifice your children

“Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. Leviticus 20:2 (ESV)

This still happens today and even in the sanitised West, we sacrifice our children by exposing them to the evil in the media and sacrificing them on the altar of our careers or convenience.

The penalty for adultery

“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 (ESV)

This shows that in the case where the woman was caught in the act of adultery, the man was allowed to escape because the leaders were just trying to catch Jesus out and had themselves, fallen away from keeping the law in truth.

Homosexuality, a clear sin

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. Leviticus 20:13 (ESV)

God always speaks of homosexuality in the strongest terms, we should not capitulate to the pressures of modernity and the fierce onslaught from the secular humanist elites, who seek to force their twisted view of scripture and the world on everyone, with tyrannical force and intolerance.

The high priest should not tear his clothes

“The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes. Leviticus 21:10 (ESV)

The high priest broke this law in the mock trial of Jesus.

Jesus, the perfect sacrifice

And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. Leviticus 22:21 (ESV)

This (and all references like it) points forward to Jesus as our perfect sacrifice, without blemish, and to the Holiness of God.

John 9:35–41

Jesus receives worship

He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. John 9:38 (ESV)

Jesus as God incarnate, receives this worship.

The Light

Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” John 9:39 (ESV)

Jesus is the light of the world, by virtue of the light coming in darkness, those in spiritual blindness will see.

Light brings judgement, I cannot discern where I am or what I should do without light. Jesus by virtue of bringing the light of the Gospel, brings clear judgement to those who choose to reject the light and cleave to darkness.

The light coming on shows up those who claim to have sight, but really do not.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on John 9

Today’s reading: Lev 17:1–19:37, John 9:13–34, Song 7:10–13

Today’s theme: God’s order for society

Today we read about God’s plan for relationships, family, community and the wider society. In places where there is freedom today, the principles of the laws are founded on God’s order, however governments are moving further and further away from God’s design which will only lead to misery, judgement and the breakdown of society.

Leviticus 17:1–19:37

Idolatry is demonic

So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations. Leviticus 17:7 (ESV)

The cults of the near east at this time were nothing short of witchcraft and Satanism, involving the direct worship of demons and Satan himself (under various pseudo names). Therefore the admonition against idolatry was a serious one, because when God’s people went astray, it was not a momentary flirting with sin, it was full-on adultery with God’s enemy.

Jesus gave his life / blood

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Leviticus 17:11 (ESV)

When Jesus shed His blood, He gave His life for us. It is by His blood that atonement is made for our sins.

God’s order for relationships

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 18:2 (ESV)

God prepares to speak concerning sexual relationships by declaring that He is “the Lord your God”. It is in light of our relationship with and worship of God that we should have and pursue godly and pure relationships in marriage, family and community.

John the Baptist knew God’s good law

You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. Leviticus 18:16 (ESV)

John the Baptist had to deal with this, with Herod.

The abomination of Homosexuality

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 (ESV)

Homosexuality is an abomination before God.

God’s plan for the family

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:3 (ESV)

Family is at the heart of society, this is why it is one of the first things that God addresses and the first thing that the devil attacks. Even today’s political agendas with same sex marriage etc. are an attack on the heart of society –  the family.

God’s plan for social care

And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:10 (ESV)

In all the wealth of the Western world, we should remember the poor. God’s model for society and social care is best.

Be frank and reasonable

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbour, lest you incur sin because of him. Leviticus 19:17 (ESV)

We are called to be open and honest.

The golden rule

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 (ESV)

This is the great command revived and emphasised by Jesus as being a summary of the law, alongside the command to treasure God above all.

Honour the elderly

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32 (ESV)

It is the opposite in today’s society, were some cannot wait to get the elderly out of the way. We need God to change our hearts and minds.

John 9:13–34

Hold on to your testimony

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25 (ESV)

No one can take away your testimony of what Jesus has done for you.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Christian Concern – Our Concerns

Desiring God on Social Issues

Today’s reading: Lev 15:1–16:34, John 9:1–12, Song 7:5–9

Today’s theme: Jesus, our scapegoat

We see the vivid imagery of the scapegoat (scape from escape, therefore the goat who provides a way to escape), which find its fulfilment in Jesus, who takes away our sin and makes a way of escape for us. We also read about the day of atonement which Jesus fulfilled in His once for all, sacrificial death.

Leviticus 15:1–16:34

Sexual purity is important

“Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.” This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean. Leviticus 15:31–33 (ESV)

This no longer directly applies but we can learn from it that God takes our sexual purity seriously and addresses it often in the New Testament. see 2 Cor 12:21, Gal 5:19, Eph 5:3, Col 3:5

God’s holy presence

and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. Leviticus 16:2 (ESV)

It is such a privilege that we can now come boldly before God’s throne of grace. Without Jesus, approaching God’s throne was a fearful and dangerous thing because God is holy and we are not.

Jesus, our scapegoat

but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. Leviticus 16:10 (ESV)

Azazel means scapegoat but also speaks of the place in the wilderness that the goat would go to, never to be seen again, a symbolic sign of sin being taken away. Jesus was our scapegoat, taking sin away.

The smoke of incense

and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. Leviticus 16:13 (ESV)

The cloud of incense served a very practical (as well as ceremonial) purpose, it covered Aaron’s eyes so that he would not see God and die.

The day of Atonement, fulfilled

For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. Leviticus 16:30 (ESV)

Jesus fulfilled the day of atonement on the cross.

John 9:1–12

Sovereign over disability

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 (ESV)

God (not the devil) is sovereign over disability. God created those disabled, for His purposes and to display His work in them, sometimes resulting in their healing.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 9

Today’s reading: Lev 14:1–57, John 8:31–59, Song 7:1–4

Today’s theme: The reward of true discipleship

Leviticus 14:1–57

All those offerings

one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for him who is being cleansed. Leviticus 14:31 (ESV)

Thank God we no longer have to go through all of this. Jesus came and fulfilled all of this for us, by dying for our sins on the cross, rising from the dead and then ascending to heaven to be our High Priest. Jesus makes atonement for us through His sacrifice on the cross.

John 8:31–59

The reward of true discipleship

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” John 8:31–33 (ESV)

The evidence (staying in God’s word) and reward (knowing the truth, being free) of true discipleship.

The slavery of the will to sin

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. John 8:34–35 (ESV)

In today’s world we often talk about and exalt “free will” when in fact, in sin our will is bound (not free), to a slave master which is sin itself. The act of sin actively enslaves.

Sent by the Father

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. John 8:42 (ESV)

It was the Father that sent the Son. Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan from before the world began.

Adopted to hear and understand

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47 (ESV)

Unless we are chosen by God we cannot understand Gods word or the teaching of Jesus. No amount of convincing will work without the help of the Holy Spirit. We believe the Bible not because we are wise or were convinced, but because God adopted us and made us His children.

Jesus, The I AM

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58 (ESV)

Jesus’ bold claim to be God incarnate. The “I AM” is one of the most sacred names of God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 8

Today’s reading: Lev 12:1–13:59, John 8:12–30, Song 6:11–13

Today’s theme: Light of the world

Today we read the wonderful declaration of Jesus himself, that He is the light of the world, which is one of His many “I AM” statements that identify Himself with God. We should dedicate our lives to shinning the light of Jesus to the world.

Leviticus 12:1–13:59

Mary was obedient

And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.” Leviticus 12:8 (ESV)

Mary the mother of Jesus, was obedient to this command and brought this version of the offering to be cleansed after Jesus was born, this shows that the family Jesus was born into was not wealthy.

The deep disease of sin

and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. Leviticus 13:3 (ESV)

Leprosy is a horrible disease and can be symbolic of sin which is a disease of the heart (deeper than the skin).

John 8:12–30

The light of the world

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)

Jesus makes a bold and unique declaration to be the light of the world. This would have stirred up imagery in the ears of those listening (along with His earlier allusions using manna and living water), to the manifest presence and glory of God seen in the wilderness and tabernacle. This is Jesus’ second “I Am” statement, revealing Himself as the incarnate Word.

We MUST honour Jesus

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19 (ESV)

Religions that supposedly honour God but dishonour Jesus, prove themselves to be false.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on John 8