Anointed in Bethany

February 28, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 26:3 – 16; John 12:1 – 8
Lesson Passage: Matthew 26:3 – 16

Nothing quite portrays the humanity of Jesus like the friendship he had with a family in Bethany. It seems as though his visits to Bethany were prompted by the call of friendship more so than the working of miracles or teaching of the masses. In fact, most of his recorded visits there seem to be for the purpose of removing himself from the masses and enjoying some quiet time with his friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Bethany was situated about two miles from Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. It was said to be the last station on the Jericho Road prior to reaching Jerusalem. It was close enough to Jerusalem to be convenient and yet far enough to provide some seclusion if one needed a break. The week before his passion, it appears that Jesus made at least two stops in Bethany. On Palm Sunday he started out in Bethany and went to the temple in Jerusalem and cast out the money-changers and declared the temple to be the house of prayer. He then healed the blind and the lame that were in the temple and was afterwards confronted by the chief priests and the scribes. He left them and returned to Bethany and lodged there. Bethany is the setting of today’s lesson and it would be the last time Jesus would visit the village prior to his crucifixion. As one pieces together the setting as described by Matthew, Mark, and John, Jesus was an invited guest in the home of Simon the leper. John’s account would lead one to believe that Judas Iscariot was the son of the homeowner, Simon the leper. As they sat at the supper, Mary anointed Jesus with some very expensive ointment. This act was enough to cause indignation in the disciples—especially Judas Iscariot who seemed to be more concerned about the value of the ointment than the reason for the act. Jesus knew the real meaning of the act was an act of worship and preparation for his death. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their attitude towards Mary and then commended her for her actions. He went a step further and declared that this act was to be an integral part of the message embodied in the worldwide preaching of the gospel. Mary memorialized Jesus through her actions and Jesus in turn memorialized Mary in declaring that her act was to be told throughout the world as a memorial to her. The scriptures present Mary as a worshiper of the Lord. While her sister, Martha, is presented as a diligent worker with a servant’s disposition, Mary was to be found at the Master’s feet worshiping him. It is fitting that while even the disciples are behaving as though they are at just another dinner with their teacher, Mary had received a revelation of the deeper meaning of the time at hand. Her Master would not be there always and she was determined to do as much as she could and sacrifice, in spite of cost, what she could to show reverence for her Lord. Judas Iscariot’s estimation of the value of the ointment was about a year’s wages for a common laborer. For a thief, that amount of money would have been seen as a lost opportunity. For Mary, Jesus was worth it, and because of Mary’s anointing of him, this provided yet another testimony to Jesus as Messiah.

Robert C. Hudson
February 22, 2010

Witnessed by Disciples

February 21, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 17:1 – 13
Lesson Passage: Matthew 17:1 – 13

The event in today’s lesson is recorded in four passages of scripture. It is worth reading all of them since each passage offers a slightly different perspective. This will allow for more information being that each passage was written to a different group for different reasons. Each of the synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke) records this incident and Peter recounts it in his second epistle. Peter was the only writer who was an eyewitness and he wrote about it so that after his death, others might be strengthen in the faith in knowing that the teaching of the apostles was not with cleverly designed fiction but with actual facts. Today’s lesson is another example of testimony of Jesus as Messiah under the general theme of Christ the fulfillment.

As we examine Matthew’s account of the transfiguring of Jesus, we note that it took place as Jesus prayed. Jesus had taken Peter, John, and James with him up a very high mountain away from the other disciples and the multitude in the valley. These three disciples are often referred to today as Jesus’ inner circle. It is recorded that on several occasions when Jesus isolated himself from the crowd that he would take these three disciples with him. It is not really explained why these three were included and not some of the others. Matthew for instance is one of the disciples that would later record an account of the gospel but yet he was not included in the inner circle for reasons only God knows. It is sufficient for us to know that Peter, James and John were respected enough by the other disciples as well as other Christian converts that would be added after Pentecost that their testimony was and is most certainly believed and accepted by all. What was witnessed on the mountain was a physical change of Jesus’ appearance. The Greek word that is used of the change is metamorphosis. Jesus’ face and clothes became as radiant as the sun with a very white glow. This scene was further enhanced by the appearance of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus and they also had radiant appearances. Some see Moses and Elijah as representative of all believers in glory. Moses died physically as a believer and Elijah did not die but was instead translated or raptured from the earth. Even more powerful than this appearance was the conversation between the three focused on Jesus’ future sacrifice of himself for the sins of man. As the disciples began to come out of their grogginess, Peter suggested that memorial tents be set up to commemorate this mind boggling event in the name of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. At that suggestion, God, the Father, spoke from heaven to the disciples and declared Jesus as his beloved son and the only one they should listen to. God would not allow the disciples to elevate the prophets to the same status as Jesus. After all, the prophets, like the disciples, were servants of Jesus and therefore they did his will. This event is another example of Jesus as Messiah and three of his disciples witnessed it.


Robert C. Hudson
February 15, 2010

Declared by Peter

February 14, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 16:13 – 27
Lesson Passage: Matthew 16:13 – 27

Today’s lesson is a continuation of the study of the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah in the Gentile regions. Although the setting of this lesson is outside of Jewish territory, it is, however, Peter who makes the confession of Jesus’ identity. It is of interest that Jesus would pose the question concerning the rumors of his identity to his disciples. It should also be noted that he did it while they traveled through Gentile rather than Jewish territory. He asked them, What are people saying about me or rather, who do they say that I am? Herod the tetrarch told his servants that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead and the miracles were a result of his resurrection. Here, the disciples repeat that rumor in response to Jesus’ question. Other rumors suggested that Jesus was one of the prophets of the Old Testament who had not been heard from in hundreds of years. There didn’t appear to be any rumors that Jesus just might be a totally new prophet rather than a resurrected one from the past. Nevertheless, Jesus then made the question very personal and asked them who they thought he was. Again it is of note that Jesus would pose these questions to his disciples concerning the rumors about him. The second question is one that separates rumors or the opinions of others from personal belief. If one is going to follow Jesus you should have an inkling of who you think this person is that you are following. A person’s commitment to Jesus cannot be based on the rumors of others. Our level of commitment to and willingness to serve someone is based on what we think about the person. We cannot base those things on what others think about the person. Personal devotion and submission is according to personal belief and not popular opinion. Perhaps the underlying question that Jesus was posing to his disciples was, Why are you following me? Who do you think I am that would cause you to follow me? Is it because of what others say about me? Peter’s answer to the personal question came by way of revelation from God. Only God reveals Jesus’ true identity. Everyone who has come to believe in Jesus and put their trust in him to save them from their sin has done so because God opened up their understanding of Jesus’ identity. Peter’s answer was not the result of some fact-finding expedition or logical conclusion based on personal insight. God revealed Jesus’ identity to Peter. Jesus declared Peter to be blessed because of what God had shared with him. Then Jesus revealed a greater revelation to them at that point. It was the mystery of the church which had been hidden in God since before creation. Before God created a man he had provided a plan of salvation as a necessary provision because of man’s sin and subsequent separation from him. The church would have a foundation and one of those that would be instrumental in laying that foundation would be Peter. So Jesus did not call them to follow him just to witness the miracles he performed and for them to feel popular among their peers. They would be some of the architects of the church’s foundation. Their preaching would extend the invitation to whosoever will come to Christ for salvation. As exciting and confusing as this must have been to them, the greatest confusion was accepting the price that would be paid for it. Jesus Christ is indeed the son of God and Peter declared it.

Robert C. Hudson
February 2, 2010

Recognized in Gentile Territory

February 7, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 15:21 – 31; Mark 7:24 – 37
Lesson Passage: Matthew 15:21 – 31

In this Unit of Study, we examine Testimonies to Jesus as Messiah. This unit begins with Jesus’ ministry in the Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon. In spite of his role as a Jewish Messiah, the Gentiles did not allow this to impede their determination to receive blessings from him.

In our lesson today, Jesus had entered into the coastal towns along the Mediterranean Sea. This was a distinctly Gentile territory that had never been settled by the Jews. Jesus had withdrawn from the area around the Sea of Galilee apparently for some rest. He entered into a house for some privacy but Mark records in his gospel account that he could not be hid. Put another way, the citizens there knew of his presence. The encounter that took place there is best understood when Matthew’s account of it is studied in conjunction with Mark’s account. Mark lets us know that it took place in a house and Jesus was apparently trying to have some down time since he did not want anyone to know he was there. As a Gentile woman cried unto Jesus for mercy, he did not respond to her. The lesson passage says that he answered her not a word. Jesus’ disciples appear to have become irritated with this woman and requested that he not ignore her but instead send her away from them. It was at the disciples’ request that Jesus responded. Jesus’ response made it clear that his ministry did not involve or include her since his ministry was to the lost Jews. Now that she had Jesus’ attention (that is to say that he was at least acknowledging her presence), she came and fell down at his feet and worshiped him and again made her request for help known to him. Jesus now responded to her with a metaphor. Metaphorically speaking, he said it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. This is to suggest that when food is purposely prepared for children that you should not overlook their needs and throw the food away where it can be devoured by the dogs. This woman did not come up with her own metaphor. Instead, she worked within the bounds of Jesus’ metaphor. She said to Jesus you are right in what you said but even the dogs under the table are allowed the privilege of eating the crumbs that fall off the table onto the floor. In other words, if the children are not careful and appreciative of the blessings they receive, then what they waste will be gladly received by those who are underprivileged. (Remember, “Eat all the food on your plate because there are children in Africa starving.”?) Where children that are blessed with bread become unappreciative and allow some of it to crumble to the floor, then there are those in need who are willing to receive the blessing that they don’t appreciate. Note that this woman’s response settled the whole matter with Jesus. The scripture does not suggest that she saw herself as a dog but that she understood Jesus’ analogy. She did not challenge Jesus’ right to focus only on the Jews but she did understand that many of them didn’t really appreciate the blessings they were being offered. She didn’t ask to take away the Jews’ blessing. What she requested quite clearly was the blessing that they let slip from their hands and crumble to the floor. Although she was a Gentile, she still recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

Robert C. Hudson
January 28, 2010