David's Son

December 29, 2024 Background Scripture: Luke 18:31 - 43 Lesson Passage: Luke 18:35 - 43 Jesus was known by many titles during His three-year ministry. Each title carries its own meaning and message. The title used in today's lesson refers to His family lineage. Jesus was a descendant of King David. Although many generations separated them, Jesus was called the Son of David. As the Son of David, Jesus was destined to inherit the throne as ruler of the people of God. God promised King David that his descendant would reign over an everlasting kingdom. This will happen after all other human governments are destroyed by God's righteous justice. Only a revelation from God would allow someone to recognize Jesus as such during His first advent. This is what occurred in the narrative of today's lesson. A blind man sitting by the side of the road heard a crowd passing. He inquired as to what was happening and learned that Jesus was passing, and the crowd was following Him. The blind man began to shout aloud calling Jesus the Son of David and begging Him for mercy. Some people in the crowd warned the blind man that he should be quiet. The scripture says that the blind man shouted aloud even more. This is irony at its best. There was a crowd around Jesus who could not see Him for Who He is, and there was a blind man by the side of the road who saw Jesus perfectly! The blind man could not see physically, but God allowed him to see spiritually what the others could not see. Some in the crowd wanted the blind man to be quiet and allow Jesus to pass by him. They were following Jesus, but the blind man could not. Therefore, the blind man did what he could do for himself. He cried out to Jesus for mercy. In his crying out, he addressed Jesus as "Son of David". I believe the Messianic title, Son of David, caused Jesus to stop walking and command the blind man be brought to Him. In commanding that the blind man be brought to Him, Jesus recognized that the blind man needed physical help to come to Him. The blind man had been crying out to Jesus for mercy. Mercy is a broad and anonymous request. Jesus asked the blind man to state what he wanted Jesus to do for him. To avoid becoming overly spiritual about this, I think it's best to consider Jesus' request as being more for the crowd than it was for the blind man. The crowd needed to know that the Son of David can help the people of His kingdom who seek Him for help. The blind man knew what he wanted, and Jesus in His omniscience also knew. After giving him sight, Jesus declared that the blind man's faith had made him well. His faith was believing that the Son of David has the power to heal. The ending of this lesson is a stark contrast to the beginning of the Background Scripture. At the beginning of the Background Scripture, Jesus declared to His disciples how He was going to be abused and killed by the Gentile rulers in Jerusalem, and that He would rise on the third day. He spoke this to them plainly, and yet they could not comprehend nor receive it. This happened after three years of walking with and living around Him. They were so close to Jesus that they could not see His divinity. They accepted Him as a miracle-working prophet of God. Jesus gave them the details of how His earthly ministry would end. They refused to see it because they could not see it. What was about to happen to Jesus reflects the failure of human government to provide for the common welfare for all people. This contrasts with what God revealed to the blind man. He saw a perfect government for people, In God's perfect government, people will receive whatever they need. The blind man expressed his need to the leader of God's government, David's Son. Robert C, Hudson November 30, 2024

A Father's Prophecy

December 15, 2024 Background Scripture: Luke 1:5 - 23, 57 - 80 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:67 - 80 Am I prepared to be promised a miracle? Am I truly open to being told that a miracle is imminent in my life? I think most of us are prepared to receive a miracle. But the promise of a miracle comes with anticipation that often we don't handle well. To minimize daily anxiety, most days I expect my life to unfold as it has for most of my life: just another day. I am grateful to God for each day He gives me. However, I asked those questions because of what happened to Zacharias in the narrative of the Background Scripture. I readily identify with his reaction to seeing the angel and his response to the angel's statement. Zacharias was fulfilling his assignment as he had been instructed to do it at the time he was scheduled to do it. Zacharias was not a young man, so clearly, he knew what he was doing. He was a priest, and it was now his turn to serve in the temple and burn incense. This was by no means a routine assignment, Any misstep could cause him his life for not being reverent in the place dedicated to the worship of God. Israel's history records what happened to some who did not follow the precise directions for approaching God's presence in the manner prescribed by God. Death ensued. When an angel suddenly appeared in the room with Zacharias, it was not a small matter. This could have been a death notice for this elderly man. The angel had to calm Zacharias' nerves down. Then the angel announced that God had heard Zacharias' prayer and sent the answer by him. Zacharias, as an old man, was about to witness the birth of his first child by his aging wife—who had never conceived and given birth! It is not recorded when Zacharias prayed this prayer. Zacharias' response makes it obvious that he did not pray that prayer recently; especially given his age and that of his wife. In fact, he had probably accepted that God's answer to that prayer was "no" a long time ago. His wife, who had never given birth, was now pass the years of childbearing. And now, Zacharias was being told that they were about to receive this miracle birth. It is natural that he would have questions concerning it. But it is never a good idea to doubt what God has said. Therefore, he was given an immediate sign to assure him that God would do exactly what He sent word saying He was going to do. Zacharias was made mute until after the baby was born and it was time to name him. The angel told Zacharias that the baby shall be called John. Zacharias certainly could not say that until after the birth. We don't know if he communicated this to his wife beforehand or if she received revelation of it from God. When the neighbors and friends came together for the circumcision and naming of the baby, they attempted to persuade her to name him after Zacharias. She told them the baby will be called John. As a mute and left out of the discussion, Zacharias had to settle the debate. He requested a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." With that, Zacharias' speech returned, and he prophesied concerning the Lord and John. The prophecy proclaimed John's ministry and its effect on the people. The family and neighbors were left in awe as to the nature of such a child because of what they saw happen to Zacharias. They knew this family was special to God, and Zacharias' prophecy confirmed just how special. Zacharias went from being mute for nine months to amazing after writing one simple sentence, "His name is John." Although he was not prepared for the promised miracle from God, he was now prepared for the unfolding of his son's life as a prophet of Godi And after regaining his ability to speak, Zacharias prophesied concerning his son, John. Robert C. Hudson November 29, 2024