Monday, March 18, 2024

Lot & Daughters, From Living Large, to Cave Squatters, Genesis 19:30-38

 


Today we find Lot at rock bottom, drunk, hiding in a cave, with two pregnant daughters…and it gets worse

How’d he get here?

Once upon a time, Lot was living large. So large, even the patriarch Abraham, yielded to him.

The land couldn’t contain their ever-growing herds and flocks. This caused strife between their herdsmen.

So, Abraham said; Lot, we’re family. You choose wherever you want. If you go left, I’ll go right, you go this way, I’ll go that. 

We may not fit on the same ranch,  but we can still be neighbors, live peacefully, side by side. Right? Let’s just not fight.

Lot was at a crossroads. 

The world lay at his feet.

Abraham was the elder. Abraham was the one God called to this land of abundance and milk and honey. Abraham was the one who took Lot under his wing and brought him on this adventure. Abraham was probably the reason Lot prospered.

The right thing, the honorable thing, would be for Lot to yield to Abraham.

Lot’s decision is in Gen. 13:10-13

And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar (south). 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.

Lot lifted his eyes, not to the Lord, but to the land. 

Then Lot chose for himself, not for the Lord, not for Abraham, not for what was best for his family, not for what was right, but for... himself 

When you find a place where you see and hear from the Lord; don’t move, until, He tells you to. 

Yeah but, the grass is greener, the rent is cheaper, I can make more money...  

Lot separated from Abraham, the man to whom God spoke, visited, blessed and said: Through you, all nations of the earth will be blessed. Genesis 12:3, 22:18.

Lot willingly left, the friend of God, and dwelt with the enemies of God, in the wicked city of Sodom.

Nevertheless, mercy triumphed over judgement, and God gave Lot an eviction notice, effective immediately.

Lot was told by God, (via the angels) to flee wicked Sodom, Gen. 19:17, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”

Escape! Don’t look back, or stay in the plain!

So, what’d they do? 

Looked back and stayed in the plain.

Mrs. Lot looked back and turned into a salt shaker.


Lot said he was afraid of the mountains so he begged to stay in Zoar.

Now he’s afraid of Zoar, so he goes to the mountains to live in a cave.


Genesis 19:30 
Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.

Today, Lot's Cave near ancient Zoar (modern day: Ghor as-Safi) is an archaeological site southeast of the Dead Sea.

There’s an inscription in the cave that mentions Lot by name.

Remnants from the cave date to early Bronze Age (3300–2000 BC).

Nearby is: Lot’s Cave Museum. They have on display excavated pottery reportedly 4,500 years old.

There’s more.

A Divine Warning:

This area south of the Dead Sea contains the remains of the ancient world’s largest cemetery. By Divine Design, this is the lowest place on earth, 1,329 feet below sea level.

The earth itself echoes a Divine warning to flee the place of the dead to the land of the living; because what happened in Sodom, will happen again, in the quickly approaching Great Tribulation.

So…

Lot & daughters, went from living large, to cave squatters.

If we leave the presence and protection and provision of God… peace disappears, and fear sets in.

Know Jesus, Know Peace

No Jesus, no peace

When we walk in the center of God’s will, we will have peace, no matter our location or possessions.

Yeah but…Lot was in God’s will, wasn’t he?

Lot got permission to choose wherever he wanted.

Lot got permission to go Zoar.

Lot got… no peace.

You see there’s a huge difference between the permissible will of God and the perfect will of God.

Peace of God accompanies the perfect will of God, not the permissible will.

That saying, “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission”, only feeds the flesh, and repels the Peace and Presence of God.

It is a miserable way to live. Lot had too much of the world to be happy in the Lord, too much of the Lord to be happy in the world.

Worse yet, fence straddling, destroys our witness, especially to family, it actually harms the cause of Christ.

Lord, we commit to be all in, all the time, in public and private, at home and on the street, even in our thought life, and when, especially when, nobody’s looking but You. We want to walk in, live in, Your peace that passes understanding, Your joy unspeakable and full of glory. Help us to cling to, and stay smack dab in the middle of, Your Good and Perfect will.

 

31 Now the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. 


Dad’s old, there’s no other man on the planet to give us kids

Okay, none of what she said was true, except perhaps the dad’s old part (that’s relative). Uncle Abe, is 99. Lot’s 70s – 80s? In Florida, that's a spring chicken, or is it a snowbird?  

However, we have compassion on the girls, what they just went through was terrifying; all surrounding cities destroyed, except little Zoar.

Plus, their fiancés (husbands) are dead; just killed in the destruction of Sodom. So, obviously, they weren’t Godly men, or they’d still be alive.

Picture the scene.

They’re no longer looking out over thousands of acres of well-watered, green pastures filled with their own flocks and herds.

They’re no longer seated in their stately parlor sipping tea (or whatever they sipped back then) and chatting the day away.

They’re hiding, in a dark musty cave, choking on campfire smoke.

This scene, and the next seven verses tells us a lot… about Lot, and his influence on his daughters.

Ø Lot’s fear

Ø Lot’s irresponsibility

Ø Lot’s compromise

Lot’s fear

Lot fears the mountains, then he fears Zoar, now he’s hunkering and hiding in a cave.

Fear exaggerates reality. The monster under the 3’ bed is 10’ tall. Lot’s daughters fearfully exaggerate; there’s no man left in the whole wide world to give us babies.

Fear disconnects from reality. It’s the way (custom) of all the earth. We have to do it. Everybody’s doing it. 

Lot’s irresponsibility

Lot failed to find suitable husbands for his daughters. If only he’d have talked to them about it. Made a plan. Hey girls, let’s go to uncle Abe’s, we’ll start over, he’s got lots of hunky, Godly, ranch hands that’d love to meet you. Why didn’t he go to Abraham? Toward Abraham was probably the direction the angels pointed when they told him to head for the hills.

Was Lot present? Involved? An example of faith, integrity, character, courage, morality, so his daughters could see what a Godly man and husband should be?

His selfish, irresponsible, unwise life choices reveal that he wasn’t.

Lot subjected his family to the wicked influences of Sodom.

Before we say, I’d never!

What do we allow in our home? What do we listen to? What do we watch? What comes out of our mouth? Consider: Tik-Tok; You Tube? TV Channels? HBO? Showtime? Music? Speech? &%$#!

Nowadays there’s no need to go, to sin city, Sodom or Vegas, the spirit of Sodom streams 24/7 straight into the souls of our homes—and we’re paying for it. In more ways than one.

Lot’s compromise

Lot’s life style was compromised instead of circumcised. Instead of being set apart, he settled in with the world of the wicked.

He made no difference. No salt. No light. No one took him seriously.

He actually offered to give his own daughters to a mob of males to be gang raped.

Angels had to literally pull him from Sodom.

Father’s have enormous influence on daughters

Lord, help us walk with You fearlessly, responsibly and without compromise so our influence is for Good not evil.

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” 


Dysfunction on steroids.

The Bible, covers everything; cowers to nothing.

In the last four chapters we’ve covered:

Chapter 16, adultery; 17, circumcision; 18, sodomy; 19, incest.

Whew.

Much of that was covered while my young grandkids were listening. It wasn’t easy, but the Bible is the best place to go to teach sex education, and family values.

At this place in Scripture, you may hear sermons saying, Lot was able to take his daughters out of Sodom, but not take Sodom out of his daughters. Then, the spotlight swings to the sin of the daughters.

However, I submit to you that Lot’s daughters are simply imitating their father.

Remember, Lot had just offered his daughter’s to be raped repeatedly for a politically correct, stupid and sinful, but socially acceptable tradition. Protect your guests with your life—whatever it takes. Or at least, that’s how it was, from his compromised point of view.

Now, Lots daughters offer to rape their father, repeatedly (twice), for a politically correct, stupid and sinful, socially acceptable tradition. Procreate the lineage of your father—whatever it takes. Or at least, that’s how it was, from their compromised point of view.

Lot thought he was doing a respectful thing, but in reality, he was horrifically disrespecting his daughters.

Lot’s daughters thought they were doing a respectful thing, but were horrifically disrespecting their father.

In major dysfunction, many times the child will do anything to please the parent.

Of course, down deep inside the girls knew it was wrong, otherwise there’d be no need to get ol’ dad drunk.

It had not yet been written for them, but for us, the Bible is perfectly clear is multiple places. Here’s one: Leviticus 18:6; No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.

And others for further study: Leviticus 18:6-18; 20:11, 12, 17, 19-21; Deuteronomy 22:30; 27:20-23; Ezekiel 22:11; 1 Corinthians 5:1.

So… do you think the girls went through with it, or did they just talk about it?

Let’s see:

33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

Yep. They went through with it. 

The original text in no way implies they made him drink. They offered him drink, perhaps encouraged him to drink, but they did not force him to drink. You can lead a horse to water…

Lot willingly took and swallowed, the wine—in excess. I can’t remember what I did last night, excess.

34 It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, “Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.” 

The influence of Sodom was evident.

The girls knew the drill, they were familiar with the effect of drunkenness; and how to use it.

Perhaps they weren’t as innocent as Lot thought.

35 Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

Okay, we need to back up and look at a couple seeds planted over the past two weeks, because now they are ready to sprout.

A couple weeks ago we looked at:

Sodom and Gomorrah, Rescue Mission, Genesis 19:1-11

Lot made the angels a feast (Genesis 19:3).

The word used for feast in Hebrew is: mishteh.

The definition: feast, drink.

The uses are: banquet(s), drank, drink, drinking, feasting, where they were drinking, which he drank.

Hiccup!

It appears perhaps drink was as important to Lot’s feast as food.

Then, last week when we were in:

 Sodom & Gomorrah, The Reckoning, Genesis 19:12-29

The angel warned them to escape to the mountains. However, Lot said he was afraid of the mountains, and begged to go to Zoar.

But then, Lot leaves Zoar, and goes to the mountains.

Did he insist on Zoar, not so much for fear of the mountains, but for fear of being without supplies (for medicinal purposes, hiccup!).

Okay, take those seeds back to our text.

We might conclude the girls already knew, Lot would drink, a lot.

We don’t know for sure; we weren’t there, it doesn’t say, but the situation begs a few questions:

If Lot were not a drinker:

Would the girls have come up with such a crazy scheme?

Would they have gotten away with it? 

Would they have enough booze in the cave to get dad drunk, really drunk, two nights in a row?

Perhaps they could fool him once, but not two nights in a row.

If Lot was not a drinker, wouldn’t he have come to the obvious solution? Let’s go stay with uncle Abe. However, someone who gets—I can’t remember sleeping with my daughters drunk—would rather go into isolation than reveal something like that to, Mr. Father of Many Nations.

I might need to apologize to Mr. Lot, one day, in heaven. Which is where he’s at, because, the Holy Spirit tells us that God delivered just Lot, that righteous man whose heart was vexed, tormented, convicted, from day to day by their unlawful deeds. 2 Peter 2:7-9.

That is a description of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. Which is the result, the fruit, of Abraham’s intercession. Gen. 19:29 (God remembered Abraham and delivered Lot).

Without Abe’s intercession, instead of just Lot, or, righteous Lot, we might’ve just had, lost Lot.

Here in is the power of prayer tapping into the amazing saving grace of God.

Lord, like Abe, we pray for all those You’ve given us, we stand in the gap, and pray them Home, in the name of Jesus.

NOTE: To be clear. Lot may have battled with alcohol abuse, the key word is battled, but, he did not surrender to it, otherwise he'd fall in the same lot as the sodomites and others who never enter heaven.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God


36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 

And they packed up the wagon and moved to Alabamy, with, Pappy, Daddy; Lot his own grandpappy.

Did you know first cousins in Florida can legally marry? 

Not that you care, but I  just wanted to balance it out, so the Alabama folks don't shoot me. 


37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.

Moab means, from father

Ben-Ammi means, son of my people.

The Moabite and Ammonite people settled in what is now north and central Jordan.

Jordan’s capital today is, Amman, named after Ammonites.

They were enemies of Israel.

Ammonites

The Ammonites, worshipped a false god called molech, he was a fire-god with the face of a calf; his images had arms outstretched to receive babies sacrificed to him. Today the name has changed, the evil is the same, instead of molech we call it abortion.

 Amos 1:13 says that the Ammonites would rip open pregnant women in the territories they conquered.

Moabites

Moabite women seduced Israelite men into massive sexual sin. This provoked the Lord’s anger and a plague broke out. Folks were dropping dead, until Phinehas, in his zeal for the Lord, ran into a tent where an Israelite man was with a Midianite woman, and he thrust them through with a javelin.

The plague stopped but by then, 24,000 were already dead.  Numbers 25.

Make no mistake, God reserves the ungodly for judgement.

But don’t forget, He also rescues the righteous, 2 Peter 2:7-9.

There once was a Moabite woman born into that pagan family; on the wrong side of the tracks.

But God looks at the location of the heart not the house.

The lady’s husband died, and things were hard.

She, like Lot, stood at a crossroads. Unlike Lot, she chose to deny herself and follow the God of Israel she’d come to know.

God is faithful.

Through Divine connections, she married a man named Boaz.

And became the great grandmother of King David, ancestor of our Lord and Savior, Ruth 4:17, Matthew 1:5.

God knows how to find a diamond in the rough.

Like a Moabite woman named Ruth.

Or, a person just like—you.  

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, soon we celebrate Resurrection Sonday. Thank You for coming out of the grave, so we can come out of Lot’s cave.

When we stand at the crossroads, help us take Ruth’s path to You, not Lot’s to Sodom.  

Like, Abraham we stand in the gap for all the Lots You’ve given us, we pray that none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

 

Watch online:

Facebook: Lot & Daughters, Genesis 19:30-38

You tube: Lot & Daughters, Genesis 19:30-38

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

The Appearance of the King, John 20:19-31

 


Are you ready to see the King?

Our last five messages from John have been laser focused on the King preparing the Way, for you to see Him.

Behold your King, John 19:1-16

The King on the Cross, John 19:17-37

The King in the Tomb, John 19:38-42

The King Out of the Tomb, John 20:1-18

And now today we see:

The Appearance of the King

John 20:19 
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

The same day, Resurrection Day, the day Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene.

Jesus was busy, this was His fifth appearance of the day.

He will continue to appear over the next forty days and then ascend into heaven right before their very eyes.

And one day, He will return in like manner, just as He went. Acts 1:11.
 

Appearances of Christ from Resurrection Day to Ascension:

Mary Magdalene, John 20:11-18

Other Mary, Salome, Joanna, and women, Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10

Simon Peter, Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5

Two guys on Emmaus Road, Luke 24:13-35

Disciples <less Thomas>, Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25

8 Days Later

Eleven disciples including Thomas, John 20:26-29

Over Next Few Weeks

Seven disciples by Sea fishing, John 21:1-23

Disciples and many others on Mount in Galilee, Matt. 28:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:6

James, 1 Corinthians 15:7

Fortieth Day

Disciples before Ascension from Mount of Olives, Luke 24:49-53; Acts 1:3-11

At evening, Jesus came looking for His own, who were afraid, and hiding, just like in the beginning when God came in the cool of the day, looking for His own, who were also afraid, and hiding.

First day of the week; this broke a nearly 1,500-year-old tradition, and started a new one that has continued about 2,000 years, to this day.

From Moses to Jesus, God’s people met on the seventh day of the week, Sabbath (Saturday).

However, after the Resurrection, God’s people started meeting on the first day of the week, Son-day.

Doors were shut; the original text infers the doors were locked up tight

Disciples were assembled; at first, they scattered, but then they gathered, like sheep are prone to do. This is good. God likes it. Jesus prayed they’d come together as one. John 17:11, 21-23.

For fear of the Jews; that sounds funny, they all were Jews.

It’s like when folks talk about religion, when they hear you’re a Christian. Then, they get that deer in the headlights look when you say, “I hate religion.”  They step back like lightning is about to strike when you say, “God hates religion, too.”

But then they nod, or at least you pray they do when you say, “God loves relationship and He loves you, and would love to have a relationship with you.”

That’s what’s meant by Jew. The religious hypocrites who crucified Christ.

That’s why you want to identify as a Christian, not religious, not a denomination. Not a bapti-metho-luther-cath-ocostal.

Jesus came and stood in the midst, and still does whenever and wherever we gather in His name.

Only this time, He was right there in physical form visible to their naked eyes. He could be seen and heard and felt; He could eat. Yet, He just appeared, without even opening the door.

He was in His glorified body.

All matter is made of cells; glorified bodies, like angelic beings have miniscule cells too small for the human eye to see—so they can pass through earthly objects like smoke through a screen, or water through a sieve. However, if they need to be seen to the human eye, they can enlarge their cells like blowing up a balloon, and voilà, they can be seen.

Not sure if that’s how it works, but it worked as an explanation for the angelic beings in the novel, The Voice.

One day, perhaps today, in the twinkling of an eye, we who are in Christ will be changed, this mortal will put on immortality, we will put off this body, this earth suit, and put on our heavenly garment our glorified body and be able to do awesome stuff—superhero stuff—perhaps like walking through closed doors; like riding white horses from heaven to Jerusalem.  1 Cor. 15:51-55; Rev. 19:14.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, or heart imagined, the awesomeness the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Peace be with you; this was a common greeting; but this was far from a common meeting. This was a Divine Appointment on God’s calendar. 

Remember, earlier that day, He choose Mary Magdalene as the first missionary of His resurrection. He told her to, “Go to My brethren…” That was the first time Jesus called them, brethren.

Now that He’s paid in full “Tetelestai” the penalty of sin and death; the divorce decree that separated them for 4,000 years, since the Garden of Eden, has been torn asunder.

Now the family can be reunited, so now, He calls them, brethren.

Now, finally, once again, we can have peace with God.

So, Jesus steps in, smiles, and says, “Peace be with you.”

20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

He didn’t hide His scars, He exposed them, showed them.

When they saw the scars, they knew it was Him.

Fear and sorrow fled.

The writings of old came alive like front page news.

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6.

Jesus chose to keep, to wear, His scars, not in shame, but honor.

 

Richey got married in a whirlwind. Deployed before the ink dried.

His wild bride was no military wife; she fled, not knowing she was with child. She named the boy Ricky and said his dad was dead. Then, she died in a wreck.

Ricky, became a ward of the state.

Richey became a war hero; wounded inside and out. 

Through a Divine Connection, Mac, the boy’s grandpa, figured it out and slid the wrinkled napkin across the table toward his son. “Call him.”

Richey plucked his cell phone off the clip on his hip and reached for the napkin and froze.

He looked at his hand. Three and a half fingers started to shake. He felt beads of cold sweat on his forehead—his war-scarred and burned forehead. He shook his head. “I can’t”

“Why not? God opened this door.”

“What gives me the right to step in and say “Surprise! Guess what? I‘m your long lost one-eyed, three fingered, one and a half eared, freak of a dad—miss me?”

Mac stood up fast.  “Stop it, Richard MacArthur Johnson, Junior! I’ll not allow anyone, especially you, talk about my son like that. I love you more than life, son.  You are the most handsome man I know. Those scars are only ugly to you. To me and to anyone who knows you they’re badges of honor, of courage, of character and integrity and everything else that is good in this world—even a blind man, or woman can see that.”

Richey made a small laugh, “It’s not a blind man—or woman—I’m worried about.”

Richey stood, and dad and son embraced, and the angels in the room smiled, and the Father in heaven smiled; and a little boy five hours away wondered about the old grey-haired man he’d just met with the ocean blue eyes, just like his own…and he smiled. (From The Voice. Chapter 25).

Scars may identify us, but they don’t define us.

The only manmade thing in heaven, are the scars on Jesus; the ones we gave Him. He kept them, He wears them, as a badge of honor, in honor of His great, amazing, unending, Love, for us.

We all have scars. Own them, don’t be owned by them.


21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Peace to you, He says a second time, this is much more than a greeting, it’s an impartation.

He’s driving home the newest Truth. For the first time since the fall of man, there can truly be peace between God and man.

Tetelestai. Sin debt, paid in full. Death, defeated.

Without pausing He adds, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

In other words: Welcome to the family, now help Me with chores.

His plan is not to do everything for us—but through us.

He made a Way of escape, by way of His cross.

However, He didn’t pray to take us out of the world but to keep us from the evil one, John 17:15.

In a way, we’re back to the beginning when He said, be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, Genesis 1:28.

Only this time it sounds like: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” Mark 16:15.


22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Notice, the repeated phrase:

20 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them,

His Words and actions flow as seamlessly as breathing, weaving one after another.

He just gave them a commission; 21 As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.

Jesus never sends us without equipping us. That’s what He does here. Receive the Holy Spirit.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit He says in Luke 24:49; Behold, I send the Promise of My Father (Holy Spirit) upon you; but tarry in Jerusalem until you are clothed (endued) with Power from on high.”

Endued (Greek: enduo): to clothe or be clothed with (in the sense of sinking into clothing; a garment).

Once again, He weaves us back to the beginning.

By breathing on them and saying “Receive the Holy Spirit” we see Him in Eden, breathing the breath of life into Adam, and clothing him from the inside out with His Spirit. Genesis 2:7.

Alas, sadly, it wasn’t long before Adam and Eve, shed His Presence, His covering, His Holy Clothing, and found themselves empty, naked, ashamed and hiding. Gen. 3:7.

Gen. 3:8, God came walking in the cool of the day, like Jesus came walking into the room in out text today.

Gen. 3:9, God then asked, “Where are you?” because they were separated from Him.

However now, Jesus states, “Peace to you” because they’re united again. 

What Jesus is doing, is restoring what Adam lost.

Adam took what hung on the cursed tree and we all became naked, and ashamed.

Jesus became naked to hang on the cursed tree, so we all could be clothed, and unashamed.


23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Only God can forgive sins. Period. No pope. No priest. No people. God only. Jesus is God.

Context is king when interpreting Scripture, and this verse must be viewed in context with the prior two verses.

In context with the prior two verses, and in keeping with the original grammatical structure, this verse is saying:

 As we are sent (21 As the Father sent Me, I also send you) by the Holy Spirit, (22 Receive the Holy Spirit) we will lead some to repentance, the forgiveness of sins, they are forgiven.

On the other hand, others will not accept the Holy Spirit’s offer (through you) to have their sins forgiven, and their sins will be retained.

So, when you pray with someone to receive Jesus into their heart, you can say with authority, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

On the other hand, if a person rejects Jesus, you can say with authority, “Your sins have not been forgiven.”

We pray, for much of the former and none of the latter.


24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

Thomas was gone.

Who was his twin?

You? Me?

Did we ever doubt? Did we ever skip Church?

He skipped, and missed seeing Jesus.


25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So, he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

The disciples tell Tommy. Man, you should’ve been there, it was awesome, Jesus showed up in our midst.

Which is what we can say, every time we meet. Jesus promised, where two or more gather in My name, I’m there, in their midst. Matt. 18:20.

Tom said, unless I see, unless I feelI will not, believe.

He made a decision to doubt. I will not believe.

You can choose, to believe, or doubt.

Thomas skipped Church one time, and the result was doubt. Now he’s branded, Doubting Thomas.

If he hadn’t missed that meeting, he might’ve been known as Honest Thomas.

In John 14:1-6; Jesus said, I’m going to My Father’s house to prepare a place for you. And where I go you know, and the Way you know.

Thomas was honest enough to say, “We don’t know where You’re going, so how can we know the way?”

We’re glad Thomas was honest enough to say that because Jesus responded with these wonderful words: I AM the way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me. John 14:6.

Or, perhaps he’d be known as, Loyal Thomas, or Courageous Thomas.

In John 11:7-8, Jesus said, let’s go back to Judea. But the disciples said, no the Jews there want to kill You.

However, Sir Loyal, Courageous, Thomas said, “Lets’ go and die with Him.” John 11:16.

But now, Tommy plays hooky one time, and is forever branded, the doubter.

Forsake not the assembling together of yourselves, especially as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25. Lest you fall into doubt, and miss Him.

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,

“Peace to you!”


Eight days.

A whole week of listening to the banter.

Tom really, it was Him. It was Jesus. We saw Him.

Was not.

Was so.

Was not

Was so…

Finally, a week later, same scenario, they’re together, doors locked, voilà, Jesus appears and takes His favorite place—in the midst of them.

Tommy’s jaw hits the floor.

Jesus nods, “Hey Tom”

Tommy squeaks, “Hi”

Actually, Jesus opens with His new favorite phrase: Peace to you!!


27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”


Jesus had heard the words of Tommy Boy and repeated them back to him.

How’d you like to hear Jesus repeat your words back to you?

In front of everyone?

By your words you will be justified, by your words you will be condemned, Matthew 12:36-37.

 

Jesus looked at Thomas and commanded him to believe.

Therefore, believing is a command.

Doubt, is deciding to disobey (remember, doubting Thomas said, I will not, believe. He, willed, not to believe.

Doubt is a deadly choice. *2 Thessalonians 2:9-12*.


28 And Thomas answered and said to Him,

“My Lord and my God!”


Now honest Thomas soars from doubt to declaring the Lord’s Deity.

My Lord and my God!

Can we honestly say those words to Him?

My Lord. My God.

This is the climax of the gospel of John, the gospel in general.

This is way better than feeding the multitudes, healing the sick, walking on water, calming the sea, signs and wonders and miracles, this, is the purpose of all that—to change a doubter to a Believer.


29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


Because you have seen

It appears, to believe, Thomas only needed to see, not touch, not feel.

Also, there’s a blessing tucked in here for you. If you believe, yet, having not seen.

So, we receive this blessing by making a quality decision from this moment out, to say with our words and deeds and life and heart, without hesitation, without doubt, I believe. I believe. I believe.

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.


There it is. The purpose of the Book.

That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing you may have LIFE in His name.

Not just believe intellectually like the religious and devils, but completely clothed from the inside out, with an intense, intimate, passionate, belief in Him, that can only be described as…Love.

Let’s pray.

Lord thank You for Your Life giving Word that is forever settled in heaven, and ever timely on earth. Thank You for bridging the canyon, between our fall and Your resurrection, with Your cross. Thank You for paying the price, and making a Way for us to be family again. Now, we humbly ask one thing, that You will use us, shine through us, scars and all.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: The Appearance of the King, John 20:19-31

You tube: The Appearance of the King, John 20:19-31  

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.