READING FOR JANUARY 20, 2025: JOSHUA 22, JOHN 12, PSALM 144:9-15 JOSHUA 22 Finally the promised land is allotted to the 12 tribes, the Levitical cities and cities of refuge identified, and the enemies generally defeated, with the exception of some remnants remaining to serve as servants. Joshua is now in position to bless and release the two and a half tribes who were allotted land east of the Jordan River and who helped their brothers conquer the land west of the Jordan. He thanked them for keeping their word and sent them back with his blessings and much wealth. He reminded them to continue to walk in the ways of the Lord. This is something like sending away kids to college—a bittersweet moment. It’s hard to let go sometimes, but it’s necessary.
Soon after than this fond farewell, word came back that these departing tribes had erected an altar on the west back of the Jordan River. Immediately all the other tribes mobilized at Shiloh prepared to fight these already seemingly wayward tribes. A delegation consisting of Phineas, son of the priest Eleazar, and the tribal leaders went to Gilead for urgent negotiations—reminiscent of Neville Chamberlain’s last-ditch mission to Munich in 1938. Unlike Munich, the Gilead conference turned out well. There was no intent on the part of the departing tribes to sacrifice to a foreign God at this altar. Just the opposite. It was meant to be a memorial to future generations, signifying the past cooperation among all the tribes—a witness that the Lord is God. Notice how easy it is for actions to be misconstrued, even and especially among God’s people. Let’s be super slow to jump to conclusions and try to put the best possible interpretation on any information we receive: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).
JOHN 12 This chapter opens with a dinner given in Jesus’ honor when he returned to Bethany and ate with his old friends. (Did you notice who was serving and who was at his feet? ☺ And no one says anything about it. Apparently, Mary and Martha have found peace with their unique ways of relating to Jesus) Here is the much-loved story of Mary anointing Jesus with precious ointment. We love the way she loved him with such reckless abandon – costly in dollar value and social status. But we’re a bit confused about how Jesus respond- ed to her action. It’s hard to understand (and difficult for Bible translators), but it seems evident he received it as a gift from her and perceived the anointing to be a prophetic act pointing to his soon-coming death.
John 12 takes place as the spring feast of Passover was approaching, but it is filled with symbols of Hanukkah, a winter festival remembering Judas Maccabaeus’ defeat of pagan invaders and cleansing of the Temple in 164 BC. At that time, Judas became king of Israel, and his followers entered the city waving palm branches in celebration. Now as Jesus is entering the city for Passover, crowds rush to meet him with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna” which means “God, save us!” In this pageantry Jesus and his followers were enacting or fulfilling both Passover and Hanukkah, declaring that Jesus was Israel’s true king who was coming to claim his throne and set Israel free once and for all. Even the fact that Jesus entered the city riding a donkey added to this imagery, drawing on Zechariah’s prophecies. What they didn’t realize yet, though, was that in order for
READING FOR JANUARY 20, 2025 CONTINUED: JOHN 12, PSALM 144:9-15 this to come to pass, Jesus would have to fulfill Passover in another way – by becoming the Lamb sacrificed to deliver his people from death.
Remember that at the wedding in Cana, Jesus said that his time had not yet come (John 2:4) and later when the leaders tried to arrest Jesus, they were not able to because, John told us (7:30), his hour had not yet come. Now we see events moving toward a climax and Jesus himself declares (12:23), “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
What prompted him to say this? Gentiles (Greeks) were asking to see him. They ask to see Jesus and he goes off on a seeming tangent about seeds and plants and life and death and servants and masters. Why does he answer like this? It seems that he is saying that if the Gentiles are seeking him, if they want to receive this life he is offering, if they want to come into the fold of the true Shepherd, the time has come for him to bring his earthly work to completion. The salvation and deliverance he would offer would come through his death. The time had come for him to lay down his life for the sheep – the sheep of Israel and the sheep of other flocks that he would bring in.
This chapter is the final public appearance of Jesus until the trial and crucifixion. It is his final public teaching. He uses it to urge people to receive him and his words, to step into the light while the light is still available. He reminds them that he has come for their benefit so they may have light and life, the light and life that comes from God and that will carry them through into eternity. He doesn’t condemn those who don’t believe but insists that the truth of his teaching will be known and that truth will be the judge on the last day.
The book of John shifts at this point, and Jesus begins to walk toward the cross. The journey will take us through the following week, with symbolic actions (John 13), tender and deeply theological teaching (John 14-16) and prayer that invites us into the very heart and life of our Savior (John 17)
PSALM 144:9-15 What does David do when faced with enemies? He sings a newly composed song and accompanies himself with that day’s equivalent of the piano (10 strings instead of today’s 88). Notice his singing and playing are directed at God, not a concert audience. Do we minimize the power of music to communicate praise to God and to appeal to Him for action on our behalf? Perhaps the last five verses represent the stanzas of this new song. Verse 11 pleads for deliverance from David enemies. Lord, defeat any force thwarting our church’s service for You. Verse 12 prays for establishing Israel’s sons and daughters. Lord, establish the faith of all our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at our church who don’t know you. Verses 13-14 asks for adequate food. Lord, we thank you for blessing us with food enough to share with others; help us continue this ministry. Verse 15 affirms that those whose God is the Lord will be blessed. Lord, may we at YMC seek first the kingdom of God and not be distracted by lesser gods of entertainment, comfort, and self-absorption.
