READING FOR JANUARY 2, 2026: 2 CHRONICLES 27, JOHN 1, PSALM 135 2 CHRONICLES 27 For those of us who have just finished the book of Amos with this reading plan, it is surely pleasant to read of the faithfulness of King Jotham of Judah. Remember that his father, Uzziah, was a good king until his last years. Thus, for the majority of Jotham’s most impressionable years, he was able to observe an example of godly leadership. He likely was also old enough to understand when Uzziah went wrong and the results of that error. Notice verse two briefly mentions that Jotham did all his father did except he did not enter the temple. This is not suggesting he avoided worshipping God, like we might say about people who stop going to church. It refers to 2 Chron. 26:16: “But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was untrue to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” That was the task God gave only to Aaron’s descendants. Jotham was wise enough to take to heart the good things his father modeled and avoid the bad. We would be wise to consider our own parents’ lives in this way.
We also learn from this chapter that being a godly leader does not ensure that the people will immediately follow that lead: “But the people continued acting corruptly” (vs.2). By using the word “continued” the Chron- icler suggests that this behavior preceded Jotham’s reign and carried over. Still, Jotham was able to do much good, even with this corrupt people. So, godly leaders, take heart! The job is worth it. Jotham defeated Ammon and thus brought in a steady revenue stream. He improved the Temple and strengthened Jerusalem’s defenses. He also fortified outlying locations away from the central source of power of Jerusalem.
A great summary statement is found in verse six: “Jotham became powerful because he directed his ways before the Lord his God.” This should pertain to every agenda item in our personal and/or church lives. We learn at the end that Jotham reigned 16 years and died at the age of 41. Many kings lived and reigned longer than Jotham. But according to Christopher Knapp, author of the Kings of Judah and Israel: “Jotham is the only one of all the Hebrew kings, from Saul down, against whom God has nothing bad to record. In this his character is in beautiful accord with his name, Jehovah-perfect.” Isn’t such a legacy better than longevity?
JOHN 1 The author of John is the son of Zebedee, the brother of James and the beloved disciple of Jesus. Though he was present for Jesus’ entire earthly ministry, John’s gospel is not simply a retelling of Jesus’s life. It doesn’t include every story and teaching and encounter, and it is distinctly different in arrangement and tone than the previous three gospel accounts. This is partly because it was written several decades later. By the time John wrote it, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke had been widely circulated, and the facts and accounts of Jesus’ life were well known and well established, so John could take a different focus. He wrote a much more theological account. (But don’t worry that it will be too scholarly for us; it’s like a pool that’s safe for a child to paddle in but deep enough for an elephant to swim in.) John wrote his gospel with a specific pur- pose in mind. Let’s flip to the end of the book where he explains his purpose: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (20:31).
John wrote so that his readers would come to believe – and continue to be strengthened in confidence – that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the long-awaited Messiah and King of Israel and the divine Son of God, and that
READING FOR JANUARY 2, 2026 CONTINUED: JOHN 1, PSALM 135 they would follow this Jesus into life. This is how he determined what stories and teachings to include and how he organized his gospel account. Let’s take a quick look at how John begins to achieve this purpose in Chapter 1 and get a preview of what he will write in the coming chapters. Chapter 1: Verses 1-14: John opens with an epic prologue that references both Creation and the Exodus to reveal Jesus’ eternal nature, identity, and purpose. He situates Jesus as “with God in the beginning” (creation) and tells us that he became flesh and “tabernacled” with us, the original language of verse 14 (Exodus).Verses 18, 29-35: John the Baptist testifies to Jesus’ eternal nature and divine mission in several ways, prophetically speaking of Jesus’ eternal existence (1:18, 30) and his coming sacrificial atoning death (1:29), indicating that this had been revealed to him by God. Verse 51: Jesus told Nathanael he would see “heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man,” (referring to Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28). If these followers stayed with him, they would see what it looks like when God comes to earth, when heaven and earth are open to each other.
Seven Titles of Jesus: Already in this first chapter John gives us seven different titles for Jesus. Did you notice them? He is referred to as: Lamb of God, Son of God, Rabbi, Messiah/Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, King of Israel, and Son of Man. Now that he has introduced us to Jesus, John will draw open the curtain and invite us to watch the drama unfold. He will allow Jesus himself to reveal his nature and purpose in the world through what he says, what he does, and how he relates to his Father and to the people he encounters. John will allow Jesus to demonstrate for us a life lived in deep intimacy with and joyful obedience to the Father awakening in us a longing to do the same. On one level John is the simplest of all gospels; at another level it is the most pro- found. No matter our level of biblical knowledge, the gospel of John promises treasures for any who read it seeking to know Jesus better, and through him to know the good Father and the way to light and eternal life.
PSALM 135 This Psalmist seemingly speaks to God’s people after they have arrived at the Temple in Jerusalem (those who stand in the house of the Lord-vs. 2). What should they do after traveling all those miles from their towns, ascending to the Temple? Praise the LORD (vs. 1). That seems like a long way to travel to do something so basic. Consider what those of us who are saved will be doing after our long journey through this life: “a great multitude which no one count from every nation and all tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb’’’ (Rev. 7:9-10). Perhaps we need to finish reading this Psalm so that we can better understand why corporate praise is so appropriate. We learn that singing praises is lovely (vs. 3). We learn that Israel then, as the church today, is chosen by God as His possession (vs. 4). We affirm our God is above all other beliefs and is totally sovereign (vs.5-6). He controls the physical creation and also has intervened in history to bring about His Kingdom purposes on earth (vs. 7-13). We learn He will judge believers with compassion (vs. 14). For those who aren’t interested in praising our God, but prefer doing their own thing, we learn that their solutions have no insight, provide no help, and lead to purposelessness (vs. 15-20). So, verses 18-21 remind believers in the God of the Bible that we need to praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. He alone is worthy.
