Circumstances

By Robert F. Turner

A slave convinced himself he would obey his master - if the master were "reasonable" in his demands and appreciative of his service. Peter said to obey even the "froward" master "for con­science toward God," and "for this is accept­able with God" (1 Pet. 2:18, 19).

A wife said her husband was not a Chris­tian, so why should she be subject to him? Peter said she should adorn herself "in the sight of God" and she might win her hus­band by her chaste manner of life (1 Pet. 3:1-6).

A child thought his parents didn't under­stand him, so he couldn't please them, no matter how he tried. But Paul said, "obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord" (Col. 3:20).

A woman thought she couldn't worship God in a city filled with people she had been taught to shun; but Jesus said that true worship was done in spirit and truth, re­gardless of the location (Jno. 4:23,24).

We blame our failures on external circum­stances - all would be well if only the sur­roundings were changed - when the prob­lem is within. If we were changed, we would see our circumstances differently. We would look beyond the immediate and inconse­quential surroundings to the One whose judgment is the final word. What does God want of me? What is His will for me? How can I best serve Him?

A church spends thousands of dollars for a "place" of worship, yet may do little to im­prove the actual "place of worship" - the hearts of its members. Call it to their atten­tion and they will have a business meeting - dim the lights - change the order of "service" - more externals!! It's like seeking happiness in things of life, and doing noth­ing to change the heart that must use the things.

Genuine Christianity changes the slave, not the master; the wife, not her circum­stances. A child of God is content "in what­soever state" he may be (Phil. 4:11-13), for he can "do all things through Christ..." He knows there is a circumstance beyond im­mediate circumstances - the love of, and ob­ligation to, the heavenly Father. (Via Gospel Power, Vol. IX, No. 4, Jan. 27, 2002) &

The Genealogy of Christ

By David Padfield

As the Jews questioned the Deity of Christ, Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). Many Old Testa­ment promises find their fulfillment in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). Let us notice a few of the great truths we can find in the genealogy of our Lord.

1. It proves Christ is the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Through the fleshly seed of Abraham, all nations of the earth were going to be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3; cf. Galatians 3:15-29). The Messiah was not just to be a descendant of Abra­ham, but would also be a descendant of Isaac (Genesis 21:12), Jacob (Genesis 28:13,14), Judah (Genesis 49:10), Jesse (Isaiah 11:1,10), and David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Matthew starts off his record by giving us "the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abra­ham" (Matthew 1:1).

2. It proves Christ's right to sit on the throne of David. Jacob said, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes" (Genesis 49:10). Shiloh, "the bringer of peace," is none other than Jesus. The angel Gabriel told Mary "the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David" (Luke 1:32). In the first gospel ser­mon preached in the name of our risen Lord, Peter referred to David and said, "being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne" (Acts 2:30). Christ has been raised from the grave and now sits on the throne of His Father (Revelation 3:21).

3. It proves Christ's throne would not be on this earth. When God pronounced a curse upon Jeconiah (also known as Co­niah), He said "none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah" (Jeremiah 22:30). Since Christ is a descendant of Je­coniah (Matthew 1:12), He cannot rule in the land of Judah. The throne of Christ is in heaven (Hebrews 8:1). Christ is also a priest on His throne (Zechariah 6:13; He­brews 7:17).

4. It shows the importance of the Gen­tiles. In Matthew 1:5 we read, "Salmon be­got Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth." Rahab had been a heathen prostitute in Jericho (Joshua 2:1). Ruth was a heathen woman from the land of Moab; she became an ancestor of King David and Jesus.

5. It proves there can never be another Messiah. At the destruction of Jerusalem, the Roman army destroyed all of the birth records of the Jewish people. Since the ge­nealogy of the Messiah would be needed to prove His right to sit on the throne of David, there can never be another Messiah.

Simeon was a just man who "waited for the Consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ" (Luke 2:26). When Mary and Joseph brought our Lord into the temple after His birth, Simeon picked up Jesus and said, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your sal­vation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revela­tion to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32). &

“Woman, Behold Thy Son! … Behold Thy Mother!”

By Richard Hammock

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:26-27)

This is one of the most beautiful facts of the history of the Bible. Here is shown the great sympathy of the Lord Jesus forgetting the pain and anguish, but mindful of those who loved Him.

The 1st words Jesus spoke from the cross were a prayer for His enemies. The 2nd words spoken were directed to the thief on the cross who had become a friend of Jesus. These 3rd words were addressed to the nearest people to Him in loyalty and in devotion.

We are told in (Jn. 7:5) that even Jesus’ own brothers didn’t believe on Him. This helps us to understand why Jesus would have John, instead of His own brethren, provide care for Mary, His mother. He had rather see His mother with a disciple than with unbelievers, even if they were his own brothers.

Jesus began His teachings at the youthful age of twelve years old. Between that time and the time of His betrayal, He taught thousands of crowds of people on numer­ous occasions. Anytime there was an oppor­tunity to convey a lesson or value to indi­viduals He was willing and able to present it in such simple terms. He would use things in His parables that the people were very fa­miliar with. If you will recall, He used mus­tard seeds, sheep, vineyards and many other ex­amples that they could easily relate to. And here on the cross our Lord contin­ued to teach; and the historic event reflects His love and care for His mother. Even though Jesus was just minutes away from His death, His concern for His loved ones abounded abundantly. As His statement says, “Woman, behold thy son” and then to John, “Behold thy mother,” we see that this command was sufficient in its simplicity. &