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April 10

Reading 1 - Numbers 28

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v. 7 - The drink offering was strong wine, we are told here. Not watered down wine, which was what they generally drank. It represented quite a sacrifice therefore even in terms of human desires without any consideration of the significance of wine being included in the event at all and its association with Christ's death. v.14, 31, 15:5-10, Isa.57:6, Joel 1:9,13, 2:14.
Peter Cresswell
We now read a number of instructions relating to sacrifice that are to be offered.
:3 The continual burnt offering
:9 The offering for the Sabbath
:11 For the new moon
:16 The Passover
:26 The firstfruits

Now the instructions for these have already been given in Leviticus. So why is there this repetition here in Numbers 28?

We must remember that by the time we have got to Chapter 28 in Numbers we are in the last 12 months of the wilderness journey. Those who had heard the giving of the law at Sinai and heard the details given in the book of Leviticus are now dead. The new generation need to be taught the things that their parents had heard at Sinai. Hence the repetition, but in less detail. There was no need to go into all the details as that is laid out in Leviticus.
Peter Forbes

:3 In saying that things had to be done 'day by day' we learn that the law of Moses contrasts with the work of Jesus - 'once for all' (Hebrews 10:10)
Peter Forbes
As we read of the offerings we cannot fail to be impressed by the amount of work that was required in keeping up with the work of the Lord. We should recognise this requirement in our own dealings and discipline ourselves to create situations - even ritual ones if that is what works for us - where we regularly worship on a daily basis in a number of different ways. We are privileged to be released from the strictures of regular sacrifices by the blood of Jesus, but this is only a privilege if we constantly remember that which was done for us.
Peter Cresswell

Reading 2 - Proverbs 20

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v. 1 - Wine again here - the evils of which are portrayed by the wise man in proverbs quite a bit. The warning is against drinking unwatered wine and thereby becoming first drunk and later dependent. 23:29-35, 31:4, Isa.28:7, Hos.4:11. Drunkenness is mentioned at least 3 times by Paul to be avoided - 1Cor.6:10, Gal.5:21, Eph.5:18.
Peter Cresswell
v.6 - the inference here is that a faithful man will not proclaim his own goodness. If we are faithful we will be humble and not wish to push ourselves forward. We have such an inbuilt desire to do this. The implication is that we should aid others in their outworking of this policy by praising them whenever we can when they do well. Prov.27:2, Matt.6:2, Luke 18:11, 2Cor.12:11
Peter Cresswell
v. 3 Whilst it is indeed an honour for a man to cease from strife we find it so difficult. It is so difficult to seek peace rather than justify ourselves in an argument. However reconciliation should always be the objective because this is how God work. 2Corinthians 5:19
Peter Forbes
:10,23 That divers weights are abominable to God should not surprise us. The law of Moses said as much [Deuteronomy 25:13] however the principle extends beyond weights and measures. We can have 'divers weights' when we respect one person and despise another or have different standards for dealing with one over another.
Peter Forbes
:22 It is so natural to retaliate against someone who has wronged us. However the Proverbs counsel against this. These words find their fulfilment in Christian living when seen in Romans 12:17
Peter Forbes
ACTIONS SPEAK
" Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?" (Prov 20 v 6) Our words are the first things people hear. They can be the fastest way to judge a character, but it can also be one of the most inaccurate. What we may say about ourselves will only be confirmed by the way we act. We will be found out to either be true to our word or liars. Do we claim to have unfailing love for our God, our husbands, wives or families? Test yourself and look at your actions as another person would look at them, or better still, as God sees you. Are we sometimes unfaithful even in small ways?
We need to make sure that our actions speak even louder than words when it comes to our good lives. Proverbs 20 v 11 says, "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." We can see those actions in children. It is easy to tell a child's character by just watching them for a few minutes. In the same way God sees our character in the way we act, and other people - and especially our children, can sum us up by what we do.
So the lesson is simple: Speak good; Act good.
Robert Prins

Reading 3 - John 1

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v. 11-13 - Right at the outset of his gospel here, John makes it quite clear that the gospel through Jesus has been made available to every man, and that because of the rejection of God by the chosen nation. Here was the ultimate in their rejection - the Jews rejecting their Messiah - the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth. Matt.15:24, Acts 3:25,26, 13:26,46, Isa.53:2,3.
Peter Cresswell
John mentions four Passover feasts in the ministry of Jesus John 2:13 5:1 6:4 11:55 The other gospels record the 'last supper' Passover Matthew 26:2 Mark 14:1 Luke 22:1 Only Luke records another Passover - when Jesus was 12. Luke 2:41
Peter Forbes
1:29, 43, 2:1 Notice how John is marking the passage of time. So the events around the baptism of Jesus and the call of some of the disciples to follow him and the marriage at Cana are close together according to John's gospel record. Where do we think the call of the disciples fits into this narrative? The disciples had already been called, or so it seems, according to John 2:1
Peter Forbes
1:9 The 'light' continues the creation theme begun in 1:1 'in the beginning. The light - Jesus - answers to the light of the sun in creation. This light, in contrast with the sun in creation which gave natural light, provides enlightenment.
Peter Forbes
COME AND SEE
There is a very powerful lesson contained here about preaching the gospel and introducing people to Jesus.

John the Baptist was the first to point out to anyone that Jesus was the Christ. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God." From John the Baptist's personal seal of authority, Andrew and John began to follow Jesus. Then we read that "the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, to tell him, 'We have found the Messiah,' (that is the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus." John and Andrew were brought to Jesus on the recommendation of John the Baptist. Simon Peter was introduced to Jesus on the recommendation of Andrew.

Now, after Jesus had found Philip, "Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.'" Philip introduced Nathanael to Jesus.

There is still no better way to preach the gospel and to spread the good news than to introduce our friends and family to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. There is no need for great speeches or fine sounding arguments. Let them come and see, and meet Jesus themselves through the gospels, the Spirit and through prayer.
Robert Prins