HOPE
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ!” (Titus 2:13 NKJV).
The theme of this verse is our great spiritual hope. Thus, we want to note the confession of this hope, the character of this hope, the coming in this hope, and the Christ in this hope.
Confession of this hope - The greatness of this spiritual hope is seen in the fact that the apostle Paul confessed this hope when he was in prison. Thus, this hope is not dependent upon circumstances. Regardless of how bad our circumstances become, it does not change the fact of this hope. And while the world may laugh and mock because our situation looks so hopeless, we can always confess this hope.
Character of this hope - “Blessed.” This hope is “blessed” because it was founded on the Word of God, not on the wistful thinking of mankind. This hope is also “blessed” in the fact that it will never disappoint, unlike the world’s hopes.
Coming in this hope - “Glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” This hope has to do with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first coming of the Lord Jesus was in humility. But when He comes back to earth the second time, it will be glorious. His glory will be so great that He will consume the lawless one “with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:8).
Christ in this hope - “Glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Here the focus is on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul states that the Lord Jesus is the “great God.” This is a clear testimony of the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who deny the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ are denying the Scriptures, for the Scriptures clearly teach the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Denying the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ greatly dishonors the Lord Jesus.
(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)
Quotation of the Week
“Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel is the only hope for humanity!”
Ravi Zacharias (1946 – 2020)
Canadian American Christian Evangelical Minister and Apologist
Word Study
Foams
In Luke 9:39 we read, “And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him” (NKJV).
“Foams” is the Greek word aphrós (ἀφρός = af-ros'). It is a medical technical term describing foam or froth appearing at the mouth during a seizure, the symptoms of which are in this case caused by demonic possession. It was also used in describing foam of the sea, an angry lion, froth, and of frothy blood. In context, the boy’s condition was so grievous that even as he was coming to the Lord Jesus, he suffered a convulsion. At this point, the Lord Jesus intervened, healed the boy, and restored him to his father. The large crowd observed the wonderful difference the Lord Jesus had made in this case and were gripped in awe “as they saw this majestic display of God’s power” (9:43 NLT). The Lord Jesus was truly mighty in word and deed, and His healings and exorcisms were bringing people into restored health and wholeness. Here was power, but it was being used graciously and unselfishly, bringing help and deliverance to suffering people.
Did You Know…
On his death bed, King Hezekiah cried out to God in prayer and as a result the Lord added 15 years onto his life (Isa. 38:5).
Bible Quiz
Which disciple said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord?”
**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz
In the Gospel of Mark, what did the voice from the cloud say at the Lord Jesus’ transfiguration? “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Mark 9:7).
Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ
Betrayed by a familiar friend (Psalm 41:9; cf. John 13:18)
"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9 NJKV).
In context, David was sick in bed, but he also had to deal with treachery among his own family and friends, including men like Ahithophel, his official counselor, who sided with Absalom. “My own familiar friend” could be rendered, the man of my peace. The man whom he trusted. “Who ate my bread” speaks of one with whom he shared his bread in private meals. The phrase “lifted up his heel” pictures a deceptive and underhanded attack. The Lord Jesus quoted Psalm 41:9 in connection with His betrayal by Judas (John 13:18) – Judas eating with Him from the same dish, and his deceptive “kiss.” But even more poignant is the fact that Judas hanged himself after betraying the Lord Jesus, just like Ahithophel who hanged himself after betraying David (cf. 2 Sam. 16:20-17:3, 23).
Did You Know – Christian History
Caedmon, 1st Anglo-Saxon Christian Poet - February 11, 680
Cædmon was born around 657 in Northumbria, an early medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. He was a Benedictine monk and the earliest English poet whose name is known.
Early in life, Cædmon was a herdsman attached to the monastery Streonæshalch (now known as Whitby Abbey). The Anglo-Saxons loved singing. It was common for men to gather in the evening and share tales through song. Everyone was expected to contribute. Caedmon always slip away, either because he was too shy to sing or simply had nothing to share. According to the church historian Bede, Caedmon slipped out of the hall one night to tend the animals while the others sang. Afterward, he fell asleep. A man spoke to him in a vision, saying, “Caedmon, sing me something.” Caedmon replied that he could not sing. That was why he was out here, not in the hall. “Yet you could sing,” said the man, and suggested Caedmon sing “the beginning of all things.” In his dream, Caedmon began to sing his great Hymn of Creation:
Now let us praise the guardian of the heavenly kingdom,
The power of the Creator and the counsel of His mind,
The works of the Father of glory,
How He, the eternal Lord, originated every marvel...
When Caedmon awoke, he found he remembered the verses perfectly and was able to sing them. The monks were convinced he had been given a gift by God. Whitby’s famous abbess, Hilda convinced Caedmon to become a monk. Although he never learned to read or write, Caedmon listened as the monks told the Bible stories and then he turned them into Anglo-Saxon poems that the common folk could understand. Many others imitated him in this, with the result that Bible teaching found its way to the people as it had never done before in England. Caedmon was the first poet to produce vivid Christian verses in the Anglo-Saxon tongue. Unfortunately, only a few of his lines survive. He died around 680. Cædmon is venerated as a saint in the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, with a feast day on February 11th. His life story exemplifies humility, piety, and the intersection of faith and creativity in early English culture. He remains a foundational figure in English literary history, symbolizing the birth of Christian poetry in the English language.
A Little Humor
A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” Little Annie replied, “Because people are sleeping!”
Thought Provoking Church Sign
“Prayer – the original wireless connection!”
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