Understanding Revelation

Last week in our opening message to our Revelation series I said we would learn about the symbols, numbers, metaphors, Old Testament stories, the beasts of Revelation and such as we worked our way up to chapter four. I said we would learn a little as we go each week so that we would have a better view of the imagery we would encounter in and beyond chapter 4—it get’s intense visually after chapter 3. Each week I was going to put that in the beginning of each message. But this week (and maybe every week) it makes the message too long and too broad in scope. I’ve decided to write to you rather than include the lesson in this week’s message. 

This is the first installment of us building a KEY or a LEGEND together. If you’re familiar with maps (this is a dying discipline in our GPS world) you are familiar with the corner legend that helps interpret the scale, the routes, the railroads, the colors, and any other helpful symbol on the map. We are making something similar for our understanding of Revelation. This morning’s legend entry is brought to you by the number “seven.” 
  
This is the first installment of us building a KEY or a LEGEND together. If you’re familiar with maps (this is a dying discipline in our GPS world) you are familiar with the corner legend that helps interpret the scale, the routes, the railroads, the colors, and any other helpful symbol on the map. We are making something similar for our understanding of Revelation. This morning’s legend entry is brought to you by the number “seven.” 

The Number 7

In the first chapter the number “7” was used a lot. John wrote about seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden lampstands and seven Stars. That’s quite a few “sevens” in this first chapter. We will encounter over 60 times when the number "7" or “seventh” is mentioned throughout the book.  

The Seven Churches in Revelation 2–3

There are seven: churches, letters, spirits, lampstands, stars, seals, horns, eyes, angels, trumpets, thunders, (7) thousand people, heads, crowns, plagues, bowls, hills, kings, last visions. There is also seven blessing statements beginning with the one we found last week in verse three. Wow! That’s a lot of sevens. 

You may have heard someone say before, “Seven is God’s perfect number.” True, it is. It is perfect in that it is the number God uses to communicate completeness, wholeness or fullness going all the way back to the beginning when He rested from the completed work of creation on the seventh day. The Israelites were taught that every seventh year their fields were to lie fallow—unplanted; a year of rest after the completion of work. In the New Testament there are seven statements of Jesus recorded during His crucifixion, ending with Him surrendering His Spirit into the Father’s hand—His sacrifice was complete—it was finished. 

So, when we run into the number seven in the Bible, especially here in Revelation, we should think in terms of fullness, wholeness or completeness. 

For instance, when John writes to the seven churches—and we’ll talk more about this going forward—we should think in terms of wholeness and completeness. John most assuredly knew of more than seven churches to whom he could have written. And we are certain he expected his letters to be shared beyond the seven churches he mentions. When he writes to the seven churches he is writing to the whole, full, complete Church. He is writing to all the churches. These seven individual churches represent all the churches at the time and throughout time. The struggles these seven churches have, represent the struggles that many churches throughout time and location have struggled with and are struggling with. The letters were written to these particular churches for their specific help, encouragement and warning. But the letters were intended also for all churches throughout time that make up the Church. 

Seven represents FULLNESS, WHOLENESS, COMPLETENESS. 

Another example would be “the Lamb that was slain and yet standing”—a reference to the resurrected Christ—who has seven horns. The horns represent power and strength. When we understand the number seven, the way the first century listeners understood the number, we will see what they saw when they heard the book being read. 

Hopefully this makes sense to you. That’s our first lesson in helping us understand the imagery that is coming. I look forward to being with you tomorrow as we focus on the person of Jesus Christ revealed in verses fourteen through twenty. 

 

It's Not All "Yes and Amen"

I hope that you are engaging with the book “Make Us One” on our 31-day prayer journey. If you don’t have a copy I have added a link to where you can get one at the end of this blog post.

Since today’s entry didn’t have space to journal (day 13), I’ll journal here:

I have found the written prayers to be so timely for what we are experiencing in our current day events. For example, this is an excerpt from Day 10:

“And with all the saints and angels, we eagerly await your return. But today I groan. The earth is in turmoil. Our cities burn. Rage fills the streets. A plague harasses us. Self-doubt, self-loathing, violence, and the erosion of truth are unraveling our nation. My brothers and sisters of color are grieved and abused, You ‘looked for justice m, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!’ (ESV). So, your love complex me to join the groans of creation, the groaning of your Spirit and the groaning of my brothers and sisters. I week with those who week. Longingly, patiently, we look forward to the day when you will break the curse over the universe, free it from its bondage to death and violence and injustice and set all things right.”

It doesn’t get much more current and to the point than that. And yet this was written in the second half of 2020 referencing what has been taking place in our nation way before the Capitol Hill riot. 

By and large I have embraced everything that has been written in this book and I have been challenged to “check” my heart and attitudes as I seek God’s guidance. However, on the 11th there was an excerpt that caused me pause. I have to keep in mind that those who have written the prayer entries are coming from very diverse backgrounds denominationally with some theological nuances that could be slightly different than my own. Day 11’s entry differed enough from what I believe that it bares mentioning. The author wrote (prayed):

“We are trusting you now, agreeing with other brothers and sisters in Christ of all ethnic backgrounds, according to your promise, that America will be delivered from this awful atmosphere of hateful division that is tearing our country apart. We cry out to you for your mercy and protection over our government and society. Help us to see we are all American, not Republicans or Democrats or Independents, but one nation under God regardless of our skin color or sub-culture.” 

When the author prayed “according to your promise,” I had a “check" in my spirit.  If the author means that we have a promise that America will be delivered from what is taking place in today’s current events, if and when we all agree together in prayer (2 Chronicles 7:14), then I think he is using this Scripture incorrectly. You may have heard me say it before, “2nd Chronicles 7:14 was a promise given to the nation of Israel, not to every nation that came after.” If it were meant for every nation, what do we say to the nations who have ceased to exist or who have spiraled into secularism with very little witness left in them (many European countries)? Did they not have enough people praying for God to change His plan? 

I agree with the author, in that I want there to be a national revival. I want Americans to experience salvation. But I don’t agree that all of us being “Americans… one nation under God” is relevant. We need to be very careful in placing so much emphasis on “our government and society” as Americans that we miss out on praying for God’s “kingdom come. His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Again, my hope is that you are engaging with others in the KBC community who are committed to reading this book through the month of January. As a staff, as leaders, with my family and with my friends we are sharing our take-aways and even some of our journal entries as we get together. Not everything needs (or should be) “yes and amen” in those conversations. We should discuss and share our thoughts. In some cases our thoughts may be corrected by those with whom we are dialoguing so that we can grow. In other cases God may use us to grow someone else as He guides our hearts through the journey. And yes, there will be a lot of agreeing with what is written and praising God for what we are receiving. If this is what happens, I am confident that community is taking place.

Have a great week and don’t forget to connect to the KBC ohana.

https://prayershop.org/make-us-one-a-31-day-prayer-journey-toward-racial-healing/

 

His Will Be Done

I am so saddened by the events that unfolded in our nation’s capital today. If you know me well, you know that I’m not someone who is overly concerned whether a person leans right or left or towards the blue or the red. I am concerned that we the Church—those who follow Jesus—practice the principles of God’s Kingdom. In the midst of these difficult times, it is important that we remember our identity as Christ-followers. And as Christ-followers we are taught in James chapter 3 verse 18:

Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

In other words, as Christ-followers we are to be proponents of peace so that His wisdom is able to bear fruit. This is not easy when our flesh, the media, and the world is clamoring for a different posture. But at the end of the day, we know that our God is in control and he will be the one to ultimately overcome. 

Please join me in prayer today that the Church plants seeds of peace in these days of transition. 

Make Us One

“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21

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The congregation of Kapahulu Bible Church (KBC) has been invited to take part in a 31-day prayer journey following the outline of Niko Peele and Jonathan Graf in their book “Make Us One.” KBC leadership’s desire is that we would experience the oneness that Jesus prayed for in John chapter 17. The next several blog entries will be reflections on our January 2021 journey. 

The first two days of “Make Us One” laid a good foundation of a value we all should share as followers of Christ—HUMILITY. There is no advancement in spiritual maturity without this personal attribute. This characteristic is what enables God to take away the imperfections found in our being—which go against who He is and who He has made known in His Son. 

As I took the foundation of HUMILITY into Day 3’s entry—Search Me, Help Me, Teach Me—I was challenged by the call to oneness of Sandra Higley’s statement, “When one of us offends, all are guilty; when one of us is hurt, all of us hurt. Because we have believed in your Son’s work on the cross, we are your children—brothers and sisters and joint-heirs with Christ, our brother.” The rest of her entry is about BEING like the Father and the Son. 

As I meditated on the implications of being like the Father, I thought about what must have been His pain as His only Son went to the cross. The LOVE we have for our brothers and sisters should evoke a similar hurt at their injury. As I considered the lengths that the sinless Son of God went to so that we could be forgiven, I was reminded of the expectation for us to grow to a spiritual maturity level just as Jesus is mature (Eph. 4:13).

The thoughts of days 1–3 helped me face the challenge of today’s entry—Move Me Closer. As Dexter Sullivan outlined the suggested prayers of confessions, I struggled with the temptation that I know is there for some: 

“This is not describing me; I personally don’t need to pray these confessions.” 

But we need to remember, loving like the Father should cause us pain when our brothers and sisters experience prejudice. We can’t forget that owning the sins of others is an appropriate response of a Christ-follower whose measure of maturity is like Jesus. Whether or not a Christ-follower “feels" they are guilty of the sins of prejudice, the prayers of confession in this entry should be prayed in genuine humility in order for the Church to experience the oneness Jesus was describing in John 17. 

God’s love for humanity prompted His involvement in our life’s greatest dilemma. Jesus’s innocence did not stop Him from owning our sin so that we could be free. Our love for those who have experienced and faced prejudice should propel us to stand with them in their persecution and pray prayers of confession as we represent those who have acted so ungodly.

Can there be ONENESS any other way?   

There Was Nothing New Until the Rock

That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still. —Ecclesiastes 1:9–11

I’m not sure who wrote Ecclesiastes. But if it was Solomon—as traditionally thought—it was a grumpy Solomon who wrote Ecclesiastes, compared to the hopeful Solomon who wrote Proverbs. It could be that he wrote Ecclesiastes at the latter part of his life as a grumpy old man and Proverbs towards at the beginning as a youthful idealist. Whoever wrote the book, I found myself thinking about it after pastor Nick’s message on Daniel 2 this past Sunday.

 

What is written in Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 9 is so true—there is nothing new under the sun. If we wait long enough, I’m sure that the bell-bottoms of the ‘70s will be back in style. I just read yesterday that Will Smith and Kevin Hart are remaking Steve Martin and John Candy’s Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. We are running out of new ideas and so we prove that there is nothing new by recycling old ones. Give anything enough time and it will re-emerge.

 

Nick reminded us this Sunday that all of human history is subject to repeat itself. Nation after nation (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, and now most likely some form of iron and clay) will rise and fall from power until a supernatural ROCK is thrown into the mix of human history.

 

We can continue trying to make something out of the mundane repeating cycle. But Einstein (another smart guy) had it right when he said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

 

The writer of Ecclesiastes (maybe Solomon) spent the better part of his life in pursuit of meaning. He eventually came to realize that there was no hope in that pursuit. We too would be considered wise (by God) if we heeded the advice of his conclusion found in chapter 12, verse 13:

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”

The culmination of God’s law—His commandments—is the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:4). The one true new component that changes everything is the supernatural rock flung into the unfolding human experience. As Nick pointed out, Jesus Christ is that rock and He changes everything.

 

We are living—as everyone throughout time has lived—in times seemingly doomed for destruction. If we nurture a close relationship with God characterized by our desperate dependence on Him, we will easily discern the incorrect philosophies, pursuits, values, political platforms and so many other worldly agendas that contradict Biblical truth. And we will have chosen the only hope of new life. I like the way John Sammis put it in 1887:

“When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way.”

Trust and Obey folks… there really is no other way.

Choose For Yourself This Day Whom You Will Serve

This morning I was reading from 1st John chapters 4–5. Everything that I read is with an awareness of the current societal woes that we are experiencing in the U.S. in the midst of the ongoing pandemic and the lawlessness we read about daily in our papers since the unrest exacerbated by the murder George Floyd. 

It seems like our society is demanding that every thought we have be aligned to the side where our allegiances fall. The categories that readily come to mind are: Democrat or Republican, White or Black, Religious or non-Religious. 

In light of all of this, here are several verses that jumped off the page as I read.

"They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them." 1st John 4:5

I thought back to August 2019 when the democratic party's leadership promoted themselves as the party of non-religious affiliation—specifically welcoming all atheists and agnostics because of their like-minded platform agenda. The heading in my Bible above these verses is "Testing the Spirits." I can't interpret the Democratic Party's proclamation as anything but an announcement of the spirit of antichrist. 

The next verse that jumped out fell under the same heading:

"If someone says. 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen." 1st John 4:20

I was convicted reading this passage as I thought of the many times I have said, "I don't like the way President Trump communicates his message, but I agree with the agenda and the promises he is keeping." Supporting a leader who speaks so unkindly towards others—calling them "nasty," "terrible," "dummy," "whacky," and "crazy" to name just a few—reveals that I am not testing the spirits well. Our president's demeanor and communication style rob God of His glory and reveals his own antichrist spirit. 

The last verse that made an impression on me fell under the heading "Overcoming the World" in chapter 5:

"Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5. 

The victory that we are promised throughout Scripture comes as we place our faith in Jesus—as we align our lives to His teaching. As I follow Jesus I will stand against hate, injustice, inequality corruption, enslavement, violence, destruction, and ungodliness of all kinds. I will stand up for love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and all forms of godliness. 

I am not anti-politics, in that I think Christians should avoid political involvement. However, I am against picking sides of man-made institutions above and away from the agenda/teaching of Christ. 

As Christ-followers we have already chosen a side—the side of Jesus Christ. Is our practice reflecting that choice? 

July 4th

"In that day you will say, 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.'” —Isaiah 12:4

Today is the 4th of July. It is the 244th birthday of the United States of America. My family and I are in our fourth day of mandatory quarantine, having just visited the mainland in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, to say the least, this was a very different celebration from what we are accustomed. 

I watched the national celebrations from Washington D.C. and listened to President Trump's address to the nation. By and large, I appreciated what he had to say. But there was one point when I wished that more focus was placed on God as the initiator of our national success rather than the accomplishments of individual "heroes." 

We may be a symbol of freedom in the time with which God has blessed us. We may even be the light God is using to demonstrate His glory to the world at this moment in time. But there is nothing eternal and there is nothing that we can take credit for in and of ourselves. 

I'm currently reading the book of Isaiah in my annual Bible reading plan. It is obvious in these readings that God uses the rise and fall of nations to display His sovereignty to the entire world. 

My prayer for the Church and for my country is that we would recognize God's work and His power in making us who we are today. 

Today I celebrate the freedoms that I have and the accomplishments of these United States of America. But I celebrate with the knowledge that God is behind it all and I give Him the glory for the good work He has done.

May God bless the U.S.A. as we make known His deeds among the peoples. 

What Precautions Is Kapahulu Bible Church Taking To Make KBC Gatherings As Safe As Possible In Light of COVID-19?

As many of you are aware, the COVID-19 (a.k.a. Coronavirus) has found it’s way to Hawaii. The first confirmed case was found this past Friday and a second was discovered on Sunday. This shouldn’t cause wide-spread panic, but we should be wise and vigilant in our response as a faith community.

KBC will be taking extra cleaning precautions at this time. This includes:

• Wiping down all common area touchpoints (e.g., doors, light switches, countertops, etc.) Throughout the day with an EPA certified disinfectant.
• Searching for hand sanitizers* to be placed in common areas throughout the building

* currently, most stores are sold out of hand sanitizers and our current stock levels are low.  

What precautions can people take when they come to KBC?

We encourage everyone to take certain steps to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus, flu, and other illnesses, including:

• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available
• Not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
• Staying home if you are sick
• Covering your cough or sneeze
• Disinfecting objects and surfaces regularly

In addition, we encourage everyone to take commonsense precautions and consider creative interactions (like elbow bumping instead of handshaking).

I’d like to also encourage you to stay informed as information becomes available by going to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.” 

One last advice for all of us from the apostle Paul:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I love you all and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

In sub-mission,

Pastor J 

Trusting God Secures Our Hope

The Lord said to Moses, "Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and named it The Lord Is My Banner; and he said, "The Lord has sworn; the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation." Exodus 17:14–16

This follows the Israelites' first battle after leaving Egypt. God promised them that He would utterly destroy their enemy (the Amalekites). But the battle against them would take place from generation to generation--the battle would be ongoing. 

God wanted His people to trust Him in spite of the presence of their enemies. However, since the Israelites left Egypt just weeks before, they had been grumbling against Moses because they feared they would die of thirst and hunger. Their complaints were ultimately complaints against God because they didn't trust Him. 

God had promised the Israelites security and peace as He fought their battles. He had more than proven Himself trustworthy through the ten plagues of Egypt, through the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground, through bitter water being made sweet, through provision of food from manna and through water from the rock. And yet they still were struggling to accept that God would be their secure hope throughout all the difficulties life brought their way. 

God has promised us life eternal with Him through the miraculous life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The miracle of His Son far outweighs the miracles of the Israelite Exodus. And yet we struggle to accept God as trustworthy when faced with life's difficult experiences. 

The Israelites will have their nation in spite of the Amalekites (foreign enemies) as a reminder of God's trustworthiness. We (as Christ-followers and true children of Abraham) have our faith, joy, strength, and hope in a fallen world as a reminder of God's trustworthiness. Just as He will one day utterly destroy Israel's enemies, He will one day return and sets all things right. 

The lesson we all need to learn is to trust God through the difficult processes of life--our hope is secure. 

When Running Is A Great Offense

From my morning Bible reading:

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12-13‬

Claim this promise in the seasons of temptation. Choose to rely on God's strength through his Spirit’s empowerment. Seek the way of escape and utilize its path.

Don't Miss Your Blessing

After reading Genesis this year, I thought about the continued blessing that God gave to His chosen people.

I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:2–3).

This blessing was handed off from Abraham to Isaac, from Isaac to Jacob (over Esau the older), and from Jacob to Judah. The whole family of Israel experienced the blessing, but specific individuals were blessed with the position of leadership ushering in the ultimate blessing--Jesus. 

Judah was fourth in the line of birth order from Jacob. His older brothers, Rueben, Simeon and Levi, missed out on the continued blessing because of sin. Whereas a general blessing from Jacob was given to all his sons (49:28), these three were skipped over for the special "leadership blessing." Reuben, the oldest, was passed over because of his sexual sin with Jacob's wife (49:4, 35:22). Simeon and Levi were skipped over for the revenge-killing of the Hivites, disregarding their father's wishes (49:5, 34:30-31). Sin had its consequences.

It would seem that mainstream culture today eschews consequences for any wrongdoing that robs an individual of opportunities. Think about it, it used to be that even the suggestion of a political candidate having an extra-marital affair was enough to disqualify them from public service (ie. Gary Hart/Donna Rice). And yet today an extra-marital affair does not stop one from climbing the ladder of success in politics. 

In God's grace, the blessing of continued relationship is not taken away because of sin. However, sin does matter and it can have lasting consequences on those who commit it. Even though Jacob only blesses one of his sons to lead, He does bless ALL of his sons. 

"Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet" (49:9–10).

"He blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him" (49:28).

It's important that we own our sin and not complain about the consequences we experience. We still have the opportunity for blessing after we sin. But, it is true, our sin may disqualify us from certain opportunities. Levi missed out on the "leadership blessing", but in my humble opinion, he received a better blessing than that of his brothers when they entered the promised land. Rather than inheriting the land, Levi inherited God Himself (Deuteronomy 10:9). 

Bottom Line: Be willing to accept the consequences of your sin so that you don't miss the relational blessings God has for you. 

High And Lifted Up Is The Person Blessed By God

A three-word phrase caught my eye this morning in Genesis 47, verse 7:

"Jacob blessed Pharaoh"

A picture shot through my mind of me praying over an important world figure (pick your favorite). It would be considered an honor, as I'm sure it was for Jacob praying over Pharaoh. It would be a privilege for any world leader to be blessed by a child of God (whether the world figure recognizes that or not). But most significantly, it would be a testament for any Christ-follower, of the faithfulness of God. God takes our lowly positions and exalts us beyond our imagination as we humble ourselves before Him as our modus operandi for life. 

I don't have to think too long before I see how God has exalted the circumstances of my own life (I know I could come up with many examples). One of the most obvious examples that I remember every day--especially on February 14th--is God's faithfulness in blessing me with the wife that I have.

The thought of this reminded me of another one of my favorite passages. And as luck or fate--or sovereignty would have it--this passage was also part of my daily Bible readings:

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD" (1st Corinthians 1:26–31).

So today, why not spend some time boasting in the Lord. You may not be called upon to bless a king… but you have been blessed by the KING!

I thank God for you every day Karen!

Ministering From Your Overflow

Thinking of Jesus as fully divine comes easy. Thinking of Him as fully human does not. In my recent readings--Mark chapter 11 through chapter 14--I saw something I hadn't noticed before. While reading chapters 11 and 12 I began to see something new. Verse 10 is drawing from Psalm 118:26, and then in chapter 12, Jesus quotes from the same Psalm.  

"The Stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Mark 12:10–11 and Psalm 118:22–23). 

Jesus's mind appears to have been camped out in these Psalm passages. 

Later on, in the same chapter (Mark 12) Jesus schools the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Scribes on the resurrection and who the Messiah would be by using another nearby Psalm, this time from chapter 110.

The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet'" (Mark 12:36, Mark 14:62 and Psalm 110:1).

Again, Jesus's thoughts were focused on this portion of Scripture leading up to His death. A couple chapters later He uses the same Psalm when declaring that He is the Christ before the high priest. 

Here's what I saw that I hadn't noticed before: Jesus was sharing what He had been studying with those around Him. These passages were fresh in His mind because He was pouring over them.  

Have you ever had that experience? You read/study the Word of God, and then you are able to share with others throughout your day the truth from those passages. This is called "ministering from your overflow." You fill yourself up with the truth of God's Word and then you pour out an extra blessing on others with whom you have contact. 

I think that's what Jesus was modeling. I'm not sure if He had scrolls with Him as He traveled around. I've met people who have been very good at memorizing Scripture. I'm sure Jesus excelled in this discipline. I imagine as Jesus got closer to the cross He was studying or thinking through everything from Scripture about the plan of God for the Messiah. Of course, He knew what His Father was calling Him to do, but that wouldn't have stopped Him from pouring over God's Word on the subject. I believe Jesus had been filling up on these passages in Psalms and was--in His full humanity--ministering from His overflow.

Jesus modeled how we're all supposed to function; the same way that Timothy instructed:

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2nd Timothy 4:2

It is neat to think of Jesus having daily devotions similar to what we have. It's cool to think He lived a life just like we're living life. He truly was fully human as well as fully divine.