THREE SAINTS ABOVE: JOB, DAVID & PAUL – Part One of Three: JOB

I recently posted on Facebook the following question:

“After the LORD Jesus Christ, who in all the pages of Scripture are you most eager to meet?” Many responded with, “I can only choose three??”

I understand that perfectly! Of the dozens upon dozens of saints found in the pages of Scripture, from the celebrated to the obscure, it’s difficult to pick out just three. As you can see, my three includes Job, David and apostle Paul.

This will be a three part series where I will expound on one of these per article and explain why these three in particular. Of course I’m eager to meet all of these precious saints including Abraham, Methuselah, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel… well, the list is virtually unending isn’t it?

But to start, let’s have a look at this man Job, shall we?

JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: JESUS COMING & GOING – JOHN 7:31-36

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 7:31-36
31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?" 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 "You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 "What is this thing that He said, 'You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come'?"

LEGACY OF LIGHT

Scripture states that children are a heritage of the LORD (PSA 127:3), and as children of GOD, what is our heritage? What has the LORD bestowed upon us? The Gospel of salvation to begin with (2 COR 4:4; 2 TIM 1:10), the sealing of the Holy Spirit for another (EPH 1:13; 4:30) – all of the spiritual blessings in Christ are ours (EPH 1:3).

As children of GOD, ours is a “living hope” (1 PET 1:3) – for as long as Christ Himself is alive – and He is eternal!

Inasmuch as we understand this incredible heritage, which is based on the revelation of GOD’s Most Holy Word, the “Light” of that revelation is what we are ever and always thankful for!

All of our inheritance and the blessings of GOD, are granted in the Person of Christ Jesus.
We who follow Him as servants of The Servant of the Most High (PSA 35:27; ISA 53:11-12) are promised to rule and reign with Him in the world that is to come (MATT 18:1-4; 20:26-27; 23:11)!

JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: VERY CHRIST – JOHN 7:25-30

The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.

JOHN 7:25-30
25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill? 26 "But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 "However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from." 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 "But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." 30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

BIBLICAL MINDFULNESS

That’s a word we’re hearing a lot these days, in the classroom as well as the boardroom, and tragically, even in our sanctuaries: “mindfulness” – that is “the practice of purposely focusing attention on the present moment – thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and environment”. It’s a Buddhist practice that even churches are beginning to adopt.

As you can see that sort of mindfulness is all about self: One’s own thoughts, feelings, etc. Focus on self is not what the Christian is called to – to be aware of oneself, certainly, but our focus is to be on Christ and His Word! This is where we need to be mindful: apostle Peter said so!

2 PETER 3:1-2
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

A TRUE VIRGIN – MOTHER Of The MESSIAH, GOD The SON

There are Progressive, Liberal Bible Scholars and pastors who not only question a miraculous virgin birth but insist that one is not necessary for the Christian faith. I categorically disagree with that assertion. Those who espouse such a view will often deny, even disparage the propitiatory redemptive act of Christ on the Cross, as the Sacrificial Lamb of GOD, dying for the sins of the world.

Biblically, Christ Jesus’ virgin birth and His atonement on the Cross are necessarily intertwined and by no means should be theologically unraveled. Why?

WHY A VIRGIN BIRTH?

ROMANS 5:12
 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Sin is passed down from one generation to the next, that is to say, the sin nature (ROM 7:14-25; 8:7-8; EPH 2:3; PSA 51:5). Joseph, the husband of Mary was a sinner like the rest of us. If he was the biological father of Jesus, then He would have inherited the sin nature from him and would be disqualified as an appropriate atonal sacrifice for the sins of the world. Yet because His Father was GOD (the Father), He inherited in His humanity, a sinless, innocent nature, just like the First Adam prior to the Fall (1 PET 1:19).

HOLY CHILD, DIVINE CHRIST

LUKE 1:26-45 – we will focus on vs. 29-35…
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled [disturbed, alarmed] at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was [I.O.W. “what could this possibly mean??”]. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS.
32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that [her] babe leaped in [the] womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 "But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 "For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Now let’s break this down a bit and examine a few points in the text: