Page 568 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_06_MacArthur_Bible_June.qxd 8/8/03 15:51 Page 549

JUNE 3
Lest they should see with their eyes, the last day. For I have not spoken on My own
49
Lest they should understand with their authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me
hearts and turn, a command, what I should say and what I
50
So that I should heal them.” should speak. And I know that His command
is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak,
These things Isaiah said when he saw His
41
glory and spoke of Him. just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Nevertheless even among the rulers many
42
believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees
they did not confess Him, lest they should be 12:42,43 The indictment of vv. 37–41 is fol-
put out of the synagogue; for they loved the lowed by the exceptions of vv.42,43.While the
43
praise of men more than the praise of God. people seemed to trust Jesus with much more
Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who candor and fervency, the leaders of Israel who
44
believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him believed in Him demonstrated inadequate,
who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him irresolute, even spurious faith.The faith of the
45
who sent Me. I have come as a light into the latter was so weak that they refused to take
46
world, that whoever believes in Me should not any position that would threaten their position
abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My in the synagogue. This is one of the saddest
47
words and does not believe, I do not judge him; statements about spiritual leadership, for they
for I did not come to judge the world but to save preferred the praises of men above the praises
the world. He who rejects Me, and does not of God in their refusal to publicly acknowledge
48
receive My words, has that which judges him— Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.
the word that I have spoken will judge him in
DAY 2: As Jesus approached His death, what kept Him going?
In John 12:23, Jesus knew that “the hour” had come for His death. Considering what was
ahead, He confessed,“Now My soul is troubled” (v. 27). The term used here is strong and signifies
horror,anxiety,and agitation.Jesus’contemplation of taking on the wrath of God for the sins of the
world caused revulsion in the sinless Savior (2 Cor. 5:21).
What kept Him going was the principle that Jesus lived by and would die by:“Father, glorify
Your name”(v. 28). See 7:18; 8:29,50.The fact that the Father answered the Son in an audible voice
signifies its importance:“I have both glorified it and will glorify.”This is only one of three instances
during Jesus’ministry when this took place (Matt. 3:17—His baptism; 17:5—His transfiguration).
Jesus acknowledged that “the ruler of this world” was involved (v. 31). This is a reference to
Satan (see 14:30; 16:11; Matt. 4:8,9; Luke 4:6,7; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 6:12). Although the Cross might
have appeared to signal Satan’s victory over God, in reality it marked Satan’s defeat (Rom. 16:20;
Heb.2:14).This would occur as Jesus was “lifted up from the earth”(v.32),referring to His crucifixion
(v. 33; 18:32). This is a veiled prediction of Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus referred to the story of
Numbers 21:5–9 where the Israelite people who looked at the serpent lifted up by Moses were
healed.The point of this illustration or analogy is in the “lifted up.”Just as Moses lifted up the snake
on the pole so that all who looked upon it might live physically, those who look to Christ, who was
lifted up on the cross for the sins of the world, will live spiritually and eternally.
The people’s response was to ask Him,“We have heard from the law that the Christ remains
forever; and how can You say,‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’?” (v. 34).The term “law” was used
broadly enough to include not only the 5 books of Moses but also the whole of the Old Testament
(Rom.10:4).Perhaps they had in mind Isaiah 9:7 which promised that Messiah’s kingdom would last
forever or Ezekiel 37:25 where God promised that the final David would be Israel’s prince forever
(Ps. 89:35–37). To their question, Jesus offered them a final invitation to focus on His theme of
believing in the Messiah and Son of God (vv. 35,36).

JUNE 3 His mother’s name was Maachah the grand-
daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all
3
the sins of his father, which he had done before
him; his heart was not loyal to the LORD his
1 Kings 15:1–16:34
God, as was the heart of his father David. Nev-
4
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam ertheless for David’s sake the LORD his God
15 the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his
Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;
2
549