Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 16:1-13.

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.  Very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen.  They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”  Looking up, they *saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.  Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe;  and they were amazed.  And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed;  you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.  He has risen;  He is not here;  behold, here is the place where they laid Him.  But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee;  there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”  They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them;  and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.  She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.  When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.  They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.”  Mark 16:1-13.

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The historical event of the resurrection shines through the dark clouds of doubt.

We live in a day of “your truth” and “my truth” and of “your faith” and “my faith” as if objective truth does not mean anything, only subjective belief and desire.

Today’s Scripture builds up no man.  There were reactions of being “amazed”, “trembling and astonishment”, “they were afraid”, “they refused to believe it”, and “they did not believe them either.”

The truth of “He has risen” was not dependent on their faith and stands out more clearer against the background of their unbelief.

The importance of the resurrection occurring as a true historical event can be seen from Scripture.

“Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;  and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.  Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;  and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless;  you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”  1 Corinthians 15:12-19.

“He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  Romans 4:25.

“Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.”  1 Corinthians 15:14.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 15:42-47.

“When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God;  and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.  Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead.  And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.  Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock;  and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.”   Mark 15:42-47.

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“Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God;  and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.”  Verse 43.

“Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.”  Verse 47.

Even though they knew he was dead, they were looking for Jesus.

When we hear preaching and teaching, or read Scripture on our own, do we look for Jesus?  

Or, are we content to turn our attention to our self? 

Other doctrine focuses on its self and its own goodness, its own wisdom, its own works, and most notably, its own alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on Jesus and His goodness, His wisdom, His will, and His works.

“Q. 30.  Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?

A.  They do not;  for though they boast of Him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior;  for one of these two things must be true, either that Jesus is not a complete Savior, or that they who by a true faith receive this Savior must find all things in Him necessary to their salvation.”  Heidelberg Catechism.

“Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:30.

“I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 15:16-41.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then they *brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.  They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh;  but He did not take it.  And they *crucified Him, and *divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.  It was the third hour when they crucified Him.  The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

They *crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”  Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha!  You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”  In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others;  He cannot save Himself.  Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!”  Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.  At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”  When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.”  Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.”  And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.  And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”  Mark 15:22-39.

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What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?

Did Jesus only accomplish the possibility that some could be saved, which possibility is dependent on the alleged free-will action of man whether it be works or the will of man to be saved?

Or, did Jesus accomplish on the cross the purchase also known as the redemption of all of God’s elect?

Other doctrine is radically different from Reformed Doctrine.

The doctrine taught in most churches is that on the cross, Jesus only accomplished the possibility that some could be saved, which possibility is dependent on the alleged free-will action of man whether it be works or the will of man to be saved.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that Jesus accomplished on the cross the purchase also known as the redemption of all of God’s elect.  In other words, Jesus Christ by the blood of the cross effectually redeemed out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation.  Jesus bestowed upon them alone the gift of justifying faith with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation.

“Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  

…

The true doctrine having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those:

I Who teach:  That God the Father has ordained his Son to the death of the cross without a certain and definite decree to save any  …

III. Who teach: That Christ by his satisfaction merited neither salvation itself for anyone, nor faith …”  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

There is a huge difference to “effectually redeem” each and every one of the elect and “to bring them infallibly to salvation” as compared to only earn the possibility that man could be saved which salvation is ultimately dependent on the alleged free-will of man who is “dead” in sin (Ephesians 2:1), who does not understand nor seeks God (Romans 3:10-11), who is hostile to God (Romans 8:7 and Colossians 1:21) who is in bondage to sin (Romans 7:14-15), and whose natural condition Reformed Doctrine summarizes as “Total Depravity”.

There is only one doctrine of good news.  There is only one Gospel.  

“How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  …
The Lord has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.”  Isaiah 52:7 and 10.

God controls the smallest details of life on earth so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29), and God certainly not giving up any control over what is most important, namely salvation of man.  God saves according to His purpose, according to His choice, not because of works nor even the will of man.  “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 15:1-15.

“Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation;  and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.  Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”  And He *answered him, “It is as you say.”  The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.  Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer?  See how many charges they bring against You!”  But Jesus made no further answer;  so Pilate was amazed.

Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.  The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection.  The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.  Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”  For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.  Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”  They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”  But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”  But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”  Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”  Mark 15:1-15.

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“Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer?  See how many charges they bring against You!”  But Jesus made no further answer;  so Pilate was amazed.”  Verses 4-5.

The prophet Isaiah prophesied about Jesus and this event and surrounding events when he wrote the following prophecy which also explained what Jesus accomplished for us, God’s elect.

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7.

The fact that Jesus silently submitted to such false accusations, scourging, and other suffering and crucifixion shows the strength of His submission to God’s sovereign will and His intention to be a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

“4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.”  Isaiah 53:4-6.

“… “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  John 1:29.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 14:66-72.

“As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest *came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”  But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.”  And he went out onto the porch.  The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!”  But again he denied it.  And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.”  But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”  Immediately a rooster crowed a second time.  And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”  And he began to weep.”  Mark 14:66-72.

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Peter was seen with Jesus.  Peter’s behavior identified himself as being with Jesus.  Peter even looked like a Galilean with Jesus.

Like Peter, we carry the markings of being with Jesus.  We are being conformed to the image of Christ.  We imitate Christ. 

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”  Romans 8:29.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  Ephesians 5:1-2.

We even smell like Jesus.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.  And who is adequate for these things?”  2 Corinthians 2:14-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 14:53-65.

“They led Jesus away to the high priest;  and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes *gathered together.  Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest;  and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire.  Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any.  For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent.  Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’”  Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.  The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer?  What is it that these men are testifying against You?”  But He kept silent and did not answer.  Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”  And Jesus said, “I am;  and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”  Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?  You have heard the blasphemy;  how does it seem to you?”  And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.  Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!”  And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.”  Mark 14:53-65.

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The chief priests and the elders and the scribes thought Jesus was under their control.  But, Jesus knew otherwise.

Like when Jesus was betrayed and arrested, Jesus knew here when He was questioned that if He wanted to do so, He could extricate Himself.  But, Jesus submitted Himself to the will of God the Father that He should suffer and die to redeem God’s elect.

“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”  Matthew 26:53-54.

Other doctrine is continually fearful and anxious about the alleged free-will and power of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine is continually protected and comforted by the will and power of God.

Jesus pointed out to the high priest Who He was and what He had:  “you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”  Verse 62.

Other doctrine teaches that God loves everyone, Jesus died for everyone, and God bows to the alleged free-will of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God hates all who do iniquity, Jesus died only for God’s elect, God does not relinquish one bit His sovereign control and dominion over all, and God will destroy all His enemies.   

The following Scriptures show that God hates all the wicked and will destroy all of them.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.”  Psalm 5:4-5.

“For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.”  Psalm 73:27.

“5 How great are Your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this:
7 That when the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did iniquity flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, O Lord, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, O LORD,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.”  Psalm 92:5-9.

“The LORD keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.”  Psalm 145:20.

When Jesus replied to the high priest, He used some of the language of the following two Scriptures to describe His power and His dominion and God’s will which gave it to Him.

“13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
14 “And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.”  Daniel 7:13-14.

“The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
2 The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”  Psalm 110:1-2.

The following Psalm chapter 2 provides a good summary and conclusion.

“Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm chapter 2.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 14:43-52.

“Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, *came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.  Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one;  seize Him and lead Him away under guard.”  After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.  They laid hands on Him and seized Him.  But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.  And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber?  Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me;  but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.”  And they all left Him and fled.

A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body;  and they *seized him.  But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.”  Mark 14:43-52.

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“And Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’”  Mark 14:27.

“And they all left Him and fled.”  Verse 50.

And yet, other doctrine still trusts in man.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts in God:  “… for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”  Hebrews 13:5.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  John 10:27-29.

Reformed Doctrine trusts God to keep us in His Almighty and Fatherly hands and to save us from the beginning to the end:   from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught in the Reformed creed Canons of Dordt. 

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 14:32-42.

“They *came to a place named Gethsemane;  and He *said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”  And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.  And He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death;  remain here and keep watch.”  And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.  And He was saying, “Abba!  Father!  All things are possible for You;  remove this cup from Me;  yet not what I will, but what You will.”  And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep?  Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation;  the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words.  And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy;  and they did not know what to answer Him.  And He *came the third time, and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  It is enough;  the hour has come;  behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up, let us be going;  behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”  Mark 14:32-42.

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Jesus came to earth to do God’s will.

“THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD I HAVE COME
(IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)
TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’”  Hebrews 10:7.

Nevertheless, despite Jesus’ distress and passion for doing God’s will, other doctrine still focuses on man and what man should do, thinking it can do God’s will and is quite righteous using its free-will to do God’s will.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and the will of God the Father and how God the Son (Jesus) did the the will of God the Father.

“By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;  but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us;  for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”  Hebrews 10:10-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 14:12-31.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+14&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.”  They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?”  And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl.  For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him;  but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it;  this is My body.”  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

And Jesus *said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’  But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”  But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”  And Jesus *said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”  But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”  And they all were saying the same thing also.”  Mark 14:18-31.

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One (Judas) betrayed Jesus.

One (Peter) denied Jesus.

They all left Jesus and fled.

And yet, other doctrine bases its trust in man, man’s free-will, man’s wisdom, man’s goodness, and man’s works.

But, Reformed Doctrine bases its trust in God, God’s will, God’s wisdom. God’s goodness, and God’s works.

When you go to church today, are you going to hear about man and what man should do?

Or, are you going to hear about God and what God has done?

“While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it;  this is My body.”  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”  Verses 22-24.

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You?  What work do You perform?  Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness;  as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”  Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  John 6:28-33.

Today’s devotion comes from Mark 14:1-9.

“Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away;  and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him;  for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people.”

While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard;  and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.  But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?  For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.”  And they were scolding her.  But Jesus said, “Let her alone;  why do you bother her?  She has done a good deed to Me.  For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them;  but you do not always have Me.  She has done what she could;  she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.  Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”  Mark 14:1-9.

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We cannot copy this woman’s good deed that was so appreciated by Jesus and buy and pour very costly perfume over Jesus’ head.  Even if we lived during Jesus’ time and did it earlier in Jesus’ life, it would not mean so much to Jesus as it did right then.  She was exactly at the right place and the right time.  “She has done what she could;  she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.”  Verse 8.

We may wonder how we can express our love for Jesus in such a way that would also please Him.

There is hope!

Jesus has also placed us at the right place and the right time.  Jesus also gives us gifts, empowers us, and causes us to please Him.

“For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”  Psalm 149:4.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.”  Psalm 104:34.