For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Ex. 28
This chapter is all about the clothing of the priests. They had specific things they had to wear, and those things had to be holy and consecrated in order for the priests to safely approach God. Though I don’t understand all of the details in this, I know that this, too, is an image of Christ and what He does for us. As Paul stated in his letter to the Galatians, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal. 3:27). Thus we, too, have a specific, holy, and consecrated garment to put on in order to safely approach God. That garment is Jesus.
John 7
Even Jesus’ own brothers did not understand who He was and why He came. Their words to Jesus indicate to me that they stumbled over the same misplaced expectations as so many others. When all those people kept asking for a sign, and when Jesus’ brother said here, “show Yourself to the world” (Jn. 7:4b), what they wanted was for Jesus to reveal Himself as their expected conquering King. They struggled with accepting that His plan was not their plan; His ways weren’t theirs.
Jesus’ brothers said, “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly.” (Jn. 7:4a). Jesus’ interest, however, wasn’t in making a public scene. Instead, He went to the feast in secret and quietly began to teach. Rather than turning the spotlight to Himself, He pointed it to God. Jesus’ brothers must not have been paying attention to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He made it quite clear that we shouldn’t serve God for the notice of men. Instead, we should do as Jesus did. Shine the spotlight on God, “and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:4b).
Prov. 4
There is something we need to understand about those given to evil. “For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.” (Pr. 4:16). Evil is not passive! The old saying, “misery loves company” applies equally to evil. Thus, we need to be on our guard and actively avoid evil as passionately as evil seeks to trip us up and entice us down his path.