For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Mark 2
Jesus made the statement, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17b). The irony in that statement is that we are all sinners. Considering Jesus made this statement to the self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law, it is pretty clear that when he said “sinners” He meant those who acknowledge they are sinners. As we saw in yesterday’s reading, Jesus’ salvation is for those who repent and believe.
1 Sam. 17-18
Jesus is the Son of David. How does David’s victory over Goliath foreshadow the work of Jesus? I have known for a good while that David is one of the many representations of Christ in the Old Testament. However, I don’t know that I have ever really looked at David’s whole story through that lens. David, like Jesus, came from Bethlehem. And David tended his father’s sheep, which is how Jesus portrayed Himself. Like Jesus, David was not what anyone expected as a savior. Yet David felled the proud giant, just as Jesus conquered the giant of pride, both “without a sword in his hand” (1 Sam. 17:50b). And in doing so, both brought freedom from slavery and fear. Very cool.
Ps. 55
“God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change – He will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.” (Ps. 55:19). An interesting truth – even those who have no fear of God will be humbled before Him. Like Goliath before David, pride will not stand before God. It will one day fall prostrate before Him. Thus, what we have in Jesus is the opportunity to humble ourselves before God rather than being humbled by Him. All will be humbled. But only those who take that step themselves will be saved.