redemption
DAY 15: How is Christ seen in the Levitical offerings?
Offering Christ's Provision Christ's Character 1. Burnt Offering atonement Christ's sinless nature (Leviticus 1:3–17;6:8–13) 2. Grain Offering dedication/consecration Christ was wholly devoted
to the ( Leviticus 2:1–16 ; 6:14– Father's purposes 23 ) 3. Peace Offering reconciliation/fellowship Christ was at peace with
God ( Leviticus 3:1–17 ; 7:11– 36 )
Christ's substitutionary death
4. Sin Offering propitiation
( Leviticus 4:1–5:13 ; 6:24– 30 )
Christ paid it all for redemption
5. Trespass Offering repentance
( Leviticus 5:14–6:7 ; 7:1– 10 )
Return to February 15 Readings
February 16
M ATTHEW 27:55–66
55And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses,a and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
27:56 Mary Magdalene. She had been delivered from 7 demons (Luke 8:2); the other "Mary" ("wife of Clopas," John 19:25 a variant of Alphaeus) was the mother of the apostle known as "James the Less" (Mark 15:40). the mother of Zebedee's sons. Salome ( Mark 15:40 ), mother of James and John. From John 19:26 , we learn that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also present at the Cross possibly standing apart from these 3, who were "looking on from afar" (v. 55), as if they could not bear to watch His sufferings, but neither could they bear to leave Him.
JESUS BURIED IN JOSEPH'S TOMB
57Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named
Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen
cloth, 60and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he
rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
27:57 Joseph. Mark 15:43 and Luke 23:50, 51 identify him as a member of the Sanhedrin, though Luke says "he had not consented to their decision and deed" in condemning Christ. Joseph and Nicodemus (John 19:39), both being prominent Jewish leaders, buried Christ in Joseph's own "new tomb" (v. 60), thus fulfilling exactly the prophecy of Is. 53:9. Arimathea. A town about 15–20 miles northwest of Jerusalem.
PILATE SETS A GUARD
62On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63saying, "Sir, we remember,
while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 64Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by nighta and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first."
65Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
DAY 16: Why are there so many uncomfortable expressions in the Psalms —for example in Psalms 23 and 139?
Because the Psalms genuinely reflect real life, we should expect that they will be uncomfortable in the same places that life is uncomfortable. According to the best-known Psalm 23, life isn't just about green pastures and still waters; it also includes death and enemies. The psalmists were convinced they knew the only true God. When someone was picking on them or their people, they would at times cry out for very specific judgment to be applied by God on their enemies. An amazing fact about the Psalms is their unblushing record of these cries to God that, if we are honest, echo some of our deepest hidden complaints before God.
In David's case, the role that he filled as the king and representative of God's people often blurs with his individual self-awareness. At times it is difficult to tell whether he is speaking for himself alone or for the people as a whole. This explains some of the vehemence behind the curse-pronouncing psalms. They unabashedly invoke God's righteous wrath and judgment against His enemies.
Return to February 16 Readings
Matthew 28
February 17
M ATTHEW 28:1–20
HE IS RISEN
1Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,a and sat on it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
28:1 as the first day of the week began to dawn. Sabbath officially ended with sundown on Saturday. At that time the women could purchase and prepare spices (Luke 24:1). The event described here occurred the next morning, at dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week.
28:4 became like dead men. This suggests that they were not merely paralyzed with fear, but completely unconscious, totally traumatized by what they had seen. The word translated "shook" has the same root as the word for "earthquake" in v. 2. The sudden appearance of this angel, at the same time the women arrived, was their first clue that anything extraordinary was happening.
5But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know
that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for He is risen, as He
said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7And go quickly and tell His
disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
8So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
THE WOMEN WORSHIP THE RISEN LORD
9And as they went to tell His disciples,a behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
THE SOLDIERS ARE BRIBED
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' 14And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." 15So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.