Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Shalom,
Monday night is the second light of Chanukah, and Tuesday is the second day.
The Upper Room Discourse (part 98 of 100)
Summary, part 3 of 5 – John, Chapter 15
In the first few verses of this chapter there is a discussion of bearing fruit. The message is bear fruit and be pruned down, or don’t bear fruit and be burned up. Those are the choices. What follows is much about “abiding.” Seven consecutive verses use the word “abide,” verses 4 through 10.
Abiding is synonymous with being grafted in. We abide in Him, and He abides in us. Without that abiding, there is no fruit. How can a branch bear fruit unless it is grafted on to the root? That is what made Aaron’s rod that budded almonds such a miracle. Who ever heard of a walking stick bearing fruit or in this case nuts. None of the other tribal walking sticks grew anything.
The rest of this first section (up to verse 17) is filled with a discussion of joy (His joy in us, and ours in Him), love, being Yeshua’s friends, and being chosen. Yeshua is passionate about us loving one another. John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.” The point of the first part of the chapter is contained in verse 17. John 15:17 “These things I command you, so that you may love one another.”
The rest of the chapter (verses 18 through 27) is a discussion of hate. John 15:19b I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hates you. We will experience hate and persecution because our master did and the servant is not greater than his master.
The chapter does end on a positive note. There is a promised Helper, Who will provide a testimony. And that testimony He provides will become our own testimony. John 15:26 “When the Helper comes—whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about Me. 27 And you also testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” “And you also testify”… because witnesses testify to what they have personally seen and heard. Testimony must be from personal experience. Anything else is hearsay and inadmissible in court.
Psalm 105:1 Praise Adonai, call upon His Name. Make known His deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him— tell about all His wonders!
Now that’s the way to end on a positive note.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 20-Dec-2022 26th of Kislev, 5783 Chanukah Day 2
Ge 41:39-52 1 Sa 30-31 Ps 74 Lk 2:1-21 (1 Co 15:29-58)
Nu 7:18-29 1 Macc ch. 3-4
Week 52
Memory Verse: Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent.
256 12/19 Monday: Revelation 2
257 12/20 Tuesday: Revelation 3
258 12/21 Wednesday: Revelation 19:6-20
259 12/22 Thursday: Revelation 21
260 12/23 Friday: Revelation 22