Commissioned

Yahweh revealed himself in this way to Isaiah at a time when the King who has reigned for a long time had died; no doubt the people revered him and ascribed worship to him that should only be given to God. The vision revealed God's majesty as the angels proclaimed His holiness, His sovereignty. From the chanting of the seraphims we learned that God's glory fills the earth, that His holiness is all around us and He's ever present with us.

The vintner’s vision for the vineyard was a choice area where the soil was fertile, good irrigation system. Every thing in place for a bountiful harvest. Unfortunately, at harvest time he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. With the unexpected bad crop the vintner said he would take away the hedge from around it vineyard and it will be destroyed. No longer will he protect it as he had done in the past. This parable tell us as servants of God, we are under His protection and He furnishes us with the resources necessary for ministry. When we abuse what He has given to us and bear no fruit or evil continuously, God will take away the resources.

This prophecy of the future Jerusalem tell us that God's plan of salvation includes the Gentiles. Both Jews and Gentiles will have a hunger to know the one true God. As the nations hunger to know the true God they will put down their war gears and study war no more, but instead study the Word of God.

Q1. (Isaiah 1:2-20) In what way is Judah confused about its identity, according to verses 2-4? What are the consequences when Christians today suffer from such identity confusion? What injustices does God accuse his people of in verses 15-17? In verses 18-20 God argues that their behavior is “unreasonable.” Why is it unreasonable? What does God offer as an alternative? Judah's demonstration of rebelliousness against God is a sign of their confusion about their identity as children of God, the chosen ones. Today when Christians suffer from such confusion they too rebel against God and live wicked lives. God accuses His people of being sinful; bloody hands is indicative of murderers. God argues that their behavior is "unreasonable" because they were the chosen one and as such God wants to forgive them and give them the best of the land. God would bless them if they would repent and turn from their wicked ways.

As the Son of God and God’s Chosen One, it means that those who believe in and walk in obedience will “listen to him”; in so doing we are listening to the voice of God. As a Christian my entire life reflects "listening to him" as it is God who from birth directed and ordained a path for me to follow. With that said it is my duty to stay in right relationship with Him and follow his plan.

The title "Branch" came from the metaphors of a family being a tree with a root and branches. The "Branch" used here is a designation that one is of a family lineage. The imagery is different from the title "Root", in that the root is the source for the branch to be nourished and bear fruit.

The chief priests and scribes were so angry when little children referred to Jesus as “Son of David” because they believe that Jesus could be the long awaited King from the line of David who would come and restore the Jews ti their Kingdom. The title "Son of David" signifies Jesus' earthly lineage is of King David.

Peter believed Jesus to be the Messiah. This was revealed to Peter by the Spirit of God. Upon this revelation Jesus commanded His disciples not to tell others that He is the Messiah because they were looking for a military Messiah who would came to restore an earthly kingdom. His purpose was more than that, He came to bring salvation to mankind, to bring eternal life.

The favorite messianic prophecies are: A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel...." (Numbers 24:17) "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD...." (Isaiah 11:1-2) "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:3) "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed (māshîaḥ)...." (Psalm 2:2, ESV)) I consider these, among others, favorites because they show the faithfulness of our God, who reveals to His Prophets those things which are to come. We can have confidence in all the promises of God; they too will be manifested.

The words "Christ" and "Messiah" both have the same meaning. The Hebrew word māshîaḥ, anointed "anointed one" is transliterated as "Messiah", this is the Greek word christos. In Greek "Christ" (christos) is the "anointed one", The Davidic Covenant influenced the messianic expectation in Jesus' day as the Jews were living with an intense expectation that at any moment a descendant of David would come as Messiah to restore the glory of the kingdom and deliver them from their bondage.

Jesus is our "one Mediator between God and man" i the sense that He alone is qualified to stand between man and God to intercede for our salvation. When a minister intercedes on our behalf they make intercession through Jesus. Jesus admonishes us in John 14:13-14, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." The effective prayer the Minister makes on our behalf is through Jesus Our Mediator. As Advocate, Jesus represents us to the Father. He makes the appeal for us when the accuser attempt to tarnish our righteousness. For those in the community who would be displaced, ridiculed or persecuted our voice must be the voice that causes those in authority or those who can; affect the necessary changes that will alleviate the pain and suffering of the weak. As I serve Christ in a spirit of humility I do, as the situation warrants, present myself to be the one that unites and be reconciler, mediator and peacemaker.

As Man of Sorrows, Jesus grieved over the callousness of man's heart. His joy is in fulfilling the mission that His Father sent Him to do, however, this joy was interrupted when he looked upon the multitude and sees gross unbelief in them. Jesus must have seen into the centuries to follow, and was greatly pained that still many more would not believe in Him. As Jesus experienced sorrow in the unbelief of man we too must have compassion on those who hear the gospel and are still in unbelief.

He is God to be worshiped in "spirit and in truth." He has given too nus His Word to know Him and to obey His commandments. When we walk in obedience, we bring glory to Him. It's in the obedience, that we walk in the power and authority of God and we get to see the demonstration of His power and glory right here on earth. Hallelujah!!!

The attributes of the “one like a son of man” in Daniel’s prophecy are human likeness because He resembles a man, He;s not earthly because his origin is heaven, He has authority as He approaches the throne of God, God has given to Him authority, glory and sovereign power, He is worshiped by people of all nations and He has an everlasting kingdom. His attributes designates or demonstrates His divinity as He has ALL authority and power in heaven and in earth. Jesus, in answering the high priest, used the phrase, "Son of Man" as Daniel did when he answered, " In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus called the “true and faithful witness" because He is God in the flesh, He is the ultimate affirmation of truth and faithful. Jesus witnessed to the Father that caused Him His life. He was faithful in His witness as he upheld the Word of God to the very end. As a disciple I am a faithful witness as I speak the unadulterated Word of God and by His grace, mercy and strength I will to the very end.

Jesus id the Word of God in the sense that when Jesus speaks, they are not just his words, they are the Father's words. Jesus is called this because He is God in the flesh. John called Him the Word of Life because the Word of God is alive and give life to the dead and lifeless. It is the Word of God that Created and brought life to a world without form and empty. God's Word created and spoke life to establish the universe. God's Word is so powerful it is for our benefit to hear, to meditate and to obey His Word.

As Rabbi, Jesus is my Teacher and He is my Master and Lord. It is His teachings that my life is centered on, reflecting of them daily in various circumstances and times of praise and thanksgiving to reflect. I receive Jesus' teaching as a disciple. His Word is a lamp that shines in the darkness that looms in the world. It is a pleasure to present the Word of God in the classroom or in general conversation having allowed the teachings of Jesus to effect change in my life..

The disciples use the name of Jesus with the authority that He gave them, so that they can head the sick and cast out demons. We also have been given this authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. When we speak or act in Jesus' name we demonstrate that we have accepted the "power of attorney" that He has bestowed upon us and we walk in that authority. Sometimes because we do not fully believe in the gift that Jesus has given to us us can work through us we act in fear. I am sure that if we were to hear His voice speaking to us directly on the matter the confidence and faith would spring forth and we would not be afraid to speak or act in Jesus' Name.

When you pray "in Jesus' Name" you pray with the authority that Jesus gave to you. I pray "in Jesus' Name" because He has given the rights to go to Father and make our request known in His name. In John 14:13 Jesus told us, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Again in John 16:23b Jesus said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." When we pray in Jesus' Name we are limited to pray in accordance with God's Will.

Taking on the name of Jesus or identifying ourselves with Jesus open us to persecution from those who are yet blinded by Satan and believes that their persecution of Christians will bring them rewards. I cannot say that taking on the name of Jesus or identifying ourselves with Jesus open us to shame. The true Believer counts it a joy, an honor and a privilege to be identified with Jesus. In recent time there have been many who have been persecuted to the point of being beheaded, all for the name of Jesus. One might be labeled ashamed of Jesus if he refuse to publicly declare his faith in Jesus Christ for fear of persecution. On the other hand a person who publicly declares that the blood of Jesus bought his salvation is not ashamed of Jesus.

The meaning of Jesus' name embodies His mission, He came to earth to save, deliver, set free, bring victory, give help, preserve and rescue man from the dangers, affliction and harm that the enemy may set for them. The name of Jesus is powerful. His mission is to bring Salvation to the world. Jesus fulfilled His mission through His teachings, His sacrificial death and bodily resurrection. I thank God that Jesus fulfilled His mission because now I can, with great assurance, say that I am saved and looking forward to one day being in glory with Him.

With the intensity of the persecution of the End Times the people of God will draw nearer to Him and will persistently and consistently seek His face. The Body of Christ will be completely absorbed in the Word of God and the Presence of God that hey will be made "purified, spotless and refined,"; all in the "presence." The church today, is in such need of this because it will get out of the worldly things, seek His kingdom and hear His voice more clearly. We can prepare ourselves by the study and meditation of God's Holy Word, fasting and resting in His presence.

The intense persecution will last for three and one half year. During this time God's people will be delivered. This difficult time is revealed to us so that we can be about bringing in the harvest. Telling the world that Jesus saves today will prevent them and others that they will reach from facing the great tribulation.

Those who are wise and influential for God will rise from the grave to receive their reward. Their reward is eternal life. God uses our influence currently to advance the Kingdom by bringing the light of His truth to those who hear the proclaimed Word of God and receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

From Daniel 12:2 we learn that th the righteous and the wicked will be resurrected. In the New Testament Jesus also taught that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked; those who have done good will rise to live and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.