WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday January 31, 2021

 

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CALLED TO PROPHESY

(Prophesying down through the biblical centuries)

(Luke 2:36-38, Acts 2:14-21, Acts 21:1-14)

 

   In Luke chapter 2, the prophetess “Anna” was a woman who, quite literally, lived in the temple of GOD at Jerusalem. She was one of the last in a long line of ancient prophets and prophetesses who, both, warned and encouraged generations of believers, and non-believers, about the coming of a MESIAH WHO would re-connect mankind into a personal relationship of friendship with GOD the FATHER in Heaven.  

    Anna was the daughter of a man named “Phanuel”, who was a member of “the tribe of Asher”. She was also a widow whose husband had died seven years into their marriage. After her husband’s death, she had remained in the Temple, praying and fasting day and night, and was now herself, 84 years.

    While another prophet, Simeon, was yet talking to Mary and Joseph, Anna came over and began praising FATHER GOD in Heaven. She then went throughout the Temple witnessing to everyone she knew, who had been waiting in eager anticipation for the promised KING, JESUS, WHO had now arrived to save the accepting world from their sins.

    After Joseph and Mary had fulfilled all of the requirements of the LORD at the Temple, they left the presence of this prophet, and they set out on their 65-mile trip back to their home in Nazareth of Galilee. It is there where JESUS grew up healthy and strong, filled with wisdom well beyond HIS years. And GOD placed HIS special “favor” (“charis”, which means “grace”) on HIM as HE grew in obedience to HIS Word.

    In later years we see, over in the book of Acts, taking up at chapter 2, verse 14, the now chosen Apostle Peter proclaiming the Good News of a “Risen LORD” using several references from the Old Testament Scriptures, and explaining them in his “kerugma style” of preaching. Here he reminds the people in the assembly of GOD of how the ancient prophets, namely Joel, had foretold of the “first advent” of JESUS CHRIST, and the arrival of the HOLY SPIRIT.

    In this passage Peter recites the words of Joel when he states, “In the last days, GOD said, I will pour out MY SPIRIT upon all people” (Joel 2:28), and also that, at that time “anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:32). Peter goes on to tell the crowd that GOD publicly showed HIS endorsement of JESUS by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through HIM.

    Peter says that everyone, Jews and Gentiles, who participated in JESUS’ crucifixion, had actually followed a pre-arranged plan by GOD when they collectively nailed our LORD and SAVIOR to the cross at Golgotha. GOD then released JESUS from the horrors of HIS death and raised HIM back to life again. And so, we see that “death” could not keep JESUS in its grip because GOD, our FATHER in Heaven, is always in control of things, past, present, and future, even now (Acts 2:14-22).

    In Acts 21, in verses 1-14, as the Apostle Paul and his entourage pressed on toward Jerusalem during his third and final missionary journey, they say goodbye to the elders of Ephesus at Miletus, and then, re-boards their cargo ship and sails on to Caesarea. When they arrived at Caesarea, they stayed at the home of Phillip the evangelist, who, twenty years earlier had been one of the seven men chosen by the congregation at Jerusalem to administer the food program, just prior to the death of Stephen (Acts 6:1-6).

    During their three-day stay with Phillip and his three prophetic daughters, a man named Agabus, the prophet who had predicted “the great famine” in the Roman Empire at a meeting of the believers back in Antioch of Syria (Acts 11:28), arrived in Caesarea from Judea. During his visit, he took Paul’s belt from his waist, and used it to bind his own hands and feet. He then prophetically declared, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT that, “the owner of this belt will be tied and bound the same way by the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem, and then, he will be turned over to the Romans”.

    When Paul’s entourage heard this, they begged him not to go to Jerusalem. Paul then declared that, even though their weeping broke his heart, not only was he ready to go to jail for CHRIST, but he was also ready to die for HIM. When it became clear that they were not going to be able to deter Paul from pressing on toward Jerusalem, they ceased their pleading and weeping, and gave him their blessings.

     JESUS CHRIST once said, in HIS reply to the pharisees when tried to get HIM not to go to Jerusalem by telling HIM that Herod Antipas wanted to kill HIM. JESUS told them to “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and doing miracles of healing today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish MY purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on MY way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of GOD to be killed except in Jerusalem” (Luke 13:32-33)

    In this passage we see clearly the parallel between Paul and CHRIST JESUS WHO called him. They both had an unwavering commitment to do GOD’s Will. In both instances we see their own Jewish people would be the ones who would hand them over to the Gentiles who would make them suffer greatly before killing them. And while this passage serves to highlight Paul’s heroic attitude, it also reminds us that we too, are committed to, and are called to follow the example of CHRIST, no matter where HE might lead us. And make no mistake about it, HE does not always lead us into what we consider to be “safe territory”.

 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

 

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