18 April 2010
Psalm 148, 149, 150; Exod. 18:1-12; 1 John 2:7-17; Mark 16:9-20

What a great father-in-law! We know very little about this man, other than that he was a priest at Midian, had several daughters and that he kept sheep. He did, however, rejoice with Moses and the people here and offer advice and counsel later. He knows the Lord is greater than all gods due to the great deliverance He has worked on behalf of the Israelites.

The proclamation of the good news is the important thing. Jethro knew that there was a core proclamation concerning the events that had happened in Egypt and the disciples knew that there was also a core proclamation of Jesus. The core is rooted in actual events and in the meaning of those events. In most cases the meaning of an event is personal and individualistic but in these two cases the meaning is corporate and precise. The events are that Jesus died and rose again from the dead and has ascended to heaven. The meaning is that His death on the cross was for the forgiveness of our sins, they were laid on this innocent man, that his resurrection from the dead shows the power of God over sin and death, that we, too, shall be risen to life if we believe in Him, and that He now lives and reigns at the right hand of the Father to intercede for those who believe. The creeds set down both events and interpretation that determine the Christian core proclamation, the outline for our witness to Him.

The proclamation of the meaning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is made in both word and deed. John here reminds his readers that loving one another is a sign that they are walking in the light, just as Jesus told them on the night of the last supper. He reminds them that they have been forgiven, that Jesus was from beginning, and that they have overcome the evil one, three important points of doctrine. John writes to remind them who they are and whose they are and that they represent Him. Finally, he reminds them that knowing and doing are inextricably tied to one another, the Christian life is meant to express the beliefs we claim to have.

Praise the LORD!Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!