Jason Reads the Bible

2 Cor 3

Hey guys, today I was reading 2 Corinthians 3 and I decided this chapter had too much good stuff not to write on and therefore I am making this post.

The upside is that you guys get fresh content to read 😎😎😎,

the downside is that the 1 Peter 2 post might as well never be finished.

(does it even exist? or is it just a myth to draw in readers? find out next time)

Here is my agenda for the day:

How great is the minister of life (2 Cor 3:7-9)
The veil as a foreshadow (2 Cor 3:13-15)
Our role: to behold the glory of God (2 Cor 3:12-13, 18)

and I hope you enjoy 🤯

Paul speaks briefly of the ‘glory of the ministry of death’—he says it’s glory was so great that “the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face” (2 Cor 3:7).

Paul then follows up with this question; if that is the case, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? (2 Cor 3:8)

And If we recognize two things from the glory in the first scene:

It was pretty darn glorious (review Exodus 33-34 if you have to)
That this glory came from a ‘ministry of condemnation’ (2 Cor 3:9)

Then we can do nothing but to bask in the awe that is the glory of the second ministry—the ministry of life and righteousness.

The same Moses who was ‘faithful in all of God’s house’ (Numbers 12:7)?

Well, God is doing something greater than even that:

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
2 Corinthians 3:7-9

This one is really interesting. In this passage, Paul makes an interesting analogy:

not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:13-15

He compares the veil over Moses’ face to the ‘veil’ that has been placed over the eyes of Israel. They are unable to comprehend what God is doing through Jesus.

But what is interesting is that in the next verse (v. 16), Paul says the only way for this veil to be taken away is by ‘turning to the Lord’:

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
2 Corinthians 3:16

Hey, wait a second. They can’t understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies unless they turn to Jesus? This is surely some circular logic here.

Maybe I am misinterpreting this passage. Someone please explain it to me. Thank you.

Knowing that we are heirs of this new covenant, we are not left without responsibility. As v. 12 says: ‘Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.’

We are told to ‘have unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

A funny story that comes from this was a while ago I saw a devotion about Exodus 34 saying we should have ‘shining faces’ like Moses and I thought that was an absolutely ridiculous way to interpret the text but I guess God works through even that because he humbled me when I read this 2 Corinthians 3 passage because apparently, he’s right.

So yes guys, we are to shine like Moses, unveiled, in order that we may show others the work that God does in our lives as he transforms us from ‘one degree of glory to another’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

I pray for all of us as we continue to live our lives in this quarantine that we do not veil this hope we have but we can have boldness in our faith.

As the apostles said to the rulers and the elders and the scribes:

‘for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:20).

This was a bit shorter than my usual but thanks for reading!

Stay cool and see you next time,

Jason

Some Thoughts #4

Hi friends,

I thought that after the last “Some Thoughts,” I might not do another one since I struggled with ideas near the end but today, by God’s grace, he has given me at least two new ideas which I wanted to share (aka I should’ve just waited to post today instead of yesterday).

As last time, I’m going to write this as I go so it might seem a bit scattered section by section but at the time of my writing of this intro, it’s March 27th! So here is the agenda for the day:

Matthew 27:51-54 as a fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:1-14?
Should we circumcise? (Out of love & obedience, not salvation)
Jesus and Jonah (Matthew 8:23-27)
Resurrection
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” (Colossians 2:16)
“To the unknown God” (Acts 17:22-34)

side note: I was gonna do a post on 1 Peter 2 because there was so many great references and that I wouldn’t two “some thoughts” posts in a row but I got lazy since this was mostly done so I just posted it

So I was reading some articles for a class and one article made this acute observation that the events in Matthew 27 regarding Jesus’ death seem to be a fulfillment of the events in Ezekiel 37:1-14 aka “the valley of dry bones.”

I discussed this with my friend who knows more about eschatology than me and he disagreed with me (😤) BUT at least let me point out some interesting things.

The main points of comparison via Ezekiel:

Earthquake (37:7)
Opening and raising of the graves (37:12)
The people of Israel being ‘brought’ (37:12) and ‘placed’ (37:14) into the land

Via Matthew 27:

Earthquake (27:51, 54)
Tombs of the saints were opened and they were raised (27:52)
The saints entering the holy city (27:53)

Another significant thing to note is that this is the only gospel which records such events – the other gospels have no earthquake or raising of the saints when Jesus dies.

I think that the very least, it would be fair to say that at the time of the writing of Matthew, the author almost definitely had Ezekiel 37 in mind.

A couple months ago, I brought up the question of whether a Christian should circumcise.

Most of you will look at me with disgust and some may even be ready to call me a heretic (and that’s why I had put the brackets in the agenda).

Before you accuse me of being one, let me explain my perspective.

I have read both Acts 15 and Galatians.

And I agree: circumcision does NOT save. circumcision does NOT make us righteous That is done by the grace of God.

If you think circumcising is the way to salvation – tough luck, you’ll need to keep he whole law.

THAT is what Acts 15 and Galatians are talking about.

Acts 15 is a council regarding the law of Moses, circumcision, and SALVATION.

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Acts 15:1

Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
Acts 15:10-11

Paul says it clearly, circumcision is WORTHLESS FOR SALVATION UNLESS YOU KEEP THE WHOLE LAW:

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
Galatians 5:2-3

THAT is why circumcision ‘does not count for anything’ in this letter to the Galatians:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Galatians 5:6

The question I’m asking is NOT whether we should do it to be saved BUT whether or not we should do it out of love and obedience for the Lord. If we desire to follow God and we desire to follow his law and commandments then should we not circumcise?

I ended up reading 1 Corinthians 7:18 and decided no.

“Well, Paul says we should ‘lead the life that the Lord has assigned to [us]’ (1 Cor 7:17) so I guess we don’t have to.”

I still didn’t have a WHY but it seemed we didn’t have to.

But I was reading Acts 16 today and I read about Timothy getting circumcised. And this question came up again.

And as I think of that question again, I can only imagine an astonished Paul asking “WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAS DONE ON THE CROSS?”

And that’s when it clicked. Why if you circumcise, “Christ will be of no advantage to you.”

The response isn’t “we don’t HAVE TO so we don’t” or “we don’t have to because PAUL SAYS NOT TO” but there is a very good reason WHY.

When we understand what the Gospel means – that salvation has been given to ALL people and ALL nations then there is no longer a need to become Jewish. THAT is the beauty of the cross. If we miss that and try to circumcise and try to become to Jewish then it’s like as Paul says, that “Christ will be of no advantage to you” because we have missed what makes the Gospel so beautiful.

So today I was listening to a sermon on the story about Jesus calming the storm. The pastor pointed out some really interesting parallels between the story of Jonah in the boat (in Jonah 1) and Jesus calming the storm.

Main character is found sleeping (Matthew 8:24b, Jonah 1:5)
A storm is brewing (Matthew 8:24, Jonah 1:4)

And that seems to be the end of the parallel, as Jonah is delivered into the sea by the sailors (Jonah 1:15) while Jesus calms the storm and all is well (Matthew 8:26).

But that is NOT the case because if we know how the rest of Jesus’ story goes…

In the same way Jonah is delivered into the sea (Jonah 1:15), Jesus is delivered into the hands of sinful men (Luke 24:7)
In the same way that Jonah is in the fish for three days (Jonah 1:17), Jesus is in the tomb for three days (Acts 10:40)
In the same way that Jonah’s escape from the whale leads to the repentance of the (Ninevite) Gentiles (Jonah 3:5-8), Jesus’s escape from the tomb leads to the repentance of (all) gentiles (Acts 11:18)

Maybe this is the sign of Jonah that Jesus speaks about :O (Matthew 12:39-41).

If Jonah’s preaching was able to turn the hearts of one Gentile city, how much greater is what Jesus does when he allows for all nations to be turned? (Matthew 12:41b)

So in my class for Paul of Tarsus, I’m writing a paper on death, resurrection, and the parousia, and one thing I noticed is that Paul puts a pretty big emphasis on the resurrection.

(parousia – is a word that referred to the visiting of the emperor when he’d be crowned with divine honors and stuff but is also the word that Paul uses to describe the return of Jesus)

This is funny because in our modern day Christianity, all we hear is talk about heaven. When’s the last time your pastor talked about the final resurrection?

Yet in Paul’s letters, he makes such a big deal about the resurrection and parousia. If you actually look through Paul’s work, you’ll notice he doesn’t talk too much about the moment after death.

The only two times he suggests an immediate ‘fellowship with the Lord’ after death is in Philippians 1:21-24 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-9.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Philippians 1:21-24

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
2 Corinthians 5:6-9

Yet in 1 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, and Romans all make a pretty big deal about the parousia and resurrection. The WHOLE chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is dedicated to Paul’s insistence of a physical and literal resurrection.

Like it’s a pretty big deal.

And although heaven is great and all, if our focus is on something that shows up like three times (as Luke 23:43 is sometimes used in reference as well), then maybe we’ve missed the point.

Maybe heaven ISN’T the point.

If we read Revelation 21 with the new heaven and earth, we’ll realize something quite interesting.

The focus is not on us forsaking this earth and leaving to be with God in heaven but rather it is heaven that comes down with God coming to us.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4

Apparently there’s more to Christianity than forsaking the present world and simply ‘saving souls?’

This next one is a really interesting because of how it’s used out of context. Colossians 2:16 says this:

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
Colossians 2:16

It’s easy to read this and think ‘oh, well this means there’s no need to do any of the festivals, or the sabbaths, etc.’

Uh… Actually no, it’s quite the opposite of what it’s saying. If we keep on reading the verse in it’s CONTEXT, we will read this in verse 18:

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind
Colossians 2:18

Asceticism is the practice of abstaining from indulgence – aka what verse 20-23 talks about:

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
Colossians 2:20-23

Paul is not saying, ‘don’t do those things because they are no longer necessary.’

In fact, he’s saying the exact opposite.

Colossians 2:16 is about a verse saying how you CAN and are ALLOWED do those things.

It’s a DEFENSE of those actions, not a deterrent.

So in Acts 17, Paul starts talking to these pagans at the Areopagus and tries to convince them to believe in his God.

He starts with:

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
Acts 17:23

And we may think ‘wow, these guys have a inscription dedicated to YHWH (aka the name for the God of Israel) and they didn’t even know it.’

And then Paul proceeds to quote some stuff to them:

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Acts 17:28

and we kind of assume Paul is quoting some book from the Hebrew Bible because that’s what Acts does.

But if we read over this text and don’t realize that:

Those quotes are not from the Bible
That inscription is not meant to be for YHWH

Then we’ve COMPLETELY MISSED the point of the story.

The quotes are from Greek philosophers and the inscription is meant to worship some unknown deity that they might have accidentally left out of their pantheon but definitely was not made with YHWH in mind.

This passage was not written that we’d learn to preach by quoting our scriptures but that we’d learn to preach through the very lens of our audience.

That is not to say we should not our preaching is absent of scriptures (because Paul’s surely wasn’t) but it highlights the importance of not only knowing OUR text but knowing the text of others, their beliefs, their backgrounds, and understanding where the Gospel fits into that.

And if it doesn’t? Maybe you have the wrong Gospel.

That’s all for today,

Thanks for reading.

Stay cool 😎😎😎,

Jason

Some Thoughts #3

Hey everyone,

Welcome back to another session of “Some Thoughts.”

I decided to be smarter with this post and just post things as they come along instead of jumbling it all at once and forcing myself to think of ideas so the ideas may be a bit more scattered than usual :O.

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy and here is my agenda for the day:

Jesus being the glory of God (Hebrews 1:3)
Parable of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44)
Over-spiritualizing a wheel
It “seemed good to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 15:28)
Prayer

Something absolutely absurd that we often skim over is when the Bible says that Jesus is the “glory of God” (Hebrews 1:3).

We are kind of like “yeah, that’s true. Know that” but we overlook the absolute absurdity of the statement.

Like first let’s look at Jesus: some carpenter dude from Nazareth who was apparently nice to tax collectors and prostitutes and ended up being humiliated through suffering and dying on a cross.

On the other end, we are told that God is this all-powerful dude: creator of all things, king of the universe, etc.

And you’re telling me that of all the things God could use to advertise himself and show off his “glory and representation” is this guy? Same dude who got bullied by some Roman soldiers?

I thought he was supposed to be all-powerful and all that jazz.

Once we recognize the absolute absurdity in the statement, we also understand the absolutely beauty in which it entails.

That the God whom we serve is not some all-powerful, far-away deity in the sky but someone who is very near to us, who understands our struggle, who loves the outcasts and cares for those who are overlooked.

Maybe it’s that upside down kingdom thing?

I’ve recently started reading “don’t waste your life” by John Piper and this parable shows up in the first couple chapters.

This doesn’t have much to do with the book but I just wanted to share that this is probably my favorite parable! It’s so simple yet there is so much behind it.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44

It’s only one verse (and is one of the shortest parables) but it really shows the depth and “worth” of living a life for God.

It’s worth so much that the guy sold everything he had to get it. If we believe that Jesus is worth it then we should be like that guy. I wish I could literally be that guy because it would make it easier to give everything up for the Kingdom of God without the all the extra decision making.

But back to the topic:

I wonder if we have that same zeal as we search for God?

Do we believe that Jesus is worth everything?

(As I finish off this section, I’m almost sure I have posted this exact thing before. hehe. Guess I just love this topic and parable too much).

A couple weeks ago, I was eager to bring up this amazing idea I had. I wanted to ask one of the campus ministry staff if we could get a prize wheel because I saw a lot booths had them during frosh, etc. and I thought it would be a great way to get people to notice our booths and talk to us!

And so I brought up the idea and he’s like sure, let’s get it right now and we found it online.

I proceeded to ask if we should ‘pray about it or something’ since the decision seemed kind of impulsive 😱😱😱. He laughed and said said he felt there doesn’t feel like a need to always over-spiritualize things.

I actually have no idea how this relates to the original topic because this was supposed to be the Acts 15:28 section but I’ve already written it and am not exactly sure how to relate it to anything so I’m just gonna leave it as a funny story here.

Now onto the real Acts 15:28 section…

As I was listening to BEMA one day, the host pointed out something kind of funny in Acts 15:28 where it says this:

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements
Acts 15:28

Can you imagine that? You ask the Holy Spirit whether something is a good idea and he’s just like:

“seems good to me”

It’s almost comical in a way. We ask him for his advice and his response is:

“doesn’t look too bad, why not? go for it”

And maybe this is what I was trying to draw in on that last section, that maybe sometimes we look too hard for concrete answers when sometimes God is just telling you to ‘go for it, why not? Seems good to me’ (I know I have).

Hm…I want to post this today since I haven’t posted anything in a while but I feel it’s too short so I guess I will just talk about one more random thing before closing this post off.

One thing I think God has been reminding me a lot about lately is prayer. I haven’t been doing a very good job yet God still reminds me through the few prayers that I do and even through stories about other people’s prayers how powerful our requests to God are.

We’re told that:

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16b

So I guess as we are stuck in this pandemic and amidst all this social distancing, I pray that we none of us forget how powerful our prayers are.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth
James 5:17

If one man’s prayers can stop the rain, I wonder what 2 billion prayers could do?

That’s all for today,

Thanks folks and see you next time.

As always, stay cool 😎😎😎

Jason

Acts 6-9

Hi friends,

after receiving way too much encouragement, I’ve decided to write another post on Acts 6 through 9 😱😱.

As I was compiling the list of stuff I wanted to talk about, I realized this could be done in two posts but that is NOT happening. So what I’ll be doing instead of providing two lists below: one is stuff that is simply too interesting not to take a look at and the second will be small (but still interesting) observations that you can take a look at yourself or ask me about (but that I will not be going through in this post)!

Standout things I will be going through:

Stephen’s parallels to Jesus (Acts 6-7)
The fulfillment of Acts 1:8 (Acts 8)
If we keep on reading… (Acts 8:32-33)
Belief & Baptized without Holy Spirit? (Acts 8:15-17, 9:17)
“What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36)
Paul’s call paralleled to Ezekiel’s (Acts 9:3-8)
Paul to Jonah? (Acts 9:9, 18)

Standout things I will not be going through:

Acts 6:15 to Exodus 34:29 (but I guess I talk about this a little bit)
Acts 9:25 vs Joshua 2:15 (and the larger context of Acts 9:23-25 vs Josh 2)
Acts 9:40 vs 2 Kings 4:32-34 (Who is the in the room? Method used?)

The first thing I wanted to take a look at is the Parallel of ‘Stephen’s story’ that occurs through Acts 6-7 and the parallels it has (with the tail end) of Jesus’ ministry:

Stephen’s signs and wonders (Acts 6:8)
Stephen’s disputers unable to stand up to his wisdom (Acts 6:9-10)
Stephen falsely accused (Acts 6:11-14)
Stephen’s shining face (Acts 6:15) – this one is out of order vs Jesus’ ministry
Stephen execution by stoning (Acts 6:57-59)
Stephen’s asking for his murderer’s forgiveness (Acts 6:60)

There are some other ones which I didn’t take note of in that list (i.e. accusation against religious leaders) but I’ve picked out the ones I thought seemed major:

Jesus’ sign and wonders (does this need a reference?)
Jesus’ disputers unable to stand up to his wisdom (Matthew 22:15-46)
Jesus falsely accused (Matthew 26:59-60)
Jesus’ shining face (Matthew 17:2)
Jesus’ execution by Crucifixion (Matthew 27)
Jesus’ asking for his murderer’s forgiveness (Luke 23:34)

(Lol, I was planning to do ALL Matthew but that last one only shows up in Luke 😤😤).

I don’t have much commentary for this one but I just thought it was something interesting to take a look at.

So in Acts 1:8, we get this verse that’s often used for the great commission:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8

What’s cool is that this seems to be fulfilled in Acts 8!

Initially, we’re told:

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:1

which sort at hints at what is going to happen next.

If we keep on reading. We see Philip preaching in Samaria:

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ
Acts 8:5

And then later to an Ethiopian Eunuch!

And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:27-31

If we keep in mind that Judea is the ‘province’ of which Jerusalem is located, we slowly see Philip’s witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Here is a map I stole that may help visually (with the red arrows drawn by me):

(source: https://www.thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney1/7-journeys-of-jesuss-followers/philips-journeys/)

So the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch is one of my favorite stories. One reason is because of this really cool teaching that I heard from here (from Ep. 137).

In Acts 8:52-53, this is what Philip reads with the Ethiopian Eunuch:

Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
    and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
    Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
Acts 8:32-33

If you are familiar with this passage, you’ll know it’s from Isaiah 53 and is from the “servant song.”

If you are familiar with Isaiah, you’ll also know that only three chapters later (aka Isaiah 56), there is this:

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
    “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;
and let not the eunuch say,
    “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose the things that please me
    and hold fast my covenant,
I will give in my house and within my walls
    a monument and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
    that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 56:3-5

So if we (reasonably) assume that the eunuch’s scroll includes Isaiah 56 as well, it really completes the story as we can only imagine the joy on the eunuch’s face that God offers “a monument and a name better than sons and daughters.”

Something that I thought was super interesting in Acts 8 (and which also shows up later in Acts 9) is the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

I think most people agree that once we believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit is granted to us. But what if I told you that’s it’s possible to be believe and be baptized and not have the Holy Spirit?

It sounds strange but it’s exactly what happens in Acts 8.

In this narrative, Paul preaches to the Samaritans and they believe:

But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:12

But what are we told in v. 16? That they have not yet received the Holy Spirit and that it was necessary that the apostles perform the ‘laying on of hands’ to give it to them:

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
Acts 8:14-18

This again happens in Acts 9, after Paul’s call. He does not receive the Holy Spirit until Ananias performs the ‘laying on of hands’ on him:

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9:17

So this raises the question: is there some people who believe yet do not have the Holy Spirit?

This text suggests that it’s at least possible. The text suggests there’s some element of a ‘passing on’ of the Holy Spirit (but if that is the case, then do ANY of us have the Holy Spirit? :O).

Well, probably. It is important to note that God does not require this ‘laying on of hands’ to pass on his Spirit (source: Numbers 11:25, prophets).

Interesting topic indeed.

So back to the story of Philip and the eunuch.

I think it’s funny how baptism is such a big deal that we literally have different subsets of churches when it seems that it’s not really that big of a deal at all in the Bible.

How long does Philip talk to the Eunuch?

Probably like an hour or two. Maybe Three or four MAX.

And what is the eunuch’s response?

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:36

Regarding baptism, he’s literally like “why not?” and he gets baptised:

And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Acts 8:38

And I know some of you are thinking “what about Acts 8:37 which shows up in some manuscripts?”

Well, I did a quick google search and it only shows up in some of the really late manuscripts.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is checkmate, Baptists.

Okay, here is some really interesting stuff.

I originally heard about this on a podcast (aka the same one as before) but only had the chance to look it up now.

If you are familiar with the calling of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1-2, you’ll realize it’s eerily similar to Paul’s call in Acts 9.

I took most of the ideas from here so you can take a look if you are interested. But if you are not interested, I can summarize it for you! (Just to note, I haven’t stated ALL the parallels in full because you get a much more complete picture if you look at ALL the parallels with Ezekiel’s call in light of Paul and the retellings of his calling in Acts 9 + 22 + 26 but I will mainly be looking at 9)

Paul’s call:

He sees a light from heaven/Glory of the Lord (Acts 9:3) – side note: “glory of the Lord” idea is more explicit in Acts 22:11
He falls to the ground (Acts 9:4)
He hears a voice from God (Acts 9:4)
He is told “But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:6)
He gets up (Acts 9:8)
He is unable to see for three days (Acts 9:9)

Ezekiel’s call:

He Sees ‘flashes of lightning’ (Ezekiel 1:13-14 NIV) and Glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 1:28)
He falls to the ground (Ezekiel 1:28)
Hears a voice from God (Ezekiel 2:2)
He is told “Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you.” (Ezekiel 3:22) – the article expands on this but basically the combination of verbs used only appear three times…twice in Acts and the third time in Ezekiel.
He gets up (Ezekiel 2:1-2)
Ezekiel is ‘stunned for seven days’ (Ezekiel 3:15) – both are left incapacitated

Cool.

One last thing I wanted to a look at is the connection that Acts makes about Paul and Jonah. This article talks a bit about it but here are some interesting points:

Paul

Called to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15)
‘Suffers’ for three days (Acts 9:9)
Is said to have ‘kicked against the goads’ (Acts 26:14) – what that means

Jonah

Called to preach to Gentiles (Jonah 1:2)
Is eaten by a large fish for three days (Jonah 1:17)
Tried to avoid his calling (Jonah 1:3)

Here are a couple more parallels which happen later in Acts.

What’s also interesting at the end of the three days, we are told ‘scales fell from his eyes’ (Acts 9:18). Fish scales?

I think that’s all for today.

Thanks for reading and stay cool 😎,

Jason

Acts 2

Hi everyone,

Lol so today, a local pastor hosted this “underground seminary” thing where he gave us a couple tools to be able to go deeper in our Bible readings and really draw out what the text is trying to say.

He said we would go through Acts 2 tomorrow so I’m writing this blog post to put down everything I can possibly figure out about Acts 2 in order to flex my knowledge and help me be proud of myself for finishing Torah just so I could get some of these references.

So I will be doing that instead of studying for my test on Friday. I hope someone will like this post.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place
Acts 2:1

Okay guys, so this is super relevant. You think this is unimportant but what does Pentecost mean? It means the FIFTIETH DAY.

You know what happens on the fiftieth day? THAT’S right.

Shavuot, where the Jews celebrated the giving of the LAW. Guess what happens in this chapter????? Giving of the Holy Spirit.

50 DAYS after what??? THE PASSOVER

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE PASSOVER?? That’s right. Jesus dies 🤯🤯🤯.

PASSOVER ➡️ JESUS’S DEATH

SHAVUOT ➡️ PENTECOST

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:2

I HAVE YET TO FIGURE THIS out.

Update: I checked a commentary and it suggested that the Greek ‘wind’ was alluding to the Hebrew ruach which also means ‘wind, breath, spirit’ which came up but I also thought it was too easy and there would be an actual powerful wind somewhere (which I guess shows up in Job) but the ruach idea seems to make more sense due to Holy Spirit and all.

And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
Acts 2:3

THERE IS TONGUE(S) OF FIRE IN ISAIAH 5. But Isaiah 5 is about God’s judgement on the wicked people (who happened to be rich and practice injustice).

But if we keep reading to Isaiah 6, we get to the calling of Isaiah where his unclean lips are mended by a burning coal so maybe it is something related to being purified and sent????

Or maybe I am completely off track and this fire is supposed to remind us of the pillar of fire in Exodus? Burning bush?? Surely, tongues of fire cannot simply be just any other fire.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:5-6

Now, I did not put all of the stuff from verse 5-11 because well it lists a bunch of languages and talks about how the disciples spoke in languages from ‘every nation.’

I’m pretty disappointed in myself that it took me a couple readings to get this one but their ability to speak in every language and for everyone to understand is the complete OPPOSITE of a story that happens in Genesis 11 when people speak in every language and cannot understand each other.

I am not exactly sure the implications but Genesis 12 is where the story of Israel starts (with Abraham) so maybe it is an ‘undoing’ of Babel where all the nations are once again welcomed back in God’s story.

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Acts 2:17-21

RIGHT HERE, OUR FRIEND PETER QUOTES JOEL (which we are told in v. 16).

Here, Joel talks about a day where God will rescue his people and he will do the thing where he says he will “pour out his Spirit on all flesh” and that their “sons and daughters shall prophesy” which is supposedly happening as Peter preaches about it (to ALL flesh aka ALL people).

Interestingly, the “sun turning to darkness,” is something that happens as well during Jesus’ Crucifixion.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Luke 23:44-45

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:45

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Mark 15:33

Oh, and we also know of Jesus doing many ‘signs and wonders.’

I have to admit I’m not sure about the blood, fire, and vapor of smoke though.

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Acts 2:24

Okay, I was going to skip past this part but I thought the word PANGS was really funny so I had to look it up.

Other translations unfortunately do not use the word PANGS but some commentaries (and Blue Letter Bible) say that the ‘pain’ used in 2:24 is in relation with ‘birth pains’ and thus suggest a ‘new birth’ when Jesus rose from the grave.

For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
Acts 2:25-28

Now this is a passage from Psalm 16,

(I know this because I recognize the last couple lines of Ps 16:11 which is one of my favorite verses)

Here, the author of Acts points out Jesus as being the “holy one” that is mentioned in v. 10.

I’m not 100% confident but I think that the writer is suggesting that this Psalm is actually ‘Jesus speaking.’

That “his soul would not be abandoned to Hades” and that he would face no corruption seems to be reminiscent of Jesus – that he would not be left dead and that he would face no corruption (or sin).

The idea is continued on in v. 31 – “he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.”

For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
Acts 2:34-35

So this is one of my favorite prophecies because I love the way that Jesus uses this in conjunction with the messiah being of Davidic lineage to school the Pharisees in the gospels: Luke 20:41-44, Mark 12:35-37, Matthew 22:41-46.

This verse shows up in Psalm 110 and as said before, is used in conjunction with the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16.

The argument is simple:

If the messiah is David’s descendant (aka someone who is lower than him), how could it be possible that David calls him lord (aka someone who is higher than him)?

Well, Jesus says he is the answer.

He is of Davidic descent (so he would presumably be lower)
BUT he is God (so he is actually higher)

Acts 2 makes sure to bring these 2 points up as well. There is v. 34-35 which mention his “Lordship” and v. 30 which mentions that God would bring one of his descendants onto the throne.

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
Acts 2:39

I MAY be reaching here but the language here just feels really similar to the “you and your children” vibes in Deuteronomy.

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—
Deuteronomy 4:9

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:7

And the next generation, your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, will say, when they see the afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the Lord has made it sick—
Deuteronomy 29:22

SO maybe there is a connection there, maybe there is not.

EDIT: SOmeone pointed out that if Pentecost and giving of the Spirit is meant to mirror the Shavuot and giving of the Law, then it would make so much sense for this to sound like Deuteronomy because there is that same principle of not only taking this but passing it down to your children and your children’s children 🤯🤯🤯

And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Acts 2:40

THIS appears to be stolen from Deuteronomy 32:5 (or maybe I’m reaching):

They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
Deuteronomy 32:5

This shows up in the song of Moses that is supposed to be used as a witness against Israel because God says that after Moses dies, apparently his people will turn away from him (lol Deuteronomy 31:16-21).

Maybe the idea is that this generation of people are people whom have turned away from God???

OK, there might be more stuff in 42-47 but I am really tired and nothing really comes to mind for them so I’m going to end it here.

Goodbye everyone and stay cool

Jason

Acts 1-5

Okay, since physically going to school is cancelled, and I now have unlimited time again, I guess it’s time to write some blog posts.

Since I haven’t posted about my devos in a while; I finished Matthew & Deuteronomy a while ago and just finished Mark a couple days ago so now I’m going through Job and Acts!

(Wow, I haven’t done a devos post in over a month)

Just to make it easier for myself (and maybe you guys?), I guess I’ll just make an agenda here too:

Casting Lots (Acts 1:23-26)
What was spoken by the prophet Joel (Acts 2:17-21)
Sharing of the believers (2:44-46, 4:32-35)
Cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:19-20)
Peter’s ‘gospel presentation’ (Acts 2-5)

There was a couple other things too that I thought were interesting but I didn’t want to make this post too long so I think a five (originally six but I cut one out)-point blog post will suffice.

Some people may wonder what the Bible has to say about leadership selection.

Well, look no further! Let’s take a look at how our friends, the apostles, do it in Acts 1 when they try to replace Judas.

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:23-26

So the next time somebody tries telling you that casting lots is not an adequate way to do leadership selection, point out that if they trusted God like the apostles did, they wouldn’t be afraid to cast lots.

“Do you not trust that God is sovereign even over these lots?!?”

(And it’s important to note that the disciples didn’t cast 120 lots because there was 120 people per v. 15 but the most biblical way is do it is to select among a few people and cast lots among those)

So if you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I LOVE old testament prophecies. Some of them seem to have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus but NT writers still them as ‘proof texts’ (*cough Acts 2:24-28) but others which seem to be prophecies to come that are ‘fulfilled by Jesus’ are very interesting (Acts 2:17-21):

“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Joel 2:28-32

A day when God’s spirit will be poured on all flesh? Hm…interesting. Wonder if something like that will happen anytime soon.

What else was interesting was I didn’t realize Paul’s “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13) came from Joel. Whoops.

So the other day, I was having a discussion with my friends on whether or not someone who is low on resources and is barely able to take care of their family could make a case to not tithe. During our discussion, someone pointed this out:

Maybe the problem isn’t tithing but the church’s failure to take care of it’s members. Maybe that question shouldn’t even be a real situation at all but should only a thought experiment.

Let us take a look at Acts (2 & 4 specifically) and see how the early church dealt with this problem, shall we?

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts
Acts 2:44-46

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Acts 4:32-35

Interesting. It seems as though they did these things called ‘sharing’ and ‘taking care of each other.’

We are told twice that they had “everything in common.”

So maybe when we ask the question on whether or not someone who is low on income should tithe, we are actually pointing out the incorrect problem.

If a person who struggles to make enough income to tithe, why isn’t the church (aka us) doing something so that they would be otherwise able to?

I don’t know why but I just love the scene that happens in Acts 4 and the apostle’s response to the priests and Sadducees.

The priests and Sadducees tell the apostles to stop preaching.

And what is their response?

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:19-20

“Whether you think it’s right or not, there’s nothing we can do but preach about what we have seen and heard.”

How amazing is that?

A message so great that when people tell us to shut up about it, there’s really nothing more to say than:

“we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”

So in Acts 2-5, Peter has four ‘gospel presentations’ that he uses to proclaim the good news of Jesus. I wanted to take a look at them to see the ‘main points’ which he talks about through all four of them.

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it…
[David] foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Acts 2:22-24, 31-33

Big points in Acts 2:

Jesus did many signs & wonders
Jesus crucified by lawless men
Jesus raised up (from the pangs of death)
Jesus exalted at the right hand of God
Promise of the Holy Spirit

And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out
Acts 3:12-15, 17-19

Big points in Acts 3:

Jesus glorified
Jesus killed
Jesus raised from the dead
Jesus would suffer
Repent so that sins may be blotted out

let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12

Big points in Acts 4:

Jesus crucified
Jesus raised from the dead
Salvation in no one else

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5:29-32

Big points in Acts 5:

Jesus raised
Jesus killed by hanging on a tree
Jesus exalted at the right hand of God
Forgiveness of sin
Promise of Holy Spirit

I know I didn’t mention everything in Peter’s sermons (I didn’t include any of the prophetic stuff OR the extension of the conversation in Acts 2 which includes forgiveness of sin, repentance, and baptism) but what’s interesting is the things that the writer of Acts decided to emphasize in all four of the ‘sermons.’

There are actually only TWO things which show up in all four of the sermons.

Jesus’ death/crucifixion
Jesus raised (from the dead)

Not to say the other things aren’t important (i.e. ‘Salvation’ is mentioned in all four but is dubbed as ‘forgiveness of sin’ in chapters two, three, and four while ‘Holy Spirit’ is preached about only in chapters two and four. Maybe there’s suggestion of a Chiasm? :O)

but it’s interesting to see what the writer of Acts dubbed as ‘essentials’ in Peter’s four sermons.

I think that’s all for today.

Thanks for reading.

And as always,

Stay cool,

Jason

Some Thoughts #2

Hi friends,

So the other day someone pointed out I had not posted in a while and I’m like hm…good point. Guess I’ll make a post.

So here it is!

So here is a list of stuff I’ll be taking a look at that I just grabbed from my devotions or interactions with others (so some of it may be familiar!):

Sacrifices Pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:16)
The Unbelieving Spouse is made Holy (1 Cor 7:13-14)
The one teaching (and two commands) in Matthew 28
Parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-20)

I’m not sure when this one came up but probably when I was doing devos awhile ago and apparently, we should all still be doing sacrifices.

They just look a bit different.

So the next time that someone tries telling you that we stop sacrificing because Jesus made the final sacrifice once and for all and that “it is finished,” just show them verse from Hebrews:

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16

Because in the eyes of the writer of Hebrews:

doing good = sacrifices

Interesting.

This next idea may be a bit more controversial but today we take a look at 1 Cor 7:13-14.

The ideas came about a while ago but I was reminded by it this morning when we took a look at it in one of my classes.

If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
1 Corinthians 7:13-14

It’s really interesting because when we look at the idea that a believing spouse can sanctify an unbelieving one alongside other verses on marriage such as Genesis 2:23-24…

Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh
Genesis 2:23-24

It makes me wonder how far exactly does that sanctification go?

I dare ask if it ever makes sense to purposely become one flesh with an unbeliever for the purpose of their sanctification.

And how far does the “one flesh” idea go? If I’m in union with an unbeliever, does God separate this one flesh into two on the day of judgement? Or does the idea never even get that far in the first place?

EDIT: Forgot to make a note of this as well but 1 Cor 7:16 – does Paul mean this as you will save them through conversion or save them through the idea of this ‘one flesh?’

Some people will just disregard these as insignificant questions and quote 2 Cor 6 but for everyone else here:

Sooo many questions

I shared this one a while ago with some of you so you may already heard about it but when I finishing Matthew for my devotions, I noticed something really interesting about Matthew 28 (aka the last chapter of Matthew).

There’s only ONE (formal) command that Jesus makes his disciples after his resurrection:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

(And yes, I did add ‘formal’ because some people will point out that he does make another command in v. 10. BUT, that is significant as well…it is also a command to “go and tell.”)

But wow, of all the teachings that the writer of Matthew decided to put in his gospel for the 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection, this is it.

It’s SO important to him, that this is the sole thing he put and acts as the conclusion to his gospel.

I wonder what that means for us?

Oh and if you’re interested in the first command in the Bible and the first command to his disciples and Matthew, feel free to take a look as well: Genesis 1:28, Matthew 4:19.

Seems like there’s a pattern, huh?

The last thing I wanted to talk about was the Parable of the sower in Mark 4 (which show up in Luke 8 and Matthew 13 as well).

So there are four types of soil in the parable:

The path (v. 4)
The rocky ground (v. 5-6)
The soil among the thorns (v. 7)
The good soil (v. 8)

And it’s interesting to hear about how Jesus describes each of the soils in v. 13-20:

The path – word is immediately taken from them (v. 15)
The rocky ground – receive it with joy and after a while, fall away (v. 16-17)
The soil among the thorns – cares of the world cause it to be unfruitful (v 18-19)
The good soil – bear fruit, thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold

Okay, what’s so interesting about that?

A couple observations:

The parable seems to suggest the good soil WILL bear fruit
The parable seems to suggest that some have the word but it is choked aka the soil among the thorns which does not bear fruit
The parable explicitly says that the rocky ground falls away BUT does not say the soil among the thorns will “fall away”

Almost everyone can agree that the path would be unbelievers, the rocky ground would be those who believe but end up leaving the faith, and that the good soil are believers who remain faithful and bear fruit.

But who exactly are the soil among the thorns? They don’t seem to have any indication of falling away as the rocky ground does.

They seem to be this weird in-between. The way the parable is presented seems to suggest that there is a group of people who believe yet do not bear fruit.

But what does John 15:2 say?

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:2

How exactly do we fit this in our timeline of: believe > get Holy Spirit > bear fruit? Does one never get the Holy Spirit in the first place if there’s never fruit? Or can one have the Holy Spirit but never bear fruit?

What about those people that seemed to receive the word and fall away? How does the timeline work for them?

If you want to get even more technical, The Luke 8 variation explicitly uses ‘believe’ for the people who are the rocky ground.

Maybe this timeline for believers isn’t as simple as we try to make it out to be.

That’s all for today.

Thanks for reading,

Jason

Some Thoughts #1

Hello friends,

Today, while I was commuting, I had some THOUGHTS I wanted to share.

So I decided I’d just make a new type of post labelled “some thoughts” where I shared some of my thoughts on theology and the Bible.

It’s just sort of me ranting but I’ll try to include some Biblical references to support my perspective !

Plz do not burn me too hard for some of my thoughts. I’m open to correction but I’m also pretty stubborn so PLEASE have this in mind when you send me an angry message telling me I’m a heretic:

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:23-25

Disclaimer: I do not claim to have all the answers, most of this just comes from one person who is learning to another! These are just some current thoughts I have the moment and they are subject to change!

(I guess I should post this at the beginning of all these posts, ha)

Agenda for today (in order of when these thoughts came up)

Romans 3:23-24
Hebrews 10:28-31
Abstractness of faith
Predestination
Romans 9

Okay, this one came up while I was listening to a podcast so I will have to give some credit to them. But one thing that was interesting that they mentioned is how we’ll often use Romans 3:23 as a “proof text” that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Is this true? Yes. Indefinitely.

Paul makes it clear in Romans 3:9-18:

What then? Are we Jew any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:9-18

He makes it clear that nobody can be justified by the works of the law:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:17

And apart from faith, there is only the law, and thus no one is justified. As it is written: “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse” (Galatians 3:10). And so going back and reading Romans 3:23 that “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” it is a correct statement. All are sinners.

But that is not how the author intended it to be used.

If we continue to read into verse 24…

“…and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

If we read it together…

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).

Now, there’s no all after the ‘and’ but it’s sort of implied. So it’d sort of go something like this:

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24 w/ emphasis).

Now we are stuck at one of two conclusions, either:

All are sinners and all are justified by his grace
This verse is not talking about all people and should not be used as a proof text claiming that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Well, which is it? Let’s take a look at the previous verses: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction” (Romans 3:21-22)

Now, reading it as a whole…

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
Romans 3:21-24

This second one actually came up while I was in church the other day! I wasn’t the one who brought it up but I still found it astonishing!

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:28-31

While the person was bringing it up, they were focused more on how the punishment is much more severe (via v. 27) but I thought it was astonishing why it’s so much more severe.

Hebrews 1-10 talks a lot about how Jesus has enacted a new and better covenant:

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 8:6

With that in mind, let’s take a look at Hebrews 10:28-31.

If someone has set aside the law of Moses, they die on the evidence of 2 or 3 witnesses.

How much more severe the punishment then if someone sets aside the law of Christ (which is superior to the law of Moses) on the grounds of the witnesses being the Father, son, and holy spirit (which are far superior to some arbitrary 2 or 3 witnesses)?

I’d imagine it’d be pretty severe.

This one is not really about the Bible but just sort of a side rant (lol). It just seems like a lot of the time, the way we describe faith is really abstract and seems almost incomprehensible.

We say things like “good works are not required for salvation but saving faith will produce good works and are evidence of salvation.”

Okay, hold on a minute, what does that even mean?

Hebrews describes faith as “assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Is not faith just the trust that we have in the Lord? That we can have confidence in the things he says and who he is?

Could we say that faith is simply our ability to “trust in the promises of God?”

Does that not make sense as well when we “complete” it with “good works?”

“When we trust in the promises of God (faith), it changes the way we live (good works).”

When we trust that His way is better and that it’s worth selling everything for, then it changes the way we live.

This one is also sort of a rant and I wasn’t even going to write about it until this morning. While I was listening to the podcast, the speaker mentioned how people really like to get caught up predestination things and I was thinking to myself, “who cares?”

I think theology is great and I love getting caught up in the little things (proof: this blog) but ultimately, how much does it really matter?

Because it gets to a point where you have one believer telling another that they’re going to hell because of what they think about predestination.

Do you really think that when you appear before God in his throne room, his main concern will be whether or not you were right or not on predestination?

In fact, whether or not there’s predestination, should it change the way we live out our faith? And if it does, isn’t that a sign that we’re missing something?

What does the Lord require of us? “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)

The last thing on my mind is Romans 9. It’s really interesting the perspective we often we read this section of Romans with.

(Shoutout to the podcast again).

We read this section with the connotation that Paul uses it to exclude people.

When we read “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,” (Romans 9:15)

We seem to read it as “I will have mercy on these people and not these people.”

But what if it’s meant to be read as “I will have mercy not only on these people but these people as well.”

Interestingly, as pointed out (to me), Romans was written the for the exact opposite purpose. It was written to include.

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:12-13

When the Jews exclude the Gentiles, what does Paul have to say?

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also
Romans 3:29

Or when the Gentiles try to exclude the Jews, what does Paul have to say?

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Romans 11:17-21

What if the focus on the vessels of wrath is not their destruction but God’s patience and mercy. God’s inclusion rather than exclusion. As the NASB says:

What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory
Romans 9:22-23 NASB w/ emphasis

I think that is all for today!

Thanks for reading,

and stay cool,

Jason

Just a Shepherd

Some funny things to note before we start:

This was supposed to be a post on Amos AND Micah but I took a 3 hour nap and didn’t get a chance to read Micah yet
I really liked the title of “Just a Shepherd” (based on Amos 7:14 ) so I was going to use it anyway, but by God’s providence is also the translation for NIV so it’s actually biblical now

As always, first, I will apologize for never posting but a lot has been happening lately and I just haven’t had time!!! (But I’m still reading thru Matthew and Deuteronomy so if anything y’all would like to discuss from those, shoot a message ! There’s actually a lot of cool stuff I COULD share but just been busy 😅)

Secondly, if anyone is new here, this is just a place where I like to put my favorite thoughts and highlights that come up usually (during devotions!)

If you have any questions or disagreements (and in that case I’m ready to throw down 😤), feel free to e-mail (available via “about me” page) or send a message!

In that case, let’s begin!

I made this list while keep a track of stuff I wanted to put in this post while reading but I guess I’ll just leave it here as a kind of agenda for what I’ll be going through today:

Amos the Shepherd (1:1, 7:14)
Pledged Garments (2:8)
Privilege AND responsibility (3:1-2)
Worship (4:4-5, 5:21-24) without justice (2:6-8, 4:1, 5:11-12, 6:12, 8:4-6)
Plumb Line (7:7-9)
A day is coming (9:11-12)

So the first thing we are told in Amos (in 1:1) is that he is a Shepherd. Not any special kind of Shepherd either. He’s literally just a Shepherd (7:14). Oh and he farms sycamore figs (7:14).

Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Amos 7:14-15

Every time I see a significant figure being a Shepherd, my eyes light up because there have been some pretty significant figures that also have been Shepherds, i.e. David, Moses, etc
I thought it was really cool how God takes someone who was pretty much a “nobody” – “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son,” and makes him into a speaker of his word. The way that God uses people like that is so cool! (Quick 1 Cor 1:27-31 plug)

So one pretty big theme in Amos is the injustice of Israel, especially towards the poor. One place this shows up with some interesting connotations is in Amos 2:8 which says:

they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
the wine of those who have been fined.
Amos 2:8

I’m focusing more on the “garments taken in pledge” aspect because while I reading through a commentary, it brought up a really interesting insight that I overlooked myself (which was both disappointing that I did not see it myself and cool that it was there at all).

The “garments taken in pledge” may be referring to a law stated in Exodus 22:26-27, where God tells his people that even if your neighbor pledges their cloak to you, you shall return it (by night) because otherwise, they may have nothing to sleep in.

If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Exodus 22:26-27

It certainly fits the theme of Amos very well, showing both the injustice of Israel and God, who has compassion on those who cry out to him in their oppression.

Next, I will take a look at Amos 3:1-2:

Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
You only have I known
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities.
Amos 3:1-2

It was interesting to me because looking at the commentary, it suggested that because Israel was chosen to be God’s people, they were expected to be of higher standard.

In a sense, it’s to be read in a “greater privilege” implies “greater responsibility” light.

Although I am not entirely sure if that was the intention (but maybe it was. I’m not really sure so I’m kind of leaving it open ended.) because 9:7-8 actually has God saying to the Israelites that they are indeed NOT that special, and they ought not to think so highly of themselves (but of course, there was a certain context this was said in with all their sinning and refusal to repent).

But whether or not that is the intention, I’m just going to roll with it since I think it’s a great point. Very relevant. Very biblical.

The idea of greater privilege = greater responsibility has been an on-going problem. It was a problem at the time of Amos. And it’s a problem that persists even today. We want to have the privileges of being with Christ but we don’t want to have the responsibilities.

What’s important to note is that it’s not a problem that is exclusive to those times though. Jesus talks about it in his parables. Paul has to confront multiple churches regarding it.

I’m not going to put the entire parable (of the minas) here (Luke 19:11-27) but here’s the interpretation of it:

‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
Luke 19:26-27

Basically, it’s what it says. For those who are given more, more will be expected. But the one who has not been faithful with what they have, even that will be taken. This is especially true when we read the case of Israel in Amos.

This idea again shows up in another parable in Luke 12:35-48 (almost exactly as I’ve stated above):

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Luke 12:48b

So it’s a not a new idea. Nor does it seem to end with his death on the cross as Paul seems to have a similar struggle with the church in Rome and Corinth.

Romans 6 has Paul explaining that yes, we are free under Christ, but that is NOT a means to sin:

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Romans 6:15

1 Corinthians has Paul saying “yeah sure, ‘all things are lawful.’” but what?

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
1 Corinthians 10;23

“not all things are helpful, not all things build up.”

What does this exactly mean for us? Maybe there’s an implication that being followers of Christ is not a call to be “content in freedom” and to “do whatever we want,” but actually a call to greater responsibility. A higher standard.

Maybe it’s even a call that demands our everything.

What is (one of) Paul’s final thoughts regarding that passage in 1 Cor 10:23?

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Next, a quick look at Israel’s religious obligations:

✅ Sacrifices (4:4)
✅ Tithes (4:4)
✅ Offerings (4:5, 5:22)
✅ Assemblies & Feasts (5:21)
✅ Worship (5:23)

You’d think they’d be doing a pretty good job, eh? But what do we get after a list of Israel’s “achievements”:

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amos 5:24

It’s hard to get the tone of the verse without reading it in it’s context but the NLT does a pretty good job of what it’s trying to say: “Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living” (Amos 5:24 NLT).

If you read Amos 5:21-24, it’s actually about God rejecting Israel’s religious obligations because they do so without a heart for justice or ‘mishpat.’ Just for some perspective, mishpat in Judaism stands for more than just the punishing of criminals we would imagine in some court case, it is infused with creating order and making the world “as it should be” (Source).

And so to neglect the poor is to neglect justice and to neglect justice is to neglect God. And that was a pretty big reason with what was wrong with Israel.

Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Israel,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver,
    and the needy for a pair of sandals—
those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
    and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
a man and his father go in to the same girl,
    so that my holy name is profaned;
they lay themselves down beside every altar
    on garments taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
    the wine of those who have been fined.
Amos 2:6-8

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan,
who are on the mountain of Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
Amos 4:1

Therefore because you trample on the poor
    and you exact taxes of grain from him,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
    but you shall not dwell in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
    but you shall not drink their wine.
For I know how many are your transgressions
    and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
    and turn aside the needy in the gate.
Amos 5:11-12

Do horses run on rocks?
Does one plow there with oxen?
But you have turned justice into poison
and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—
Amos 6:12

Hear this, you who trample on the needy
    and bring the poor of the land to an end,
saying, “When will the new moon be over,
    that we may sell grain?
And the Sabbath,
    that we may offer wheat for sale,
that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great
    and deal deceitfully with false balances,
that we may buy the poor for silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals
    and sell the chaff of the wheat?”
Amos 8:4-6

Wow, that’s a lot of…stuff.

Yet, it should bring to our attention whether or not we have that same heart for misphat. Because in the eyes of Amos, what we would call ‘social justice’ and what he would call ‘justice’ has no differentiation. It’s one and the same. It’s a call to make things “as they should be.” Are we fulfilling that call?

So I didn’t know what a plumb line is. But basically it’s a kind of tool used to see if a wall was straight or not. And so in the same way that the plumb line is used to check if a wall measures up to the standard, God uses a plumb line to check if Israel measures up to his standard.

This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,
“Behold, I am setting a plumb line
    in the midst of my people Israel;
    I will never again pass by them;
the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
    and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
    and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”
Amos 7:7-9

(spoilers: no)

The last couple chapters are not too hopeful and kind of dreary but ends on a sort of good note. A day is coming where there will be abundance and fortune for Israel (9:13-15). But before that is said, there is a small prophecy here:

“In that day I will raise up
    the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
    and raise up its ruins
    and rebuild it as in the days of old,
that they may possess the remnant of Edom
    and all the nations who are called by my name,”
    declares the Lord who does this.
Amos 9:11-12

Two things,

Prophecies about the kingdom of David are always super cool
Prophecies about gentiles being a part of that kingdom are always super cool

I think that’s all for today.

Thanks for reading and stay cool,

Jason

“To Tithe or Not to Tithe,”

“that is the question.”

Hi friends,

I have just been super busy with school, etc that I have not been able to make any posts.

But I had a small but interesting discussion at church today so I will share here with some scripture because I want to share with you all.

I should really be sleeping or studying but I could not resist not posting something

Context: We just had a sermon today about using finances with the eternal perspective in mind and it is now Sunday school (where at the beginning, we discuss a bit about our thoughts on the sermon), and a question comes up on what does it look like to honor God with out finances when money is scarce?

Or more specifically, should we change or even abolish in whether or how we tithe/offer?

For most people, gut reaction will be yes. We read the story of the Widow’s two copper coins:

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-4

And the answer here is pretty clear. It’s obviously yes. The widow is commended for her faith.

Some people will quote Malachi 3:10 or 2 Cor 9:6-7 (despite those texts being written to a very specific people, in a very specific time, and with specific purpose) to say that we should.

And I agree, I think that we should. I think that to be willing to tithe and offer your money to God even when finances do not look good is living out what Jesus talks about in Matthew 6 where Jesus tells us to ‘seek first the kingdom and his righteousness’ (Matthew 6:33). Do that, and in turn, God will provide is the gist of Matthew 6.

Yet, here is another proposal.

Let’s go back to Luke 6 where we read the story of David and the Showbread.

On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Luke 6:1-5

If you have not read this story, essentially, David and his men break Levitical law by eating the bread of the presence meant for the priests.

(Further references are 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Lev 24:5-9 if you are interested)

Yet, his actions commended by Jesus.

Let’s say it’s not simply myself that I have to take care of but my household as well. Could we not draw the same principles as in this story that it is more important to take care of the people we are supposed to oversee than to simply than to ritually preform worship?

Of course, this is not just an excuse to not tithe and not give offerings, etc but a look into what scripture really says because when we look into the scriptures, it’s a lot more complicated than just “yeah, just always tithe.” And I think if we approach is to just always tithe, we may be missing something.

Because obviously it’s of great faith for some to have few but to still give a lot

i.e. The widow with the two copper coins

But is it also not of great faith to search the scriptures, look at some of the great heroes of the faith, and see that sometimes “breaking the law” is the best way to honor God?

i.e. David and the Showbread

In Matthew 15 (which I read like two days ago), Jesus brings this very concern up. He confronts a group of Pharisees who neglect their parents “in the name of God.”

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
Matthew 15:3-6

Yes, they do so honoring tradition rather than Torah but the point is the same. They neglect their family in order to give to God. The Bible actually happens to speak on this as well:

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8

If you do not provide for your relatives and the members of your household, you are denying the faith and worse than an unbeliever.

In other words, don’t even bother.

Is honoring you parents and loving the ones of your household not synonymous with loving God? Does Paul not say that the whole law is fulfilled in one word? (Gal 5:14).

Is it not possible that when we get so caught up in trying to be counter-cultural and radical and zealous for God that we actually miss a part of the story ourselves?

So what is the answer?

My proposal is that it’s something for us to wrestle with. That it’s something God doesn’t explicitly give an answer for.

I think that’s all for today. Thanks for reading.

Stay cool,

Jason