November 17
Ezekiel 22-23/John 1-4
He is the One.
OT – 22:30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.
23:1-4 This message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother. They became prostitutes in Egypt. Even as young girls, they allowed themselves to be fondled and caressed. The older girl was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters. I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
OT Flash Points: Who will stand in the gap?
Picture of 2 adulterous sisters
Samaria & Jerusalem
NT – 1:32-34 Then John said, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, `When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone, he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God. ”
3:5-6 Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.
4:21-24 Jesus replied, “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
NT Flash Points: Samaritans vss Jews
Believe in Jesus, not our religious view of the Messiah
& not just the word of testimony
Perspective:
“In blessing I will bless thee”
Obedience to the nature of Jesus
Yielding to His disposition = person-ality
This is life in this age
And the promises are ours