One Year Bible for Sunday, January 30th - Jesus Predicts His Death

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Exodus 10:1-12:13

The Plague of Locusts

The next plague is a plague of locusts that destroys all the Egyptian crops. Once again Moses warns Pharaoh about the consequences of not letting the Israelites go to worship God. This time even his advisors tell him to get rid of the Israelites, for what they have already done to Egypt.  Again Pharaoh puts a qualification on their leaving. He will only let the men go, not the women and children and flocks. Moses and Aaron were driven out of his presence. 

Moses stretched his staff and a strong wind blew locusts over every square inch of the land. Everything green was eaten and the only thing that could be seen on the ground was black due to the sheer number of locusts. Once again Pharaoh begged and asked for forgiveness for his sin. God caused the locusts to leave, and once again Pharaoh hardened his heart.

The Plague of Darkness

Moses stuck out his hand so there was darkness over the whole land for three days. It was completely dark for the Egyptians, but the Israelites had light wherever they went. This time Pharaoh's deal was that the men, women and children could go, but the animals and livestock needed to stay behind. Obviously Pharaoh wanted control over the situation to try and protect himself. When Moses refused this time, Pharaoh ordered him out of his sight and pledged that if he ever saw him again, he would kill him. Moses' retort was, "You are correct. I will never see you again!" Moses is the one who is truly in control. 

The Plague on the Firstborn

Now the consequence of the next plague is severe. At midnight all of the firstborn sons from Pharaoh's household, down to all of his slaves would be killed. After Moses presented this to Pharaoh and Herod refused, Moses was hot with anger. 

"The Lord had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt."

God prepares the Israelites for the plague, which will kill the firstborn sons of Egypt. This plague points toward Jesus, who will be our Passover Lamb. The Israelites are to take a one year old lamb without blemish and slaughter it. The blood was to be smear on the tops and sides of their door posts. When the angel of death saw the blood of lamb it would  "Passover" the homes of the Israelites. They would be saved by the blood of the innocent lamb.  

Then the Lord said,  "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord!"

The Passover is the main festival in the Jewish calendar. It is usually falls close to Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, Jesus, the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world, shed his blood on the cross for us. One day on the final judgment day, the Lord will pass over our sins because we are covered and saved by the blood of the lamb. 

Matthew 20:1-28

Parable of the Vineyard Workers

Jesus continues to teach using parables. In the parable of the vineyard, different workers are hired at a different times during the day. They are each told they will be paid for a day's wage. At the end of the day when the foreman went to pay everyone, the ones who started working earliest during the day were indignant that the later hires were paid the same amount.  

The owner says, 

“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

The parable ends with the words, "So it is the last will be first and the first will be last!" 

What does this mean? A person is born into a Christian family, and is a Christian their whole life. Another person comes to faith as a young adult. Finally, another person accepts Christ right before they die. The person who has always been a Christian might be tempted to say that's not fair. I was a Christian my whole life, and this person was only became a Christian last minute. I should get a better reward in heaven. 

The main point is whether someone is saved early on in life, or later, they are saved by grace and have nothing to complain about. If God were to reward different people based on their works. it would no longer be grace. We should be grateful for the grace we have received. and for all those who come to Christ before it is too late. 

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

The disciples are curious about Jesus' eventual fate, so he tells them what is going to happen. The reality of what he says here does not completely register with the disciples yet, as we will see soon. 

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Possibly in response to Jesus' assertion, the mother of James and John asks Jesus if her sons can take the place of honor in the future kingdom. Jesus rebukes them, as they don't really understand the nature of his kingdom. In the kingdom, the greatest among them is the "servant". The "place of honor" is the person on their knees washing people's feet.

As Paul says in Philippians 2:5-11,

6 You must have the same attitude that Jesus Christ had. 

Though he was equal to God, he did not think of equality with God

    as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

    he took the humble position of a slave

    and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8     he humbled himself in obedience to God

    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

    and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 25:1-15

Proverbs 6:6-11