Fine Print.

 Fine Print.

 

This book by Baxter called Explore the Book is printed in what might be elite typeface. With a desk light and patience, it can be read. But a Kindle app on a tablet with backlighting makes reading much easier. Sitting here wondering if it has ever been produced in any other format—electronic, specifically. The last publishing date is 1973, so it probably has not ever been published since the copy on my desk.

 

Just stepped out to check on the critters and nearly got covered up in teeny tiny skeeters. They may have been small, but Dear Hearts, they were vicious!

 

Finally got a couple of pictures from Jamaica. It looks as if sunburn has struck at least one of the group, but Gary and Jennifer did not look to be burned yet. Hoping that they have sense enough to renew that sunscreen often. Grayson was out on the water in one of those two-person kayak things. Looks like fun. The water is SO clear and pretty, not at all like anything in our part of the country. Guess that is the big difference between the ocean out south of Cuba and that near the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Spectrum just informed me that we have an “outage” of service until sometime late tonight. Oh well. Most of you guys don’t sit around waiting until you get this post anyway, so it will be there in the morning—maybe. It may come as a fried pie, but it will get there.

 

Going back to Baxter’s book, think we know that Matthew referred to the royal aspect of Christ’s life—he came to become the end of the generations—the fulfillment that brings in the spiritual generation and the kingdom that will crown the preceding six thousand years of human history with the Millennium of the Messiah’s worldwide empire—ten times ten times ten years of peace and glory. This book would have specifically been understandable especially to the Jews because of the lineage of the generations. The Christ was royalty. The book of Mark emphasizes what Christ did. The things he did and the things he taught were all examples of Christ in action. Remember the four mnemonic faces of the cherubim in Ezekiel’s vision—lion, ox, man, eagle—kingship, service, manhood, Godhead. Mark emphasized Christ as he served.

 

When we were children, Daddy read Luke to us every Christmas. No, not all of it, but what we considered to be the nativity of Christ. Many years later it occurs to me that as important as that aspect of Christ’s manhood was, it was His intense dedication to His next goal: Jerusalem. Luke took up ten chapters dealing with that last journey. Seven times Luke mentions it: “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” (9-51) Only Luke records the message and miracle of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor…And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him…This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said: Is not this Joseph’s son?”

 

Not sure that my life will be extended enough years to begin to understand all that God has given us just in the first four books of the New Testament, but it never gets old to read it again. Waiting and watching is more in line with what most of us do. We know certain things are prophesied to take place before the return of Christ. But in the meantime, the reassurance is there that God showed us exactly what He was doing.

 

The rain we got this morning early, along with the thunder to keep the dogs right under my feet, was rather nice. Since the thermometer did not go exceedingly high today (94), it might even be called a decent day. Tomorrow the forecast is for 106. It is summertime in Texas—and other places. Let us pray for those who have no shelter from the heat, for those who are being flooded out of their homes, for those further north who are dealing with the wildfires, and for those along the southern border who are inundated by the inhumanity of mankind. May God forgive us and give us relief.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.