Author Archives: John Sanzone

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A BETTER RESURRECTION. Hebrews 11:35-40. 4/7/2024. #41

35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

1. On the other hand

                a. After listing OT believers who did great feats (defeated large armies, stopped the mouths of lions, walked unharmed, escaped the sword, performed great signs and miracles), he speaks of those who

                     were tortured and martyred for their faith

                b. “Others” = other people of a different type (hetaeras)

                     as verses others of the same type (allos)

                                a1. Some were delivered from death while others were delivered to death

                                a2. The difference between those delivered and those who were not was not in their faith, but in the divine purpose of God

                c. Daniel 3 the faith of the believer does not determine the outcome of the challenge to their faith

                d. Acts 12:1-10 James was beheaded, but Peter was released (Stephen was stoned, but Paul revived)

2. Reward beyond rescue

                a. Many were offered to be delivered from death if they would recant their profession of faith

                                a1. They looked for better resurrection

                                                b1. Eternal life and reward rather than rescue from martyrdom

                                                b2. Turned down reprieve for reward

                b. There were many ways the witnesses were abused

                                a1. Mockings = derisive torture

                                a2. Scourgings = floggings and beatings

                                a3. Imprisonment and chains (Joseph, Jeremiah)

                c. The witnesses were impoverished and tormented

                                a1. They wore rough clothes (animal skins)

                                a2. They had little possessions and no homes, but lived in caves and dens

                d. They wandered over deserts and mountains

                                a1. They carried their messages to far places and had to flee to wilderness areas for safety

                                a2. They weren’t well received by great and small

                e. Often they were martyred

                                a1. Some died by the sword

                                a2. Some commentators teach that wandering in sheep and goatskins refers to death by wrapping a victim in fresh skins so when sun dried the skins they were shrink and crush the victim to death

                                a3. Sawn in half (tradition has Isaiah being sawn in half in a hollow log by Manasseh

                f. None received The Promise of reward on earth

                                a1. Heb. 6:15 Abr. did not receive The Promise

                                a2. The permanent inheritance = not on earth

3. He included us

                a. OT saints couldn’t receive The Promise without us

                                a1. Until God completes His plan = no rewards

                                a2. God made the church necessary in plan

                b. The OT believers had to await the Incarnation, the church, the rapture, and the Tribulation before the Millennial Kingdom and Eternity could arrive

                c. The great can’t inherit the kingdom without the small and the mighty couldn’t do so without the weak

                d. The great saints set an example for us to follow, but they can’t arrive at their destination without us

                e. We have something better = salvation in Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and a complete Word

                f. He made them great to give us something greater

                                a1. Astounding love and grace is given to us

                                a2. We must complete the journey they started

Key passage: Acts 12:1-10¹ Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. ² Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. ³ And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. ⁵ Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ⁶ And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. ⁷ Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. ⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” ⁹ So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

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A WORD FROM THE CROSS. LK. 23/JN 19. 03/31/24.

1. COMPASSION

            a. The first 3 utterances from the cross had to do

                with man – forgiveness, redemption, & compassion

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³² There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. ³³ And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. ^34 ]Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Luke 23:32-34

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                        a1. Christ died for mankind & dealt with man

                              from the cross, even though He was dying

                        a2. Looking down form the cross, He took pity

            b. The forgiveness offered from the cross was not

                 for salvation of those who crucified Him

                        a1. Not to hold the crucifixion to their account

                        a2. Our sins put Christ on the cross – Jews,

                               Gentiles, & all people share the blame

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³⁹ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” ⁴⁰ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” ⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Lk. 23

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            c. The first convert was actually the criminal on a cross

                        a1. The criminal moved from mocker to believer

                        a2. At the point of death, he was given life

                        a3. Conversion started at the cross

                        a4. Jesus’s focus was on others, not Himself

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²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. Jn. 19

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            d. After Jesus looked out at His abusers & across at

                     the thief, He looked down on His mother

                                a1. As the oldest son, Jesus was responsible

                                       for the care of His mother (Joseph died)

                                a2. Jesus’s brothers were not yet believers

                                       (no record of them being at the cross)

                                a3. Jesus fulfills His responsibility by placing

                                       His mother in the hands of John (the only

                                       disciple at the cross)

2. CONSTERNATION

            a. After Jesus looked downward, finishing His earthly

                 ministry to man, He looked upward to His Father

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⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. ⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mt. 27

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            b. Most teach that God turned his back on His Son

                                a1. Forsaken = to abandon; to leave stranded

                                a2. Christ became sin on the cross & God

                                       judged sin in His Son, who knew no sin

                                a3. Sin separated Father & Son at the cross

3. COMPLETION

            a. Jesus fulfilled prophecy by expressing His thirst

                     (Ps. 22) & then finishing His task (Is. 53)

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²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Jn. 19

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                        a1. It is finished (tetelestai) = paid in full (sin

                                     debt was completely settled with 0 balance)

                                a2. In 6 hrs. Jesus did what man could not do

                b. At the completion of His task, Jesus was released

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⁴⁴ Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵ Then the sun was ^[m]darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last. Lk. 23  DONE!

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FAITH BEYOND TELLING.  Hebrews 11:32-35. 3/24/2024. #40

³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again.

1. Men of weakness; men of faith

                a. Hebrews doesn’t have space to list all deeds of faith

                                a1. Many varieties of miracles recorded

                                a2. Each faithful act was in obedience to God

                b. God strengthened weak men

                                a1. Gideon, a farmer, was doubtful throughout his calling, seeking signs and assurance (the fleece signs were from disbelief, not faith)

                                a2. Barak refused to go to battle without the judge Deborah coming along, even though he was general of the army

                c. Samson was of dubious moral character

                                a1. Samson was immoral, willful, prideful, disobedient, selfish, and cocky

                                a2. Samson’s trust in God was presumptuous

                                a3. God still used Samson to subdue the Phil.

                d. Jephthah was a rogue who made a rash vow that adversely impacted his daughter (dead or a virgin?)

                e. God’s children are not perfect, but they trust God

2. Faith that changed history

                a. Samuel was the last of the judges, a prophet, and king maker

                                a1. Sanuel faithfully obeyed God and judged Israel

                                a2. Since Samuel’s sons were wicked, Israel demanded a king (a father like Eli)    

                b. Unlike Saul, David was faithful to God

                                a1. He was an adulterer and murderer

                                a2. God forgave David and He conquered kingdoms and subdued armies

3. Too many to name

                a. Hebrews now alludes to random deeds, events, traits, and stories that demonstrated great faith and courage

                b. Prophets are mentioned in general with allusion to certain deeds that the author had in mind

                c. Subduing kingdoms: God blinded the Syrian army before Elisha, so he turned away their sword and Syria was defeated

                d. Worked righteousness can refer to many deeds, from Amos and Ezekiel to Daniel, Isaiah, and Haggai

                e. Stopped the mouth of lions refers to Daniel, but also, Samson, David, and Benaiah

                f. Quenched the violence of fire refers to the 3 Hebrews captives who refused to bow to Neb.’s image (Daniel 3:16-25)

                g. David, Gideon, Elijah, and others escaped the sword

                h. Out of weakness, God gave them strength: Gideon, David, Jeremiah, Esther, Job, and Jacob

                i. Against great odds, Joshua, Gideon, and Jonathan put their enemies to flight

                j. Women received their sons back alive

                                a1. I Kings 17 the Syro-Phoenician woman, who served Elijah during the famine

                                a2. II Kings 4 the Shunammite woman who ministered to Elisha

                k. Though many great deeds were accomplished  through faithful, but weak and flawed, people, God continues to work through His faithful saints today

                                a1. Not always showy, like fire from heaven or water from rock, but still effective

                                a2. Through faithfully serving God, He directs our path, provides protection, gives

                                        strength, and overcomes evil against us

                                a3. The same God works today as in the Old Testament

                l. We do not need to worry about results

                                a1. Our task is humble obedience and trust

                                a2. A walk of faith testifies to the glory of God

Key passage: Daniel 3:16-25

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” ¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. ²⁰ And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. ²¹ Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ²² Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. ²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ²⁵ “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

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AND THE WALLS FELL DOWN.  Hebrews 11:30-31. 3/17/2024. #39.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

1. Faith knocks down walls

                a. Joshua 6 the story of the conquest of Jericho is one of faith and trust in the Lord

                                a1. Jericho was a large walled city

                                a2. The Jews had no siege weapons

                b. As Joshua was contemplating the battle against Jericho, an angel stood before him

                                a1. The angel gave him a strange battle plan centered on walking and shouting rather than weapons and shooting

                                a2. It took faith to accept a plan that made no military sense

                c. The miracles of God are supernatural, so they defy the natural order (a 90 yr. old woman giving birth, opening of the Red Sea, water from a rock, walls falling down on their own, etc.)

                                a1. God tested the faith of His children, and provided the miracles that proved that He, and not man, had acted

                                a2. Faith is tested in its obedience and proven in the results

                d. Faith is not presumption

                                a1. It is not believing in a desired result

                                a2. It isn’t looking for a preconceived outcome

                                a3. Romans 10:17 faith is trusting obedience that is led by God to do God’s will (Job, Daniel)

                e. The walls fell because the Jews acted in obedience to do what God led them to do

2. From harlot to heroine

                a. Rahab is one of the most unusual faith stories

                                a1. She was an Amorite of ill repute

                                a2. She was an enemy by nationality

                b. Rahab had a hearsay faith

                                a1. Joshua 2:8-14 Rahab came to faith by hearing and believing the stories of the Exodus

                                                b1. The Red Sea was opened 40 years previously

                                                b2. More recently, Israel defeated Og and Sihon across the Jordan

                                a2. Rahab showed more faith and trust than many of the Israelites who saw the miracles

                c. Rahab hid the spies who came to her

                                a1. She deceived the king to save the spies

                                a2. By choosing to believe God, she also chose to side with God’s people

                d. Every Amorite in Jericho could have made the same choice, since they heard the same reports

                                a1. Most people resist God despite evidence

                                a2. Rahab chose to go against the majority

                e. Ruth is the only Gentile in Hall of Faith

                                a1. Besides Sarah, she is the only woman

                                a2. She led her entire family to faith

                                a3. James 2:25 it was Rahab’s actions which demonstrated her faith

                f. Rahab was a converted woman

                                a1. She no longer followed idol worship

                                a2. She trusted in the God of Israel

                                a3. She changed her profession from harlotry to being the wife of Salmon of Judah

                                a4. She became an ancestor to David and to Christ (not the mother-in-law to Ruth, since there are 300 years between the 2)

3. A faith that is countercultural

                a. Rahab believed against prevailing opinion

                b. Rahab accepted the evidence presented to her

                c. Rahab acted upon her faith, even risking death

                d. Rahab rejected her former training and culture

                e. Rahab identified with God’s people and changed

                f. Rahab did not waver and was rewarded for her faith

                g. Rahab’s faith was decisive, simple

Key passage: Joshua 2:8-14⁸ Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, ⁹ and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. ¹⁰ For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ¹¹ And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. ¹² Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, ¹³ and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” ¹⁴ So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

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PALACE OR PROMISE? Hebrews 11:23-29. 3/10/2024. #38

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. ²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. ²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

1. The cradle of faith

a. The faith of Moses begins with his parents

a1. Ex. 2 Pharaoh had sent out a decree that all Israelite boy babies born would be cast into the Nile River

a2. Amram and Jochebed saw that Moses was a beautiful (special or unique) child, so they hid him for 3 months

b. A repeated theme: they did not fear the king

a1. Their bravery was due to their faith, not some natural courage

a2. They feared God over the king

c. Faith allows us to stand against a hostile world to testify of our trust in Christ

a1. Not a faith of protection, but of assurance that God is with us and is pleased with us

a2. Moses’s heritage of faith is from parents

2. The choice of faith

a. Moses was raised in the palace and could have lived a comfortable life of privilege

a1, He refused to be called the princess’s son

a2. He rejected the idolatry of Egypt

b, Moses held onto his faith despite indoctrination

c. Moses preferred to suffer with his people than to enjoy the pleasures of royalty for a season

a1. Moses consciously rejected paganism

a2. Moses accepted the training his parents gave him as a child and held to it in testing

d. Moses was enticed by pleasure and threatened with suffering and death (Acts 7:17-40)

a1. Moses refused to be lured by the luxuries of Egypt

a2. Moses sensed the call of God to lead his people out of Egypt

3. The crown of faith

a. Moses is mentioned 11 times in Hebrews

a1. People have forgotten the name of Pharaoh

a2. Moses left Egypt and lived in Midian

b. Moses fled Egypt in faith

a1. Debate as to whether vs. 27 refers to Moses running from Pharaoh or leading Israel out

a2. “Forsook” (left) seems to refer to him fleeing

c. Moses literally forsook the land of Egypt

a1. Moses forsook the faith of Egypt

a2. Moses forsook the wealth of Egypt

d. Moses sought to follow the invisible God for a greater reward to come (Acts 7:17-25)

a1. By faith Moses rejected the lure of this world to pursue eternal gain

a2. His rejection of all the wealth and power offered him allowed him to be used of God

e. Moses’s deeds superseded all that he left behind

a1. By faith he led the people in the Passover so that the Hebrew children would be safe

a2. By faith Moses led Israel in the desert for 40 years after the Red Sea crossing

f. Moses never entered the Promised Land due to speaking rashly at the rock (Psalm 106:32-33).

a1. Yet, he trusted God for a greater reward

a2. A life of faith is a struggle, but the future rewards are far greater than the brief trials

g. The choice of faith is a rejection of the world’s values

Key passage: Acts 7:17-25

¹⁷ “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt ¹⁸ till another king arose who did not know Joseph. ¹⁹ This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. ²⁰ At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. ²¹ But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. ²² And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds. ²³ “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. ²⁴ And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. ²⁵ For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.