The word ‘Bishop’ can bring up many different thoughts. Some may think of the game of chess, some may think of someone who is a church leader or remember that it is another title for elders in the church. What we sometimes don’t think about is what the word means. A bishop is one who watches over something, an overseer, a superintendent. 

So in 1 Peter 2:25 when Peter says, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” What he is saying is that Jesus is the one who is watching over our souls. Are you allowing him to watch over your soul?

The idea of an overseer sometimes brings up bad feelings for some because someone who was supposed to be their overseer at some point abused their position or failed to protect the one under their care. Maybe the overseer hurt the person they were charged with watching over, or maybe they neglected them. Neither of these things is going to happen with Jesus as our overseer.

Sometimes people also may think that this is going to be someone watching over them to catch them in a mistake or to point out all of their flaws and shortcomings, but that is also far from what Jesus is doing as the Bishop of our souls. He is watching over us in a protective way not a harsh and judgmental way to defend our souls from the destructive power of Satan. Just as Satan accused God of building a hedge or wall around Job to protect him, Jesus is protecting us. Remember though that this protection is not a defense against all physical harm or even sickness or death, but against things that would destroy our soul. And if you think about it we need that so much more because we don’t always recognize the things that can destroy our souls. Won’t you let Jesus watch over your soul as your Bishop?

jp

​There is some confusion among those who claim to follow Christ and one point of disagreement is his eternal nature. The title above quoted from Revelation 3:14  “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.’” Is one of the verses that some misunderstand. 

As we read this phrase it sounds like Christ was the first thing that God created and some think because of this that Christ is a created being and don’t recognize him as God because of this verse and others like it. Is that what this verse means? Absolutely not! There are too many verses that clearly state that Jesus was born of a woman, but that before that he was known as the Word who was with God and was God and that he has no beginning nor any ending.

If it doesn’t mean that what does it mean? It is similar to what is taught in Colossians 1:16-17 and John 1:3 That Christ began the creation. In fact, “Plummer and many other able scholars declare the second meaning to be the one intended here. ‘The words mean, the one from whom creation took its beginning.’”(Coffman Commentary) So rather than proclaiming him to be a created being himself this verse indicates that he is the source of all created things. We should find the harmony of scriptures with English translations that appear to contradict. God doesn’t contradict himself. When we think there is a contradiction it is our lack of understanding or poor translation or some other problem that has caused it. 

Christ is not only the beginning of the physical creation, but also of the spiritual creation of his kingdom and all of its citizens. Christ created us twice once physically and once spiritually. We await his final creation when we are recreated to live in Heaven with him. 

​jp

While we know that Christ is not a created being and therefore not an angel in the sense of being one of that group of beings in form, He certainly was a messenger which is what the word translated as angel in English means. There are several times The Angel of the Lord is mentioned in the OT and in some of them it is extremely difficult to see it being just any old angel. When we think of what the Hebrew writer says about how God spoke through the prophets, but has now spoken through Jesus, we can see Jesus in the role of being a messenger like the angels were.

One of the clearest examples of the Angel of the Lord being the second person in the Godhead is Judges 2:1-3 which says: Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you,  2  and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?  3  So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” As you read what this “angel” is saying it is clear that he takes credit for bringing them out of Egypt, swearing to their ancestors to give Canaan to them, made a covenant, and curses them because they did not obey him. That sounds like God speaking, not an angel. 

Jesus before he was Jesus surely came in contact with his people and spoke to them giving them promises and commands. He was the Angel of the Lord to them, but he is still the angel messenger who brought us the new law and new promises and commandments. Are you listening to the message he brought? Are you looking forward to the promises? Are you obeying the commands?

​jp

IT HURTS
It hurts to know you're hurting;
because you’re so special in my heart
The pain that you are feeling;
is tearing me apart.
But know that love has a way;
of easing all that’s wrong
Together we can make it;
if we hold on and just be strong.
Know that you’re not alone;
in all your adversity.
For by your side through and through;
is where I'll always be.
The above poem illustrates the attitude we in the church should have for one-another.
We are to weep with those who weep and feel the pain of our brethren. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 
We are to love one-another and that love eases the problems of life. 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 
There is strength in numbers and knowing that our brethren are with us in our troubles gives us strength and encouragement. 
Many hands not only make for light work but also for light hearts that are burdened with care. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 
May we all strive this year to be there for each other when help and comfort is needed. - LP

Again we see Jesus portrayed as an author. We learned last week that this can mean more than someone who writes something, but also the one who causes something or is the source of something. The word used in Hebrews 12:2 is a different word than the one in Hebrews 5:9 even though the KJV uses the same English word. This word means the founder, leader, captain, or head.

That makes perfect sense. Jesus is the founder of our faith. Jesus is the head over the faithful. Jesus is the captain of our army. Jesus is our leader. When we say that he is the founder of our faith we are using faith in the sense of the set of beliefs that are necessary to please God, not in the sense of having faith or trust in someone or something. Both are valid uses of the word faith, and we need to understand from the context which is being used.

Jesus lived a life of faithfulness as an example for us to follow, but he did much more than that. He also established what we are to believe. In a very real way he is both the foundation for our faith as individuals and the founder of the entire system of Christian faith.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Without a doubt we should be looking to him. Are you? We will look another time at him being the finisher or perfecter of our faith. But for now let’s remember that their would be no true faith without him.

​jp

If there is one thing we all associate with Jesus it is salvation. We hear about how Jesus died to save us quite regularly. We know we can’t save ourselves and no one else can save us. Salvation has to come from Jesus. He said that was his purpose on earth,“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”(Luke 19:10). 

So, there is certainly no issue with Jesus bringing us eternal salvation, but Hebrews 5:9 says, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”. What does it mean to be an author? We usually think of an author as one who writes a book or a story and Jesus never wrote anything as far as we know, so what does it mean?

The word translated ‘author’ here is only used this one time and it literally means the “causer”, the one who causes something to happen. Some translate it a ‘Source of eternal salvation”. Without a doubt Jesus caused eternal salvation by the action he took in coming and dying on our behalf. Certainly Jesus is the Source of our eternal salvation just as an author is the source of the book or story that he then writes. And Jesus has a book of life where he has written the rest of this story, the names of those who obey him and receive the eternal life that he authored.

If you have ever been in trouble of any kind you know that being saved from it is wonderful. Even a temporary salvation is a great thing. How much more then when we have an eternal salvation offered to us? Have you taken advantage of the eternal salvation Jesus authored for you? Will you let him write your name in his book with others who have obeyed him? Are you living each day like someone who has eternal salvation and eternal life? 1 John 5:13 tells we can know that we “have eternal life”, but are we living up to it? 

​jp