John 21:15-17
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
INSIGHT
-Three in Hebrew is written as shelosh in Hebrew & it means completeness. Three has been used 467 times among them; three main sacred items kept in the Ark of the covenant; the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that was budded & the stone tablets of the covenant (Heb 9:4), all men appeared before the Lord three times during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks & Feast of Tabernacles (Deu 16:16), three main classifications of a human; body, soul & spirit (1 The 5:23), the holy Trinity; the Father, Son & the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14), third heaven (2 Cor 12:2-4), Daniel regularly prayed three times a day giving thanks to God (Dan 6:10-13) etc.
-Jesus insisted on the question of love to Peter who had previously denied Him three times (Lk 22:54-62). Peter got hurt because Jesus repeatedly asked him if he loved Him three times but kept calm as he received his restoration. This question was an affirmation of Peter’s role as a leader upon whom Jesus would build His church. Jesus the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world tells Peter to feed His lambs. Jesus our Shepherd who leads us in righteousness also tells Peter to take care of His sheep. Lastly, Jesus the bread of life tells him to feed His sheep, intimating that the church should be anchored on His word. The question of love comes out strongly to us that we love God & our neighbours & as His disciples we are called to feed His sheep as He directs us.
PRAYER
We thank You Abba Father for this far You have brought us. You have guided us, protected us, preserved us & provided for us this whole year; receive all the glory & praise. You have commanded us to love You & our neighbours; fill us with Your love, take away our sins & lead us in righteousness always. As we begin this new week we seek Your restoration in all areas of lives & strength to take charge in our different environments according to Your will. Guide our churches & spiritual leaders Jesus; that they may be anchored on Your truth & remain faithful to Your word always;. Amen
Hebrews 9:2-5
“For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”
INSIGHT
-In the Old Testament, God dictated the model of worship through the tripartite structure of the tabernacle with the outer court, inner court & holy of holies which is similar to the human structure which has the body, soul & spirit. The outer court had a washing laver for sanctification & here the priest offered a sacrifice once a year for the atonement of the people’s sins. The inner court had a golden lamp-stand/censer which represented Jesus the light of the world who dwells in our hearts to make us Christ-like. In the holy of holies was the altar of incense which never went off; revealing that we should pray without ceasing & that Jesus & the Holy Spirit constantly intercede for us. The ark of the covenant represented the presence of God which was replaced by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our bodies/temples. Manna was also present to remind the Jews of the divine feeding in the wilderness & Christ became our bread of life. Aaron’s rod represented priesthood & Jesus became our great High Priest. The tablets of the covenant which contained the law symbolised judgment & Christ gave us grace as our righteous Judge. The mercy seat covered by cherubim was a picture of Christs’ glory & His throne of grace where we obtain mercy. Through His sacrifice of the cross, Jesus redeemed us from sin & liberated to God giving us the Holy Spirit Who is our Helper.
PRAYER
We thank You Jesus & glorify Your name for dying on the cross for our sins; forgive us & cover us with Your precious blood. Sanctify our temples Holy Spirit & dwell in us always we welcome You into our lives. Remember Father those who have no bread, basic needs & those who are sick & suffering, be their constant help Lord. Strengthen us Jesus when we go through challenges; deliver us from them all & shower us with Your grace. We give Your thanks & praise Jesus now & forever. Amen
Daniel 6:10
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
INSIGHT
-Daniel made it a custom to pray three times a day even when faced with opposition. Despite king Darius’ thirty day ban that prevented everyone from praying, Daniel was determined to submit to God in prayer & thanksgiving. Gods power was evident in his life many times even when He delivered Daniel from the pangs of death; present in the den of lions & changing the opposition to an opportunity of praise. God in a triadic statement cautions us from being anxious about anything but in all situations encourages us to present our prayers, petitions & thanksgiving to Him (Phil 4:6). God has promised that in the fullness of time, He will make everything perfect & calls us to have unreserved faith in Him.
PRAYER
We come Your presence Lord with thanksgiving & praise in our hearts for You are good & Your love endures forever. Teach us how to pray Holy Spirit & intercede for us with groaning that cannot be uttered. Do not hide your face from us Lord when we are in distress but turn Your ear to us when we call & answer us speedily; we humbly implore You Father. Deliver us Jesus from all evil, fear & anxiety for at the appointed time You will make everything perfect; we believe in You. We present all our prayers, petitions & thanksgiving to You Jehovah humbly asking You to answer us for Your faithfulness is everlasting throughout all generations. Amen
Matthew 13:33
“Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
INSIGHT
-Three times a year; all men in Israel were required to appear before the Lord; during the feast of weeks/pentecost, first-fruit of wheat harvest/passover & feast of Ingathering/tabernacles (Exo 34:22-23). The Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after the Passover feast where leavened bread was the main dish (Lev 23:17). Leavened bread is a representation of sin which describes the world & the churches today; but we have hope in the salvation of Christ. Apostle Paul tells us to get rid of the old bread leavened with malice & wickedness, but embrace unleavened bread of sincerity & truth for Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7-8). Jesus our Passover Lamb was sacrificed & after three days He resurrected during the Passover feast, & the Holy Spirit descended fifty days later during Pentecost. Paul also alludes that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating & drinking but it entails three graces; righteousness, peace & joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). Jesus describes that the kingdom of God in its invisible attributes like yeast present in leavened bread has great impact on the bread; which insinuates that we should always have faith in God & His mighty deeds will be evidenced in our lives.
PRAYER
You are highly exulted Abba Father for Your faithfulness & love upon our live, families, churches & nation; forgive us our sins & grant us mercy Lord. Guide us Father that we may seek first Your kingdom & Your righteousness, & incline our hearts to Your sincerity & truth. Fill our hearts with righteousness, peace & joy Holy Spirit; that we may always be strong & courageous when undertaking our assignments for You are always with us. Strengthen us Jesus when we are weak & cover us with Your blood that gives us victory in all things. We praise You Jesus & glorify Your holy name; now & forever. Amen
John 2:19
“Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
INSIGHT
-After whipping the traders & overturning money changers table at the temple; Jesus condemned their actions & drove them all away. He then spoke about destroying the temple & rebuild it in three days referring to His body, for His assignment on earth was finally coming to an end. The fullness of time for his mission was approaching & the Holy Spirit strengthened Him throughout the whole process of His death & resurrection for the sake of all mankind.
SUMMARY
Three is a unique number which has been used 467 times in the Bible & it means completeness. Jesus often used the number three in His address which also related uniquely to His life. For instance; His death & resurrection took three days (Mat 16:21), He was tempted three times (Mat 4:1-11), He began His ministry at the age of thirty & completed at thirty three; taking three years (Lk 3:23) etc. The number three is also used as a measure of time; for example, the Jews were instructed to consecrate themselves for three days before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exo 19:10-11) etc. Apostle Paul experienced three shipwrecks (2 Cor 11:25) & prayed three times for the Lord to remove a thorn in his flesh (2 Cor 12:7-8) & many other references. The number three also pays special attention to the church; for instance, the tabernacle had three sections same as the human body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us. Three feasts brought all men of Israel before God & during Passover the church was birthed through Christs’ victory over death, & it was strengthened during the Pentecost through the coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter upon whom Christ built His church denied Jesus three times & was questioned about the love of Christ three times; pointing out Christs’ salvation power in the church. Jesus also drove away all the traders in the temple; teaching us that the love of money draws us away from God for one cannot serve two masters. We are the church (the body of Christ) for each one of us is an important part of it; possessing different gifts like apostleship, prophecy, teaching, miracles, healing, helping, guidance & tongues (1 Cor 12:27-28). Jesus reminds us to pray without ceasing & to present our prayers, petitions & thanksgiving to Him, & at the appointed time He will make everything new.
PRAYER
God You are good & Your mercies endures forever. Let everything that has breath praise You Lord. You have given us life, joy, wisdom, faith, love, peace, gifts, fruit & many other graces throughout the year; we praise You Lord. Though we encounter many challenges in our lives, families, churches, leadership & nation we still praise You Lord & give You thanks with firm faith that You have already delivered us from them all. Be with our churches, priests, pastors, clergy, church leaders & all brethren that we may be driven by love alone. You have good thoughts for us Father; thoughts to prosper us & not to harm us, to give us hope & a future; we praise You Lord. We believe that at appointed time Jesus; You will make everything perfect; we praise You Lord. Amen