The Daily — Downtown Hope

Steve Kuzner

Levites [Numbers 3:1-39]

It’s easy to miss what happens in Numbers 3. In this section, God outlines to Israel who is to protect their house”—that is the tabernacle where God is to dwell among them. Israel hasn’t made it to their promise land yet, that doesn’t happen until Joshua. There’s awhile to go. So, as they travel, God gives Moses some directions on protection and administration of the tabernacle.

These duties are to be carried about by a group of people in Israel—the Levites. The Levites were to come form all of Israel’s first-born males. If you remember, the Lord passed-over all the first-born Israelites while all the first-born’s man or beast in Egypt were struck dead. Those first-born Israelites are now to serve the LORD as Levites. There two primary duties: guard the tabernacle and minister at the tabernacle. They transported it. This would have been a great honor.

Steve Kuzner

It all Starts with Jesus [Isaiah 53:4-6]

Today’s passage, is from Isaiah’s encourage to the exiles in Babylon after Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C. He assures the exiles of God’s care for them. This section is Isaiah chapters 44—55. These chapters also give long-term hope of the coming Messiah. Specifically, today’s section is from the fourth and final Servant Song, Isaiah 52:13—53:12. It’s quoted frequently in the new testament. This Servant Song is very prophetic about Jesus. Here we learn that He suffered on our behalf, this suffering was caused by humankind, He acted as the substitute for our sins, He was severely punished on our behalf, and that all of us contributed to this suffering.

Steve Kuzner

The Transfiguration [Matthew 17:1—13]

Want an image to mediate upon?

Here we see Jesus’s inner circle—Peter, James, and John—witnessing a transfiguration of Jesus. This appearance would support their faith when they would witness the crucifixion. Jesus’ physical transformation gives us a glimpse of the glory he had before He became man and also previews his future glory. It gives us an idea of what our resurrected bodies may become like as we are conformed to His image.

Steve Kuzner

The Mustard Seed [Matthew 13:31-33]

Jesus speaks two parables in today’s passage—The Mustard Seed and The Leaven. The passage is a section about The Messianic Kingdom Revealed in Parables (Matt. 13:1–53). It’s the 3rd of Jesus’s 5 major teachings in Matthew. This passage is not about having faith the size of mustard seed. Instead, Jesus is describing his Messianic Kingdom.

Steve Kuzner