Timothy 4:10, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;..."
Jeremiah 179, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
2 Cor 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
Mark 14:38, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation ..."
Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.
John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.
Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.
Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18-Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.
Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.
Day four, 13th of Nisan, they were in Bethany in Simon the leper's house, and a woman came in and poured precious ointment on Jesus's head, Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9. Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus, Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11. Toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover, Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-15, and Luke 22:7-13.
In Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7, it says that on the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lambs. The Passover lambs are killed on the 14th, Passover day, not on the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th. The Last Supper was at the beginning of Passover day, before the lambs were killed; we must remember that days start at sundown. We also see in John 18:28 that after the Last Supper, when they took Jesus to Pilate, they would not go into the judgment hall because they would be defiled, as they had not eaten the Passover.
When the sun went down on the fourth day, which we call Wednesday, is the beginning of Passover day, the 14th of Nisan, the day Jesus was crucified and the Passover lambs are killed.
The lambs are killed on the 14th in the evening, when the sun begins to go down, any time after noon until it sets. The lambs are eaten the night of the 15th, the first day of the seven-day feast, which is a holy convocation/Sabbath, Exodus 12:6-16, the same night they went out of Egypt, not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion occurred on Passover day, the fifth day since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, marking it as the 5th day of the week we call Thursday. Friday was the 15th, the first day of Unleavened Bread. John called it a high day, John 19:31. The Greek word is megas, meaning great, a feast holy convocation, which resulted in two Sabbaths in a row, Friday and Saturday.
Thanks for your reply. I read and study the KJV also. I believe you may be correct about why the translators included " Easter. " The Jews were not concerned about whether King Herod intended to kill Peter; they were opposed to anyone teaching about Jesus the Messiah. The King was perhaps waiting for His pagan Easter, which is on the first day of the week we call Sunday.
What makes us scratch our heads about things like this is that Passover is only one day. It is not a holy convocation or Sabbath; it is a preparation day. The first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are Sabbaths. However, back then and now, all eight days are referred to as either the Feast of Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The Passover lambs are killed on Passover day, not on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Today, the calendar reflects eight days referred to as Passover. In Matthew 26:17, Matthew writes that on the first day of Unleavened Bread, they asked Jesus, " Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?
The Last Supper was on Passover day, and Jesus would be on the cross when they were killed, which was the 14th, Passover Day. The high day, Sabbath, did not occur until sunset, marking the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th. Mark 14:12 states that on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they kill the Passover, but this is incorrect.
Hello Tvkdmk and thanks for your question. Yes, we read of that event in Mark 14:51,25 and unfortunately, we know nothing more than what the Bible tells us about this young man.
Two suggestions are put forward, and I repeat, these are only guesses, since we can have no certainty from the Word of God. One, that this man was Mark, the writer himself; similar how the Apostle Paul introduced himself as this person who was given a special vision & revelation of Heaven ( 2 Corinthians 12:1-9). But then, why would Mark only be wrapped in a linen cloth?
And two, that this young man wasn't a disciple of Christ, but maybe asleep in the garden, and upon hearing the noise & commotion, went to see. The armed multitude, believing that this young man was also a disciple of Christ, proceeded to grab him, since Christ's disciples earlier took fright & fled. So, this young man also fled, but his outer garment was all they got when they tried to grab him, & he ran away naked (probably still with an undergarment on). But all this is conjecture, as we really don't know who this young man was & why he was in Gethsemane at that time, but we could learn from this account, that this multitude who came to arrest Jesus, were prepared to do anything & grab anyone associated with Him, displaying their rage & determination to get rid of Jesus & His followers.
Can we loose our Salvation ? ? This is very scary for any Christians .
Jesus warns us about denying Him .
Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shalldenymebeforemen, him will I alsodenybefore my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus told Peter that he was going to deny Jesus.
Mark 14:30
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter has deny Jesus . As we know, Peter became an Apostle and still followed Jesus after His death. Peter never lost his Salvation.
Mark 14:72
And the second time thecockcrew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Jesus warns us of blasphemy.
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin andblasphemyshall be forgiven unto men: buttheblasphemyagainsttheHolyGhostshall not be forgiven unto men.
Apostle Paul, before he got saved, use to be a blasphemer. Apostle Paul never lost his Salvation. Apostle Paul wrote 13 books of the Bible.
1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before ablasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
AndJudasIscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Satan enter in Judas Iscariot.
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan intoJudassurnamedIscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Because Judas Iscariot hung himself and Satan pushed out his body , there's a possibility that Judas Iscariot went to hell.
Acts 1:17-18
17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Peter ask Jesus who betray you ? Jesus told Peter not to worry about it, just follow me. I believe by reading this verse, Judas Iscariot will be resurrected in the Antichrist, in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ .
John 21:22
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Jesus said that Judas Iscariot shouldn't been born .
Mark 14:21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man ifhehad never beenborn.
Judas Iscariot went to hell .
Acts 1:25
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his ownplace.
May we all believe the gospel of grace, so we don't have to be in the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Why do Jews in the Old Testament and including the four gospels don't talk about Heaven in the Godhead ? ?
The earthly Kingdom will appear again, but the grace age believes in the Body of Christ Jesus will be taken up in the Rapture first.
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look fornewheavens and anewearth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
New Jerusalem will be the new kingdom on earth.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which isnewJerusalem, which cometh down out ofheavenfrom my God: and I will write upon him mynewname.
Jesus Christ will be the New Messiah drinking the cup in New Jerusalem.
Mark 14:25
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in thekingdomof God.
The Twelve Disiples will have there New Jerusalem, the kingdom on earth.
Luke 22:30
That ye may eat and drink at my table in mykingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Even though it was God's will for Jesus to suffer and die, accountability still fell on those responsible for His death, as highlighted in ( Mark 14:21).
God's dispositional will reflects His attitude and what pleases or displeases Him. For instance, ( 1 Timothy 2:4) reveals God's desire for all to be saved and know the truth. This illustrates God's disposition towards the lost, emphasizing His desire for their salvation. Despite God's universal desire for salvation, not everyone chooses to accept it.
There is a distinction between God's dispositional will and His sovereign will.
In essence, the will of God comprises three elements: 1) God's sovereign will is manifested in His unchangeable decrees. He decreed that there be light, and there was light. , ( Genesis 1:3)-an illustration of His efficacious decree.
He permitted Satan to afflict Job And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. , ( Job 1:12)-an instance of His permissive decree. 2) God's revealed will is found in His precepts, provided to us so that we may live in holiness. We have the capacity (but not the right) to violate these commands. 3) God's dispositional will is His attitude. Sometimes, God ordains something that does not bring Him pleasure, such as the death of the wicked as seen in Ezekiel 33:11."
My opinion is that it is clear that Jesus ate the passover meal with His disciples (a day earlier as John writes in his gospel). This is what I get from the scrippure. Matthew 26:17-20, Mark 14:13-17, Luke 22:1-13.
The strange thing is that all three call it the first day of the unleaved bread. Luke 22:7, Mark 26:17, Matthew 26:17.
Lets read Matthew 26:17, "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?" and Mark adds " And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover..."
We know that the lambs were killed on the 14th of Nissan and the next day, the 15th, was the first day of the feast of the unleaved bread. So it seems that the evangelists got it wrong? The most probable explanation that I have read is that during Jesus' time that feast became an 8 day feast instead of a seven day feast (as God commanded to Israelites in Egypt) and the 14th of Nissan was also included in the feast. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who wtote about the Jewish revolution against Romans in 70AD and who lived in Jerusalem during all those events writes in his history "Whence it is, that, in memory of the want we were then in, we keep a feast for EIGHT days; which is called the feast of Unleavened-bread", Antiquities of Jews, Book II, chapter 15, paragraph 1. So it seems that during Jesus' time the 14th of Nissan was included in the feast so it became an 8 day feast.
Another change that was made untill Jesus time is that although God commanded that the lambs must be killed after the sunset (so on the 15th of Nissan) as Deuteronomy 16:6 says, "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun (15th of Nissan), at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt." that was changed later on.
As we see in Matthew 26:17 and Mark 14:10, they say when they kill the Passover (lamb). Luke 22:7 also says when the Passover must be killed. This is on Passover day, the 14th when they killed the lambs. The 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is the Sabbath, not the 14th. The 14th is a preparation day, just like a Friday is for the weekly Saturday.
There are no restrictions on the 14th, Passover Day, the day Jesus was crucified, Joesph could buy or prepare whatever he wanted, before sunset that day. That is why we see they wanted to get Jesus in the tomb before sunset because the next day is the first day of Unleavened Bread is a holy convocation/Sabbath day
In Luke 22:15 Jesus is telling them He desired to eat this Passover, but in the next verse, He says He will not eat it anymore. He said this because He knew He would be crucified that same day, the 14th Passover Day. He would be dead and placed in the tomb before they ate the Passover the next night.
On the 14th, the Lord's Supper, the garden, the arrest, the high priest, Pilate, was crucified, and He died at 3 PM, about 3-4 hours before sunset. The Passover Lambs were killed at even, which would be the afternoon when the sun was going down. Jesus was placed in the tomb before sunset and after sunset, it was the 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, this is when they ate the Passover meal.
Only the priests could catch the blood of the Passover lambs and put it on the altar and the Levites would clean the lambs. In the morning after the Last Supper, the priests took Jesus to Pilate they would not go in, John 18:28 they would be defiled and could not catch the blood of the lambs that would be killed later that day the same day Jesus was crucified, the 14th Passover day.
Mark 14:12, "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?:
Matthew 26:17 agrres to that. Similarly Luke 22:7, "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat."
So the meaning of Luke 22:15 is that Jesus actually ate the passover meal with his disciples.
Now we know from Exodus 12:1-11, that the lambs were sacrificed in the evening of the 14th of Nisan and immediately after when it got dark and the 15th of Nisan started, according to how the Israelites were considering their days and nights, they ate the passover meal. Exodus 12:11, "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover."
But John disagrees to them. He places the Passover one day later. John 18:28, "Then led they (the Pharisses) Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover."
Having in mind that John wrote his gospel last of all, actually as the tradition says many decades after the first three evangelists, when he was in his 80's or 90's, and knew what they had written in their gospels, his story seems to be the right one. So it seems that Jesus ate the passover meal with His apostles one day earlier, probably because He knew that he would be in the tomb the day of the passover. If we see some details in the gospels of the first three, we get the same conclusion. Example: Mark 12:45, "And he BOUGHT fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."
No worries. I understand that we get busy and cannot respond quickly. Thank you for sharing your opinion on this topic. We do have a different view on this and that's okay. I spent some time reading through the accounts given in Matthew Chapter 26, Mark Chapter 14, and Luke Chapter 22. There are few things I find interesting that I would like to share.
In Mark 14:22-26, we see communion being instituted. The last supper was also the last Passover meal. Jewish people, ever since Moses, when they celebrated the Passover meal together, they had no idea what each of the elements meant. They knew some of them like the bitter herbs. They had three pieces of matzo bread. They broke the second piece and wrapped it a napkin. Interesting!
They had no idea why. But we know what that represents. Also, the matzo bread, when it was cooked in the oven, it had to have stripes on it. And it had to have holes in it. You probably can already imagine what all this represents.
But the Jews believed that when Messiah comes, He was going to explain to them what this all means because they were just doing it. But they didn't know what it all meant.
At the last Passover meal (Last Supper), Jesus took this bread that had to have stripes on it and said this is my body. The stripes on the bread would represent the stripes He would later receive from being whipped. He then took the cup and gave it to them to drink and said this is my blood which is shed for many. When He said this, His blood had not yet been shed so this could only represent the blood that would later be shed from the hole in His body when He was pierced. So, that explains the stripes on the Passover bread and the holes in the bread. The Jews had no idea!
Thanks, brother. I hope all is well. I'm unsure about the Year of Jubilee; it might be worth looking into since we know it was a reason for the Babylonian exile.
In my opinion, what makes this topic challenging is that during the time of Christ, the Jews referred to the festival as 8 days by two different names: the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This distinction can be seen in Matthew 26:17 and Luke 22:1, while Mark 14:12 mentions the first day of Unleavened Bread as the time when they killed the Passover lamb.
Today, we see all eight days on the calendar referred to as Passover. However, this is not how it was originally structured. Passover day is the 14th, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed, and it is also the day Jesus was crucified. This day is not a Sabbath or holy convocation or a feast; rather, it is a preparation day for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which runs from the 15th to the 21st. The first and last days of this feast are designated Sabbaths, as noted in Exodus 12:16.
The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath that John mentioned. Jesus had to be placed in the tomb before sunset on Thursday, which was Passover day. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th (Friday), is referred to by John as a "high day" or "high Sabbath." Consequently, both Friday and Saturday were considered Sabbaths.
Not sure why the Sabbath is plural, but Scripture is clear there were two Sabbaths, Friday the first day of Unleavened Bread, and Saturday, an annual Sabbath, and a weekly Sabbath.
I hope you don't mind. Concerning the crucifixion and resurrection days, if we compare all the gospels, all four give the clearest truth.
In John 12:1-12, we learn that six days before Passover, Jesus visited the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. The following day, He rode into Jerusalem, five days before Passover. This event was significant because it coincided with the 10th of Nisan, the day the lambs were selected and held until the 14th when they would be sacrificed for Passover, the same time Jesus died on the cross, Exodus 12:1-14. These Passover lambs were eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the day Israel went out of Egypt.
Sunday Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-22:7, and John 12:12-50.
Monday, Matthew 21:18-19Mark 11:12-19 This was the 11th, four days before Passover the 2nd day of the week.
Tuesday, Matthew 21:20 to 26:2 Mark 11:20 to 14:2 This was the 12th, three days before Passover, the third day of the week.
Wednesday, Matthew 26:6-16Mark 14:3-11 Luke 22:1-6 This was the 13th, and at sunset is Passover day the 14th. The Last Supper, the arrest, sent to Pilot, the crucifixion, and placed in the tomb were all on the 14th, Passover day. Friday would be the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Jesus was in the tomb Thur. Day, Fri, Night, Fri. Day, Sat. Night, Sat. Day, Sun. Night, three days, and three nights. Jesus rose on the first day of the week and fulfilled the Feast of First Fruits, Leviticus 23:10-14 This coincides with what Jesus told Mary, touch me not, He had not ascended to His Father, John 20:17. The Feast of First Fruits as we see is on the first day after the Sabbath after Passover Day.
If Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, the women could have gone to the tomb on Friday because Friday is a preparation day for the weekly Sabbath.
1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
It says first of all, Watch ye, or watch. This is a Present Imperative which means to be continually watching! The word is the opposite of the word for sleep. So, it means to be on guard. Be awake! Jesus used the word in Mark 14:38 when the disciples fell asleep when he was praying, and He said stay awake, be watchful.
Also, Peter, in 1 Peter 5:8, he says be watchful, be sober, because your adversary the devil is walking around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He's not saying don't get physical sleep. But literally "Wake up, spiritually. Wake up. Be on the alert because Satan is waiting to catch you off guard. That's command number one.
Command number two: Stand firm in the faith. In Ephesians Chapter 6, Paul tells us put on the whole armor of God in order that you may be able to stand. Not run, not even fight, because he's already been defeated. Stand firm in the faith!
Number three: quit you like men. "And like a man, I've quit several times!" No, that's not what it means. It's literally one Greek word that means be a man. It's associated with courage! Remember what God told Joshua in Joshua Chapter 1 Verses 8 through 11? Be of courage Joshua for I am with you wherever you go. It's not a human courage. It's a spiritual trust that no matter what, we can face anything in life because Christ is there.
Here's what I find that may or may not be significant.
In Acts 7:56 the word for standing I believe is "histemi"
A prolonged form of a primary word stao (of the same meaning and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively) used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide appoint bring continue covenant establish hold up lay present set (up) stanch stand (by forth still up).
Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69
Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done.
Hebrews 10:12-13.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
In Luke 22:69 Jesus states "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God" and then they ask him "Art thou then the Son of God? ( They understood his claim to sit on the right hand of the power of God makes him God.)
And he said unto them, (I am.)
And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
They accused him of Blasphemy!
God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ, and He is of equal position, honor, power, and authority with God!
I may be wrong but I believe there is figurative emphasis on the standing and sitting.
John 21:1 - After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
The sea of Tiberius is the Sea of Galilee. By the time John wrote, which is some of 30 years plus after the other gospels were written, it wasn't known as the Sea of Galilee. It was known as the Sea of Tiberius because the city of Tiberius was there and the Romans renamed it. So, the Sea of Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee are the same places.
John 21:15 - So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Here's something we don't catch in our English text. The word love is used twice in this verse, but there are two different words in the Greek that have different meanings. One is AGAPE (Godly love), and the other is PHILEO (Human love). After they had finished, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, and He doesn't call him Peter. That is the name He gave to Peter. He calls him by his human fleshly name. Simon, son of Jonas. It is like "Uh oh, here it comes," lovest thou me more than these?
This word love is AGAPAO. It is the word AGAPE in verb form, the highest form of sacrificial love, like "I'll lay down my life for you type of love." And He also tacks on a little supportive phrase by saying "more than these?" Remember in Mark 14:29 Peter says, "though all of these will be offended in you, yet I will not."
So, Jesus is saying, do you AGAPE me more than these? Peter says Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. The word love that Peter uses here is PHILEO. He doesn't say, yes Lord, I AGAPE you. He says I PHILEO you, I have affection for you.
Peter is not as bold in his boast this time. "Sure Lord, I AGAPE you. I will go out there and die for you," like he did before. He's been humbled. "Lord, you know I have PHILEO for you."
Mark 14:62 - And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Interesting how these verbs work in Greek. It is either transitive or non-transitive. This is a non-transitive verb; it is just I am. That is all He said. That is His name, the name of God in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus.
Mark 14:63 - Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
First, I realize you already know this, but the word "rent" is the word tore. The high priest rent, or tore his clothes, which by the way is illegal for him to do, which is very interesting. In Leviticus 21:10, it tells us that the priest cannot tear clothes. But he did. And he says, what need we any further witnesses? So, he says throw that rule out too. We will just make up our own. We have heard him. And they all condemned Jesus to be guilty of death.
This is all I have to share on Mark. I am working my way through Luke and hope to be posting on it soon.
Mark 14:36 - And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Abba is Aramaic for father, a very intimate word.
Mark 14:43 - And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
The word for "sword" means the small hand sword that the Roman soldiers would use in hand-to-hand combat. This word "staves" in the Greek are literally wooden clubs. The wooden clubs are the ones the temple police would use. They are coming out with swords and wooden clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
Mark 14:45 - And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
In the Greek text, this word for kiss has a little preposition, KATA, added to it. It means he kissed him fervently and affectionately. He didn't just come up and put a little kiss on Jesus' cheek. But he grabs Him and says master. He is giving him a very affectionate kiss.
Mark 14:53 - And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
This would be the Sanhedrin, the governing body and council of the Jews, made up of 70 leaders of the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.
Mark 14:61 - But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
This is a fulfillment of Isaiah 53, "he was silent before the shearers."
"Son of the blessed" is actually a translation of the Hebrew term meaning Son of God. Are you the Son of God? Art Thou the Christ? The word Christ is from CHRISTOS in the Greek. And it is MESHIACH in the Hebrew that means Messiah. Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?
Mark 14:3 - And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
We know from John 12:3 that this woman is Mary, the sister of Martha, and sister to Lazarus. I just want to point out something about this "alabaster box." It is not a box. It is actually a flask. It had a long neck on it. And they were generally made out of marble. And in order to pour this, which is actually a burial spice, but in order to pour this on the body, they would break the long neck and just pour the contents out.
Spikenard is actually from two words. It's actually named nard. It is from a plant that's found primarily in India. But it is the word pure, pure nard, genuine, unadulterated, which is the reason why it was so expensive. And she comes in with this alabaster flask and she breaks the flask and poured it on his head.
Mark 14:5 - For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
300 pence is 300 DENARI, almost a year's wages. This again is something we as English-speaking people are not going to catch just by reading this verse.
Mark 14:21 - The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
Keep in mind that the word woe (whoa) is only a good word if you are a horse. If you are not a horse you are in trouble because woe means destruction, OUAI in Greek means destruction.
Mark 14:32 - And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
You may already know this, but Gethsemane is the Hebrew transliteration of the wine and olive press on the Mount of Olives. The winepress is called Gethsemane.
Mark 14:41 states And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. This is several verses after today's scripture in Mark 14:38.
The indwelling Holy Spirit clearly gave the Apostles newfound courage after not only Peter but all the rest of them scattered; fulfilling the prophecy "smite the Shephard and the sheep will be scattered." ( Matt. 26:31). The 11 remaining Disciples apparently fell asleep multiple times and didn't know what to say; and they didn't heed the warning to pray against temptation.
This frustration on Jesus' part on seeing them short of giving Him strength of consolation in His greatest agony in the Garden ends up being against all of them; something we don't see earlier in His ministry. I could go on with a lengthy description of just how blind they were to Christ's earlier prophecies predicting His death; or their inabililty to realize what Judas was up to; or why He was headed toward Jerusalem. Frankly it is too depressing for me to get into at length. I pray that when other believers are going through life and death issues; at least that we won't shrink back but be a support even risking our lives if necessary.
This should also serve a warning as to how fast crowds will turn from God; especially in the Tribulation. I have gone at length on how today's presentation of the Gospel tends to be lacking repentance as a requisite for salvation; how sin in general is softened; and how counting the cost of being a true disciple is often ignored. Nonetheless even when a true Gospel is offered; there can be some acceptance in times of prosperity; but we should be alert to things changing fast and prepared for many to fall away in these last days as Timothy warned ( 1 Timothy 4:1). Deceiving spirits will come more often I would say to those already"religious" nominal Christians who aren't discerning.
"And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely./And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him./And they laid their hands on him, and took him."
God is love and it has a token: a sign such as what the Word become flesh indicates by the virgin birth. A kiss is also a token as the Song of Solomon describes the sensation, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, Therefore do the virgins love thee."(The S.1:2-4). All the tokens of love, like overtones in music flow out when love is expressed between Christ and the bride. Fruits of the Spirit are equally felicitous analogy to love of God for Man. Moses expressed it thus: "For my name is in him."(Ex.22:21) Christ earned a name above every other name, which like precious ointment blesses the embrace which not for once but for ever more. "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;."(Ps.133:2).
Against this we read that Judas kissed his master he was followed by men with murder in their eyes. So Jesus, "Said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?"(v.48)
Psalm 133 compares the blessings come down as a precious ointment so brotherly love is a synonym for unity. When Judas kissed it was pushing the panic button that "And they all forsook him, and fled." Mark mentions of one disciple, "And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:/And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked"(vv.50-52)
Till May I shall be taking time out so my posts shall be few and far between.
"But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all."
This was what bravado where oath of man falls contrary to the sovereignty of the word so a mighty warrior like Jephthah is shown as wimp and St Peter proved to be no less. Jesus showed why. " Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."(13:31). Jesus as the fulfilment of Law places all events consequently in his deity as well as in his humanity. "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil./For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." At the outset of his earthly he presented the doctrine of his Father and condemned the doctrine of man as coming from the devil. (John8:44). From the manner the disciples could not understand him the Spirit shows why. It is not the words themselves as the controversy over KJV or other translations have raked up but the simple reason their flesh was weak. Even in our times imposter church keeps man from loving God with all might and will all their heart. "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word."(John8:43) They literally follow the scriptures and flat earthers for example, they may quote," It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth," Does that mean the earth is one? (Is.40:22).
"In thee is the fountain of life" Jesus said "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life./.... Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."(John6:63-65; Ps.36:9) In the same night the disciples will fail their master at Gethsemane and forsake him. "My word " speaks of Christ's spirit of obedience and was for the glory of God. So abiding life means walking with him and understanding His will concerning us. That is true Light
"But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."
The Spirit presents us a seemingly minor detail but it has a great spiritual importance. For one association of the Son is set there. Fellowship of God was not with any other than his Son. Whosoever believed in him were blessed in his Son (Ep.1:3).As Word become flesh the twelve apostles were men chosen by the Father was recorded in the scriptures. Joseph did not choose Galilee but God the Father chose it for his Son."Being warned of God in a dream, he (Joseph) turned aside into the parts of Galilee:/And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matt.2:22-23).
Nazareth is a small town in the hill country of Galilee while Jerusalem belongs to Judea.
Most of his disciples were from Galilee so we have this hint from the Holy Spirit why he went beforehand into Galilee
Secondly Jesus 'shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go' is already mentioned by Prophet Ezekiel."And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch ofthatgate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof."(Ez.46:8)
"Behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;/Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."(Ac.1:10-11). He however warned his disciples not to leave Jerusalem is for no other reason than setting coordinates of his throne in heaven with 'his body" and the right hand of the most high in heaven is called New Jerusalem. Consequently the city of the great King (Matt.5:35) fits nicely with David from whose loins his humanity took shape. David calls him his Lord , the Lord of lords and King of kings. (Re.19:16)
By literal approach do we really get the role of place names right?
In continuation to the previous post Jesus knew beforehand that his disciples would flee from him in 'the evil hour. As it was written of him in the scriptures they were also written and in the same quote from Zachariah we read thus, "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." The eleven disciples are 'the sheep' mentioned there. By the principle of Association the little ones include us as well. We received the gospel of salvation as 'the little ones'. We were called before the worlds began but how did we receive it?"and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;/And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen"(1 Co.1:27-28)
God chose man and not nations. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."( 1 Co.10:11)These are examples for our spiritual instruction
The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal"(1 Co.12:7) This shall explain the Law of Gradation where all things are held together in Christ. Moses doubled for Jesus and how the Spirit has organised his going up the mount we have here in v.26. "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." The mount of Olives is a sign. Jesus was taken in because as the word of God had foreshadowed the evil hour was to manifest, as the golden calf leading to the imposter church of our times, and many other events all these leading to the final battle. (Re.19). These kangaroo events teach us, "There is nothing new under the sun.(Ec.1:9)"
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
I shall not detail what I have mentioned of this quote from Prophet Zechariah (13:7) while I coverd Matthew. The point is simple. Jesus as the Word become flesh obeyed his God completely so much so he knew the evil hour closing in on him, down to the exact minute. Jesus says further down in this chapter, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."(14:49). Luke present us one curious aspect of time. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). The power of darkness also has been at work equally as the word that God commanded, "Let there be light." Why did Jesus Christ manifest? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8). So both good seed and tares growing in the field is nothing to marvel at. While Moses was with God down below the golden calf being set up was no coincidence. The evil work had succeeded throwing off some from the fellowship of God with Man. Moses as a double for the Son went up even as Jesus' Ascension gives it as a kangaroo event. So what we find of the Church of Rome setting up their golden calf is no brainer. The ten spies who brought evil report and brought God to intervene (Nu..14) we have even now as Evangelical Right, lining up behind a captain as bizarre as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."(14:4). New Canaan is impossible for the reprobate minds. The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. (1 Co.12:7)
"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body."
One noticeable feature of the breaking bread is missing here. While feeding the Five Thousand we read thus, " And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them." (6:41) He looked up to heaven and blessed, and brake." Significance of the heaven is defined in this space. The Spirit calls it upper room. His presence there was as the Son and he symbolically brought the disciples to be with him. In his passion and death it was to be discontinued till he drank fruit of the vine with them new. Breaking bread shall be no more loaded with spiritual symbolism as is now. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."( 1 John 3:2)
"And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it./And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many./Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Drinking fruit of the vine in the kingdom of God is new because Christ who is our life dies no more. Instead we as many branches to the true vine is more closer in spirit to the Song of Solomon. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste./He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."(S. of S :2:3-4) There shall no more blood or any violence but love. So the ensign of the Spirit the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world shall be held aloft indicating our spiritual bodies.
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
This upper room has been prepared for a special occasion. Who had it prepared for Jesus? In the Gospel of St John Jesus assured his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:3). "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (He.3:4) As with the colt for his Son to go to Jerusalem God had provided all thing for life and godliness for his Son. God had appointed himas the heir of all things.
When Jesus said of foxes having holes and the birds their nests he was stating his own case as a man. In the world each one is so particular to flaunt their fashionable address God chose the upper room, and the Spirit has not given as one except that whatever God chose was in his Power and glory.
Jesus assured "My Father and I are one" and wherever he walked and abode signaled his Father to testify. "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(1:11). Psalmist refers to this relationship of the Father. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps.139:8)
The Last supper enacted in that upper room evokes for us the same betrayal when Satan betrayed the trust of the Most High. For this reason Jesus refersto Judas as the son of perdition. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:12)
We have several instances where what are presented before us is a kangaroo word in terms of the eternal Word. Thus the alabaster box is a kangaroo word for the woman who prepared the body of the Son for his burial. Ezekiel thus ingesting the roll that God gave him becomes a double for the Son. "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."(Ez.3:1)
Timothy 4:10, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;..."
Jeremiah 179, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
2 Cor 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
Mark 14:38, "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation ..."
GBU
Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.
John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.
Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.
Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18- Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.
Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.
See part 2
Part 2
Day four, 13th of Nisan, they were in Bethany in Simon the leper's house, and a woman came in and poured precious ointment on Jesus's head, Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9. Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus, Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11. Toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover, Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-15, and Luke 22:7-13.
In Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7, it says that on the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lambs. The Passover lambs are killed on the 14th, Passover day, not on the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th. The Last Supper was at the beginning of Passover day, before the lambs were killed; we must remember that days start at sundown. We also see in John 18:28 that after the Last Supper, when they took Jesus to Pilate, they would not go into the judgment hall because they would be defiled, as they had not eaten the Passover.
When the sun went down on the fourth day, which we call Wednesday, is the beginning of Passover day, the 14th of Nisan, the day Jesus was crucified and the Passover lambs are killed.
The lambs are killed on the 14th in the evening, when the sun begins to go down, any time after noon until it sets. The lambs are eaten the night of the 15th, the first day of the seven-day feast, which is a holy convocation/Sabbath, Exodus 12:6-16, the same night they went out of Egypt, not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion occurred on Passover day, the fifth day since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, marking it as the 5th day of the week we call Thursday. Friday was the 15th, the first day of Unleavened Bread. John called it a high day, John 19:31. The Greek word is megas, meaning great, a feast holy convocation, which resulted in two Sabbaths in a row, Friday and Saturday.
God bless,
RLW
Thanks for your reply. I read and study the KJV also. I believe you may be correct about why the translators included " Easter. " The Jews were not concerned about whether King Herod intended to kill Peter; they were opposed to anyone teaching about Jesus the Messiah. The King was perhaps waiting for His pagan Easter, which is on the first day of the week we call Sunday.
What makes us scratch our heads about things like this is that Passover is only one day. It is not a holy convocation or Sabbath; it is a preparation day. The first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are Sabbaths. However, back then and now, all eight days are referred to as either the Feast of Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The Passover lambs are killed on Passover day, not on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Today, the calendar reflects eight days referred to as Passover. In Matthew 26:17, Matthew writes that on the first day of Unleavened Bread, they asked Jesus, " Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?
The Last Supper was on Passover day, and Jesus would be on the cross when they were killed, which was the 14th, Passover Day. The high day, Sabbath, did not occur until sunset, marking the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th. Mark 14:12 states that on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they kill the Passover, but this is incorrect.
Sorry, I got wordy
God bless,
RLW
Two suggestions are put forward, and I repeat, these are only guesses, since we can have no certainty from the Word of God. One, that this man was Mark, the writer himself; similar how the Apostle Paul introduced himself as this person who was given a special vision & revelation of Heaven ( 2 Corinthians 12:1-9). But then, why would Mark only be wrapped in a linen cloth?
And two, that this young man wasn't a disciple of Christ, but maybe asleep in the garden, and upon hearing the noise & commotion, went to see. The armed multitude, believing that this young man was also a disciple of Christ, proceeded to grab him, since Christ's disciples earlier took fright & fled. So, this young man also fled, but his outer garment was all they got when they tried to grab him, & he ran away naked (probably still with an undergarment on). But all this is conjecture, as we really don't know who this young man was & why he was in Gethsemane at that time, but we could learn from this account, that this multitude who came to arrest Jesus, were prepared to do anything & grab anyone associated with Him, displaying their rage & determination to get rid of Jesus & His followers.
Can we loose our Salvation ? ? This is very scary for any Christians .
Jesus warns us about denying Him .
Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shalldenymebeforemen, him will I alsodenybefore my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus told Peter that he was going to deny Jesus.
Mark 14:30
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter has deny Jesus . As we know, Peter became an Apostle and still followed Jesus after His death. Peter never lost his Salvation.
Mark 14:72
And the second time thecockcrew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Jesus warns us of blasphemy.
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin andblasphemyshall be forgiven unto men: buttheblasphemyagainsttheHolyGhostshall not be forgiven unto men.
Apostle Paul, before he got saved, use to be a blasphemer. Apostle Paul never lost his Salvation. Apostle Paul wrote 13 books of the Bible.
1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before ablasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Judas Iscariot met with the chief priests.
Mark 14:10
AndJudasIscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Satan enter in Judas Iscariot.
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan intoJudassurnamedIscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Because Judas Iscariot hung himself and Satan pushed out his body , there's a possibility that Judas Iscariot went to hell.
Acts 1:17-18
17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Peter ask Jesus who betray you ? Jesus told Peter not to worry about it, just follow me. I believe by reading this verse, Judas Iscariot will be resurrected in the Antichrist, in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ .
John 21:22
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Jesus said that Judas Iscariot shouldn't been born .
Mark 14:21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man ifhehad never beenborn.
Judas Iscariot went to hell .
Acts 1:25
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his ownplace.
May we all believe the gospel of grace, so we don't have to be in the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
The earthly Kingdom will appear again, but the grace age believes in the Body of Christ Jesus will be taken up in the Rapture first.
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look fornewheavens and anewearth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
New Jerusalem will be the new kingdom on earth.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which isnewJerusalem, which cometh down out ofheavenfrom my God: and I will write upon him mynewname.
Jesus Christ will be the New Messiah drinking the cup in New Jerusalem.
Mark 14:25
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in thekingdomof God.
The Twelve Disiples will have there New Jerusalem, the kingdom on earth.
Luke 22:30
That ye may eat and drink at my table in mykingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Kingdom of Heaven on earth will appear again.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Pt. 4
Even though it was God's will for Jesus to suffer and die, accountability still fell on those responsible for His death, as highlighted in ( Mark 14:21).
God's dispositional will reflects His attitude and what pleases or displeases Him. For instance, ( 1 Timothy 2:4) reveals God's desire for all to be saved and know the truth. This illustrates God's disposition towards the lost, emphasizing His desire for their salvation. Despite God's universal desire for salvation, not everyone chooses to accept it.
There is a distinction between God's dispositional will and His sovereign will.
In essence, the will of God comprises three elements: 1) God's sovereign will is manifested in His unchangeable decrees. He decreed that there be light, and there was light. , ( Genesis 1:3)-an illustration of His efficacious decree.
He permitted Satan to afflict Job And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. , ( Job 1:12)-an instance of His permissive decree. 2) God's revealed will is found in His precepts, provided to us so that we may live in holiness. We have the capacity (but not the right) to violate these commands. 3) God's dispositional will is His attitude. Sometimes, God ordains something that does not bring Him pleasure, such as the death of the wicked as seen in Ezekiel 33:11."
See Pt. 5
My opinion is that it is clear that Jesus ate the passover meal with His disciples (a day earlier as John writes in his gospel). This is what I get from the scrippure. Matthew 26:17-20, Mark 14:13-17, Luke 22:1-13.
The strange thing is that all three call it the first day of the unleaved bread. Luke 22:7, Mark 26:17, Matthew 26:17.
Lets read Matthew 26:17, "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?" and Mark adds " And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover..."
We know that the lambs were killed on the 14th of Nissan and the next day, the 15th, was the first day of the feast of the unleaved bread. So it seems that the evangelists got it wrong? The most probable explanation that I have read is that during Jesus' time that feast became an 8 day feast instead of a seven day feast (as God commanded to Israelites in Egypt) and the 14th of Nissan was also included in the feast. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who wtote about the Jewish revolution against Romans in 70AD and who lived in Jerusalem during all those events writes in his history "Whence it is, that, in memory of the want we were then in, we keep a feast for EIGHT days; which is called the feast of Unleavened-bread", Antiquities of Jews, Book II, chapter 15, paragraph 1. So it seems that during Jesus' time the 14th of Nissan was included in the feast so it became an 8 day feast.
Another change that was made untill Jesus time is that although God commanded that the lambs must be killed after the sunset (so on the 15th of Nissan) as Deuteronomy 16:6 says, "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun (15th of Nissan), at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt." that was changed later on.
Part 1
As we see in Matthew 26:17 and Mark 14:10, they say when they kill the Passover (lamb). Luke 22:7 also says when the Passover must be killed. This is on Passover day, the 14th when they killed the lambs. The 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is the Sabbath, not the 14th. The 14th is a preparation day, just like a Friday is for the weekly Saturday.
There are no restrictions on the 14th, Passover Day, the day Jesus was crucified, Joesph could buy or prepare whatever he wanted, before sunset that day. That is why we see they wanted to get Jesus in the tomb before sunset because the next day is the first day of Unleavened Bread is a holy convocation/Sabbath day
In Luke 22:15 Jesus is telling them He desired to eat this Passover, but in the next verse, He says He will not eat it anymore. He said this because He knew He would be crucified that same day, the 14th Passover Day. He would be dead and placed in the tomb before they ate the Passover the next night.
On the 14th, the Lord's Supper, the garden, the arrest, the high priest, Pilate, was crucified, and He died at 3 PM, about 3-4 hours before sunset. The Passover Lambs were killed at even, which would be the afternoon when the sun was going down. Jesus was placed in the tomb before sunset and after sunset, it was the 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, this is when they ate the Passover meal.
Only the priests could catch the blood of the Passover lambs and put it on the altar and the Levites would clean the lambs. In the morning after the Last Supper, the priests took Jesus to Pilate they would not go in, John 18:28 they would be defiled and could not catch the blood of the lambs that would be killed later that day the same day Jesus was crucified, the 14th Passover day.
I hope this makes sense and not too repetitive.
See part 2
May I share my thoughts on what you posted?
Mark 14:12, "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?:
Matthew 26:17 agrres to that. Similarly Luke 22:7, "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat."
So the meaning of Luke 22:15 is that Jesus actually ate the passover meal with his disciples.
Now we know from Exodus 12:1-11, that the lambs were sacrificed in the evening of the 14th of Nisan and immediately after when it got dark and the 15th of Nisan started, according to how the Israelites were considering their days and nights, they ate the passover meal. Exodus 12:11, "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover."
But John disagrees to them. He places the Passover one day later. John 18:28, "Then led they (the Pharisses) Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover."
Having in mind that John wrote his gospel last of all, actually as the tradition says many decades after the first three evangelists, when he was in his 80's or 90's, and knew what they had written in their gospels, his story seems to be the right one. So it seems that Jesus ate the passover meal with His apostles one day earlier, probably because He knew that he would be in the tomb the day of the passover. If we see some details in the gospels of the first three, we get the same conclusion. Example: Mark 12:45, "And he BOUGHT fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."
(Part 1):
No worries. I understand that we get busy and cannot respond quickly. Thank you for sharing your opinion on this topic. We do have a different view on this and that's okay. I spent some time reading through the accounts given in Matthew Chapter 26, Mark Chapter 14, and Luke Chapter 22. There are few things I find interesting that I would like to share.
In Mark 14:22-26, we see communion being instituted. The last supper was also the last Passover meal. Jewish people, ever since Moses, when they celebrated the Passover meal together, they had no idea what each of the elements meant. They knew some of them like the bitter herbs. They had three pieces of matzo bread. They broke the second piece and wrapped it a napkin. Interesting!
They had no idea why. But we know what that represents. Also, the matzo bread, when it was cooked in the oven, it had to have stripes on it. And it had to have holes in it. You probably can already imagine what all this represents.
But the Jews believed that when Messiah comes, He was going to explain to them what this all means because they were just doing it. But they didn't know what it all meant.
At the last Passover meal (Last Supper), Jesus took this bread that had to have stripes on it and said this is my body. The stripes on the bread would represent the stripes He would later receive from being whipped. He then took the cup and gave it to them to drink and said this is my blood which is shed for many. When He said this, His blood had not yet been shed so this could only represent the blood that would later be shed from the hole in His body when He was pierced. So, that explains the stripes on the Passover bread and the holes in the bread. The Jews had no idea!
Please see Part 2...
Thanks, brother. I hope all is well. I'm unsure about the Year of Jubilee; it might be worth looking into since we know it was a reason for the Babylonian exile.
In my opinion, what makes this topic challenging is that during the time of Christ, the Jews referred to the festival as 8 days by two different names: the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This distinction can be seen in Matthew 26:17 and Luke 22:1, while Mark 14:12 mentions the first day of Unleavened Bread as the time when they killed the Passover lamb.
Today, we see all eight days on the calendar referred to as Passover. However, this is not how it was originally structured. Passover day is the 14th, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed, and it is also the day Jesus was crucified. This day is not a Sabbath or holy convocation or a feast; rather, it is a preparation day for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which runs from the 15th to the 21st. The first and last days of this feast are designated Sabbaths, as noted in Exodus 12:16.
The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath that John mentioned. Jesus had to be placed in the tomb before sunset on Thursday, which was Passover day. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th (Friday), is referred to by John as a "high day" or "high Sabbath." Consequently, both Friday and Saturday were considered Sabbaths.
Not sure why the Sabbath is plural, but Scripture is clear there were two Sabbaths, Friday the first day of Unleavened Bread, and Saturday, an annual Sabbath, and a weekly Sabbath.
Have a great day.
God bless,
RLW
I hope you don't mind. Concerning the crucifixion and resurrection days, if we compare all the gospels, all four give the clearest truth.
In John 12:1-12, we learn that six days before Passover, Jesus visited the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. The following day, He rode into Jerusalem, five days before Passover. This event was significant because it coincided with the 10th of Nisan, the day the lambs were selected and held until the 14th when they would be sacrificed for Passover, the same time Jesus died on the cross, Exodus 12:1-14. These Passover lambs were eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the day Israel went out of Egypt.
Sunday Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-22:7, and John 12:12-50.
Monday, Matthew 21:18-19 Mark 11:12-19 This was the 11th, four days before Passover the 2nd day of the week.
Tuesday, Matthew 21:20 to 26:2 Mark 11:20 to 14:2 This was the 12th, three days before Passover, the third day of the week.
Wednesday, Matthew 26:6-16 Mark 14:3-11 Luke 22:1-6 This was the 13th, and at sunset is Passover day the 14th. The Last Supper, the arrest, sent to Pilot, the crucifixion, and placed in the tomb were all on the 14th, Passover day. Friday would be the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Jesus was in the tomb Thur. Day, Fri, Night, Fri. Day, Sat. Night, Sat. Day, Sun. Night, three days, and three nights. Jesus rose on the first day of the week and fulfilled the Feast of First Fruits, Leviticus 23:10-14 This coincides with what Jesus told Mary, touch me not, He had not ascended to His Father, John 20:17. The Feast of First Fruits as we see is on the first day after the Sabbath after Passover Day.
If Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, the women could have gone to the tomb on Friday because Friday is a preparation day for the weekly Sabbath.
God bless,
RLW
1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
It says first of all, Watch ye, or watch. This is a Present Imperative which means to be continually watching! The word is the opposite of the word for sleep. So, it means to be on guard. Be awake! Jesus used the word in Mark 14:38 when the disciples fell asleep when he was praying, and He said stay awake, be watchful.
Also, Peter, in 1 Peter 5:8, he says be watchful, be sober, because your adversary the devil is walking around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He's not saying don't get physical sleep. But literally "Wake up, spiritually. Wake up. Be on the alert because Satan is waiting to catch you off guard. That's command number one.
Command number two: Stand firm in the faith. In Ephesians Chapter 6, Paul tells us put on the whole armor of God in order that you may be able to stand. Not run, not even fight, because he's already been defeated. Stand firm in the faith!
Number three: quit you like men. "And like a man, I've quit several times!" No, that's not what it means. It's literally one Greek word that means be a man. It's associated with courage! Remember what God told Joshua in Joshua Chapter 1 Verses 8 through 11? Be of courage Joshua for I am with you wherever you go. It's not a human courage. It's a spiritual trust that no matter what, we can face anything in life because Christ is there.
Here's what I find that may or may not be significant.
In Acts 7:56 the word for standing I believe is "histemi"
A prolonged form of a primary word stao (of the same meaning and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively) used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide appoint bring continue covenant establish hold up lay present set (up) stanch stand (by forth still up).
Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69
Christ is "sitting" refers to the fact that His work of redemption is done.
Hebrews 10:12-13.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
In Luke 22:69 Jesus states "Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God" and then they ask him "Art thou then the Son of God? ( They understood his claim to sit on the right hand of the power of God makes him God.)
And he said unto them, (I am.)
And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
They accused him of Blasphemy!
God's right hand" refers to the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ, and He is of equal position, honor, power, and authority with God!
I may be wrong but I believe there is figurative emphasis on the standing and sitting.
God bless.
John 21:1 - After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
The sea of Tiberius is the Sea of Galilee. By the time John wrote, which is some of 30 years plus after the other gospels were written, it wasn't known as the Sea of Galilee. It was known as the Sea of Tiberius because the city of Tiberius was there and the Romans renamed it. So, the Sea of Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee are the same places.
John 21:15 - So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Here's something we don't catch in our English text. The word love is used twice in this verse, but there are two different words in the Greek that have different meanings. One is AGAPE (Godly love), and the other is PHILEO (Human love). After they had finished, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, and He doesn't call him Peter. That is the name He gave to Peter. He calls him by his human fleshly name. Simon, son of Jonas. It is like "Uh oh, here it comes," lovest thou me more than these?
This word love is AGAPAO. It is the word AGAPE in verb form, the highest form of sacrificial love, like "I'll lay down my life for you type of love." And He also tacks on a little supportive phrase by saying "more than these?" Remember in Mark 14:29 Peter says, "though all of these will be offended in you, yet I will not."
So, Jesus is saying, do you AGAPE me more than these? Peter says Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. The word love that Peter uses here is PHILEO. He doesn't say, yes Lord, I AGAPE you. He says I PHILEO you, I have affection for you.
Peter is not as bold in his boast this time. "Sure Lord, I AGAPE you. I will go out there and die for you," like he did before. He's been humbled. "Lord, you know I have PHILEO for you."
Mark 14:62 - And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Interesting how these verbs work in Greek. It is either transitive or non-transitive. This is a non-transitive verb; it is just I am. That is all He said. That is His name, the name of God in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus.
Mark 14:63 - Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
First, I realize you already know this, but the word "rent" is the word tore. The high priest rent, or tore his clothes, which by the way is illegal for him to do, which is very interesting. In Leviticus 21:10, it tells us that the priest cannot tear clothes. But he did. And he says, what need we any further witnesses? So, he says throw that rule out too. We will just make up our own. We have heard him. And they all condemned Jesus to be guilty of death.
This is all I have to share on Mark. I am working my way through Luke and hope to be posting on it soon.
God Bless!!!
Mark 14:36 - And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Abba is Aramaic for father, a very intimate word.
Mark 14:43 - And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
The word for "sword" means the small hand sword that the Roman soldiers would use in hand-to-hand combat. This word "staves" in the Greek are literally wooden clubs. The wooden clubs are the ones the temple police would use. They are coming out with swords and wooden clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
Mark 14:45 - And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
In the Greek text, this word for kiss has a little preposition, KATA, added to it. It means he kissed him fervently and affectionately. He didn't just come up and put a little kiss on Jesus' cheek. But he grabs Him and says master. He is giving him a very affectionate kiss.
Mark 14:53 - And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
This would be the Sanhedrin, the governing body and council of the Jews, made up of 70 leaders of the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.
Mark 14:61 - But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
This is a fulfillment of Isaiah 53, "he was silent before the shearers."
"Son of the blessed" is actually a translation of the Hebrew term meaning Son of God. Are you the Son of God? Art Thou the Christ? The word Christ is from CHRISTOS in the Greek. And it is MESHIACH in the Hebrew that means Messiah. Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?
Mark 14:3 - And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
We know from John 12:3 that this woman is Mary, the sister of Martha, and sister to Lazarus. I just want to point out something about this "alabaster box." It is not a box. It is actually a flask. It had a long neck on it. And they were generally made out of marble. And in order to pour this, which is actually a burial spice, but in order to pour this on the body, they would break the long neck and just pour the contents out.
Spikenard is actually from two words. It's actually named nard. It is from a plant that's found primarily in India. But it is the word pure, pure nard, genuine, unadulterated, which is the reason why it was so expensive. And she comes in with this alabaster flask and she breaks the flask and poured it on his head.
Mark 14:5 - For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
300 pence is 300 DENARI, almost a year's wages. This again is something we as English-speaking people are not going to catch just by reading this verse.
Mark 14:21 - The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
Keep in mind that the word woe (whoa) is only a good word if you are a horse. If you are not a horse you are in trouble because woe means destruction, OUAI in Greek means destruction.
Mark 14:32 - And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
You may already know this, but Gethsemane is the Hebrew transliteration of the wine and olive press on the Mount of Olives. The winepress is called Gethsemane.
The indwelling Holy Spirit clearly gave the Apostles newfound courage after not only Peter but all the rest of them scattered; fulfilling the prophecy "smite the Shephard and the sheep will be scattered." ( Matt. 26:31). The 11 remaining Disciples apparently fell asleep multiple times and didn't know what to say; and they didn't heed the warning to pray against temptation.
This frustration on Jesus' part on seeing them short of giving Him strength of consolation in His greatest agony in the Garden ends up being against all of them; something we don't see earlier in His ministry. I could go on with a lengthy description of just how blind they were to Christ's earlier prophecies predicting His death; or their inabililty to realize what Judas was up to; or why He was headed toward Jerusalem. Frankly it is too depressing for me to get into at length. I pray that when other believers are going through life and death issues; at least that we won't shrink back but be a support even risking our lives if necessary.
This should also serve a warning as to how fast crowds will turn from God; especially in the Tribulation. I have gone at length on how today's presentation of the Gospel tends to be lacking repentance as a requisite for salvation; how sin in general is softened; and how counting the cost of being a true disciple is often ignored. Nonetheless even when a true Gospel is offered; there can be some acceptance in times of prosperity; but we should be alert to things changing fast and prepared for many to fall away in these last days as Timothy warned ( 1 Timothy 4:1). Deceiving spirits will come more often I would say to those already"religious" nominal Christians who aren't discerning.
"And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely./And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him./And they laid their hands on him, and took him."
God is love and it has a token: a sign such as what the Word become flesh indicates by the virgin birth. A kiss is also a token as the Song of Solomon describes the sensation, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth, Therefore do the virgins love thee."(The S.1:2-4). All the tokens of love, like overtones in music flow out when love is expressed between Christ and the bride. Fruits of the Spirit are equally felicitous analogy to love of God for Man. Moses expressed it thus: "For my name is in him."(Ex.22:21) Christ earned a name above every other name, which like precious ointment blesses the embrace which not for once but for ever more. "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;."(Ps.133:2).
Against this we read that Judas kissed his master he was followed by men with murder in their eyes. So Jesus, "Said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?"(v.48)
Psalm 133 compares the blessings come down as a precious ointment so brotherly love is a synonym for unity. When Judas kissed it was pushing the panic button that "And they all forsook him, and fled." Mark mentions of one disciple, "And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:/And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked"(vv.50-52)
Till May I shall be taking time out so my posts shall be few and far between.
"But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all."
This was what bravado where oath of man falls contrary to the sovereignty of the word so a mighty warrior like Jephthah is shown as wimp and St Peter proved to be no less. Jesus showed why. " Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."(13:31). Jesus as the fulfilment of Law places all events consequently in his deity as well as in his humanity. "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil./For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." At the outset of his earthly he presented the doctrine of his Father and condemned the doctrine of man as coming from the devil. (John8:44). From the manner the disciples could not understand him the Spirit shows why. It is not the words themselves as the controversy over KJV or other translations have raked up but the simple reason their flesh was weak. Even in our times imposter church keeps man from loving God with all might and will all their heart. "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word."(John8:43) They literally follow the scriptures and flat earthers for example, they may quote," It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth," Does that mean the earth is one? (Is.40:22).
"In thee is the fountain of life" Jesus said "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life./.... Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."(John6:63-65; Ps.36:9) In the same night the disciples will fail their master at Gethsemane and forsake him. "My word " speaks of Christ's spirit of obedience and was for the glory of God. So abiding life means walking with him and understanding His will concerning us. That is true Light
"But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."
The Spirit presents us a seemingly minor detail but it has a great spiritual importance. For one association of the Son is set there. Fellowship of God was not with any other than his Son. Whosoever believed in him were blessed in his Son (Ep.1:3).As Word become flesh the twelve apostles were men chosen by the Father was recorded in the scriptures. Joseph did not choose Galilee but God the Father chose it for his Son."Being warned of God in a dream, he (Joseph) turned aside into the parts of Galilee:/And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matt.2:22-23).
Nazareth is a small town in the hill country of Galilee while Jerusalem belongs to Judea.
Most of his disciples were from Galilee so we have this hint from the Holy Spirit why he went beforehand into Galilee
Secondly Jesus 'shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go' is already mentioned by Prophet Ezekiel."And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch ofthatgate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof."(Ez.46:8)
"Behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;/Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."(Ac.1:10-11). He however warned his disciples not to leave Jerusalem is for no other reason than setting coordinates of his throne in heaven with 'his body" and the right hand of the most high in heaven is called New Jerusalem. Consequently the city of the great King (Matt.5:35) fits nicely with David from whose loins his humanity took shape. David calls him his Lord , the Lord of lords and King of kings. (Re.19:16)
By literal approach do we really get the role of place names right?
"And they all forsook him, and fled."
In continuation to the previous post Jesus knew beforehand that his disciples would flee from him in 'the evil hour. As it was written of him in the scriptures they were also written and in the same quote from Zachariah we read thus, "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." The eleven disciples are 'the sheep' mentioned there. By the principle of Association the little ones include us as well. We received the gospel of salvation as 'the little ones'. We were called before the worlds began but how did we receive it?"and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;/And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen"(1 Co.1:27-28)
God chose man and not nations. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."( 1 Co.10:11)These are examples for our spiritual instruction
The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal"(1 Co.12:7) This shall explain the Law of Gradation where all things are held together in Christ. Moses doubled for Jesus and how the Spirit has organised his going up the mount we have here in v.26. "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." The mount of Olives is a sign. Jesus was taken in because as the word of God had foreshadowed the evil hour was to manifest, as the golden calf leading to the imposter church of our times, and many other events all these leading to the final battle. (Re.19). These kangaroo events teach us, "There is nothing new under the sun.(Ec.1:9)"
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
I shall not detail what I have mentioned of this quote from Prophet Zechariah (13:7) while I coverd Matthew. The point is simple. Jesus as the Word become flesh obeyed his God completely so much so he knew the evil hour closing in on him, down to the exact minute. Jesus says further down in this chapter, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."(14:49). Luke present us one curious aspect of time. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). The power of darkness also has been at work equally as the word that God commanded, "Let there be light." Why did Jesus Christ manifest? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8). So both good seed and tares growing in the field is nothing to marvel at. While Moses was with God down below the golden calf being set up was no coincidence. The evil work had succeeded throwing off some from the fellowship of God with Man. Moses as a double for the Son went up even as Jesus' Ascension gives it as a kangaroo event. So what we find of the Church of Rome setting up their golden calf is no brainer. The ten spies who brought evil report and brought God to intervene (Nu..14) we have even now as Evangelical Right, lining up behind a captain as bizarre as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."(14:4). New Canaan is impossible for the reprobate minds. The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. (1 Co.12:7)
"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body."
One noticeable feature of the breaking bread is missing here. While feeding the Five Thousand we read thus, " And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them." (6:41) He looked up to heaven and blessed, and brake." Significance of the heaven is defined in this space. The Spirit calls it upper room. His presence there was as the Son and he symbolically brought the disciples to be with him. In his passion and death it was to be discontinued till he drank fruit of the vine with them new. Breaking bread shall be no more loaded with spiritual symbolism as is now. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."( 1 John 3:2)
"And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it./And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many./Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Drinking fruit of the vine in the kingdom of God is new because Christ who is our life dies no more. Instead we as many branches to the true vine is more closer in spirit to the Song of Solomon. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste./He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."(S. of S :2:3-4) There shall no more blood or any violence but love. So the ensign of the Spirit the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world shall be held aloft indicating our spiritual bodies.
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
This upper room has been prepared for a special occasion. Who had it prepared for Jesus? In the Gospel of St John Jesus assured his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:3). "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (He.3:4) As with the colt for his Son to go to Jerusalem God had provided all thing for life and godliness for his Son. God had appointed himas the heir of all things.
When Jesus said of foxes having holes and the birds their nests he was stating his own case as a man. In the world each one is so particular to flaunt their fashionable address God chose the upper room, and the Spirit has not given as one except that whatever God chose was in his Power and glory.
Jesus assured "My Father and I are one" and wherever he walked and abode signaled his Father to testify. "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(1:11). Psalmist refers to this relationship of the Father. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps.139:8)
The Last supper enacted in that upper room evokes for us the same betrayal when Satan betrayed the trust of the Most High. For this reason Jesus refersto Judas as the son of perdition. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:12)
We have several instances where what are presented before us is a kangaroo word in terms of the eternal Word. Thus the alabaster box is a kangaroo word for the woman who prepared the body of the Son for his burial. Ezekiel thus ingesting the roll that God gave him becomes a double for the Son. "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."(Ez.3:1)