J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
The vision of Heaven
4 Later I looked again, and before my eyes a door stood open in Heaven, and in my ears was the voice with the ring of a trumpet, which I had heard at first, speaking to me and saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen in the future.”
2-6a Immediately I knew myself to be inspired by the Spirit, and in my vision I saw a throne had been set up in Heaven, and there was someone seated upon the throne. His appearance blazed like diamond and topaz, and all around the throne shone a halo like an emerald rainbow. In a circle around the throne there were twenty-four thrones and seated upon them twenty-four elders dressed in white with golden crowns upon their heads. From the central throne come flashes of lightning, noises and peals of thunder. Seven lamps are burning before the throne, and they are the seven Spirits of God. In front of the throne there appears a sea of glass as clear as crystal.
6b-8 On each side, encircling the throne, are four living creatures covered with eyes in front and behind. The first living creature is like a lion, the second is like a calf, the third has a face like a man, and the fourth living creature appears like an eagle in flight. These four creatures have each of them six wings and are covered with eyes, all around them, and even within them. Day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming.”
The ceaseless worship of Heaven
9-11 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanksgiving to the one who sits upon the throne, who lives for timeless ages, the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves before him who is seated upon the throne and worship the one who lives for timeless ages. They cast their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created.”
A conversation that I had with fellow blogger, “Freedomborn…Aussie Christian Focus” is pasted below. It came from my blog page, “About Equipping The Saints.” I don’t need to restate my words; I invite you to read them, and consider “Worship.” I also recommend that you check out the blog from my friend, “from the land down under.” As you view the worship video, consider the Apostle Paul; consider you. Consider another passage of scripture that I have found to be the key to having a relationship of worship with Jesus. In order for us to have a relationship of worship with God, we must first of all have an intimate relationship of intimacy with God the Father, through God the Son. A special sister was so moved by my continual quoting of John 17:3, that she made a ceramic tile for me, with that verse in King James wording, painted on the tile. Terri, that dear saint, a true “Bama” fan from Jackson, Alabama, can preach “circles around me.” I thank God for her.
John 17:3
King James Version (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:1-3
J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
Jesus’ prayer for his disciples—present and future
17 1-3 When Jesus had said these words, he raised his eyes to Heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son now so that he may bring glory to you, for you have given him authority over all men to give eternal life for all that you have given to him. And this is eternal life, to know you, the only true God, and him whom you have sent—Jesus Christ.
Equipping The Saints says:
April 29, 2014 at 12:09 pm Edit
Thank you for your thoughts, and for the verses of God’s Word that support your beliefs. It can also be impossible for some people to meet for corporate worship, on some days and on all days. We can let our minds roam and think of many circumstances that prevent people from meeting with other people for organized worship. I wrote the post about Worship In Spirit And In Truth last night which lends truth that we worship “in spirit and in truth.” A place, time, day is not part of the discussion that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman. At that particular moment, He had the perfect opportunity to tell the woman that “worship” is to be done, “at that place, on that day, at that time.” But, he was very clear in His Words. Worship is that of relationship, and not of logistics. I trust that our Lord Jesus will lead you in sharing your thoughts of grace with those who may be confused about a subject that has been a noose around many necks for many years. Please have a blessed day.
Like this
Freedomborn … Aussie Christian Focus says:
April 29, 2014 at 1:14 pm Edit
Now, let’s worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
For Your Name Is Holy – I Enter The Holy Of Holies
042814, “Worship In Spirit And In Truth, John 4:24
This evening, as I was watching the DayStar Network, I was greatly moved by two guests, Harry and Cheryl Salem. Cheryl is the former Cheryl Prewitt, who was Miss America in 1980. During their discussion, some significant points of worship struck my mind, very pointedly. Cheryl said that much of “church” today is “personality over Presence,” and “performance over Power.” Cheryl talked about the words of John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Then, she asked, “where is the band? Where are the singers?” So, what does that say about our present day mode of worship. A lady who attends the church that I lead, a dear “sister of all sisters, Dorrine,” helped me to put some spiritual action into that verse. As we were talking about spiritual worship, a deep thought came to me! It was this: For us to worship God in spirit and in truth, it is, “all of us for all of Him!” No band or singers are necessary. But, with that having been said, let me direct you to some singers who truly worship God “in spirit and in truth.” “Women of Faith” sing in a way that is deeply worshipful. I trust that you will join-in, and worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth.
Above All
(Worshipful)
There Is None Like You
(Check out the sister- What a voice!)
My Heart – Your Home
(Deep Worship)
Wonderful Merciful Savior
(Worshipful!)
Shout To The Lord
(Espanol!!!!)
Now, let’s consider God’s Words about worship.
Exodus 33:7-10
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Tent outside the Camp
7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; and he called it the tent of meeting. And every one who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose up, and every man stood at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the tent. 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his tent door.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Solomon Dedicates the Temple
7 When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the earth on the pavement, and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,“For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever.”
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
My mind can easily take me back to my early boyhood years in church. I can remember the nights that I would fall asleep in my grandparents’ Church of God Sunday night services. I can see the sanctuary, still as vividly now as I did back then. Chanda Pierce used to mention in her programs, things about her memories as a child. She would say, “second row – piano side,” as a way of remembering back to the places in her church where he family would sit. It’s a comfort for believers in Christ to think about such things, as we can also look back and recall, very vividly, pictures in our minds of our departed loved ones who are now with our Lord Jesus. The songs that I have put on this post are very important to me. I know that I have posted them before, but they just can’t seem to get away from my mind. I trust that you will enjoy watching and listening to the singers, many of whom have gone on to be with the Lord. The videos were made in the early 1990s. Oh, how I wish that we could have another Godly group of Gospel singers, such as we are seeing in these videos. You might need a small packet of “hankis” with you as you watch the videos. May our Lord Jesus richly bless all of you.
He Washed My Eyes With Tears, That I Might See
Til The Storm Passes By
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Sweet, Sweet Jesus
Sweet Beulah Land
Farther Along
When He Was On The Cross, (I Was On His Mind)
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
Psalm 116:15
King James Version (KJV)
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
The following note was written this afternoon, (Fri, Apr 25, 2014 4:54 pm), as I was considering the soon coming worship service. Consider intimacy with God.
I’ve been listening to worship and praise, Terry Mac Almon and Paul Wilbur. I’m trying to draw the Presence of God deeply into my soul, more and more, as I prepare myself for this evening’s Sabbath worship service. I don’t want our people to become expert in knowing all of the verses of a “favorite song.” I want them to sing, whatever is necessary, to draw them into deeper awareness, worship, and praise of our Risen Lord, Jesus; King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Paul Wilbur, Jerusalem Arise
John 17:3
King James Version (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
The following link was provided by a fellow blogger, as follows.
Playamart – Zeebra Designs 23m
Following
thanks again for your kind comments and genuine support. i’m sorry that i’m not online often to keep up with all of your posts, but i often open them online then read them when i am home and offline. this week we’ve been w/o power since sunday, and hopefully it will be resolved by the weekend.
two very talented writers/photographers/journalists have addressed today a heartbreaking crisis, and i’m hopeful that you will find a way to reach a much larger audience and help to keep these people from starving.
thanks. the ‘juba 55′ post that precedes the sos one is also quite sobering.
the lack of power isn’t that bad! climate here is all but perfect, so heating and cooling is never needed; candle power at night helps one to merge with the rhythms of nature, but it makes it difficult to be connected to the world!
I trust that bloggers everywhere will reblog this post, until help is provided for the hurting souls that are shown in the above post. If the information on this post is unclear, please let me know. I will make it understandable.
Our Friday Evening Sabbath Worship Service will begin with a time of fellowship. We will progress to songs of worship and praise, with times of prayer interspersed, but not planned. A teaching sermon will address things that may have been attributed to God’s Holy Word, but not found therein. The text will be taken from Acts, Chapters 1 and 2. A preaching sermon will follow, with a subject that is based on the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. We will conclude the service by having a fellowship meal. During the meal, we will remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We will close our service with a song and a prayer for travel safety.
Hebrews 10:7
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
7 Then I said, ‘Look!
In the scroll of the book
it is written about me.
I have come to do your will.’”
Footnotes: Psalm 40:7
Acts 1:1-10
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, O The-oph′ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me, 5 for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar′ia and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
Acts 2:1-16
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Par′thians and Medes and E′lamites and residents of Mesopota′mia, Judea and Cappado′cia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phryg′ia and Pamphyl′ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyre′ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Joel 2:28-29
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
God’s Spirit Poured Out
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even upon the menservants and maidservants
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
Acts 2:36-39
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The First Converts
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
Now, let’s sing praises to our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
I Sing Praises To Your Name
1 Corinthians 2:9
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
9 But, as the Tanakh says,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard
and no one’s heart has imagined
all the things that God has prepared
for those who love him.”
Footnotes: Isaiah 64:3(4), 52:15
Though the terms “Bible” and “Old Testament” are commonly used by non-Jews to describe Judaism’s scriptures, the appropriate term is “Tanach,” which is derived as an acronym from the Hebrew letters of its three components: Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim.
The fascinating story of how we got the Bible in its present form actually starts thousands of years ago, as briefly outlined in our Timeline of Bible Translation History. As a background study, we recommend that you first review our discussion of the Pre-Reformation History of the Bible from 1,400 B.C. to 1,400 A.D., which covers the transmission of the scripture through the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, and the 1,000 years of the Dark & Middle Ages when the Word was trapped in only Latin. Our starting point in this discussion of Bible history, however, is the advent of the scripture in the English language with the “Morning Star of the Reformation”, John Wycliffe.
The first hand-written English language Bible manuscripts were produced in the 1380’s AD by John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor, scholar, and theologian. Wycliffe, (also spelled “Wycliff” & “Wyclif”), was well-known throughout Europe for his opposition to the teaching of the organized Church, which he believed to be contrary to the Bible. With the help of his followers, called the Lollards, and his assistant Purvey, and many other faithful scribes, Wycliffe produced dozens of English language manuscript copies of the scriptures. They were translated out of the Latin Vulgate, which was the only source text available to Wycliffe. The Pope was so infuriated by his teachings and his translation of the Bible into English, that 44 years after Wycliffe had died, he ordered the bones to be dug-up, crushed, and scattered in the river!
One of Wycliffe’s followers, John Hus, actively promoted Wycliffe’s ideas: that people should be permitted to read the Bible in their own language, and they should oppose the tyranny of the Roman church that threatened anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible with execution. Hus was burned at the stake in 1415, with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling for the fire. The last words of John Hus were that, “in 100 years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed.” Almost exactly 100 years later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses of Contention (a list of 95 issues of heretical theology and crimes of the Roman Catholic Church) into the church door at Wittenberg. The prophecy of Hus had come true! Martin Luther went on to be the first person to translate and publish the Bible in the commonly-spoken dialect of the German people; a translation more appealing than previous German Biblical translations. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records that in that same year, 1517, seven people were burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic Church for the crime of teaching their children to say the Lord’s Prayer in English rather than Latin.
Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1450’s, and the first book to ever be printed was a Latin language Bible, printed in Mainz, Germany. Gutenberg’s Bibles were surprisingly beautiful, as each leaf Gutenberg printed was later colorfully hand-illuminated. Born as “Johann Gensfleisch” (John Gooseflesh), he preferred to be known as “Johann Gutenberg” (John Beautiful Mountain). Ironically, though he had created what many believe to be the most important invention in history, Gutenberg was a victim of unscrupulous business associates who took control of his business and left him in poverty. Nevertheless, the invention of the movable-type printing press meant that Bibles and books could finally be effectively produced in large quantities in a short period of time. This was essential to the success of the Reformation.
In the 1490’s another Oxford professor, and the personal physician to King Henry the 7th and 8th, Thomas Linacre, decided to learn Greek. After reading the Gospels in Greek, and comparing it to the Latin Vulgate, he wrote in his diary, “Either this (the original Greek) is not the Gospel… or we are not Christians.” The Latin had become so corrupt that it no longer even preserved the message of the Gospel… yet the Church still threatened to kill anyone who read the scripture in any language other than Latin… though Latin was not an original language of the scriptures.
In 1496, John Colet, another Oxford professor and the son of the Mayor of London, started reading the New Testament in Greek and translating it into English for his students at Oxford, and later for the public at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. The people were so hungry to hear the Word of God in a language they could understand, that within six months there were 20,000 people packed in the church and at least that many outside trying to get in! (Sadly, while the enormous and beautiful Saint Paul’s Cathedral remains the main church in London today, as of 2003, typical Sunday morning worship attendance is only around 200 people… and most of them are tourists). Fortunately for Colet, he was a powerful man with friends in high places, so he amazingly managed to avoid execution.
In considering the experiences of Linacre and Colet, the great scholar Erasmus was so moved to correct the corrupt Latin Vulgate, that in 1516, with the help of printer John Froben, he published a Greek-Latin Parallel New Testament. The Latin part was not the corrupt Vulgate, but his own fresh rendering of the text from the more accurate and reliable Greek, which he had managed to collate from a half-dozen partial old Greek New Testament manuscripts he had acquired. This milestone was the first non-Latin Vulgate text of the scripture to be produced in a millennium… and the first ever to come off a printing press. The 1516 Greek-Latin New Testament of Erasmus further focused attention on just how corrupt and inaccurate the Latin Vulgate had become, and how important it was to go back and use the original Greek (New Testament) and original Hebrew (Old Testament) languages to maintain accuracy… and to translate them faithfully into the languages of the common people, whether that be English, German, or any other tongue. No sympathy for this “illegal activity” was to be found from Rome… even as the words of Pope Leo X’s declaration that “the fable of Christ was quite profitable to him” continued through the years to infuriate the people of God.
William Tyndale was the Captain of the Army of Reformers, and was their spiritual leader. Tyndale holds the distinction of being the first man to ever print the New Testament in the English language. Tyndale was a true scholar and a genius, so fluent in eight languages that it was said one would think any one of them to be his native tongue. He is frequently referred to as the “Architect of the English Language”, (even more so than William Shakespeare) as so many of the phrases Tyndale coined are still in our language today.
Martin Luther had a small head-start on Tyndale, as Luther declared his intolerance for the Roman Church’s corruption on Halloween in 1517, by nailing his 95 Theses of Contention to the Wittenberg Church door. Luther, who would be exiled in the months following the Diet of Worms Council in 1521 that was designed to martyr him, would translate the New Testament into German for the first time from the 1516 Greek-Latin New Testament of Erasmus, and publish it in September of 1522. Luther also published a German Pentateuch in 1523, and another edition of the German New Testament in 1529. In the 1530’s he would go on to publish the entire Bible in German.
William Tyndale wanted to use the same 1516 Erasmus text as a source to translate and print the New Testament in English for the first time in history. Tyndale showed up on Luther’s doorstep in Germany in 1525, and by year’s end had translated the New Testament into English. Tyndale had been forced to flee England, because of the wide-spread rumor that his English New Testament project was underway, causing inquisitors and bounty hunters to be constantly on Tyndale’s trail to arrest him and prevent his project. God foiled their plans, and in 1525-1526 the Tyndale New Testament became the first printed edition of the scripture in the English language. Subsequent printings of the Tyndale New Testament in the 1530’s were often elaborately illustrated.
They were burned as soon as the Bishop could confiscate them, but copies trickled through and actually ended up in the bedroom of King Henry VIII. The more the King and Bishop resisted its distribution, the more fascinated the public at large became. The church declared it contained thousands of errors as they torched hundreds of New Testaments confiscated by the clergy, while in fact, they burned them because they could find no errors at all. One risked death by burning if caught in mere possession of Tyndale’s forbidden books.
Having God’s Word available to the public in the language of the common man, English, would have meant disaster to the church. No longer would they control access to the scriptures. If people were able to read the Bible in their own tongue, the church’s income and power would crumble. They could not possibly continue to get away with selling indulgences (the forgiveness of sins) or selling the release of loved ones from a church-manufactured “Purgatory”. People would begin to challenge the church’s authority if the church were exposed as frauds and thieves. The contradictions between what God’s Word said, and what the priests taught, would open the public’s eyes and the truth would set them free from the grip of fear that the institutional church held. Salvation through faith, not works or donations, would be understood. The need for priests would vanish through the priesthood of all believers. The veneration of church-canonized Saints and Mary would be called into question. The availability of the scriptures in English was the biggest threat imaginable to the wicked church. Neither side would give up without a fight.
Today, there are only two known copies left of Tyndale’s 1525-26 First Edition. Any copies printed prior to 1570 are extremely valuable. Tyndale’s flight was an inspiration to freedom-loving Englishmen who drew courage from the 11 years that he was hunted. Books and Bibles flowed into England in bales of cotton and sacks of flour. Ironically, Tyndale’s biggest customer was the King’s men, who would buy up every copy available to burn them… and Tyndale used their money to print even more! In the end, Tyndale was caught: betrayed by an Englishman that he had befriended. Tyndale was incarcerated for 500 days before he was strangled and burned at the stake in 1536. Tyndale’s last words were, “Oh Lord, open the King of England’s eyes”. This prayer would be answered just three years later in 1539, when King Henry VIII finally allowed, and even funded, the printing of an English Bible known as the “Great Bible”. But before that could happen…
Myles Coverdale and John “Thomas Matthew” Rogers had remained loyal disciples the last six years of Tyndale’s life, and they carried the English Bible project forward and even accelerated it. Coverdale finished translating the Old Testament, and in 1535 he printed the first complete Bible in the English language, making use of Luther’s German text and the Latin as sources. Thus, the first complete English Bible was printed on October 4, 1535, and is known as the Coverdale Bible.
John Rogers went on to print the second complete English Bible in 1537. It was, however, the first English Bible translated from the original Biblical languages of Hebrew & Greek. He printed it under the pseudonym “Thomas Matthew”, (an assumed name that had actually been used by Tyndale at one time) as a considerable part of this Bible was the translation of Tyndale, whose writings had been condemned by the English authorities. It is a composite made up of Tyndale’s Pentateuch and New Testament (1534-1535 edition) and Coverdale’s Bible and some of Roger’s own translation of the text. It remains known most commonly as the Matthew-Tyndale Bible. It went through a nearly identical second-edition printing in 1549.
In 1539, Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, hired Myles Coverdale at the bequest of King Henry VIII to publish the “Great Bible”. It became the first English Bible authorized for public use, as it was distributed to every church, chained to the pulpit, and a reader was even provided so that the illiterate could hear the Word of God in plain English. It would seem that William Tyndale’s last wish had been granted…just three years after his martyrdom. Cranmer’s Bible, published by Coverdale, was known as the Great Bible due to its great size: a large pulpit folio measuring over 14 inches tall. Seven editions of this version were printed between April of 1539 and December of 1541.
It was not that King Henry VIII had a change of conscience regarding publishing the Bible in English. His motives were more sinister… but the Lord sometimes uses the evil intentions of men to bring about His glory. King Henry VIII had in fact, requested that the Pope permit him to divorce his wife and marry his mistress. The Pope refused. King Henry responded by marrying his mistress anyway, (later having two of his many wives executed), and thumbing his nose at the Pope by renouncing Roman Catholicism, taking England out from under Rome’s religious control, and declaring himself as the reigning head of State to also be the new head of the Church. This new branch of the Christian Church, neither Roman Catholic nor truly Protestant, became known as the Anglican Church or the Church of England. King Henry acted essentially as its “Pope”. His first act was to further defy the wishes of Rome by funding the printing of the scriptures in English… the first legal English Bible… just for spite.
The ebb and flow of freedom continued through the 1540’s…and into the 1550’s. After King Henry VIII, King Edward VI took the throne, and after his death, the reign of Queen “Bloody” Mary was the next obstacle to the printing of the Bible in English. She was possessed in her quest to return England to the Roman Church. In 1555, John “Thomas Matthew” Rogers and Thomas Cranmer were both burned at the stake. Mary went on to burn reformers at the stake by the hundreds for the “crime” of being a Protestant. This era was known as the Marian Exile, and the refugees fled from England with little hope of ever seeing their home or friends again.
In the 1550’s, the Church at Geneva, Switzerland, was very sympathetic to the reformer refugees and was one of only a few safe havens for a desperate people. Many of them met in Geneva, led by Myles Coverdale and John Foxe (publisher of the famous Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, which is to this day the only exhaustive reference work on the persecution and martyrdom of Early Christians and Protestants from the first century up to the mid-16th century), as well as Thomas Sampson and William Whittingham. There, with the protection of the great theologian John Calvin (author of the most famous theological book ever published, Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion)and John Knox, the great Reformer of the Scottish Church, the Church of Geneva determined to produce a Bible that would educate their families while they continued in exile.
The New Testament was completed in 1557, and the complete Bible was first published in 1560. It became known as the Geneva Bible. Due to a passage in Genesis describing the clothing that God fashioned for Adam and Eve upon expulsion from the Garden of Eden as “Breeches” (an antiquated form of “Britches”), some people referred to the Geneva Bible as the Breeches Bible.
The Geneva Bible was the first Bible to add numbered verses to the chapters, so that referencing specific passages would be easier. Every chapter was also accompanied by extensive marginal notes and references so thorough and complete that the Geneva Bible is also considered the first English “Study Bible”. William Shakespeare quotes hundreds of times in his plays from the Geneva translation of the Bible. The Geneva Bible became the Bible of choice for over 100 years of English speaking Christians. Between 1560 and 1644 at least 144 editions of this Bible were published. Examination of the 1611 King James Bible shows clearly that its translators were influenced much more by the Geneva Bible, than by any other source. The Geneva Bible itself retains over 90% of William Tyndale’s original English translation. The Geneva in fact, remained more popular than the King James Version until decades after its original release in 1611! The Geneva holds the honor of being the first Bible taken to America, and the Bible of the Puritans and Pilgrims. It is truly the “Bible of the Protestant Reformation.” Strangely, the famous Geneva Bible has been out-of-print since 1644, so the only way to obtain one is to either purchase an original printing of the Geneva Bible, or a less costly facsimile reproduction of the original 1560 Geneva Bible.
With the end of Queen Mary’s bloody reign, the reformers could safely return to England. The Anglican Church, now under Queen Elizabeth I, reluctantly tolerated the printing and distribution of Geneva version Bibles in England. The marginal notes, which were vehemently against the institutional Church of the day, did not rest well with the rulers of the day. Another version, one with a less inflammatory tone was desired, and the copies of the Great Bible were getting to be decades old. In 1568, a revision of the Great Bible known as the Bishop’s Bible was introduced. Despite 19 editions being printed between 1568 and 1606, this Bible, referred to as the “rough draft of the King James Version”, never gained much of a foothold of popularity among the people. The Geneva may have simply been too much to compete with.
By the 1580’s, the Roman Catholic Church saw that it had lost the battle to suppress the will of God: that His Holy Word be available in the English language. In 1582, the Church of Rome surrendered their fight for “Latin only” and decided that if the Bible was to be available in English, they would at least have an official Roman Catholic English translation. And so, using the corrupt and inaccurate Latin Vulgate as the only source text, they went on to publish an English Bible with all the distortions and corruptions that Erasmus had revealed and warned of 75 years earlier. Because it was translated at the Roman Catholic College in the city of Rheims, it was known as the Rheims New Testament (also spelled Rhemes). The Douay Old Testament was translated by the Church of Rome in 1609 at the College in the city of Douay (also spelled Doway & Douai). The combined product is commonly referred to as the “Doway/Rheims” Version. In 1589, Dr. William Fulke of Cambridge published the “Fulke’s Refutation”, in which he printed in parallel columns the Bishops Version along side the Rheims Version, attempting to show the error and distortion of the Roman Church’s corrupt compromise of an English version of the Bible.
With the death of Queen Elizabeth I, Prince James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. The Protestant clergy approached the new King in 1604 and announced their desire for a new translation to replace the Bishop’s Bible first printed in 1568. They knew that the Geneva Version had won the hearts of the people because of its excellent scholarship, accuracy, and exhaustive commentary. However, they did not want the controversial marginal notes (proclaiming the Pope an Anti-Christ, etc.) Essentially, the leaders of the church desired a Bible for the people, with scriptural references only for word clarification or cross-references.
This “translation to end all translations” (for a while at least) was the result of the combined effort of about fifty scholars. They took into consideration: The Tyndale New Testament, The Coverdale Bible, The Matthews Bible, The Great Bible, The Geneva Bible, and even the Rheims New Testament. The great revision of the Bishop’s Bible had begun. From 1605 to 1606 the scholars engaged in private research. From 1607 to 1609 the work was assembled. In 1610 the work went to press, and in 1611 the first of the huge (16 inch tall) pulpit folios known today as “The 1611 King James Bible” came off the printing press. A typographical discrepancy in Ruth 3:15 rendered a pronoun “He” instead of “She” in that verse in some printings. This caused some of the 1611 First Editions to be known by collectors as “He” Bibles, and others as “She” Bibles. Starting just one year after the huge 1611 pulpit-size King James Bibles were printed and chained to every church pulpit in England; printing then began on the earliest normal-size printings of the King James Bible. These were produced so individuals could have their own personal copy of the Bible.
The Anglican Church’s King James Bible took decades to overcome the more popular Protestant Church’s Geneva Bible. One of the greatest ironies of history, is that many Protestant Christian churches today embrace the King James Bible exclusively as the “only” legitimate English language translation… yet it is not even a Protestant translation! It was printed to compete with the Protestant Geneva Bible, by authorities who throughout most of history were hostile to Protestants… and killed them. While many Protestants are quick to assign the full blame of persecution to the Roman Catholic Church, it should be noted that even after England broke from Roman Catholicism in the 1500’s, the Church of England (The Anglican Church) continued to persecute Protestants throughout the 1600’s. One famous example of this is John Bunyan, who while in prison for the crime of preaching the Gospel, wrote one of Christian history’s greatest books, Pilgrim’s Progress. Throughout the 1600’s, as the Puritans and the Pilgrims fled the religious persecution of England to cross the Atlantic and start a new free nation in America, they took with them their precious Geneva Bible, and rejected the King’s Bible. America was founded upon the Geneva Bible, not the King James Bible.
Protestants today are largely unaware of their own history, and unaware of the Geneva Bible (which is textually 95% the same as the King James Version, but 50 years older than the King James Version, and not influenced by the Roman Catholic Rheims New Testament that the King James translators admittedly took into consideration). Nevertheless, the King James Bible turned out to be an excellent and accurate translation, and it became the most printed book in the history of the world, and the only book with one billion copies in print. In fact, for over 250 years…until the appearance of the English Revised Version of 1881-1885…the King James Version reigned without much of a rival. One little-known fact, is that for the past 200 years, all King James Bibles published in America are actually the 1769 Baskerville spelling and wording revision of the 1611. The original “1611” preface is deceivingly included by the publishers, and no mention of the fact that it is really the 1769 version is to be found, because that might hurt sales. The only way to obtain a true, unaltered, 1611 version is to either purchase an original pre-1769 printing of the King James Bible, or a less costly facsimile reproduction of the original 1611 King James Bible.
Although the first Bible printed in America was done in the native Algonquin Indian Language by John Eliot in 1663; the first English language Bible to be printed in America by Robert Aitken in 1782 was a King James Version. Robert Aitken’s 1782 Bible was also the only Bible ever authorized by the United States Congress. He was commended by President George Washington for providing Americans with Bibles during the embargo of imported English goods due to the Revolutionary War. In 1808, Robert’s daughter, Jane Aitken, would become the first woman to ever print a Bible… and to do so in America, of course. In 1791, Isaac Collins vastly improved upon the quality and size of the typesetting of American Bibles and produced the first “Family Bible” printed in America… also a King James Version. Also in 1791, Isaiah Thomas published the first Illustrated Bible printed in America…in the King James Version. For more information on the earliest Bibles printed in America from the 1600’s through the early 1800’s, you may wish to review our more detailed discussion of The Bibles of Colonial America.
While Noah Webster, just a few years after producing his famous Dictionary of the English Language, would produce his own modern translation of the English Bible in 1833; the public remained too loyal to the King James Version for Webster’s version to have much impact. It was not really until the 1880’s that England’s own planned replacement for their King James Bible, the English Revised Version(E.R.V.) would become the first English language Bible to gain popular acceptance as a post-King James Version modern-English Bible. The widespread popularity of this modern-English translation brought with it another curious characteristic: the absence of the 14 Apocryphal books.
Up until the 1880’s every Protestant Bible (not just Catholic Bibles) had 80 books, not 66! The inter-testamental books written hundreds of years before Christ called “The Apocrypha” were part of virtually every printing of the Tyndale-Matthews Bible, the Great Bible, the Bishops Bible, the Protestant Geneva Bible, and the King James Bible until their removal in the 1880’s! The original 1611 King James contained the Apocrypha, and King James threatened anyone who dared to print the Bible without the Apocrypha with heavy fines and a year in jail. Only for the last 120 years has the Protestant Church rejected these books, and removed them from their Bibles. This has left most modern-day Christians believing the popular myth that there is something “Roman Catholic” about the Apocrypha. There is, however, no truth in that myth, and no widely-accepted reason for the removal of the Apocrypha in the 1880’s has ever been officially issued by a mainline Protestant denomination.
The Americans responded to England’s E.R.V. Bible by publishing the nearly-identical American Standard Version (A.S.V.) in 1901. It was also widely-accepted and embraced by churches throughout America for many decades as the leading modern-English version of the Bible. In the 1971, it was again revised and called New American Standard Version Bible (often referred to as the N.A.S.V. or N.A.S.B. or N.A.S.). This New American Standard Bible is considered by nearly all evangelical Christian scholars and translators today, to be the most accurate, word-for-word translation of the original Greek and Hebrew scriptures into the modern English language that has ever been produced. It remains the most popular version among theologians, professors, scholars, and seminary students today. Some, however, have taken issue with it because it is so direct and literal a translation (focused on accuracy), that it does not flow as easily in conversational English.
For this reason, in 1973, the New International Version (N.I.V.) was produced, which was offered as a “dynamic equivalent” translation into modern English. The N.I.V. was designed not for “word-for-word” accuracy, but rather, for “phrase-for-phrase” accuracy, and ease of reading even at a Junior High-School reading level. It was meant to appeal to a broader (and in some instances less-educated) cross-section of the general public. Critics of the N.I.V. often jokingly refer to it as the “Nearly Inspired Version”, but that has not stopped it from becoming the best-selling modern-English translation of the Bible ever published.
In 1982, Thomas Nelson Publishers produced what they called the “New King James Version”. Their original intent was to keep the basic wording of the King James to appeal to King James Version loyalists, while only changing the most obscure words and the Elizabethan “thee, thy, thou” pronouns. This was an interesting marketing ploy, however, upon discovering that this was not enough of a change for them to be able to legally copyright the result, they had to make more significant revisions, which defeated their purpose in the first place. It was never taken seriously by scholars, but it has enjoyed some degree of public acceptance, simply because of its clever “New King James Version” marketing name.
In 2002, a major attempt was made to bridge the gap between the simple readability of the N.I.V., and the extremely precise accuracy of the N.A.S.B. This translation is called the English Standard Version (E.S.V.) and is rapidly gaining popularity for its readability and accuracy. The 21st Century will certainly continue to bring new translations of God’s Word in the modern English language.
As Christians, we must be very careful to make intelligent and informed decisions about what translations of the Bible we choose to read. On the liberal extreme, we have people who would give us heretical new translations that attempt to change God’s Word to make it politically correct. One example of this, which has made headlines recently is the Today’s New International Version (T.N.I.V.) which seeks to remove all gender-specific references in the Bible whenever possible! Not all new translations are good… and some are very bad.
But equally dangerous, is the other extreme… of blindly rejecting ANY English translation that was produced in the four centuries that have come after the 1611 King James. We must remember that the main purpose of the Protestant Reformation was to get the Bible out of the chains of being trapped in an ancient language that few could understand, and into the modern, spoken, conversational language of the present day. William Tyndale fought and died for the right to print the Bible in the common, spoken, modern English tongue of his day… as he boldly told one official who criticized his efforts, “If God spare my life, I will see to it that the boy who drives the plowshare knows more of the scripture than you, Sir!”
Will we now go backwards, and seek to imprison God’s Word once again exclusively in ancient translations? Clearly it is not God’s will that we over-react to SOME of the bad modern translations, by rejecting ALL new translations and “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”. The Word of God is unchanging from generation to generation, but language is a dynamic and ever-changing form of communication. We therefore have a responsibility before God as Christians to make sure that each generation has a modern translation that they can easily understand, yet that does not sacrifice accuracy in any way. Let’s be ever mindful that we are not called to worship the Bible. That is called idolatry. We are called to worship the God who gave us the Bible, and who preserved it through the centuries of people who sought to destroy it.
We are also called to preserve the ancient, original English translations of the Bible… and that is what we do here at WWW.GREATSITE.COM
Consider the following textual comparison of the earliest English translations of John 3:16, as shown in the English Hexapla Parallel New Testament:
1st Ed. King James (1611): “For God so loued the world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.”
Rheims (1582): “For so God loued the vvorld, that he gaue his only-begotten sonne: that euery one that beleeueth in him, perish not, but may haue life euerlasting”
Geneva (1560): “For God so loueth the world, that he hath geuen his only begotten Sonne: that none that beleue in him, should peryshe, but haue euerlasting lyfe.”
Great Bible (1539): “For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth in him, shulde not perisshe, but haue euerlasting lyfe.”
Tyndale (1534): “For God so loveth the worlde, that he hath geven his only sonne, that none that beleve in him, shuld perisshe: but shuld have everlastinge lyfe.”
Wycliff (1380): “for god loued so the world; that he gaf his oon bigetun sone, that eche man that bileueth in him perisch not: but haue euerlastynge liif,”
Anglo-Saxon Proto-English Manuscripts (995 AD): “God lufode middan-eard swa, dat he seade his an-cennedan sunu, dat nan ne forweorde de on hine gely ac habbe dat ece lif.”
Timeline of Bible Translation History
1,400 BC: The first written Word of God: The Ten Commandments delivered to Moses.
500 BC: Completion of All Original Hebrew Manuscripts which make up The 39 Books of the Old Testament.
200 BC: Completion of the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books AND 14 Apocrypha Books.
1st Century AD: Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts which make up The 27 Books of the New Testament.
315 AD: Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture.
382 AD: Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Manuscripts Produced which contain All 80 Books (39 Old Test. + 14 Apocrypha + 27 New Test).
500 AD: Scriptures have been Translated into Over 500 Languages.
600 AD: LATIN was the Only Language Allowed for Scripture.
995 AD: Anglo-Saxon (Early Roots of English Language) Translations of The New Testament Produced.
1384 AD: Wycliffe is the First Person to Produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript Copy of the Complete Bible; All 80 Books.
1455 AD: Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; Books May Now be mass-Produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Ever Printed is Gutenberg’s Bible in Latin.
1516 AD: Erasmus Produces a Greek/Latin Parallel New Testament.
1522 AD: Martin Luther’s German New Testament.
1526 AD: William Tyndale’s New Testament; The First New Testament printed in the English Language.
1535 AD: Myles Coverdale’s Bible; The First Complete Bible printed in the English Language (80 Books: O.T. & N.T. & Apocrypha).
1537 AD: Tyndale-Matthews Bible; The Second Complete Bible printed in English. Done by John “Thomas Matthew” Rogers (80 Books).
1539 AD: The “Great Bible” Printed; The First English Language Bible Authorized for Public Use (80 Books).
1560 AD: The Geneva Bible Printed; The First English Language Bible to add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books).
1568 AD: The Bishops Bible Printed; The Bible of which the King James was a Revision (80 Books).
1609 AD: The Douay Old Testament is added to the Rheims New Testament (of 1582) Making the First Complete English Catholic Bible; Translated from the Latin Vulgate (80 Books).
1611 AD: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with All 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving Only 66 Books.
1782 AD: Robert Aitken’s Bible; The First English Language Bible (KJV) Printed in America.
1791 AD: Isaac Collins and Isaiah Thomas Respectively Produce the First Family Bible and First Illustrated Bible Printed in America. Both were King James Versions, with All 80 Books.
1808 AD: Jane Aitken’s Bible (Daughter of Robert Aitken); The First Bible to be Printed by a Woman.
1833 AD: Noah Webster’s Bible; After Producing his Famous Dictionary, Webster Printed his Own Revision of the King James Bible.
1841 AD: English Hexapla New Testament; an Early Textual Comparison showing the Greek and 6 Famous English Translations in Parallel Columns.
1846 AD: The Illuminated Bible; The Most Lavishly Illustrated Bible printed in America. A King James Version, with All 80 Books.
1863 AD: Robert Young’s “Literal” Translation; often criticized for being so literal that it sometimes obscures the contextual English meaning.
1885 AD: The “English Revised Version” Bible; The First Major English Revision of the KJV.
1901 AD: The “American Standard Version”; The First Major American Revision of the KJV.
1952 AD: The “Revised Standard Version” (RSV); said to be a Revision of the 1901 American Standard Version, though more highly criticized.
1971 AD: The “New American Standard Bible” (NASB) is Published as a “Modern and Accurate Word for Word English Translation” of the Bible.
1973 AD: The “New International Version” (NIV) is Published as a “Modern and Accurate Phrase for Phrase English Translation” of the Bible.
1982 AD: The “New King James Version” (NKJV) is Published as a “Modern English Version Maintaining the Original Style of the King James.”
1990 AD: The “New Revised Standard Version” (NRSV); further revision of 1952 RSV, (itself a revision of 1901 ASV), criticized for “gender inclusiveness”.
2002 AD: The English Standard Version (ESV) is Published as a translation to bridge the gap between the accuracy of the NASB and the readability of the NIV.
In accordance with the reading of God’s Holy Word, let us share in the singing of a song of the Holiness of God. The song was played during a worship conference that took place in the Netherlands. Imagine that! As Coach Grant Taylor asked his players in the movie, “Facing The Giants,” “is anything too hard for God?” There is also a Bible verse that has the same question, Genesis 18:14. As you watch the video, you may see among the worshippers, “one special saint,” who drew my attention. I wonder if anybody else can find that “very special” person?
Holy Are You Lord.
Revelation 4:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
John 4:22. The words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman, showing the blood line of the Jews to the Messiach.
New International Version
You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
New Living Translation
You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.
English Standard Version
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
New American Standard Bible
“You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
King James Bible
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.
International Standard Version
You don’t know what you’re worshiping. We Jews know what we’re worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews.
God’s Promise To The Jews, As Given To Abraham (A Hebrew), The Father Of The Jews (Genesis 12:1-3)
1Now the LORD said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
(Genesis 17:6-8)
6“I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8“I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
The following is a list of just a few of the prophecies that point to Yeshua as Messiah.
He will be born to a virgin and will be called God With Us (Immanu-El) (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
He will be born in Beit-Lechem (House of Bread—Bethlehem) (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1)
He will be despised and rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11; John 5:43)
He will suffer terribly (Isaiah 52:14)
He will be pierced and wounded for our sins (Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33)
He will take upon Himself the punishment that we all deserve (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)
He will not open His mouth in His own defense (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12–14)
He will die a premature death (Isaiah 53:8,12; Luke 23:46)
He will die with the wicked but be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57–60)
He will be raised from death to life (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:29–32; Matthew 28:5–6)
He will sit on the throne of His father, David, ruling forever (Isaiah 9:6–7; Luke 1:30–33)
Jesus Is Yeshua
John 4:21-22
Names of God Bible (NOG)
21 Yeshua told her, “Believe me. A time is coming when you Samaritans won’t be worshiping the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You don’t know what you’re worshiping. We Jews know what we’re worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews.
Jesus Is Yeshua Ha Mashiach
Yeshua Ha Mashiach
Mashiachh is a title for Yeshua Ha Mashiach, the Savior of the world. The title of Mashiach came from the Hebrew language and means “Anointed One.”Yeshua brought attention to the Messianic focus of Scripture (John 5:46; 8:56). To make His point, Yeshua acknowledged Himself to be the Ha Mashiach
Let Us Worship Yeshua Ha Mashiach
Yeshua Ha Mashiach
John 14:6
Names of God Bible (NOG)
6 Yeshua answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.
(Sources that are being consulted, are: The Ryrie Study Bible, The Holman Christian Standard Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, The Scofield Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, Key Word Study Bible, Holman Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, R. C. Sproul Commentary Series, Life Application Study Bible, Liberty Commentary Bible, Norman L. Geisler Systematic Theology, Charles C. Ryrie Basic Theology, The New American Commentary Series, The Holman Commentary Series, The New International Commentary, The Pulpit Commentary Series, Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, Webster’s New World Dictionary – 1964 College Edition, Roget’s II -1988 The New Thesaurus, (and internet sources, BibleGateway.com, and BibleHub.com, and many other sources.)
The purpose of this week’s writings of the events that led up to “Resurrection Sunday” have been designed to provide “food for thought.” Most of my readers already know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. I would hope that others, who do not have that assurance of eternal life with Jesus, would also come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior. There is not enough room to properly analyze each verse that has been written in this study. Hopefully, there will be key elements of scripture, that will be revealed, and that will “provoke serious spiritual thought” in the minds of whomever might read these posts.
Topical Setting
It is amazing how many things can so drastically change within a very short period of time. The day of this post is Sunday, The First Day Of The Week, Resurrection Sunday, “The Lord’s Day!” The previous Sunday followed a Sabbath that included a festive meal in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It was there that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, with expensive perfume, and wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:1-3. The following day, Palm Sunday, saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and received the treatment that would be given “to a rock star.” During the days of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, some of the events of the life of Jesus included: the cursing of the fig tree, the cleaning of the temple, debates with religious leaders, preaching and teaching, and the decision of Judas to betray Jesus. Then, on Thursday evening, another meal took place. This meal involved Jesus and His disciples sharing the Passover Seder, which was another festive time. During this evening, which is now also called , “Maundy Thursday and Holy Thursday, Jesus served the disciples with food that came from the Passover table, and used that time to tell of His imminent death. It was during this “Passover meal,” that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-30). It is important to notice that Jesus included Judas Iscariot (who would betray Him), the elements of the “Lord’s Supper,” which came during the midst of this Passover seder, and He also washed the feet of Judas. All disciples were present. Judas did not leave until after the meal and foot washing took place. (Matthew 26:20; John 13:30). Following the Thursday evening meal, a horrible turn of events led to Jesus being crucified, on Friday evening, which we know as “Good Friday,” before the beginning of the Sabbath. The body of Jesus was placed in a burial tomb before the beginning of the Sabbath. Then, the Sabbath was observed. For the believers of Jesus, the week was “quite a roller coaster” of emotions. But, now, the entire work of redemption has been completed; as was spoken by Jesus on the cross, “it is finished!” (John 19:30).
Topical Text
Mark 16:1-11
J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
Early on the first Lord’s day: the women are amazed
16 1-2 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, just as the sun was rising.
3 “Who is going to roll the stone back from the doorway of the tomb?” they asked each other.
4-7 And then as they looked closer, they saw that the stone, which was a very large one, had been rolled back. So they went into the tomb and saw a young man in a white robe sitting on the right-hand side, and they were simply astonished. But he said to them, “There is no need to be astonished. He has risen; he is not here. Look, here is the place where they laid him. But now go and tell his disciples, and Peter, that he will be in Galilee before you. You will see him there just as he told you.”
8 And they got out of the tomb and ran away from it. They were trembling with excitement. They did not dare to breathe a word to anyone.
An ancient appendix
9-11 When Jesus rose early on that first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven evil spirits. And she went and reported this to his sorrowing and weeping followers. They heard her say that he was alive and that she had seen him, but they did not believe it.
Consider.
1. How many eye witnesses were present at the empty tomb? Matthew 28:12, identifies two women. Mark 16:1 speaks of three women. Luke 24: 1 states “the women,” which refers to “the women,” of Luke 23:49, 55. John 20:1 indicates that only one woman,” was present. The number of eye witnesses is not important. Each writer wrote what was relevant to them. (You can let you mind travel with this thought.)
2. The J.B. Phillips translation identifies “Mary of Magdala” as being one of the Marys. In Matthew 2:22-23, we read:
New Century Version (NCV)
22 But he heard that Archelaus was now king in Judea since his father Herod had died. So Joseph was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee, 23 to a town called Nazareth, and lived there. And so what God had said through the prophets came true: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
A Nazarene was someone from the town of Nazareth. Jesus came from Nazareth, so He was called a Nazarene. Mary Magdalene was, “Mary of Magdala.” She was from the district of Magdala, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 15:39).
3. The women were told to “go and tell the disciples, and Peter.” This was part of the restoration of Peter to be the leader of the disciples, who were soon to be called Apostles. See the following accounts of Jesus and the restoration of Peter.
New International Version Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
New International Version John 21:15
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
New International Version John 21:16
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
New International Version John 21:17
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
4. The women were obedient to tell the other believers that Jesus was alive, but they were not believed. Consider how we are to respond to the commission that Jesus gave to His disciples, and to us.
Matthew 28:18-20
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
King James Version (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:8
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar′ia and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus told His disciples, and us, to do the following things. He said for us to “go, teach, baptize, and teach.” And, then, we are to start all over and do it again.
5. Consider what we are to do when we encounter opposition to our being a witness of the gospel of Christ. God’s words to the prophet Ezekiel are also valid to us today.
New International Version Ezekiel 2:7
You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
God doesn’t call us to be successful, only for us to be faithful.
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior, Jesus, in worship and praise.
We Glorify The Lamb
Even So Lord Jesus Come
Holy Are You Lord
To Him Who Sits On Throne
1 Corinthians 2:9
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
(Sources that are being consulted, are: The Ryrie Study Bible, The Holman Christian Standard Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, The Scofield Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The New American Commentary Series, The Holman Commentary Series, and internet sources, BibleGateway.com, and BibleHub.com.
Scripture Text.
Luke 23:52-24:1
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; 56 then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
The Resurrection of Jesus
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared.
Topical Setting.
The setting shows the events that lead from the granting of permission, by Pilate to Joseph of Arimathea, to bury the body of Jesus. The time of day was after three pm on Friday (The Day Of Preparation). Sabbath (Friday at sunset until Saturday at sunset) would soon arrive. Joseph and Nicodemus (John 19:39) took the body of Jesus with them and laid it in a tomb. The two Marys (Mark 15:47) followed Joseph and Nicodemus and saw the place where they left the body of Jesus. There was little time on Friday to do all of the things that were necessary to properly prepare the body of Jesus for burial. The women made note of the location of the tomb. They knew where they would have to return after the Sabbath was over, so that they could complete the burial process. Nicodemus and Joseph had placed quite a considerable amount of aloes and myrrh in the tomb (John 19:40), but the women wanted to make their own contribution to the burial. The women went away from the tomb, to a place where they would prepare the spices and ointments that would be needed to complete the embalming process. Then, when sunset arrived and Sabbath began, “they rested according to the commandment.” As busy as the women had become, they still rested on the Sabbath day (Friday evening until Saturday evening). They did not do any of the work of burial preparation, which was not only in accordance with the custom of the Jewish nation, but also according to the commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy,” (Exodus 20:10). The first day of the week began at sunset on Saturday. The women had the hours of darkness to finish their preparations of the spices and ointments for the embalming of the body of Jesus. This process was completed before the women set out for the tomb at daybreak on Sunday morning. It is important to know that the Sabbath was no time of the week, other than Friday at sunset until Saturday at sunset. It was, and still is, the seventh day of the week. The Sabbath can never be any other day of the week, than that where God placed it. We may decide to “take the day off from work” and call it our sabbath, but that is an incorrect assumption. We can’t draw a line “around the seventh day of the week (from Friday at sunset until Saturday at sunset), and use a big excavator to dig up and move “God’s Sabbath,” to another place on the calendar, where we will draw another line, and measure off another “plot on the calendar,” and dig another hole where we can replace the original Sabbath. (Please excuse the necessary run on sentence).The Sabbath is “the Lord’s Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:3). Sunday morning, the first day of the day, is referred to as “The Lord’s Day.” That is because it was the day that our Lord Jesus, was raised from death. This particular Sunday was not Easter, and never will be Easter. Much has been written about Easter, but I will use God’s Word, and comments made in Unger’s Bible Dictionary, to discuss the matter. The scripture is Acts 12:4. A sampling of translations follow, and shows that the word, “Easter,” is only written in the King James Version. All of the other translations use the word, “Passover,” which relates to the time of the year, per Acts 12:3, “the days of Unleavened Bread.”
Acts 12:4
New International Version
After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
New Living Translation
Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.
English Standard Version
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
New American Standard Bible
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
King James Bible
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered himto four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary: (Easter)
(Gr. pascha, from Heb. pesah), the Passover, and so translated in every passage excepting, “intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people (Acts 12:4).” In the earlier English versions Easter had been frequently used as the translation of pascha. At the last revision Passover was substituted in all passages but this one. See Passover.
The word Easter is of Saxon origin. Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honor sacrifices were offered about Passover time each year. By the 8th century, Anglo-Saxons had adopted the name to designate the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
Consider the term “Easter.” Should we continue to use such an incorrect word to identify the day of the week which was when our Lord Jesus was raised from the dead? I would like to say something that is more correct. I prefer to say “Resurrection Sunday.”
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior, Jesus, in worship and praise. But, please, let me say this. There is great opposition in the world to the Jews. That is easily seen in the worlds of academia, media, and entertainment. There are also many liberal politicians who give nothing but lip service to the Jews, in order to have their vote. The Jews were God’s chosen people to bring us the Messiah. We are told in Holy Scripture to honor the Jews, and to pray for them. The time of this writing is Saturday afternoon; the day on God’s calendar of creation is the Sabbath. There are only about five hours remaining until the first day of the week begins. Today’s selection of music varies. The first two songs should be familiar to you. The last video is more in line with the Sabbath, being “Shabbat Shalom,” which means “peaceful Sabbath.” As you listen to the music, you may find yourself clapping your hands, tapping your feet, swaying your hips, or maybe even looking for a few more people to join you in a circular praise dance. You may also find yourself in deep meditation of praise and worship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Sing Hallelujah
Days Of Elijah
Shabbat Shalom
Psalm 122:6
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”
Let us pray for the physical peace of Jerusalem, and that the Jews may come to know, as their personal Messiah, “the Prince Of Peace,” Jesus of Nazareth.
(Sources that are being consulted, are: The Ryrie Study Bible, The Holman Christian Standard Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, The Scofield Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The New American Commentary Series, The Holman Commentary Series, and internet sources, BibleGateway.com, and BibleHub.com.
The setting follows the festive Passover Seder and the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Thursday had come and gone. It is now early Friday morning, but the sky is still dark. A dark day of injustice will soon arrive. The Day of Preparation will soon lead to sunset, which is the time of day, on Friday, when the Sabbath will begin. Oh, how events of life can change very quickly!
Preparation for the Passover (Day of Preparation for Passover) occurs on Friday before the beginning of Sabbath at sunset, on Friday (John 19:14,31; Luke 23:54). This Sabbath was a “High Day,” or a “High Sabbath.” The first day of the Feast Of Unleavened Bread fell that year on a Sabbath, making it a “high,” or “special” festival. (See Exodus 12:14-20 and Leviticus 23:5-8 for information on the Feat Of Unleavened Bread.) John’s Gospel shows Jesus as being put to execution at about the time that the Passover lambs would be slaughtered.
Luke 22:54-23:55
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Peter Denies Jesus
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance; 55 and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later some one else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Consider. Just a few hours earlier, Peter had said to Jesus,”Lord, with you I am ready to go to prison and to death (Luke 22:33). Now, in a time of stress, Peter says of Jesus, “I don’t know the man” (Luke 22:57, 58, 60). Immediately, after the rooster crowed, Jesus looked directly at Peter, “eyeball to eyeball.” Imagine how Peter must have felt after he remembered the words of Jesus when our Lord said, “Peter, you’re going to deny me!” Peter quickly left the area and “cried,” very heavily.
A kangaroo court of injustice quickly ensues. (22:63 – 23:12)
The Mocking and Beating of Jesus
63 Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and asked him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they spoke many other words against him, reviling him.
Jesus before the Council
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 And they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Jesus before Pilate
23 Then the whole company of them arose, and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no crime in this man.”5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
Jesus before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length; but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then, arraying him in gorgeous apparel, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Jesus Sentenced to Death
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him; 15 neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him; 16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barab′bas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; 21 but they shouted out, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
Consider why the Jews wanted Barabbas to be spared death, instead of Jesus. In John 18:40, Barabbas had been identified as a robber. In this passage (Luke 23:18-19), he was involved in a resurrection toward the Romans, and was found to be a murderer. Consider the hatred of the Jews toward the Romans; they saw Barabbas as being a Jewish “freedom fighter.” Jesus was not seen as being anybody who could provide the release of the Jews from their Roman tormentors.
Consider the Holy Spirit. Just five day prior, on Palm Sunday, the Jews of Jerusalem were shouting, “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord,” (John 12:12-19). This day, Friday, the Jews were shouting, in a crowd frenzy, “release to us Barabbas! Crucify him! (Jesus) (Luke 23:18, 21.) Consider also, that in fifty days, on the Day of Pentecost, many of these same Jews will say, in response to Peter’s sermon about Jesus being Lord and Christ, “what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Are we discussing “frenzied or fickle Jews?” Or, is there more to be considered? Maybe we should consider the God! Maybe we should consider “God’s Holy Spirit!”
Consider what Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans:
Romans 8:28-30
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Consider “God’s purpose.” His purpose applies to every part of our body, whether it is “spirit, soul, or body,” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God’s sovereignty rules over “all” (Psalm 103:19). “All” refers to “all.” “All” refers to “all” that we see, hear, feel, touch, think, don’t think, has been, is, will be, may not be, could be. and all other “be’s.” “All” refers to grass, dirt, air, water, galaxies, constellations, suns, moons, stars, hemispheres, rivers, lakes, oceans, and mountains. “All” also refers to heaven and hell, salvation and separation from God. And, yes! “All” refers to “all” of the Jews in Jerusalem.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre′ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Consider the way to eternal life; a personal trust of belief in Jesus (vs 42-43).
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”48 And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
Consider the curtain of the temple being torn in two (vs 45). It was the curtain that blocked entry into the Most Holy Place (See Exodus 26:33 and Hebrews 9:3). The significance of the tearing of the curtain was that the way into the Presence of God was now open to everyone by way of a new and living way (See Hebrews 10:19-20). Because the curtain was torn from top to bottom, it showed that no one had split the veil, but that God had done it.
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathe′a. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid;
Consider the time of day. Jesus was taken down from the cross, and was placed in His burial tomb. These events took place on the day of Preparation, Friday, before three pm (vs 44), before the beginning of the Sabbath (vs 54). The women saw where the body of Jesus had been laid. (vs 55). Mark’s gospel also presents a good description of this day’s closing events.
Mark 15:42-47
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Burial of Jesus
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,43 Joseph of Arimathe′a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Mag′dalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Consider the time of day. The body of Jesus was taken off of the cross and placed in the tomb, all on the Day of Preparation (Friday before sunset/Sabbath) (vs 42). The two Marys saw the place where the body of Jesus had been laid (vs 47).
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior, Jesus, in worship and praise of Him.
For Your Name Is Holy
John 13:35
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(Sources that are being consulted, are: The Ryrie Study Bible, The Holman Christian Standard Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, The Scofield Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The New American Commentary Series, The Holman Commentary Series, and internet sources, BibleGateway.com, and BibleHub.com.
The setting is that of a festive meal, on Thursday evening. The stage was being set for the crucifixion of Jesus, which would take place less than twenty-four hours later. Consider how quickly our lives can be turned, “totally upside down,” in a very short period of time.
Mark 14:12-52
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Passover with the Disciples
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover.
17 And when it was evening he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
Consider: The setting was that of a meal. The upper room may have been the place where the Disciples, and the remainder of the “120,” “went, stayed, and prayed” for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1,2). This Passover meal was on Thursday evening.(Maundy Thursday). It is clear that if Jesus was alive on Thursday evening, that He was also alive the preceding day, Wednesday.
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Consider: It was during the Passover seder/meal, that bread and wine from the meal were used by Jesus to tell of His impending death, and the new covenant. Jesus also looks forward, to the millennium, where He will take part in the Passover seder again. Matthew’s Gospel has a passage that is very good in explaining this meal, as follows.
Matthew 26:26-30
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Consider. The bread and wine that were used to introduce the “Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion/Holy Eucharist/Breaking Of Bread” were actually taken from the table where the Passover Meal was being served. The bread was not “a very small wafer.” The cup/the wine, was not “a very small sip” of wine. When the church began having fellowship meals, it did the same thing, but for a different purpose than to remember the deliverance of Israel from Egypt: “do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
Peter’s Denial Foretold
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.”30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
Consider. Soon, the disciples would experience good times, and a lot of bad times. Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny his relationship with Him, very soon. Peter quickly responded, “I would die for you!” Consider the voice inflection of Peter as he spoke those words. The other disciples voiced in with their support of Jesus.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
32 And they went to a place which was called Gethsem′ane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch.”35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him.41 And he came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Consider. When the need is greatest, are we too tired for prayer?
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, “Master!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
Consider. The “young man” may have been Mark (vs 51). The linen cloth might have been a loosely-fitting sleeping garment, or maybe a sheet, that Mark quickly put around himself after he was awakened from his sleep.
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior, Jesus, in worship and praise of Him.
For Your Name Is Holy
John 13:35
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
At this time in the study of The Passion Week/Holy Week, a moment of humor, and bite of Humble Pie is needed. First, the humor, if it turns out to be that way. There was a joke that was common when I was “a few years younger.” It goes like this. Why does the traffic light turn red? The answer was, “you’d turn red too, if you’d have to change in front of so many people!” Well, I have found such a “red face” on me, like I never had ever thought would happen. So, I’ll “fess up.” This year, 2014, had the first day of Passover beginning on Monday at Sundown, April 14. The posts that I have been making relate to the Passion Week/Holy Week of 33 A.D. So, because of the error of 1981 years, I have put the beginnings of Passover and Unleavened Bread earlier in the week’s account. Since all of my readers are much smarter than “yours truly,” I will either receive a ton of forgiveness, or many slices of Humble Pie. So, now that I have seen the red “all over my face, ” I admit my error, and really do ask “the whole blog world” to forgive me. As for the Humble Pie, I would much rather have “Red Velvet Cake.”
(Sources that are being consulted, are: The Ryrie Study Bible, The Holman Christian Standard Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, The Scofield Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The New American Commentary Series, The Holman Commentary Series, and internet sources, BibleGateway.com, and BibleHub.com.
Luke 22:1-6
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
22 Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death; for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and engaged to give him money. 6 So he agreed, and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude.
Consider the unholy alliance of Satan, The Chief Priests, and Judas.
Consider the hypocrisy of those who claimed not to be, “of Satan.” Judas, a disciple of Christ. The Chief Priests, who should have known that Jesus was the Messiah, and should have pointed the common Jew to that proper belief.
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior in praise to Him.
Let God Arise
John 10:27-28
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.
(Sources that are being consulted, are: The Ryrie Study Bible, The Holman Christian Standard Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, The Scofield Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The New American Commentary Series, The Holman Commentary Series, and internet sources, BibleGateway.com, and BibleHub.com.)
A lot is going on during this second day of Passover. Consider the fact that even though it is a holy time in the Jewish calendar, a lot of teaching and confrontation are taking place. Some key items of interest to this writer are discussed, as follows.
The Authority Of Christ Questioned: (20:1-2) … the chief priests, the scribes and elders confronted him in a body and asked him this direct question, “Tell us by whose authority you act as you do—who gave you such authority?”
The Reply By Jesus: (20:3-8). Men often pretend to examine the evidences of revelation, and the truth of the gospel, when only seeking excuses for their own unbelief and disobedience. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a plain question about the baptism of John, which the common people could answer. They all knew it was from heaven, nothing in it had an earthly tendency. Those that bury the knowledge they have, are justly denied further knowledge. It was just with Christ to refuse to give account of his authority, to those who knew the baptism of John to be from heaven, yet would not believe in him, nor own their knowledge. (Matthew Henry Consider Commentary).
A discourse is given on the Signs Of Christ’s Second Coming, as follows: The happenings take place during the Tribulation. The subject is Israel and the Jews. (Matthew 24:1-25:46).
Many would come in His (Name. 24:5). There will be wars and rumors of wars, nations will rise up against nations, there will be famines and earthquakes (24:6-8). The unsaved Jews (and other unsaved Gentiles) will be left behind to face tribulation, where they will be killed and hated. (24:9). A time of lawlessness will develop (24:10-12). The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world (24:14). Great tribulation will begin (24:21). False Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, “so as to mislead, if possible” even the elect.(24:24).
Great atmospheric abnormalities will result (24:29). Immediately after the tribulation, Christ will be seen returning to earth. (24:30). The elect will be gathered to Israel from all corners of the earth. (24:31). The gentiles will be judged based on how they treated the Jews during the tribulation (25:31-46).
Luke 20-21:38
J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
20 1-2 Then one day as he was teaching the people in the Temple, and preaching the Gospel to them, the chief priests, the scribes and elders confronted him in a body and asked him this direct question, “Tell us by whose authority you act as you do—who gave you such authority?”
3-4 “I have a question for you, too,” replied Jesus. “John’s baptism, now—tell me, did it come from Heaven or was it purely human?”
5-7 At this they began arguing with each other, saying, “If we say, ‘from Heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe in him?’ but if we say it was purely human, this mob will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they replied that they did not know where it came from.
8 “Then,” returned Jesus, “neither will I tell you by what authority I do what I am doing.”
He tells the people a pointed story
9-16 Then he turned to the people and told them this parable: “There was once a man who planted a vineyard, let it out farm-workers, and went abroad for some time. Then, when the season arrived, he sent a servant to the farm-workers so that they could give him the proceeds of the vineyard. But the farm-workers beat him up and sent him back empty-handed. So he sent another servant, and they beat him up as well, manhandling him disgracefully, and sent him back empty-handed. Then he sent a third servant, but after wounding him severely they threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do now? I will send them my son who is so dear to me. Perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the farm-workers saw him, they talked the matter over with each other and said, ‘This man is the heir—come on, let’s kill him, and we shall get everything that he would have had!’ And they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. What do you suppose the owner will do to them? He will come and destroy the men who were working his property, and hand it over to others.” When they heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17 But he looked them straight in the eyes and said, “Then what is the meaning of this scripture—‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone?’
18 The man who falls on that stone will be broken, and the man on whom it falls will be crushed to powder.”
The authorities resort to trickery
19 The scribes and chief priests longed to get their hands on him at that moment, but they were afraid of the people. They knew well enough that his parable referred to them.
20 They watched him, however, and sent some spies into the crowd, pretending that they were honest men, to fasten on something that he might say which could be used to hand him over to the authority and power of the governor.
21-22 These men asked him, “Master, we know that what you say and teach is right, and that you teach the way of God truly without fear or favour. Now, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23-24 But Jesus saw through their cunning and said to them, “Show me one of the coins. Whose face is this, and whose name is in the inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they said.
25 “Then give to Caesar,” he replied, “what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”
26 So his reply gave them no sort of handle that they could use against him publicly. And in fact they were so taken aback by his answer that they had nothing more to say.
Jesus exposes the ignorance of the Sadducees
27-33 Then up came some of the Sadducees (who deny that there is any resurrection) and they asked him, “Master, Moses told us in the scripture, ‘If a man’s brother should die without any children, he should marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.’ Now, there were once seven brothers. The first got married and died childless, and the second and the third married the woman, and in fact all the seven married her and died without leaving any children. Lastly, the woman herself died. Now in the ‘resurrection’ whose wife is she of these seven men, for she belonged to all of them?”
34-38 “People in this world,” Jesus replied, “marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of reaching that world, which means rising from the dead, neither marry nor are they given in marriage. They cannot die any more but live like the angels; for being children of the resurrection, they are the sons of God. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed to be true in the story of the bush, when he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’. For God is not God of the dead, but of the living. For all men are alive to him.”
39 To this some of the scribes replied, “Master, that was a good answer.”
40 And indeed nobody had the courage to ask him any more questions.
41-44 But Jesus went on to say, “How can they say that Christ is David’s son? For David himself said in the book of psalms—‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.’ David is plainly calling him ‘Lord’. How then can he be his son?”
Jesus warns his disciples against religious pretentiousness
45-47 Then while everybody was listening, Jesus remarked to his disciples, “Be on your guard against the scribes, who enjoy walking round in long robes and love having men bow to them in public, getting front seats in the synagogue, and the best places at dinner parties—while all the time they are battening on widow’s property and covering it up with long prayers. These men are only heading for deeper damnation.”
21 1-4 Then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping their gifts into the treasury, and he noticed a poor widow drop in two coppers, and he commented, “I assure you that this poor widow put in more than all of them, for they have all put in what they can easily spare, but she in her poverty has given away her whole living.”
Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple
5-6 Then when some of them were talking about the Temple and pointing out the beauty of its lovely stonework and the various ornaments that people had given, he said, “Yes, you can gaze on all this today, but the time is coming when not a single stone will be left upon another, without being thrown down.”
7 So they asked him, “Master, when will this happen, and what sign will there be that these things are going to take place?”
8-9 “Be careful that you are not deceived,” he replied. “There will be many coming in my name, saying ‘I am he’ and ‘The time is very near now.’ Never follow men like that. And when you hear about wars and disturbances, don’t be alarmed. These things must indeed happen first, but the end will not come immediately.
And prophesies world-wide suffering
10-19 Then he continued, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in this place or that. There will be dreadful sights, and great signs from heaven. But before all this happens, men will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogue or prison, or bringing you before kings and governors, for my name’s sake. This will be your chance to witness for me. So make up your minds not to think out your defence beforehand. I will give you such eloquence and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict it. But you will be betrayed, even by parents and brothers and kinsfolk and friends. and there will be some of you who will be killed and you will be hated everywhere for my name’s sake. Yet, not a hair of your head will perish. Hold on, and you will win your souls!
20-28 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armed forces, then you will know that the time of her devastation has arrived. Then is the time for those who are in Judea to fly to the hills. And those who are in the city itself must get out of it, and those who are already in the country must not try to get into the city. For these are the days of vengeance, when all that the scriptures have said will come true. Alas for those who are pregnant and those who have tiny babies in those days! For there will be bitter misery in the land and great anger against this people. They will die by the sword. They will be taken off as prisoners into all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the heathen until the heathen’s day is over. There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth there will be dismay among the nations and bewilderment at the roar of the surging sea. Men’s courage will fail completely as they realise what is threatening the world, for the very powers of heaven will be shaken. Then men will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and splendour! But when these things begin to happen, look up, hold your heads high, for you will soon be
free.”
Vigilance is essential
29 Then he gave them a parable.
30-33 “Look at a fig-tree, or indeed any tree, when it begins to burst its buds, and you realise without anybody telling you that summer is nearly here. So, when you see these things happening, you can be equally sure that the kingdom of God has nearly come. Believe me, this generation will not disappear until all this has taken place. Earth and heaven will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34-35 “Be on your guard—see to it that your minds are never clouded by dissipation or drunkenness or the worries of this life, or else that day may catch you like the springing of a trap—for it will come upon every inhabitant of the whole earth.
36 “You must be vigilant at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to come safely through all that is going to happen, and stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”
37-38 And every day he went on teaching in the Temple, and every evening he went off and spent the night on the hill which is called the Mount of Olives. And the people used to come early in the morning to listen to him in the Temple.
The First Day Of The Feast Of Unleavened Bread Begins.
Exodus 12:14-20
Names of God Bible (NOG)
14 “This day will be one for you to remember. This is a permanent law for generations to come: You will celebrate this day as a pilgrimage festival in Yahweh’s honor. 15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the very first day you must remove any yeast that you have in your houses. Whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh day must be excluded from Israel. 16 You must have a holy assembly on the first day and another one on the seventh. You must not work on these days except to prepare your own meals. That’s all you may do.
17 You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread because it was on this very day that I brought you out of Egypt in organized family groups. This is a permanent law for future generations: You must celebrate this day. 18 From the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day you must eat unleavened bread. 19 There should be no yeast in your houses for seven days. Whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be excluded from the community of Israel, whether he is an Israelite or not.20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat only unleavened bread.”
Consideration. The Feasts Of Passover and Unleavened Bread were kept by Jesus.
Consideration. Jesus fulfilled the Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7) and The Feast Of Unleavened Bread (1 Corinthians 5:8). He also fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17).
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior in praise to Him.
Let The Weight Of Your Glory Fall
John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You …”
The passion week/holy week continues with the activities of Monday. Taking place on this day are The Cursing Of The Fig Tree, The Cleansing Of The Temple, and The Beginning Of Passover.
Mark 11:12-19
Names of God Bible (NOG)
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 The next day, when they left Bethany, Yeshua became hungry. 13 In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this.
Considerations. It is Monday, and was the first meal of the day. Jesus and the disciples were hungry. They noticed that no figs were on the tree. (The fig tree had long been a symbol of Israel’s peace and security, Micah 4:4, Zechariah 3:10) Normally, the fruit and leaves appear at the same time. The curse on the tree is an illustration of the rejection of Israel, by Jesus. Israel was a nation that was unfruitful despite its every advantage to be fruitful. The curse meant that Israel would not again be the primary instrument of accomplishing God’s purpose.
Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers
15 When they came to Jerusalem, Yeshua went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the moneychangers’ tables and the chairs of those who sold pigeons. 16 He would not let anyone carry anything across the temple courtyard.
17 Then he taught them by saying, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.”
18 When the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching.
19 (Every evening Yeshua and his disciples would leave the city.)
Considerations. The money changers provided a necessary service. The temple tax and offerings were required to be paid in the local currency. However, the process had become so very corrupt that Jesus spoke of the setting as being a den of robbers. Not only had the court become a market, it was being used as a shortcut by merchants of all kinds. Mark sees in the gestures of Jesus a defense of Gentile rights and maybe an indication of the future mission that would be given to the Gentiles. (My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations). We might ask ourselves about our own places of worship. Do we have the appearance that our “temple” is anything less than a place of worship? Do we allow less than holy activities to take place, such as weddings that have no resemblances to the name of Jesus Christ, whether it is inside of the sanctuary, in the fellowship hall, or even in the outside yard? Do we allow drunken receptions to take place, almost immediately after the married couple has dedicated their marriage to God. Do we allow vulgar placards to be placed on vehicles that will be driven by the bride and groom? I’m sure that this list can be lengthened “to no end.”
Consideration. This is the second incident of Jesus clearing the temple. See John 2:12-25 for the first occurrence.
Passover
This Monday evening, beginning at sunset, is the beginning of The Feast Of Passover. It will last for twenty-four hours. The Feast Of Unleavened Bread will immediately follow Passover and will last for seven days. Often times, the complete duration is called “Passover.” The following verses explain this Holy season of the Jews. The purpose of the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread was to celebrate God’s deliverance of Israel from Slavery in Egypt. The fulfillment of these feasts in Christ are found in 1 Corinthians 5:7 (Passover: The Death Of Christ); and in 1 Corinthians 5:8 (Unleavened Bread: Sinlessness of Christ). The total law was fulfilled in Christ, Matthew 5:17.
Leviticus 23:4-6
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
4 “‘These are the designated times of Adonai, the holy convocations you are to proclaim at their designated times.
5 “‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between sundown and complete darkness, comesPesach for Adonai. 6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the festival of matzah; for seven days you are to eat matzah.
Leviticus 23:4-6
Names of God Bible (NOG)
4 “The following are Yahweh’s appointed festivals with holy assemblies, which you must announce at their appointed times.
The Spring Festivals
5 “The fourteenth day of the first month, in the evening, is Yahweh’s Passover. 6 The fifteenth day of this same month is Yahweh’s Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
Leviticus 23:4-6
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Passover and Unleavened Bread
4 “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening,is the Lord’s passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the Lord; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
Leviticus 23:4-6
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
4 ‘These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’sPassover. 6 Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior in worship and praise to Him.
The passion week/holy week begins with the events that are documented in these scriptures. Other Palm Sunday scriptures are written in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; and Luke 19:28-44. The Ryrie Study Bible is being used to show the named days of the week. The credentials of Dr. Ryrie, Charles Ryrie, Charles C. Ryrie, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, can easily be found through an internet search. Various translations will be used to create a clear understanding of the days of our Savior’s following of God’s Providence for Him (Psalm 103:19). Today’s account of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem follows my writing of CC 041314, “The Day Before Palm Sunday, John 12:1-12.”
John 12:12-19
New Century Version (NCV)
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
12 The next day a great crowd who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast heard that Jesus was coming there. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus, shouting,
“Praise God!
God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
God bless the King of Israel!” Psalm 118:25–26
14 Jesus found a colt and sat on it. This was as the Scripture says,
15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem!
Your king is coming,
sitting on the colt of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
16 The followers of Jesus did not understand this at first. But after Jesus was raised to glory, they remembered that this had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
People Tell About Jesus
17 There had been many people with Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead and told him to come out of the tomb. Now they were telling others about what Jesus did. 18 Many people went out to meet Jesus, because they had heard about this miracle. 19 So the Pharisees said to each other, “You can see that nothing is going right for us. Look! The whole world is following him.”
Footnotes: 12:13 Praise Literally, “Hosanna,” a Hebrew word used at first in praying to God for help, but at this time it was probably a shout of joy used in praising God or his Messiah.
Considerations
After the supper that Jesus had at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Jesus rode into Jerusalem, per prophecy. The crowd that was in town for the Jewish Feast Of Passover joyfully received Jesus. He had become widely known because of his raising of Lazarus from the dead. Consider how they greeted him. They waved palm branches and shouted words of prophecy, thanking God. The Pharisees knew that they were in danger of losing their influence over the Jewish people, and with the governing Roman officials.
Just a day prior to Sunday, Palm Sunday, at the Saturday evening meal with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, there was great joy because of the presence of Jesus. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume, and wiped His feet with her hair. The local Jews were excited because Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. And, of course, the Chief Priests of the Jews felt insecure because of the acceptance that Jesus was gaining with the common Jew. So, they devised a plan – kill Jesus, and kill Lazarus too. That is – remove the obstacle, and remove the evidence.
Consider the fickle nature of people. Who would have thought that the people who, were falling in love with Jesus, would change their minds so quickly toward him? Their shouts of joy that had greeted Jesus, on this Palm Sunday, would change to a total reversal of acceptance of Him in just a few short days, where they would shout, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” (Matthew 27:22-23).
Consider why the Jews would not want a man of peace, such as Jesus, to be spared from death on the cross; but, would want to be released from the cross, Barabbas (Matthew 27:21), a known murderer. (It is important to identify these Jews as being “unbelieving Jews.” In a short span of time, many of these “unbelieving Jews,” would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and become “believing Jews.”)
Consider the Providence of God (Psalm 103:19), and place it in the events of Passion Week. God’s sovereignty can not be escaped by any of God’s creation, whether it is person or thing. No part of mankind, whether it is body, soul, or spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23) is not under the control of the Providence of God. All things that were created by God, whether seen, felt, touched, or thought, are under His control. (Let your mind travel along this line of thought. It will help you to answer the question that I asked about why the Jews of Jerusalem would so suddenly, and violently, turn against Jesus.)
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior in praise to Him.
Baruch Haba, B’Shem Adonai
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord
Psalm 118:26
Names of God Bible (NOG)
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of Yahweh.
We bless you from Yahweh’s house.
John 12:1-11
J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
An act of love as the end approaches
12 1-5 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the village of Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a supper for him there, and Martha waited on the party while Lazarus took his place at table with Jesus. Then Mary took a whole pound of very expensive perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet and then wiped them with her hair. The entire house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (the man who was going to betray Jesus), burst out, “Why on earth wasn’t this perfume sold? It’s worth thirty pounds, which could have been given to the poor!”
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was dishonest, and when he was in charge of the purse used to help himself to the contents.
7-8 But Jesus replied to this outburst, “Let her alone, let her keep this for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always—you will not always have me!”
9-11 The large crowd of Jews discovered that he was there and came to the scene—not only because of Jesus but to catch sight of Lazarus, the man whom he had raised from the dead. Then the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus as well, because he was the reason for many of the Jews’ going away and putting their faith in Jesus.
Considerations
The day was the Saturday before Palm Sunday (See Jn 12:12-13). Jesus was having supper with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead for four days before his resurrection occurred. Jesus had a special relationship with this family. He loved them (Jn 11:5). He was moved with deep emotion over Lazarus’s death. (Jn 11:33). The grief that He saw in the people drove Him to tears (Jn 11:35). His deep emotional attachment for Lazarus was easily seen by the people (Jn 11:36). The emotional pain that Jesus felt stayed with Him (Jn 11:38) until He raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:43-44). The length of Lazarus’s death put in the minds of local people the fact that Lazarus was really dead, and Jesus really really raised from the dead.
The intimacy of a meal can not be denied. After all, do we want to dine with someone that we don’t like? Meals, such as this one, the Last Supper/The Passover Seder, and the various instances of believers “breaking bread,”all show an intimate bond that exists among people of kindred minds.
It was during the supper, at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, that a memorable act of intimacy occurred. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who was a sinner in need of a Savior, kneeled at the feet of “The Savior.” Then, she annointed His feet with perfume, and wiped His feet with her hair. A similar event would occur during another evening meal. That would take place on the followingThursday, during the Passover Seder. It was there, that “The Savior” for all mankind, would kneel before sinful men, His disciples, men who also needed a Savior; and wash their feet, providing an example of humility that we all need to emulate.
In our churches, are we too embarrassed “to kneel before Jesus?” Are we too embarrassed “to bow before our King?” Are we too embarrassed, “to raise our hands in praise to our Lord and Savior, who was not “too embarrassed” to die on the cross to pay our sin debt?
Now, let’s go to our Lord and Savior in praise and worship.
In The Presence Of Jehovah
Revelation 11:16-17
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,
17 saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.
Let us consider our life. Whatever the situation may be before us, let us always “pray through it!”
Ephesians 6:18
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Let us also consider scenes of our Lord’s life.
Revelation 5:11-12
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord God Almighty
And, let us consider just how intimate we want to be with our Lord Jesus.
Philippians 3:10
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,
It was Friday morning, the Jewish Day Of Preparation. Sabbath would be arriving at sundown. Jesus would be crucified this day. Because this Sabbath occurred during Passover, it was a High Sabbath. The pain that Jesus experienced on the cross was followed by His death. His body would have to be taken down from the cross by the Roman soldiers in time for it to be taken to his burial tomb, before the arrival of the Sabbath sundown.
The following translation was chosen because it is personal. It is very personal in that it uses the name, “Yeshua,” the Hebrew name for the Lord. It means “Yahweh [the Lord] is Salvation.” Also, the translation is very personal by using words that more directly show the brutality that was inflicted on our Lord.
But, what can we say about the various forms of suffering that believers in Jesus, and non-believers also, find tormenting them? This question was presented to me by the Director Of Women’s Ministries at our church. I would like for you to share some of your thoughts on suffering with me. The director and I will discuss your replies and pray for God to lead us, as to how we should use the accounts. If you are a blogger, you can reply to this post. If it is too personal, you can email me. If you want the information to remain between you and me, please let me know and I will guard your wish. If this letter is coming to you by email, you can reply by email.
John 19:14-37
Names of God Bible (NOG)
14 The time was about six o’clock in the morning on the Friday of the Passover festival.
Pilate said to the Jews, “Look, here’s your king!”
15 Then the Jews shouted, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Should I crucify your king?”
The chief priests responded, “The emperor is the only king we have!”
16 Then Pilate handed Yeshua over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
So the soldiers took Yeshua. 17 He carried his own cross and went out of the city to a location called The Skull. (In Hebrew this place is called Golgotha.) 18 The soldiers crucified Yeshua and two other men there.Yeshua was in the middle.
19 Pilate wrote a notice and put it on the cross. The notice read, “Yeshua from Nazareth, the king of the Jews.” 20 Many Jews read this notice, because the place where Yeshua was crucified was near the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
21 The chief priests of the Jewish people told Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews!’ Instead, write, ‘He said that he is the king of the Jews.’”
22 Pilate replied, “I have written what I’ve written.”
23 When the soldiers had crucified Yeshua, they took his clothes and divided them four ways so that each soldier could have a share. His robe was left over. It didn’t have a seam because it had been woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 The soldiers said to each other, “Let’s not rip it apart. Let’s throw dice to see who will get it.” In this way the Scripture came true: “They divided my clothes among themselves. They threw dice for my clothing.” So that’s what the soldiers did.
25 Yeshua’s mother, her sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary from Magdala were standing besideYeshua’s cross. 26 Yeshua saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there. He said to his mother, “Look, here’s your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Look, here’s your mother!”
From that time on she lived with that disciple in his home.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
28 After this, when Yeshua knew that everything had now been finished, he said, “I’m thirsty.” He said this so that Scripture could finally be concluded.
29 A jar filled with vinegar was there. So the soldiers put a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick and held it to his mouth.
30 After Yeshua had taken the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!”
Then he bowed his head and died.
31 Since it was Friday and the next day was an especially important day of worship, the Jews didn’t want the bodies to stay on the crosses. So they asked Pilate to have the men’s legs broken and their bodies removed.32 The soldiers broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with Yeshua.
33 When the soldiers came to Yeshua and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.34 However, one of the soldiers stabbed Yeshua’s side with his spear, and blood and water immediately came out. 35 The one who saw this is an eyewitness. What he says is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you, too, will believe.
36 This happened so that the Scripture would come true: “None of his bones will be broken.” 37 Another Scripture passage says, “They will look at the person whom they have stabbed.”
Now, let’s consider Jesus on the cross.
Philippians 3:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
CC Sermon 041014, From Pentecost To Corinth – The Communion Of The Saints, Friday Evening Sabbath Service, April 11, 2014
This sermon has been taken from CC Sermon 022814. Minor changes have been made to the original sermon, but they were needed to provide greater clarity of the message. As you will notice, this sermon picks up on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts Chapter 2. The earlier sermon goes back to the time of the Passover Meal, in Matthew Chapter 26. It will prove to be worthwhile to review the initial sermon. We will begin our service at 6:30 P.M., with a time of fellowship. Worship and Praise will follow. Teaching and preaching sermons will lead to our fellowship meal, during which we will remember the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. Please come and join us.
A.D. 33, Day Of Pentecost Follow up
Acts 2:40-47, A Vital Church Grows
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:40-47, My Thoughts
Three thousand Jews, who were present for the Feast Of Pentecost, had come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is important to identify them as “believing Jews.” Jews who had not come to that belief should be called “unbelieving Jews.” Still, religious Jews, whether they were “believing” or “unbelieving” Jews, had great respect for their Jewish heritage. The believing Jews continued to attend the temple worship services, but they also met as believers in Christ in their homes. They had meals in each others’ homes where they, “broke bread,” just as had taken place in Luke 24:28-35. Key words are seen in this passage. The believers had “all things in common.” “Common,” relates to communion. The bread and wine were not seen as being, “the communion.” The believers were “the communion.” In the 1960s and 70s, there were “communes” of people who lived together and had all of their things “in common.” The Episcopal Church has a group of believers who belong to the “Anglican Communion.” There were no rules as to who should not be allowed to participate in these fellowship meals. There was a daily sharing of the fellowship meals, but there was no “set aside” of a separate “wafer of bread” and “sip of wine” being identified as “the communion,” “the Lord’s Supper,” or “the Eucharist.” The bread of the meal that was placed on the tables did not become the literal “body of Christ.” The wine of the meal that was placed on the tables did not become the literal “blood of Christ.” There was no particular schedule that was stated for, “the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers,” other than that the believers were “steadfast” in those things. Also, notice in verse 46, “they ate their food.” That reiterates the fact that it was during fellowship meals that the death of Christ was remembered, and was not just the sharing of bread wafers and sips of wine. It is also important to understand that the believing Jews did not automatically build “The First Baptist Church Of Jerusalem,” or any other such named congregation, and place their membership in such places. Home churches were not a direct design for churches to follow; they were appropriate for the time. The difference that existed in the lives of the believing Jews was that they had come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Verse 42 has been cited to show that the early church had “the communion” as a regular part of their church services. That verse does not make that point. It is very clear in its meaning. Those who had come to saving faith in Jesus followed the teachings of the apostles. They maintained a fellowship with other believers. They “broke bread,” shared fellowship meals. They prayed. But, also remember that these Jews, who were new to belief in Jesus, were still Jews. They still went to the temple, but also met outside of the temple as believers in Christ. There is a problem that exists for Jewish believers today, who do not fellowship with other believers of Jesus; they don’t receive the blessings of the teachings of Jesus.
A.D. 54
Acts 18:18-21, Paul Travels To Keeps The Feast Of Pentecost At Jerusalem
18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
Acts 18:18-21, My Thoughts
The feast that is mentioned in verse 21 probably relates to the Feast Of Passover, which Paul was planning to attend. The apostles were religious Jews before they became believers in Jesus. They did not necessarily remove themselves from the keeping of the Jewish feast days. Of course, there was no reason to force such attendance on the Gentiles, who would come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
A.D. 59
Acts 20:7, Ministering at Troas
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
Acts 20:7, My Thoughts
The breaking of bread accompanied the preaching by the Apostle Paul. This occurred on the first day of the week, which was Sunday. The meeting appears to have occurred in the evening of the day. There is nothing that is stated that indicates that the breaking of bread was any different than that which took place in Acts 2:42-46. There, the believers had a fellowship meal, during which time the death of Jesus was remembered. Neither were there any statements about anyone that should be excluded from the fellowship meal, which was the “breaking of bread.” The bread was part of the meal, as was the wine. This “breaking of bread” did not consist of small wafers of bread or and sips of wine, that were used outside of the fellowship meal to remember the Lord’s death.
A.D. 59
Acts 20:16, Paul Travels To Keep The Feast Of Pentecost At Jerusalem
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:16, My Thoughts
The Apostle Paul made the trip to Jerusalem to attend the Festival of Pentecost.
A.D. 59
1 Corinthians 5:1-8, Immorality Defiles the Church
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:1-8, My Thoughts
The city of Corinth was one that was morally corrupt. It was widely known for its indulgences in sensual pleasures and scandalous activities that involved illicit sex and drunkenness. Some of these same sins were common among members of the church in Corinth, which included incest. There were many religious prostitutes who lived and worked there; they went into the city in the evening to offer “their services” each evening. The Corinthian church was full of worldliness and would not separate itself from the culture that surrounded it. The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthian church to instruct the faithful members of that church to break fellowship with those who were disobedient and unrepentant, and also to put them out of the church. Whenever a church becomes an embarrassment within any community, and begins to look like the sinful world, corrective actions must be taken by the church or there will be no clear difference between that apostate church and the world. In this passage, we can seen specific problems within that church. Sexual immorality, including incest (vs 1); selfish pride, and an unwillingness of the church to remove the incestuous man from the church (vs 2). Paul related the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the way that the Church at Corinth should live its daily life. Sinful lifestyles should be replaced with lifestyles of Holiness. It is important to notice that the problem that Paul is addressing is one that had taken root in the church as a corporate body. It was not just one person’s sinful lifestyle choices that had made the church repulsive, even to the Gentiles (unbelievers).
1 Corinthians 7:1, What is the question?
“Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:” The opening words of this verse tell us one thing; we don’t know the questions or statements that were addressed to the Apostle Paul. We have an idea, but we don’t know exactly the subject, or subjects, of his concern. That is the state of this letter, from this point forward. It is important for us to know all limiting factors whenever we read God’s Holy Word. We need to be honest, and recognize that we may not always know all of the facts. Still, we study and pray for God’s leading, as we seek to serve him.
1 Corinthians 11:17-22, Conduct at the Fellowship Meal
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
1 Corinthians 11:17-22, My Thoughts
The Apostle Paul continues with his objections that relate to the Corinthian church. There was nothing good about that church’s coming together as a body; instead it was seen to be a bad thing (vs 17). There were severe divisions within the church, as opposed to a church that was unified in a common purpose to worship God (vs 18). The Corinthian church came together to “break bread,” which was a fellowship meal. That gathering was far from that which occurred in the example that is shown in Acts 2:42-47. There was no unity of purpose for the “communion of the saints.” (vs 20). Some people ate their meal before others arrived. Consequently, not all people who were hungry found enough, if any, food to eat. Notice that it was not a “set aside” of wafers of bread, but a meal which was served. And, as is shown, people were getting drunk because of their over indulgence in the drinking of the wine. The drunkenness did not come from “a sip of wine,” but from the beverage that was served during the meal (vs 21). If the Corinthians could not have a fellowship meal in manner that was respectful, to their fellow believers and to God, they should just have their meals at their own homes. There was nothing about the way the Corinthians had their fellowship meals, “the breaking of bread,” that Paul found to be worthy of his praise (vs 22).
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Paul Remembers the Last Supper/Passover/Lord’s Supper
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, My Comments
As we see in the Last Supper, “The Passover Meal,” (Matthew 26:26-28), it was during that meal that Jesus took time to tell of His soon to be death on the cross. It was also during the “breaking of bread,” the fellowship meal, that there was also a time for the remembrance of the death of Jesus on the cross. Notice that the Corinthians did not have a “set aside” time, which was held outside of the fellowship meal, that small wafers of bread, and sips of wine, were used to remember the death of Jesus. Neither is there any other scriptural reference that leads us to think that “The Lord’s Supper” was only a time of eating a small wafer and drinking a small sip of wine.
1 Corinthians 11:27-34, Examine Yourself
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
1 Corinthians 11:27-34, My Thoughts
The question that should be raised as we read this passage is one that refers to verse 29, as it relates to “an unworthy manner.” Leading up to this point in scripture, there was nothing written that was relative to “who may, or may not” participate in a fellowship meal. The problems of the Corinthian church had nothing to do with sharing a meal, or remembering the death of Jesus. Notice, also, that the problems were corporate and not necessarily individual. The bread and wine of the fellowship meals were not “the ark of the covenant.” The context of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians does not change. In Matthew 11:28, we read, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” So, we’re told that we should come to Jesus when we have a problem, but many of us have been taught that if we have certain “unknown” problems, and if we come “around His table” that He will “strike us dead.” None of us are ever worthy of anything of God. It is in our weak times that we need the fellowship of the body of Christ, which is the true communion. But, let’s consider the word “unworthy.” If the context of Paul’s message had changed, has there ever been published, for all to read, a list of offenses for which we may have committed, which if we have committed them, will keep us from participating in a meal with other believers, and which will prevent us from remembering the Lord’s death among those same believers, with the penalty of death? (a long run-on sentence, but it is difficult to separate it). There is no such list. The church has done a terrible job of making believers think that they may have done something, “that makes them unworthy,” to meet with other believers and remember the Lord’s Death. During the Passover meal, Jesus gave the bread and the wine to all of the disciples, including Judas Iscariot. (Matthew 26:20,26,27). God has ways of dealing with those who are embarrassments to His church. Consider Acts 5:1-11. The deaths of Annanias and Sapphira had nothing to do with “the breaking of bread,” participation in a fellowship meal, or remembering the death of Jesus. Their penalty for lying to the Holy Spirit served a purpose that is written in Acts 5:11: “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. The punishments of sickness and death that happened to the Corinthian believers also created great fear among their congregation.
Thought to consider. Believers in Jesus can remember His death on the cross outside of a fellowship meal. Small wafers of bread and small sips of grape juice or wine may be used to focus on the broken body and shed blood of our Lord and Savior. There is no frequency that is scripturally stated for “a communion service,” or for a fellowship meal. It is important, though, for us not to put unscriptural requirements for participation in such times of “breaking bread.” Consider the words of the song, “Let Us Break Bread Together.”The early church shared in a fellowship meal. During that meal they remembered the death of Jesus on the cross. They did it “together.” They “were” the communion. May we also be “the communion.”
Consider another thought. Churches have different ideas on how often they should “have communion.” Some churches “have communion” weekly, some bi-weekly, some monthly, some quarterly, some annually, and some never “have communion.” Some have said that “the communion” becomes less meaningful if “the communion” “is held” too often. So, let’s consider the taking up of the offering. That occurs during each church worship. And, let’s consider fellowship meals; not the kind that has been discussed in this sermon; just a time of eating a meal at church. Churches will continue to “take up the offering” during each of their services; and that’s okay. Fellowship meals will continue to be enjoyed. But, let us consider this question. Why can we not remember the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection whenever we have a fellowship meal?
Now. Let’s worship our Lord.
Revelation Song/Holy/Holy/Holy
First Baptist Church
Jacksonville, Florida
Southern Baptist Convention
Senior Pastor, Dr. Mac Brunson
There are no words for me to say. God’s Holy Word, and the “meaningful words” take precedence over mine.
King James Bible, Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
King James Bible, Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;’
Do you remember these meaningful words?
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish;
from this day forward
til death do us part.
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
For those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there are many scriptures of assurance and comfort. A few of those verses are written below. Following the scriptures are videos that relate to the believer’s expectant hope of heaven. The videos were produced by the Gaithers in the early 1990s. Many of the singers have gone on to be with the Lord that they had praised in song for many years.
John 14:1-6
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Jesus the Way to the Father
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
Names of God Bible (NOG)
50 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. What decays cannot inherit what doesn’t decay.
51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true:
“Death is turned into victory!
2 Corinthians 5:8
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
8 We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
1 John 3:2
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
2 Beloved, now we are 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.
Revelation 21:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)
The New Heaven and the New Earth
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:22-23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Revelation 22:1-5
New International Version (NIV)
Eden Restored
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.And they will reign for ever and ever.
Til The Storm Passes By – Vestal Goodman
Father Along – Russ Taff
What A Day That Will Be – Jim Hill
Sweet Beulah Land – Squire Parsons
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow – Gaither Crew
Philippians 3:10
New Century Version (NCV)
10 I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death.
Eternity 