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This post has been taken from a prior post that I made on the love that men should have for women, and that women should have for men. In particular, the marriage relationship should have volumes of love of a man for his wife, and a wife for her husband.
We’ve heard about “The Twelve Days Of Christmas,” so I am going to add another grouping of days and call it, “The Three Days Of Valentine.” This year, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday, it appears that much of the celebrating began on Friday. As many people have noticed, I will add videos to most of my posts; I have found them to be very useful in drawing people to read my posts, and to strengthening the messages that I write.
During this “Three Days Of Valentine,” I have focused my posts on men, because I believe that men still should call women for their purpose of “getting to know the gals.” The song that I have added to this post tells of the heart-felt love of a “man for a woman.” I have read many comments on YouTube where men, and women, tell of the deep regrets that they have over the fact that they let the love of their life, “slip out of their hands.” Without going any further with that thought, I will just say, “Happy Valentine’s Day;” may our Lord Jesus richly bless you.
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Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept. (Genesis 29:11)
Important Notice
This post is one of others that you can find in the blog under the category of “Intimacy.” There, you will be able to locate all Intimacy posts, which will appear in the order that they were published. If you click onto the following link you will be able to follow the blog and receive posts automatically. This option is important for people who receive posts directly from me. That is because, from time to time, email addresses are dropped from my list of contacts.
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Can we agree that Valentine’s Day comes only once each year? Can we also agree that there is only “One Day Of Valentine” each year? Well! Correction is on the way !!! (I think that “lol” should be added, “lol.”) This past year, I decided that we should remember the love of Valentine’s Day more than once each year; and, that only one day for such love is terribly insufficient. At this time on our calendars we are a bit more than six months from the next “Calendar Day Of Valentine.” Therefore, I think that it would be a good thing for us to inaugurate an “off calendar” time to consider the love of Valentine’s Day. These Valentine posts will be published every other day for “The Seven Days Of Valentine.” I hope that you will enjoy the songs of love that will come your way. This first video is a real oldie, having music from 1955. It was made as part of a movie that has scenes of men taking their ladies to an intimate night spot. Fellows, be sure that you do something special for your ladies (only one lady per man, and not transsexual, etc. lol) during these “Seven Days Of Valentine;” let it be “about her.” Husbands, remember the words of Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
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I was fourteen years old. My home was in New Orleans, Louisiana, actually Gretna and Algiers. I looked at the movie section of the New Orleans Times Picayune and tried to figure out a good movie to see. There were many theaters in “The Crescent City,” so it took a while to decide on which one would have the best movie. I decided on the Abalon Theater, which was located in the downtown area of what is now known as “Algiers Point.” I road a city bus from the Mc Donoughville community of Gretna, where I lived, all the way to the theater. That is a time in my life that I will never forget, and would not want to forget.
The movie that was being shown was “Rome Adventure.” At my “tender age,” I was in love with the idea of being in love. The movie was about a young woman whose name was Prudence. She worked as a librarian somewhere in America. She wanted to go “to where they really know what love is all about – Italy.” So, she went! The role of Prudence was played by Suzanne Pleshette.
Almost magically upon her arrival in Italy, Prudence met a young man who had recently broken up with his girl friend. That man was Don, and was played by Troy Donahue. Love was truly in the air as Prudence and Don toured Italy together. As the movie began to show the love grow between Don and Prudence, you can not imagine how much I would love to have been Don as he was gaining the favor of the beautiful Suzanne Pleshette.
The Rome Adventure theme song, Al Di La, has been in my mind throughout the years. While Don and Prudence were on a date, and listening to Emilio Pericolli sing the song, Prudence asked Don to explain the meaning of “Al Di La.” He explained it like this. “It’s hard to explain. It’s “far far away, beyond the beyond, beyond this world; that’s how much he loves her in this song.”
Rome Adventure was truly a love story, because it was just that – a story about love, young love. There was nothing out of taste or character for either Suzanne Pleshette or Troy Donahue; oh how we need movies like that today. To help you to understand some of my thoughts about this movie, I have added two links. The first one will take you to the scene where Al Di La is being sung. The second one will show various film clips of the movie. I trust that you will get a feeling deep inside of you that will help you to remember, or appreciate, such a time in life.
Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette later married, although I am not certain of how long their marriage lasted; they are both dead now, as well as Emilio Pericolli. All were great losses for our world.
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“Truth sprinkled with grace”
“To have and to hold.” You know the rest.
We’ve all heard those words. Many of us have spoken them.
Do we go from singing a song, to making an announcement…an announcement that no one else really wants to hear?
In about six months, there will be situations where a husband or a wife will be trying to determine the best time to shock their spouse with the unwelcome news that “their marriage will soon end.” There is always a dilemma involved. “Should I spring the news, before or after? It can’t be too soon, or too late.” After all, our families will be at our home, “with all of the presents.” There will be meals and parties and other gatherings. Also, our friends can’t find out too soon…they might try to hassle us! Really! What do those “other people” know about two people whose marriage is “just broken, and can’t be fixed?” Of course, after this “special season,” the kids will have two days to call Christmas. And…they’ll have two birthdays, and two of every other special day. Really! This will not be so bad!!! After all, it’s best for the kids, “anyway!” (or is it?)
This is the fourth year that I have published this post. Each time, I have listened to the videos without interruption, and each time they have pulled strong emotions from within me. This evening, as usual, my throat and jaw tightened. Tears would not stop finding their way onto my cheeks. The story of Jacob and Marlee is that, just a story. But, I know that their situation is one that many married couples, “are facing, have faced, or will face.”
Luke 2:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
Christ Born of Mary
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Mary and Joseph were on their way to Bethlehem, where Mary would give birth to the Christ child, the Savior of the world. Consider the story of Marlee and Jacob, and their “Christmas Eve” journey; it was being made for quite a different reason.
Marlee and Jacob were married on Christmas Eve, “twenty years ago.” On this Christmas Eve, the couple are headed to an attorney’s office…to sign divorce papers. Think about Marlee, Jacob, and your marriage situation. Do you remember the words that you and your mate said to each other as you stood before God, the minister, family and friends, and the rest of the people who were watching and listening as you professed your love to one another? If you have forgotten those special words, I have written a traditional wedding vow for you to consider. Please read it now.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish…’til death do us part.”
If you are also considering such a, “Christmas Eve divorce papers appointment,” please listen carefully to the audio recording of Marlee and Jacob, as they are on their way to sign their papers…on Christmas Eve. The time of the recording is fifty-four minutes. Let me ask you to set aside an uninterrupted period of time, of “fifty-four minutes,” and listen to the important story of a damaged marriage. Think about your wedding vows. Think about your marriage. Think about your children…please! Set aside fifty-four minutes, and consider your marriage.
The Moody Radio image, below, has a white arrow that is used to click onto the recording of “The Marriage Carol.” Below the Moody image is a link that can also click on the recording.
After you have read, listened to, and considered everything that is in this post, please be very honest with yourself and answer a very personal question; you can answer to yourself. So, here it is. When you read a post or message on facebook from a “friend” of the opposite sex, “do you get a spark?” If your answer is “yes,” maybe facebook is not something that you should have as a part of your life.
Consider the days that will quickly take you to Thanksgiving, and then to Christmas. Consider whether you will greet those days with an intact family…with a family that will be held together by the love of Christ, and that will survive the temptations that will try to weave their ways into your life, and into your marriage, and destroy both of them; or whether, soon, “after the holidays,” your marriage will be splintered into a million little pieces. It’s your choice; let Christ guide you to making the right one.
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My Note: When Adam and Eve fell, the effect was that Adam and Eve would die. The body, soul, and spirit of Adam and Eve, and everybody who would follow them through birth, would also die (Genesis 2:15-17). The flawed sperm and egg of Adam and Eve created children who also had a flawed sperm and egg, and so on and so forth. Immediately upon conception, resulting in an embryo, which has life, the newly conceived life begins to die (body, soul, spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). The fall and death of Adam and Eve resulted in the death of every other conceived being (Romans 5:12). It is important to know that death, of any kind, did not occur until Adam and Eve sinned. The reason for the New Birth, or the birth from above, is to provide a spirit for mankind that is free of the flaw from the fall of Adam and Eve. Notice in verse 3 that Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again if he wants to spend eternity with God. Nicodemus approached Jesus, “in all of his Jewishness.” Jesus, in essence, told Nicodemus that his keeping of the Ten Commandments, or his keeping of the feasts, would provide him with no entry into heaven. Jesus was talking to Jews, just as the apostles spoke to Jews and Gentiles, saying that we would need a spirit that is as pure as His Spirit, in order for us to enter into Heaven. Just as the Spirit of God will indwell those of us who have been born again, our spirit will also indwell the Spirit of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See John 14:1-21 for that indwelling). 1 John 1:5 states that there is no darkness in God. So, in order for us to indwell God, our spirits must be cleansed of all darkness, which is a result of the New Birth.
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
Reformation Study Bible
3:1–21 This is the first of many teaching discourses recorded by John. Typically on being asked a question, Jesus answers in a way that steers the discussion into a deeper realm, often through misunderstandings that are corrected for those becoming true disciples. The new understanding reveals Jesus more fully.
2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these [a]signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Reformation Study Bible
3:2 by night. This might betray a fear of being seen, or it might be a sign of deference to Jesus, a rabbi who should not be distracted during the day. Understood symbolically, Nicodemus is a person living in the darkness of this world, who now encounters the light (8:12; cf. 9:4; 11:10; 13:30).
a teacher . . . from God. Nicodemus understands that God attests His messengers through giving them power to perform miracles, but this understanding falls far short of Jesus’ true identity.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born [b]again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Reformation Study Bible
3:3 born again. See text note. The translation “born from above” accords well with the discussion of “earthly” and “heavenly” things in v. 12, and the discussion of ascending and descending in v. 13. This is the meaning of the Greek adverb in other places in this Gospel (19:11, 23). Nicodemus apparently understood it to mean “a second time.” It is possible that both meanings are intended—a new birth that is a birth from above. See theological note “Regeneration: The New Birth” on the next page.
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Reformation Study Bible
3:5 born of water and the Spirit. Some suggest that the “water” is the release of fluid that accompanies physical birth, but linguistic considerations point to understanding “water” and “Spirit” as referring to a single spiritual birth. Many interpreters understand “water” here as the water of baptism, but such a reference, before Christian baptism was instituted, would have been meaningless to Nicodemus. Others find a reference to John’s baptism, but Jesus nowhere makes John’s baptism a requirement for salvation. Probably the statement refers to Old Testament passages in which the terms “water” and “Spirit” are linked to express the pouring out of God’s Spirit in the end times (Is. 32:15; 44:3; Ezek. 36:25–27). The presence of such rich Old Testament imagery accounts for Jesus’ reproof of Nicodemus (v. 10): as a “teacher of Israel,” he should have understood.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [c]again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Reformation Study Bible
3:6–8 This passage emphasizes the priority and sovereignty of God in the work of salvation. It does not exclude the reality of human response in repentance and faith.
My Note: Jesus relates the Holy Spirit to the wind. Consider the wind. It can not be seen, proof of its presence can easily be seen (trees blowing and knocked down, etc.) The wind can go left, right, forward, and backward. The wind can go fast, slow, turn in circles, and can stand still. The same is with the Holy Spirit, which can not be seen, but proof its presence can easily be seen, such as changed lives. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The old and the new relate to the Spirit of mankind. The Holy Spirit can move to the left, to the right, forward, and backward, and can go fast, slow, turn in circles, and can stand still. The important thing to remember is that God controls the wind and The Holy Spirit. We have no control over either. We can’t go down to the local “Born Again Store” and buy a gallon of it. Please know that the soul and body are not the subject of this topic of discussion. At the embryo stage, a spirit has been conceived and is in need of a Savior. Consider “grace;” Ephesians 2:8, for questions that relate to the deaths of pre born children.
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
My Note: Nicodemus should have known the truth of the new birth, as is taught in Ezekiel 36:25-26, and shows a spiritual regeneration of the spirits of Jews.
Footnotes:
John 3:2 Or attesting miracles
John 3:3 Or from above
John 3:7 Or from above
Scofield’s Reference Notes
John 3, Born Again
Regeneration:
(1) The necessity of the new birth grows out of the incapacity of the natural man to “see” or “enter into” the kingdom of God. However gifted, moral, or refined, the natural man is absolutely blind to spiritual truth, and impotent to enter the kingdom; for he can neither obey, understand, nor please God John 3:3; John 3:5; John 3:6; Psalms 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:7; Romans 8:8;Ephesians 2:3 (See Scofield “Matthew 6:33”).
(2) The new birth is not a reformation of the old nature (See Scofield “Romans 6:6”) but a creative act of the holy Spirit John 3:5; John 1:12;John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:24.
(3) The condition of the new birth is faith in Christ crucified John 3:14;John 3:15; John 1:12; John 1:13; Galatians 3:24
(4) Through the new birth the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature and of the life of Christ Himself Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10;Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:10-12
Verse 10
A Master
Lit. Art thou the teacher of Israel, etc.
Consider the proactive nature of God, as it relates to our salvation. Consider this question. Who is the seeker, and who is lost?
Luke 19:10, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
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As you watch the opening video, let the worship of our Lord Jesus “wash over you.”
In this chapter there is the discussion of the first of two temple cleansings by Jesus.
Key Verse: John 2:24 (G. Campbell Morgan, 1863-1945)
John 2:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.
John 2 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (Scriptures taken from BibleGateway.com)
Miracle at Cana
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus *said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter *called the bridegroom, 10 and *said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
First Passover—Cleansing the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
(Chapter 2 notes follow, and are taken from the Reformation Study Bible. Everyone should own a Reformation Study Bible.)
2:1–11 Jesus’ first sign: turning water into wine at Cana. This miracle signifies the transformation of the old order (symbolized by the stone water jars used for ceremonial washing, v. 6) into the new (the wine standing for eternal life in God’s kingdom) through Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). See Is. 25:6–9 for the background image of salvation as a banquet.
2:3 wine. This is the normal term employed in the New Testament for the fermented drink. Paul uses it when he says, “do not get drunk with wine” (Eph. 5:18).
2:4 Woman. This is a respectful way of addressing a woman within that culture and is the way Jesus normally addresses women (4:21; 8:10).
what does this have to do with me. Jesus answers Mary’s request, not because she is His mother, but as part of His work as the Messiah. This indicates that Mary’s special role as Jesus’ mother gives her no authority to intervene in Christ’s messianic career—a strong argument against offering prayer to Mary.
My hour. Usually Jesus’ “hour” refers to the time of His suffering and death (12:27). Here Jesus is asserting that He and not Mary must determine the timetable of His earthly ministry.
2:11 manifested his glory. The theme of Christ’s glory had already been introduced (1:14 note). In the Old Testament, God manifested His glory in a variety of miraculous events, and John’s comment indicates that he wants his readers to recognize Jesus’ deity.
And his disciples believed in him. See also v. 23 and 20:31, where John’s purpose for writing the book is disclosed.
2:12–23 Jesus is the final and full expression of what was only a shadow in the Old Testament (Heb. 10:1). Here He indicates that God is present in Him. The temple in Jerusalem could be destroyed, but not the temple that Jesus would rebuild in three days, His own body that was to be raised from the dead. John’s record of the temple cleansing immediately after the miracle at Cana (vv. 1–11 note) offers an important key to the whole of Jesus’ ministry. In these events are signaled replacement of the old order (water of ceremonial cleansing, Herod’s temple) with the new (the wine of salvation, Is. 25:6–9; the risen Lamb as the new temple, Rev. 21:22).
Matthew, Mark, and Luke report a cleansing of the temple in the week of Jesus’ crucifixion. In spite of some similarities, these are best viewed as different incidents (Mark 11:15 note). It is noteworthy that Jesus’ statement about destroying the temple, which John alone records (v. 19), probably was the basis for the accusation by the false witnesses (Matt. 26:61; Mark 14:58), and again for the taunting comment of some spectators at the crucifixion (Matt. 27:40; Mark 15:29). The first three Gospels confirm the historical character of John’s narrative. An echo of the same thought is found in the accusation against Stephen (Acts 6:14).
2:12 his brothers. See Matt. 12:46.
2:15 a whip of cords. Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Mal. 3:1–4. He comes suddenly to the temple and purifies the sons of Levi, as a demonstration of His zeal for God and for keeping God’s ordinances holy.
2:20 forty-six years. The sentence itself does not indicate whether the temple was finished or was still under construction after these years of building. The first century Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities, 15.380) says that the temple was begun in the eighteenth year of Herod the Great (around 19 b.c.) and was not completed until the reign of Herod Agrippa (a.d. 63), indicating that construction was still continuing in Jesus’ time.
will you raise it up in three days. The Jews (and the disciples,v. 22) misunderstand Jesus’ ambiguous statement. Such initial misunderstanding is common in John’s Gospel (e.g., 3:4; 6:52). Those who “receive” Jesus (1:12) are led on to full understanding, but those who reject Him remain at the level of complete misunderstanding (1:5).
2:22 his disciples remembered. During His final instruction of the disciples before His arrest, Jesus promised that what He had taught them would be brought to their remembrance by the Holy Spirit (14:25, 26). The ability to predict events otherwise unknowable is evidence of divine authority. This applies to the prophecies of the Old Testament and to the predictions made by Jesus, especially about His resurrection.
2:23 believed in his name. In biblical times the “name” summed up a person’s character, activity, and place in God’s purpose. The faith of those mentioned here remained superficial, however, because they came to it only because “they saw the signs” (see Introduction: Interpretive Difficulties). For that reason, Jesus “did not entrust himself to them” (v. 24).
2:24, 25 Although Jesus did not exercise divine omniscience in the days of His flesh (11:34; Mark 13:32), He often displayed supernatural knowledge, important for His redemptive work, that indicated the divine endorsement of His claims and mission (1:48; Matt. 9:4; 17:27; Mark 11:2–4; 14:13–16).
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The events of the past week are very important for any believer in Christ to know. However, there is a great amount of ignorance of the facts that make up probably the most important part of our Bible. A great insult, on the truth of the crucifixion of Christ, deals with “Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter baskets and the teaching of Easter, itself.” Let me challenge you to read any of the gospel accounts of the resurrection of Christ from the grave. Such a check of the scriptures will not show a single Easter bunny, Easter egg or Easter basket anywhere near the tomb where Christ had been laid on the evening of the preceding Friday, and from which He arose on the following Sunday morning. Neither is there a single reference to “Easter,” except in the King James Bible. In the KJV, in Acts 12:1-4, you will find an incident which relates to the jailing of the Apostle Peter, and the intention of Herod to put Peter on trial and have him publicly executed for being a witness of Christ. There is no joy in such brutality toward Peter. There are no bunnies or eggs seen in that passage. Neither was there a reference to the early church celebrating “Easter.” The time of year of this event was Passover and The Feast of Unleavened Bread. The King James Version chose a pagan day to be made as a reference to an event that was not celebrated by the church of Christ. To teach anything about Easter, that relates it to the resurrection of Christ, is to teach a lie.
Let’s consider the passages that relate to Passover and The Feast Of Unleavened Bread. As seen below, Passover lasts for one day, and is immediately followed by The Feast Of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Passover occurs on the 14th day of Nissan. Unleavened Bread lasts from the 15th day of Nissan through the 21st day of Nissan. All days begin at sunset of the stated day, and continue through sunset of the following day.
1 “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
16:1 the month of Abib. Abib (which was later called Nisan) occurred in the spring (approximately Mar. or Apr.). (MacArthur Study Bible)
My note: Passover took place in the month of Abib/Nissan.
Exodus 12:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Passover Instituted
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.
12:2 This month. The month of Abib (Mar./Apr.) by divine decree became the beginning of the religious calendar, marking the start of Israel’s life as a nation. Later in Israel’s history, after the Babylonian captivity, Abib would become Nisan (cf. Neh. 2:1; Esth. 3:7).
12:6 at twilight. Lit. “between the two evenings.” Since the new day was reckoned from sunset, the sacrificing of the lamb or kid was done before sunset while it was still day 14 of the first month. “Twilight” has been taken to signify either that time between sunset and the onset of darkness, or from the decline of the sun until sunset. Later Moses would prescribe the time for the sacrifice as “at twilight, at the going down of the sun” (Deut. 16:6). According to Josephus, it was customary in his day to slay the lamb at about 3:00 p.m. This was the time of day that Christ, the Christian’s Passover lamb (1 Cor. 5:7), died (Luke 23:44–46).
My note: It is on the 14th day of the month of Abib/Nissan when Passover takes place.
Exodus 12:14-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 ‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. 17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”
12:14 a memorial. The details of how this Passover Day was to be memorialized in future years were laid down (vv. 14–20), and then repeated in the instructions to the elders (vv. 21–27). Prescribing the eating of unleavened bread for 7 days, demanding a thorough house-cleaning from leaven (v. 15), issuing a stern warning of banishment for eating leaven (v. 15), and bracketing the 7 days with special holy days (v. 16), served to proclaim the high importance of the nation’s remembering this event. (MacArthur Study Bible)
My note: The feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the day after Passover (Nisan 14), and continues for seven days (Nisan 15-21).
Leviticus 23:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Passover and Unleavened Bread
4 ‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. 5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight 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 must eat unleavened bread.
My note: Passover begins on the 14th day of Nissan. The Feast Of Unleavened Bread immediately follows Passover from the 15th day of Nissan through the 21st day of Nissan.
Numbers 28:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
Passover And The Feast Of Unleavened Bread
16 ‘On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord. 17 And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.
My note: Passover began on the 14th day of Nissan. The Feast Of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th day of Nissan, and continued through the 21st day of Nissan.
Deuteronomy 16:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Passover Reviewed
1 “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the Lord your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the Lord chooses to put His name. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning.
16:1–8 keep the Passover. The offering of Passover itself was to be only a lamb (Ex. 12:3–11). However, additional offerings were also to be made during the Passover and the subsequent 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (cf. Ex. 12:15–20; 13:3–10; Lev. 23:6–8; Num. 28:19–25). Therefore, sacrifices from both the flock and the herd were used in keeping the Passover. (MacArthur Study Bible)
16:1 the month of Abib. Abib (which was later called Nisan) occurred in the spring (approximately Mar. or Apr.). (MacArthur Study Bible)
16:3 remember. This was the key word at Passover time as it is for the Lord’s Supper today (cf. Matt. 26:26–30; Luke 22:14–19; 1 Cor. 11:23–26). (MacArthur Study Bible)
Let’s relate Passover and The Feast Of Unleavened Bread to the week that led to the crucifixion of Christ, which is also known as Holy Week and Passion Week. We will begin with the day that is known as Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday – The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem – Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19.
Monday – The cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple – Matthew 21:12-19; Mark 11:12-18; Luke 19:45-48.
Tuesday – Debates with religious leaders; The Olivet Discourse; Judas betrays Christ – Matthew 21:23-23:39, 24:1-25, 46, 26:14-16; Mark 11:27-12:40, 13:1-37; Luke 20:1-47, 21:5-36,22:3-6.
Wednesday – (no recorded events of Christ) Judas agrees to betray Christ – Matthew 26:14-16.
Thursday – The Passover Meal; The Upper Room Discourse; Teachings On The Way To Gethsemane;In The Garden of Gethsemane (Thursday/Friday) – Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25, 26-42; Luke 22:7-30, 22:39-46; John 13:2-14:31, 15:1-18:1.
Friday – The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ; The trials of Christ; The Crucifixion of Christ; The Sayings From The Cross; The Burial of Christ – Matthew 26:57-27:66; Mark 14:53-15:47; Luke 22:54-23:54; John 18:2-19:42.
The following timeline goes from the festive Passover Seder to the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Thursday has 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. The Day of Preparation occurs on Friday before the beginning of Sabbath at sunset, on Friday (John 19:14,31; Luke 23:54).
That Sabbath was a “High Day,” (a “High Sabbath,” mine), i.e. 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 Feast Of Unleavened Bread.) (Ryrie Study Bible, John 19:31 note)
Luke 23:54-56 New King James Version (NKJV)
54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment
In Luke 23:54-56, notice verse 54. This occurrence was before sundown on Friday, just before the Sabbath began. The Preparation Day, Day of Preparation, was on Friday and ended at sundown on Friday: it was a time of preparing for the Sabbath…sort of like when we used Saturday to get ready for church on Sunday. In verse 55, we see the women who had followed the body of Jesus to the burial tomb. In verse 56, because the Sabbath was nearing, the women did nothing more than observe the location where the body of Jesus was laid. From that viewpoint, the women returned to their homes in observance of the Sabbath.
Luke 23:55 New American Standard Bible (NASB) – Friday, prior to the onset of the Sabbath.
Luke 23:56 New American Standard Bible (NASB) – The Sabbath (Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown)
In John 19:14 and 19:31 we see the relation between the Preparation Day and the Sabbath. Read verses 14 – 42 to see that the death and burial of Jesus occurred on Friday afternoon/evening before the beginning of the Sabbath.
The chronological reckoning between John’s gospel and the synoptics presents a challenge, especially in relation to the time of the Last Supper (13:2). While the synoptics portray the disciples and the Lord at the Last Supper as eating the Passover meal on Thursday evening (Nisan 14) and Jesus being crucified on Friday, John’s gospel states that the Jews did not enter into the Praetorium “lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover” (18:28). So, the disciples had eaten the Passover on Thursday evening, but the Jews had not. In fact, John (19:14) states that Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were on the day of Preparation for the Passover and not after the eating of the Passover, so that with the trial and crucifixion on Friday Christ was actually sacrificed at the same time the Passover lambs were being slain (19:14). (MacArthur Study Bible)
The verses of Luke 23:54-56 show the respect that the Jewish women had for honoring the Lord’s Sabbath. Notice in Exodus 31:12-14 that the Sabbath is a sign between God and the Jews, for the Jews to keep. Notice that in Genesis 2:1-3, prior to the giving of the Law to the Jews, that God declared the seventh day to be Holy, to be sanctified, to be set apart. Jews have been given the command by God to “keep the Sabbath.” We, who are not Jews should honor the Sabbath Day, the Lord’s Sabbath, because God made it Holy, sanctified it, made it special, set it apart from all other days of the week. No other day of the week can become someone’s Sabbath; only the seventh day is the Lord’s Sabbath. Consider how you may honor the Lord’s Sabbath.
Exodus 31:12-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Sabbath Law
12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
Genesis 2:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.
Leviticus 23:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 “Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord wherever you live.
Note: Luke 23:55, 56. There was not time on Friday to do all that Jesus’ followers would have liked for His burial. The women took note of where the body was laid, evidently to know where to come when the Sabbath was over to complete the burial. Joseph and Nicodemus placed a considerable quantity of myrrh and aloes with the body as they laid it in the tomb (John 19:38, 39),but the women wanted to make their own contribution.(Reformation Study Bible)
Note: Luke 23:55 observed…how His body was laid. According to John 19:39, Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds of spices and aloes (probably obtained while Joseph was negotiating with Pilate for Jesus’ body), and he and Joseph wrapped the body with linen and the spices. These women, from Galilee, were probably unfamiliar with Joseph and Nicodemus, who were Judeans. After all, both men were associated with the Jewish leaders who orchestrated the conspiracy against Jesus (v. 50; John 3:1). So the women were determined to prepare Jesus’ body for burial themselves. So they returned (i.e., went to their homes) to prepare their own spices and perfumes (v. 56). They had to have Jesus’ body placed in the tomb before sunset, when the Sabbath began, so they were not able to finish preparing the body. Mark 16:1 says they purchased more spices “when the Sabbath was past,” i.e., after sundown Saturday. Then they returned Sunday morning with the spices (24:1), expecting to finish the task that had been interrupted by the Sabbath. (MacArthur Study Bible Note)
As we consider the resurrection of Christ on Resurrection Sunday morning, it is important to note that no verse of scripture identifies an Easter bunny, Easter egg or Easter basket anywhere near the tomb from where Christ arose. The day was Resurrection Sunday. Don’t say Easter!
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Mark 16:1-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Resurrection
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 Looking up, they *saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” 8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
The MacArthur Study Bible provides excellent notes on the Bible, as shown below. Along with the Ryrie Study Bible, Scofield Study Bible, Jeremiah Study Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible, Christian Standard Bible and The Complete Jewish Bible, any serious student of God’s Holy Word is provided with credible teachings on the Bible. Consider using the following translations: NASB, ESV, HCSB, CSB and NKJV. Everyone should own a MacArthur Study Bible (NASB, NKJK, ESV).
MacArthur Study Bible Notes:
16:1 Sabbath was past. The Sabbath officially ended at sundown on Saturday, after which the women were able to purchase spices. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. See note on Matt. 27:56. Luke mentions that Joanna and other women were also there (Luke 24:10; cf.15:41). spices. The women bought more spices in addition to those prepared earlier (cf. Luke 23:56; John 19:39, 40). anoint.Unlike the Egyptians, the Jewish people did not embalm their dead. Anointing was an act of love, to offset the stench of a decaying body. That the women came to anoint Jesus’ body on the third day after His burial showed that they, like the disciples, were not expecting Him to rise from the dead (cf. 8:31; 9:31;10:34).
16:2 when the sun had risen. John 20:1 says that Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb while it was still dark. She may have gone on ahead of the other women, or the whole party may have set out together while it was still dark and arrived at the tomb after sunrise.
16:3 Who will roll away the stone. Only Mark records this discussion on the way to the tomb. The women realized they had no men with them to move the heavy stone (v. 4) away from the entrance to the tomb. Since they had last visited the tomb on Friday evening, they did not know it had been sealed and a guard posted, which took place on Saturday (Matt. 27:62–66).
16:4 the stone had been rolled away. This was not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in. The earthquake when the angel rolled away the stone (Matt. 28:2) may have affected only the area around the tomb, since the women apparently did not feel it.
16:5 entering the tomb. The outer chamber, separated from the burial chamber by a small doorway. young man clothed in a long white robe. The angel, having rolled away the stone (Matt. 28:2), had then entered the burial chamber. Luke records that there were two angels in the tomb; Matthew and Mark focus on the one who spoke.
16:6 Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. Better, “the Nazarene” (see note on Matt. 2:23). The inspired account leaves no doubt about who had been in the tomb. The idea of some unbelievers that the women went to the wrong tomb is ludicrous.He is risen! Christ’s resurrection is one of the central truths of the Christian faith (1 Cor. 15:4) and the only plausible explanation for the empty tomb. Even the Jewish leaders did not deny the reality of the empty tomb, but concocted the story that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body (Matt. 28:11–15). The idea that the fearful (John 20:19), doubting (vv. 11, 13; Luke 24:10,11) disciples somehow overpowered the Roman guard detachment and stole Jesus’ body is absurd. That they did it while the guards were asleep is even more preposterous. Surely, in moving the heavy stone from the mouth of the tomb, the disciples would have awakened at least one of the soldiers. And in any case, how could the guards have known what happened while they were asleep? Many other theories have been sinfully invented over the centuries to explain away the empty tomb, all of them equally futile.
16:7 and Peter. Peter was not singled out as the leader of the disciples, but to be reassured that, despite his denials of Christ, he was still one of them. He is going before you into Galilee…as He said. See note on 14:28. The disciples’ lack of faith made them slow to act on these words; they did not leave for Galilee (Matt. 28:7, 16) until after Jesus repeatedly appeared to them in Jerusalem (cf. Luke 24:13–32; John 20:19–31).
16:8 afraid. They were overwhelmed by the frightening appearance of the angel and the awesome mystery of the Resurrection.
Matthew 28:1-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Jesus Is Risen!
1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus *said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
MacArthur Study Bible Notes:
28:1 as the first day of the week began to dawn. Sabbath officially ended with sundown on Saturday. At that time the women could purchase and prepare spices (Luke 24:1). The event described here occurred the next morning, at dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week. other Mary. The mother of James the Less.
28:2 a great earthquake. The second earthquake associated with Christ’s death (27:51). This one may have been confined to the immediate area around the grave, when “an angel” supernaturally “rolled back the stone from the door”—not to let Jesus out, for if He could rise from the dead, He would need no help escaping an earthly tomb, but to let the women and the apostles in (v. 6).
28:4 became like dead men. This suggests that they were not merely paralyzed with fear, but completely unconscious, totally traumatized by what they had seen. The word translated “shook” has the same root as the word for “earthquake” in v. 2. The sudden appearance of this angel, at the same time the women arrived, was their first clue that anything extraordinary was happening.
28:6 Come, see the place where the Lord lay. See note on Luke 24:4 for the order of these events as gleaned from all 4 gospels.
28:7 there you will see Him. See vv. 10, 16; 26:32; John 21:1–14. This does not mean they would not see Him until then. He was seen by the apostles several times before they saw Him in Galilee (Luke 24:15, 34, 36; John 20:19, 26). But His supreme post-resurrection appearance was in Galilee, where “He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once” (1 Cor. 15:6).
28:9 Jesus met them. For a summary of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances, see note on Luke 24:34.
28:10 My brethren. I.e., the disciples.
28:11 reported to the chief priests. The Jewish leaders’ determination to cover up what had occurred reveals the obstinacy of unbelief in the face of evidence (Luke 16:31).
28:12 a large sum of money. Lit. “silver” (cf. 26:15). The bribery was necessary because the soldiers’ story, if true, could cost them their lives—since they were charged with guard duty under Pilate’s personal orders (27:65). The Jewish leaders also promised to cover for the soldiers if the false story they spread leaked back to Pilate (v. 14).
28:13 while we slept. The story was obviously bogus, and not a very good cover-up. They could not possibly know what had happened while they were asleep.
Luke 24:1-49 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Resurrection
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus
13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Other Appearances
36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them,“Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
MacArthur Study Bible Notes:
24:1 bringing the spices. See note on 23:55. The women were not expecting to find Jesus risen from the dead; their only plan was to finish anointing His body for burial. See note on Mark 16:1.
24:2 the stone rolled away. Matthew 28:2–4 records that an earthquake occurred and an angel rolled the stone away. The Roman guards fainted with fear. Mark, Luke, and John make no mention of the guards, so it appears they fled when they awoke to find the empty tomb. The women must have arrived shortly after.
24:4 two men. These were angels. Only Luke mentioned them both (see note on Mark 16:5). Mark was concerned only with the one who spoke for the duo. Such minor differences in the gospel accounts are all reconcilable. Here’s a summary of the events of the resurrection, assembled from all 4 evangelists’ accounts: Finding the stone rolled away, the women entered the tomb, but found it empty (v. 3). While they were still in the tomb, the angels suddenly appeared (v. 4; Mark 16:5). The angel who spoke reminded them of Jesus’ promises (vv. 6–8), then sent them to find Peter and the disciples to report that Jesus was risen (Matt. 28:7, 8; Mark 16:7, 8). The women did as they were told (vv. 9–11). The disciples were skeptical at first (v. 11), but ran to where the tomb was, John arriving first (John 20:4), but Peter actually entering the tomb first (John 20:6). They saw the linen wrappings intact but empty, proof that Jesus was risen (v. 12; John 20:6–8). They left immediately (v. 12; John 20:10). Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, and was standing outside weeping when Christ suddenly appeared to her (John 20:11–18). That was His first appearance (Mark 16:9). Sometime soon after that, He met the other women on the road and appeared to them as well (Matt. 28:9, 10). Later that day He appeared to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (vv. 13–32), and to Peter (v. 34). For a chronological listing of all His post-resurrection appearances, see note on v. 34.
24:9 all the rest. I.e., other disciples, mostly from Galilee, who were in Jerusalem for the Passover.
24:10 Mary Magdalene. See note on 8:2. She was the first to see Jesus alive (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18). See note on v. 4.Joanna. Her husband was Herod’s steward. See note on 8:3.Mary the mother of James. See note on Matt. 27:56. the other women. They are never explicitly identified (cf. 23:49, 55).
24:13 two of them. These evidently were not any of the 11 disciples. According to v. 18, one was named Cleopas. Emmaus. Mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. Its exact location is not known, but tradition says it is a town known as Kubeibeh, 7 mi. NW of Jerusalem.
24:16 their eyes were restrained. I.e., they were kept by God from recognizing Him.
24:18 Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem. The crucifixion of Jesus was already such a well-known event around Jerusalem that they were shocked that He seemed not to know about it.
24:21 But we were hoping. They had been looking for an immediate earthly kingdom. With Jesus crucified, they were probably struggling with doubt about whether He was the Messiah who would reign. But they still regarded Him as a true prophet (v. 19). the third day. There may have been a glimmer of hope in these words. They had heard rumors of His resurrection already (vv. 22–24). Perhaps Cleopas recalled the Lord’s promises of 9:22; 18:33. More likely, however, it seems this was his way of expressing surprise that this Stranger did not yet know the news everyone else in Jerusalem had been discussing for the past 3 days.
24:24 certain of those who were with us. I.e., Peter and John (see note on v. 12). but Him they did not see. This was true. Evidently Cleopas and his companion had not heard about the appearance to Mary Magdalene (see note on v. 4).
24:26 Ought not. I.e., “Was it not necessary?” OT prophecies spoke often of a suffering servant of God (see note on v. 27).
24:27 Moses and all the Prophets. Verse 44 gives the 3-fold division; this expression is merely a shortened way to say the same thing. in all the Scriptures. In the inscrutable wisdom of divine providence, the substance of Christ’s exposition of the OT messianic prophecies was not recorded. But the gist of what He expounded would have undoubtedly included an explanation of the OT sacrificial system, which was full of types and symbols that spoke of His sufferings and death. He also would have pointed them to the major prophetic passages which spoke of the crucifixion, such as Ps. 16:9–11; 22; 69; Is. 52:14—53:12; Zech. 12:10; 13:7. And He would have pointed out the true meaning of passages like Gen. 3:15; Num. 21:6–9; Ps. 16:10; Jer. 23:5, 6;Dan. 9:26—and a host of other key messianic prophecies, particularly those that spoke of His death and resurrection.
24:30 took bread. A simple expression, meaning to share a meal (v. 35).
24:31 their eyes were opened. I.e., by God. They had been sovereignly kept from recognizing Him until this point (cf. v. 16). His resurrection body was glorified, and altered from its previous appearance (see John’s description in Rev. 1:13–16), and this surely explains why even Mary did not recognize Him at first (cf.John 20:14–16). But in this case, God actively intervened to keep them from recognizing Him until it was time for Him to depart. He vanished from their sight. His resurrection body, though real and tangible (John 20:27)—and even capable of ingesting earthly food (vv. 42, 43)—nonetheless possessed certain properties that indicate it was glorified, altered in a mysterious way (cf. 1 Cor. 15:35–54; Phil. 3:21). Christ could appear and disappear bodily, as seen in this text. His body could pass through solid objects—such as the grave clothes (see note on v. 12), or the walls and doors of a closed room (John 20:19, 26). He could apparently travel great distances in a moment, for by the time these disciples returned to Jerusalem, Christ had already appeared to Peter (v. 34). The fact that He ascended into heaven bodily demonstrated that His resurrection body was already fit for heaven. Yet it was His body, the same one that was missing from the tomb, even retaining identifying features such as the nail-wounds (John 20:25–27). He was no ghost or phantom.
24:34 appeared to Simon. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:5–8. Scripture describes at least 10 distinct appearances of Christ between the resurrection and ascension. He appeared to: 1) Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18); 2) to the women on the road (Matt. 28:9, 10); 3) to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (vv. 13–32); 4) to Peter (v. 34); 5) to 10 of the 11 disciples, Thomas being absent (vv. 36–43; Mark 16:14; John 20:19–25); 6) to the 11 disciples (with Thomas present) 8 days later (John 20:26–31); 7) to 7 disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25); 8) to more than 500 disciples, probably on a mountain in Galilee (1 Cor. 15:6; see note on Matt. 28:16); 9) to James (1 Cor. 15:7); and 10) to the apostles when He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:3–11). After His ascension, He appeared to Paul (1 Cor. 15:8). The next time He appears it will be in glory (Matt. 24:30).
24:36 Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them. The doors were closed and locked (John 20:19). See note on v. 31.
24:39 Behold My hands and My feet. He was showing them the nail wounds to prove it was really Him. Cf. John 20:27.
24:45 opened their understanding. He undoubtedly taught them from the OT, as He had on the road to Emmaus (see note on v. 27). But the gist of the expression also seems to convey a supernatural opening of their minds to receive the truths He unfolded. Whereas their understanding was once dull (9:45), they finally saw clearly (cf. Ps. 119:18; Is. 29:18, 19; 2 Cor. 3:14–16).
24:46–53 This section contains several ideas that are echoed in the opening of Acts, including Christ’s suffering and resurrection (v. 46; Acts 1:3); the message of repentance and remission of sins (v. 47; Acts 2:38); the disciples as His witnesses (v. 48; Acts 1:8); the Promise of the Father (v. 49; Acts 1:4); tarrying in Jerusalem (v. 49; Acts 1:4) and the beginning of gospel outreach there (v. 47; Acts 1:8); power from on high (v. 49; Acts 1:8); Christ’s ascension (v. 51; Acts 1:9–11); the disciples’ return to Jerusalem (v. 52; Acts 1:12); and their meeting in the temple (v. 53; Acts 2:46).
John 20:1-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Empty Tomb
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there,7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus *said to her, “Mary!”She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
Jesus among His Disciples
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again,“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
MacArthur Study Bible Notes:
20:1–31 This chapter records the appearances of Jesus to His own followers: 1) the appearance to Mary Magdalene (vv. 1–18); 2) the appearance to the 10 disciples (vv. 19–23); and 3) the appearance to Thomas (vv. 24–29). Jesus did not appear to unbelievers (see 14:19; 16:16, 22) because the evidence of His resurrection would not have convinced them as the miracles had not (Luke 16:31). The god of this world had blinded them and prevented their belief (2 Cor. 4:4). Jesus, therefore, appears exclusively to His own in order to confirm their faith in the living Christ. Such appearances were so profound that they transformed the disciples from cowardly men hiding in fear to bold witnesses for Jesus (e.g., Peter; see 18:27; cf. Acts 2:14–39). Once again John’s purpose in recording these resurrection appearances was to demonstrate that Jesus’ physical and bodily resurrection was the crowning proof that He truly is the Messiah and Son of God who laid down His life for His own (10:17, 18;15:13; cf. Rom. 1:4).
20:1 first day of the week. A reference to Sunday. From then on, believers set aside Sunday to meet and remember the marvelous resurrection of the Lord (see Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). It became known as the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10). See notes on Luke 24:4, 34. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark. Perhaps the reason why Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene was to demonstrate grace by His personal, loving faithfulness to someone who formerly had a sordid past; but clearly also because she loved Him so dearly and deeply, that she appeared before anyone else at the tomb. Her purpose in coming was to finish the preparation of Jesus’ body for burial by bringing more spices to anoint the corpse (Luke 24:1).
20:2 other disciple, whom Jesus loved. This is the author John. They have taken. Though Jesus had predicted His resurrection numerous times, it was more than she could believe at that point. It would take His showing Himself alive to them by many “infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3) for them to believe.
20:5–7 saw the linen cloths lying there. A contrast existed between the resurrection of Lazarus (11:44) and that of Jesus. While Lazarus came forth from the grave wearing his grave clothes, Jesus’ body, though physical and material, was glorified and was now able to pass through the grave clothes much in the same way that He later appeared in the locked room (see vv. 19, 20; cf. Phil. 3:21). linen cloths…handkerchief. The state of those items indicates no struggle, no hurried unwrapping of the body by grave robbers, who wouldn’t unwrap the body anyway, since transporting it elsewhere would be easier and more pleasant if it was left in its wrapped and spiced condition. All appearances indicated that no one had taken the body, but that it had moved through the cloth and left it behind in the tomb.
20:8 the other disciple. John saw the grave clothes and was convinced by them that He had risen.
20:9 did not know the Scripture. Neither Peter nor John understood that Scripture said Jesus would rise (Ps. 16:10). This is evident by the reports of Luke (24:25–27, 32, 44–47). Jesus had foretold His resurrection (2:19; Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; 9:31;Luke 9:22), but they would not accept it (Matt. 16:22; Luke 9:44,45). By the time John wrote this gospel, the church had developed an understanding of the OT prediction of Messiah’s resurrection (cf. “as yet”).
20:11–13 weeping. Mary’s sense of grief and loss may have driven her back to the tomb. She apparently had not crossed paths with Peter or John and thus did not know of Jesus’ resurrection (see v. 9).
20:12 two angels. Luke (24:4) describes both. Matthew (28:2, 3) and Mark (16:5) report only one. John’s reason for the mention of angels is to demonstrate that no grave robbers took the body. This was an operation of the power of God.
20:14 did not know that it was Jesus. The reason for Mary’s failure to recognize Jesus is uncertain. She may not have recognized Him because her tears blurred her eyes (v. 11). Possibly also, the vivid memories of Jesus’ bruised and broken body were still etched in her mind, and Jesus’ resurrection appearance was so dramatically different that she failed to recognize Him. Perhaps, however, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, she was supernaturally prevented from recognizing Him until He chose for her to do so (see Luke 24:16).
20:16 “Mary!” Whatever the reason for her failure to recognize Jesus, the moment He spoke the single word, “Mary,” she immediately recognized Him. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ words “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (10:27; cf. 10:3, 4).
20:17 Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended. Mary was expressing a desire to hold on to His physical presence for fear that she would once again lose Him. Jesus’ reference to His ascension signifies that He would only be temporarily with them and though she desperately wanted Him to stay, He could not. Jesus was with them only for 40 more days and then He ascended (Acts 1:3–11). After He went to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit (“The Helper”) so that they would not feel abandoned (see note on 14:18, 19). My brethren. Disciples have been called “servants” or “friends” (15:15), but not “brothers,” until here. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross in place of the sinner, this new relationship to Christ was made possible (Rom. 8:14–17;Gal. 3:26, 27; Eph. 1:5; Heb. 2:10–13).
20:19 the same day. See note on v. 1. the doors were shut.The Gr. word indicates the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. Since the authorities had executed their leader, they reasonably expected that Jesus’ fate could be their own. Peace be with you. See notes on 14:27; 16:33. Jesus’ greeting complements His “It is finished,” for His work on the cross accomplished peace between God and His people (Rom. 5:1;Eph. 2:14–17).
20:20 Jesus proved that He who appeared to them was the same One who was crucified (cf. Luke 24:39).
20:21 This commission builds on 17:18. See Matt. 28:19, 20.
20:22 Since the disciples did not actually receive the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost, some 40 days in the future (Acts 1:8;2:1–3), this statement must be understood as a pledge on Christ’s part that the Holy Spirit would be coming.
20:23 See notes on Matt. 16:19; 18:18. This verse does not give authority to Christians to forgive sins. Jesus was saying that the believer can boldly declare the certainty of a sinner’s forgiveness by the Father because of the work of His Son if that sinner has repented and believed the gospel. The believer with certainty can also tell those who do not respond to the message of God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ that their sins, as a result, are not forgiven.
John 20:30-31 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Why This Gospel Was Written
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
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(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 23:50-24:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb
50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
He Is Risen
24:1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing 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.”
Consider the context.
Acts 12:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Herod’s Violence to the Church
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Consider the implication. We believe the resurrection of Christ to be a joyful occasion. Should we also consider that the imprisonment and abuse of Peter to be a joyful occasion? There is no teaching in God’s Word that the early church had any celebration of a day that is called “Easter.” The events of Acts 12:1-4 occurred at the time of the year that is known as “Passover and The Feast Of Unleavened Bread.” It was at that time of year that the Apostle Peter was imprisoned, and was going to be put on trial, because of his witness for Christ. Can anyone honestly relate such an event to the resurrection from the dead of our Lord, “The Christ?” I think not.
Consider the verse.
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 him to 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.” The teaching of “Easter” is not a truth. You can choose any word that you desire to describe the opposite of truth.
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The setting follows the festive Passover Seder and the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Thursday has 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. The Day of Preparation 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.)
Jesus was put to death at about the time that the Passover lambs would be slaughtered.
Luke 22:54-23:55 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Jesus’ Arrest
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, 64 and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?”65 And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
66 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, 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 a question, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will 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, “Yes, I am.”71 Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”
Jesus before Pilate
23 Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.”
6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.
Jesus before Herod
8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release
13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15 No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”17 [Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]
18 But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!”19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Simon Bears the Cross
26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping 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 nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.
The Crucifixion
33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus,crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.
John 19:14-42 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Preparation Day
14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” 15 So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
The Crucifixion
16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.
17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.
But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Care of the Body of Jesus
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Commentary. Reference: Ryrie Study Bible.
In Luke thru 22:54-Luke 23:55, notice verse 54. This occurrence was before sundown on Friday, just before the Sabbath began. The Preparation Day, Day of Preparation, was on Friday and ended at sundown on Friday: it was a time of preparing for the Sabbath…sort of like when we used Saturday to get ready for church on Sunday. In verse 55, we see the women who had followed the body of Jesus to the burial tomb. Because the Sabbath was nearing, they did nothing more than observe the location where the body of Jesus was laid. Tomorrow we will look at verse 56, with the actions of the women that occur after the Sabbath had ended.
In John 19:14 and 19:31 we see the relation between the Preparation Day and the Sabbath. Read verses 14 – 42 to see that the death and burial of Jesus occurred on Friday afternoon/evening before the beginning of the Sabbath. Consider the following passages of scripture that relate to the Messiah, the Christ.
Isaiah 53 King James Version (KJV) (Prophecy of 712 B.C.)
The Suffering Servant
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
John 1:29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
2 Corinthians 5:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Imputation Of Righteousness
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Revelation 5 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
(Note: We, who have been born again, are present in this scene.)
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Worthy Is the Lamb
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
This post can be found on the blog under the Category of Passover.
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Michael W. Smith – Agnus Dei
Michael W Smith – Awesome God
Lesson Video
Thursday Of Passion Week – Maunday Thursday
John Chapter 13
The word Maunday is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maunday” in “Maunday Thursday” refers to the command that Jesus gave to the disciples at the Passover meal, that they should love and serve one another. Notice the order of events in the video. The Passover Meal; The Washing Of The Disciples’ Feet; In Remembrance Of The Death And Burial Of Christ; Looking Ahead To The Resurrection of Christ, And to His Return, Where He Will Observe The Passover In The Kingdom (The Millennial Reign Of Christ.).
Matthew 26:17-30 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Last Passover
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:12-26 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Last Passover
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples *said to Him, “Where do You want us to 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 will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” 16 The disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
17 When it was evening He *came with the twelve. 18 As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” 19 They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20 And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. 21 For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from 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 will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke 22:7-53 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Passover Preparation
7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” 9 They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” 10 And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. 11 And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 12 And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” 13 And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Passover Meal
14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 21 But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. 22 For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.
Who Is Greatest
24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again,strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” 36 And He said to them, “But now,whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.”38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
The Garden of Gethsemane
39 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Jesus Betrayed by Judas
47 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him,“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? 53 While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
John 13:1-30 New English Translation (NET Bible)
Washing the Disciples’ Feet
1 Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. 3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. 5 He poured water into the wash basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.
6 Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”)
12 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
The Announcement of Jesus’ Betrayal
18 “What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he. 20 I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. 23 One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. 24 So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to. 25 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. 27 And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 (Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.) 30 Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.)
NOTE: It was during Passover that Jesus was crucified. Jesus and His disciples were Jews. They participated in a Passover meal. Notice that during the evening of the Passover meal that Judas was present, and that he participated in the meal and had his feet washed by Jesus.
This post can be found in the category heading of Passover.
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Breathe On Me – Prestonwood Choir and Orchestra
Lesson Video
Judas Agrees To Betray Jesus
Wednesday Of Passion Week
Luke 22:1-6 New English Translation (NET Bible)
Judas’ Decision to Betray Jesus
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them. 5 They were delighted and arranged to give him money. 6 So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.
MacArthur Study notes:
22:1 which is called Passover. Passover was a single day, followed immediately by the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:5, 6). The whole season could be referred to by either name (see vs 7).
22:2 chief priests and the scribes…for they feared the people. They were therefore plotting secretly, hoping to eliminate Him after the Passover season, when Jerusalem would not be filled with so many people (see vs 6. Mt 26:2-5; MK 14:1-2. But these events occurred according to God’s timetable, not theirs.
22:3 Satan entered. i.e., Judas was possessed by Satan himself. Satan evidently gained direct control over Judas on two occasions—once just before Judas arranged his betrayal with the chief priests, and again during the (Passover Seder/Meal…my comment) (John 13:27) immediately before the betrayal was actually carried out.
22:4 captains. i.e., the temple guard, a security force consisting of Levites.
22:5 agreed to give him money. Matthew 26:15 says 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave (Ex. 21:32).
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Let The Weight Of Your Glory Fall
Tuesday Of Passion Week – The Beginning Of The Feast Of Unleavened Bread – The Second Day Of Passover
(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.)
Lesson Video
Passion Week Tuesday
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 Christ 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 and at the end of 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 hated and killed. (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 (Jews) (24:24) (Deuteronomy 7:6).
Great atmospheric abnormalities will result (24:29). Immediately after the tribulation, Christ will be seen returning to earth. (24:30). The elect (Jews) 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).
Click onto any highlighted word to see the videos and text on the blog.
For Your Name Is Holy
Lesson Video
Jesus Chases The Money Changers Out of The Temple
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.
Lesson Series: Passover
Monday Of Passion Week
Considerations. 1. 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.
Verses Of Consideration
Leviticus 23:4-6 (Passover And Feast Of Unleavened Bread)
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’s Passover. 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.
Exodus 12:1-14 (Passover 1 Day) (Sunset, April 10 – Sunset April 11, 2017)
Exodus 12:15-20 (Feast Of Unleavened Bread – 7 Days) (Sunset, April 11 – Sunset, April 18, 2017)
Numbers 28:16 (Passover); Numbers 28:17 (Feast Of Unleavened Bread)
Deuteronomy 16:1-8 (Passover And Feast Of Unleavened Bread)
Text
Mark 11:12-19
The Cursing Of The Fig Tree
12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
Considerations. 2. 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.”
Considerations 3. 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 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 Passover and The Feast Of Unleavened Bread was to celebrate God’s deliverance of Israel from Slavery in Egypt. The fulfillment of these feasts in Christ can be 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.
Notes
The following study notes come from the MacArthur Study Bible, and are provided by Biblgateway.com
Mark
11:12 the next day. Matt 21:18 says this was “in the morning,” probably before 6:00 am. Bethany. See note on v. 1
11:13 fig tree having leaves. Fig trees were common as a source of food. Three years were required from planting until fruit bearing. After that, a tree could be harvested twice a year, usually yielding much fruit. The figs normally grew with the leaves. This tree had leaves but, strangely, no fruit. That this tree was along the side of the road (cf. Matt. 21:19), implies it was public property. It was also apparently in good soil because its foliage was ahead of season and ahead of the surrounding fig trees. The abundance of leaves held out promise that the tree might also be ahead of schedule with its fruit. not the season for figs. The next normal fig season was in June, more than a month away. This phrase, unique to Mark, emphasizes the unusual nature of this fig tree.
11:14 “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” Jesus’ direct address to the tree personified it and condemned it for not providing what its appearance promised. This incident was not the acting out of the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6–9), which was a warning against spiritual fruitlessness. Here, Jesus cursed the tree for its misleading appearance that suggested great productivity without providing it. It should have been full of fruit, but was barren. The fig tree was frequently an OT type of the Jewish nation (Hos. 9:10; Nah. 3:12; Zech. 3:10), and in this instance Jesus used the tree by the road as a divine object lesson concerning Israel’s spiritual hypocrisy and fruitlessness (see note on Matt. 21:19; cf. Is. 5:1–7).
11:15–19 See note on Matt. 21:12. Although Jesus had cleansed the temple 3 years earlier (John 2:14–16), it had become more corrupt and profane than ever and thus He was compelled to again offer clear testimony to God’s holiness and to His judgment against spiritual desecration and false religion. Even as God sent His prophets repeatedly throughout the OT to warn His people of their sin and idolatry, Christ never stopped declaring God’s will to a rebellious people, no matter how often they rejected it. With this temple cleansing, Jesus showed vividly that He was on a divine mission as the Son of God.
11:15 temple. See note on v. 11. The large Court of the Gentiles was the setting for the events that followed. bought and sold. Animals were needed by the Jews for their sacrificial temple offerings, and it was more convenient for the worshipers to buy them there rather than bring the animals from a distance and risk that they would not pass the High-Priest’s inspection. The sellers either belonged to the High-Priestly hierarchy or paid a large fee to temple authorities for the privilege of selling. Whichever was the case, the High-Priest’s family benefited monetarily. money changers. They were in the court to exchange Greek and Roman coins for Jewish or Tyrian coins which pilgrims (every Jewish male 20 and older) had to use for the annual half-shekel payment for temple religious services (see note on Matt. 21:12). A fee as high as 10 or 12 percent was assessed for this exchange service. those who sold doves. These birds were so often used for sacrifice that Mark makes separate mention of their sellers. Doves were the normal offering of the poor (Lev. 5:7) and were also required for other purposes (Lev. 12:6; 14:22; 15:14, 29).
11:16 not allow anyone to carry wares. Jesus did not want people to continue the practice of using the court as a shortcut through which to carry utensils and containers with merchandise to other parts of Jerusalem because such a practice revealed great irreverence for the temple—and ultimately for God Himself.
11:17 Jesus defended Himself by appealing to Scripture (see note on Matt. 21:13) after His actions had caused a crowd to gather. a house of prayer for all nations. The true purpose for God’s temple. Only Mark includes “for all nations” from Isaiah’s text (56:7), probably because he was mainly addressing Gentiles. The Court of the Gentiles was the only part of the temple they were permitted to use for prayer and worship of God, and the Jews had frustrated that worship by turning it into a place of greedy business. a ‘den of thieves.’ Using Jeremiah’s phrase (Jer. 7:11), Jesus described the religious leaders as robbers who found refuge in the temple, comparable to how highwaymen took refuge in caves with other robbers. The temple had become a place where God’s people, instead of being able to worship undisturbed, were extorted and their extortioners were protected.
11:18 scribes and chief priests. Here Mark uses this combination for the first time. These men were among those who comprised the principal leadership in the Sanhedrin (see notes on Matt. 2:4; 26:59). sought how they might destroy Him. See note on 3:6. The leaders had continuing discussions on how to kill Jesus. astonished at His teaching. See note on 1:22.
11:19 went out of the city. Jesus’ practice during the first 3 days of Passion Week was not to leave Jerusalem until sunset, when the crowds dispersed and the city gates were about to be closed.
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The scripture text was taken from Biblegateway.com
The translation of the text is from The New King James Version.
Unless otherwise noted, scripture notes were taken from The MacArthur Study Bible notes that are contained in Biblegateway.com
Palm Sunday – John 12:12-19 – The Triumphal Entry Of Christ
Lesson Video
Jesus Entering Jerusalem on a Donkey
Lesson Series: Passover
Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry Of Christ
Consideration
On Palm Sunday believers in Christ in sanctuaries, and in other places of worship all over the world, will be carrying and waving palm branches. The purpose for carrying the branches is that Palm Sunday is a celebration of the day that Christ entered Jerusalem before he was crucified, and resurrected. According to the Gospels, a great multitude of people in Jerusalem waved palm branches on the day that Christ entered that city, after the custom of placing palms in the path of a high-ranking person. The palm branch also signified victory in Greco-Roman times, so the waving of palm branches would have resembled a triumphal procession. There are two verses of consideration that are important in respect to their prophetic truth toward the nation of Israel. It is important to know, also, that as Christ was entering Jerusalem, in the midst of all of that multitude of people, in the person of Christ was Deity, Who was, “God with us.”
Verse Of Consideration
Prophecies Of Christ
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Prophecies of Israel
Psalm 118:26
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
Matthew 23:39
39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Text
John 12:12-19
The Triumphal Entry
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
Notes
The following study notes come from the MacArthur Study Bible, and are provided by Biblgateway.com
John 12
12:12–19 This section marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem referred to as Palm Sunday. It is one of the few incidents in Jesus’ life reported in all 4 gospels (Matt. 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:29–38). By this action, He presented Himself officially to the nation as the Messiah and Son of God. The Sanhedrin and other Jewish leaders wanted Him dead but did not want Him killed during the Passover time because they feared stirring up the multitudes with whom He was popular (Matt. 26:5; Mark 14:2; Luke 22:2). Jesus entered the city, however, on His own time and forced the whole issue in order that it might happen exactly on the Passover day when the lambs were being sacrificed. As the Scripture says, “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19). In God’s perfect timing (see 7:30; 8:20), at the precise time foreordained from eternity, He presented Himself to die (v. 23; 10:17, 18; 17:1; 19:10, 11; cf. Acts 2:23; 4:27, 28; Gal. 4:4).
12:12 The next day. Sunday, the day after Jesus’ visit to Bethany (see note on v. 1).
12:13 took branches of palm trees. The supply of date palms was plentiful; they still grow in Jerusalem today. From about two centuries earlier, the waving of palm branches had become a national, if not nationalistic, symbol, which signaled the fervent hope that a messianic liberator was arriving on the scene (6:14, 15). Hosanna! The term “hosanna” is a transliteration of a Heb. word that means “give salvation now.” It was a term of acclamation or praise occurring in Ps. 118:25 which was familiar to every Jew, since that psalm was part of the Hallel (Pss. 113–118) sung each morning by the temple choir during the Feast of Tabernacles (7:37) and associated with the Feast of Dedication (10:22) and especially the Passover. After shouting out the “Hosanna,” the crowds shouted Ps. 118:26; significantly, the original context of Ps. 118 may well have been the pronouncement of blessing upon a Davidic king. Jewish commentaries on the psalm have understood the verse to bear messianic implications. “He who comes in the name of the Lord” refers to Messiah, especially in context with the phrase, “The King of Israel,” though that messianic title is not from Ps. 118.
12:14, 15 The synoptic gospels give more information here regarding Jesus’ selection of a donkey (see Matt. 21:1–9; Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:29–38). They convey the fact that Jesus deliberately planned to present Himself to the nation in this manner as a conscious fulfillment of the messianic prophecy of Zech. 9:9 (quoted here). The words, “Fear not,” are not found in the Zechariah passage but were added from Is. 40:9. Only after His ascension did the disciples grasp the meaning of the triumphal entry (cf. 14:26).
12:19 the world has gone after Him. “The world” means the people in general, as opposed to everyone in particular. Clearly, most people in the world did not even know of Him at that time, and many in Israel did not believe in Him. Often, “world” is used in this general sense (v. 47; 1:29; 3:17; 4:42; 14:22; 17:9, 21).
Isaiah
7:14 sign. Since Ahaz refused to choose a sign (vv. 11, 12), the Lord chose His own sign, whose implementation would occur far beyond Ahaz’s lifetime. the virgin. This prophecy reached forward to the virgin birth of the Messiah, as the NT notes (Matt. 1:23). The Heb. word refers to an unmarried woman and means “virgin” (Gen. 24:43; Prov 30:19; Song 1:3; 6:8), so the birth of Isaiah’s own son (8:3) could not have fully satisified the prophecy. Cf. Gen. 3:15. Immanuel. The title, applied to Jesus in Matt. 1:23, means “God with us.”
Matthew
1:23 virgin. Scholars sometimes dispute whether the Hebrew term in Is. 7:14 means “virgin” or “maiden.” Matthew is quoting here from the LXX which uses the unambiguous Gr. term for “virgin” (see note on Is. 7:14). Thus Matthew, writing under the Spirit’s inspiration, ends all doubt about the meaning of the word in Is. 7:14. Immanuel. Cf. Is. 8:8, 10.
Psalms
118:26 Blessed. Christ taught that the nation of Israel would not see Him again after His departure (ascension to heaven) until they could genuinely offer these words to Him at His second coming (cf. Matt. 23:39; Luke 13:35). In this historical text, it could have easily been sung by the Jews of Moses’ day, especially at the end of the 40 years but prior to Moses’ death (cf. Deut. 1–33). the house of the Lord. A phrase used in reference to the tabernacle of Moses (cf. Ex. 23:19; 34:26; Deut. 23:18) and later the temple (cf. 1 Kin. 6:1).
Matthew
23:39 you shall see Me no more. Christ’s public teaching ministry was over. He withdrew from national Israel until the time yet future when they will recognize Him as Messiah (Rom. 11:23–26). Then Christ quoted from Ps. 118:26.
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The translation of the text is from The New King James Version.
Unless otherwise noted, scripture notes were taken from The MacArthur Study Bible notes that are contained in Biblegateway.com
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You Are Worthy – Prestonwood Choir & Orchestra
Lesson Video
Jesus anointed at Bethany (John 12:1:8)
Lesson Series: Passover
The Day Before Palm Sunday – John 12:1-11
Text
John 12:1-11
The Anointing at Bethany
1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money-box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
The Plot to Kill Lazarus
9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed 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 anointed 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 following Thursday, 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?
Notes
The following study notes come from the MacArthur Study Bible, and are provided by Biblgateway.com
John 12
12:1–50 This chapter focuses on the reactions of love and hate, belief and rejection toward Christ, leading to the cross.
12:1 six days before the Passover. This most likely was the previous Saturday with Passover coming 6 days later on Thursday evening through sunset Friday. See Introduction: Interpretive Challenges.
12:3 a pound of very costly oil of spikenard. The term used for “pound” actually indicates a weight around three-fourths of a pound (approximately 12 ounces). “Spikenard” was an oil extracted from the root of a plant grown in India. anointed the feet of Jesus. Since those who were eating reclined at the table, their feet extended away from it making it possible for Mary to anoint the feet of Jesus. The act symbolized Mary’s humble devotion and love for Him.
12:5 three hundred denarii. Since one denarius was a day’s wage given to common laborers, 300 was equivalent to a year’s wages (no money was earned on the Sabbath or other holy days).
12:6 a thief. Judas’ altruism was really a front for his own personal avarice. Because he was the apostolic band’s treasurer, he was able to secretly pilfer the group treasury for his own desires.
12:7 kept this for the day of My burial. Mary performed this act to signal her devotion but, as in the case of Caiaphas (11:49–52), her act revealed more than she realized at the time. During the first century, lavish sums were spent on funerals, which included costly perfumes to cover the smell of decay (see note on 11:39).
12:8 This does not mean that alms should not be distributed to the poor (Deut. 15:11) but was a reminder that, while the poor would remain, Jesus would not always be with them. See Matt. 26:11; Mark 14:7.
12:11 went away and believed. This phrase signaled both a conscious, deliberate move away from the religion of the authorities and a move toward genuine faith in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.
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The scripture text was taken from Biblegateway.com
The translation of the text is from The New King James Version.
Unless otherwise noted, scripture notes were taken from The MacArthur Study Bible notes that are contained in Biblegateway.com
Click onto any highlighted word to see the videos and text on the blog.
Unfailing Love-Holy Communion
Matthew 26:29
“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Prestonwood Baptist Church He Looked Beyond My Faults
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Midnight Cry
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
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
Lesson Video
Disciple Foot Washing: John 13
Acts 2:41-47 – The Restored Apostle And Pentecost Jews – Breaking Bread
Introduction
Key Terms. (Mine)
Unbelieving Jews. Jews who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Believing Jews. Jews who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Consider the events of Pentecost, the day before, and the days following. On the day before Pentecost, the Jews who were in Jerusalem for the observance of Pentecost were what we call, “unbelieving Jews;” they had no relationship with Christ. On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 Pentecost observant Jews came to know Christ as their Savior and Lord, and were baptized as a sign of their belief in Christ, which made them to be known as “believing Jews.” Let’s consider the things that took place on the day, and days, that followed Pentecost. This post looks backward to the eve before the crucifixion of Christ, and looks forward to the day of the coming of Christ in the air to catch up His saints from our world. We will look a bit deeper into the subject of “breaking bread. “You may come away from this study with thoughts which may be different from the ones that you have had in the past.
Dates come from the Scofield Study Bible.
Lesson Series – The Acts Of The Holy Spirit
Study Text
Acts 2:41-47 – The Restored Apostle And Pentecost Jews – Breaking Bread
The Results Of Pentecost
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.
Study Notes
vs 41. After having received the Gospel of Christ that was preached by the Apostle Peter, 3,000 Jews who were in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, believed that message, and were baptized/immersed as a sign of their belief in Christ. (Mine)
vs 42. These new believers in Christ were fortunate to have the Apostles teaching them the Gospel of the risen Christ (the Apostles’ doctrine). They maintained a close fellowship, as new believers in Christ. They had fellowship meals, known as the breaking of bread. They maintained a strong prayer life. (Mine)
vs 43. Consider the blessings that the early believers in Christ experienced at the hands of the apostles. (Mine)
vs 44. There was a common purpose and unity among these earliest of believers in Christ.(Mine)
vs 45. The early believers had a sharing of possessions with those who had such a need.(Mine)
vs 46. The Jews would not have shown a lack of respect for their elders, neither would they have neglected fellowship with their newfound brothers and sisters in Christ. They continued daily temple worship, and met in homes, having fellowship meals. Their experience is one that we would love to have today. “Breaking of bread” was a common term that was used prior to the day of Pentecost, and on later occasions. It is unrealistic to think that the apostles would have so quickly designed an organized church service full of “sacraments,” and other such things of modern day congregational services. These former unbelieving Jews, now Jewish believers in Christ, did not have an overnight change in their theology On one day, they were Torah observant Jews. One day later, they were still Torah following Jews, but with a belief in the Christ that had been the fulfillment of the teaching of the Law. We must be honest in thinking that these Pentecost “born again” Jewish believers in Christ had suddenly ceased from all of their former Hebraic beliefs of worship, and had acquired newfound Baptist or Pentecostal calls to worship, or other denominational liturgies. The only scripture that resembles the “Lord’s Supper” is 1 Corinthians, Chapter 11, occurred in the year 59 A.D., twenty-26 years after the day of Pentecost, per the Scofield Study Bible. Even 1 Corinthians 11, if you examine the subject, you will see a fellowship meal. In that chapter, there is not an example of a small wafer, or a sip of juice being a way of remembering our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. No scripture shows the “wafer and sip.” (Mine)
2:46 breaking bread in their homes. This refers to the common daily meals shared in the homes. (Reformation Study Bible).
vs 47. God continued calling unbelieving Jews to a belief in Christ. Their numbers increased greatly. (Mine)
2:47 the Lord added. The church belongs to the Lord, and He is the one who sovereignly builds His church (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:9). (Reformation Study Bible)
vs 39. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (This is another topic for another day. Still, the words are true. By the way, God did not ever “uncall or unchoose” anybody. (Mine)
Note. God used the preaching of the Apostle Peter to share the message of the risen Christ to unbelieving Jews on the Day of Pentecost, and later. Peter had been called by Christ, then denied Christ, and was later restored to his position of leadership by Christ. It is important to remember the meanings of the terms, “unbelieving Jews, and believing Jews.” (Mine)
Peter called by Christ. (Matthew 10:1-2; Peter’s denial of Christ (Luke 22:54-62); Peter restored by Christ (John 21:15-17). Peter’s sermon on Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36).
The Passover Meal (An annual occurrence for Jews, given by God to Jews, Exodus 12:1-14; Leviticus 23:4-5; Numbers 28:16; 1491 B.C.-1451 B.C.(Mine)
Passover meals
Matthew 26:17-30, A.D. 33
Mark 14:12-26, A.D. 33
Luke: 22:1-38, A.D. 33
John 13:1-31, A.D. 33
John 13:1-5 (The washing of the feet of the disciples, and the eating of the Passover meal, included Judas). (Mine)
Breaking Bread (In the context of scripture, these are meals among believers in Christ.) (Mine)
Luke 24:28-35, A.D. 33 ( A meal)
Acts 2:42-46, A.D. 33 (A meal)
Acts 20:7-11, A.D. 59 (A meal)
1 Corinthians, Chapters 10 -11, A.D. 59 (A meal, with a time of remembrance of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ). Corinth was a large, worldly city, with much of that sinful influence finding its way into the church at Corinth, which consisted of Jew and Gentile believers in Christ. Key verse:
1 Corinthians 11:27, “in an unworthy manner,” vs “unworthily.” There is a great difference between the two terms (Mine).
King James Bible
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord
New International Version
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
English Standard Version
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
Berean Study Bible
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
New American Standard Bible
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.
International Standard Version
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the cup in an unworthy manner will be held responsible for the Lord’s body and blood.
NET Bible
For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
New King James Version
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.
In the passages that show Christ in the Passover Meal, He said nothing about excluding anyone from the meal. As a matter of fact, Christ washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, who who betrayed Him, and even included Judas in the meal, along with the other disciples (Mine).
Comments related to this post (Mine).
This post is one of many others that you can find in this blog that deal with The Book Of Acts . All posts in this series can be found under the category of Acts. Please follow this blog so that you can receive updates automatically.
If you want to make a comment, please place that comment on this blog in the appropriate space at the bottom of this page. If you do not want your comment to be shown, please let me know. I moderate all comments, and will not violate anybody’s trust.
The scripture text was taken from Biblegateway.com
The translation of the text is from The New King James Version.
Unless otherwise noted, scripture notes were taken from The MacArthur Study Bible notes that are contained in Biblegateway.com
Eternity 