Tag: Gethsemane

  • Son of Man – a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane

    Son of Man – a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane

    Where have we heard the scriptural depiction, ‘son of man’ most in the Bible?

    And to whom do we point by calling some mortal the “son of man?”

    Hold your answers for a moment until we look into who said that in the Bible and who was called that by whom. 

    Prophets Before Christ

    Recall that true Prophets of God speak for the LORD God.

    In part 1 we glanced at an important prophesy of Moses and then we followed Elijah observing some of the Prophet’s miracles.


    Also in part-1:

    We also glanced quickly at historical context of the Jews from Canaan to Babylon and A.D. 1st c. Jerusalem.

    pillar of fire in the midst of Moses and the Hebrews

    ~1450 B.C

    The Prophet Moses

    ~870 B.C. – 849 B.C.

    The Prophet Elijah

    Elijah map of the Prophet's journeys

    Later, as prophesied:

    • defeat of ISRAEL the Northern Kingdom
      • 722 B.C.
    Ezekiel at the River Kebar

    ~620 B.C. – 570 B.C

    • eventual fall of JUDAH the Southern Kingdom…
      • 586 B.C.

    Introduction to the Son of Man

    You’ll read in just ten times in the books of Moses:

    לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב וּבֶן־אָדָם וְיִתְנֶחָם הַהוּא אָמַר וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה וְדִבֶּר וְלֹא יְקִימֶנָּה׃

    Numbers 23:19 Masoretic Text

    In Hebrew, literally, ben adam” or ‘son of adam.’

    It is illustration of created man made in the image of the LORD.

    You will find it frequently in the New Testament as well, most frequently with the Lord Jesus referring to Himself.

    In the common Greek of the A.D. first century Roman empire, “huios anthrōpos” or ‘son of humans.’

    It is here we see the significance of God born to a virgin woman (Mary) as a Son of Man.

    One in substance with the Father and Holy Spirit — yet the Lord Jesus IS a real human Person.


    First Century A.D.

    “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

    Gospel of Matthew 25:31 LSB


    The Prophet Ezekiel

    We return not to Jerusalem, but to Babylon where Nebuchadnezzar, powerful arm of the LORD’s judgment against Judah resides.

    10,000 Hebrew captives led to Babylon

    Ezekiel dates his prophecies from 597 B.C. ..also 573/72,..in 571/70 B.C. (29:17)

    Commentary of John MacArthur

    .. while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

    Ezekiel 1:1 b (CSB)


    I looked, and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber. 5 The likeness of four living creatures came from it, and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human —

    Ezekiel 1:4-5 (CSB)

    You must picture the same scene of GLORY as the Prophet sees -- NO illustration can do it justice -- Ezekiel sees something sons of Adam just do not see! 

    A voice came from above the expanse over their heads;

    — Ezekiel 1:25 (CSB)

    This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory.

    When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

    — Ezekiel 1:28 (CSB)

    Son of Man

    He said to me,

    “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you.”

    As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet,

    and I listened to the one who was speaking to me.

    — Ezekiel 2:1-2 (CSB)


    The SON OF MAN — in this instance, Ezekiel — has seen the GLORY OF THE LORD and spoken of it to sinful humans chosen to follow Him.

    Ezekiel bows down — and obeys the word of the Lord.


    The Spirit takes Ezekiel to Jerusalem’s Temple

    Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.

    Ezekiel 10:18 (CSB)

    The Spirit then lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of the Lord’s house.. I saw [25] leaders of the people.

    The Lord said to me,

    “Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked advice in this city. They are saying, ‘Isn’t the time near to build houses? The city is the pot, and we are the meat.’

    Therefore, prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man! ”

    — Ezekiel 11:1-4 (CSB)

    A New Shepherd of the Lord’s Chosen

    The word of the Lord came to me:

    “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them,

    ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds:

    Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock?

    You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.

    You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.

    — Ezekiel 34:1-4 (CSB)

    Does ANY of this sound familiar -- you 21 century shepherds of the Gospel -- have you tended your flock? 

    Dry Bones “rising from the dead”

     “Prophesy concerning these bones

    I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life.

    Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

    — Ezekiel 37:5-6 (CSB)

    Yet some of you do not believe the Prophets or in the resurrection of the dead to the Judgment or Heaven. 

    ‘This is what the Lord God says:

    I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.

    I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it.

    This is the declaration of the Lord.’ ” —

    Ezekiel 37:12-14 (CSB)


    In Visions of God – a New Temple

    It is not our purpose today to point out similarities of a new temple and city to the Levitical outline of Moses or the Temple of David which had witnessed the glory of the LORD descending into the Holy of Holies. Nor can we visit such visions of Daniel and the Apostle John.

    Sufficeth to say the Lord God will send a new Temple to Jerusalem and personalize a saved world in new worship.


    προφήτης – prophētēs

    1. in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things
    2. one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation

    source: Strong’s G4396 – prophētēs – BlueLetterBible.org

    The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying,

    “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.”

    Gospel of Luke 7:16 CSB


    ~ in the year of our Lord 30 

    The Son of Man

    “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” ​— ​then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

    Gospel of Matthew 9:6 CSB

    “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? ”

    They replied,

    “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

    “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? ”

    Simon Peter answered,

    “You are the Messiah [*Χριστός christos], the Son of the living God.”

    Matthew 16:13-16 CSB


    “You know that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

    Matthew 28:2 CSB

  • Elijah – on a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane

    Elijah – on a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane

    Today, in the first of a 2-part look at ordinary men chosen as extraordinary Prophets speaking for God, we will glance briefly at Moses and Elijah.


    Prophets Before Christ

    Recall that true Prophets of God speak for the LORD God.

    NOT every man who claims to be a be a Prophet of God truly speaks God’s word. Nor is every mortal who speaks a prophesy of God is a worshiper of the LORD.

    And not every prophesy of a true Prophet is an oracle into the future or an eschatological look into the fulfillment of days.

    Yet many prophesies do point us to places and times not yet seen by any man but the appointed Prophet of the LORD.

    The Prophet Moses

    What could be more prophetic than the written words of the man who encountered the 'I AM' speaking the very commands of the Almighty? 

    Moses brought the Law – the very words of the LORD – to the Hebrew people.

    The LORD had called Moses, age eighty to lead the Hebrews out from Egypt. Moses was 120 years old as the Hebrews prepared to cross the Jordan.

    Before he led them from bondage in Egypt into Arabia for forty year prior to crossing the Jordan into Canaan, Moses instructed God’s chosen in the LORD’s ways and means of redemption.

    So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

    “It is Yahweh your God who will cross ahead of you..

    Deuteronomy 31:1,3a,5a LSB

    Yet the LORD instructs Moses with a prophecy of what the Hebrews will surly do:

    a Prophesy through Moses:

    .. and this people will arise and play the harlot with the foreign gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have cut with them.

    “Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed…

    Deuteronomy 31:16c-17a LSB


    When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

    Deuteronomy 32:8 BSB

    This general reference to humanity and God's 'chosen' would be worthy of your separate study, but we cannot cover it here. 

    from Canaan to Babylon

    Let’s go quickly across the Jordan through the years (centuries, really) with the chosen sons until fulfillment of a foreseen time of Hebrew prophesy from Babylon.

    In order to move so quickly we must overlook and pass many important scriptural milestones.

    Moving past Joshua,

    • the capture of much of the promised land
      • 14th c. B.C.
    • a time of the Judges
      • 14th-11th c. B.C.
    • a king of the people (Saul)
      • 11th c. B.C.

    2 Samuel David becomes King of Judah in Hebron for 7 years then in Jerusalem uniting Judah with Ish-Bosheth (Israel)
    David King of Judah united with Israel
    • David united Israel and Judah
      • ~1000 B.C.
    • Solomon expands his influence back to Egypt and east to Babylon and beyond
      • 973-931 B.C.
    • then, a civil war between Solomon’s sons and their heirs,

    A quick glance at the timeline below will reveal the book of 1 KINGS where we will find Elijah’s story.

    a Failure of Kings Old Testament timeline from Genesis to Malachi focused on the Kings of Israel and Judah and the Prophets
    Old Testament Books timeline

    Elijah map of the Prophet's journeys

    The Prophet Elijah

    ~870 B.C. – 849 B.C.

    Later, as prophesied:

    • defeat of ISRAEL the Northern Kingdom
      • 722 B.C.
    • eventual fall of JUDAH the Southern Kingdom…
      • 586 B.C.

    The Man of God

    The LORD sent powerful Prophets to both Israel and Judah during a divisive time when most every leader (king) “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

    • This includes EVERY KING of ISRAEL for a little more than 200 years !

    Wouldn’t a NATION claiming GOD repent — when confronted by the man of God showing great signs and even raising a man from the dead?

    • Furthermore the Kings of JUDAH fared no better in their 334 years with only eight of twenty kings who “did right in the eyes of the LORD.”

    Elijah was a man of God WARNING the evil LEADERS of a NATION.

    Taking a brief stop on our timeline Before Christ, we proceed past Moses and beyond the break-up of the Kingdom of David to a time of evil kings infamously represented by King Ahab of Israel who reigned for about twenty years from 874 B.C. until 853 B.C. when he was killed in battle.

    Jezebel, the King's wife - arguably a head of Ahab - also proved infamous with her own evil legacy. 

    Elijah’s Prophetic proofs:

    Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab,

    “As the LORD God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command! ”

    1 Kings 17:1 CSB

    The severest of droughts - over one thousand dry days in the land - people  and animals will die. 

    Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan.

    1 Kings 17:4b CSB

    So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood…

    But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I don’t have anything baked ​— ​only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.”

    1 Kings 17:10a, 12 CSB


    Drought. Famine everywhere — and for days upon end.

    Have you ever considered the gravity of the fragile mortal lives of those already suffering under the evil reign of Jezebel and Ahab?

    But a miracle of God through Elijah: the widow’s flour and food never ran out. But then —

    Her son becomes ill and dies. (Probably a common occurrence in these desperate conditions of a three year drought.)

    She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me?

    Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death? ”

    1 Kings 17:18 CSB

    That’s some accusation from the widow who has just lost her only son. Yet note the widow’s contrite acceptance of God’s authority to punish sin (iniquity).

    עָוֹן

    Note the long list of Scriptures [above] from the Law of Moses (beginning with Cain) pointing to punishment for our iniquity. 

    Elijah raises the widow’s son from the dead!

    He cried out to the LORD and said, “LORD my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again! ”

    So the LORD listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.

    Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD’s word from your mouth is true.”

    1 Kings 17:20-22, 24 CSB

    WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE poster for Elijah with picture of the Prophet

    Elijah – a contest to the DEATH

    Three years of drought. The King will not like this and consequently blame the righteous man of God.

    When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him,

    “Is that you, the one ruining Israel? ”

    He replied,

    “I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the LORD’s commands and followed the Baals.

    1 Kings 18:17-18 CSB

    Tell me if this does not apply to Israel in this day (except that their gods are dreams of their past)? 

    Tell me how King Herod and the religious rulers of Judea were so different from Ahab as the King of Israel challenged the true Prophet of the Lord?

    Then Elijah approached all the people and said,

    “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.”

    But the people didn’t answer him a word.

    18:21 וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלִיָּהוּ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָם וַיֹּאמֶר עַד־מָתַי אַתֶּם פֹּסְחִים עַל־שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים אִם־יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים לְכוּ אַחֲרָיו וְאִם־הַבַּעַל לְכוּ אַחֲרָיו וְלֹא־עָנוּ הָעָם אֹתוֹ דָּבָר׃


    Much later King Ahab will publically repent! But it will be too late…

    Next Contestant

    ~852 B.C. After the death of Ahab

    “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down! ’ ”

    .. “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”

    Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

    2 Kings 1:9- excerpts CSB

    So the king sent another captain with his fifty men to Elijah.

    “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately! ’

    “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.”

    So a divine fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

    Then the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. The third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him,

    “.. Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their companies, but this time let my life be precious to you.”

    Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. 

    2 Kings 1:11-17 excerpts CSB


    The Ascension of Elijah.

    The time had come for the LORD to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal,

    2 Kings 2:1 CSB

    Elijah’s departure is unique, as he is one of only two people in the Bible, along with Enoch (Genesis 5:24), who did not experience death.

    The whirlwind signifies God’s powerful presence, often associated with divine intervention (Job 38:1, Nahum 1:3).

    Elijah’s ascension prefigures Christ’s ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), symbolizing victory over death and the promise of eternal life.

    2 Kings 2:1:: Biblehub.com STUDY BIBLE commentary

    First Century A.D.

    A Son of David, the Son of Man, rides victoriously into Jerusalem now captive of Rome, challenging Jerusalem’s leaders to a duel to the death

    + His +

    for the redemption of sinners.

    “King Jesus, King Jesus, King Jesus, Hosanna!, they cry out…

    And within a few days their KING of the JEWS will be crucified on a Roman cross.

    An Uplifting Recollection

    The Son of Man walked once more toward a familiar hillside covered with an olive grove.

    What must Jesus have recalled as the Lord approached Gethsemane with His eleven dear friends one last time?

    Remember?

    A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud:

    “This is my beloved Son; listen to him! ”

    Mark 9:7 CSB

    .. They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant…


    NEXT: Ezekiel 

  • Leviticus – Preparation of a Priest for the Sacrifice

    Leviticus – Preparation of a Priest for the Sacrifice

    the Ten Words or Ten Commandments carved into two tablets by the LORD
    priests kneeling before ark of the covenant

    The Office of Priest – כָּהַן

    “So the priest who is anointed and ordained to minister H3547 as H3547 a H3547 priest H3547 in his father’s place shall make atonement:

    he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary,

    and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting

    and for the altar.

    He shall also make atonement for the priests

    and for all the people of the assembly.

    16:32-33 וַיִּקְרָא


    Who would know more about the Altar of Sacrifice than the Priest appointed to the atonement for all worshipers of the LORD?


    The LORD established certain laws of holiness for the priests in addition to the Commandments of the LORD for His chosen people.

    “Then you shall bring the bull near before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. “You shall slaughter the bull before Yahweh at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

    … it is a sin offering.

    Exodus 29:10-11,14b LSB

    “For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and set it apart as holy; then the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

    .. lambs each day, continuously.

    Exodus 29:37,38b LSB

    atonement כָּפַר

    כָּפַר kâphar, kaw-far’; a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen);

    figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel:—appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).

    Strong’s H3722 – kāp̄ar


    ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the [soul] life.’

    Leviticus 17:11 LSB

    Picture it: a Priest standing between the HOLINESS of God and the Altar upon which your sins have been covered with blood of the sacrifice and the remains burned beyond recognition.

    “According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it.

    Exodus 25:9 LSB

    a Blueprint for the Place of Sacrifice and Worship

    Exodus 25 CSB

    A brief look at the LORD's instructions for building the Tabernacle (LIST from the CSB should help us visualize it in contemporary terms and measurements.) 

    8 “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.
    • 10 “They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
    • Overlay it with pure gold; overlay it both inside and out. Also make a gold molding all around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it..
    • 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.
    • 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.
    • 17 Make a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.
    • 18 Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.
    • 21 Set the mercy seat on top of the ark and put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark. 22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

    IT IS A MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH!


    Table for the Ark of the Covenant

    • 23 “You are to construct a table of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
    • 31 “Youa are to make a lampstand out of pure, hammered gold.. 37“Make its seven lamps,and set them up so that they illuminate the area in front of it.
    • 26:1 “You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains.. 2 Each curtain should be forty-two feet long and six feet wide;
    • 7 “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; make eleven of these curtains. 8 Each curtain should be forty-five feet long and six feet wide.
    • 15 “You are to make upright supports of acacia wood for the tabernacle. Each support is to be fifteen feet long and twenty-seven inches wide.
    • 31 “You are to make a curtain .. bring the ark of the testimony there behind the curtain, so the curtain will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place.
    • 34 Put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
    • 35 Place the table outside the curtain.. 36 “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen…

    Community Worship outside the HOLY Tabernacle

    • Exodus 27:1 You are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7 1/2 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet wide; it must be 4 1/2 feet high. 2 Make horns for it on its four corners..
    • 9 “You are to make the courtyard for the tabernacle. Make hangings for.. the courtyard out of finely spun linen, 150 feet long.. 12 For the width of the courtyard, make hangings 75 feet long,, 14 make hangings 22 1/2 feet long for [each] side of the gate,
    • 16 The gate of the courtyard is to have a 30-foot screen
    • 18 The courtyard is to be 150 feet long, 75 feet wide at each end, and 7 1/2 feet high..
    • 21 In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp from evening until morning before the Lord.
    In addition to these for the place of worship, Exodus provides instructions related to worship and the Priests, followed by a book with more detail. 

    Leviticus Prescription for Perfect Worship, Priestly Requirements

    Leviticus - Tabernacle in the wilderness

    Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them:

    Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

    Leviticus 19:2


    Observe the progressive path of worship established between the people worshiping the Lord our God from beyond the tent of meeting, to the altar of sacrifice, into the more holy hidden places and before the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat and the Very Presence of the LORD — and again, atonement from the LORD via the Priest to the tent of meeting.

    No man should know the significance of the sacrifice — and atonement — more than the Priest.

    Think about his separation of holiness from the everyday people as you view the priests preparing for worship. Let’s look at a few of the requirements from their prescriptive handbook.


    וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מֹועֵד לֵאמֹר׃

    וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus) 1:1 WLC

    priest – kōhēn- כֹּהֵן

    1. Instructions for Burnt offerings
    2. Grain offerings
    3. Peace offerings
    4. Sin offerings
    5. Guilt offerings

    Moral and ethical laws

    Holiness

    Blessings and curses

    Vows

    and much more... 

    A Levitical Outline for Priests

    • True worship requires priests set apart in holiness

    And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…

    And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

    Leviticus 8:4,10 KJV

    And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

    Leviticus 9:15 KJV

    • True worship requires people set apart in purity

    “When a case of serious skin disease may have developed on a person, he is to be brought to the priest.

    Leviticus 13:9 CSB

    • True worship requires propitiation in blood

    Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

    Leviticus 16:1-2 NKJV

    “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

    Leviticus 16:15 NKJV

    • True worship requires people set apart in purity
    • True worship requires priests set apart in holiness
    • True worship requires prescribed sacred feasts and offerings
      • Does even the most liberal of Common Era christian churches dare ignore a Holy Week or Easter Sunday? YET do we observe any fasts of preparation?
    • True worship requires proper fidelity to Yahweh as a nation and personal fidelity to one’s pledge

    Preparation of a Perfect High Priest

    Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

    courtyard of the tabernacle in the wilderness with animals readied for sacrifice to the LORD by the Levitical Priests

    And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,

    “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

    Gospel of Matthew 26:26-28 ESV

    Tabernacle in the wilderness depicted in Exodus and Leviticus

    Preparation of a High Priestly Prayer

    When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

    “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

    And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…

    Gospel of John 17:1-3 ESV


    Lent and Holy Week are times for reflection - looking down toward Kidron valley garden-like scene with trees

    When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

    John 18:1 ESV

    garden in darkness
    Garden of Gethsemane

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