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DEATH cries out! from many perspectives
A poem of death’s despair.
From cries of pain

Surrounded by suffering

Entombed in death

Men and women

Hung their heads

In death’s despair.

+

His pain I now know

His suffering I deserve

From this dark place of justice

My sorrow must pierce.

Roger Harned - TalkofJESUS.com
“ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?”
22:1 אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי רָחֹוק מִֽישׁוּעָתִי דִּבְרֵי שַׁאֲגָתִֽי׃
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“Eli, Eli, lama” are Hebrew words in the Hebrew Bible (Ps. 22:2)
David said “lama azavthani” (why have you forsaken me?) and 
Jesus said “lama sabachthani” (why have you sacrificed me?). 
-source [2016 site not secure]: http://messiah-study.net/sabachthani.htm
```
Jesus from the Cross

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
John 19:32-34 CSB

Zechariah 12:10 וְשָׁפַכְתִּי עַל־בֵּית דָּוִיד וְעַל יֹושֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלִַם רוּחַ חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים וְהִבִּיטוּ אֵלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־דָּקָרוּ וְסָפְדוּ עָלָיו כְּמִסְפֵּד עַל־הַיָּחִיד וְהָמֵר עָלָיו כְּהָמֵר עַֽל־הַבְּכֹֽור׃

DEATH! surrounding a Cross

Is your own heart pierced by the cry of death — the death of a loved one, that of your own inevitable failing flesh?

Would your soul cry out even from the grave that the death of God’s own Son should have been your own?

What those imprisoned in the dark dungeons of death must have thought as Jesus cried out as Sacrifice of Blood and Flesh from the Cross!

Who is the Son of Man entering the Jerusalem of the Jews?

In the year of our Lord, 2020, of these last days of a new covenant, I have been sharing the Good News of John.

We cannot cover all of the nuances of reactions to the Messiah entering Jerusalem for the Passover some two thousand years ago, but look back to some of the thoughts of those encountering Jesus between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday which the church celebrates with great joy.

The context of their first century perspective also includes witnesses of many signs of the Messiah including healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, miraculously feeding crowds of followers and raising the dead who include recently Lazarus of Bethany.

The Apostle Philip & the crowds

John 12:

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

The Apostle Philip, of course, travels with Jesus when the Messiah returns to Bethany. Crowds follow them into Jerusalem and friends of the Apostle hear about Jesus the Rabbi of their friend Philip.

21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying,

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…

Jesus has much more to say and then this witness before them:

“…and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”
John 12:27b-28a NASB

Then a voice came out of heaven:

“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.

Philip witnesses this truly awesome scene after Jesus had said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit…
John 12:24 NASB

Thomas: ‘Lord, we know not..’

Don’t you have to love a guy who just has to ask the questions you want to ask the Lord?

Peter was one of these sometimes clueless Disciples who asked Jesus the obvious. We have heard much preaching on Peter, this anointed Apostle of the early church, about his denials and restorations in this Holy Week.

Like Peter, a man of bold faith, Thomas, a man of bold questions often gets a bad wrap for questions and doubt exactly like ours.

Observe the Lord’s Supper from this perspective of Thomas.

The Lord got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself, after which Jesus washes his feet along with the other eleven.

[Later] He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

22 The disciples began looking at one another…

33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come…’

36 Simon Peter said to Him,

“Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered,

“Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”

37 Peter said to Him,

“Lord, why can I not follow You right now?

[Thomas must have also have wondered what Peter so typically blurts out.

Why? We all wonder.]

John 14:

Perhaps Thomas’ perspective was something like this:

‘Jesus was troubled in spirit then Judas left {on an errand for the festival, I guess.’}

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2 CSB – Jesus comforting Disciples about death and resurrection

… And you know where I am going, and you know the way

5 Thomas said to Him,

“Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

Be honest, fellow saint:

Don’t you have days of doubting the resurrection as well?

Yet though you may quote the assurance which follows of Jesus to Thomas, your faith frequently falters .

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:6 NASB

Again, fellow believer, consider the gravity of Jesus’ exclusive claim.

For the Lord draws a line in the dust we often omit, when witnessing to win others to Christ through our own blurred vision of this life.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life;

no one comes to the Father

but through Me. –

John 14:6

Jesus’ exclusive ____line____ in the dust between death and eternal life

7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him,

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?

Let’s pause a moment there, fellow saint of Christ:

Has Jesus been so part of your routine that you have failed to know your Lord?

Jesus continues instructing Thomas:

He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say,

‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?
John 14:10a NASB

The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Between Gethsemane & Doubt

We know that Thomas and the Disciples fail to keep alert in the late hours after Jesus shares the New Covenant Cup of communion and broken bread symbolizing and making memorial of what is about to happen to His broken Body and shed Blood of Sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus prays, is betrayed by Judas as the eleven stand near, then bound and taken away to appear in secret before those who will judge their Messiah. They will then sentence their Redeemer to death on a Cross — ALL in fulfillment of Scripture.

We may self-righteously go on about Peter denying Jesus as he also attempts to run away from death for a time.

In fact, all of us may only escape death — for a time.

CHRIST DIED!

The Apostle John relates more details of these events worth your perspective on DEATH from the darkness of these days.

DEATH then Resurrection

From the depth of isolation and despair

of darkness and fear

of the judgment of your dust

in the grave —

beyond the — line — of hope

found only in Jesus

we peer dimly from the depths

of our soul seeking the Light

of the Resurrection —

the Way of Truth

to eternal life

born anew

in a raised body and soul

to the glory of the LORD

our Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

John 20:

Perspectives of these first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection

Mary of Magdala (a small village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee) discovers Jesus’ tomb EMPTY!

“They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Mary tells Peter and John

They all return to the tomb with the sealed stone rolled away.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

“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, “Rabboni!” [My great teacher, master.]

Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Later Appearance to the Disciples

When it was evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews.

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them,

“Peace to you.“

20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again,

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit…

Did you miss the RESURRECTION OF JESUS?

Don’t some of the most important things in life often happen when you least expect?

Returning later to the scene of the Disciples (but not all of them) in the locked room), Thomas returns.

He missed it! (and perhaps was somewhat sceptical when he heard the witness of his fellow Disciples).

“We’ve seen the Lord!”

“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

Eight more days pass

What disappointment. To have followed Jesus the Messiah as He walked the earth for three years of His ministry prior to His fulfillment of Scripture. AND you missed HIS return!

His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst…

“Peace to you.“

And the Lord, turning to Thomas,

“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

“My Lord and my God!”

And yet again…

John tells us:

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book…

John 21:

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias…

12 Jesus said to them,

“Come and have breakfast.”

None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

— a traditional opening to a sunrise service on Resurrection Sunday or other Easter Sunday worship.

And the joyous response of the congregation of worshipers:

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

ALLELUIA – ἁλληλουϊά

praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah!

יָהּ הָלַל

Yet without DEATH! resurrection remains irrelevant

— that is, until the inevitable inescapable day.

CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!

You will die — your body returning to dust…

And your soul — the spirit that is you in this ever-so-brief mortal life…

What will the judgment and resurrection be like for your fallen flesh and soul forgotten?

Jesus reveals even more to John long after the deaths of all the other Apostles.

apokalypsis Iēsous Christos

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.

And He placed His right hand on me, saying,

“Do not be afraid;

I am the first and the last, and the living One;

and I was dead, and behold,

I am alive forevermore,

and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Revelation 21:

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

אָמֵן אָמֵן

amen, amen.
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Even so, Come Lord Jesus.
AMEN.
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April 11, 2020
HOLY | separated
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Leviticus 11:45 & John 6:69  Roger@talkofJesus.com reading today's devotional scriptures
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Isolation

What does a pandemic have to do with holiness?

Observe how some react to isolation (as in #StayatHome #Pandemic etc.) and you might just wonder how any wall of separation can exist between mankind. Human beings made in the inage of God are social. We must live and work together as families, as neighbors and as citizens of nations, even the world.

So how does separation from those crucial to our lives work?

And who makes the rules?

In fact we currently see several struggles between many authorities of this world, nations, states, media, social and professional organizations, international corporations, wealthy philanthropists and more.

Of course few in this world will first ask,

‘What is the will of the LORD for our interactions with others?‘

Festivals of the LORD

Now Jews and Christians alike must ask additional relational questions of gathering to worship the Lord God. Add to the urgency of questions in the year of our Lord 2020:
- How will I celebrate Passover?
- How will I celebrate Easter?
We enter a HOLY WEEK in A.D. 2020 without possibility of practical obedience to traditional scriptural worship of the Lord God.
Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com
1. We must realize that obedient worship of the Lord has changed at times. Congregational worship began with a traveling Tabernacle, pointed to an established Temple, reinstituted in a rebuilt Temple, then dispersed into an unclean world.
2. The Messiah of Israel, the Son of Man and Son of God offered a New Covenant of worship between God our Father and the world through the Holy Spirit of God given to those who believe in Jesus the Son.
3. Regardless of which tradition of Judaism or Christianity you came to know you likely do not completely grasp the holiness of the Lord God and without the Lord’s mercy your sin before God fails to keep you appropriately distanced from the Very Holiness of the LORD GOD.
We might easily become sidetracked in religious discussions about festivals and traditions, but more germain to our relationship to the Lord God is a brief look at holiness.

Holy

קֹדֶשׁ

Outline of Biblical Usage
1. apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
  1. apartness, sacredness, holiness
    of God
    of places
    of things
  2. set-apartness, separateness
You likly know the first use of this word Holy from when Moses approached the LORD in a burning bush. It’s used more than a hunded times in just Exodus and Leviticus to describe detail concerning worship.

It is used many times in reference to celebration of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

‘On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you.
Exodus 12:16 NASB

Holy

קָדַשׁ

sanctify (108x), hallow (25x), dedicate (10x), holy (7x), prepare (7x), consecrate (5x), appointed (1x), bid (1x), purified (1x), miscellaneous (7x).

Outline of Biblical Usage
to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate

קָדַשׁ qâdash, kaw-dash’; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):—appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), wholly.

Then Moses said to Aaron,
“It is what the LORD spoke, saying,
‘By those who come near Me I will be treated H6942 as holy, H6942
And before all the people I will be honored.’”
So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.
Leviticus 10:3 NASB

Do you recall from Scripture what had just taken place?

10 וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜בוּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃

²וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

³וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן הוּא֩ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה׀ לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶכָּבֵ֑ד וַיִּדֹּ֖ם אַהֲרֹֽן׃

⁴וַיִּקְרָ֣א מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶל־מִֽישָׁאֵל֙ וְאֶ֣ל אֶלְצָפָ֔ן בְּנֵ֥י עֻזִּיאֵ֖ל דֹּ֣ד אַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם קִ֠רְב֞וּ שְׂא֤וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ מֵאֵ֣ת פְּנֵי־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃

⁵וַֽיִּקְרְב֗וּ וַיִּשָּׂאֻם֙ בְּכֻתֳּנֹתָ֔ם אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר מֹשֶֽׁה׃
Before the Lord our God you must: consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate — precisely as the LORD instructs. Even Priest and prophet, pastor and teacher (these perhaps moreso) — all must be Holy, because the Lord our God is Holy.

Holy

ἅγιος

Strong’s Definitions
ἅγιος hágios, hag’-ee-os; from ἅγος hágos (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282); sacred
- (physically, pure, morally blameless or
- religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing),
- saint.
“BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY G40 GROUND.
Acts 7:33 Stephen, quoting Moses before the Sanhedrin

Holiness does not change from the Old Testament to the New – different word, same meaning. Stephen also uses it as Jesus did to describe the Holy Spirit of the Lord God.

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy G40 Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. – Acts 7:51

Outline of Biblical Usage
1. most holy thing, a saint
Saints & Sinners

Are you Holy to the Lord — separated to the Most High from the commonness of worldly sin?

Dare you enter the Holy of Holies into the Presence of Almighty God?

IF NOT, hear just a bit more about the Messiah Jesus to understand about the Holiness of Holy Week.

Lord Jesus

Christ our Passover is Sacrificed for us.

Hebrews 10:

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest,

holy, innocent, undefiled,

separated

from sinners

and

exalted above the heavens;

who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices,

first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people,

because this He [the Messiah] did once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak,

but the word of the oath, which came after the Law,

appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

Therefore let us keep the feast

אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיֹון כַּפָּי וַאֲסֹבְבָה אֶת־מִזְבַּחֲךָ יְהוָֽה׃

For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet… – Psalm 22:16

I can count all my bones.

They look, they stare at me;

They divide my garments among them,

And for my clothing they cast lots.

the amen

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 15:4 NASB
April 7, 2020
12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches – Part 3
The Plot to Murder the Messiah!

On the receiving end of these communications from those who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus we find all of the VIP’s of Jerusalem’s council of leading religious leaders of this captive land.

Previously:

We have looked at the miraculous sign of the Messiah:

Lazarus – HELP from the grave

Lazarus – Death and Resurrection

Lazarus – the Dead Man came out!

We then looked at the Messiah Jesus as He and the Apostles retreated from Bethany into the hills beyond Jerusalem.

Jesus – Traveling to and from Bethany

Our current look at the people of John’s Gospel now focuses on three perspectives of those involved in this great witness of Good News.
1. A traditional look at the Old & New Covenants and prophecy of the Messiah, specifically through Daniel 9. 12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches – Part 1
2. A brief look at the Sanhedrin & specifically the motives of Judas, the Apostle who was about to betray the Messiah after the Twelve dined with Jesus in Ephraim. 12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches – Part 2
3. And now we return to Jerusalem for a closer look at it’s religious rulers as they plot the murder of their own Lamb of Sacrifice come to His own.
Returning to Jerusalem

The Pharisees were just one of the religious political parties of Jerusalem, which formed after the return from exile from the east. Other parties and leaders were more influenced by the Hellenistic customs of the west imported to Jerusalem by Alexander and Rome.

The Gospel of Matthew

John, of course, is not the only Gospel writer to record the influence of the Pharisees. Since we follow a storyline of a brief time leading up to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem let’s glance at these men of this Jewish party in power through additional witness as well.

(Of course if you’re following our 21st century approach of communication between everyone most likely the tax collector Matthew knew a few in Jerusalem he had to keep up to date on Jesus — and of course, this recent Lazarus miracle.)

The Leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees

16: The Pharisees and Sadducees approached, and tested him, asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

4 “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of[ Jonah.”

Then he left them and went away. The disciples reached the other shore, and they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus told them,

“Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

The Messiah cautions His followers to beware of their own religious leaders.

Sabbath Questions

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.”

Matthew would have been there. Now as they approached Jerusalem just days before the holiest of feast the Apostles must all have recalled this type of opposition from Jerusalem’s ruling council. (Of course Rome, for whom Matthew had collected taxes, kept a close watch on all of them.)

The Gospel of Mark

John Mark recalls from witness of the Apostles about a healing on the Sabbath ‘violation’ of Jesus:

And He [Jesus] said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”

But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man,

“Stretch out your hand.”

And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him [the Messiah Jesus], as to how they might destroy Him.
Mark 3:6 NASB

The Herodians, of course, happened to be the party in power (thanks to Rome) in Jerusalem. This consensus against the Messiah would not be so different than an agreement between Democrats and Republicans (in the US), between liberals and conservatives.

The Gospel of Luke

Pharisees and other Jewish leaders witnessed Jesus the Messiah perform many signs of proof throughout His three-year teaching ministry.

A Man Cleansed

5:¹²While he was in one of the towns, a man was there who had leprosy all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged him: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

¹³Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the leprosy left him.

15 But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses…

17 On one of those days while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem…

²⁰Seeing their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

²¹Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think to themselves:

“Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

²²But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them,

“Why are you thinking this in your hearts?Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”

—he told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

²⁵Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said,

“We have seen incredible things today.”

Signs and Miracles

The Messiah is predicted throughout Scripture (Old Testament) by many. First century witnesses no doubt quoted many verses after encountering Jesus. (They would have texted the latest to their friends, things like.)
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Know what I thought of when I heard Jesus today?
What? & who is Jesus?
Ezekiel. Jesus came here from Galilee and Samaria. Jesus is a Prophet!
Like Ezekiel? How?
You know it:
כְּבַקָּרַת֩ רֹעֶ֨ה עֶדְרֹ֜ו בְּיֹום־הֱיֹותֹ֤ו בְתֹוךְ־צֹאנֹו֙ נִפְרָשֹׁ֔ות כֵּ֖ן אֲבַקֵּ֣ר אֶת־צֹאנִ֑י וְהִצַּלְתִּ֣י אֶתְהֶ֗ם מִכָּל־הַמְּקֹומֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָפֹ֣צוּ שָׁ֔ם בְּיֹ֥ום עָנָ֖ן וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃
huh? oh I'm a bit rusty on my Hebrew
“As a shepherd cares for his herd
 in the day when he is among
 his scattered sheep, 
so I will care 
 for My sheep 
 and will deliver them 
 from all the places 
 to which they were scattered 
 on a cloudy and gloomy day.
That's us alright, sheep scattered by Greeks, Rome and everyboby else.
Tell me more about this Jesus
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Miracles! Miracles no ordinary man could do. And many Pharisees and other religious leaders from all over Galilee, Samaria, Judea and even the highest officials of Jerusalem witnessed the miracles of their Messiah Jesus.

Some saw Jesus’ signs personally and others knew from reliable witnesses that this Son of Man was no ordinary man.

Returning to the Gospel of John

The Apostle John tells us at the conclusion of his Gospel that Jesus did many other things — too many to tell. Pharisees had plenty of evidence about the true identity of their Messiah right before them, yet by His Power they would lose theirs.

In order to keep with our present scene just prior to the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (known as Palm Sunday), we’ll take just one more glance at the Pharisees in the crowded capital, preparing for both the crowds of the Passover festival and simultaneously by stealth seeking ways to kill the Messiah Jesus.

We have been following John’s witness of Good News of the Messiah Jesus. He raised Lazarus from the grave!

John does not follow a strictly chronological presentation of the evidence of Jesus Christ, born as a man, crucified and buried, raised from the grave then after many days and many more witnesses ascended once more into heaven.

John 11:

We’re back in Bethany, Lazarus has just walked out of his tomb, and you’ll have to imagine all of the texts going out to friends in Jerusalem and everywhere. (No photos, just imagine some 20th century communication.)

45 So then, many of the Jews… who were eyewitnesses to what Jesus had done, believed in Him. But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying,

“What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

That’s really it, isn’t it, that those in power will often resort to anything to remain in power.

This, of course, includes religious leaders who do not hold the Lord God dear to their own hearts. Some leading Jews, Christian and other religions have all been guilty of this witness to the world against the LORD.

⁴⁹And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

⁵⁰Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

⁵¹And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year,

he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

⁵³Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him.

John 12:

Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching

All the talk around Jerusalem, all the chat, all the texts – everyone wondered if this Messiah Jesus would come to Jerusalem for the feast – the sacrifice of the Passover.

Jesus has returned to Judah as far as Bethany to join his resurrected friend Lazarus in a family feast – a celebration at home before the great Jewish feast to which so many traveled yearly from near and far. Word gets out.

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there.

My friend traveling with the crowds saw the Messiah in Bethany!

They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead.

Ahead in Jerusalem, waiting for Jesus

10 But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

You know well the story of Jesus riding triumphantly up to the city gate of Jerusalem, the crowds worshiping Him laying palms before Him as He rode on the foal of a donkey.

You know well the story of Jesus riding triumphantly up to the city gate of Jerusalem, the crowds worshiping Him laying palms before Him as He rode on the foal of a donkey.

Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
John 12:19 CSB

What sinister desperate plans will these religious leaders of Jerusalem about to be deposed text to each other next?

You likely know the story of Holy Week and Palm Sunday, preached so many times to numb ears and distracted hearts. I have preached on it before as have so many. https://talkofjesus.com/jerusalem-defiled-awaits-king/

Worship with your church Palm Sunday and ask yourself,

IF I had witnessed the Messiah Jesus in Person, who would I text the GOOD NEWS?

The Messiah approaches our city – SOON!

Could you at least follow our scriptural posts by subscribing to talkofJesus.com and please comment.

May the grace and peace of our Lord the Messiah Jesus be with you and remain with you always through God our Father and the Holy Spirit.
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NEXT: We will continue our series in the 
Gospel of John, God-willing...
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April 4, 2020