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Tag: Jesus

Lifted up + Earthly things you do not believe
“.. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Gospel of John 3:14 ESV

Looking back to when Jesus was lifted up
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The following is a fictional first-hand account of John and his Gospel witness of three A.D. first century men so familiar to Christians that we may have missed the impact of the events of Holy Week on the New Testimony of their saved lives. 
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~ A.D. 85 – the Gospel of APOSTLE JOHN

You’ve just read from the beginning of my Gospel just published. By now everyone I mentioned in this introduction to the Lord Jesus Christ is long gone along with many more followers of the Way and Apostles.

As you know I was the youngest of the twelve. It’s been fifty years now since His resurrection. And those who were not murdered for our faith after Jerusalem’s destruction [in A.D. 70] just fifteen years ago have been buried in Christ. Yet we know that these live with Him in eternal life.

These include my brother James — and Jesus’ brothers. And in Rome, Simon Peter, my early mentor and close friend, — and our beloved Apostle Paul.

But today I want to tell you about two men — important men, in fact even more important than Paul at that time — older men of great honor and faithful leaders of the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin. Trouble was that if they would have followed Jesus openly back when they tried to speak up in their official capacities,

Caiaphas (who controlled all of the political outcomes and income in Jerusalem at that time) would have had them banned from the Temple for life. And even though their age dictated that these Elders should prepare their graves for the near future, Caiaphas probably would have had them stoned to death.

A.D. 30 – Joseph of Arimathea

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission.

So he came and took away his body.

John 19:38 ESV

Nicodemus

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

John 19:39 ESV
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Although you know this Gospel well from the day of Jesus' crucifixion and burial, from an earlier time we will witness what these secretive disciples of Jesus from the Sanhedrin encountered when they came to Him privately. 
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Recall that Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the grave and called him out while the Jews were weeping for him. The witness of Lazarus had been the buzz of all Jerusalem when their Christ rode into town just five days earlier.

Throughout these previous three years of Jesus’ teaching and miracles many of the Jews of every class had believed in Him — and even some Samarians, Romans and Syrians.

Nicodemus (a few months earlier)

Gospel of John 7 excerpts

Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand..

,, But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.,

,, Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.,

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.
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Do you suppose that Joseph or Nicodemus would have missed this important feast? Of course not! These members of the Sanhedrin would have been expected to be in the Temple courts. 
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Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him!

Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

Gospel of John 7:25-26 ESV

Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
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A rhetorical question, no doubt, attempting to show consensus of the learned Rabbis of the Sanhedrin. But, an unexpected internal dissention: 
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“Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”

John 7:51 – Question of Nicodemus to the ruling council
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Their mocking response is not unexpected. 
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“Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Gospel of John 3:
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Please focus on the real men present and not present in this all-too-familiar Gospel. These are: 
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- Νικόδημος – Nicodemus
- Jesus
- θεός – theos – God
- πνεῦμα – pneuma – the Spirit
- υἱός ἄνθρωπος – huios anthrōpos – Son of Man
- Moses
- πᾶς – pas – whoever, everyone or all
- ἄνθρωπος – anthrōpos – men
  - [a human being, whether male or female]
  - likely, Joseph of Arimathea and other officials to whom Nicodemus returns with his secret report of the Gospel.
- The Apostle John possibly or other Disciples present with Jesus.
Let’s recall that John records this in his Gospel more than 50 years after Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus’ witness to Nicodemus and others would have been months or even a year or two prior to Christ’s crucifixion also in Jerusalem..

~ in the year of our Lord 28 or A.D. 29

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Gospel of John 3: 2b ESV
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Nicodemus, an esteemed Pharisee, is the man who calls Jesus, 'Rabbi' or 'teacher.' 

Pharisee is Of Hebrew origin cf פָּרַשׁ (H6567), A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. 
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Rabbi, also of Hebrew origin, is a proper way to address certain Masters:
1. my great one, my honourable sir
2. Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (and also honour them when not addressing them)
“Truly, truly [amēn, amēn ], I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Gospel of John 3 ESV
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Jesus response clearly addresses the Kingdom of God (since this leading Pharisee has confessed that He is from God), for Jesus had in the past referred to these as 'blind guides.' 

But Nicodemus becomes clearly confused by Jesus' illustration.  So his response is literal (with no clear picture of God's Kingdom).
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“How can a man be born when he is old?

Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

John 3:4 – Nicodemus (who is old) asking Jesus how to be ‘born again.’

“Truly, truly [amēn, amēn ], I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:5-8 ESV

Born again – lifted up from the womb

Did Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea now see what Jesus had meant, connecting the Resurrection with a man born again?

Let’s look at Jesus’ 3-part response in more detail:
- ‘unless one is born of water [hydōr] and the Spirit pneuma {implying the Holy Spirit of God}]’
  - (two pre-requisites to enter God’s Kingdom)
- Born of: flesh [sarx] is [eimi] flesh and born of Spirit is spirit [pneuma eimi pneuma]
  - The Master teaching what is born of what [v.6]
  - Now, seeing his reaction, Jesus will expound on this teaching for understanding of His esteemed student.
7 “Do not be amazed that I told you [singular in Gk.] that you [plural in Gk.] must be born again. – CSV

Other translations of v.8 may also help your understanding.

the Spirit [pneuma also translated as ‘wind’] where he willeth doth blow – YLT (Note the person and his will, not simply a chance of a natural wind. )

his voice [phone Gk.] thou dost hear – YLT

you do not know where it comes from and where it is going.

SO [οὕτω(ς) eimi] is

[pas ho gennaō] everyone who is born

[ek ho pneuma] of the Spirit]

How can a man be born in the Spirit?

How can these things be?

“Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
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Our Lord and Master once more responds with compassion and an example from Scripture. 
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Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen,

but you[plural in the Gk, of the ruling Jews and not specifically Nicodemus] do not receive [accept, in some translations] our testimony.

Do you accept our witness [martyria]?

So this becomes the closing question of Jesus to Nicodemus.

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Gospel of John 3:12 and 13 ESV

Who IS Jesus? The Son of Man, the Christ?

Nicodemus had met the Son of Man face to Face back then. And now the next thing Jesus said of Himself made more sense to Joseph, him and other believers familiar with the Books of Moses.

And the people spoke against God and against Moses, – Numbers 21

Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, [repentance] for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.”

So Moses prayed for the people.

[And Jesus has interceded for all who repent and ask Him to intercede before God the Father. — Washed of sin — baptized – changed permanently by the Spirit]

And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

Numbers 21:8 ESV

The Son of Man lifted up!

“even so must the Son of man be lifted up..

What must Nicodemus have thought?

And what must those faithful Jews have wondered — even those so bold as Joseph of Arimathea after Christ’s crucifixion – to see the Son of Man LIFTED UP on a ROMAN CROSS?

“.And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Gospel of John 3:14-15 ESV

Yet can the grave hold the Son of Man?

The Road to Calvary

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 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. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Gospel of John 19:39-42 ESV

Picking up in John’s fictional re-telling of Jesus’ burial and also in his Gospel:

~ A.D. 85. John’s reflection on Jesus’ resurrection

On the third day of Jesus’ burial Mary of Magdala returned to the tomb just before dawn.

The stone had been rolled away, its seal broken and no Roman guards present anywhere!

She ran back to get Simon. I ran with them back to the garden tomb where I stooped to look in the cave and saw the linen cloths lying there. Then I turned to Peter as he went inside.

When I followed him I also saw the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head by itself, folded up in a place away from the stacked linen cloths,

Then I was certain that the Lord was no longer there.

fictional paraphrase from John 20

Mary remained behind as Simon and I ran back into town.

Then in the tomb she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain.

(Neither Simon nor I had seen them, but Mary shared this angelic conversation with us later.)

She then turned around and saw a man standing outside the tomb. He asked the same question of her as the two angels,

“Woman, why are you weeping?” Then the man inquired, ’tis zēteō,’ that is, “Whom are you seeking?”

Then she addressed him, kyrios (which generally means, Lord) — “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

But then, she reported the man’s reply she heard in a familiar voice:

“Μαρία” (Maria or Mary)

“Rabbouni (Rabbi) , she answered Jesus in Hebrew.

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” and sent her to us with some additional instructions.

fictional paraphrase of John 20:15-18

Peter and I somehow missed Him too, but our Lord was there in the flesh — alive and breathing!

Later that evening

We were still afraid that the Jews would come after us too, especially Peter. We had locked the doors of our upper room in Jerusalem.

שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לְךָ

“Peace, Peace to you.”

It was the Lord Jesus greeting us as He stood suddenly with us in this locked room!

Then He showed them his hands and his side — a gash through each hand, open yet without blood — and a long upward rip into His right ribs, again without blood. Our risen Lord, who the Romans and Jews had lifted up nailed to a Cross — our friend and Master whom we had laid in a tomb — RAISED UP and in our very presence — in Person!

And then Jesus said again,

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Then the Lord breathed on the ten of us and said,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

(I cannot explain the sudden warm breath which lit on my head and infused my flesh.) Then He continued,

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Monday, a week later

Jesus appeared to us again, except this time Thomas had returned. Once again the doors were locked.

שָׁלוֹם לְךָ

“Peace be with you.”

““Put your finger here, and see my hands,” He said to Thomas. And after Thomas obeyed our Master Jesus also said, “Put out your hand, and place it in my side.

Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

(We were all amazed — still — and meek before Him as if God the Father was in our midst in the Son of Man who had suffered this injustice — for us — and for those of you who now believe.)

Later we would return to Galilee as the Lord commanded, home once –l but now just one more place where our risen Rabbi Jesus, the Christ of God would again teach us why He had been lifted up for our sake from the words of Scripture we had heard for years and yet did not fully understand because He had not yet anointed us with the Holy Spirit.

Christ IS Risen!

He taught us for fifty days more that we may proclaim the Gospel to those who believe.

Do you believe?

Jesus was lifted up on a cross in order that your sins may be forgiven

AND

that you might be born again — in water and in Spirit.

Celebrate His Resurrection +++ Have a blessed Easter.
April 20, 2025
Who IS this KING OF THE JEWS nailed to a Roman Cross?
“Are you the king of the Jews? ” the governor asked him. Jesus answered, “You say so.”
— Matthew 27:11 (CSB)

Religion — Mingled with Politics – A.D. 30’s style
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You know the old expression about mixing religion and politics -- ('Don't do it' all warn. Yet in every century our religious and political leaders rely on it.) 
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Today, Good Friday 2025 of the Common Era, we will address both!

—The POLITICS of ROME mingling with the RELIGION of JEWISH rulers of first century Jerusalem.

First, ROME and the rule of Pilate, the Roman Governors, several Caesars and captive/cooperative kings. This of course would include several King Herod’s and various Governor Herod‘s.

The cooperative nature of the Roman peace made strange bedfellows, so to speak.

Although it all comes to its pinnacle in the trial of Jesus Christ, the politics of these Roman and faux-Jewish governors and subject-kings will continue to affect the Apostles and saints well beyond Jerusalem’s destruction by Rome just forty years from this pivotal day in history.

The Politics of Religion – Righteousness on Trial
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For MORE insight into the politics of first century Jerusalem take a look at the above post from September, A.D. 2020. - RH 
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The Governor’s Examination of the Jewish King Jesus

From Pilate’s early-morning awakening by Jerusalem’s Jewish officials it began like this (as reported by Matthew, Jesus’ Disciple who had himself had an official tax-collecting post for Rome).

After tying him [Jesus] up, they [the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem] led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

— Matthew 27:2 (CSB)

At this point Matthew reports nothing more of the examination of Jesus by Pilate.

Let’s look at the testimony of the other Gospels.

So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews? ”

He answered him, “You say so.”

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.

Pilate questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of! ”

But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.

–– Mark 15:2-5 (CSB)
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(The Gospels witness this mix of the Jewish false charges and the examination of the Governor in this brief early-morning balcony scene of sorts.) 
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Let’s move back a bit further in the transition of the actions which brought the accused King Jesus of the Jews before the Roman Governor.

Luke 23:

Then the whole company of them [the gathering of the Council] arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying,

“We found this man [Jesus] misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

And Pilate asked him,

“Are you the King of the Jews?”

And he answered him, “You have said so.”

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,

“I find no guilt in this man.”

But they were urgent, saying,

“He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Gospel of Luke 23:1-5 ESV

Do you see the political manipulation here?

Can you see the contemptable REJECTION of Pilate’s authority by the same religious officials?

They falsely claimed that JESUS would not allow Jewish followers to pay a Roman tax to Caesar — a tax which of course funds the Roman Governor and legions overseeing this captive city of Jerusalem.

Therefore the next POLITICAL move of both the Governor and these Jewish religious officials is to send the case to a more mutually agreeable jurisdiction – that of the Roman-appointed King legitimately appointed by the Caesar’s from the ruling family of the Herod’s.

The King’s Examination of King Jesus
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We refer, of course, to political Judean King receiving Jesus, the Christ of the Jews! 
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(How volatile this judgment challenging who is king?)

And when he (the Roman Governor Pilate) learned that he [Jesus of Galilee] belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he [Jesus] made no answer.

The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him [the Jewish Christ or Messiah, Jesus] with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he [King Herod] sent him [Christ Jesus] back to Pilate [the Roman Prefect/Governor].

And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Gospel of Luke 23:7-12 ESV
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Yes, 'strange bedfellows' indeed, but not so out of the ordinary for the great Herod's - Kings of the Jews!
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Friends, Romans and Jewish countrymen.. (let us make pax–shalom)..

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them,

“You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.

Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us.

Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”

Luke 23:13-16 ESV

a political verdict and sentence

NOT Guilty .. but we will punish Him.

Jerusalem Evangelical Witnesses Political Action Committee –

JEWPAC
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Now don't get all bent out of shape over my fictional illustration of the San Hedren of A.D. first century Jerusalem -- religious leaders beholden to the politics of Rome. 

WE all know and recognize the function of Political Action Committees -- even 21st century C.E. Christian Evangelical PAC's 

-- they raise and spend MONEY to influence a political outcome desired by leaders holding the purse-strings of THE PEOPLE. 
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“What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him [Judas Iscariot] thirty pieces of silver.
Gospel of Matthew 26:15 ESV

Let’s take a quick look back to how the religious leaders of Jerusalem sought to bring Jesus to trial and the Cross.
- ἐγκαίνια – the Feast of Dedication
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instituted by Judas Maccabaeus [164 BC] in memory of the cleansing of the temple from the pollution of Antiochus Epiphanes 
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source

Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,

“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe…

“I and the Father are one.”

The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.,,

Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

Gospel of John 10:22-39 ESV excerpt
- Jesus’ Parable of the Wicked Tenants
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up..

“.. But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ ..”

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

Gospel of Luke 20 ESV excerpt

Buying Betrayal

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Gospel of Mark 14:10-11 ESV

Later Bribery against Truth
- A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.
  - Governor Pilate had already ordered crosses readied for Barabbas and two others,
- the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas
  - and to have Jesus executed
- the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house …
  - source
and they cried out—the whole multitude—saying, “Away with this One, and release Barabbas to us,” .. Pilate again then—wishing to release Jesus—called to them, but they were calling out, saying,

“Crucify! Crucify Him!”

Gospel o f Luke 23:18-21 Literal Standard Version
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Surly, a pre-meditated placement of party members loyal to its leaders pressing against true judgment -- shouting down all opposition in order to create a consensus of social truth opposed to the True Savior of Jew and gentile. 

These Chief Priests of Jerusalem had party leaders and blind sheep in their political pocket! 

No Jew would dare oppose the mammon of their political power and leadership.
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Buying the lies of status quo

AFTER Jesus burial and resurrection these same Political Action Committee-men would have to counter true witness of over five hundred men who knew that the Christ – Jesus of Nazareth – was no longer in the grave.

HE IS RISEN!

.. some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.

A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers,

“You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor [Pontius Pilate] hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”

So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say.

Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

[.. reports the Disciple Matthew Levi, who recorded his Gospel in Hebrew about 30 years later.

Matthew 28:11-15 NLT

Who IS this CHRIST JESUS –crucified for our sins and Risen?

What must we do?

TalkofJESUS.com
April 18, 2025
The Sun and the Moon Stood Still – Why won’t we?
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation:

at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

Habakkuk 3:11 KJV

Sun and moon stood still before God

What’s the picture?

An illustrative celestial EXAMPLE to those created ones of GOD

bowed DOWN before the GLORY of our FATHER

Habakkuk – a Prophet burdened for a people humbled

1:2 עַד־אָנָה יְהוָה שִׁוַּעְתִּי וְלֹא תִשְׁמָע אֶזְעַק אֵלֶיךָ חָמָס וְלֹא תוֹשִׁיעַ׃
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The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
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IF you have not already felt the full weight of a Prophet painting a picture for men without eyes to see —

a sun and a moon which had stood still, — then you have sensed a low and quiet place where the Lord has prepared an unseeing Common Era people by a BLINDING LIGHT in the darkness of these last days…

O LORD, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.

Habakkuk 1:2 NKJV

Sound familiar?

(Even from your own arrogant lips?)

Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.

Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

Habakkuk 1:2-3
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The LAW of which the Prophet speaks 
-- the Commandments of the LORD 
-- NO LAW = No Justice! 

Do we blindly suppose that the righteous are US? 
AND therefore WE the named and claimed PEOPLE of God suffer by His Almighty Hand! 
COULD THAT BE JUST? 
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WHY does this sound so familiar to a Common Era people who rarely read or hear the oracles of WARNING by the Prophets of God?

And what does Habakkuk ask early-on in his plea to the LORD?

Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,
And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours
A person more righteous than he?
14 Why do You make men like fish of the sea,
Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?

Habakkuk 13b-14 NKJV
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IS THIS any way to PLEA to the Lord our God of Whom WE are commanded to 'love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ even confirmed by the Messiah and Lord Jesus? 
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More Writing on the wall
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(for those casting a first stone at Habakkuk) 
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Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:2-4 NKJV
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Again, what is the picture? 

The SOUL of the proud is fallen. 
AND the soul of the Lord's faithful remains bowed down in the witness of our lives. 
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Therefore, for the hope of the faithful know that the LORD pronounces many woes (and NOT blessings) on the proud who seem to be in charge of our mortal lives. And to name just a few:
- hell שְׁאוֹל
- death מָוֶת
- transgressions (treachery) בָּגַד
- evil רַע
- and the violation of several specific Commandments.
THEN the LORD closes his response to the Prophet with an authoritatively THUNDERING VOICE to humble worshipers bowed down in faithfulness:

“But the Lord is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

Habakkuk 2:20
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What would happen IF Common Era worshipers would put down our devices and our coffees and entered into WORSHIP like this? 

Let thos whw with eyes to see Christ's writing in the sand see God's zeal for faithful worshipers. 
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and now:

This prayer sung by the prophet Habakkuk:

O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2 NKJV

God came from Teman,
The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah

And the earth was full of His praise.

4 His brightness was like the light;
He had rays flashing from His hand,
And there His power was hidden...

He looked and startled the nations.
And the everlasting mountains were scattered,
The perpetual hills bowed.

from the prayer of Habakkuk

GET THE IDEA?

all bowed down before the Lord – in HIS Presence everything else stood still or was swept away by the hidden power of HIS GLORY!

Your bow was made quite ready;
Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah

The sun and the moon stood still
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Now returning to the context of our opening picture and illustration: 
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You divided the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and trembled;
The overflowing of the water passed by.
The deep uttered its voice,
And lifted its hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation;
At the light of Your arrows they went,
At the shining of Your glittering spear.

12 You marched through the land in indignation;
You trampled the nations in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For salvation with Your Anointed.
You struck the head from the house of the wicked,
By laying bare from foundation to neck.

Selah

When I heard, my body trembled;
My lips quivered at the voice;
Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself,
That I might rest in the day of trouble.

Habakkuk 3:16a NKJV
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Is THIS your reaction -- contemporary christian worshiper? 
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A Hymn of Faith
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NO hymns for OUR praise band! 
NO Old Testament Prophets and their drama that could SILENCE the applause and bring the CROWD to its knees.
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Who remembers Jesus cursing the fig tree as the Lord entered Jerusalem?

The unfamiliar picture and significant symbolism Jesus drew is the same as that of Habakkuk’s hymn of faith.

We examined this great symbolism in an earlier series.

for it was not the season for figs – prologue
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Even if you choose not to read the prologue above you will find these references from Habakkuk below -with which we will conclude.

AND consider our 2025 CE Lenten theme of contrition replanted in the hearts of 21st century worshipers:
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We stood there and did nothing
- Habakkuk and other Prophets of the Lord have warned us to WORSHIP the Lord our God.
- The Messiah JESUS — Son of the Living God — enters Jerusalem cursing a tree that bore no fruit (though thousands applaud Him).
- Crowds of worshipers enter a Common Era gathering little noticing a cursed fig tree as they bring their coffees and distracting devices toward the gate of the grand stage.
- LENT?
  - WE don’t do that anymore…
for it was not the season for figs – 7

O, faithless fig tree, dear dried up vine;

do you believe that you alone have cried out to the Lord for mercy?

Habakkuk 3:

O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.

for it was not the season for figs – 7 – July 9, 2017 TalkofJESUS.com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
March 13, 2025