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Tag: Matthew

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

Elijah – on a Prophetic Path to Gethsemane

Also in part-1:
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We also glanced quickly at historical context of the Jews from Canaan to Babylon and A.D. 1st c. Jerusalem.
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~1450 B.C

The Prophet Moses

~870 B.C. – 849 B.C.

The Prophet Elijah

Later, as prophesied:
- defeat of ISRAEL the Northern Kingdom
  - 722 B.C.
~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.
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First Century A.D.
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“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
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Ezekiel dates his prophecies from 597 B.C. ..also 573/72,..in 571/70 B.C. (29:17)
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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)
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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! 
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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)
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Does ANY of this sound familiar -- you 21 century shepherds of the Gospel -- have you tended your flock? 
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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)
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Yet some of you do not believe the Prophets or in the resurrection of the dead to the Judgment or Heaven. 
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‘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
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~ in the year of our Lord 30 
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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
April 14, 2025
Leviticus – Preparation of a Priest for the Sacrifice
SEALED within the Ark of the Covenant as testimony of the LORD on Sinai — the TEN WORDS –– written in Exodus and Deuteronomy as you know, but also referenced in Leviticus.

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);
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Bitumen, also known as mineral tar, is derived from the partial distillation of crude petroleum. - source 
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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
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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.
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- 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.
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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. 
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Leviticus – Prescription for Perfect Worship, Priestly Requirements

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
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and much more... 
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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.”

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

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

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 of Gethsemane

Lent 2025 C.E. – a time for contrition

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
March 28, 2025
“O altar, altar! place of slaughter, place of worship
And behold, a man of God .. cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord:

1 Kings 13:1-2 excerpt NKJV

Are you going to listen?

So SEVERE the message! And who is this anonymous Prophet? (I’ve never heard of him — and we’re in a church gathering after all..) Who is this man approaching the King?

WE worship a King and Priest with his own hill and altar of worship and praise of the People.

Will we hear God’s Voice through the true Prophet of the Almighty?

An Altar of Stone on the Stage of Worship

Surround it with towering Common Era walls of glass — or even a city built for worship of every ancient saint and yet another elevated arch–episkopos —

Stand over it and hold up so many sacrifices of the people,, stained with the Blood of unseen sins.. proclaiming the Altar on your stage for ‘Him‘ as Priest of Aaron and King over all your people..

And so.. you people gathered for a week’s sprinkling of grace.. a people of amplified praise of prepositional paraphrased worship.. have you who praise him as king who thank him as priest.. DO YOU hear the Prophet who rejects the Blood of your every sacrifice?

Prophet, Priest and King
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It's an ancient and little-noticed scenario of the present .. that of the specific roles of mortal men (yes, men) anointed as intercessors on behalf of those they lead in worship and in an ever-so-brief life in the flesh and blood of the created. 
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Have you heard this Scripture in your worship?

NOTE the roles of those involved:

1 Kings 13:

‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’ ”

1 Kings 13:2b NKJV
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IF you know this Scripture you will realize that I have intentionally omitted some of this introduction in order to focus on its participants. 

You most likely know that Josiah became a young King of Judah, right? 
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A Hebrew view of Scripture

Although you may recall a more famous Prophet from the book of First Kings, like me you may have wondered why the Christian Bible includes 1 & 2 Kings as O.T. History and not with the Prophets (who lived during these same historic times).

Old Testament [source]

Take a quick Jewish look back at a fallen and broken Kingdom of David.

Without noting Scriptures pointing to named authors of God’s written word in the Hebrew list of Nevi’im (Prophets) the Tanakh includes Joshua (the General of Moses), Judges, Samuel (a Priest of the God) and Kings with the former Prophets BEFORE the Exile and other books (i.e. Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet) as Post-exilic Scriptures.

Lamentations of our past in a Lenten path forward

The LEADERSHIP ROLES of GOD’s Chosen peoples have changed over time — both Before Christ and in these last days of Christ’s Chosen Church.

Has man (anthrōpos) misrepresented the WRITTEN instruction of the LORD?

Here in 1 Kings we read one (of many) Scriptural examples and warnings to worshipers of God.

(Have you heard them?)

Kings in charge (or so they thought)
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Let's examine this Scripture (or Hebrew book of the Prophets) in terms of leadership roles and relationships. 
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And behold, [in] Bethel .. Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then [the man] cried out against the altar..

1 Kings 13:1-2 excerpt

To set the scene:
- Bethel בֵּית־אֵל
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Bethel was a royal city of the Canaanites (Joshua 12:16). It appears to have been captured by Joshua (8:7), and it was allotted to Benjamin (Joshua 18:22). 

To counteract the influence of Jerusalem as the national religious center Jeroboam embarked on the policy which won for him the unenviable reputation of having "made Israel to sin." Here he erected a temple, set up an image, the golden calf, and established an imposing ritual. It became the royal sanctuary and the religious center of his kingdom.
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source
- Jeroboam יָרָבְעָם
The LORD brought Israel to ruin before Judah. The decline began from the first kings of each divided nation AND the LORD sent prophets to them again and again.

Israel’s Rebellion
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READ more (from 1 Kings 12) for the context of the LORD's curse against the altar of Jeroboam. 

And do not presume, O divided Nation of this Common Era, that WE are so free from the judgement of the Lord our God.
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So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
12:19 וַיִּפְשְׁעוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּבֵית דָּוִד עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃ ס
- Shemaiah
But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God..

” Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD.
- Jeroboam
12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there…

31 He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi.

Jeroboam ordained a feast .. like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar.

So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made.

And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made…

So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel .. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense.

1 Kings 12:33 NKJV excerpt

a Prophet from Judah
- a man of God
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Returning to 1 Kings 13 and the cursed altar where we began don't miss that an unnamed Prophet delivers this key message from the LORD.
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13:1 וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים בָּא מִיהוּדָה בִּדְבַר יְהוָה אֶל־בֵּית־אֵל וְיָרָבְעָם עֹמֵד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהַקְטִיר׃

And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, “O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord:

‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’ ”

3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out.”

4 So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!”

Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself.

The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.

1 Kings 13:5 NKJV – more

6Then the king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.”

So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as before. Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”
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Who with ears to hear does not tremble at this outcome spoken by the 'man of God' - an unnamed Prophet hearing the KING order his arrest; and yet a son of man healing the outstretched arm of Israel's King and self-appointed Priest? 

But have you even heard of such a thing in YOUR contemporary evangelical house of worship? 
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Before Christ in Gethsemane

אֱלֹהִים

And behold, a man of God…

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17 NKJV –
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Jesus preached from 'the Law and the Prophets,' which includes both books of Kings. 
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He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand.. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

Matthew 12:9a,10a, 13 NKJV
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So could a man of God have healed Jeroboam's withered arm? Do you believe that JESUS could have instantly healed this man in the Synagogue? 
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Garden of Gethsemane

And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear… In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes,

“Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.

excerpt from Matthew 26 NKJV

“But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Gospel of Matthew 26:56 NKJV

a Common Era Contrition for Lent – Ash and dust

Lent 2025 C.E. – a time for contrition
March 20, 2025