Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: passover

  • HOLY | separated

    Leviticus 11:45 & John 6:69  Roger@talkofJesus.com reading today's devotional scriptures

    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
        1. of God
        2. of places
        3. 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׃

    2 וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

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

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

    5 וַֽיִּקְרְב֗וּ 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
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    For you will always have the poor – 2
    
			
    For you will always have the poor – 2
    
			
    “For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” – John 12:1 NKJV
    

    This remark of Jesus cuts right to the quick, does it not? A sense of urgency here: the Son of Man is about to depart from the company of those the Lord came to save.
    

    An earlier story (in the home of Lazarus)
    

    Once again, I ask us to examine the 5 W’s of the gospel accounts.
    

    In the first part of this series we examined the gospel of Mark.
    

    We established some facts:
    

      

    1. It took place on Tuesday, two days prior to the Passover.
      2. 

    2. It took place in Bethany, in the home of Simon the Leper.
      3. 

    3. An unnamed woman came in and broke an alabaster flask, anointing Jesus’ head.
      4. 

    4. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that?” [Once more, ‘to themselves.’]
      5. 

    5. Jesus praises the unnamed woman.
      6. 

    

    Read carefully a similar, earlier incident from the gospel of John:
    

    John 12:
    

    Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
    

    

    

    Again, earlier – six days before the Passover, not two. And as we mentioned the Passover that year was a Thursday; therefore, most likely on the evening of the Sabbath, Friday, not the following Tuesday after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
    

    

    Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, for a final Sabbath meal with his dear friends.
    

    2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
    

    

    Once again, we are in Bethany, but with all certainty Lazarus is hosting the meal with Jesus as honored guest in his own home (not one of another resident of Bethany who will host them all just four days later). Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Judas Iscariot are all named in addition to Jesus.
    

    

    3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
    

    

    Some new detail
    

    In addition to naming Lazarus, Mary and Martha, we now learn that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. It is the act of a servant, an act of humility. Furthermore, we learn from the Apostle John, who wrote this account and knew the disciples well, that Judas complains about the value of the pure nard. It is Judas who suggests to all the value that could be uses for the poor; yet John reveals Judas’ motive in mentioning the poor, that Judas steals cash from this treasury of the disciples.
    

    

    4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
    

    7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
    

    

    Jesus, of course, ignores the false suggestion that Judas and the disciples can sell Mary’s expensive ointment for a profit to ‘help the poor.’ Jesus defends Mary’s generous and kind act of worship.
    

    I ask us, though: aren’t you and I just like Judas in that way?
    

    Don’t we so often accuse the generous act of another in a way to imply that we could be better stewards of their gift to the Lord?
    

    

    Jesus’ last Sabbath before the Sacrifice
    

    Exodus 16:26  שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תִּלְקְטֻהוּ וּבַיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לֹא יִֽהְיֶה־בֹּֽו׃
    

    It is now Saturday, the Sabbath.
    

    

    9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
    

    10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
    

    The Triumphal Entry
    

    12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
    

    

    Jesus, the Twelve and some followers had traveled one final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, via Bethany. In preparation for the time at hand, they rest in the home of their risen friend, Lazarus.
    

    Do you remember what Jesus had assured Mary after Lazarus had been in the grave four days?
    

    (This was not the first resurrection Jesus caused, but it was the most recent.)
    

    

    John 11:
    

    25 Jesus said to her, [ctt title=”“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” tweet=”Do you believe this? – John 11:25-26 ESV” coverup=”Q4g8Y”]
    

    Do you believe this?”
    

    27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
    

    

    

    No words speak more of the life of one who believes than these:
    

    To be continued…
    

     
    

     
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    The Last Supper + Communion + a Family Meal
    
			
    The Last Supper + Communion + a Family Meal
    
			
    

    Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper
    




    The following is an UPDATED post from Maundy Thursday of Holy Week in the year of our Lord 2015 about the Last Supper of Jesus and the Twelve and communion of the saints of the Church. - RH
    




    

    Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 
    
Psalm 41:9
    




    




    




    The Last Supper scene staged by Rembrandt. Actually the Twelve Apostles in customary 1st century Jewish custom were 'reclined at table.'
    




    Institution of the Lord’s Supper
    




    As a Christian you may have your own name and picture of Maundy Thursday. 
    




    It is a celebration of the Church commemorating the LAST SUPPER of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Twelve Apostles, His friends and followers for previous three years. 
    




    Many Christians and Messianic Jews will also recognize that these Jewish men were also celebrating the Passover meal. 
    




    Yet this meal both commemorates a covenant of old and establishes a new covenant by the BODY & BLOOD of the Savior who serves it.
    




    




    In Paul’s letter to the CHURCH at Corinth the ‘apostle to the gentiles’ describes our commemoration of the NEW COVENENT of Communion:
    




    1 Corinthians 11: NKJV
    




    23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: 
    




    that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 
    




    

    “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 
    




    

    




    25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 
    




    

    “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. 
    




    This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
    

    




    26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
    




    +
    




    




    Commemoration of the First Covenant
    




    Deuteronomy 12:
    




    7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
    




    8 “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes— 9 for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you.
    




    Joshua 5:11-12
    




    And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
    




    Communion: OUR Family Meal
    




      

    • How important is your ‘christian’ and biological family to you?
      • 




    • Is Jesus head of your family?
      • 




    • Do we not need the intimacy of the love and time together in relationship and meals?
      • 

    




    

    

    




    

    As WE COMMEMORATE the LAST SUPPER OF JESUS let the saints called into His CUURCH remember that Communion is NOT an Old Covenant, but a New Covenant renewed in the ever-lasting family of Christ Jesus.
    
Roger@TalkofJesus.com + Thursday April 6, in the year of our Lord 2023
    




    




    We have forgotten the communion of relationship and intimacy of sharing our joy, our sorrows and our meals. We have forgotten to leave a place for the Lord at the head of our table and a time for all to partake in His righteousness and love.
    




    

    LORD, we have not even invited you and each of our loved ones to enjoy your peace, your love, your compassion, your teaching… LORD we have lost the family in our home… LORD we have lost the family in your church. Lord help us.
    
Prayer of the original A.D. 2015 post. – RH
    




    Communion
    




    Holy Communion and the Passover Seder which Jesus commemorated on the night in which He was betrayed are much more than just a ritual.
    




    Do you realize that Jesus, our Lord and Savior said: 
    




    “Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
    




    

    In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:25
    




    

    




    It was after supper. It was a toast, as we would properly identify the proclamation over the wine this close family of Jesus was about to share.
    




    Yes, the Twelve were Jesus’ close family. 
    




    They shared meals — almost all meals together. They broke bread together. They prayed together. They discussed Jesus’ teaching of the day and the day’s events. 
    




    These were regular times of communion — intimate familial community — fellowship still familiar to members of the first century church and most familiar to families.
    




    

    Yet it is a communion, a fellowship of love, even an eventful love feast; which Christians in this century and  our Christian families have sacrificed to the leaven of this world.
    

    




      

    • Communion is fellowship with God
      • 




    • Communion is between Christ and the church by the Spirit
      • 




    • Communion is the fellowship of believers with one another
      • 

    




    Ephesians 4:
    




    Once again, encouragement from Paul to the CHURCH in Ephesis where the apostle had by example spent much time.
    




    Unity in the Body of Christ
    




    I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
    




    4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
    




    




    The communion and fellowship of believers in your family, of your church and in the body of all faithful believers is even more than this. 
    




    We remember by Christ’s blood that He IS and we are joined to one another in Him. 
    




    Unbelievers have no part in this. Those separate from Christ Jesus have no LIFE of His saving Blood.
    




    +
    




    The New Life
    




    17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
    




    18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! +
    




    




    Do you not find this true?
    




    Are beloved family members even callous to your love for them and our love for Christ Jesus?
    




    

    And if like Christ we are hated by the world and even those of our own household, how much more important is communion and fellowship of His body the church.
    

    




    

      

    • How important is daily communion and fellowship in your Christian home?
      • 




    • Where is the place of Christ at your table, with husband and wife as one with Him? 
      • 




    • Do our children come to commune with the Lord in our ‘christian home?’
      • 

    

    




    and here I confess that 'I am the chief of sinners.' 
    




    At the table of the last supper sat Judas, as ALSO sits the one (maybe, if you insist) who hates Jesus and will betray you.
    




    At the table of the last supper sat Peter, as ALSO sit ones you may have to forgive three times (or seventy times seven) when they deny your love and Christ’s way to take up the cross and follow Him.
    




    




    Lord help us. Help us to commune with you and to love one another as You have loved us. Bring our beloved ones to your table of communion and fellowship and eternal love.
    




    Amen.
    




    To READ MORE about COMMUNION click HERE.