Tag: text

  • 12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches – Part 3

    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:

    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

    google earth image of hills between Bethany and Jerusalem and Ephraim to the north

    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.

    painting of Christ and the Pharisees by Earnst Zimmerman

    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

    5:12 While 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.”

    13 Reaching 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…

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

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

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

    22 But 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.”

    25 Immediately 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.)

    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

    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.

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

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

    51 And 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.

    53 Then 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.

    woman with cell phone

    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.

    a crowd of people

    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.

    NEXT: We will continue our series in the 
    Gospel of John, God-willing...
  • 12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches – Part 2

    12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches – Part 2

    A Context to Texting

    You may find the photo headline of this post somewhat whimsical, but my incongruous placement of 21st century communications devices into first century Jewish hands comes with a purpose. Just imagine yourself in this scene of controversy.

    The very irony of our recent look back at the seriousness of what Daniel had to say about the future coming of the Messiah of Israel adds to divisions of thought by first century Jews.

    Any anachronistic imagery of the last days by Prophets like Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah and many more must have met with diverse interpretation.

    texting group - and you can be part of one to Talk of JESUS Christ in social media - 3-part series.

    Suppose the twelve Apostles and religious rulers of Jerusalem had communication tools such we do.

    Would they have been texting ahead as the Messiah Jesus approached?

    Of course these historical events did take place in the first century, but what if Jesus approached our city now?

    What do you think would happen?

    Consider the motivations of those in John’s Gospel as if they could communicate as quickly as we do in this 21st century A.D.

    The Jerusalem Jesus approached

    Jerusalem is a city under Roman imposed rules suppressing their world through might and mitigated right imposed by compromising captive national and local leaders. Their religious leaders convened as the Sanhedrin.

    The Sanhedrin‘s beginning is to be placed at the period in which Asia was convulsed by Alexander the Great and his successors. The Hellenistic kings conceded a great amount of internal freedom to municipal communities, and Palestine was then practically under home rule, and was governed by an aristocratic council of Elders

    John 12:

    google earth image of hills between Bethany and Jerusalem and Ephraim to the north

    You may recall the context of these parting paths from Jesus – Traveling to and from Bethany.

    The Twelve Apostles and many other Jews have just witnessed the Lord Jesus raise Lazarus from the grave!

    After returning to Bethany from Ephraim in the hills far-removed from Jerusalem’s public eye, they return to the home of Lazarus.

    Mary, sister to lazarus pours expensive oil on Jesus’ feet and one of the Twelve objects.

    5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

    We then followed the separate path of the Messiah and His Apostles away from the amazed public eyewitness of this great sign in Bethany.

    Good News / Bad News?

    Just image the Good News of the texts between those traveling with Jesus and the mourners of Bethany!

    Who did they tell of this confirmation of Israel’s Messiah?

    Last time we followed the storyline of the Good News (as Jesus retreated to the hills one last time). But now we will return to Bethany and follow the thread of bad news (no doubt texted ahead to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem). Now we turn to a divergent path headed in a different direction.

    Path of the Betrayer

    6 Now he [ Judas Iscariot ] said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it.

    7 So Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep [the rest of] it for the day of My burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

    The impulse of betrayal

    What does a zealous follower of a powerful man do when spurned by his idolized leader who fails to take the path he had expected?

    (Perhaps this is not so irrelevant to these times and leaders as well.)

    Judas would have texted other zealots he knew in the capital, those in the palaces of power.

    Roger Harned- talkofJesus.com

    John 13:

    Once more, jumping ahead to follow Judas after the Messiah’s triumphal entry to the gates of Judah’s capital:

    2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him…

    To Peter the Lord said:

    … You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

    Judas’ Betrayal Predicted

    You’ve entered the Holy gathering at the Table with the Lord.

    HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR CELL PHONES?

    You just can’t wait to tell your friends back home and waiting in the public square what has just happened. But just for a moment you allow Jesus to lead the events in the room.

    “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

    22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

    After a murmuring among those present John tells us that after the urging of Peter he asks the unspoken question on everyone’s mind.

    6 Jesus then answered,

    “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.”

    So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

    A devil revealed reacts

    John has already witnessed in his Gospel that Judas is a devil of a disciple who will betray Jesus. He has also witnessed that Jesus called the leaders of Jerusalem by the same.

    So what will these devils of conspiracy against all righteousness do?

    What would they do in this day?

    Communicate! — “TXT ME

    After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

    John 13:27 NASB – Judas Iscariot and the command of Jesus

    IF you were the betrayer, wouldn’t you immediately go for your communication device?

    We have to post an ‘update‘ to our ‘friend‘ network in the world we love?

    So did Judas!

    30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.

    Returning to Jerusalem

    Judas has left the Lord Jesus on a different path. (I pray that you have not left the presence of the Lord as well, claimer of Christ your savior for this brief life.)

    The Messiah Jesus called Judas a devil – διάβολος diábolos

    • prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
    • metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him

    Do you follow anyone like that?

    (Better not text them or pay much attention to their media campaigns pointed at you and their followers.’)

    Do you believe that men and women like Judas claim authority as followers of the Lord?

    You will always have the poor and you will always have those who do evil in the eyes of the Lord!

    False leaders must ultimately promote a lie of their own false traditions and compromised purity. John uncovers the motives of these ‘leaders.’

    Judas had hoped Jesus would overthrow Jerusalem’s autocratic, aristocratic religious leaders and their Roman allies violently, but the Messiah chose a sacrificial path.

    Now we return to the capital of the land in an earlier visit.

    John 8:

    We have examined this defendant of the devil before in Before Abraham was, I AM! Jesus had called these same leaders with false interpretation of Scripture and devious leadership to their own cultural ends, ‘devils!’

    37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

    42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God…

    “You are of your father the devil, G1228 and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks [fn]a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of [fn]lies.

    45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

    Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

    The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon.

    John 8:51-52a NASB

    What do you think?

    What BREAKING NEWS will you TXT ahead?

    • Will you remain with the Messiah, essentially following obediently as commanded as did the eleven?
    • Or will you betray your only Hope of cleansing of your sin (and text ahead to the world that the Messiah isn’t what you thought?)

    Perhaps you’ve been listening to distorted news of the powers you seek from principalities you cannot touch. You need to identify with these ‘leaders’ of the world and in the world.

    What is your reaction to the Messiah Jesus approaching in these last days?

    To be continued...
  • Take a look in the mirror

    Take a look in the mirror

    TEXT: Do you love Jesus Christ?

    • No answer
    • Another text (later)
    • No answer

    So what is a brother or sister in Christ to think?  Are you too busy for just a simple answer to a genuine communication in love?

    Maybe you think: I have other things to do… or when that number comes up on your cell: “I won’t answer that.  I don’t want to talk to him (or her).”

    Is that your idea of what you look like when you say that you are a Christian?

    Do you really think that is what Jesus Christ expects from those who ‘claim’ His Name by calling ourselves: christians?

    Perhaps it’s time to take an honest look in the mirror of your Christianity?

    John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

    The word used three times in just one verse – a commandment of our Lord Christ Jesus – agapaō

    of persons: to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

    I don’t know about you, but I see no choice here.

    IF a Christian brother or sister is trying to communicate with you: Jesus commands us to welcome them, to entertain them and to be fond of our brother or sister in the Lord — even love them dearly.

    IF we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, then by His command (IF in fact and in deed He IS our Lord) Jesus commands us to love each other dearly.

    Take a look in the mirror. After all, you should see a forgiven sinner staring back at you AND Jesus forgave you.

    In case you were wondering about the word for “love” in 1 Corinthians 13, often quoted as ‘the love chapter,’ it is a form of the same word:

    agapē – affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love

    You can be convicted by the entire list by reading the thirteen verses of 1 Corinthians 13; but to point out just a few for the mirror in front of you now:

    • Love is not arrogant.
    • Love is not rude.
    • Love is not irritable.
    • Love is not resentful.

    Yes, there are more.

    And don’t forget, dear brother or sister in the Lord:

    Love never ends.

    And one final look in the mirror:

    12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

    Let’s talk of Jesus. Please SHARE your Christian Social Witness.

    & comment:

    Do you love Jesus Christ?

Do you SHARE the Gospel by either email or text?