Category Archives: Bible Study

Easter 2015 – Saturday

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Saturday of Holy Week is often overlooked. Matthew is the only Gospel that records anything about it; Matthew 27: 62 – 66 tells of the posting of the guard at the tomb. Jesus, however, was busy doing things. Paul and Peter mention some of the important things He JESUS-35949400971did on this day. Many sermons have been wrapped around a reference by John in Revelations 1: 18 where Jesus has the “keys of death and the grave” and it has been stated that He took them on Saturday.

Paul in writing to the Ephesians (4: 8 -11) talks about when Jesus descended into the earthly regions; this is a quote of Psalm 68:18. While He in this region He took the captives that had been there, put them in His robe and ascended. He also, at that time, “gave gifts to men” so that we can be prepared for service.

Peter wrote to the “strangers in the world” (1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6) that after Jesus’ physical death the Spirit allowed Him to preach to those who disobeyed God before Noah’s Flood. This seems like it would have happened before Jesus led out captives.

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Easter 2015 – Things Given

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Things Given To Jesus in Holy Week

  • Palm Sunday – From Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, and John 12:12-19 we see the people giving Him praise. The Pharisees were upset in Luke 19 because this chant was for the “coming Messiah” and they did not think Jesus deserved it.
  • Monday – John 12: 28 the Father gave Jesus a voice (reply) from Heaven. It was for the benefit of the disciples and the crowd.
  • Tuesday – Nothing is recorded being given to Jesus on Tuesday. Well, a bad time from the Pharisees and Priest as they tried to trick Him.
  • Wednesday – Jesus was given a supper in Matthew 26:3 -16 and Mark 14: 1- 11. It was in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper.                                                      – Jesus also received an anointing of perfume to prepare His body for burial. The perfume was probably pure nard and it was very expensive and in an alabaster jar/bottle.
  • Thursday – Jesus was given strength and ministry from an angel (Luke 22:34). Judas gave the kiss (Matthew 26:49 and Luke 22:47).
  • Friday – A notice by Pilate that read Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews (John 19: 19) and a drink of wine vinegar (John 19:29).                                        Everything we deserved! The rejection, beatings, ridicule, nails, and death should have been ours.
  • Crucifix from Misson Espiritu in Goliad,TX
  • See Things Jesus Borrowed

Easter 2015 – Things Borrowed

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In the Hillsong United song Love Is War, from their Zion album, they make a statement that Jesus’ tomb was borrowed. That phrase started this study. I realized that was not the only thing borrowed or lent to Jesus during what we call Holy Week. I will also be looking at the things that were given to Him and then there was Saturday.

  • Palm Sunday – Jesus directed two disciples to go borrow a colt, (Matthew 21:1-11) this was to fulfill Isaiah 62:11. The people putting (lending) down their cloaks
    Jesus on the Donkey

    Jesus on the Donkey

    and cutting branches equate to the “red carpet” treatment and cut down on the dust the guest of honor had to deal with.

  • Monday – Jesus left Jerusalem each night and went to the Mount of Olives/Bethany to sleep, a place to stay (Luke 21:37).
  • Tuesday – Jesus borrowed the Temple Courtyard to do His teaching; he did this Monday through Thursday but here are the references listed with Tuesday: Matthew 21:23, Mark 12:35, Luke 20:1 and 21:38.  A coin (denarius), Jesus asked for this to end the question about paying taxes to Caesar: Matthew 22:19, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:23.
  • Wednesday – Nothing is recorded about Jesus borrowing anything on this day.
  • Thursday – The “ROOM” or upper room may be the one in Acts 12:12 which belonged to John Mark’s mother. The other things Jesus used, which probably were in the room, were a towel and washbasin. Matthew 26:18, Luke 22:16, and John 13:4.
  • Friday – To stay with the song Love Is War I will say that Jesus borrowed Joseph’s tomb but really Joseph thought he was giving it to Jesus.

This thought is just an extra but in Luke 23:25 when Pilate released Barabbas that made him the “scapegoat.” He was released and Jesus was sacrificed this practice was ordered in Leviticus 16 and was done on the Day of Atonement.

Psalm 103 – Barak the Lord

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I know I have read this Psalm (103) many times, in my Bible it has highlights and underlines I even imaged a place and time that David would have written it but that apparently did not mean I studied it. Well, for the place and time I could see David having penned this awesome song in 2 Samuel 12:16. This is where David is pleading for the life of the first child he had with Bathsheba. For seven days David is pleading with the Eternal God of Israel; I am sure he was stating why he would follow such a great God. David would also be reminding God of His awesome deeds and righteous ways, part of this would be comparing things David can see to the Father’s bigger realities. But what pulled me into this study was the phrase – “Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

KJV vs. NIV and Hebrew vs. English has always been a reason for me to study and Psalm 103 continues this tradition. The NIV translators rendered barak to mean, “praise” while in Hebrew it is “bless.” Vine’s Dictionary adds it is – to kneel, bless, be blessed, or curse.

I liked that it started and ended with “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Taking that thought a step farther I only found two psalms that begin and end with that phrase, 103 and 104. There are several that begin and end with “hãlal” or Hallelu Yah or as we say in English – Hallelujah! I believe those Psalm are 135, 146 – 150.  Verses 1, 2, 20, 21, and 22 a, b begin with barak and verse 1, 2, and 22b add the phrase “O my soul.” So six times (man’s number) it is said to “bless” the Lord, actually the three that add “O my soul” are for David (men) while the other three are directed at other creations.

Verses 19 – 22 are a “verse” or thought within this psalm. They deal with God’s kingdom and who should barak. David notes that angels, heavenly host, all His works, and my soul are to bârak. At first I was puzzled by angels, heavenly host and all works, I thought for sure David was repeating himself but a check of the Hebrew definitions added to the depth of this Psalm. The “angels” or messengers seem to be a specific group of created beings while the “heavenly host” is the rest of God’s army. This is consistent with the rest of Scripture because different “classes” of angels are mentioned in the prophets and Revelation. “All His works” is just that, everything thing else: plants, animals, the waves, and the heavens.

Psalm 103 ends as it began, a personal call for the individual to barak his God with everything that is within him.

Salem or Sodom – After

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While reading Genesis 13,14, and 15 for the Salem or Sodom series this idea started to stand out, Abram did things and “after” they were done new things opened for him. Actually “after” seems to be a theme in Abraham’s life but I will start with the Sodom story. Genesis 13:14, 14:17, and 15:1 all have an example of “after.”

Genesis 13:14 Lot has finally left Abram and went east to the Jordan River valley in order to separate what must have been a large camp of shepherds. Lot and Abram were living in the highlands between Bethel and Ai along the main highway that ran north to south in the country. Abram gave Lot his choice and he went to the lowlands and eventually pitched his tents outside of Sodom. Abram in chapter 12 had received two promises but “after” Lot left God’s message was to physically go claim his promise. He left Luz (Bethel) an area of springs and probably almond trees (luz = almonds) and went south past Salem to Hebron to live by an ally.

Genesis 14:17 is the second “after.” Abram has just rescued Lot when Bera comes out of hiding and tries to influence him but God sent Melchizedek king of Salem to support Abram. Abram chooses God and gets blessed, tithes, and puts the king of Salem in his place. Even though Bera got the people and the goods it is very possible that Abram’s speech made him an enemy.

Genesis 15:1 is the last “after” in the Sodom story. This one could be placed in Hebron and if Josephus’ telling of the story is correct God is reassuring Abram that He will reward him. This is where a son is promised to Abram and he and God do a blood covenant. (That bloody scene of walking between animals cut in half is how a covenant was cut. Basically, if you break covenant this is what happens to you.) I just wonder if Abram was thinking about the kings he had defeated and the ones he may have insulted.

With these examples of “after,” Abram does something and God has an increase for him. Many times we as Christians have to “step out the boat” before we find God has already prepared the situation and us for us to get a blessing.

Some of the other “afters” in Abraham’s life is found in Genesis 18 when God says he will instruct his household that will come and chapter 22 and his testing with Isaac.