Category Archives: Days and Times

Holy Week – Thursday

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Thursday of Holy Week was a powerful for Jesus.

Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke22: 7-65, John 13:1 -18:27

See Holy Week 2014 – Thursday – Jesus Eagerly Desired

WOW! What a week. Put on Jesus’ shoes for a few minutes; treated like royalty, symbolically killed the old system (the fig tree), taught and defended your teachings in the center of your religion and started to prepare for your death. The emotions of the man Jesus because of the knowledge of the God Jesus must have been overwhelming.

The new continues as He changes the Passover meal and the concept of who is the “greatest.”

The Garden Prayers have always fascinated me because the few lines have never seemed like enough to last for hours. Luke 24:44 says Moses, Psalms and the Prophets have things that had to be fulfilled. Jesus prayed three times and each time it seems like He was more intense until Judas showed up. I will grant that this is my imagination but I put together scriptures that might sound like those prayers. Due to the length I am going to list only parts of the first prayer, this one is about six pages long. (All of these are from the NIV version.)

  • Ps 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
  • Ps 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
  • Ps 9:7 The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
  • Ps 9:8 He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.
  • Ps 9:9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
  • Ps 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
  • Ps 36:5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
  • Ps 36:6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
  • Ps 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
  • Ps 36:8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
  • Ps 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

The middle of the prayer.

  • Ps 56:1 Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack.
  • Ps 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
  • Ps 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
  • Ps 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
  • Ps 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
  • Ps 61:3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
  • Ps 61:4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
  • Ps 60:5 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
  • Ps 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
  • Ps 91:3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
  • Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

The end of the prayer.

  • Ps 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
  • Ps 119:29 Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.
  • Ps 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.
  • Ps 119:31 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
  • Ps 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
  • Ps 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
  • Ps 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
  • Ps 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
  • Ps 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
  • Ps 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
  • Ps 38:9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
  • Ps 38:10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

Then to go from hours of prayer to a trial that you know will not end good.

Holy Week – Tuesday

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Tuesday starts out in Matthew 21:18-26 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. (NIV) If you read my blog about the meaning of the fig tree I will encourage you to look at Jesus’ “teaching/explanations” in light of “old religion” dying and the importance of faith. Jesus spent most of Tuesday dealing with traps from angry religious leaders and of course His own jabs back at them.

The widow’s mite is a completely different thought process from what most of us have.

The religion in the leaders showed up in His disciples as they left the Temple awed by the rock/stones of the wall.

See Holy Week 2014 – Tuesday – Jesus Saw

Scripture References:

Matthew 21:18-26, Mark 11:20-13:37, Luke 20:1 -21:38:

  • The Authority of Jesus Questioned
  • The Parable of the Tenants
  • Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
  • Marriage at the Resurrection
  • The Greatest Commandment
  • Whose Son Is the Messiah?
  • Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
  • The Widow’s Offering
  • The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
  • The Day and Hour Unknown

Tuesday ends with Luke 20:1 -21:38 37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and Garden-of-Gethsemane-olive-trees,-tb051906423-bibleplaceseach evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

It is interesting that Luke mentions the Mount of Olives (the place that will split open, Zechariah 14:3-5, and where the Garden was) and not Bethany.

(All verses and topics are from the NIV.)

Mount of Olives http://www.bibleplaces.com/mtolives.htm

Holy Week – Monday

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Scripture References:

  •    Mark 11:12-19 Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts
  •    Matthew 21:12-17, Luke 19:45-47 Jesus at the Temple
  •    John 12:20-50 Jesus Predicts His Death, Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews (NIV headings)

See Holy Week 2014 – Monday – Jesus Was Hungry

Jesus left Jerusalem Sunday after looking around the Temple and not liking what He saw (see Palm Sunday). I have heard that at Passover Jerusalem could have a million visitors (that seems high so I will have to find that reference again) and many of them could be from out of the country. So when people in the city were asking who it was that had that type of parade, it was probably visitors. The query in John from the Greeks again would be a reasonable request because they were visitors.

Bethany, according to John 11:18 was only a two-mile walk from Jerusalem and since this Map-Palestine-New-Testament-Timeswas the hometown on Martha, Mary and Lazarus He and the Twelve Disciples had a place to stay. Jesus would also have dinner at Simon the Leper’s house later in the week. I always felt that it was Lazarus’ donkey that he rode into the city; it makes a great story but you cannot prove it.

In the scriptures for Sunday and Monday, a lot is made of the “signs” Jesus had performed. Jews believed that the Messiah would do a specific set of signs to prove His leadership. He did all of them and raising Lazarus from the dead was the crowning sign which is why people kept talking about it to get the crowd “fired up.” Feeding the 4,000 and 5,000 people with fish and bread was another sign; the timing for His signs was important which is part of the reason why He kept telling people to be quiet about the miracles.

The selling of the doves and animals was a “High Priest” sanctioned business venture that made them a lot of money. Since the animals were supposedly pre-checked to meet the sacrificial requirements it “was easier” for people to just buy the animals at the Temple. (The sheep were raised in the Bethlehem area where Jesus was born, nice foreshadowing to the story.) Roman/foreign money was not good in the Temple because it was not “holy”; that is why there were moneychangers. So between the miracles and the messing up of their business, the rulers were not happy with Jesus.

The cursing of the fig tree carries a lot of symbolism about religion that started back in the Garden of Eden. Please read my blog on “figs.”

John 12 shows the increasing emotional and physical strain that was on Jesus and indicates what the Garden of Gethsemane prayer time would be like.

 Mark 11:12-19 Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts (This is a COMPILING of the stories in the Gospels)

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple.18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

John 12:20-50 Jesus Predicts His Death

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

http://www.bible-history.com/maps/palestine_nt_times.html

Holy Week – Palm Sunday

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This is all of the Palm Sunday stories about the ride into Jerusalem put together.

I will be looking at what and where Jesus was each day of Holy Week.

See Holy Week 2014 – Palm Sunday- Jesus Had a Need

Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, John 12:12-19

New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once as you enter it, you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her, which no one has ever ridden. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:5 “Say to Daughter Zion, 15 “Do not be afraid,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them 4 and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd 12 that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

16 At first, his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.

11 Jesus went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

 

Epiphany or Three Kings Day

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This is the last day of Christmas or the 12th day of Christmas (January 6th).

Have a great 2013.

wiseman 3A devotional for Epiphany is on this website: http://www.cresourcei.org/cy12days.html

Regardless of the origin of this idea, a number of Christians give the following meanings to the gifts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)

 wisemen 2
What is the religious symbolism of the 12 days of Christmas?
Here is one rendition of what the religious symbolism is for the Twelve Days of Christmas:
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope, and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refer to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese a-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords a-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s CreedSource: http://www.carols.org.uk/

I have tried to connect Zachariah’s service with the birth of Jesus in the Post – The Day of Atonement, Passover, and Epiphany.  The results are not what I expected about the birth time of Jesus.  The legend/history is better than I thought.

I got the above information from the website http://www.12days.com/faq.htm