Category Archives: Jesus

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 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.

Christmas – Have You Been to Bethlehem

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Christmas – Have You Been to Bethlehem

Angels007

Shepherds, simple shepherds, out doing their job by camping in a field so they could guard sheep; sheep that would be used for sacrifice in the Temple to worship God. Working at night outside Bethlehem (House of Bread) so they could take care of their families. Sounds like a lot of people today who are doing everything they can just to earn a living. Then a “that night” happened in their lives. The Good News was told to them and they were told exactly what they had to do. Granted they had an angelic concert with a lot of praise but how many people after getting the Good News have a concert of witnesses The_Shepherds004praising God for things done in their life. But these guys did something bold and very life changing. They went and saw for themselves and in doing so they found Jesus and the first thing they did was to tell other people. You don’t think that was a big deal! Look in Nativity_Scenes002Luke 2:17 – 20 as they told people, they praised God and glorified Him but the people that heard were just “amazed” but not moved enough to go find Jesus for themselves.

What about you? Have you heard the Good News? If you have, have you purposefully gone to “Bethlehem” to find Jesus? Have you praised God and told people of the things you have seen? If not, make God’s day and give yourself as a present to Jesus.

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Christmas – Isaiah 9

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Christmas – Isaiah 9

Isaiah 9 contains three very important prophecies about Jesus: where he would live (vs. 1), a list of His titles, and what His kingdom would be like (vs. 6, 7). Nazareth is by the Sea of Galilee in the land of Naphtali and foreshadows Matthew 2: 23 in that He would be called a Nazarene. Handel immortalized verse 6 and 7 but these names/titles are important: christmas angelsWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Verse seven clearly puts this ruler in David’s family and places justice and righteousness as keystones in His government. The last line is often overlooked but it too is important – The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

These promises came to Judah and Israel not in a “great time” period but at a very low one. Just like Father to encourage His people when things look bleak. Ahaz, the fifteenth ruler of Judah, was actively rebelling against God (2 Chronicles 28 and 2 Kings 16). So God used Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel Christmas 1to do some cleaning up of Judah (see Fifteen – Cleaning Up to Celebrate). Idolatry and oppression by foreign kings, and bloodshed was the life of the people of God when Isaiah spoke this prophecy. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, certainly stepped up and turned things around for Judah but only Jesus could fulfill the names in verse six.

Pic of angels: http://www.squidoo.com/vintagechristmasimages 

Nativity scene by Mark Johanningmeier

Christmas Verses – Magi and Herod

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Christmas Verses – Magi and Herod

Balaam is the guy with the talking donkey who was hired to curse Israel. The Lord would not let him, so he delivers a prophecy about Jesus and the destruction of Israel’s enemies. ( Numbers 24:17 -19)

17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. 18 Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. 19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.” (NIV)

This great verse covers Jesus, the Star, and Herod (Edom). Herod was not a Jew but an Edomite. To see more about them click here: Herod. For more about Balaam: Lord my/your God and Amalekites – Part 2

Psalm138: 4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you havecopy-wisemen-2.jpg decreed and Psalm 72: 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. New International Version (NIV) These verses describe the Magi coming to praise the new King of Israel and present Him with gifts.

Reference – Dr. Scott Hahn’s book Joy to the World.

The verses are from https://www.biblegateway.com/