Category Archives: Jesus

Firstborn

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Firstborn was conceived from this question-How can the firstborn of creation be the Last Adam or Second Man? After a fruitful study, I am now ready to birth this post about the Firstborn. This study started growing into a very complicated child because of all the aspects related to the topic of the firstborn. Maybe I will get to that plethora of information in a future post.

Some about the Firstborn

This is a title as well as a position on a family tree. Part of being the firstborn son was the inheritance and the blessing that went with that honor. These rights of the firstborn are mentioned in the Five Books of Moses. Each book has a slightly different focus. (I am making some very loose points here as rules and requirements are mentioned in Exodus to Deuteronomy.)

  • Genesis-The focus here is Jacob and how he handles the rights of the firstborn. He buys and steals them from Esau, takes them away from Ruben and gives them to Joseph, and transfers them to Ephraim. 1 Chronicles 5:1, Jeremiah 31:9, with Genesis 49:3,4; 48:5 and 14-20 all refer to the story of Ruben.
  • Exodus’ focus is that Egypt/Pharaoh will not let Israel (God’s firstborn) go, so it will cost them their firstborn.
  • Leviticus has only one mention of firstborn-Chapter 27. It states that they belong to the Lord.
  • Numbers-There are many things written about the firstborn in Numbers. The theme I saw was Egypt being traded for Israel, and now Israel would cover the redeeming of the Levites’ firstborn. Zelophehad’s daughters (Numbers 36:11) do set some rules about all-girl families.
  • Deuteronomy restates the rules and requirements of the firstborn. Chapter 21:15 adds a rule for loved and unloved wives, and whose children get the rights of the firstborn. I want to think this adjusts some things Jacob did so as not to be an excuse for later generations.

Firstborn of Creation

Adam was the prototype, while Jesus is the prototokos (Colossians 1:15). Adam was made/created/assembled by God and he received the breath of life (The first CPR:). Jesus came from that amazing creation when the Holy Spirit surrounded Mary with grace (charitoo) and put in the male half of the DNA to form Jesus. So, He was the first man born from the Spirit. (Luke 2:21-He was circumcised.) This sets the example of our born-again experience with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the firstborn of Creation (Hebrews 1:6, Colossians 1:15, Romans 8:29). He is also the firstborn of/from the dead (Revelation 1:5, Colossians 1:18). Jesus is the head of the church of the firstborn (Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 12:23).

1 Corinthians 15:45 and 46 is discussing the concepts that are also found in Romans 5:15 and 17 (here it is one man). The first Adam, the first man, allowed death into the world by his transgression. The last Adam (Jesus) is a life-giving Spirit that brought grace to us. In 1 Corinthians 15:46, Jesus is referred to as the second man. I believe, because of the Hebrew for Adam and man, being related has caused this to become the title of Second Adam.

Seven Miracles of Jesus +1, +1, +++++

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Just seven miracles of Jesus!!??  Okay, I have to ask forgiveness – Jesus, I am sorry for putting you in a box and giving any appearances that all you did was seven miracles in the Book of John!  This is in response to a comment on the post of Seven Miracles in John.  The writer pointed out John 2:18 +19 and called it miracle number eight.  His spirit is correct and we call it the Greatest Miracle. 

Why do we only talk about seven?  No idea!  John does point out the first (2:11) and second (4:54) and points out other miraculous signs but he does not number them.  In 20: 30+31, John says Jesus did other miraculous signs so that we will believe and in 21:25 John says – “many other things”.  My best guess on “seven” is that is the number associated with completion (day God rested from creating).  This will seem strange but what else is new!  I use a 1990 copyright NIV Bible, the newer versions and even the KJV is different.  Which is “correct”?  In my Bible, the NIV was much freer in the use of the word “miraculous”.  In other copywrites, they just use the word “signs”.  If you look in the Strong’s the term signs carries the unspoken idea of miraculous.  

John was proving that Jesus was God/had His approval, etc.  I am going to list the use of the miracle or miraculous in between the “seven” miracles, and I did do a post called Plus One which will not be listed because of the wording.

These are the Seven Miracles.  

* Turning water into wine in Cana (2:1-11)

2:18+19 – The greatest miracle

2:23 – people believing in His name because of miracles

3:2 – Nicodemus

*  Healing an official’s son in Capernaum (4:46-54)

4:48 – Jesus on the Jews needing signs

*  Healing an invalid at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (5:1-18)

*  Feeding the 5,000 near the Sea of Galilee (6:5-14)

6:2 – people followed Jesus because of miracles, vs 14 the people talking about Jesus

6:26 and 30 Jesus exposing the crowd for wanting free food and they wanted another sign

*  Walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee (6:16-21)

7:3 – His brothers acknowledge He does miracles and mocking Jesus.

7:21 – Jesus to the crowd about one miracle, 31 – the crowd knowing about the “Christ” showing signs. 

* Healing a blind man in Jerusalem (9:1-7)

9:16 – Pharisees saying how a sinner could not do these miracles.

10:25,31,38 Jesus tells them to believe the miracles because He gave glory to God.

10:41 – John never did miracles

*  Raising dead Lazarus in Bethany (11:1-45)

11:47 – the Pharisees talking about Jesus’ miracles and that He must be stopped

12:18 – refers to Lazarus

12:37 – they would not believe in Jesus

15:24 – the miracles will condemn them

20:30 – other miracles

I think John made his point about Jesus!  For a full picture, we would need to place all of the other miracles from the other Gospels into this list.  To answer a question of how did John know what the Pharisees talked about – many of them did believe and followed the Way (Acts 21: 20) and Nicodemus. 

see – Miracles – Plus One – Seven Miracles in John

Holy Spirit and Four Births

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Brian Houston in his 2019 Christmas message to Hillsong Church spoke on Holy Spirit’s role in the Christmas story.  It is something that is easily overlooked, yet is the very heart of the story as that is how a virgin became pregnant.  This made me think of the other times the Spirit was present at the birth of things.  Now, these births cause the world and secular thinkers’ great displeasure and they often have very unnecessary things to say about each of them!  

Genesis 1: 2 – The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  The Spirit was at Creation – the birth of this Age that tells the story of His people.  The “world” cannot accept that God created the world and oversees His planet.

Luke 1: 35 – The Holy Spirit and the Power of the Highest will come to you and hover over you.  The Holy Spirit supplied the “50%” of the DNA that Mary did not get from a man.  The “world” really has a hard time with this.  Joseph even had a “hard” time with this until God sent an angel to him.  This Story, the Christmas Story, is what sets Christianity apart.  This is no less a story of Creation as the one in Genesis and unless the Holy Spirit opens your heart to it you will not believe.

Acts 2: 2-4 – On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit blew into Jerusalem and hovered over the Upper Room and 120 praying believers and birthed the Church of Jesus Christ.  The “world” does not like this either!  All sorts of attacks have been launched against the Church, but the Holy Spirit has always reserved a believing “120” to pray and carry His message to the harvest fields.

John 3: 3 – Unless you are born again you will not see the Kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit will hover over you to get you born again.  He will not make you accept Jesus and the Good News of the Kingdom.  But if YOU decide to leave the “world” behind and go the opposite direction from it (repentance); Holy Spirit will birth something in you and fill you with all the power needed to live a righteous life.  See Following Jesus at the top of the page and Happy Birthday!  

Featured pic is from http://www.LumoProject.com.   

Kingdom – On His Way to Jerusalem

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This part of the study on Jesus’ Kingdom is going to appear to be rough in its style and appearance because it is my study format:)

I am looking at Jesus’ movements loosely after the feeding of the 5000.  I want Matthew to be my reference point but Luke and John add interesting movements and stories that need to be added.  I will try to join them as best as I can.  That means I will start in John about five months before Jesus’ Passion.

  1. John 10: 22 has Jesus in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah.  He makes the Jews mad so He “escapes”.
  2. Jesus goes to where John baptized on the east bank of the Jordan. John 10: 40.
  3. Bethany is Jesus’ next destination to raise Lazarus from the dead. John 11: 17
  4. Because of a plot to kill Him, He goes to a village called Ephraim that is in the desert.  John 11: 54 We would call it wilderness – English and Hebrew ideas on this topic are opposites of each other. 
  5. Capernaum– dealing with the Temple tax. Matthew 17: 24
  6. Samaria and Galilee border – healed ten lepers. Luke 17: 11
  7. Crosses the Jordan River to be on the east bank. Matthew 19: 1
  8. Crosses back to the west bank and goes to Jericho.
  9. Goes to Bethany/Bethphage and the Mount of Olives for the “Triumphal Entry”. Matthew 21: 1, Luke19: 28

From Capernaum to Jerusalem is about eighty miles. I believe all of this walking was for a reason.  Jesus went to the east bank in order to cross the Jordan, like Joshua, “conquer Jericho” and then proceed to Passover.  Yes, it is out of order from what Joshua did but I still see the symbolism in the travels. 

The Passion From The Psalms

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The Psalms are awesome! They are songs that were and still are sung but they are also prophetic.  This post is just a glimpse at all of the foreshadows of Jesus’ life and Passion. David wrote many of the Psalms and this collection is centered in his first book (1 to 41).

I feel that the three prayers Jesus prayed in the Garden are also in Psalms.  I have tried to sort out something that might sound right but the task is huge.

These came from the NIV (more or less), I tend to capitalize pronouns that refer to Jesus/God. 

  • Psalm 40: 7 to 8 – The beginning of Jesus’ ministry – I have come to do Your will 
  • Psalm 40: 9 to 10 – His ministry– I do not hide Your righteousness or conceal Your love
  • Psalm 42: 4 – Triumphal Entry– Leading multitudes to the house of God amid shouts of joy.
  • Psalm 45: 7 – Dinner during Holy Week– Anointed with joy and my robes smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
  • Psalm 35: 14 – tears in the Garden– mourning, bowed my head, weeping
  • Psalm 6: 6 – praying in Garden– worn out from groaning, weeping
  • Psalm 31: 9 – Jesus in Garden– My eyes grow weak with sorrow, soul and body with grief
  • Psalm 10: 2 – Judas /mob– hunt down the weak
  • Psalm 17: 11 – mob– they have tracked Me down to throw Me down
  • Psalm 27: 2,3 – the mob in the Garden– My foes attack me, they will stumble and fall
  • Psalm 41: 9 – Judas– My close friend who shared my bread lifted his heal against me!
  • Psalm 55: 13 to 14 –Judas– my companion, friend, that walked with me 
  • Psalm 10: 15 – Judas– call him to account for his wickedness
  • Psalm 44: 10 – Disciples in the Garden– we retreated before our enemies and they plunder us (young man lost his tunic)
  • Psalm 44: 13,14 – Disciples– You made us a reproach, a scorn, as people shake their heads at us.
  • Psalm 38: 11 – disciples running in the Garden and not being at the cross– friends avoid me because of my wounds, stay far from me
  • Psalm 42: 10 – On the cross/Pharisees– my bones suffer agony while they say, “Where is your God?”
  • Psalm 11: 1 – Pharisees– flee like a bird to the mountains (Luke 13:31)
  • Psalm 41: 6 – Pharisees– They gather slander to spread it abroad
  • Psalm 37: 12 – Council plotting
  • . Psalm 38: 12 – Council– set traps, talk of my ruin
  • Psalm 38: 19+20 – Council/enemies– hate me without reason, repay my good for evil
  • Psalm 13: 4 – Pharisees– enemy will say, “I have overcome Him”
  • Psalm 35: 16 –trial– Pharisees gnashed their teeth
  • Psalm 35: 11 – Jesus’ trial– ruthless witnesses come forward
  • Psalm 38: 2 – Roman beating– arrows pierced me, Your hand came upon me
  • Psalm 38: 7 – Beating– back is filled with pain
  • Psalm 22: 12 – beating– many bulls have surrounded Me
  • Psalm 31: 11 – on road to the cross– those who see Me flee
  • Psalm 22: 16 – the cross– they pierced my hands and feet
  • Psalm 22: 18 – Roman guards– divided my garments cast lots for my clothes
  • Psalm 49: 5+6 – On the cross, why Jesus died– Wicked deceivers surround me, ransom for life is costly, should live forever and not see decay
  • Psalm 14: 7 – Why– Oh, that salvation would come out of Zion
  • Psalm 3: 2 – Pharisees/thief at the cross– many say “God will not deliver Him
  • Psalm 22: 7+8 – at cross– hurl insults, He trust in God let Him deliver Him
  • Psalm 42: 3 – On the Cross/Pharisees– Men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
  • Psalm 31: 5 – Jesus on cross– into Your hands I commit my spirit
  • Psalm 22: 1 – Jesus– My God why have You forsaken Me 
  • Psalm 31: 9 to 18 – Part of the pray in the Garden and His trip out of the city
  • Psalm 35: 19 to 26 – prayer in the Garden, trial, and the darkness(26)
  • Psalm 38: 21+22 – in the Garden/on the cross– do not forsake me, come to my help
  • Psalm 39: 9 – Silence– would not open my mouth
  • Psalm 38: 13+14 – Jesus’ silence– cannot open my mouth, offer no reply
  • Psalm 22: 15 – thirst– strength dried up, tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth
  • Psalm 34: 20 – no bones broken(first Passover lamb in Exodus)
  • Psalm 35: 4 to 6 – why darkness– turned back in dismay and their path is dark and slippery
  • Psalm 23: 4 – When Jesus went to Hell– Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
  • Psalm 40: 1 to 3 – the Resurrection– lift me out of the pit, set my feet on a rock
  • Psalm 16: 10 – Resurrection– the Holy One will not see decay
  • Psalm 17: 15 – Resurrection – In righteousness I will see your face when I awake
  • Psalm 18: 4 to 7 – Resurrection– the earth trembled and quaked (much of Psalm18 talks of things that happened)
  • Psalm 22: 24 – Resurrection– not disdained the suffering of the afflicted One
  • Psalm 19: 3 – Pentecost– no speech or language where their voice is not heard

Yes, I am sure there are others but this is a start.