DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 4.8.23 - EASTER ADDITION

The Necessity of the Cross Colossians 2:13-15 What does the cross mean to you? Many people in the world today view it as a symbol of Christianity, but stop and think about what it represented in Christ's day. Nobody wore a miniature cross around the neck or displayed one in a place of worship. The crosswas a torturous means of execution, and the mere thought of it was repulsive. Yet believers throughout the ages have chosen this as the sign of their faith. In fact, to remove the cross from our teaching and theology would leave nothing but an empty, powerless religion. The subjects of death, blood, and sacrifice have become unpopular in many churches because they're unpleasant and uncomfortable topics.We'd prefer to hear about the love of God, not the suffering of Jesus. But let me ask you this: How could anyone be saved if Christ had not been crucified? Some people think all you have to do to receive God's forgiveness is ask Him for it. But a sinner's request can never be the basis for His forgiveness. He would cease tobe holy and just if no penalty was imposed for sin. According to Scripture, there can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Heb.9:22). Christ had to bear the punishment for our sin in order for God to grant us forgiveness. Every time you see a cross, remember what it really was--an instrument of execution. Then thank Jesus that He was willing to be crucified so the Father could forgive you of sin. Though the scene of your redemption was horrendous, Christ turned the cross into a place of great triumph. ANOTHER AUTHOR: The Necessity of the Cross - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Fatherhas commanded. �John 10:18 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-necessity-of-the-cross/- Listen Sometimes we hear assertions that certain people were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, most specifically the Jews. However, anyone who claims the Bible teaches thisor blames the Jews for the crucifixion is twisting Scripture. Granted, the Jewish leaders and Roman officials who carried out Jesus� crucifixion bear guilt for the sin of what they did. But God the Father foreordained how and when HisSon would die. When Jesus talked with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, He said, �And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyonewho believes in him will have eternal life� (John 3:14�15 NLT). And Mark 8:31 says, �Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachersof religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead� (NLT). Notice that in both instances, Jesus used the word �must.� This speaks of necessity. Jesus had to die on the cross. But was He predicting that He would be a victim of circumstancesand crucified as a result? No, He wasn�t. Jesus was talking about the plan and purpose of God the Father. It wasn�t an accident or a mistake. Nor was it a surprise. Clearly Jesus knew what was coming. He said, �No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is whatmy Father has commanded� (John 10:18 NLT). Jesus was in complete control when He went to the cross. His death was an act of submissive obedience to His Father�s will. ----------------------------- Compassion Over the years, we have watched many television news stories that have brought the evils of humanity into our living rooms. We have witnessed snippets of the proverbial "wars and rumors of wars" that occur endlessly somewhere around the world. Network news has shown us mobs of violent protestors in the streets and footage of murders and atrocities. Anchors and reporters inform us about the easy availabilityof drugs and their horrible toll on society. The adage, "If it bleeds, it leads," is so true. How do we feel when we see these issues in living color? Are we saddened for those suffering horrible loss, injury, or death? Do we feel for the children, the men and women, and the elderly who have just had their lives torn apart and ruined?Do we feel compassion for them? How deeply do their pain, anguish, and sorrow touch us? God tells us in Ezekiel 9:4 that He spares those "who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within" our nation. Are we among them? Do we not only bewail today's evils but also feel compassion for the people who suffer because of the depth of human wickedness? Is God compassionate? How compassionateare we supposed to be? Compassion is "suffering with another" or "sympathy and sorrow for the distress or misfortune of another, with the desire to help." It is a tender pity and commiseration that often spurs acts of kindness and aid. It is an emotion that usually develops into loving activity. Even a superficial reading of the Bible confirms that God shows compassion. For instance, Psalm 111:4 testifies, "He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion." Our God is a compassionate God. He knows what people go through in this life. Seeing the troubles we get ourselves into by our foolish choices, He desires to help us. He wants the best for all mankind. Though ancient Israel repeatedly rejected Him, He still cared for them and desired to help them. Yet, because of their sins, He could only go so far. Notice Deuteronomy 30:1-3: Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORDyour God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, thatthe LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORDyour God has scattered you. (See II Chronicles 36:14-15; Psalm 78:38-39.) Even though God had to be stern with them for disobedience, He still wanted to aid them, bind their wounds, and show them His better way. He warned them frequently, trying to turn them away from the consequences of their disobedience. In Hisgrace, He sometimes forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them, though they deserved it. Our great God is full of compassion. He sets the supreme example for us so that we can learn how to be like Him in our dealings with others. Jesus, God's Son, modeled the same mind, traits, and emotions for us as a Man. Matthew 9:35-36 records: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.(See Mark 1:40-42; 8:2-3.) Jesus felt great compassion for His fellow countrymen. He went through town after town, preaching, teaching, healing, and casting demons from many. Being compassionate toward others is part of His nature because He understands human needs andsuffering. He perfectly reflects the nature and traits of His Father (John 14:7-9; 10:30). God the Father and Jesus His Son are one—united, in perfect agreement and harmony—in attitude, character, mind, and spirit. They feel, think, act, and react the same way. At repentance and baptism, we begin the journey of conversion, learning and growing with the Father and Son toward living as They do. Like babies, we start by crawling before we can walk or run, so our spiritual development is slow and full of slips and falls. Being transformedinto the image of Christ is not easy—in fact, it is often painful and spotted by numerous setbacks. Growing in compassion follows the same course. The Father and Son must use Their abundant compassion and mercy while we struggle to grow in it! They want to help us develop this aspect of righteous character in our nature so we can become fullyunited with Them and spread compassion toward all people. As Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:20, "At that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you." This desire means we are to learn and grow in exhibiting compassion toward our fellow man. We start within Christ's body, the church: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (IPeter 3:8-9) We are supposed to use the church as a controlled laboratory for learning to have sympathy and compassion for others, among other things. We are to be kind and tenderhearted toward them, and because they are our brethren, we should be inclinedto show them mercy and forgiveness and perform acts of lovingkindness for their benefit. Jesus taught that there is a law of reciprocity, a spiritual version of the Third Law of Thermodynamics commonly stated as, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Jesus says in Matthew 6:14, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Luke 6:36-38 gives a fuller version: Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and runningover will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Do we desire mercy, sympathy, compassion, and kindness when things go wrong? Then we must exhibit these same traits toward others, especially to our brethren, but also to those in the world around us. Those who show compassion will receive it.Most of all, we will receive it from God, who forgives our sins and sets us back on the path to eternal life. We must examine ourselves and our reactions to the world's heavy toll of sin on its people. Do we feel compassion for the injured and suffering? Do our hearts go out to them? Do we empathize with those in anguish and grief and respond to the inner motivationto help? As Christians, we must answer a resounding "Yes!" if we want to grow in this aspect of God's nature. ------------------------------- TheMind of Christ “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians2:5) Although salvation is free, it is not cheap since it required the Creator Himself to become man and submit to an agonizing death on the cross. This was the mind of Christ! And, by the same token, although our salvation is not conditioned on any meritorious acts of our own, the standard by which we must measure our lives is nothing less than the perfect life of Jesus Christ. In the first place, our words and deeds are to be comparedto His. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1Peter 2:21). Our standard of holiness is to be His life of holiness. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [meaning ‘behavior’]” (1Peter 1:15). If we truly follow His steps, they may well lead to suffering and persecution, but “he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1John 2:6), and this involves a willingness to be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians2:20). The Christian life is preeminently to be characterized by unselfish love, but again the standard of that love is nothing less than the love of Christ Himself. “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, thatye also love one another” (John13:34). To love as He loved, to walk where He walked, to be holy as He is holy, to follow His example in word and deed requires that we think as He thought, that the very attitude of our soul be like His. In position we do “have the mind of Christ” (1Corinthians 2:16), but in practice we still come far short. May God help us to cast down “imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,” and bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5). HMM ------------------------- Breathand Spirit “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth theearth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.” (Isaiah42:5) “God the LORD” (Elohim Jehovah) is here identified as the Creator and organizer of all the universe, the heavens, and the earth, and all things therein. In context, He is also identifying Himself as the One sending forth “my servant” to be given as “a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” (Isaiah42:1, 6), the coming Messiah of Israel. He who does all these things also gives every person born both breath and spirit. The “breath” (Hebrew neshumah) is that “breath of life” that God breathed into Adam’s nostrils when He created him at the beginning. Even those who do not believe in God must depend on Him for their very breath, since “he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” Therefore, He is “not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts17:25, 27-28). He also gives each person a spirit (Hebrew ruach), a word used first of all in reference to the “Spirit of God” (Genesis1:2). It is this attribute in particular that constitutes the created “image of God” in man (Genesis1:27). The higher land animals all possess “the breath of life” along with man (Genesis7:22), but only men and women are created in the image of God, each with an eternal spirit. Man’s breath and spirit are closely related, and sometimes the words are used almost interchangeably. When the breath departs from a person’s body at death, the spirit also departs with it, but the latter “shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes12:7). The breath also will be activated again on the coming resurrection day. HMM ------------------- TheRivers and the Sea “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thitherthey return again.” (Ecclesiastes1:7) As the ancients observed the mighty Nile and Euphrates and other great rivers flowing into the ocean, they could not help but wonder why the sea level never rose. They knew that many of the waters in the rivers came from rainfall, especially during floods,but they had only quaint notions, at best, as to where the rains originated. Not until the days of modern science did men discover that rainfall actually comes from the oceans via evaporation and atmospheric transportation. But the Bible writers somehow seemed to know about the true nature of the hydrologic cycle thousands of years in advance of modern science. The rivers come from the same place to which they return—that is, the sea. But how do the waters of the sea ever rise into the sky? “He maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly” (Job36:27-28). Water droplets are made very small by the process of evaporation so they can be carried aloft by the up-rushing air forces over warm waters; later they “distill upon man abundantly.” There are other references in Scripture to different phases of this great hydrologic cycle, but one of the most significant is Isaiah 55:10-11. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth....So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please.” The waters return to the skies only after doing their good work on the lands. Just so, the life-giving Word of God returns to Him, not void, but full of the spiritual fruit for which He sent it. HMM ---------------------- Lifeand Immortality �But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hathbrought life and immortality to light through the gospel.� (2Timothy 1:10) Most of us have read or heard the passage in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 that directly challenges death and hell with the fact of the resurrected Christ and the promise of our own resurrection when He returns. There is no �sting� left in death, and there is no law that overrides our salvation because ourLord Jesus has gained the victory. Long ago, the great man Job faced his detractors with the confidence that �in my flesh shall I see God� (Job19:26). The prophet Hosea, in the middle of difficult life demands and during a time of awful apostasy, heard the Lord promise those who were faithful, �I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thyplagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction� (Hosea13:14). The good news of the implementation of God�s eternal plan brought �life and immortality to light.� All during the millennia of the Old Testament, fulfillment of God�s actions were hinted at through the sacrifices of the altar, and promised oftentimes in theutterances of the prophets. But when the Messiah became incarnate, �we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father� (John1:14). The apostle John, whose gospel and letters consummate in the great Revelation disclosure, could say, �The life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us� (1John 1:2). He who is life (John11:25) promised, �He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life� (John5:24). HMM III --------------------------------------- A Scandalous Symbol - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. �Mark 8:34 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-scandalous-symbol/- Listen In the first century, the cross was a scandalous symbol. You wouldn�t have seen a Christian wearing one because the cross was a symbol of one of the worst deaths imaginable. The Romans didn�t invent crucifixion, but they perfected it as a form of torture. So, wearing a cross would have been the modern equivalent of wearing a miniature hangman�snoose or an electric chair as an accessory. The cross meant dying a bloody, painful, grueling, and long death. Yet Jesus said, �If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will loseit. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it� (Mark 8:34�35 NLT). We might refer to afflictions or challenges as our cross to bear, but that isn�t what Jesus meant. Bearing a cross means the same thing for every person. It means dying toourselves. It means living the Christian life the way Jesus wants us to live it. Jesus was saying, �If you will get your priorities in order, deny yourself, and take up the cross, then you will find the fulfillment you have been looking for.� In his letter to the churches in Galatia, the apostle Paul wrote, �My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I livein this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me� (Galatians 2:20 NLT). Every day we have the choice to either live for ourselves or deny ourselves. If we will seek first the kingdom of God and put our priorities in order, then the rest of lifewill find its proper balance. --------------------------- God'sPerfect Way �As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust inhim.� (2Samuel 22:31) This is the 30th verse (out of 50) in David�s great �song of deliverance,� evidently considered by God to be of sufficient importance to include it twice in His written Word (2Samuel 22 and Psalm 18). Its testimony is greatly needed. One of the most common excuses given by men for rejecting the God of the Bible is their opinion that His ways are unfair. Even Christians are prone to complain at the way God deals with them. But the fact that we may not understand God�s ways hardly gives usthe right to pass judgment on them. He often reminds us in His Word that His way is perfect and His Word has been tried and proved again and again. �For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth� (Psalm33:4). �The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul� (Psalm19:7). We need to settle it in our hearts that, whether we understand them or not, God�s ways are always perfect. What He does is right, and whatever He says must be true by definition. His ways are always in the context of eternity, but we leap to judgment in termsof present inconvenience. His perfect way is seen most fully in Christ, and His truth is heard most clearly in Christ, for �I am the way,� He said, and �the truth� (John14:6). Yet, Christ�s way was through the cross, and His truth was opposed by the father of lies (John8:44). God�s way for us may also lead us into suffering and great opposition, but His way is always perfect, and His Word is tried and true. If we trust Him through it all, He will be our buckler as He was for David. �Every word of God is pure: he is ashield unto them that put their trust in him� (Proverbs30:5). HMM ------------------------ All Part of God's Plan - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. �Isaiah 55:9 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/all-part-of-gods-plan/- Listen Though Jesus mentioned many times that He would rise from the dead, it never seemed to penetrate the minds and hearts of His disciples. After all, the crucifixion left them dumbfounded. They didn�t know what to do. They weren�t sure where they should go or what they should do. And when they heard that Jesuswas alive, it came as a surprise to them. Mark�s Gospel says, �Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachersof religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead� (8:31 NLT). The disciples couldn�t wrap their minds around the idea that the crucifixion was part of God�s plan. How could something like that be a good thing? How could all that sufferingand sacrifice have any value? But it was through Jesus� death that life came. Jesus was saying, �I�m in control. I know it sounds radical when I say that I will suffer and die. But I�m also saying that I will rise again. This is part of the plan. Iknow what I�m doing.� This is what God says to us as well. There are times in our lives as Christians when we may not understand what God is doing. Why did He allow this thing to happen? Why didHe allow those problems? Why did He allow that tragedy? And why hasn�t He intervened? It is hard to know why sometimes. But Jesus is saying, �I�m in control. I know what I�m doing.� The absolute truth for every Christian is that whatever you give up to follow Jesus will be more than made up to you in this life and in the life to come. It will be worthit all. ------------------------------ OurRefuge �God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though theearth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.� (Psalm 46:1-2) �The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble� (Psalm 9:9). What a comfort it is, in these days of turmoil and opposition,to know that our Lord is �a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat� (Isaiah 25:4). Our refuge is strong and secure. The psalmist testifies, �I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust� (Psalm 91:2).Then God answers: �Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee� (Psalm 91:9-10,and see also vv. 10-13). Not only does our refuge provide safety and protection, but no other refuge will do. After identifying our refuge by the words �Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shallnot make haste [or be �alarmed�]� (Isaiah 28:16), God warns that those who refuse His true refuge will receive instead His �judgment,� for He �shall sweepaway the refuge of lies� (Isaiah 28:17). The apostle Peter, fresh from his personal encounters with his risen Lord, confronted the Jewish leaders with their serious error of rejection. �This is the stone which was set at nought of you� (Acts4:11). In his charge, however, he included the precious truth �Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved� (v. 12). Our refuge, our sure foundation, is none other than ourSavior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we have �fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us� (Hebrews 6:18). JDM ----------------------- Our Father Knows Best - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want yourwill to be done, not mine." �Matthew 26:39 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/our-father-knows-best/- Listen From the moment of His birth, Jesus lived in the shadow of the cross. When Joseph and Mary dedicated Him in the temple, the prophet Simeon said to Mary, �A sword will pierceyour very soul� (Luke 2:35 NLT). Simeon predicted what Jesus would go through and what Mary would experience as she watched her son hang on the cross. Jesus knew this was coming. And He began to aggressively address it at a place called Caesarea Philippi. He was very specific about it. Matthew�s Gospel says, �From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible thingsat the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead� (Matthew 16:21 NLT). Jesus knew, worst of all, that He would experience separation from the heavenly Father as He bore all the sins of the world on the cross. So, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, �My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine� (Matthew26:39 NLT). That is a way of saying, �Lord, if I am about to pray anything that is outside of Your will, I am asking You to overrule it. I know that Your plan is better than mine.� Jesusdied fulfilling the plan and purpose of God. Every Christian will come to their own Gethsemane, a time when they grapple with the hard issues of life. It is during those times that we must say, �Lord, I want Your willto be done, not mine.� Our heavenly Father knows best. ------------------------------- What was the Last Supper? - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com As we enter the High Holy Days commemorating the death and resurrection of the Christ that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, it is fittingthat we understand exactly what was the “Last Supper.” The traditional Christian concept of the Last Supper is Christ having dinner with his disciples and instituting communion—the bread and wine sacrament. But it is far deeper and more meaningful than itappears. Christ, a Jewish Rabbi, was in Jerusalem to partake in the Passover, the first of the spring feasts instituted by God after the exodus from Egypt. God’s people were instructed to observe this holy convocation “forever and throughout the generations(Leviticus 23).” The ”Last Supper” was actually a Passover Seder, the ritual celebration of the retelling of the exodus from Egypt. As recorded in Luke 22:15, Jesus “said unto them, “Withdesire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” The Seder requires four cups of wine symbolizing various acts of G-d in relationship with his people—the cups in order are Sanctification; Deliverance; Redemption; and Praise. Also requiredis eating Matza, unleavened bread that is pierced with many holes, also referred to as the bread of affliction. Luke and Matthew recall the actual order of the Seder ceremony as administered by Jesus. “And he took bread (Matza), and gave thanks, and brokeit, and gave unto them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19).” After the Seder dinner, Christ administered the cup of Redemption: “Likewise also the cup after they supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shedfor you (Luke 22:20).” Also in Matthew 26:29, “For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Christ was crucified and died while the lambs were being sacrificed for the Passover. As is written in 1 Corinthians5:7, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” Not a bone was broken in his body as was required of the Passover Lamb in Numbers 9:12 and as recorded in John 19:34, “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they did notbreak his legs.” The Passover Seder emblems of Matza and Wine symbolically represented Christ’s body and blood given for the remission of sins. The Telling of the Passover relates to God’splan of salvation for mankind as fulfilled by Christ’s death and resurrection. Each part of the Passover Seder points to Christ and his work of salvation—now and at the end of days. There are so many wonderful aspects of the Passover Seder that bring clearerunderstanding to Christ’s work of salvation. It is far more than the “Last Supper.” It is the story of God’s salvation plan through Christ, the Passover Lamb of the new Covenant. He is risen that all who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ---------------------------------- PracticingRighteousness �LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, andworketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear theLORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.� (Psalm15:1-5) Easy believism is Satan�s all-time deception, the idea that we can be right with God without a changed heart and life. David challenged this delusive doctrine by asking, �Who shall abide in the [LORD�s] tabernacle?� (Psalm15:1), meaning who will dwell with the Lord in eternity. The answer affirms a true believer�s growing and fruitful practice: �He that doeth these things shall never be moved,� assuring one�s eternal security (v. 5a). When our Lord Jesus Christ saves asinner from his sins, his heart is transformed as a new creation, unilaterally affecting his outward behavior (Ephesians4:24). This involves a positive directional change�not perfectionism, but a true, germinating growth (Romans7:25). So, what outward changes are we talking about? A question/answer construct unpacks David�s answer, revealing what�s growing and what�s diminishing in the believer�s changed life in a 12-part response�six positive characteristics (v. 2, v. 4a-c) and six negative(v. 3, vv. 4d-5b). The apostle John also challenged believers not to fall prey to this deception: �Let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous� (1John 3:7). There�s nothing we can do to earn salvation, but a saved life practices righteousness. CM -------------------------- Jesus� Crucifixion Date and the Number 3 � Joel - https://www.christianevidence.net/2018/04/evidence-for-jesus-crucifixion-on-april.html There are several clues from scripture that indicate the precise year, month, day, and hour when Jesus died. These clues are as follows[1]: 1. The High Priesthood of Caiaphas: The Gospels suggest that Caiaphas, the high priest of the first century, instigated the Crucifixion of Jesus (Matt. 26:3-4, Jhn. 11:49-53). Historical records confirmthat he held the position of high priest from 18 to 36 A.D., placing Jesus� death within that period. 2. The Governorship of Pontius Pilate: The four Gospels concurthat Pontius Pilate ordered the Crucifixion of Jesus (Matt. 27:24-26, Mrk. 15:15, Luk. 23:24, Jhn. 19:15-16). Historical records confirm that he held the position of governor of Judea between 26 to 36 A.D. Thus, we can limit the time range for Jesus� Crucifixionto a few years within that period. 3. After �the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius Caesar�: The Gospel ofLuke specifies that John the Baptist�s ministry began in 29 A.D., the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar�s reign when the Word of God came to him in the wilderness (Luk. 3:1-2). Based on all four Gospels, which indicate that Jesus began His ministry after Johnthe Baptist (Matt. 3, Mrk. 1, Luk. 3, Jhn. 1), we can further narrow down the time range. Therefore, Jesus� Crucifixion must have happened within a seven-year period, from 29 to 36 A.D. 4. Crucified on a Friday: The four Gospels concur that Jesus wascrucified on a Friday (Matt. 27:62, Mrk. 15:42; Luk. 23:54; Jhn. 19:42), shortly before the Sabbath, which preceded the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1, Mrk. 16:2, Luk. 24:1, Jhn. 20:1). The mention of �the day of preparation� on which Jews made necessarypreparations for the Sabbath confirms that it was a Friday. Therefore, we can narrow down the possible days for Jesus� Crucifixion to Fridays occurring between 29 and 36 A.D. 5. A Friday at Passover: The four Gospels concur that Jesus wascrucified during the annual Passover feast (Matt. 26:2, Mrk. 14:1, Luk. 22:1, Jhn. 18:39). John notes that on the morning of Good Friday, the Jewish authorities had not yet eaten the Passover meal (Jhn. 18:28-29), suggesting that the Passover would have begunat sundown on Friday. This narrows down the possible dates for Jesus� Crucifixion to April 7 of 30 A.D. or April 3 of 33 A.D., as these are the only two Fridays between 29 and 36 A.D. on which Passover began at sundown. 6. John�s Three Passovers: The Gospel of John records three Passoversduring Jesus� ministry: at the beginning (Jhn. 2:13), middle (Jhn. 6:4), and end (Jhn. 11:55). This indicates a ministry of at least two years, but likely closer to three and a half. Therefore, the 30 A.D. date is unlikely as there isn�t enough time between29 A.D. and the next Passover to accommodate a ministry of at least two years. Based on this evidence, Jesus� death is most likely to have occurred on Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. 7. �The Ninth Hour�: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all note that Jesusdied at about �the ninth hour� (Matt. 27:45-50, Mrk. 15:34-37, Luk. 23:44-46), which is equivalent to 3:00 p.m. Using this information, we can pinpoint the exact time of Jesus� death to around 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. Daniel�s Seventy-Weeks Prophecy The prophecy of the �seventy weeks� in Daniel 9:24-27 provides additional evidence for the date of Jesus� Crucifixion. Specifically, Daniel 9:25 states: �Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-twoweeks...� This prophecy reveals that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem, there would be seven weeks (49 years) and sixty-two weeks (434 years), totaling 483 years or 173,880 days(using 360-day prophetic years), until the arrival of the Messiah. This arrival is marked by Jesus� triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where He publicly declared Himself as the Messiah. It is a historical fact that King Artaxerxes of Persia gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem on March 5, 444 B.C., which is recorded in the book of Nehemiah. Adding 173,880days to this date leads us to March 30, 33 A.D.[2] If this is indeed the day when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, then it further supports the date of Jesus� Crucifixion as Friday, April 3, 33 A.D., which occurred four days later (Jhn. 12:1-19). Non-Scriptural Evidence In addition to scriptural evidence, there is also seismological, historical, and astronomical evidence supporting the Crucifixion of Jesus on April 3, 33 A.D.: 1. Seismological Evidence: The Bible records an earthquake inJerusalem following Jesus� Crucifixion (Matt. 27:51-54; Mrk. 15:38; Luk. 23:45). According to the Institute of Creation Research, a thin layer of disturbed sediment in a laminated Dead Sea outcrop in Wadi Ze�elim points to an earthquake in 33 A.D.[3] Moreover,the earthquake database maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration does not record any other significant earthquake in Jerusalem between 1 and 50 A.D., apart from the earthquake in 33 A.D.[4] 2. Historical Evidence: The Bible records darkness during thelast three hours of Jesus� Crucifixion (Matt. 27:45; Mrk. 15:33; Luk. 23:44-45). This darkness was documented by several ancient secular historians who lived at or near the time of Jesus, and one of them, Phlegon, provided a specific date for it�dating itto the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (32 or 33 A.D.).[5] See more: IsThere Historical Evidence for the Darkness & Earthquake at the Crucifixion? 3. Astronomical Evidence: On April 3, 33 A.D., the planets Saturn,Uranus, Jupiter, Earth, and Venus aligned in a way that resembled Jesus on the cross, with the head, hands, and legs accurately positioned and rotated on a galactic scale. Even Saturn�s rings could be interpreted as the �halo� or �crown of thorns.� This alignmenthas occurred only six times between the year 0 and 2000 A.D., which is equivalent to once every 333 years.[6] Is it merely a coincidence? An orrery model of the planetary alignment on April 3, 33 A.D., which some believe resembled Jesus on the cross. Photo by Miguel Antonio Fiol. Interestingly, a partial lunar eclipse was also visible in Israel that same day, which some scholars believe to be a partial fulfillment of Joel 2:31-32�s prophecy, �The sunwill be turned to darkness and the moon to blood...And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.� While it is uncertain whether the eclipse that evening would qualify as a �blood moon�[7], its duration of 333 minutes and placement 66 degreesabove the horizon make it a noteworthy event.[8] A Recurring Pattern of 3s An interesting pattern that may have caught your attention is the frequent occurrence of the number 3 in connection to Jesus� Crucifixion. It is worth noting that the number3 appears 467 times in the Bible and symbolizes completeness or perfection, although to a lesser extent than the number 7. In the context of Jesus� Crucifixion and Resurrection, the number 3 holds immense significance. For instance, Jesus prayed 3 times inthe Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest, was crucified at the 3rd hour, suffered in darkness for 3 hours while on the cross, and remained dead for 3 days and 3 nights before His Resurrection. The evidence presented in this article reveals that the number 3 is even more prevalent in relation to Jesus� Crucifixion. It can be deduced that when Jesus uttered the words �It is finished!� (Jhn. 19:30) just before His death, indicating finality akin to the number 3, it was exactly 3 p.m. on April 3, 33 A.D. At the same time, there was a rare planetary alignment resembling Jesus on the cross, which occurs approximately onceevery 333 years, along with a 333-minute-long lunar eclipse angled at 66 (33 x 2) degrees on the horizon. Only God could have orchestrated such an intricate sequence of events! Conclusion Based on the evidence presented, I conclude that Jesus was most likely crucified on April 3, 33 A.D., and this is supported by the work of scholars such as Colin Humphreysand W.G. Waddington.[9] While the exact date of Jesus� Crucifixion may not be significant in the grand scheme of things, the details surrounding the event reinforce the historicity of the biblical account and suggests evidence of God�s hand in the sequenceof events. For more evidence supporting the Crucifixion itself, refer to Extra-Biblical Historical Evidence for Christianity. References: 1 Akin, J. (2020, April 10). 7 Clues Tell Us *Precisely* When Jesus Died (the Year, Month, Day and Hour Revealed). National Catholic Register. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/7-clues-tell-us-precisely-when-jesus-died-the-year-month-day-and-hour-revealed 2 ICR. (1995, October 18). Sixty. Institute for Creation Research (ICR). https://www.icr.org/article/sixty/ 3 Austin, S. A. (2010). Greatest Earthquakes of the Bible. ICR. https://www.icr.org/article/greatest-earthquakes-bible/ 4 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (n.d.). Significant Earthquake Information. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved April 7, 2023,from https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/8178 5 Phlegon. (2nd century CE). Fragment from Olympiades he Chronika 13, as cited in Keller, O. (Ed.). (1877). Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores (Vol. 1, p. 101). LeipzigTeubner. 6 Newswire.com. (2015, August 26). Researcher Claims Discovery of 'Jesus in the Stars'. Newswire. https://www.newswire.com/news/researcher-claims-discovery-of-jesus-in-the-stars 7 Faulkner, D. (2014). Did the Moon Appear as Blood on the Night of the Crucifixion?. Answers Research Journal, 7, 27-30. https://www.answersingenesis.org/arj/v7/moon-blood-night-crucifixion.pdf 8 NASA. (2009, June 7). Partial Lunar Eclipse of 0033 Apr 03. https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEhistory/LEplot/LE0033Apr03P.pdf 9 Humphreys, C. J., & Waddington, W. G. (1983). Dating the Crucifixion. Nature, 306, 743-746. https://doi.org/10.1038/306743a0 -------------------------- Revealed in the Upper Room: The Rapture - By Paul J. Scharf - https://www.raptureready.com/2023/04/01/revealed-in-the-upper-room-the-rapture-by-paul-j-scharf/ We are fast approaching that time of year in which we remember the death of the Lord Jesus and celebrate His victory over death through His resurrection. I would like to focus on Jesus� ministry following the Passover meal He shared with His disciples in the Upper Room. There Jesus revealed many new truths for the forthcoming church age to those who would become its �foundation� (Eph. 2:20)�though they were certainly unworthy and lackingunderstanding at this time (see John 13:24 and 14:5 for examples). All of this commenced once Jesus had identified and dismissed Judas, the betrayer (John 13:21-30). The disciples were certainly not cognizant of almost anything that was about to play out at this most poignant moment in history. They were absolutely unprepared for Christ�sdeath, which would take place in less than 24 hours�to say nothing of His resurrection or ascension. They had no grasp at all of a complete dispensational change, which would see God�s focus move away from the nation of Israel to a brand �new man� (Eph. 2:15)called the church. Jesus was preparing His disciples for this amazing set of events that would transform the world�only a little more than 50 days away! But He did not ease into His conversation.Rather, He begins at the end�the end of the church age, that is�with the rapture of the church. Personally, I had to be convinced that John 14:1-4 was really a specific prophecy of the pretribulational rapture rather than a general statement about Christ�s second coming.What finally persuaded me was the very clear connection between this passage and the classic rapture passage in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. As LaHaye and Mayhue state: �Note the close parallels between the promises of John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.� I agree here with The MacArthur Study Bible in its comment on John 14:2-3: �This is one of the passages that refers to the rapture of the saints at the end of the age whenChrist returns.� Notice the similarities between the two passages that support this thesis: •Jesus does not want His disciples to �be troubled� (John 14:1). Paul does not desire his readers �to be ignorant� (1 Thess. 4:13) but rather to spread �comfort� (1 Thess.4:18). Both passages yield the same result in the life of a believer. •Participation in the event being described in each case is based upon one�s belief in Jesus (John 14:1; 1 Thess. 4:14). •Both passages offer descriptions of �heaven� (1 Thess. 4:16) as the starting point for this event�and the ultimate destination for believers (see John 14:2-4). •John 14:3 says Jesus �will come again and receive� believers�taking them to their heavenly home. 1 Thess. 4:17 says we will �meet the Lord in the air��strongly implying thatwe will return to heaven with Him. •Also, according to John 14:3, we will therefore live with Jesus forever. As Paul phrases it, �We shall always be with the Lord� (1 Thess. 4:17). To sum up, it seems clear to me that Jesus was opening New Testament teaching on this previously unknown subject�which we now call the pretribulational rapture. The rapture and the details surrounding it are termed �a mystery� in 1 Cor. 15:51. Some would argue that only the Apostle Paul had the ministry of revealing mysteries regardingthe church age. But Paul himself testified that this was, in fact, not the case. He said these were �revealed � to His holy apostles and prophets� (Eph. 3:5). A New Testament mystery is not defined as something that was revealed only through Paul. Rather,it is truth that was never prophesied in the Old Testament that relates to the church age�which was itself �hidden in God� (Eph. 3:9) in the time before the first coming of Christ. I believe that Paul defines a mystery as such in Rom. 16:25-26. Jesus had, in fact, given the first hints about this new church dispensation in Matt. 16:18 and 18:15-17. ------------------------------- Jesus Christ�s resurrection: The best documented event of ancient history- By Scott S. Powell - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/jesus-resurrection-the-best-documented-event-of-ancient-history.html While Christmas � the birth date of the Messiah, Jesus Christ � marks the watershed of splitting calendar history into two epochs, B.C. and A.D., Easter marks the day andcommemorates actual events, however miraculous, that followed the crucifixion and death of Christ that transformed the world forever. But how and why would that torturous event and extreme sorrow associated with the death of the Messiah affect eternity in a positive way? Why should Easter be a joyful time?The answer is neither elusive nor complicated. There are many religions of the world going back thousands of years. But only one of them, Christianity, has a founder who professed to be the Messiah � the son of God � whoprovided irrefutable proof of who He was by conquering death through resurrection. Easter is the celebration of Christ�s resurrection. Christ is absolutely unique in being the only person in history who was pre-announced starting a thousand years before He was born, with over 100 prophetic accounts from 18different prophets from the Old Testament between the 10th and the fourth centuries BC � predicting the specifics of His coming birth, life and death. Hundreds of years later, the details of Christ�s birth, life, betrayal, and death validated those propheciesin surprisingly accurate and minute detail. One thousand years BC, David prophetically wrote about the crucifixion of Christ at a time crucifixion was unknown as a means of execution. Every other consequential person of history came into the world to live. The death of other religious leaders � such as Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Mohammad, and Confucius � broughtan anticlimactic end to their lives and their work. But Christ came into the world as God�s son in order to die and pay the price for man�s sin. His sacrifice was the ultimate climax of his life, done for the benefit of allmankind � opening the way to eternal life in Heaven for all who believe. Of the five major world religions built on personalities, only Christianity claims its founder is still alive, having overcome death through resurrection. No Jew ever believedthat, after Abraham died and was interred, his tomb ever became empty. After Buddha died, no disciple claimed that he or she saw or spoke to him again. As for Mohammed, the founder of Islam, there is no trace of his appearing to his disciples or followers after he died. His occupied tomb is located in Medina and is visitedby tens of thousands of devout Muslims every year. Christ was unique in giving up his life as a sacrifice to fulfill why he came into the world. Christ showed the highest standard of love possible, through compassion for outcastsand healing the afflicted, by his teachings, and ultimately in making the ultimate sacrifice�giving his life to rescue and save mankind. Then, to provide �seeing is believing� evidence, God brought Jesus back from being dead in a tomb to being alive � resurrected � so people would have living proof of who He was. The New Testament provides accounts from multiple sources who witnessed Jesus firsthand after the resurrection. In fact, Jesus made at least 10 separate appearances to hisdisciples between the resurrection and his ascension into Heaven, over a period of 40 days. Some of those appearances were to individual disciples, some were to several disciples, and once to some 500 at one time. Particularly noteworthy is that there were no accounts of witnesses who came forth and disputed these appearances or called it a �hoax.� Not a single one. Nor do we find anyhistorical record of any witness accounts that were contradictory. While there are skeptics of the biblical Jesus, there�s actually far more reliable historical evidence for His life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection than forany other historical figure of ancient times. Consider, for instance, that the authenticity of Alexander the Great, who was born some 350 years before Christ, is based on two original biographical accounts of his life by Arrian and Plutarch, which were writtensome 400 years after Alexander died. The manuscripts of Virgil and Horace, both of whom lived within a generation of Christ, were written more than four centuries after their deaths. The copy of works by Livyand Tacitus on Roman history and the works of Pliny Secundus on natural history were written more than 500 years after the time of the original account. Yet no one doubts Virgil and Horace lived and authored great poetic masterpieces. Nor do we hear questions about the authenticity and accuracy of accounts of Livy and Tacitusin chronicling the events of the Roman Emperors Augustus, Claudius, Nero, or Tiberius. We know the historical Jesus through four different accounts known as the Gospels � Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John � not written hundreds of years later, but within a generationor two of Jesus�s life. Apostles Matthew and John provide eyewitness accounts from their years of walking with Jesus as disciples. Mark also had eyewitness experience, although he was only a teenager when Jesus began his public ministry. Luke, the doctor,learned about Jesus from his friend Paul, the apostle who wrote the most letters in the New Testament. About 1,000 times more manuscripts preserve the deeds and teaching of Jesus in the New Testament (about 25,000 total) than there are preserving other classical ancient worksof historic figures who lived at approximately the same time, with the exception of Homer, whose Iliad is backed by 1,800 manuscripts. But that is still less than one-tenth the number of ancient manuscripts that back the authenticity of the New Testament. Because of their experience with the resurrected Jesus, the apostles were in a unique position, knowing with certainty that Jesus was truly the Son of God. They had been presentfor the life, ministry, miracles, and death of Jesus. If the claims about Jesus were a lie, the apostles would have known it. That�s why their commitment to their testimony was so powerful and compelling. Additionally, the apostles� willingness to die for their claims has tremendous evidential value, also confirming the truth of the resurrection. No one will die for somethinghe invented or believes to be false. Seeing, talking to, and touching the risen Jesus transformed the apostles, who then committed the rest of their lives to educate and advocate for the truth about the messageof salvation through Christ. Eleven of the 12 apostles � including Matthias who replaced Judas, the betrayer of Jesus � died as martyrs for their beliefs in the divinity of Christ. The 12th, John, was exiled to Patmos Island, where he recorded the book ofRevelation. It turns out that Easter, which has its ultimate meaning in the resurrection, is one of ancient history�s most carefully scrutinized and best-attested events. The resurrectionis real and changes everything. Easter is the commemoration and celebration of the single event that transformed the world forever. ------------------------------- ------------------------------- ------------------------------- No Other Way - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God�s throne. �Hebrews 12:2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/no-other-way/- Listen It�s insulting to God to suggest that all religions lead to Him. If that were true, then why would He have allowed His Son to go through the suffering of the cross? Jesus knew there was no other way for our sin to be dealt with. There was no other way for us to experience fellowship with God, from whom we were separated by sin. So, Jesushad to taste death for everyone. He had to go to the cross and die for the sins of the world. Jesus, being omniscient, knew that His disciples would forsake Him, Peter would deny Him, and Judas would betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. And He knew He would go throughunimaginable suffering and pain. So, what kept Him going through it all? We find the answer in Hebrews 12: �Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God�s throne� (verse 2 NLT). Jesus heard the mob cry out, �Crucify him!� (Matthew 27:22�23 NLT). He endured the mocking and taunting of the soldiers. He made His way through the winding streets of Jerusalem,knowing He was about to die. But He kept going. What kept Him going was the joy awaiting Him. Jesus told a story about a lamb that went astray. The shepherd went searching for it, found it, put it on his shoulders, and returned with joy. Then Jesus said, �In the sameway, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven�t strayed away!� (Luke 15:7 NLT). The joy awaiting Him was you. The joy awaiting Him was me. It was the knowledge that we would come into communion and fellowship with Him. He loved us so much that He wentto the cross on our behalf. THEEND !!!!.....It is Finished !!!!