Mark 14:27

Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written that I will strike the shepard and the sheep will be scattered.But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

What did Jesus mean by that?

Mark 14:27 was a fulfillment of prophecy in Zachariah 13:7-8

They had just celebrated Passover and then they went to the Mount Olives. Jesus had warned them that they were going to desert him and it was at this time Peter would claim that no matter what the others did, he would not fall away. But Jesus had told him that he himself would deny him (Jesus) before the rooster crowed 3 tunes by morning.

The Shepard here represents Jesus and he was going to be stricken down and his friends and disciples would be scattered fora time. But after he would rise from the dead, he wanted them to know that they would be reunited again. He had known what was coming but they didn't understand at that moment what he meant and in fact wasn't even sure about it when he showed up to them in Galilee. But eventually and in due time, they would come to understand what he had meant.

In scripture, Jesus is often referred to as a Shepard. Likewise, God's people are often referred to as sheep.

 If you know anything about sheep, then you know that they have a relationship to the one that cares for them. Sheep follow where the shepard leads them. He protects them and if need be, would give his life for them.  John 10:27 says that as our Shepard, we listen to his voice, he knows us and we follow him.

I have done a previous study (7 parts) on Jesus being the Sacrificial Lamb of God  (and more about shepherds and lambs) if you would like to learn more about the biblical significance of them. You can find it starting here here :   The Lord is My Shepard


Hello Friends. I pray you are having a wonderful day! Thanks for coming by and God bless!

The Significance of the Unleavened Bread

What was its significance in the Passover Celebration?

The Children of Israel were finally being freed from Egypt's slavery but they had to hurry to get out of there lest Pharaoh change his mind, yet again. The bible tells us that because they didn't have much time to prepare for the journey they were going on, so  they didn't have time to wait for bread to rise and take with them. And so, on the very first Passover, they made it without leaven, known also as yeast.

Deuteronomy 16:3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you whall eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction-for you came out of Egypt in haste-that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of Egypt. 

Other references regarding the eating of unleavened bread are found in Exodus 12:8, 29:2 and Numbers 9:11. From that point on, Jewish homes still include unleavened bread in their Passover celebrations.

What did the Passover have to do with Jesus?

At the time of this event for the Children of Israel, they were required to take the blood of a male lamb and put it on the door posts of their homes, so that when God passed through, he would pass over their homes and their household was soared from the first born's death. The lamb had to be perfect  and could have no blemishes on it.

This act would represent the time when when Christ would come as the perfect Lamb of God that would take the place of us by dying on the cross and shedding his own innocent blood. It would cover the sins of all that would believe on and serve him and therefore God's judgement would pass from us.

While Passover began as a Jewish celebration, I know of some non-Jewish Churches that do practice or celebrate Passover the way it had been done much like those days when God's people were freed from the bondage of Egypt. It is not a required celebration in the Christian church. However, I am told it is a very moving experience for those that do participate.

There is much to be said about the Jewish feasts of the bible. Maybe at some point we can do a study on them. Jesus obviously did celebrate Passover himself. For now though, I will leave that for another time and go on with the questions that I had while reading the accounts of the disciples about his death and Resurrection.

The next question we will look at: What did Jesus mean in Mark 14:27 about the Shepard, and scattering the sheep? Please come back next time for that. Have a blessed day


(footnote: While looking for a graphic for unleavened bread, I also saw a recipe for it as well. I thought you might be interested in seeing it so have included it here if you want to check it out)

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God's 10th Plague (part three)

The Israelite's had begged God to free them from the bondage of slavery that Egypt had over them. God heard their cried and sent Moses and Aaron to Pharoah to tell him to release them. Pharoah had refused and so God had to send plagues in order to convince him to change his mind and let them go. But Pharoah was a stubborn man, and used to getting anything he wanted. He kept saying he wouuld release them but then would change his mind The first nine plagues had not been easy or plaesant in any way, shape or form. Blood in the water, frogs, storms that destroyed everything and more. What else could God use to make Pharah twice about letting God's people go?

He obviously did not consider it Or if he had, he wasn't paying attention, didn't think God would actually do any more, didn't care...or something. He didn't stop to think he was not playing cards with someone that could and would do what it took to get his people released from the grip that Pharaoh had on them.

The 10th and final plague would get results, and it wasn't a pleasant one to deal with, and in fact was most likely the worst of all..

God told Moses that this last one would be the one that will lift the hand of Pharoah and he would finally free them (my thought is underlined here)

It would  have grave consequences though to Pharaoh himself.

By now, Moses had gained high regards from the Egyptians and some of the Pharaoh's servants, through God. And so God told Moses to have his people go those people and ask for gold, silver and the like. And then about midnight, he (God) would come into Egypt and kill all of their firstborn from Pharaoh on down. However, the Israelite's would be exempted from this plague.

The people were to take lambs and God gave Moses specific instructions about eating these lambs in Exodus 12:1-11. After which they were to take the lamb's blood and put it on the doors two side posts and also on the upper post of the door, because when God comes through Egypt to kill the first born of every family, when he sees the blood on the doors, he will Passover and would not kill the firstborn int those houses.

And then God said, "This day shall be a memorial to you and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord through all generations..."

Moses and Aaron conveyed God's message to the Isrealites and they did what God had told them to do.And at midnight, God came through and when it was over, there was not one Egyptian household that had not been affected. God had even killed the first born of their cattle Pharoah himself  had lost his own firstborn.

And with that, God told Moses and Aaron to gather their belongings, and the Children of Israel and go. Pharaoh himself, could no longer hold them. They weren't his to hold. Now they were free.


And off they went to the land God was sending them too. The land he promised them. THE PROMISED LAND.

A good lesson for us. No matter what the circumstances or the time limits we sometimes put on ourselves:   

God always keeps his promises!!!!

Hello Friends. Thanks for coming by today. So the Children were on their way to land's yet unknown by them But what has all this have to do with unleavened bread or leavened bread,for that matter? That will be our next question. I hope you will be back. God bless:
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Passover: The Festival of the Unleavened Bread (Part one)

Passover is the feast of the unleavened bread. But what is it and who celebrates or observes it?

It is the joyful celebration among the Jewish nation and it is important because it commensurate the deliverance from bondage that the Jewish people suffered under Egypt many, many years ago.The people had cried out to God and he heard them and sent Moses to go and free them. However, Pharaoh would not let them go. And so God told Moses to tell him that if he didn't let them go, God would send plagues on them. 

That didn't seem to bother Pharaoh much, for it took 10 plagues in order to convince him that he was not playing with a non-powerful God. Even though the plagues came one at a time, until finally he relented. 

Those plagues were as follows: 

1 The Nile River turned to blood.

2  Frogs came up out of the water and went into their homes. They were everywhere.

3. Bugs came out of the dust and man and animals alike were afflicted

4, Hordes of wild animals roamed the countryside destroying everything in sight.

5. Pestilence killed most of Egypt's domestic and prized animals

6. Painful boils broke out on their bodies

7. Hail that swept across the country 

8. Locusts that were so many that they covered the sun came and ate up everything green that the hail storms had left

9. Darkness that made it impossible to see and the people just sat in their places. This went on for several days

And if that wasn't enough to finally get Pharaoh's attention, came:

10. God would kill the first born of every Egyptian man and beast

Aaron and Moses had warned Pharaoh and after each plague, he would say the people could go but then change his mind and would not release them. You would think after even that first plague he wold have thought it through a bit better. But he was undoubtedly a prideful man, and had the control of God's people under his thumb. He would lose all their labor, and just was not willing to do that. Not until God finally executed that final judgement. Because now God was taking everyone's first born. And that meant his own firstborn. Didn't he by now think that God was indeed serious? And so because of his own pride, power, greed or whatever it was, he himself lost his first born son. 

Meanwhile, God had instructed the Israelite's on how to avoid this judgment in their own families. (Exodus 12:1-13)

Hello Friends. What was God's instructions by which his people could avoid the last judgement that God was going to use to convince Pharaoh to let his people go. We will look at that next time. Have a great and blessed day!

 

 

Why did His Father God Do This To Him?

..."My God, My God why have your forsaken Me?" Jesus cried out in a loud voice." Jesus had been through a grueling trial, innocent of all charges. He then had been convicted of those charges, beaten and scourged, made to drag his own cross to the place where he was to be crucified, until he couldn't go any father with it and another man finished it for him. He was made a spectacle in front of everyone watching. And now dying on the cross.....

"My God, My God Why have you forsaken Me?"

He was made to cry out to his Father in heaven, to ask such a question? And didn't even get an answer from him. Didn't he deserve that much? He hadn't wanted to go to the cross. But he knew why he had to. He had taken the punishment for the sins of the world. Past, present and future. Why God?

Why?

Isn't that sometimes the same kind of prayer that we cry to God. I know of  friends that are currently going through some very hard things. Despite that as much as they know how, are doing everything they can to do all the things God wants them to, and yet nothing seems to change for them. And I know that they in the dark of night and cry out to God. I have been there at times, myself.

Why God? 

Why God? Why aren't you keeping your promises to me? Have you forgotten me? Why God?

Jesus knew why he had been sent by his Father to do what he was there to do. It was no surprise to him that the Roman government and his own people would bring this terrifying situation upon him. But he also knew that it was the only way that the sins of the world could be forgiven. It has been the plan of his Father from the beginning of time, and up to that very moment. 

Jesus,  was experiencing something that every human being have or will face when their final hour is up on this earth.

Being forsaken by God, the God that created them.

That is, for those that did not bother to accept him during their life. For those that chose not to believe him. For those that perhaps don't believe in him other then that he is just some fairy tale made up by people trying to scare them into hell. 

Jesus did it for us so that we would not have to face the separation and judgement of God. He paid our price because we can't. Thinking back onto what he had gone through, how did he ever manage being able to cry out like he did? It took a greater love for all humanity then what we can ever give. 

And so when we are tempted to cry out to God, asking him our own "Why, God?" we should remember that even Jesus asked his own Father that same kind of question. And God didn't give him an answer because he already knew it. Just like we already know why God doesn't always answer our own prayers to him. Because he has the answers for us. He knows what is best for us. He has to whole picture.

We don't always know what God is doing by letting us go through the things we are, as Jesus did. But we have enough to know he is working our situations out for our good, and he has given us the tools in his word with which to act upon while going through those hard times. The hymn that has the words "My hope is built on nothing less, then Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly trust in Jesus Name." is where our hope is. No matter what we have gone or are going through. Even in the darkest hours, as when Jesus cried out:

"My God, My God why have thou forsaken Me?

Thanks for coming by today Friends. Here is praying for a wonderfully blessed new week!

How Many Days Did Jesus Stay and for What Reason?

Jesus had been crucified, buried and on the third day rose from death to life. He had made his presence seen by Mary and perhaps other women, and then to his disciples.

And so how long was he on earth before he went up to be with the Father? And what did he do during that time?

I think Act 1-11, best answers that question. 

He was here on earth for forty days after his Resurrection. And working in the power of the Holy Spirit he prepared his disciples for how they were to carry on in his ministry after he was gone. And he had told them not to leave Jerusalem until his Father had sent the promise to them.

But what was that promise that his Father would send them?

But what was the promise that the Father would send them?

Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all of Judea and Samara and to all of the earth. 

And after that, Jesus was taken up into the clouds. 

He knew what was ahead for these men who had committed themselves to his ministry. Just because he would  no longer a threat to the Roman government, they would be. And to withstand the stuff that they were going to go through, they were going to need more then just the ability that they had in themselves. 

They were going to need the power of the Holy Spirit.

Which brings up another question to us. When and how did they receive the promise that God the Father would send them? 

What else did Jesus do in those forty days? 

 These questions coming up next in this series. Thanks so much for coming today friends. God bless!

Why Didn't the Disciples Believe Her?

The disciples had not believed the women that had come to them with what they thought were nothing more then "idle tales." Luke 24:10-11

Why didn't they believe them?

Because women and what they thought about them, were not really all that important? Did they think they were nothing more then gossip? The fact that women followed Jesus and he cared for them make them jealous and they just did not want to believe them?

It is hard to say. But what we do know is that Mary Magdalene had been delivered of "evil spirits" And so what does that say about her?

That maybe she was a little,,,cuckoo? Mentally unbalanced? Crazy?

But if she was all or any of that, why was it really the truth? Jesus had been telling them all along that he was going to die and rise from the dead again. In fact, it had been known to God's people since it was recorded in Isaiah 53.

What were the disciples thinking? Did they not understand?

The bible isn't exactly clear on it according to my own thoughts about it. It could maybe be any of the above. But what I do understand is this:

Yes, evidently Mary Magdalene had been possessed by demons. Because in fact Luke 8:2 says that she had seven devils go out of her and she had been healed.

So if that were true and she was healed, that meant she was no longer mentally unbalanced or crazy or anything of the like. Maybe then, it was as they thought, just silly women idle talk? But if that were the case, they would not have already known by Jesus himself, that this was going to take place.

So why didn't they remember that when those women went to them. They had seen his teachings already that come to pass so far. His death on the cross had just happened. They should have been looking for his Resurrection stead of  feeling saddened that he had just left them.

Or could that have been why? After all, he was their friend. They knew he was their Lord. But, they were human. They often did not understand what he was saying to them. They had just witnessed his death which was a horrible, cruel way to die. Who could come back from that? Who would actually want to?

They were most likely very much  grieving at the loss of someone that they had loved and followed during those years. Just like we grieve over the death of someone that we love so deeply, that even day to day actives sometime begin to make no sense to us.

Perhaps their grief had become that way to them. Making no sense of what was not only ahead, but what was now past. The things that Jesus had taught them. Said to them.

We can only speculate on why God has done or today even does some things. Because he has the whole picture of everything and we do not. There may be more to this then I will ever know on this side of heaven. And maybe someday, when we get to see him, maybe we will know all the answers to our questions. What do you think?

Hello Friends. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Take care and God bless.