The Empty Tomb: Jesus rose from the dead!

John’s Resurrection Account:

“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

³ Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴ So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵ And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 

⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. ⁹ For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” John 20:1-10

We’ve been talking a bit about Lazarus. Lazarus needed someone to pray for him and he ended up being resurrected, but Jesus – He could resurrect Himself!

Now today, we see that the Bible says (John 20:9) that the disciples “as yet did not know the Scripture that He must rise again…” The lesson in that for us is, let’s make sure we know the Scriptures so we are never caught off guard and we can attest to the reality that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead!

Conquering Fear

The resurrection is as much about new life as it is about conquering fear.

It is because of the resurrection that Paul could say:

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Cor.15:55

When I served as a chaplain, I saw death every day.

Some people were ready to confront that reality while others were definitely not.

Those who had lived for Jesus and had professed a consistent faith in Christ were ready. Even when pain would come, believers have a peace and a preparedness, knowing that death is no longer final and that

Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”

But fear grips that heart of so many.

One night at the hospital, there was a man there who essentially refused to repent. From what I could tell, he didn’t believe in Jesus, heaven, or hell and he was experiencing genuine agony. Excruciating pain coupled with absolute fear.

When a person has never experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus, they will fear death in an often terrifying way.

The disciples would have been terrified, too.

They were targets after the crucifixion. Peter denied Jesus for a reason. These people were scared out of their minds!

Their hopes that somehow Jesus would miraculously escape being put to death had been crushed.

They didn’t know that death could be defeated with finality. Yes, Lazarus had been raised up, but a lasting, victorious eternal resurrection . . . they didn’t know that was possible.

The disciples were in hiding. It was probably actually safer for the women to go to the tomb!

But Mary went to the tomb while it was still dark. She was eager and probably couldn’t sleep, but she, like Nicodemus going to visit Jesus under cover of darkness, took advantage of the darkness to go out.

Mary Magdalene’s discovery at the tomb

John 20:2 “Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

They have taken away the Lord!

At first glance, it seems Mary immediately blames Rome.

Could it be? The empire has done this.

Those wicked soldiers have taken away her dearest Jesus.

After all, it is easy to cast blame when we are upset.

But Luke’s Gospel fills in more details about the Resurrection. Let’s turn to Luke 24.

Luke’s Resurrection Account

“Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. ² But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

⁴ And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. ⁵ Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

⁸ And they remembered His words. ⁹ Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. ¹¹ And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” (Luke 24:1-10).

Mary was with Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women. They had brought prepared spices for the body of Jesus.

They’ve taken the body?

Who?

The angels?

Mary and her friends were “greatly perplexed” (verse 4) about where the body could be.

And then the 2 angels appear and ask the perfect question:

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? And they reminded the women of Jesus’ words.

But the women still don’t grasp this fully because John says they came back saying that they didn’t know where the body was lain.

Between the shock of it all and having just received an angelic visitation, the women’s story when they came back sounded like gibberish to the men. They have all been traumatized.

Jesus was killed in the most excruciating way possible, crucified on that cross, then He was buried, and now nobody knows where He is.

He’s wanted dead or alive.

Where is Jesus?

Where is the body?

Peter

But Peter, he had been through enough in the past few hours, he knew he should go to that tomb. See what is going on.

He sees the folded handkerchief (John 20:7).

John 20:9 Peter and the women and the other disciples did not yet know the meaning of the Scriptures.

Luke 24:12 Peter marveled to himself about what happened.

Jesus appears to Mary

Overtaken by the emotion of the moment, Mary was weeping. She is just so worried about where this body is at.

Do you ever get so focused on something and people around you or the Holy Spirit is telling you – the answer is before you, but you are so distracted that you don’t see it?

God sent angels to Mary and even Jesus Himself and she was still struggling!

John 20:11-18

¹¹ But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³ Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

¹⁴ Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

When Mary thought she was talking to a gardener, she still asked Him, “where did you lay the body?” She is willing to take Jesus’ body anywhere else if they would just tell her where it is.

So Jesus meets her where she is at and calls her by name.

And she recognized His voice.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

Later that day . . .

The disciples gathered together behind closed and locked doors, “for fear of the Jews.” John 20:19

See, this confirms that they were very fearful.

But Jesus appears.

When you find yourself facing a fear or very anxious, turn to Jesus.

The Resurrected Risen Jesus appeared and said, Shalom. “Peace be with you.”

He showed them his wounds because He knew they were incapable of having peace until they had seen some physical evidence.

Jesus repeats His blessing – trying to reassure these panicked, fearful disciples.

And then He immediately commissions them.

He didn’t give them a day to reflect on what had happened. He immediately sends them out to make more disciples. There is no time to waste. Souls need to be saved.

John 20:21 “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you . . . “

And Jesus doesn’t leave them comfortless.

He doesn’t send them out with just a simple Gospel message.

He breathed His very Spirit upon them: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22)

He sends them out with power.

You need the Holy Spirit. The same power that raised up Jesus from the grave.

John 20:23 has been taken out of context at times because it seems a little confusing. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. This has to do with the responsibility that Jesus’ disciples have to preach the Gospel to the world. A person who has never heard the Gospel cannot receive life-saving forgiveness. Only God has the power to forgive.

John 2:24-25 “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

When Jesus was in the room, and showed them His hands and His side, Thomas wasn’t there.

Don’t miss God.

Why wasn’t Thomas around?

Sometimes people stop going to church, they are no longer accountable, or for various reasons whether it’s past hurts or fears or judgmentalism, they just stop attending. They don’t gather with believers, even though Hebrews 10:25 tells us to never neglect the assembling together because we are encouraged when we are together.

Was Thomas too afraid to be there?

Did Thomas already lose his faith, just completely devastated that Jesus was dead?

That was fast. Some people don’t have unshakable faith. You gotta get to a place where you have unshakable faith.

Doubting Thomas wants to see a sign – and ironically he requests to see the print of the nails and feel the wounds of his hand and side. But Jesus already showed that. Thomas missed the mark.

Thomas wasn’t there to receive the Holy Spirit. His missed out.

Don’t be the one who misses out.

The Resurrection changed everything

Had Jesus never risen from the dead, we would be without hope.

The resurrection changed everything!

Let the reality of the resurrection breathe new life into you today. Meditate on the awesomeness that Jesus has power over the grave, and you, too, will one day rise to be with the Lord!

We know something that not everyone knows.

Like the disciples who encounter the Risen Jesus, we have a testimony that people need to hear.

It’s that age-old question. Where is Jesus? Who is Jesus?

Maybe you are someone who has heard the Gospel many times, but you need to regroup and regain the sense of awe and power that the Gospel should have over your life.

1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Before Lazarus was raised from the dead, Martha was unsure that Jesus could do anything.

But

John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to [Martha], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ 

Martha believed in a resurrection, on the last day. But Jesus said, we don’t need to wait for the last day.  If you know me and if you believe my Words, lives can be resurrected right here right now. 

So today, let it be our prayer: Lord, increase our faith!

Lord, make your Gospel real to me!

Lord, let me know the power of the Good News! That I would be motivated by the Gospel to share with others this glorious news!

Lord, make known to me – in a tangible way – who You are.

So that when the question is asked, Who is Jesus and where is He? He is here and His Spirit dwells within you and me and

Jesus is very much alive! He is risen, He is risen indeed!

Hallelujah!

Zechariah’s Shabbat HaGadol/Palm Sunday Prophecy

Every year, I enjoy reading Zechariah’s prophecy in Zechariah 9:9-10 that was fulfilled on Shabbat haGadol, Palm Sunday:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
¹⁰ I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem;
The battle bow shall be cut off.
He shall speak peace to the nations;
His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’’ Zechariah 9:9-10

“From the River to the Sea . . . to the ends of the earth”

You may have heard the Palestinian chant back when Hamas’ Gaza still stood strong, “From the River to the sea, Palestine shall be free.”

The problem with the chant is that it (either inadvertently or purposefully) calls for the annihilation of Israel. Palestine wanted to claim the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

So when I read this portion of Zechariah’s prophecy in preparation for today’s message, I was struck by the ending of verse 10:

His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’’ Zechariah 9:9-10

Jesus’ dominion shall be from the River to the sea to the ends of the earth. Glory Hallelujah!

And so much was set in motion on Palm Sunday.

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Let’s read John 12:12-22:

¹² The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”

¹⁴ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

¹⁷ Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. ¹⁸ For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. ¹⁹ The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

²⁰ Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. ²¹ Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

²² Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. (emphasis added)

The disciples and crowd rejoice

Last week we talked about Philip. He was the eager one. We’ve found Him! We have identified who the Messiah is and He is alive in our time today! On that first Palm Sunday, Philip would have been among those who were crying out “Hoshia-na!” Lord, save us!

That same excitement and enthusiasm is what we need. We know who the Savior is. He is alive in our time and He is coming back. We need to share with others that He is indeed the only One who can save us!

John 1:45 “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Philip and Andrew were long-time friends. People were coming far and wide to celebrate the Passover feast. It is very interesting that the Scriptures tell us that some Greek travelers were in town and wanted to see Jesus. The message of Jesus was reaching beyond the Jewish enclave. The message was for Jew and Greek, Jew and Gentile.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Philip, Andrew, Mary, Martha, the Risen Lazarus, and a whole multitude were waving palm branches and doing their best to get as close to Jesus as they could.

Enough had transpired that they loved Him. They waved the Palm Sunday branches just like they would have done with the lulav during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles was like a divine dress rehearsal for the receiving of the Word who dwelt among us:

“And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.” Leviticus 23:40, (emphasis added)

Notice, the people were commanded to rejoice. Now, the crowds in Jerusalem freely rejoiced and they heard testimony of witnessing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead!

John 12:17-18 “Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.”

His fame was spreading and eyewitnesses to Lazarus’ resurrection were now willing to speak up and testify.

The Bible tells us the disciples didn’t understand at first (John 12:16). It took many of them until after the ascension to reflect back and see that Jesus had fulfilled the prophetic Scriptures.

The Hour has come

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus told his mother His hour had not yet come (John 2:4).

In John 7:6, same thing: “Then Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.”

John 7:30 “Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

John 8:20 “These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.”

But now in John 12:23, “[And] Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” (emphasis added)

The Greek word, δὲ, should be translated “and” in John 12:23. The “but” used in the NKJV should be “and.” KJV, ESV, and NIV got this right here.

Victory Proven

Jesus is fully triumphant. He is the One the Scriptures have foretold, He is revealing Himself to His disciples on that Palm Sunday and even the crowds around Him, and has announced that the hour has come for Him to be glorified.

He didn’t say, the hour of terror has come. It will be an excruciating hour, but Jesus is focused on the victory.

Meanwhile the Pharisees are wallowing in their ineffectual campaign against the Lord.

John 12:19 “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

They are pointing fingers at each other. You’ve done nothing to stop this! The whole world is following this donkey-riding “king.” Their strategy to bring Him down is imploding because of their own disunity.

Unity is so very important. If we want to see a genuine move of God in this city, we need to be of united purpose. Division and finger-pointing are the enemy’s tactics to destroy such a movement.

“We wish to see Jesus”

On the first Palm Sunday, the Greek men expressed that they wanted to see Jesus. They didn’t care about the Pharisee’s religious constructs. Judaism was fairly foreign to them. They wanted to meet the miracle-working, salvation-bringing Son of God.

Similarly, there’s a hunger in hearts today.

Our culture here in North Central Wisconsin is also longing to see Jesus. They see a glimpse,

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

But lost souls here need to see Jesus in you. They need to know more than religion.

The Father glorified

John 12:27-36 ²⁷ “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

²⁹ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

³⁰ Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ³² And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” ³³ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

³⁴ The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

Here Jesus expresses His emotions. His soul was troubled. He expresses the sentiment found in Psalm 6:

Psalm 6:2-5

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
³ My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?

⁴ Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

The human part of Jesus would really feel strongly about verse 5, don’t you think?

The divine part of Him knows He can’t ask the Father to detain this. He came to earth for this very moment.

And the Father’s voice was heard audibly. This gets glossed over a lot. A voice thundered. It’s unclear whether or not the people heard what was said to Jesus, but they knew a voice from above had spoken.

If any around had doubts, there could be no doubt now.

Who is the Son of Man?

The Palm Sunday crowd asked the essential question: who is this Son of Man? The Messiah we know about will live forever, but you talk of your death. Where do you fit into the story, Jesus? We don’t understand who is a “Son of Man.”

He spoke cryptically: be sons of light.

And then He left from that place and was hidden to them (v.36).

“Behold, our King is coming to you”

“Behold, our King is coming. He is just and having salvation.” Zechariah’s words that were fulfilled on Palm Sunday are still true to this day and they have a two-part meaning. The LORD rode in on a colt, but His dominion will extend to the ends of the earth. Maranatha!

5784 B”H

The Nation of Israel is the only Jewish state

When I was in undergrad, “just war theory” was a hot topic among my overwhelmingly liberal, pacifist- agenda-pushing professors. In fact, one of my first theology professors spent many years living in Palestine unfairly decrying Israel’s policies. He always condemned Israel as an occupier and he refused to give a balanced perspective of the Middle East conflict. This professor claimed that his “‘Christian’ convictions” brought him to conclude he must side with the “oppressed” as he vehemently opposed Zionism and all things related to the nation of Israel.

True Christian conviction must be Biblically sound.

The Bible is very clear that the nation of Israel and those who love it will be be blessed.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: ‘The LORD bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!’” Jeremiah 31:23, NKJV

Bethlehem of Judea and modern Palestine

Bethlehem is located in Judea, but it has been governed by the Palestinian authority for many years now.

Because of this, people like my first college professors like to insist that Jesus (Yeshua) was a poor, “Palestinian” Jew.

They reach a fallacious conclusion that because Jesus was born in modern-day Palestine, we as American Christians “must” therefore support the leftist pro-Palestine agenda.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Judah).

The modern Palestinian agenda has nothing to do with Him.

The West Bank is actually Judea and Samaria.

Accountability for universities

Institutions of higher learning should promote Biblical principles and the ideals of democracy, including support for Israel, the only Jewish state.

The Jewish nation as a whole has endured oppression time and time again and deserve a safe homeland free of radical Islamic terrorism.

Israel is engaged in justified war. The beautiful, prosperous nation of Israel was unfairly targeted by hate-filled organized terrorists who are unwilling to compromise and are set on destroying Israel.

We must pray, as David did, for God’s people in Israel:

“Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.” Psalm 6:10

The Scriptures are clear that the nation of Israel will not only exist, but will thrive!

“The Lord has been mindful of us;
He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.” Psalm 115:12

Universities need to be held accountable when they promote a false tolerance at the expense of Israel. The Holocaust happened, it was real, and cannot legitimately be denied. Raping and pillaging innocent civilians in Israel cannot be justified, under any circumstance. Universities should be held accountable for any anti-Semitic posture they are taking because it influences our future American leaders.

The recent news that some Harvard students signed an anti-Israel statement as part of the Harvard  Palestine Solidarity Group didn’t surprise me at all. These students have been taught to believe lies about Israel, propagated by far too many leaders in American higher education.

What did surprise me has been some of the backlash and I am grateful that people are holding these Harvard students accountable. Companies want to know who these students are so that they don’t end up hiring these kids. It is harsh, but it is justified, and necessary given the current climate.

Personally, I don’t think it was right to post the students’ photos and names on billboards, but I do appreciate our nation overwhelmingly supporting Israel despite the abundance of anti-semitic rhetoric that is pervasive in most American universities today.

Our nation has long stood with Israel, and that is a friendship worth keeping. Universities would do well to re-evaluate the way that the Israel/Hamas conflict is presented to encourage unwavering support for Israel.

What does the Bible say about the current conflict?

Gaza City is one of 5 formerly Philistine cities

Gaza City has a long history.

It was one of the five formerly Philistine cities which included Gaza, Ashqelon (Ashkelon), Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath.

Even our English term “Palestinian” comes from the root words for Philistia and the Greek, palaistinei.

The Philistine and Edomite partnership

One prophecy that really stands out to me is found in Amos. Philistine Gaza had partnered with the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) to turn in Jews to them:

“This is what the LORD says: 

“For three offenses of Gaza, and for four, 

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they led into exile an entire population

To turn them over to Edom.

So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza

And it will consume her citadels.'” Amos 1:6-7, NASB

These offenses will not go unpunished. The God of Israel will not allow the Philistine goliaths of the world to conquer His chosen people. Gaza has remained unrepentant and hostile toward Israel, and the Word of God is very clear that the wall of Gaza will be burned.

Likewise, a prophecy in the book of Obadiah speaks against the treasonous Edomites:

“You should not have entered the gate of My people
In the day of their calamity.
Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction
In the day of their calamity,
Nor laid hands on their substance
In the day of their calamity.” Obadiah 13

The Day of the LORD is near

“For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near;
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.” Obadiah 15

Deliverance will come and Israel will triumph

Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom ends with hope for Israel’s future:

“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
And there shall be holiness;
The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
And the house of Joseph a flame;
But the house of Esau shall be stubble;
They shall kindle them and devour them,
And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,”
For the Lord has spoken.

The South shall possess the mountains of Esau,
And the Lowland shall possess Philistia.
They shall possess the fields of Ephraim
And the fields of Samaria.
Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
And the captives of this host of the children of Israel
Shall possess the land of the Canaanites
As far as Zarephath.
The captives of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
Shall possess the cities of the South.
Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion
To judge the mountains of Esau,
And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. Obadiah 17-21

A moment to demonstrate love

The war that Hamas started when they attacked Israel is a decisive moment in history.

It has been so heartbreaking to know that so many innocent lives have been taken and in such horrific manners.

Being pro-Israel does not mean anti-Arab. Let it be known that there is plenty of room in the household of God for people of every ethnic background – every tribe and tongue – to repent of his or her sin and be welcomed with open arms into the Kingdom of God.

There is a stark difference between the terrorizing, hate-filled message of radical Islam and the message of love, forgiveness, and acceptance offered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach).

This is a moment in which God’s people – believers around the world – need to stand with Israel while at the same time demonstrating fierce love.

Pray for the Palestinian people who are being used and abused by terrorists.

Pray for the Palestinian people who have been deceived into accepting lies and hatred.

Pray for unbelieving Jews to recognize the Eternal Savior who has come to rule and reign.

Pray for all of the hurting families (on both sides) who have lost dear loved ones. Pray for Israel’s hostages to be rescued. Pray for all the little children who are witnessing such horror. Pray for nations to support Israel.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Please leave a comment about how you and your family are personally praying for Israel!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May they prosper who love you.'” Psalm 122:6

I am a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²). As a #BibleGatewayPartner, I have received a copy of the New King James Version Evangelical Study Bible published by Zondervan Bibles at no cost to me in exchange for an honest review here on the Adonai Shalom USA blog. #BG²

Evangelical Study Bible (NKJV) Book Review & Description

The new Evangelical Study Bible published by Thomas Nelson is immediately appealing! The design on the hardcover edition is very inviting: it features a lovely tree branch design with modern coloration and reminds us that the Bible is truly life-giving:

Evangelical: Reaching the world around us

I particularly liked what is printed on the front inside of the book jacket: a short admonition to be bearers of Truth: to use this Bible to become firmly “grounded in the truth” in order to reach the world around us. The book jacket challenges the societal norms of today which falsely posit that “truth is just a perspective . . . . always changing, shifting, and transforming to conform to the standards of the world around us.”

Given that the book jacket is indeed the first impression most of us would get from a hardcover book, I believe this was tastefully and wisely done.

We are blessed to have so many different study editions of the Scriptures available to us in the English language. This particular study Bible emphasizes the importance of living out an evangelical faith. I would not be surprised if the Evangelical Study Bible becomes a very popular edition for Bible study groups throughout the English-speaking evangelical world. The articles and in-text resources are very accessible for new as well as more mature Christians, making this an excellent choice for anyone looking for a general evangelical study resource.

Use of color in the Evangelical Study Bible

The Evangelical Study Bible contains what the editors call “special helps” which are “unique to this Bible.” These include doctrinal footnotes, personality profiles, information of archaeological sites with full-color photos, apologetics articles, and in-text full-color maps. There is an introductory page for each book of the Bible complete with a full color image.

The use of color throughout makes this Bible particularly eye-catching. Today’s social media savvy youngsters use photos and images constantly. Likewise, this Bible grabs one’s attention through the use of full color images, a wise choice to meet the goal of making this an evangelical-friendly Bible. There are additional full-color maps in the back that offer additional eye-catching material and useful tools for personal study and even apologetics.

This Evangelical Study Bible follows the custom of using red lettering for the words of Jesus. I am such a fan of red letter Bibles. I love to clearly see what Jesus said!

This Bible also features verse-by-verse commentary, short articles and background notes on Christian teachings and doctrine, cultural and archeological notes, word studies, and other helpful indices. The text is a very readable 10.5 point font, slightly larger than the 9.5 point font in the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible that I also recently reviewed.

The NKJV Evangelical Study Bible lives up to the slogan printed on the cover: “Christ-centered, Faith-Building, Mission-Focused.”

Contributing Editors

An impressive list of contributing editors can be found in the early pages of the Evangelical Study Bible. These Biblical scholars have received degrees from reputable universities and theological schools including Dallas Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Regent University, Liberty University, Hebrew Union College, and Westminster Theological Seminary. The commentary throughout the Evangelical Study Bible appears to be dependable and fairly interdenominational. The editors profess faith in our LORD:

“We believe that the Bible is God’s message to men and women of all time – that it presents His plan for salvation and daily Christian living. We pray that this new edition of the Evangelical Study Bible will increase your understanding of that message and will richly bless your spiritual life and growth for years to come.”

“Dear Reader,” Evangelical Study Bible, viii.

My recommendation:

★★★★★

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Evangelical Study Bible deserves a 5 out of 5.

This is an excellent evangelical resource for anyone who takes their faith seriously and wants to enhance their personal study and devotional time with in-text study resources and verse-by-verse commentary.

Pastora Jennifer Mieliulis Fuentes, M.Div., Duke University

Book details

Title: Evangelical Study Bible
Author: 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: 2023
Genre: BIBLES/New King James Version/Study

ISBN-13: 978-0-7852-2771-7

PURCHASE LINKS:  Amazon | FaithGateway Store

#BibleGatewayPartner

(Yehoshua/Joshua 5) B”H 5783

Celebrating Passover in Gilgal

The first Passover celebrated in the Promised Land of Canaan was very significant.

Joshua had successfully led the Israelites across the Jordan, on dry ground (Joshua 3:17). The children of Israel, under Joshua’s direction and the order of the LORD, had taken twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan for each of the 12 tribes of Israel (Joshua 4:8) to carry with them.

Now they had arrived in a place that would be known as “Gilgal” from that time forward.

Why “Gilgal?”

“Gilgal” was a word that expressed “rolling away.”

Some have suggested that Gilgal was an Israelite version of Stonehenge. Perhaps they did set up 12 stones in a formation, but the Scripture does not allude to the Israelites conducting at this point a massive engineering feat – not to mention, Joshua was doing his best to obey the LORD, and most set-ups like Stonehenge are much more pagan in nature than what we would anticipate God doing here.

The Israelites were heading toward confrontation with Jericho, so again, they were probably spending their time in training exercises more so than setting up monoliths. Nevertheless, there IS what is known as a “Gilgal”, concentric circles similar to a labyrinth located at that site in modern day Golan Heights that archaeologists date as being much older than Joshua’s time. It would make sense that God would use that place to reveal a far deeper truth about rolling stones away.

The Reproach of Egypt has been rolled away

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.” Joshua 5:9, emphasis added

There they were . . . camped in the Promised Land, and the LORD announces that the reproach, the shame, the mistreatment, the oppression, the horrors of bondage were now

completely

rolled

away.

Passover Observed

And then the children of Israel observed Passover.

“And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.” Joshua 5:11-12

The manna ceased and the people had their first taste of what life would be like in the Promised Land.

They had been set free and delivered, and brought into blessing!

The Commander of the LORD’s Army, the Resurrection, and the Seven Shofars

After this, the Commander of the LORD’s army appeared before Joshua with a sword in his hand (Joshua 5:13).

The LORD assures Joshua that Jericho will be defeated. Remember that Jericho was defeated by the shouts of the people and the priests sounding seven shofars seven times on the seventh day of their marching (Joshua 6).

You may know Joshua (Yehoshua) is a type for the future Yehoshua (Yeshua) — Jesus.

This chapter is full of awesome allusion!

First, we see that our reproach is rolled away. Egypt is left behind.

When our Messiah and Savior Yeshua (Jesus) defeated sin and death (the ways of Egypt and Jericho), He brought us into victory with Him!

All reproach was rolled away along with the stone on the day of our LORD’s Resurrection!

Revelation 8ff describes the seven seals and the seven shofars and the seven angels who will announce the coming of the LORD and His army and the final destruction of Babylon.

Again, all reproach will be rolled away!

THE TOMB IS EMPTY! THE LORD REIGNS! HE WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER!

Resurrection Power

Are you living in the Promised Land of God’s love and affection for you?

Do you have the full assurance that you will one day be raised to new life – eternal life – because of your trust in Yeshua haMashiach, the LORD Jesus Christ?

Have you tasted of the fruits of the Spirit?

Are you wearing the full armor of God and walking in victory as the enemy is defeated all around you?

Are you waiting with joyful expectation for the return of our King of kings in glory and victory and awesome power?

Do you need your sin and past rolled away? There is forgiveness available to you. The LORD is willing to forgive you if you will just come to Him with a sincere and repentant heart.

Let me invite you today to come with us – all truly saved believers – to this heavenly banquet. If you celebrate the Passover meal, it will give you a glimpse into this wonderful Truth. As we all celebrate the Victory of our Risen LORD, you, too, can receive Him into your life and know with absolute hope and confidence that He will raise you to new life, too. When this life is over, we will be joined together with our LORD and we will sit at the banquet table of His love. May today bring you great shalom and joy because Yeshua (Jesus) is our Living Hope!

(Zechariah 9; Luke 19:28-48) 5783 B”H

It is already nearly Palm Sunday and Passover! We still have snow on the ground here in the northwoods, but the joy of our Savior’s Resurrection warms our hearts and helps us remember that the spring flowers are just about to burst forth.

Zekharyah: God remembers

Have you ever read the full prophecy found in Zechariah 9?

Zechariah (זְכַרְיָה (Zekharyah) was a priest and prophet by heritage and lineage and God used him to reveal one of the most important Messianic prophecies!

The Hebrew name “Zekharyah” means “God remembers.”

God remembers His people, He remembers His promises, and prophecy is fulfilled precisely because the LORD has spoken and His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11).

The chapter begins with judgment on Israel’s enemies – highly appropriate given the promise of Zion’s Coming King who would defeat evil. God remembered all that Israel had endured and reassured them that He would send the Righteous One.

Zechariah 9:9-17 contains the prophecies that were fulfilled on Palm Sunday. Additionally, this passage prophesies that the coming King would speak shalom and salvation to the nations:

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
        Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
    Behold, your King is coming to you,
        a righteous one bringing salvation.
        He is lowly, riding on a donkey—
        on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will banish chariots from Ephraim
        and horses from Jerusalem,
        and the war bow will be broken.
    He will speak shalom to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea,
    from the River to the ends of the earth.
As for you also, by the blood of your covenant,
        I will release your prisoners from the waterless Pit.
Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope!
    Today I declare that I will restore twice as much to you.
I will bend Judah as my bow
        and fill it with Ephraim.
  I will rouse your sons, O Zion
        against your sons, O Greece.
    I will wield you like a warrior’s sword.

Then ADONAI will be seen over them
    as His arrow flashes like lightning.
ADONAI Elohim will blow the shofar
    and march in whirlwinds of the south.
ADONAI TZVA’OT will defend them.
    They will consume and conquer with sling stones.
    They will drink and roar as with wine
        and be filled like a bowl,
        like the corners of the altar.
ADONAI their God will save them on that day
        as the flock of His people.
    They will be like gems of a crown
        sparkling over His land.
How good and beautiful it will be!
    Grain will make the young men thrive
        and new wine the virgin women.” Zechariah 9:9-17, emphases added

Isn’t this beautiful to picture?

“They will be like gems of a crown sparkling over His land.” Zechariah 9:16b

He loves you so much you sparkle like a regal gem!

As you can see, this Bible passage describes the overwhelming and awesome power of the LORD Most High. His arrows flash like lightning and shofars will sound and the LORD of the Armies will defend us. It is really impactful to dwell on this passage for a time. Meditate on God’s Word! You will always be blessed.

Our Humble King, Owner of all things

Do you notice that the Zechariah passage ends with all such fanfare and victorious imagery, but it sure didn’t start out that way. It tells about a lowly Man, riding on a donkey. But, despite the humbleness of the passage, it does make a bold announcement:

“Behold, your King is coming to you.” Zechariah 9:9

What a statement!

The King was coming! And not just any King – your King. The One who will hold out His scepter of righteous forgiveness and allow you into His Presence with all-consuming love, mercy, and passion.

Do you need to hear that today?

Do you need to know that there is One who holds all Authority, the Majestic King of all kings, and He is coming once again? No one knows the day or the hour of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Second Coming, but I can assure you this: He is coming back for His own.

As Zechariah records, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ our Lord) is the Righteous One and He is bringing salvation. He will save you, deliver you, and set you free of your burdens and your sins and even the curse and sting of death. He will give you new life, if you will trust in Him today with all your heart.

Luke documented the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy that the Messiah would ride on a colt. (Luke 19:30ff).

I love how the owners of the colt ask the two disciples in Luke 19, “Why are you untying the colt?” Luke 19:33

That was a reasonable question. The disciples didn’t own the colt, but the Master, the LORD Himself can given them permission to take it! They were instructed to simply say,

“The LORD has need of him.” (Luke 19:34, NKJV).

“The Master needs it.” (Luke 19:34, TLV).

God owns everything, so He owned that young donkey, too.

The LORD needed the donkey because He was absolutely fulfilling in every minute detail the words of Zechariah‘s triumphal prophecy.

Luke describes the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Even though our LORD chose to use a lowly donkey as His transportation into Jerusalem, the events of that first Palm Sunday were far from lowly.

During what is commonly described as “the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem,” there was now a full multitude of people who would consider themselves Yeshua’s (Jesus’) disciples. They were celebrating because they knew He was the Anointed One, the Promised King!

Scripture says that they praised God with a loud voice!

Do you, too, praise Him with a loud voice?

Do you let it be known that you and your household serve this King?

“When Yeshua came near the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice. They praised God with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of ADONAI!”
Shalom in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”

But answering, Yeshua said, “I tell you that if these keep silent, the stones will shout out!”

As He drew near and saw Jerusalem, He wept over her, saying, “If only you had recognized this day the things that lead to shalom! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and hem you in on all sides. And they will smash you to the ground—you and your children within you. And they won’t leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:37-45).

Blessed is the King!

What has often become a repetitive custom to say, “Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai” was in that moment the most powerful declaration of allegiance and praise!

Shalom in Heaven and Glory in the Highest!

Shalom in heaven!

Glory in the Highest!

Doesn’t that reach the depths of your heart?

The joy of knowing the King of kings has come!

I imagine the overwhelming experiential joy that the disciples must have been feeling at that moment!

The Pharisees missed the mark and wanted to hear a public rebuke.

But Yeshua (Jesus) knew the condition of their hearts.

He wept over the Holy City, knowing that despite their daily greetings to one another saying, “Shalom,” they truly didn’t understand shalom.

More than a greeting and more than a temporary condition, true shalom comes only from being in right relationship with the Holy One, learning to love and seeking His mercy. Keeping every jot and tittle of the law could not save the people. They needed to know the Lord of Shalom.

Rejoice Greatly and Shout

Zechariah 9:9 proclaims we are to rejoice greatly and shout because of the announcement of the Coming King!

As we enter this Holy time of Passover and celebrating the FirstFruits of the Resurrection, I pray you will rejoice greatly. That you will not be ashamed to shout praises unto God Most High!

The tomb is empty. Our King will return!

Celebrate! And may we pray for those who do not yet know Him. That they, too, would shout “Hoshiana!” (Hosanna!): Please, save!

Parashat D’varim (Deuteronomy 1-3:22) 5782 B”H

The Book of “Words”

The book of Deuteronomy is known as “D’varim” in Hebrew, which simply means, “Words.”

D’varim is comprised of 34 chapters, so yes, there are many words!

Our English term, “Deuteronomy” comes from the Greek term in the Septuagint, “deuteronomion,” which means “Second Law.” This is a misnomer; however. The Tree of Life Bible Introduction to Deuteronomy recognizes this and aptly states, “There is no second Torah.” It is a “second telling” of that which has already been told, the law and story of Israel, a recap for the next generation of Israelites.

Just as it was then, it remains important to continue to tell the story – HIStory: the marvelous true story of the LORD’s unfolding plan of salvation.

The wonderful words of life.

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Wonderful Words of Life

Do you know that wonderful hymn? It is a great song to remind us of the beauty of the Word of God.

For the full lyrics and even Spanish translation, check out this page on Hymnary. Here’s a recording you might enjoy listening to today:

From stuttering to speech-giving

In D’varim (Deuteronomy), Moshe (Moses) has matured in his ministry role.

We must smile for a moment. Moshe the reluctant stutterer is now providing full speeches! D’varim records three of his speeches addressing the growing nation of Israel.

Moshe overcame his fear of using words!

This is a lesson for us: if we fear public speaking or get nervous sharing the Good News of salvation with strangers, we can overcome those fears and anxieties. Moshe knew that he needed to provide pastoral instruction to the Israelites, just as we are called to live out the Great Commission.

Sometimes we overcome our fears because there is a need. If we place the need above our personal preferences and pray that the LORD by the power of His Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) helps us, we can overcome and be used mightily for the salvation of souls.

Moshe did this and served as a spokesman for God. Then, One-Greater-Than-Moses came: Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua was also a spokesman for God, but there is a key difference: Yeshua IS God!

HIS Word is so valuable, we must share the Good News that Yeshua has come!

May He help us share the wonderful words of life.

D’var HaShem (Lit.: “The Word of the Name”): The Word of God

The Hebrew term דָּבָר Davar (D’var) (plural: d’varim) is translated in the Septuagint (the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) using the terms “logos” and “rhema.” “In the beginning was the Word (Λόγος/logos) and the Word (Λόγος/logos) was with God and the Word (Λόγος/logos) was God.” John 1:1

So, “In the beginning was the Davar and the Davar was with God and the Davar was God.” John 1:1

I point this out so that you can see a link between Deuteronomy and the Gospels. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) quoted from Deuteronomy frequently! When He was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11) He used the words of Deuteronomy to fend off the devil. Why Deuteronomy? It is a very practical book and contains the Sh’ma (Deuteronomy 6:4-9): the prayer that would become central to Jewish religious practice.

The Words, the D’varim, could be used as armor. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) shows us that if we know the Bible, if we memorize Scripture, we can combat the fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) of hasatan (satan) – and win!

There is power in those words because they are D’varim HaShem. They are the Words given by God. Divine words that all came together in the person of the Holy Word, the Word Incarnate – D’var HaShem, our LORD and Savior Yeshua (Jesus).

The Prophet Greater than Moses

Moses is so very revered by the Jewish tradition that to say anyone could be greater signifies a great deal. Many Jewish people today do not believe in Messiah because they do not realize that the One Greater-than-Moses has come. Great efforts have been taken to avoid using passages of Scripture such as Isaiah 53 in synagogue services so that Jewish people will not contemplate that the passage is talking about Yeshua of Nazareth. This is tragic! If you are able to befriend a Jewish person, you must share with them the d’varim of Isaiah 53 so they can see how this Scripture has been fulfilled in Messiah.

Just as Moshe gives a long discourse in D’varim, Messiah Yeshua gave a long discourse for the Sermon on the Mount. Messiah was proving He is the Prophet of whom Moshe spoke in Deuteronomy 18:15 – the One who would come and must be listened to! I love the way Dr. Christopher Smith explains this: “ . . . the farewell speech of the first Moses provides the inaugural content for the new Moses.” Moshe himself prophesied of Messiah:

“ADONAI your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst—from your brothers. To him you must listen.” Deuteronomy 18:15

This Scripture assures us that there will indeed be someone greater than Moses, and we know and the Scriptures testify that in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) alone we have eternal life (John 5:39).

So share the wonderful words of life with someone today, that you may be an instrument, a spokesperson for the kingdom of God!

Just as the unbelieving Jewish people need to know Messiah, the believing Christians in our world need to know their connection to Israel. How much more deeply can we know our Savior if we understand the Messianic prophecies and His connection to the Jewish nation! May you be blessed today by His Word! Join us in praying for the nation of Israel, that unbelieving Jewish people would come to know their Messiah. We are praying also for Christian believers to learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith! Please leave a comment below and share with your friends!

Parashat Tzav (V’yikra/Leviticus 6-8) 5782 B”H

Last week, I posed the question of whether or not you would list Leviticus among your top favorite books of the Bible.

Don’t feel bad if it didn’t make your top 10.

It’s tough to compete with the comfort of David’s Psalms,

the passion of the Gospel writers’ testimonies,

or the intensity of fire falling from heaven.

You realize fire falls from heaven quite a bit in Scripture.

Fire 🔥 at Sinai, fire 🔥 when Elijah prayed, fire 🔥in the Upper Room.

But here is a new question.

A great question for parents and children’s ministry leaders.

When introducing a young child to the Bible, would you start with Leviticus?!

I know I haven’t started with it.

I’ve always focused on the Gospel stories and the Psalms and the power of Pentecost (Shavu’ot). I love to share with them stories of Messiah Yeshua’s (Jesus’) miracles and ministry. The first verse my children memorized was Genesis 1:1. You can’t go wrong with starting at the beginning!

But did you know that it is actually fairly common in Jewish households to begin a child’s spiritual education with Leviticus?

The rationale is that because a child is pure, they ought to be taught the laws of purity. Not bad logic.

Who needs Noah’s ark sing-alongs when you can toss a list of burnt offering requirements at your three to six year olds? 🤨🤔😬

All joking aside, there’s a reason I’ve always respected the studious nature of Judaism. They don’t shy away from the hard topics. They don’t pretend that those tough passages aren’t in the Torah. And rather than run from them, they delve straight in, head-first. Master that which is difficult, and the rest will be a piece of cake. Speaking of cake, we will get to that in a moment.

There’s something we all can learn there.

Finding salvation in the pages of Leviticus

Introducing children to the concept of the sacrificial system at a young age might seem counterintuitive. Often, we want to protect children from the harsh realities of life such as sacrifice, suffering, and death. But sheltering them from these difficult concepts may actually do more harm than good. If a child gains understanding from the outset that death and life are both very much real, they can, also at a much younger age, begin to understand just how valuable the sacrifice that the LORD made for us through His death on the cross really is.

That is the goal, right? That our children would be saved, from an early age! Not through any type of manipulative techniques, but rather through honest engagement with the Word of God and related thoughtful, age-appropriate discussion.

Children ask all sorts of interesting questions. Let their curiosity be your guide.

Make connections with things your children already know. Like bread!

Bread? 🥖

Yes! Bread!

Every child in every nation eats some form of bread. From baguettes to flour tortillas to naan, bread is a staple to most people’s diets.

That’s why Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) told us He is the Bread of Life in John 6:35. He spoke in ways that are relatable! We know we need sustenance.

Kids understand the importance of eating when they are hungry. They also know they are supposed to say “please” and “thank you.”

So when you reach a passage like Leviticus 7, explain to your children how the LORD expected people to be thankful! And when they wanted to express their thankfulness and have peace with God, they would bring a special offering to the LORD – bread. And lots of it. Unleavened cakes, flour cakes, (yes, CAKE! 🎂) and leavened bread. It would be eaten by God’s representative and his family – Aaron the priest and his sons.

Leviticus 7:11-14a, Tree of Life Version

 “Now this is the Torah of the sacrifice of fellowship offerings which may be offered to ADONAI. If he brings it for a thanksgiving, then he is to present with the sacrifice of thanksgiving matzah cakes mixed with oil, matzah wafers anointed with oil, and fine flour cakes mixed with oil. He is to present his offering with the sacrifice of his fellowship offerings for thanksgiving along with cakes of bread with hametz. From each he is to offer one out of every offering as a gift to ADONAI.“

You may be more familiar with a version like the New King James Version which reads:

“This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the LORD: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil. Besides the cakes, as his offering he shall offer leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering. And from it he shall offer one cake from each offering as a heave offering to the LORD.” (Leviticus 7:11-14a, NKJV)

Leviticus teaches honor

Leviticus 8 describes the consecration of the priests and their ordination. The offerings were brought to them – so ultimately, people were expected to honor these leaders of the Israelite community.

Romans 12:10 says, “Be tenderly devoted to one another in brotherly love; outdo one another in giving honor.”

In American culture, the concept of “giving honor” isn’t something we talk about much.

Things like deference, submission, and putting someone else’s needs above our own aren’t real popular in a culture that emphasizes individual achievement and personal prosperity.

We don’t think to “honor” anyone who doesn’t “deserve” it.

To make matters worse, we hear of scandals in churches involving clergy and we determine that congregational leaders can’t be trusted and should not be honored. Listen, I know there is a ton of hurt there and a lot of evil that has been perpetrated in the name of faith, but we must not allow our faith and judgment to be clouded by the sinful examples. We must be wise and make sure there is accountability in every church position and structure, but we must not become overly cynical or disrespectful.

We must learn to honor, in a godly and safe manner. We must teach our children how to honor their teachers – all of those wonderful people who pour time and encouragement into their little hearts. Instead of always having to “win,” it is important to instill the value of kindness which naturally leads to honoring others.

The Bible clearly teaches that honor is something we must not only value, but give.

You can’t give something you don’t have, though.

Surely you know that you were awesomely and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). God chose to create you, and in so doing, He honored you so that you could in turn honor Him.

So you have to know that you are honorable. Before sin enters the calculation, your form was perfect and you have a deep inherent worth!

If you have that confidence, you should have no difficulty in submitting yourself to another with love and with kindness without losing your sense of self-esteem.

The Word of God shows us we are each responsible to learn to honor our brothers and sisters in the LORD. Children should be taught to respect and to honor their elders. Likewise as believers grow in faith, it is our duty within the family of faith to honor each other. Honoring another should not mean losing one’s autonomy and should never result in abusive relationships. Honoring ought be mutual, but we must be willing to serve even those we would rather not serve.

If we learn to honor one another, then we genuinely gain the ability to give honor to Adonai.

The fight for the souls of our children

Children’s ministries must take into account the fact that children come from so many different backgrounds and walks of life. If we water down the message and shy away from the more difficult subjects, we could be missing huge opportunities to help children. Whether a child’s perception or reality of a problem is large or small, if a ministry is there to guide them with love, kindness, and the unfailing Truth of the Word of God, the child will be receptive to the message about our wonderful Savior.

Today’s world is full of conflicting messages, ideas, philosophies, and religions. The devil is hard at work to rob our children, in so many ways. False religions work very hard to instill their values and beliefs into young people, so as believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and disciples in His Truth, how much harder ought we be working to bless our children with the knowledge of His Glorious Truth.

I’ve grown tired of the repetitive nature of most children’s ministry programs that seem to simply seek to entertain the children.

I’d rather arm them for the real world with the real armor of God. Children are smart! Let’s give them a deep and strong foundation!

Maybe even start with . . . your new favorite, Leviticus!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what you think! Is Leviticus growing on you, my friend? Please consider subscribing so you can stay up-to-date on our latest posts!

Looking for additional resources?

Looking for children’s resources?

Here are some resources that might make your personal study time more enjoyable for you or your children! I am an Amazon affiliate which means I earn a little from your purchase, but it won’t cost you more.

Abington Press has generously provided me with a copy of Witness at the Cross: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday by Dr.Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in exchange for my honest review. Thank you both to Abington Press and to Audra Jennings for the arrangement.

Last September, I had the privilege of being asked to review Dr. Amy-Jill Levine’s book, The Difficult Words of Jesus (here is a link to that review, if you are interested).

Now, as of December 2021, Dr.Levine has released a new book titled, Witness at the Cross: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday and once again, I have the privilege of reviewing it for you! It is timely with Passover and the celebration of Messiah’s resurrection coming up so soon.

Background

Witness at the Cross reads like an advanced Bible Study – something aimed at first or second year seminary students, but accessible to anyone willing to look deeply at the Scriptures.

I found the book’s topic intriguing because there are few authors willing to focus specifically on the events of the crucifixion day, since all of us want to jump past that to the magnificent victory of Messiah’s Resurrection. Dr. Levine does not avoid discussing the somewhat unpleasant details related to Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) death and subsequent burial. For example, she explains the significance of when Pilate granted the “corpse” released to Joseph of Arimathea rather than the “body” (Levine, 119) and the Roman tradition that “corpses of people executed by the state could be returned to friends and family as part of the celebration of the emperor’s birthday” (Levine, 120).

As I clarified in my review of The Difficult Words of Jesus, Dr. Levine is a Jewish feminist theologian who teaches New Testament at Vanderbilt. I point this out because Witness at the Cross is aimed at Christian readers, yet Dr.Levine denies the divinity of Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. She offers up some certainly unique and interesting considerations, but there are some serious matters that would need to be addressed if this book were being used in a congregational setting.

Book Review

In the introduction to the book, Levine jumps right into some heavy topics like ethnic cleansing, matters of conscience, and credibility. But she does so in her characteristic style that makes it totally accessible. If her classes are anything like her writing, I’m guessing Levine is a very popular professor with her students! She introduces the reader to the idea of looking to each of the witnesses of the crucifixion to gain greater perspective into the Gospel accounts.

Throughout the book, Levine consistently compares the different Gospel accounts and helps clarify some of the differences between the Synoptic Gospels and John. Levine gives voice to those who often get ignored such as the bystanders and the scoffers who witnessed the events on Calvary’s hill. She begins chapter 2 describing classes she teaches at a prison in Tennessee and talks about the different perspectives of criminals, victims, and the reality that one person might call someone a terrorist who for another is a freedom fighter. Chapter 3 is focused on the soldiers, 4 on the beloved disciple, and 5 on the women.

Chapter 6 discusses Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Most of what Dr.Levine shares here is very interesting. However, let me quote her so you will get a sense of her own attitude toward discipleship. Dr. Levine writes, “Once again, Nicodemus does the right thing, and once again he does not become a disciple. I am liking him more and more” (Levine, 133).

I have sat in Divinity School classes where a comment like this might make us laugh (albeit uncomfortably) and to the right audience, Dr.Levine’s humor and conversational style is attractive. But, as I suggested earlier, a book like this would have to be used with care and in the right context.

My recommendation:

★★★★

If you are looking to supplement your Bible study time with a book that will get you focused on the witnesses of the crucifixion and their roles in the unfolding of history, you will enjoy this book. I would recommend it to mature, discerning students of the Bible.

Pastora Jennifer Mieliulis Fuentes, M.Div., Duke University

About the Author: Dr.Amy-Jill Levine

Title: Witness at the Cross: A Beginners Guide to Holy Friday
Author: Amy-Jill Levine
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Release Date: December 28, 2021
Genre: Religion/Holidays/Easter&Lent

ISBN-13: 978-1-7910-2112-2

PURCHASE LINKS:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Books-A-Million

Thank you for taking the time to read this book review! Have you had a chance to read Dr. Levine’s book yet? What did you think? Leave a comment!

Review: “The Difficult Words of Jesus” by Amy-Jill Levine

Review: Gospel of Mark: Word for Word Bible Comic: NIV

Review: “Mysteries of the Messiah” by Rabbi Jason Sobel

Parashat P’kudei (Shemot/Exodus 38:21-40:38)

Completion of the Tabernacle

This passage starts out where we left off discussing the Tabernacle’s skilled artisans, Betzalel and Oholiab. They were the wise-hearted, skilled artisans who were responsible for the craftsmanship associated with the building of the Tabernacle.

Betzalel, of the tribe of Judah “made all that the LORD commanded Moses.” Exodus 38:22. He was like an ideal congregation member. He would hear the pastor/leader’s vision and make it happen.

Likewise, Oholiab, of the tribe of Dan, was “a craftsman, a skillful workman, and a weaver of colors, in blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.” Exodus 38:23.

Tabernacle set-up

The final chapter of Exodus details how Moshe (Moses) set up the Tabernacle. He followed the instructions of the LORD very carefully.

Exodus 40:33 “He set up the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar and set up the screen at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.“ (emphasis added)

Moses finished that work. It was necessary and surely it was arduous, but it was done. The tabernacle was built to foreshadow the unfolding of the story of salvation.

When the work was finished, then the glory of the LORD could come and fill that place.

And that’s exactly what happened!

Exodus 40:34 “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of ADONAI filled the Tabernacle.”

It is finished

The glory of the LORD filling the Tabernacle would have been absolutely amazing. Can you imagine being there!? But as awe-inspiring as that was, the salvation story was still being written.

You see, One greater-than-Moses would come: Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus the Christ). He would finish a greater work. He would complete the story of salvation. A story which is HIStory – the truest, greatest story ever told.

On the cross at Calvary’s hill, Yeshua said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Now, let me remind you what is truly remarkable.

Yeshua, Himself the Temple of the Holy Spirit, imparts to us His Spirit. He died and rose again, and breathed upon the disciples so that they could receive the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh). Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Just as the Glory of God came to fill the Tabernacle, He is willing to come upon you and to fill you with His Spirit. If you have not yet received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, please let us know and we will pray for you!

We end our reading of Shemot/Exodus as the Tabernacle is completed and gloriously filled with the Presence of the Most High. The book of Exodus is a book about freedom. The Greatest Freedom you can ever experience is the freedom from sin and death.

Will you trust Yeshua (Jesus) as your Savior today? He alone can free you from all bondage and give you eternal life.

As you can see, the Bible is full of amazing connections that demonstrate the continuity between the time of Moses and the time of Yeshua! Maybe you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments and please consider subscribing to our newsletter! Are you placing your trust in Messiah Yeshua for the first time? Are you renewing your commitment to Him? Let us know how we can pray with and for you! Shalom!

The Tabernacle’s skilled artisans