PAUL GALATIANS

 ON JULY 17, 180 A.D., A SMALL GROUP FROM THE TOWN IN SCILLI IN NORTH AFRICA WAS SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE ROMAN GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE. THEY WERE CHARGED WITH BELONGING TO A SEDITIOUS ORGANIZATION, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. DURING THE TRIAL, A BOX CONTAINING THE LITTLE COMMUNITY'S LIBRARY WAS BROUGHT INTO THE COURT.  THE GOVERNOR  ASKED THEM WHAT WAS IN THE BOX. THEY REPLIED, "OUR BOOKS, AND THE LETTERS OF PAUL, A RIGHTEOUS MAN."  THE LETTERS BROUGHT INTO COURT WERE COPIES OF THE ORIGINALS WRITTEN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS EARLIER. WHO WAS THIS MAN WHOSE LETTERS WERE USED IN EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CHARGE BROUGHT AGAINST THOSE SCILLITAN  MARTYRS?  HE WAS PAUL OF TARSUS. IN HIS LETTER THE APOSTLE CALLS HIMSELF PAUL. (ACTS 13:9) IS A TRANSITION POINT FOR HIS NAMES. BEFORE THIS VERSE HE IS CALLED SAUL, AFTER IT PAUL. THE NAME SAUL IS USED CONSISTENTLY IN THE CONVERSION ACCOUNTS, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRANSITION VERSE; SEE ACTS 9:4,17;  22:7, 13; 26:14( ALL REFERENCES FROM ACTS) UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. IT WAS COMMON ENOUGH FOR JEWS TO HAVE TWO NAMES, A HEBREW ONE AND A GREEK OR ROMAN ONE. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE APOSTLE WAS CALLED PAUL FROM BIRTH, AND SAUL WAS THE "ADDED NAME" USED IN JEWISH CIRCLES. PAUL'S BIRTHDATE IS NOT KNOWN. HE IS SPOKEN OF AS A "YOUNG MAN"  AT THE STONING OF STEPHEN 7:58. HE WAS BORN IN THE HELLENISTIC TOWN OF TARSUS IN CILICIA, 22:3. HIS JEWISH PARENTS BELONGED TO THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, ROMANS 11:1. HE HAD A SISTER, 23;16. HIS FAMILY MEMBERS  WERE ROMAN CITIZENS, 22:25-29; 23:27.  TARSUS WAS A CITY OF CULTURE, PHILOSOPHY, AND EDUCATION. SUCH NOTABLES AS  CICERO, JULIUS CAESAR, AND CAESAR AUGUSTUS HAD VISITED THE TOWN.. ON ONE OCCASION, MARK ANTONY PROVIDED A ROYAL RECEPTION FOR CLEOPATRA THERE. PAUL HIMSELF BOASTED
OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS "A CITIZEN OF NO MEAN TOWN," 21:39. MOST LIKELY PAUL RECEIVED HIS EARLY EDUCATION THERE-BUT SEE ALso 22:3. PAUL REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS A JEW (21:39), AN ISRAELITE (2 COR. 11:22). A HEBREW (PHIL.3:5, AND A PHARISEE. WHEN HE WAS INVITED TO APPEAR BEFORE KING AGRIPPA, HE SAID....' ACCORDING TO THE STRICTEST PARTY OF OUR RELIGION. I HAVE LIVED AS A PHARISEE, " (26;5). HE WAS EDUCATED AT THE FEET OF GAMALIEL (22:3) WHO TAUGHT IN JERUSALEM DURING THE PERIOD 2O-50 A.D.  PAUL'S ASSOCIATION SUFFICIENT STATUS TO BE APPOINTED TO GO TO DAMASCUS  TO CREATE TROUBLE FOR THE CHRISTIAN CAUSE THERE. THOUGH PAUL APPARENTLY DID NOT MEET   JESUS PERSONALLY DURING HIS MINISTRY, HE CERTAINLY KNEW WHAT JESUS DISCIPLES WERE CLAIMING ABOUT HIM. LOOKING AT PAUL'S CONVERSION, WHILE SAUL THE PHARISEE WAS ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS TO PERSECUTE FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY, THE RISEN LORD MET HIM AND SAUL THE PHARISEE BECAME PAUL THE APOSTLE. ACTS DESCRIBES THIS EVENT THREE TIMES, 9:19; 22:3-16;  26 4:18. PAUL WROTE ABOUT IT HIMSELF. 1:15,16 AND ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH HIS APOSTOLIC COMMISSION, 1 CORINTHIANS 9;1; 15:8. IT WAS, AFTER ALL, THE DECISIVE EVENT IN HIS LIFE. WHICH HE BECAME A SLAVE OF CHRIST. (GAL 1;10.; ROM.1:1 ) AND ONE COMMITTED TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, 1 CORINTHIANS 9:22. ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS PAUL WAS NOT CONVERTED FROM A LIFE OF AIMLESS DISSIPATION TO A VISION OF CHRISTIAN VIRTUE, BUT ONE KIND OF DEVOTION (JUDAISM) TO CHRIST).
THE VISION HE HAD ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERS HE EXPERIENCED SEE 3 CORINTHIANS 12ff. IT WAS COMPARABLE WITH THOSE ENTRUSTED BY THE RISEN LORD TO PETER, JAMES, TWELVE, AND THE 500 HUNDRED. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-10. HE KNEW IN AN ACT OF SHEER GRACE, THE RISEN LORD HAD APPEARED TO HIM, THE ARCH- PERSECUTOR, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:9ff. FURTHERMORE, PAUL REALIZED TO PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS WAS TO PERSECUTE CHRIST HIMSELF. ("SAUL, SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?" 9:4). PRIOR TO PAUL'S CONVERSION, THE CHRISTIAN CLAIM THAT THE CRUCIFIED JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS MESSIAH AND LORD WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONSIDER., GALATIANS 3:13. NO DOUBT. IT WAS INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO SAUL THE PHARISEE THAT ANY MESSIAH WOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF WITH THOSE LOW-CLASS, SECOND RATE JEWS WHO CONSTITUTED THE CHURCH ( THE PHARISEES WOULD HAVE LOOKED ON THE CHRISTIANS THIS WAY).  IT WAS AN INTOLERABLE THOUGHT THAT THE ORDINARY "PEOPLE OF THE LAND " SHOULD PRESUME TO CALL THEMSELVES THE PEOPLE OF GOD. HOWEVER ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS THE RISEN LORD  REVEALED TO PAUL HOW WRONG HE HAD BEEN.-- AND IF HE HAD BEEN SO WRONG ABOUT THE "PEOPLE OF THE LAND,"  WAS IT NOT POSSIBLE THAT HE WAS ALSO WRONG ABOUT THE GENTILES?  THESE THOUGHTS WOULD HAVE CREATED TURMOIL IN HIS MIND.  DETAILS ABOUT PAUL'S LIFE DURING THE FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER HIS CONVERSION ARE VAGUE. AFTER PAUL'S ARRIVAL IN CAESAREA, FELIX, THE ROMAN GOVERNOR, READ THE TRIBUNES LETTER CONCERNING PAUL'S CASE. FELIX PLACED PAUL UNDER GUARD IN HEROD'S PRAETORIUM UNTIL HIS ACCUSERS  ARRIVED, TERTULLUS, THEIR SPOKESMAN, PUT THEIR CASE TO FELIX. PAUL WAS PERMITTED TO RESPOND.  FELIX DISMISSED THE JERUSALEM DELEGATION, SAYING HE WOULD DECIDE THE CASE WHEN THE TRIBUNE RETURNS.  A FIRE BURNS WITHIN PAUL AS HE WRITES THIS LETTER TO THE GALATIANS. AS PAUL TRAVELLED AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE ENTRUSTED TO HIM, HE STRESSED THAT THE GOSPEL WAS NOT MERELY AN ADDENDUM TO ISRAEL'S FAITH. IT WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISES OF GOD!  IT REPLACED THE TORAH!  FURTHERMORE, THE TRUTH GOD COMMISSIONED PAUL TO PROCLAIM WAS MEANT FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, NOT JUST THOSE WITHIN ISRAEL'S BOUNDARIES. THE GOSPEL DECLARED THAT, THROUGH THE SAVIOR OF DAVID'S LINE, EVERYONE WHO BELIEVE IS FREED (DECLARED JUSTIFIED.) " FROM EVERYTHING WHICH YOU COULD NOT BE FREED BY THE LAW OF MOSES. ," ACTS 13:39. PAUL THROUGH OPEN THE DOORS OF GOD'S SPIRITUAL TEMPLE AND INVITED ALL TO ENTER:  JEWS, PROSELYTES, AND GENTILES. HE OFFERED ALL PEOPLE DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD, BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST CRUCIFIED, RISEN AND REIGNING. IN SHORT, PAUL SPELLED OUT WHAT HAD BEEN IMPLICIT IN THE EVENTS OF PENTECOST IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE SAMARITANS, THE  ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH, CORNELIUS, AND THE GENTILES OF ANTIOCH. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROCLAMATION, A LARGE NUMBER OF GENTILES ENTERED THE CHURCH. THEY DID NOT ENTER BY THE WAY OF JUDAISM, OR AS PROSELYTES, OR BY SUBMITTING TO THE CUSTOMS OF MOSES. AND BEING CIRCUMCISED, BUT DIRECTLY. THEY WERE INVITED TO BECOME FULL MEMBERS OF THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD JUST AS THEY WERE WHEN GOD CALLED THEM. ALL THIS WAS BOUND TO RAISE QUESTIONS IN THE MINDS OF JEWISH CHRISTIANS. MANY OF THEM COULD NOT, OR WOULD NOT, GRASP THE TOTAL
 NEWNESS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT-- THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT JOHN THE BAPTIST MEANT WHEN HE SAID, " GOD IS ABLE FROM THESE STONES TO RAISE UP CHILDREN TO ABRAHAM," MATTHEW 3:9. THEY COULD NOT COMPREHEND WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID, IN VIEW OF ONE GENTILE'S FAITH, " MANY WILL COME FROM THE EAST AND WEST AND SIT AT TABLE WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN," MATTHEW 8:11. THE GENTILES WAS NOT TO BE DENIED ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH. THERE WA NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT. THE QUESTION WAS, " ON WHAT TERMS WAS THE GENTILE TO OBTAIN MEMBERSHIP?" WERE ALL ISRAEL'S ANCIENT ORDINANCES TO BE SET ASIDE? WERE THE TOKENS OF COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO BE DISCARDED?  WERE ALL THE SACRED CUSTOMS ANNULLED BY THE NEW REVELATION IN CHRIST.?  WAS THE ANCIENT PEOPLE OF GOD, WHO CLAIMED ABRAHAM AS FATHER, SIMPLY TO DISAPPEAR UNDER THE INCREASING STREAM OF GENTILE CONVERTS FLOODING THE CHURCH?
THE TENSIONS THESE QUESTIONS  CREATED LED TO THE CALLING OF THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL AND THE WRITINGS OF PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS . THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL ANSWERED THE QUESTION, "MUST A GENTILE BECOME A PROSELYTE  TO JUDAISM IN ORDER TO BE SAVED? "  WITH A FIRM,  "NO!"  WHAT RELATIONSHIP IS TO EXIST BETWEEN THE CIRCUMCISED, RITUALLY CLEAN JEWS
FOR EXAMPLE, FELLOWSHIP MEALS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LIFE OF THE EARLY CHURCH AND THE LORD'S SUPPER WAS USUALLY CELEBRATED IN CONNECTION WITH THEM. WERE JEWS AND GENTILES TO EAT THESE MEALS TOGETHER? JUDAIZERS HAD A GOOD ANSWER, "LET THE GENTILES BE CIRCUMCISED, AND BECOME GOOD JEWS!" THEIR ATTITUDE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE LIKE PAUL TO CARRY OUT WHAT THEY KNEW TO BE THE WILL OF GOD. THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL HAD ASKED THE GENTILES TO ABSTAIN FROM FOODS AND PRACTICES  WHICH HAD BEEN EASY AND A NATURAL PART OF THEIR PAGAN PAST-- FOODS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS, FROM BLOOD, FROM WHAT HAD BEEN STRANGLED, AND FROM UNCHASTITY (ACTS 15:29) LOOMED LARGE IN THE LIVES OF THE GENTILES., FOR IT PLAYED A CONSIDERABLE PART IN PAGAN WORSHIP AND FESTIVALS, IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL PUT A TERRIBLE BURDEN ON THE GENTILES WHEN THEY ASK THEM TO REFRAIN FROM THESE PRACTICES. BUT, BECAUSE THEY DID, THE  OUNCILE SAVED THEM FROM BECOMING A JEWISH SECT AND SAFE- GUARDED IT FROM THE RE-IMPOSITION OF THE MOSAIC LAW. THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO  INTENTION OF DESTROYING PAUL'S WORK. A. FIRE BURS IN PAL'S AS HE WRITES THIS LETTER. HIS GOSPEL IS BEING ATTACKED-- GOD'S GRACE IS BEING DESTROYED. THAT CALLS FOR A DECLARATION OF WAR ON HIS OPPONENTS. PAUL THROWS A QUESTION AT THE GALILEANS: " HOW DID YOU FIRST RECEIVE SALVATION?  BY OBSERVING THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW, OR BY FAITH IN GOD'S  FREE GRACE.?" THE ANSWER THEY MUST GIVE IS OBVIOUS. THEY RECEIVED SALVATION BY HEARING WITH FAITH 3:2 IT IS RIDICULOUS TO SUGGEST THAT THEY OBTAINED BY THEIR OWN EFFORTS, FOR GOD GAVE IT TO THEM., EVEN AS HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE MIGHTY WORKS WHICH HAD BEEN DONE AMONG THEM. THEY CONTRIBUTED AS LITTLE TO THEIR SALVATION AS THEY CONTRIBUTED THOSE WORKS  3:1-5. THE ONLY WAY ANY  ONE HAS OBTAINED SALVATION HAS BEEN BY FAITH. CONSIDER CASE OF THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL JEWS, ABRAHAM HIMSELF. THE SCRIPTURES SAY THAT "HE" BELIEVED GOD, AND HIS FAITH WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. THOSE WHO WANT TO BE HIS TRUE DESCENDANTS MUST ADOPT HIS POSTURE BEFORE GOD.
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ACTS

 WHO TODAY WOULD START A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT AND CHOOSE A CRUCIFIED GALILEAN RABBI AS THE RALLYING POINT, AND ENGAGE FISHERMAN, TAX COLLECTORS AND ILLITERATES (4:13) TO PROCLAIM A MESSAGE? WE MAY NOT  GOD DID IN LESS THAN A CENTURY, CHRIST FOLLOWERS SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE THROUGHOUT THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD, AND PRODUCED A BODY OF LITERATURE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO EXERCISE  THE GREATEST MINDS THROUGH THE CENTURIES. LET'S LOOK FROM THE ASCENSION TO RETURN, (MARK 14:62 AND MATTHEW (26:64 AT TIMES GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY EXPECTED CHRIST TO RETURN IN THEIR LIFETIME. LUKE'S VERSION OF JESUS WORDS IS SIGNIFICANT, " BUT FROM NOW ON THE SON OF MAN SHALL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POWER OF GOD., " 22:67-69. LUKE LOOKS BEYOND THE ASCENSION TO THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, AND SUGGESTS THAT IT WILL BE SOMETIME BEFORE THE LORD RETURNS. FOR LUKE SALVATION HISTORY CONSISTS OF THREE ERAS (AGES).
1. FROM ANCIENT ISRAEL TO JOHN THE BAPTIST,
 2. JESUS EARTHLY MINISTRY,
 3. FROM JESUS ASCENSION UNTIL HIS RETURN.
  ONLY LUKE REPORTS JESUS ASCENSION, LUKE 24:50-53; ACTS 1: 1-9. THE ACCOUNTS IN ACTS DECLARES THE RISEN JESUS SHARES THE OMNIPRESENCE (PRESENT EVERYWHERE) AND OMNIPOTENCE (ALL POWERFUL ALL KNOWING) OF HIS FATHER
 AND  DISMISSES THE NOTION THAT HE WILL ESTABLISH ANY KIND OF REALM IN ISRAEL., 1:9) THOUGH HE WILL RETURN TO BE JUDGE OF ALL, THERE IS LITTLE POINT IN SPENDING LIFE LOOKING UP INTO HEAVEN, (ACTS I: II. THERE IS A WORLD TO BE WON FOR HIM! THE PERIOD OF BEING A DISCIPLE ('STUDENT') IS OVER, THE PERIOD OF BEING AN APOSTLE ("SENT ONE") MUST BEGIN!  IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW LONG JESUS DELAYS HIS SECOND COMING. HE HAS COMPLETED HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK. HIS FOLLOWERS MUST MAKE THIS TRUTH KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS. OLD ISRAEL FAILED IN HER MISSIONARY TASK. NEW ISRAEL MUST NOT.
 THE "PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT". THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS BEEN AT WORK THROUGHOUT THE  THREE AGES (ERAS) OF SALVATION HISTORY ( SEE 1 ABOVE.).
THE OLD ISRAEL PERSISTED IN RESISTING THE HOLY SPIRIT DURING THOSE MANY YEARS HE WORKED IN HER MIDST, ACTS; 7:51. 4:25;  THE PURPOSE OF ACTS IS TO  REPORT HOW THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL SPREAD IN EVER WIDENING CIRCLES FROM JERUSALEM ( JEWISH CAPITAL OF THE WORLD), TO ROME THE GENTILE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. THE DISCOURSES AND SERMONS IN ACTS POINT TO JESUS AS THE EXPECTED MESSIANIC KING, OUT LINE THE EVENTS OF HIS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION, AND WITNESS TO HIS CONTINUING PRESENCE IN THE CHURCH.. THEY ALSO SUMMON THE HEARER TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT JESUS OFFER OF SALVATION AND SUMMONS TO DISCIPLESHIP. ALL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH JESUS MINISTRY WERE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SPIRIT WHO:
FILLED JOHN THE BAPTIST, LUKE 1:15
EMPOWERED MARY TO CONCEIVE AND BEAR JESUS LUKE: 1:35
 FILLED ELIZABETH WHEN SHE GREETED MARY: 1-41
 INSPIRED ZECHARIAH AND SIMMEON TO PROPHECY 1:67;  2:27
DESCENDED ON JESUS AT BAPTISM 3:22
DIRECTED AND EMPOWERED JESUS THROUGHOUT HIS MINISTRY, 4:1,14 ETC.
 THOUGH JESUS WITHDRAWS HIS BODILY PRESENCE AT THE ASCENSION,HE CONTINUES HIS PRESENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN THREE WAYS.
 HE IS THE INTERPRETER  OF THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES 24:44
 HE MAKES HIS PRESENCE "KNOWN" TO HIS COMMUNITY IN THE EUCHARIST, LUKE 24:30
HE SENDS HIS SPIRIT TO INSTRUCT AND EMPOWER THEM FOR HIS WORLD WIDE MISSION, LUKE 24:45-49.
AFTER JESUS LEAVES HIS DISCIPLES (ACTS 1:11), AND THEY REPLACE JUDAS (1;12-26) TO RESTORE THEIR NUMBER TO TWELVE, JESUS PROMISE TO SEND THE SPIRIT IS FULFILLED. THE PHENOMENA ACCOMPANYING THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT PARALLEL THOSE THAT ACCOMPANIED THE GIVING OF THE LAW AT SINAI, EXODUS 19. THERE IS A NOISE " LIKE THE RUSH OF MIGHTY WIND,"  ACTS 2:2: SEE EXODUS  19:16. THERE WERE TONGUES LIKES FIRE,  ACTS 2:3;  EXODUS 19:18. (A JEWISH LEGEND STATED THAT SEVENTY TONGUES OF FIRE APPEARED ON MT. SINAI,  (REPRESENTING THE SEVENTY LANGUAGES OF THE SEVENTY NATIONS ON EARTH.)
 THE LAW REVEALED ON SINAI REMAINED VERY MUCH THE PRIVATE POSSESSION OF ISRAEL, AND A FEW GENTILES CAME TO KNOW ITS LIGHT. THE SPIRIT CHANGES THIS. FURTHERMORE, THE EFFECTS OF THE "TOWER OF BABEL." ARE REVERSED. THE SPIRIT CHANGES THIS, FURTHERMORE, THE LANGUAGES BECAME CONFUSED, NATIONS WERE SCATTERED, AND BARRIERS BETWEEN NATIONS APPEARED THE SPIRIT WORKS NOW TO OVERCOME ALL BARRIERS, AND TO BRING ALL NATIONS
 TOGETHER TO HEAR THE ONE GOSPEL WHICH CAN REDEEM AND UNITE. THE SPIRIT
 EMPOWERS THE MESSENGERS AND MESSAGE IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. HE GIVES THE DISCIPLES COURAGE TO DEFY THE AUTHORITIES, AND TO WITNESS TO CHRIST, ACTS 4:8. HE PLAYS A ROLE IN DETERMINING THE CHOICE OF DEACONS, 6:3 HE EMPOWERS STEPHEN TO WITNESS, AND ENDURE A MARTYR'S  DEATH. 7;55.
HE CONFIRMS THE VALIDITY OF THE WORK DONE AMONG SAMARITANS (8:17-19)) AND GENTILES 10:44. HE CONFIRMS SAUL'S CONVERSION, 9:17. HE GUIDES THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AS IT CHOOSES WORKERS FOR SPECIAL TASKS. WE LOOK AT THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL, IN HIS OPENING SERMON AT NAZARETH (LUKE 4:16-30), JESUS POINTS OUT THAT THE GENTILES HAVE BEEN MORE WILLING TO HEAR GOD'S TRUTH THAN THE JEWS. FURTHERMORE, HE SENDS OUT BOTH TWELVE (9:1ff), AND THE "SEVENTY," 1O:1.ff ; MOST LIKELY THE "TWELVE" SIGNIFY THE MISSION TO ISRAEL AND THE "SEVENTY" FORESHADOW THE MISSION TO THE GENTILE NATIONS. ALTHOUGH ISRAEL IS TO HEAR THE GOSPEL FIRST , THEIR REJECTION TO IT IS TO LEAD TO ITS PROCLAMATION TO THE GENTILES (ACTS 13;46; ROMANS 1:16. PRIOR TO HIS ASCENSION, THE RISEN LORD OUTLINES THE PROGRAM HIS APOSTLES ARE TO PURSUE. THEY TO BEAR WITNESS TO HIM IN JERUSALEM, THEN JUDEA, THEN SAMARIA, AND THEN TO THE END OF THE EARTH, (ACTS 1:8).
 THE FIRST SEVEN CHAPTERS OF ACTS ARE SET IN JERUSALEM. THERE THE MESSAGE MEETS WITH SUCCESS (2:41),  BUT ALSO ENCOUNTERS VIOLENT OPPOSITION, 4; 17-22; 5:40. JEWISH THREATS AND PUNISHMENT ARE POWERLESS TO PREVENT GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT. HOW EVER, AFTER STEPHEN DELIVERS A SCATHING SPEECH AGAINST THEM (ACTS 7: 1:53), THE JEWS REACT VIOLENTLY. THEY KILL STEPHEN, AND INSTIGATE A PERSECUTION, 7:54-8:3 THE PERSECUTION MERELY FURTHERS THE  CAUSE OF THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT. FOR IT RESULTS IN PHILIP GOING TO SAMARIA AND PREACHING THERE 8:4-8 ALSO 11:19. THE SAMARITANS WERE LIKE THE JEWS, A SEMITIC PEOPLE. THEIR SCRIPTURES CONSISTED OF THE PENTATEUCH.
 THE CHIEF BONE ON CONTENTION BETWEEN THEM AND THE JEWS WAS THE QUESTION OF A LEGITIMATE WORSHIP SIGHT- GERIZIM OR JERUSALEM?  AFTER THE GOSPEL IS PROCLAIMED IN SAMARIA, PETER AND JOHN VISITED THE REGION, GIVE THE WORK THERE THEIR SANCTION, AND WITNESS TO NUMEROUS SAMARITAN VILLAGES IN THE COURSE OF THEIR RETURN TO JERUSALEM, 814-17,25.
PHILIPS PERSISTS IN HIS EFFORTS AFTER THE SAMARITAN MISSION. ON THE ROAD BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND GAZA, HE WITNESSES TO AN ETHIOPIAN (8:26-40), WHO RECEIVES THE WORD AND BAPTISM, AND RETURNS TO HIS HOMELAND WITH JOY.
 ACTS 8:1 INTRODUCES US TO SAUL OF TARSUS IN CONNECTION WITH STEPHENS EXECUTION.  THE IRONY IS THAT GOD USES STEPHENS DEATH TO BRING PAUL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL AND TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF LAUNCHING THE MISSION TO THE GENTILES. WITNESS TO CHRIST CONTINUES IN SPITE OF, BUT BY HUMAN OPPOSITION.

 

FROM CREATION TO CHRIST "DIVINE PERSONALITY."

 A WOMAN GOES INTO A SHOP TO BUY A HAT. THE ASSISTANT SUGGESTS FIRST THIS ONE, THEN THAT ONE, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE-- UNTIL FINALLY SHE PRODUCES ONE SHE INSISTS, " SUITS MADAM PERFECTLY."  THE ASSISTANT IS SUGGESTING THAT THE HAT EXPRESSES HER CLIENTS PERSONALITY SIMILARLY,  HUMAN BEINGS PUT A VARIETY OF "PERSONALITY HATS" ON GOD'S HEAD."  SOME PUT ACADEMIC HAT ON HIM. AFTER ALL, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. (JOHN 21:17).  SOME PUT A POLICEMAN'S HAT ON HIM. THEY THINK OF HIM AS ONE WHO CONSTANTLY SPIES ON THEM FROM THE HEIGHTS OF HEAVEN TO CATCH THEM WHEN THEY DO WRONG WHEN THEY DO WRONG.  PSALM 139: 1-12; GENESIS 3:8- 10. THERE ARE THOSE THAT PUT A CHIEF'S HAT ON GOD. THEY BELIEVE HE EXISTS MERELY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF FOOD AND DRINK. PSALM 145: 15,16. SOME COMPLAIN WHEN THEY FEEL HE IS NOT GENEROUS AS HE MIGHT BE. OTHERS THINK OF  GOD AS KIND A HEAVENLY FATHER CHRISTMAS, OR SANTA CLAUS, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO SUPPLY THEM WITH ALL KINDS OF PLEASANT THINGS TO OWN AND ENJOY. SOME GET A LITTLE PEEVED WITH HIM WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO SHORT OF SOMETHING. MATTHEW 6:31, 32a. MANY LOOK ON A MAGICIAN'S HAT AS A "MUST." FOR THEY THINK OF GOD AS THE GREAT MIRACLE WORKER, EXODUS 7-10; 14: 10-31. MANY BELIEVE THAT A CROWN IS AN APPROPRIATE HAT FOR GOD. THE BIBLE OFTEN USE WORDS LIKE "KING " AND "KINGDOM" WHEN REFERRING TO HIM, PSALM 24:7-10; MARK 1:15. BECAUSE MANY UNINFORMED PEOPLE VIEW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE MERELY AS A MATTER OF "DO" AND "DON'T," THEY THINK OF A PURITAN'S HAT AS A SUITABLE GARB FOR GOD, MARK 10: 17-2. SOME THINK OF GOD WHEN THEY ARE SICK, PSALM 103:3; MARK 5: 21-43, REMARKABLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO ASK., " WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS"? WHEN THEY ARE SICK, BUT SLOW TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION WHEN THEY ARE WELL. THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE MESSAGES OF ALL THESE HATS. EACH REFLECTS SOMETHING OF WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT GOD AND HIS ATTRIBUTES. IT IS ESSENTIAL, HOWEVER,, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD'S ALL-EMBRACING QUALITY IS LOVE. THIS BINDS ALL OF HIS OTHER QUALITIES TOGETHER AS A CORD BINDS THE STALKS IN A SHEAF OF HAY.  GOD IS WHAT HE-IS NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF HIM. OUR TASK IS TO COME TO GRIPS WITH HIS SELF- DESCRIPTION, HIS CHARACTER AND HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS. HE ONCE DID WEAR A HAT AND IT WAS MADE OF "THORNS." HE DID NOT CHOOSE IT FOR HIMSELF. MEN FASHIONED IT AND PLACED IT ON HIM IN MOCKERY..
HOWEVER, WHAT THEY PLACED THERE WILL SERVE A USEFUL TEACHING PURPOSE FOR US.

OBSERVATIONS

JESUS CLAIMED FOR HIMSELF THE RIGHT TO FORGIVE SINS MARK 2:1-12. HIS CLAIM  INCENSED THE SCRIBES, WHO INSISTED ONLY GOD COULD FORGIVE SINS, 2:7. THEY WERE CORRECT, BUT IN THEIR BLINDNESS COULD NOT SEE WHO STOOD BEFORE THEM. JESUS NEVER DID ANYTHING TO BENEFIT HIMSELF. HE CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO USE HIS DIVINE POWER TO PERFORM  A MIRACLE TO SERVE HIS OWN PERSONAL NEEDS. EVEN WHEN HE WAS HUNGRY, HE CHOSE TO REMAIN HUNGRY RATHER THAN TO CHANGE STONES INTO BREAD, MATTHEW 4:4. JESUS WAS ALWAYS THE "SERVANT;" HE SOUGHT ONLY TO PLACE HIMSELF AND HIS POWERS AT THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY. AS JESUS MOVED AMONG PEOPLE, HE DEMONSTRATED A REMARKABLE COMPASSION. FOR EXAMPLE, BEFORE, HEALING A LEPER, HE REACH OUT AND TOUCHED HIM, 1:40-45 THE PHARISEES ON OCCASION THREW ROCKS ON LEPERS AND SAID THAT THEIR SUFFERING WAS THE RESULT OF SOME SIN THEY HAD COMMITTED. FURTHERMORE, JESUS SOUGHT THE COMPANY  OF "SINNERS, TAX COLLECTORS," AND THE LIKE 2:15-17 HIS ACTIONS UPSET THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES FOR THEY FELT THAT IF HE REALLY WAS THE MESSIAH, HE WOULD SEEK OUT THE "RIGHTEOUS" (NAMELY THEMSELVES). JESUS'  CONCERNS FOR THE GENTILES  WOULD ALSO BEEN REPUGNANT TO MANY IN ISRAEL WHO BELIEVED THAT WHEN FINALLY WHEN THE MESSIANIC AGE CAME, THE GENTILES WOULD BE DESTROYED, OR AT BEST MADE SLAVES OF THE JEWS; 7:24-30.
JESUS  IGNORED TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES CONCERNING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH, 1,21; 2:23; 3:2. WHAT MATTERED TO HIM WAS THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE, NOT KEEPING OF RITUALS AND TRADITIONS. THIS WAS BOUND TO BRING HIM INTO A HEADLONG CONFRONTATION WITH THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, FOR HIS ACTIONS CALLED INTO QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW. ALL BUT ONE OF JESUS MIRACLES ( AS REPORTED IN MARK)  WAS DONE IN AND AROUND GALILEE. JESUS PERFORMS ONLY ONE MIRACLE AFTER LEAVING GALILEE. HE HEALS BLIND BARTIMAEUS NEAR JERICHO 10:46-52.
HE PERFORMS NO MIRACLE IN OR NEAR JERUSALEM, THE "CITY OF OPPOSITION."
WHEN JESUS WAS RECOGNIZED, HE WARNED THE PERSON OR SPIRIT WHO HAD RECOGNIZED HIM TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE MATTER, 1:33,44; 5:43; 9;9. WHY?
 FIRST, JESUS WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE MESSIANIC AGE HAD COME, AND HE WAS INDEED THE MESSIAH. SECOND, HE WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT KIND OF A MESSIAH HE HAD COME TO BE. THE COMMUNITY HAD CONTAINED MANY BURNING WITH DESIRE TO BE RID OF THE ROMANS AND TO GAIN POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE. JESUS NEEDED TIME TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HE WAS NOT THE KIND OF MESSIAH WHO WOULD FIT THAT KIND OF EXPECTATION. HE HAD NOT COME TO BE  A POLITICAL DELIVERER. (NOTE THE EXCEPTION OF MARK 5:19, 20.  WHERE JESUS COMMANDS THE MAN HEALED OF DEMON POSSESSION TO BEAR WITNESS IN GENTILE TERRITORY!) IN MARK 8:27-30 JESUS PUTS TWO QUESTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES:" WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?" THE SECOND IS: WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"  THOUGH HE DID NOT PREVIOUSLY PUT THESE QUESTIONS TO ANYONE, HE WAS RECOGNIZED PRIOR TO THE TIME BY THE DEMONS! (1:24; 1:34; 3:11; 5:7).
JESUS WAS ALWAYS THAT OF A SERVANT. HE DEMONSTRATED GREAT COMPASSION TO THOSE WITH WHOM HE CAME INTO CONTACT. AT THE SAME TIME, HE CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO USE HIS POWER TO BENEFIT HIMSELF IN ANY WAY. THE PEOPLE, THE AUTHORITIES AND HIS DISCIPLES FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO RELATE HIS LIFESTYLE TO TRADITIONAL  EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE MESSIAH WOULD BE LIKE AND WHAT HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH.     

MESSIANIC MINISTRY MARK 1:14-8:30

 AFTER JOHN THE BAPTIST IS ARRESTED, JESUS GOES  INTO GALILEE WHERE HE PROCLAIMS: " THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND;  REPENT, AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, " 1:15. WITH THIS, JESUS MESSIANIC MINISTRY GETS UNDER WAY. WHAT HAPPENS?  THE TRUE ISRAEL BEGINS TO GATHER ABOUT HIMSELF A NEW PEOPLE. HE CONFRONTS PETER AND ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN, AND SAYS, " FOLLOW ME." 1:17. THERE IS NO TEST TO ASCERTAIN  WHETHER THEY ARE WORTHY OF BEING IN JESUS COMPANY. NO STUDY IS MADE OF THEIR FAMILY  BACKGROUND TO CHECK OUT THEIR PEDIGREE. THERE IS ONLY AN URGENT SUMMONS, 2:13,14. A LITTLE LATER, THE TWELVE ARE SET ASIDE AS THE NUCLEUS OF THE NEW ISRAEL THAT IS BEING FORMED, 3:13-18.  THE MESSIANIC MINISTRY  IS INDEED GETTING UNDERWAY. WHAT FORM DID THE MESSIANIC MINISTRY TAKE? MARK 1:14-8:30 OUTLINES THE BULK OF JESUS MINISTRY. HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY TOWARD THE CLOSE OF THIS MAJOR SECTION OF JESUS MINISTRY THAT HE PUTS TWO CRUCIAL QUESTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES. THE FIRST IS: " WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?"  THE SECOND IS: "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"  THOUGH JESUS DOES NOT  ASK THIS QUESTION IN WORDS PRIOR TO THIS OCCASION, NEVERTHELESS HE POSES THE QUESTION TO HIS WATCHING AUDIENCE  AND TO HIS DISCIPLES CONTINUALLY THROUGH HIS ACTIONS!  THE WHOLE POINT OF HIS EARLY MESSIANIC MINISTRY IS TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHO HE IS, WHAT HE IS DOING, AND WHY HE IS DOING IT. THROUGHOUT 1:14-8-30, MARK DEVOTES MUCH ATTENTION TO JESUS MIRACLES. TRUE, MARK FREQUENTLY DESCRIBES JESUS AS "TEACHING."  HE RECORDS TEN INSTANCES WHERE JESUS IS ADDRESSED AS "TEACHER."  HE SAYS HEARERS  ARE ASTONISHED AT HIS TEACHING.  DESPITE ALL THIS, MARK TELLS US LITTLE ABOUT WHAT JESUS ACTUALLY TAUGHT. HE RECORDS ONLY TWO.EXTENDED PARABLES, EVEN THOUGH HE SAYS THAT  JESUS WAS ACCUSTOMED TO USE THIS FORM OF TEACHING, 4:2, 12:1. IF MARK PLACES SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON JESUS MIRACLES, ONE MUST ASK. " WHAT WAS THE INTENDED MESSAGE?!  OF THOSE MIRACLES.  JESUS STATED ON ONE OCCASION THAT OTHERS IN PALESTINE WERE ABLE TO CAST OUT DEMONS,  MATTHEW 12:27 IT WAS BELIEVED THAT  A PERSON COULD PERFORM MIRACLES. IN THE POWER OF GOD BUT ALSO IN THE POWER OF SATAN. MARK 3:22.  THE MIRACLES JESUS DID WERE DESIGNED TO SPEAK A POWERFUL MESSAGE ABOUT WHO HE WAS, AND WHAT AGE HAD BROKEN IN WITH HIS MINISTRY.
 THE ISAIANIC SIGNS. THE TERM " ISAIANIC" IS DERIVED FROM "ISAIAH." A RATHER PUZZLING EXCHANGED RECORDED IN MATTHEW 11: 2-6 AND LUKE 7: 18-23 HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE "SIGNS"  WERE  TO BE UNDERSTOOD.  JOHN THE BAPTIST IS IN PRISON. HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER. HE SENDS SOME OF HIS FOLLOWERS TO JESUS TO ASK, IF HE REALLY IS THE ONE THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. JESUS DOES NOT ANSWER WITH A VERBAL "YES." INSTEAD, HE POINTS TO THE THINGS HE HAS DONE. JESUS ACTIONS REVEALS WHO HE IS. IN MATTHEW  11:5 JESUS SAYS, " THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT AND THE LAME WALK, LEPERS ARE CLEANSED
AND THE DEAF HEAR, AND THE DEAD ARE RAISED UP  AND THE POOR HAVE GOOD NEWS PREACHED TO THEM.  HUNDRED OF YEARS BEFORE, THE PROPHET ISAIAH WROTE:( THEN WHEN THE MESSIANIC AGE FINALLY COMES: THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL BE OPEN, AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF SHALL BE UNSTOPPED.) THEN SHALL THE LAME MAN SHALL LEAP  LIKE A HART, AND THE TONGUE OF THE DUMB WILL SING FOR JOY," ISAIAH 35:5,6; NOTE  ALSO ISAIAH 42:7 AND 61:1. THE JEWS BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE MESSIANIC AGE FINALLY CAME, THE "SIGNS" ISAIAH HAD REFERRED TO WOULD BE DONE--EVIDENCE THAT THE MESSIANIC AGE HAD COME. THEREFORE, THOUGH THE MIRACLES JESUS DID FOR THE BLIND, DEAF, DUMB,  AND THE LAME WERE STUPENDOUS AND ASTONISHING, THEY WERE PRIMARILY  INDICATIONS THAT THE HOPES ISRAEL HAD LONG CHERISHED WERE BEING FULFILLED. THAT SAID VOLUMES ABOUT WHO JESUS WAS. JESUS ACTIONS NEEDED TO BE READ WITH GREAT CARE.  TOWARD THE CLOSE OF HIS MINISTRY, JESUS QUESTIONED THE DISCIPLES ABOUT HOW THEY HAD READ THOSE ACTIONS, MARK 8: 27-3O.
 THE MIRACLES OVER NATURE MARK REPORTS THAT JESUS STILLED A STORM ( 4: 35-41.)  WALKED ON WATER (6:45-52), AND FED THE MULTITUDES,  6:30-44; 8:1-1O. AGAIN, THERE IS MORE TO THESE MIRACLES THAN THE MERE WONDER OF THE EVENT.  THE JEWS WERE AFRAID  OF THE OCEANS AND THE DEEP. THEY NEVER BECAME A SEA-FARING PEOPLE AND PREFERRED TO LET OTHER PEOPLE'S PROVIDE THEIR SEA- TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. ONE ALMOST CAN HEAR THE SIGHS OF RELIEF IN REVELATION 21:1 WHERE JOHN SPEAKS OF THE COMING OF "A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH," AND THEN ADDS, " THE SEA WAS NO MORE."  HOWEVER, A JEW TOOK COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT HIS GOD COULD CONTROL THE SEAS, THE ROARING OF THE WAVES," PSALM 89:9  IS SIMILAR IN TONE, " THOU DOST RULE THE RAGING OF THE SEA.  " WHEN ITS WAVES RISE, THOU STILLEST THEM. WHEN JESUS STILLED THE STORMS ON THE SEA OF GALILEE AND WALKED ON WATER, HE DEMONSTRATED THAT HE HIMSELF POSSESSED  THOSE POWERS THAT JEWS HAD ALWAYS ASSIGNED  TO GOD, PSALM 107:23-32.
MARK CONTAINS TWO FEEDING MIRACLES. MARK 6:30-44 DESCRIBES THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE-THOUSAND (JEWS). MARK 8: 1-10 DESCRIBES THE FEEDING OF THE FOUR THOUSAND (GENTILES.) AS GOR HAD FED HIS PEOPLE OUT IN THE WILDERNESS (EXOD. 16; Ps 78:23-29), SO JESUS FED HIS "NEW PEOPLE " OUT IN THE WILDERNESS.
PRIOR TO JESUS MINISTRY,  rabbis STATED THAT WHEN THE MESSIAH FINALLY CAME, THE HEAVENLY MANNA WOULD FALL ONCE AGAIN,  2 BARUCH 29:8. IN THESE FEEDING MIRACLES JESUS DOES WHAT THE "OLD TESTAMENT GOD ONCE DID BECAUSE HE IS THAT OLD TESTAMENT GOD.

PREPARING - "SON OF GOD" (MARK).

TRADITIONALLY, THE TERM "SON OF GOD" IS INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT JESUS IS TRUE GOD, HE WAS AND IS THAT. IN HIM THE FULLNESS OF DEITY  TOOK INTO HIMSELF THE FULLNESS OF A HUMAN NATURE, SO THAT IN ONE PERSON, JESUS CHRIST, A UNION OF TWO NATURES TOOK PLACE. THAT WHICH IS FULLY GOD UNITED ITSELF WITH THAT THAT WHICH IS FULLY. HUMAN.. POSSIBLY THE TERM SAYS MORE THAN THAT IN 1:1. IN THE OLD  TESTAMENT, WAS CALLED THE SON OF GOD (EXODUS 4: 21-23: HOSEA 2:1. THEREFORE TO CALL JESUS "SON OF GOD." WITH THE PASSING OF THE YEARS WAS TO DECLARE THAT THE TRADITIONAL "SON OF GOD" (ISRAEL) HAD BEEN SUPERSEDED BY A NEW "SON OF GOD." WITH THE PASSING OF THE YEARS, THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL HAD COME TO THIS, THAT THE "REMNANT"
OF THE TRUE PEOPLE OF GOD NOW NUMBERED ONE, "JESUS CHRIST. THIS NEW NUMBERED "SON OF GOD." WAS NOT SOME UPSTART OR USURPER. HE DESCENDED FROM SOME JEWISH "GREATS" AS " ABRAHAM AND DAVID". THROUGH HIM GOD WAS NOT MERELY CONTINUING THE HISTORY OF HIS PEOPLE. HE WAS MAKING A NEW BEGINNING TO HIS PEOPLE.  THE WORDS OF ISAIAH 4O:3 (MARK 1:3). ARE FOUND IN ALL FOUR GOSPELS, AND DEFINE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS APPROACHING MINISTRY. ISAIAH  FIRST SPOKE THESE WORDS TO THE EXILES IN BABYLON. HE ASSURED THEM GOD WAS ABOUT TO RESCUE THEM FROM CAPTIVITY AND LEAD THEM BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND!  THEIR MESSAGE IN THE GOSPELS IS:  GOD IS ABOUT TO CARRY OUT THE GREAT AND FINAL RESCUE OF HIS PEOPLE. THEY ARE BEING HELD CAPTIVE, NOT EGYPT, ASSYRIA, OR BABYLON,  TO THE POWER OF SIN,  SATAN AND DEATH.  THEY ARE CAPTIVE TO THEIR TRADITIONS AND RITUALS, AND TO THEIR OBSESSION WITH THE DESCENT FROM ABRAHAM AND FAMILY GENEALOGIES. JESUS IS COMING TO FREE THEM FROM THESE BONDS, AND LEAD THEM INTO THE LIBERTY OF TRUE SONSHIP WITH GOD. AS MALACHI OF OLD HAD PREDICTED (3:1, 4:5), ONE HAD BEEN SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE MESSIAH.
 JOHN THE BAPTIST HAD CARRIED OUT HIS MISSION IN THE WILDERNESS, THE PLACE OF EXPECTATIONS, NEW BEGINNINGS, THE PLACE GOD TOOK HIS PEOPLE TO RENEW THEM AND DRAW THEM CLOSER TO HIMSELF.  APPARENTLY, CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS WENT OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO HEAR JOHN AND BE BAPTIZED BY HIM.  THAT JEWS SHOULD HAVE SUBMITTED TO HIS BAPTISM IS REMARKABLE, FOR TRADITIONALLY ONLY GENTILES WERE  BAPTIZED WHEN THEY CONVERTED TO JUDAISM. JOHN ONLY PREPARED THE WAY FOR JESUS. HE WHO WOULD FOLLOW WOULD BE MUCH GREATER THAN HE WAS. JOHN DID NOT DESERVE EVEN TO BE HIS SLAVE, TO PERFORM THE MOST MENIAL OF DUTIES FOR HIM. JOHN COULD BAPTIZE WITH WATER, TRUE!  ONE TO WHOM HE POINTED, WOULD BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! IMAGINE! HE WOULD BESTOW THE "HOLY SPIRIT", NOT JUST ON A FEW SELECT ONES IN THE NATION SUCH AS JUDGES AND KINGS, BUT ON ALL WHO CAME TO HIM TO RECEIVE WHAT HE HAD TO GIVE; SEE JOEL 2:28,29.
JESUS WAS LIVING IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GALILEE WHEN JOHN BEGAN HIS WORK OF "PREPARATION."  JESUS HEADED SOUTH TO WHERE JOHN WAS WORKING, THAT JOHN MIGHT BAPTIZE HIM ALSO. JESUS DID NOT NEED BAPTISM FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF ANY SINS HE DID NOTHING FOR FORGIVENESS. HE WAS THE "SINLESS ONE"   HOWEVER, JESUS SOUGHT BAPTISM FROM JOHN TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF WITH THE NEW AGE HIS FATHER WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN IN AND THROUGH HIM. AFTER ALL HE WAS, THE NEW "SON OF GOD."  AS THE OLD SON OF GOD PASSED  THROUGH THE WATERS OF THE RED SEA AND THE JORDAN, SO THE NEW SON OF GOD MUST PASS THROUGH WATER, THE WATER OF JOHN'S BAPTISM. HE WOULD LEAD HIS PEOPLE INTO THE INHERITANCE OF ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. WHEN JESUS WAS COMING OUT OF THE WATER AFTER HIS BAPTISM, " HE SAW THE HEAVENS OPENED AND THE SPIRIT DESCENDING UPON HIM LIKE A DOVE,
1:1O. CENTURIES BEFORE THE PROPHET HAD CRIED OUT, "O THAT THOU WOULDST REND THE HEAVENS ASUNDER AND COME DOWN ( ISAIAH 64:1) IN A FORM THAT RESEMBLED A DOVE. AT JESUS BAPTISM THE HEAVENS WERE INDEED RENT, AND THE SPIRIT HIMSELF CAME DOWN IN A FORM THAT RESEMBLED A DOVE AND HOVERED  OVER THE HEAD OF JESUS.  THE RABBIS (TEACHERS) SPOKE OF THE DOVE AS THE SYMBOL OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL. AT JESUS BAPTISM, THE SPIRIT IN THE FORM OF A DOVE HOVERED OVER THE HEAD OF THE "NEW SON OF GOD," THE TRUE ISRAEL. HE WAS TO LEAD A LIFE, LEAD  BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. AT HIS BAPTISM JESUS WAS ANOINTED INTO THE OFFICE DEFINED BY THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN : " THOU ARE MY BELOVED SON: WITH THEE I AM WELL PLEASED : THIS STATEMENT SPEAKS VOLUMES  " THOU ARE MY BELOVED SON,"  REFLECTS PSALM 2:7. THIS PSALM WAS USED IN ANCIENT ISRAEL AT THE CORONATION OF A KING FROM THE LINE OF DAVID. THE VOICE OF JESUS BAPTISM DECLARED THAT GOD HAD KEPT HIS PROMISE AND HAD NOT PERMITTED THE LINE OF DAVID TO DIE OUT. JESUS WAS, INDEED THE LONG AWAITED DESCENDANT OF DAVID, THE LONG-EXPECTED  MESSIANIC  KING WHO HAD COME TO RULE GOD'S PEOPLE THAT THEY MIGHT FIND THE ULTIMATE  BLESSED-NESS WHICH HAD BEEN THE FOCUS OF ALL THEIR HOPES. THE DIRECTION THE LIFE OF THE MESSIANIC  KING WOULD TAKE WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MANY WOULD BE EXPECTING. " WITH THEE I AM WELL PLEASED" 1:11 IS A QUOTATION FROM ONE OF ISAIAH'S SERVANT SONGS (42: 1-4; NOTE V.1). AS MESSIANIC KING, JESUS WOULD BE THE SERVANT. HE WOULD BE DESPISED,  REJECTED, AND HIS PEOPLE WOULD DO THEIR  VERY WORST TO HIM.  THEY WOULD CRUCIFY HIM!  HOWEVER THROUGH HIS DEATH HE WOULD LAVISH ON THEM THE OFFER OF A COMPLETE, PERFECT PARDON, AND DRAW THEM INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF IN WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE LIFE, NOW AND FOREVER. AFTER JESUS WAS ANOINTED INTO OFFICE AS THE LONG-AWAITED KING, AND THE NATURE OF HIS LONG AWAITED KINGSHIP DEFINED.  HE WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS. OLD ISRAEL HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO A WILDERNESS AFTER PASSING THROUGH WATER. SHE HAD BEEN TAKEN THERE TO BE TESTED AND TRIED, AND HAD DONE LITTLE ELSE BUT SIN. THE RECORD OF HER "FORTY- YEARS" IN THE WILDERNESS IS A MISERABLE ONE. THE NEW ISRAEL, THE NEW SON OF GOD, WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TOBE TESTED AND TRIED BY SATAN FOR FORTY-DAYS. THERE JESUS PUT AN END TO SATAN'S RUN OF SUCCESSES WITH THE HUMAN RACE--HE DID NOT YIELD TO HIM. IN CHRIST, SATAN DID NOT MEET HIS MATCH--- HE MET HIS CONQUEROR!  MARK STATES IN 1: 13b, " JESUS WAS WITH WILD BEASTS, AND THE ANGELS MINISTERED TO HIM."  SOME SEE IN THIS VERSE A REFERENCE TO THE "NEW ADAM"  REGAINING CONTROL OVER THE REALM OF NATURE ON A COSMIC SCALE. OTHER'S SEE IN THIS VERSE A SUBTLE SUGGESTION THAT JESUS REMAINED  " IN THE WILDERNESS OF TEMPTATION," LOCKED IN COMBAT WITH SATAN THROUGHOUT HIS MINISTRY.  MATT 4:11  AND LUKE  4;13 SAY SATAN LEFT JESUS AFTER THE TEMPTATION. THAT COMMENT IS NOT MADE IN MARK,
 WHERE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN JESUS AND SATAN CONTINUES TO THE CROSS WHERE THE APPARENT CONQUEROR (SATAN) IS CONQUERED. (NOTE THAT THE FIRST MIRACLE JESUS PERFORMS IN MARK AFTER HIS TEMPTATION INVOLVES A STRUGGLE WITH A DEMONIAC.

SPIRITUAL WORK "PREPARATION"

JESUS WAS TIRED. THE LITTLE THAT WE KNOW OF THE HISTORY JUST BEFORE, YET ENABLES US TO SEE CAUSE WHY HE SHOULD BE TIRED.. HE HAD BEEN, FOR LONG MONTHS, ENGAGED IN ACTIVE EFFORTS TO SAVE MEN'S SOULS- TO LIFT MEN OUT OF THEIR SLUGGISHNESS AND WORLDLINESS TOWARD GOD.  THAT IS HARD WORK FOR MIND AND HEART. AND HE HAD BEEN AT WORK AMONG MANY WHO WERE JEALOUS.
 THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN WERE SOME OF THEM ENVIOUS THAT THEIR MASTER WAS DECREASING AND ANOTHER INCREASING, THOUGH JOHN SAID IT WAS RIGHT AND GOOD;  AND WHEN THE PHARISEES  HEARD THAT JESUS WAS  BAPTIZING MORE DISCIPLES THAN JOHN, THEY WERE JEALOUS. THEY MADE IT NEEDFUL THAT HE SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM JUDEA, AS SO MANY OFTEN DURING HIS BRIEF MINISTRY HE HAD TO WITHDRAW FROM THE JEALOUSY OF HIS ENEMIES OR THE FANATICISM OF HIS FRIENDS, AND SEEK A NEW FIELD. WORN OUT AND PERHAPS SAD AT HEART, THE REDEEMER SAT ALONE BY JACOB'S WELL. WE SHOULD HAVE TWO PICTURES IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND. THE ONE OF JESUS, AS THE DISCIPLES SAW HIM WHEN THEY TURNED BACK TO LOOK, ON THEIR WAY TO BUY FOOD, AS HE SAT AND RESTED, LEANING WITH LIMBS RELAXED, WITH FACE WEARY, YET GENTLE; AND THE OTHER OF JESUS AS THEY FOUND HIM WHEN THEY CAME BACK, SITTING UP NOW WITH ANIMATED LOOK ON HIS FACE, BUSILY, EAGERLY TALKING.
 AH!  THERE WAS AN OPENING TO DO GOOD,  AND HE WHO "WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD. WOULD GIVE UP HIS NEEDED REST, AND OFTEN DID, TO DO GOOD TO THE LEAST, AND THE LOWEST. THE DISCIPLES WONDERED  WHAT HE WAS READY TO DO GOOD; THEY HAD SEEN THAT OFTEN ALREADY.  THEY WONDERED THAT HE WAS TALKING TO A WOMEN FOR, THAT WAS CONTRARY TO THE DIGNITY OF A MAN ACCORDING TO THE IDEAS OF THAT TIME AND COUNTRY- TO BE SEEN TALKING WITH A WOMEN IN PUBLIC. THEY WONDERED; THEY KNEW NOT YET WHAT MANNER OF CHARACTER THIS WOMAN WAS, BUT JESUS KNEW.
 WE ALL KNOW THE POWER OF THE BODY OVER THE MIND, AND WE KNOW   THE POWER OF THE MIND OVER THE OF THE  BODY. WE MUST BE STIRRED TO NEW ACTIVITIES  UNTIL THE MAN WHO IS TIRED BY ANIMATING A THEME IN WHICH HE AND HIS MIND IS INTERESTED. IF WE LOVE SPIRITUAL WORK IT WILL KINDLE OUR SOULS, IT WILL EVEN GIVE HEALTH AND VIGOR TO OUR BODIES. THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN TO PREACH IS TO PREACH.  THERE ARE SEASONS OF SOWING AND SEASONS OF REAPING JUST AS THERE ARE IN FARMING.  THEY SOWED THEIR WHEAT IN DECEMBER; AND THEY BEGAN TO REAP IN APRIL. SAY NOT THERE ARE FOUR MONTHS TO THE HARVEST? BEHOLD I SAY TO YOU, LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK ON THE FIELDS; FOR THEY ARE WHITE ALREADY TO HARVEST. IN THE SPIRITUAL SPHERE. IT WAS HARVEST TIME THEN, AND THEY WERE BIDDEN TO GO FORTH AND REAP THE  HARVEST THAT WAVED WHITE AND PERISHING. SPIRITUAL WORK WILL BE REWARDED IN THE LORD OF THE HARVEST'S COMMENDATION AND WELCOME.
AH, HE WILL KNOW WHICH WAS THE SOWING AND WHICH WAS THE REAPING. THE WORLD MAY NOT KNOW; WE MAY NEVER HEAR, BUT HE WILL KNOW WHICH WAS THE REAPING AND WHO TRIED TO DO GOOD AND THOUGHT HE HAD NOT DONE IT. WITH THE THOUGHT OF BEING UNABLE TO BE USEFUL. HE WILL KNOW AND REWARD EVEN THE DESIRE OF THE HEART, WHICH THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY  TO CARRY OUT.  HE WILL REWARD THE EMOTION THAT TREMBLED ON THE LIP AND FIND NO UTTERRANCE. HE WILL REWARD DAVID FOR WANTING TO BUILD THE TEMPLE AS WELL AS SOLOMON FOR BUILDING IT. HE WILL REWARD ALL THAT WE DO, AND ALL THAT WE TRY TO DO., AND ALL THAT WE WISH TO DO. HE WILL BE YOUR REWARD AND MINE, FOREVER AND FOREVER. REMEMBER SIMPLICITY IN SPEAKING ABOUT THE LORD. WE USE THE EXAMPLE THE WORD " JUSTIFICATION." LET'S LOOK AT WHAT PAUL MEANS, WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT BEING JUSTIFIED? THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF MISAPPREHENSION AS TO HIS MEANING.
MARTIN LUTHER WAS ALL WRONG IN HIS EARLY LIFE BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN REARED UPON THE IDEA THAT A JUSTIFIED MAN MEANS SIMPLY A JUST MAN, A GOOD MAN, AND THAT HE COULD ACCOUNT HIMSELF JUSTIFIED OR HOPE FOR SALVATION UNTIL HE WAS A THOROUGH GOOD MAN. NOW, THE LATIN WORD FROM WHICH WE BORROW OUR WORD "JUSTIFIED" DOES NOT MEAN TO MAKE JUST, AND AS THE ROMANISTS USE THE LATIN, THEIR ERROR IS NATURAL. BUT PAUL'S GREEK WORD MEANS NOT TO MAKE JUST., BUT TO REGARD AS JUST AND TREAT AS JUST.
THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE-- NOT TO MAKE JUST. BUT REGARD AND TREAT AS JUST. HOW WOULD GOD TREAT YOU,  IF YOU WERE A RIGHTEOUS MAN, IF YOU HAD, THROUGH ALL YOUR LIFE, FAITHFULLY PERFORMED ALL YOUR DUTIES, CONFORMING TO ALL YOUR RELATIONS TO YOUR FELLOW-BEINGS. HOW WOULD HE REGARD YOU AND TREAT YOU. HE WOULD LOOK UPON YOU WITH COMPLACENCY
 HE WOULD SMILE ON YOU AS ONE THAT WAS IN HIS SIGHT PLEASING. HE WOULD LOOK UPON YOU, AND BLESS YOU AS LONG AS YOU LIVED IN THIS WORLD AND, WHEN YOU WERE DONE WITH THIS WORLD, HE WOULD DELIGHT TO TAKE YOU HOME TO HIS BOSOM, WITH THE GREETING: COME AND REST "GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT." THE CHURCH ISN'T A PLACE FOR SAINTS, THERE ALL IN HEAVEN. THE CHURCH IS A PLACE FOR SINNERS LIKE OURSELVES. THE POWER OF PRAYER MUST HAVE A CLEAN HEART THROUGH WHICH TO OPERATE.  THE LAW OF THE HEART IS INEXORABLE.  JESUS IS USHERING IN THAT  NEW AGE WHICH THE JEWS HAVE BEEN EXPECTING FOR CENTURIES. "THE GOOD NEWS"  IS, THE NEED TO WAIT IS NO LONGER. THE MESSIANIC AGE HAS ARRIVED! THE REST OF MARK'S GOSPEL GRAPPLES WITH THE QUESTION, " WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE MESSIANIC AGE THAT BROKE IN WITH JESUS?" WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REAL CAUSE BEHIND MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS. WE ARE GOING TO LEAD UP TO A STUDY OF THE FREE FLOW OF DIVINE ENERGY INTO YOUR LIFE. FIRST WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS, WHICH IS THE SHORT CIRCUIT IN OUR CONSCIOUSNESS. YOU MUST REPAIR IT. BELIEVE CHRIST IS ALIVE AND HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, THEN THE FREE FLOW OF THE POWER OF LIFE THROUGH THE "HOLY SPIRIT", ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE LOVE IN YOUR LIFE, WHICH WILL SHOW LOVE IN YOUR ACTIONS, JOY IN YOUR HEART, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN YOUR MIND, HEALTH IN YOUR BODY, VITALITY IN YOUR ACTIONS. COULD YOU WANT MORE THAN THAT?  REMEMBER THE POWERFUL LAW OF THE HEART. THIS LAW IS MORE POWERFUL AND IS EVEN MORE POWERFUL AND ACCURATE THAN THE SCIENTIFIC LAWS YOU STUDIED IN SCHOOL. "THE LAW" OF THE HEART IS THIS "PERFECT LOVE", "CASTETH OUT FEAR, THE TWO DEVILS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER WHICH OUR LORD ASSOCIATES WITH HATE AND FEAR, WHICH CAN ONLY BE DONE AWAY WITH THROUGH THE 1ST LAW OF THE HEART, WHICH IS "LOVE.?" WHEN YOU START TO FEEL THE RISING RESENTMENT OF HATE AND FEAR. STOP FOR A MOMENT, BEFORE IT TURNS INTO FULL BLOWN HATE. "STOP! ASK YOURSELF WHAT'S BEHIND IT? FACE THESE DEVILS OUT IN THE OPEN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. YOU WILL BE BORN AGAIN. NOW YOUR READY AGAIN TO GRASP WITH MARK, THE GOOD (NEWS THAT THE CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, THE ANOINTED ONE IS USHERING IN THE NEW AGE THAT THE JEWS HAVE BEEN EXPECTING FOR CENTURIES. THEY NEED TO WAIT NO LONGER. " THE MESSIANIC AGE HAS ARRIVED!" WE LOOK WITH MARK, TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? JESUS RESCUES HUMANITY FROM BONDAGE TO SATAN, SIN, LAW, AND DEATH THROUGH JESUS SAVING MISSION, WHICH STARTS WITH BAPTISM, USHERING IN THE "NEW CREATION, AND WITH IT THE FINAL GREAT "EXODUS" (RESCUE) EVENT. HE RESCUES HUMANITY FROM "SATAN" ALL THINGS ARE MADE NEW, NOT WITHIN THE MATERIAL ORDER, BUT WITHIN PEOPLE'S HEARTS. JESUS SUMMONS AND PLANTS THE "1ST LAW" ON HIS PEOPLE'S HEARTS, LOVE. NOT SERVING SELF, BUT TO SHARE HIS SERVANT MISSION.
 

  

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OF THE

 

                   

HIGHER LEVEL.

 THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH TOOK PLACE IN WESTMINSTER ABBY, LONDON, IN 1953. DURING THE COURSE OF THE SERVICE, THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY PRESENTED HER WITH A BIBLE. IN HANDING IT TO HER HE SAID, WE PRESENT YOU WITH THIS BOOK, THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT THIS WORLD AFFORDS.  HERE IS WISDOM. THIS IS ROYAL LAW. THESE  ARE THE LIVELY ORACLES OF GOD. GOD HAS PLACED THIS SAME GIFT IN YOUR HANDS. IT POINTS BEYOND ITSELF TO THE MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL GIFTS- GOD'S SON, JESUS CHRIST. THE REAL PURPOSE IS TO DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, BY DISCOVERING THE MEANING OF LIFE THROUGH THE BIBLE OF THE PRICELESS TRUTH. IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS 1: 9,10 WHERE PAUL SPEAKS OF GOD'S WILL, PURPOSE AND PLAN TO UNITE ALL CREATURES IN THE UNIVERSE AROUND JESUS CHRIST.  ITS IMPLICATION FOR YOUR LIFE AND SALVATION WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY  CLEAR. AS YOU WORK THROUGH THE BIBLE. ONE FINAL THOUGHT!  THE BIBLE DOES NOT ASK US MERELY TO FOLLOW JESUS' TEACHING. IT INVITES US TO BECOME MEMBERS OF HIS COMMUNITY AND TO SPEND LIFE IN HIS COMPANY. MAY GOD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS. IF YE, THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.  SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOTHINGS OF THE EARTH.  FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE, SHALL APPEAR, THEN SHALL YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY-- COLOSSIANS. 3:1-4.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOTALLY WASTED THEIR LIVES THEY NEVER REALLY MANAGE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR REAL PLACE AND PURPOSE IN THEIR LIFE. THEIR IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER PERSON WHO CAN LIVE WITHIN US , AND THAT IS OUR SAVIOR, SHOWING US TRUTHS TO A HAPPIER LIFE FOR US, NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE. THE CHINESE HAVE A LEGEND THAT THERE ARE 5 POINTS TO THE COMPASS : NORTH, SOUTH, EAST,  WEST, AND WHERE YOU ARE. THE LAST OF THESE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
 FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH  WAY TO GO.  THE OLDER WILL NOT LOOK FOR A LIFE ON A HIGHER LEVEL IN CHRIST UNTIL WE NOTE OUR LACK OF IT WITHOUT HIM.  ACTUALLY, DEATH-NOT LIFE- IS OUR NATURAL CONDITION. WE WERE BORN TO DIE. BACK IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, GOD WARNED OUR FIRST PARENTS ABOUT THE TREE IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN: "IN THE  DAY THAT THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU SHALL SURELY DIE."  THEY ATE DESPITE THIS WARNING, AND THEY DIED.  THEIR HEARTS CONTINUED TO BEAT FOR MANY MORE YEARS. THEY WALKED AND TALKED IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS BEFORE. BUT ALL THAT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND HOLY, GODLY, ABOUT THEIR LIFE HAD DIED. SIN HAD KILLED IT. THEIR PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND THEIR HAPPINESS WITH HIM WAS CHANGED INTO SHAME AND FEAR AND IGNORANCE. THEIR COMPLETE MASTERY OVER THE EARTH AND ITS FORCES AND CREATURES WOULD FOREVER BE CHALLENGED. THEIR PHYSICAL PERFECTION WOULD BE MARRED BY ILLNESS AND PAIN. THEIR HAPPY RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER WOULD BE STRAINED AND TRIED TO THE BREAKING POINT. DAILY TASKS WHICH HAS BEEN DONE CHEERFULLY AND WITH JOY BECAME TEDIOUS AND BORING. SUCH WAS THE CONDITION OF LIVING, BREATHING DEATH. WHICH SIN BROUGHT ADAM AND EVE. (OUR FIRST PARENTS).  WHICH BECAME THE INHERITANCE OF ALL WHO FOLLOWED THEM ( THE HUMAN RACE). SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE!  GOD DID NOT INTEND THE PRIZE OF HIS CREATION TO LIVE THIS WAY.  HIS LOVE DEMANDED HE PROVIDE AN ANSWER.
 TO ADAM AND EVE HE GAVE A PROMISE BROUGHT AND THE PROMISE BROUGHT NEW HOPE AND PURPOSE TO THEIR LIVES.  HE PROMISED A SAVIOR: FOR YOU AND ME, AT OUR PLACE IN HISTORY, THE PROMISE HAS BEEN FULFILLED. THE RECORD OF GOD'S OWN WORDS STATES:" CHRIST BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE, BEING DEAD TO SINS, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS"  " OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, HAS ABOLISHED DEATH AND HAS BROUGHT LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT.  GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING, THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF.  TODAY YOU AND I ARE PERMITTED TO SEE A GOD WHO CHOOSES TO PITY US AS  A FATHER PITIES HIS CHILDREN RATHER THAN DEALING WITH US ACCORDING TO OUR SINS.  OR FEAR OF ANGER OF A JUST GOD IS CHANGED INTO A NEW AWARENESS OF HIS LOVE AND REJOICE AT THE FELLOWSHIP WHICH IS OURS WITH GOD IN THE SAVIOR. WITH PAUL WE MAY EXCLAIM: " WHO SHALL DELIVER US FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH? I THANK GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD" WHATEVER LIFE WE HAVE WITH GOD IS IN CHRIST. NOW WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO REJECT JESUS AS THE MESSIAH? AT SOME FUTURE DATE, THE RECORD WILL BE SET STRAIGHT. GOD WILL VINDICATE HIS HOLY NAME. AND DISPENSE HIS PURE AND PERFECT JUSTICE. FOR A GREAT MANY PEOPLE, IT WILL BE SHOCKING TO BEHOLD THIS JESUS, WHOM THEY TRIED TO RELEGATE TO A SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOM. TERROR WILL STRIKE THEIR HEARTS AS THE LORD ARRIVES ON SCENE, AS PREDICTED IN REVELATION (19: 11:16). I SAW HEAVEN STANDING OPEN AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A WHITE HORSE, WHOSE RIDER IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE. WITH JUSTICE HE JUDGES AND MAKES WAR. HIS EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE, AND ON HIS HEAD MANY CROWNS. HE HAS A NAME WRITTEN ON HIM THAT NO ONE KNOWS BUT HE HIMSELF. HE IS DRESSED IN A ROBE DRIPPED IN BLOOD, AND HIS NAME IS THE WORD OF GOD. THE ARMIES OF HEAVEN WERE FOLLOWING HIM, RIDING ON WHITE HORSES AND DRESSED IN FINE LINEN, WHITS AND CLEANED.
OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMES A  SHARP SWORD WITH WHICH TO STRIKE DOWN NATIONS. HE WILL RULE THEM WITH A IRON SCEPTER. HE TREADS THE WINEPRESS OF THE FURY OF THE WRATH OF GOD ALMIGHTY. ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS HIS NAME WRITTEN: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. THIS IS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT. THE SAME MOUTH THAT SPOKE PEACE AND RECONCILIATION WILL ONE DAY USE THE SHARP SWORD OF JUDGMENT. THE SAME EYES THAT GLOWED WITH COMPASSION WILL ONE DAY BLAZE WITH FIRE. C.S. LEWIS ONCE SAID THERE ARE ONLY TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THE END. THY WILL BE DONE. AND THOSE WHOM GOD SAYS, IN THE END WHOM, MY WILL BE DONE. 

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR US.

 ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE THINGS THAT COMES OUT OF A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD IS A KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR US. TOO MANY  PEOPLE JUST STUMBLE AND BLUNDER THROUGH LIFE. WHEN IT COMES TO CHURCH THEY THINK THEY MUST HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR BRAINS  AT THE DOOR.  THEY DO NOT HAVE A BASIC CONVICTION ABOUT THE FUTURE. THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS WITHIN US WILL LEAD US INTO ALL TRUTH., THEREFORE INTO A THRILLING, ADVENTUROUS LIFE.  THAT IS A FACT PROMISED BY OUR LORD  GOD HASN'T CREATED US FOR A SPAN OF HAPHAZARDS  INCIDENTS. LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST OF A CONSECUTIVE GATHERING OF GOOD OR BAD BREAKS WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN LIFE TUMBLES IN UPON US, WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG, WHEN MISFORTUNE DOGS OUR EVERY STEP, IT IS NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE WILL OF GOD. IT IS NOT IN GOD'S PLAN. GOD'S PLAN IS GOOD. THERE IS CAUSE BEHIND EVIL EXPERIENCE AND CAUSE BEHIND GOOD EXPERIENCE. GOD'S PROCESSES ARE ORDERLY.  GOD IS INTERESTED IN YOU PERSONALLY. HE IS SO DESIROUS, THIS APPEAL CAME AS PART OF A CONCLUSION.THERE WAS A SERMON PREACHED ONCE BY A BAPTIST MINISTER WHO AT THE END MAKES A FINAL APPEAL: " MY FRIENDS, LET US MAKE IT PRACTICAL LESSON FOR US ALL. CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, BEGIN TO "PRAY" MORE, AND FROM THIS LEARN TO TAKE JESUS TO YOUR HEART AND BEGIN TO FIND WHAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL TEACH YOU. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS " THAT YOU HAVE BUT TO ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN.  GOD IS SO DESIROUS THAT YOUR FUTURE WORK OUT ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN.  THE MOLD WAS BROKEN WHEN HE MADE YOU. NEVER AGAIN IN HISTORY WILL HE MAKE ANOTHER PERSON EXACTLY LIKE YOU.
THERE WILL BE NO DUPLICATION. HE MADE YOU DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE, EVEN TO THE DETAILS OF THE TIPS OF YOUR FINGER TIPS WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY INDIVIDUAL. NO DETAIL OF YOUR LIFE IS TOO SMALL FOR HIS UNDERSTANDING AND NOTICE. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? NOBODY KNOWS.  "PRACTICE THE PRESENCE."
 THERE WILL BE IN LIFE A PATH. THE PATH IS NOT A BLUEPRINT THAT IS SET DOWN WITH COMPLETE DETAIL IN REGARD TO YOUR FUTURE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WHICH UNFOLDS WHEN YOU FOLLOW HIS WAY. ON THE OTHER IF YOU DEFY THE WAY WHICH CHRIST HAS CHOSEN FOR FOR YOU, OR IGNORE THEM, WE MAKE OUR OWN HAZARDOUS FUTURE IN DEFIANCE OF THE LAWS OF "ETERNAL TRUTH,"  IN TURN BATTERING YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL OF THAT BUILDING. GOD DOES NOT LOOK THROUGH THE MYSTERIOUS VEIL OF TOMORROW. HE HAS ARRANGED A PROGRAM FOR US WHEREBY WE HAVE TO LIVE DAY BY DAY. SOME OF THE GREAT PROPHETS AND SAINTS DID SEE INTO THE FUTURE. LET'S LOOK AT JUST ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE WAY IN WHICH OUR LORD SAW GOD'S PLAN. LOOK AT THE GOSPEL FOR MONDAY IN "HOLY WEEK. "IT" READS, " AND SOME BEGAN TO SPIT ON HIM, JOUST HIM AROUND AND SAY UNTO HIM, " PROPHESY," AND DID STRIKE HIM WITH PALMS OF THEIR HAND." AND JESUS SAID, " THE SCRIPTURES MUST BE FULFILLED. THE SON OF MAN GOETH INDEED AS IT IS WRITTEN"  TIME AND AGAIN, JESUS KNEW WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT. HE KNEW WHAT THEY WOULD DO, AND HE KNEW WHAT GOD PLANNED FOR HIS SON. IN THIS INSTANCE IN THE REALITY OF GOD'S PLAN FOR HIS SON. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO GO OUT AND PREPARE FOR THE PASSOVER. HE PREDICTED THEY WOULD MEET A MAN WITH PITCHER WHOM THEY SHOULD FOLLOW. HE  SAID THEY WOULD FIND THE PROPRIETOR OF A HOUSE--
THE "GOOD MAN OF THE HOUSE, AS HE TOLD THEM. HE FORETOLD THE MAN WOULD HAVE AN UPPER ROOM WHICH WOULD BE PREPARED FOR THEIR FINAL FEAST. THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT ONE OF THEM WOULD BETRAY HIM. NEXT, HE SAID  ALL OF YOU SHALL BE OFFENDED THIS NIGHT." HE TOLD HOW THE COCK WOULD CROW THRICE AND PETER WOULD DENY HIM. AND FINALLY, HE TOLD THEM THAT IF HIS OWN TEMPLE, THAT IS HIS OWN BODY, WERE TO BE DESTROYED, IT WOULD BE REBUILT IN THREE DAYS.. SO, OUR LORD WAS ABLE TO SEE INTO THE FUTURE OF GOD'S PLAN. AS I SAY, THAT ISN'T FOR US EXCEPT ON VERY RARE OCCASIONS WHEN GOD HAS USE AND REASON FOR US TO SEE THE FUTURE. " A WORD OF CAUTION!" HERE." THE WORLD DOES NOT RUN BY ACCIDENT, NOR IS LIFE A MATTER OF LUCK.
 IT IS AMAZING HOW SUPERSTITIOUS  AND VOODOO-- LIKE HUMAN NATURE IS. YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD EVERY DAY? BECAUSE IF YOU ARE WITH HIM ENOUGH, YOU ARE GOING TO BEGIN TO SENSE THE UNFOLDMENT OF HIS MAGNIFICENT PLAN FOR YOU.
     

[THE VISION OF ZECHARIAH] " THE ANGEL IN THE MYRTLE TREES."

 UPON THE FOUR AND TWENTIETH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH OF SEBAT, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS, CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD TO ZECHARIAH, THE SON OF BERECHIAH, THE SON OF IDDO THE PROPHET, SAYING,
" I SAW BY NIGHT, AND BEHELD A MAN RIDING UPON A RED HORSE, AND HE STOOD AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES THAT WERE IN THE BOTTOM; AND BEHIND HIM WERE THERE RED HORSES, SPECKLED, AND WHITE. THEN SAID I, 'O MY LORD, WHAT ARE THESE?'  AND THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, 'I WILL SHOW THEE WHAT THESE MAY BE.'  AND THE MAN THAT STOOD UPON THE MYRTLE TREES ANSWERED AND SAID, ' THESE ARE THEY WHOM THE LORD SENT TO WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH, AND BEHOLD, ALL THE EARTH. SITTETH STILL, AND IS AT REST.'
 " THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID, '  O LORD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU NOT  HAVE MERCY ON JERUSALEM AND ON THE CITIES OF JUDAH
 AGAINST WHICH THOU HAST HAD INDIGNATION THESE THREE SCORE AND TEN YEARS?  AND THE LORD ANSWERED THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WITH GOOD WORDS AND COMFORTABLE WORDS. SO THE ANGEL THAT COMMUNED WITH ME SAID UNTO ME, ' CRY THOU SAYING, "THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS: ' I AM JEALOUS FOR JERUSALEM AND FOR ZION WITH GREAT JEALOUSY. AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE: FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELP FORWARD THE AFFLICTION. THEREFOR SAITH THE LORD; 'I AM RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH MERCIES: MY HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT IN IT. SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, ' AND A LINE SHALL BE STRETCHED FORTH UPON JERUSALEM' " CRY YET SAYING, ' THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; ' MY CITIES THROUGH PROSPERITY SHALL YET BE SPREAD ABROAD; AND THE LORD SHALL YET COMFORT ZION, AND SHALL YET CHOOSE JERUSALEM." THEN LIFTED  MY EYES, AND SAW, AND BEHELD FOUR HORNS. AND I SAID UNTO THE ANGELS THAT TALK WITH ME, ' WHAT BE THESE?'  AND HE ANSWERED ME " THESE BE THE HORNS THAT SCATTERED  JUDAH, SO THAT NO MAN DID LIFT UP HIS HEAD, BUT THESE ARE COME TO FRAY THEM, TO CAST OUT THE HORNS OF THE GENTILES, WHICH LIFTED UP  THEIR HORN OVER THE LAND OF JUDAH TO SCATTER IT.
I LIFTED UP  MY EYES AGAIN, AND LOOKED, AND BEHELD A MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE IN HIS HAND. THEN SAID I ' WHITHER THOU GOEST THOU? AND HE SAID UNTO ME, " TO MEASURE JERUSALEM, TO SEE WHAT IS THE BREADTH THEREOF, AND WHAT IS THE LENGTH THEREOF. AND ' BEHOLD, THE ANGEL THAT TALKED WITH ME WENT FORTH, AND ANOTHER ANGEL WENT OUT TO MEET HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM,' RUN, SPEAK TO THIS YOUNG MAN SAYING, " JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED  AS TOWNS WITHOUT WALLS FOR THE MULTITUDE OF MEN AND CATTLE THEREIN" 'FOR I' SAITH THE LORD, 'WILL BE UNTO HER A WALL OF FIRE ROUND ABOUT, AND WILL BE THE GLORY IN THE MIDST OF HER."   

SPIRITUAL MATTERS.

IN HIS IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY, JOHN HENRY NEWMAN WROTE A CHAPTER CALLED"KNOWLEDGE-ITS OWN END."  CARDINAL NEWMAN SAID:" TO OPEN THE MIND, TO CORRECT IT, TO REFINE IT, TO BE ABLE  TO KNOW AND TO DIGEST, MASTER, RULE OVER ITS OWN FACULTIES ,USE ITS POWER RESOURCE, ADDRESS, ELOQUENT EXPRESSION, IS AN OBJECT AS INTELLIGIBLE AS THE CULTIVATION OF VIRTUE, WHILE,, AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS ABSOLUTELY DISTINCT FROM IT. DIVINE POWER HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN REGARDED AS JUST AND BENEFICENT. THE TENSION BETWEEN THE DIVINE AND THE HUMAN IS A PERENNIAL PROBLEM. AESCHYLUS, THE GREEK TRAGEDIAN, HAS DRAMATIZED THIS TENSION BY STAGING THE MYTH
 OF PROMETHEUS, THE GREEK HERO, OR DEMIGOD, WHO WAS CRUELLY PUNISHED BY ZEUS FOR BRINGING CULTURE TO MANKIND. THIS MYTH OF THE BENEFACTOR OF MANKIND, CHAINED TO A ROCK AND TORTURED COUNTLESS AGES BUT ALWAYS MAINTAINING HIS DEFIANCE OF THE SUPREME POWER, HAS STIRRED THE IMAGINATION OF READERS FOR THOUSAND OF YEARS. THE MYTH, AS PRESENTED THROUGH THE POWERFUL DRAMATIC GENIUS OF AESCHYLUS, RAISES BASIC AND DISTURBING RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS. CAN THE ULTIMATE POWER IN THE UNIVERSE CONSIST MERELY IN ABSOLUTE MIGHT? SHALL NOT THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH DO RIGHT? IS IT RIGHT OR WRONG TO STAND UP AGAINST DIVINE POWER OVER THE UNIVERSE. SHALL MAN RELY ON HIS OWN CULTURE POWERS ALONE AND JUDGE THE UNIVERSE BY HIS OWN ETHICAL STANDARDS? WHICH IS RIGHT: REVOLT OR OBEDIENCE? CAN HUMAN AUTONOMY AND DIVINE RULE BE RECONCILED?  "SOREN KIERKEGAARD" , THE 19TH-CENTURY DANISH RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER, REMARKED  THAT IN MODERN TIMES THE THEATER WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE A CHURCH, WHILE THE CHURCH WAS BECOMING MORE LIKE A THEATER. THIS WAS INTENDED AS IRONIC COMMENTARY ON THE PREACHINESS OF THE MODERN STAGE. AND THE ENTERTAININGNESS OF THE MODERN PULPIT.. IN ANCIENT GREECE THE CRITICISM WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF PLACE. THE GREEK THEATER ORIGINATED IN RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS  (NOT THE DERIVATION OF THE WORD TRAGEDY FROM A GREEK TERM MEANING "GOAT SONG, THE CHORAL LYRIC FOR THE god DIONYSUS).  POETS, SCULPTORS, AND PAINTERS PLAYED A REMARKABLE ROLE IN SHAPING THE RELIGIOUS CONSCIOUSNESS OF ANCIENT GREECE. THEY ASSUMED FUNCTIONS USUALLY PERFORMED IN OTHER CULTURES BY PRIESTS, PROPHETS, AND THEOLOGIAN. HOMER AND HESIOD BROUGHT INTO ORDER THE VAGUE AND CHAOTIC MULTITUDE OF POPULAR DIVINITIES AND GAVE THE DISTINCT IDENTITIES AND PERSONALITIES. PHILOSOPHERS, SUCH AS PLATO FOUND SOME OF THE POETS STORIES VERY UNEDIFYING. BEFORE WE ASK SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PLAY, LET US TURN BRIEFLY TO A COMPARISON OF "PROMETHEUS BOUND" WITH THE BOOK  OF JOB. THE BOOK OF JOB DEALS WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE SUFFERING OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED IN A WORLD RULED BY GOD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. JOB IS A MAN OF PERFECT FAITH AND PIETY WHO SUFFERS THE WORST KIND OF CALAMITIES. THEY HAVE BEEN VISITED UPON HIM BY GOD AS A TEST OF FAITH. JOB MAINTAINS HIS FAITH IN A RIGHTEOUS GOD, BUT HE CRIES OUT  HIS BEWILDERMENT  OF HIS FATE., WHICH SEEMS TO HAS BEEN VISITED UPON HIM BY GOD AS A TEST OF FAITH. , WHICH SEEMS TO CONTRADICT HIS BELIEF. HE STOUTLY MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE UNDER VEXING ADMONITIONS OF TRADITION MINDED FRIENDS, WHO ARE SURE HE MUST HAVE SINNED SINCE HE SUFFERS SO. JOB DISPUTES WITH GOD.  HE WANT TO WHY HE, A FRIEND OF GOD, IS TREATED LIKE AN ENEMY. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE OMNIPOTENCE- THE SHEER OVERPOWERING, MIGHT OF GOD. BUT HE QUESTIONS THE DIVINE ACT. THE ANSWER IN THE BOOK OF JOB TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS THAT THE WAYS OF GOD ARE INSCRUTABLE AS IN THE PHYSICAL SPHERE. IN THE END ALL JOB HAS LOST, AND MORE IS RESTORED TO HIM HE HAS TRIUMPHED IN THE TRAIL OF FAITH; AND SATAN, WHO DEMANDED THIS CONTEST, IS DISCOMFITED. THERE IS ONE BASIC SIMILARITY BETWEEN PROMETHEUS AND JOB. BOTH STAND UP AND DOGGEDLY MAINTAIN THEIR CASE AGAINST OVERWHELMING DIVINE POWER. BOTH QUESTION THE SUFFERINGS THEY ARE FORCED TO UNDERGO. BUT EACH STANDS IN A DIFFERENT RELATION TO THE DIVINE RULER. EACH EXPRESSES  A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS LOT.
 DOES PRAYER HAVE ANY EFFECT? DO WE DEVOTE SO MUCH TIME TO THE PERVERSIONS OF PRAYER THAT WE MAY MISS WHAT THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS.
 MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT PRAYER SHOULD NOT BE AN ATTEMPT TO PROFIT PRAGMATICALLY IN THE WORLD. (AS FOR EXAMPLE, WINNING A BET ON A HORSE RACE, OR COMING OUT ON TOP IN A ATHLETIC CONTEST. OR BUSINESS DEAL). BUT WE PRAY FOR PEACE AND THAT WISDOM AND PRUDENCE BE GRANTED TO OUR LEADERS IN THE WORLD. WE PRAY THAT THE SICK AND THE TROUBLED BE MADE WHOLE UNANXIOUS, AND WE PRAY FOR PERSONAL VIRTUE AND STRENGTH. ARE SUCH PRAYERS "EFFICACIOUS"  OR MERE TALK TO SOOTHE THE MIND OF THE PERSON WHO PRAYS?   PRAYER SHOULD BE A MEANS OF BECOMING AT ONE WITH GOD- A MEANS OF "RECONCILIATION" OF ATTAINING INNER PURITY AND COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO THE DIVINE WILL? WE LOOK TO THE LORDS PRAYER OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AS THE MODEL PRAYER GOOD ON ANY AND ALL OCCASIONS.
 WHY DID HE MAKE IT HIS PERSONAL PRAYER? IS IT NOT BECAUSE IT IS A PRAYER CENTERED UTTERLY IN GOD, PUTTING THE WILL OF THE PETITIONER IN ACCORD WITH THE DIVINE WILL AND IMPLORING SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL PURIFICATION?
THE END OF PRAYER, "ITS EFFECT" BEING WITH GOD. IT IS POSSIBLE TO PRAY WITHOUT USING WORDS USING INNER ATTITUDE, AN INTENTION OF THE HEART, THAT MAKES AN EVIL PERSON GOOD AT THE MOMENT HE PRAYERS FOR REPENTANCE.

CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE. [JOHN 2:13-22]

 THE TIME OF THE PASSOVER WAS AT HAND AND JESUS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DISCIPLES WENT UP TO JERUSALEM TO KEEP THE FEAST. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE PASSOVERS THAT ARE MENTION IN THIS GOSPEL. IT IS A FITTING OCCASION FOR THE PUBLIC INAUGURATION OF HIS MINISTRY. HE VISITS THE TEMPLE AND FINDS WITHIN THE SACRED ENCLOSURE IN THE COURT OF THE GENTILES A MARKET HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE SALE OF ANIMALS REQUIRED FOR THE SACRIFICES [2:14]. THE MONEY CHANGERS SIT THERE CHANGING ROMAN CURRENCY INTO JEWISH. JESUS IS STIRRED IN HIS SOUL AND IS MOVED WITH FLAMING INDIGNATION AT SUCH PROFANATION OF THE TEMPLE OF GOD. HE TAKES A SCOURGE MADE OF TWISTED RUSHES AND 'CAST ALL OUT OF THE TEMPLE.' [2:15]. THE WRATH OF THE LAMB IS A REALITY. THE EXACTNESS  OF STATEMENT AND THE PRECISION OF DETAIL BESPEAK THE EYEWITNESS. THE OXEN AND THE SHEEP ARE DRIVEN OUT, THE MONEY OF THE CHANGERS IS POURED OUT TO THE GROUND, AND THE DOVES ARE REMOVED AT THE COMMAND OF JESUS. " MAKE NOT MY FATHER'S HOUSE AN HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE [2:16]. WE CANNOT FAIL TO NOTE THE SPECIFIC RELATION JESUS HAS CLAIMED FOR HIMSELF. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS ACT IS MESSIANIC. THE RECORD IS A COMMENTARY ON [MALACHI 3.]  THE LORD HAS COME SUDDENLY TO HIS TEMPLE. JUDGMENT HAS BEGUN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD. THE ZEAL THE JESUS HAS REVEALED IS A MESSIANIC CHARACTERISTIC. HE PROTESTED AGAINST THE IRREVERENCE AND UNSPITUALITY  OF THE TEMPLE WORSHIP. HIS ACT MAY BE INTERPRETED  AS A MESSIANIC PURIFICATION  OF THE WHOLE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM, AN ACT WHICH HAD  THE SANCTION OF PROPHETIC  ZEAL. HIS DISCIPLES REMEMBERED THAT IT WAS WRITTEN, THE "ZEAL OF THINE HOUSE HATH EATEN ME UP."   THE FORCE OF THIS WORD, "EAT UP" IS EXPRESSED IN WORDS LIKE CONSUME, DESTROY. THERE MAY BE A VEILED REFERENCE TO THE  DEATH OF JESUS.
THE PURIFICATION OF WHICH THIS ACTION IS A SIGN DEPENDS UPON THE SACRIFICE OF HIS BODY. THE JEWS DEMAND A SIGN., FOR THEY RECOGNIZE THE IMPORT OF HIS ACT.  THEY ASK FOR A VISIBLE ATTESTATION OF JESUS GIVES THEM THE ANSWER IN METAPHORICAL LANGUAGE THAT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND HAD NO MEANING FOR THEM. "DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.." THEY WILL KILL HIM, BUT HE WILL SET UP AGAIN THE SANCTUARY THEY HAVE DESTROYED. THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS VERSE IS DUE TO THE DOUBLE  REFERENCE TO THE VERBS "DESTROY AND RAISE. THE VERB "DESTROY' HAS THE DOUBLE MEANING OF LOOSE, AS OF DESTRUCTION OF A BUILDING AND THE DISSOLUTION OF THE BODY;  WHILE THE VERB "RAISE" CAN MEAN EITHER RAISING A BUILDING OR HOUSE OR THE SETTING UP OF A SANCTUARY; HENCE THE IDEA OF RAISING UP A BODY. JESUS GIVES THE SIGN OF RESURRECTION AS HIS AUTHORITY FOR PURIFYING THE TEMPLE. THE JEWS SUPPOSE JESUS TO HAVE REFERRED TO THE LITERAL TEMPLE WHICH WAS IN PROCESS OF BEING BUILT. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE WAS INITIATED c. 20 B.C. AND COMPLETED IN A.D. 63. FORTY-SIX YEARS HAD ELAPSED SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE BUILDING, THUS BRINGING THE DATE UP TO A.D. 26 OR 27. THE JEWS WERE NOT FAMILIAR  WITH THE IDEA OF THE SANCTUARY OR THE TEMPLE OF THE BODY. REMEMBER JESUS NEVER READ THE GOSPELS" SCHOLARS TELL US.   THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS JESUS BIBLE. IN THE TEMPLE AT 12. HE STARTED. WE START WITH THE "FLOOD AND NOAH", FOR OUR
 STUDY, OUR FOUNDATION; NOT MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN.
JESUS GIVES THE SIGN OF RESURRECTION AS HIS AUTHORITY. THIS IDENTIFICATION WAS BASED ON THE IMPROBABILITY  OF TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS TAKING PLACE, ONE AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY, THE OTHER AT THE END. THE TWO INCIDENTS HAVE MANY POINTS OF CONCURRENCE., BUT THE MINUTENESS OF DETAIL, LED TO THE BACKGROUND FOR THE DISCOURSE ON THE NEW BIRTH THIS IS  THAT OF THE INSUFFICIENCY OF A FAITH BASED ON ETERNAL SIGNS. JESUS COULD NOT TRUST HIMSELF TO THOSE WHOSE FAITH WAS ONLY SUPERFICIAL, FOR HE HAD A PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR MOTIVES. THIS IS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE STORY OF THE INTERVIEW WITH NICODEMUS. NICODEMUS, A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN ( A RULER OF THE JEWS,) VISITS JESUS AT NIGHT PROBABLY IN ORDER TO AVOID COMPROMISING HIS POSITION. HE RECOGNIZES  JESUS IS A TEACHER SENT FROM GOD. (AN EMPHATIC PHRASE,) DISTINGUISHING HIM FROM TEACHERS QUALIFIED BY PASSING THROUGH SCHOOLS, AND IS IMPRESSED WITH THE SIGNS JESUS DOES . HE THEREFORE ASKS OUR LORD TO CLARIFY HIS TEACHING, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. JESUS MAKES THE REPLY: " EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM. THE GREEK WORD "ANOTHEN," TRANSLATED 'AGAIN' MAY ALSO BE TRANSLATED FROM 'ABOVE.' THE REPLY OF JESUS CONTAINS THE VERY HEART THAT IT IS CONCEIVED OF IN TERMS OF A BIRTH FROM ABOVE. IT AFFIRMS THE NECESSITY OF SUCH A RADICAL CHANGE OF HEART THAT IT IS CONCEIVED OF IN TERMS OF A BIRTH FROM ABOVE. A FAITH BASED ON MIRACLES IS INSUFFICIENT. AND LEAVES THE INNER CORE OF A MAN'S LIFE UNTOUCHED. HE MEANS NO PHYSICAL BIRTH BUT A CREATIVE ACT OF GOD WITHIN A SOUL.