1 Corinthians 12:13-"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body"-describes the Spirit's operation in this present dispensation of grace, placing believers into the Body of Christ. This is a new creation ( 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 2:15), revealed through Paul as "the revelation of the mystery" ( Eph 3:1-9). It identifies the forming of a joint body of believing Jew and Gentile, apart from Israel's covenant program and apart from water baptism.
The Twelve were called under Israel's prophetic kingdom program ( Matt 19:28; Luke 22:29-30). They were promised positions of authority "judging the twelve tribes of Israel," not membership in the Body of Christ destined for heavenly places ( Eph 1:3; Phil 3:20). Their baptism ( Acts 2:38; Matt 28:19) related to repentance and the kingdom gospel, not Spirit placement into the one Body later revealed through Paul.
Therefore, 1 Cor 12:13 is not retroactively moving the kingdom apostles into a new organism but defining how God now works in this dispensation. The "we all" refers to those who have believed Paul's gospel ( 1 Cor 15:1-4)-whether Jew or Gentile-since the revelation of the mystery. The Twelve remain part of Israel's prophetic calling; the Body of Christ is a distinct, heavenly people formed afterward by the Spirit through Paul's ministry ( 1 Tim 1:16).
Hello Lbooth1955. You've received good replies, to which I also agree. However, in attempting to read deeper into your brief question and what prompted it, I wondered, 'were you referring to the actual time that Christ called them 'apostles' and other references to that name, or to the time post-resurrection and Pentecost, when these apostles were without their Lord present & began to do all that they were taught and commanded to do'?
So if your question was to the first part of my thoughts, then Scriptures such as Luke 6:13, Matthew 10:2, Mark 6:30, Luke 22:14, and others show to me that these disciples (Gk. learner, pupil) also named apostles (Gk. messenger, one sent out), though dear to the Heart of the Lord, were by no means a part of the Body of Christ (as we understand this Body that was later formed, Romans 12:5). While they remained & served under the Old Covenant they were simply a motley group of individuals, specially selected by Jesus to learn, to experience the Son of God first-hand, and to increase in faith and love, so that when they would be transformed & "endued with power from on high", they would be the very first 'founding members' upon which the Church (the Body of Christ) would be built upon ( Ephesians 2:20).
In summary, under the Old Covenant, though called 'apostles', these men were not "included in the Body of Christ". But when the New Covenant in Christ's Blood was ushered in and all who came in faith trusting in that Sacrifice wholly for salvation, those apostles were indeed the very first to be included into Christ's Body, the Church; and upon which we stand today, or ought to stand, without any reference to the Old Covenants, Laws, and ceremonial requirements, which ended at the Cross ( Romans 10:4,5). Thus apostolic teaching remains very relevant to us now and does our Lord's; when these are altered, as some 'churches' have done, devising their own doctrines, they declare that the apostles are irrelevant even denying their Lord. GBU.
Amen bro S. Spencer. The Old Covenant ended at the Cross, as Jesus brought in the New Testament in His Blood ( Luke 22:20). The Old may have ended, but God's Promises to Israel still stands sure and they will be preserved as He promised ( Jeremiah 31:31-36; and particularly vv 35 & 36, where God's Promise is that the ordinances of the moon, stars & seas would have to fail first before Israel is cast away as a nation before Him.
Yet, the vail, till today, continues to cover their eyes as they read the Old Testament, chained to the Old Covenant. But when the heart is turned to the Lord Jesus, that vail of blindness will lift off, and the Light of Christ and His Gospel will shine on them and give them liberty from the Law & the sin it reveals, and embrace only Christ who sets free ( 2 Corinthians 3:13-17). GBU.
Brother Jesse has provided Scriptures to consider on this matter. I could offer Scriptures that would debate these points, but that would not answer your questions. This doctrine originated in 325 A.D. and was expanded over the next 150 years or so. You need to pray and study for your own conscience.
The majority support this doctrine, and some believe it is essential to be a Christian. Jesus is our Lord, and He gave His life to pay the penalty for sin so that we, through Him, can be reconciled to God. The wages of sin are death, Romans 6:23. Jesus' death on the cross paid this price.
Jesus had His own will, but was obedient and did the will of the Father, John 14:31, Luke 22:42, John 5:30, John 17:16, John 12:49.
The Chalcedonian Creed A.D. 451 states, "Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, in confusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of nature's being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved." Does Scripture support this?
God alone possesses immortality, 1 Timothy 6:16. Our faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:12-17. God cannot die. Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are, Hebrews 4:14-16. God cannot be tempted, James 1:13.
The Bible will answer all questions we have if we are ready to receive the answer, Matthew 7:7, James 1:5, with prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit-not man.
If your "battle" is with believing that Jesus is God, may I suggest the following scriptures for your consideration:
Genesis 1:1 along with John 1:1-3, Revelation 19:13, Colossians 1:15-17, Matthew 1:23, John 10:30, John 14:9, Mark 2:5-7, John 8:58, John 20:28, Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:5-7, Colossians 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:8, 2 Peter 1:1, Revelation 1:8, John 5:18, 1 John 5:20, Luke 24:52, John 9:38, Acts 10:25-26, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 22:13, Micah 5:2, John 17:5, John 1:14. There are more, but these should suffice.
You mention that "Christians say that there is no separation between Christ and God," and that the bible shows otherwise. Jesus said I and my Father are one, and He also said that if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. This may not mean anything to you, but in the book of Hebrews, Jesus is described as the APOUGASMA (the out beam) of God's glory, God projecting Himself through the time/space factor in the person of Christ. Jesus Christ, being God, was never separated from the source. This is why Jesus can say if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.
The best example I can give would be taking a flashlight in a dark room and shining it on a wall. The flashlight is the source, and the light is projected on the wall from the source. There is no separation unless the flashlight is turned off. Now, imagine the flashlight being God, and the light shining on the wall is Jesus, again, no separation. Jesus is said to be the true light which came down from heaven, the APOUGASMA of God.
If you are sincerely struggling with the deity of Jesus Christ (Him being God), I hope these scriptures I've provided might help. Also, if you would like, I can share my personal understanding on Matthew 26:39 and Luke 22:42 and why Christ would ask this.
If I may ask, are you a Christian? If so, who do you say Jesus is?
Audience: Israel, under the covenants and promises.
Message: The long-promised kingdom, with Messiah reigning on David's throne, was "at hand."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom"
Matthew 10:5-7 - The Twelve were sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with this gospel.
Luke 22:29-30 - The apostles are promised to sit on twelve thrones judging Israel in that kingdom.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter still offers the kingdom if Israel repents, showing this program was continuing post-cross.
This gospel was prophetic, rooted in promises made "since the world began" ( Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21).
2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul's Gospel)
Audience: Jew and Gentile alike, apart from Israel's covenants.
Message: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sins, offering free justification by faith.
Acts 20:24 - Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God."
Romans 16:25 - This gospel was "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The content: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received it by direct revelation from Christ, not from the Twelve.
This gospel creates the Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6), uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man.
3. Jews Responding to Both Programs
Some Jews believed Peter and the Eleven's message of the kingdom ( Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4). James writes to these scattered tribes ( James 1:1), exhorting them in kingdom-related works and endurance.
Other Jews believed Paul's gospel of grace and became part of the Body ( Rom. 11:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:20-22).
4. Dispensational Distinction
Kingdom Gospel = Israel's prophetic hope on earth.
Grace Gospel = Body of Christ's heavenly hope, revealed through Paul.
Both have Christ as center, but their scope and promises differ.
That could be true however there is a unique difference in the way Christ is presented to Lordship over the Church and Lordship in the Kingdom here on earth.
Christ Lordship is over our hearts without any written articles on tablets.
In the Kingdom Christ is ruling with a rod of iron.
In Revelation 12:5 we see the Israel presented as the woman and her children who shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. Christ.
The Church is never identified as the nations or inhabitants of the earth.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19 seems to fit Christ ruling here on earth with a rod of iron as presented in other scriptures and that is a fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."
Other passages;
Revelation 2:27.
Revelation 19:15.
Isaiah 65:16-25 has much to say about this economy.
This echoes Psalms 2:6-9.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Scripture says the Church shall reign with Christ.
Revelation 20:6.
2 Timothy 2:12.
Revelation 5:10.
Luke 22:28-30.
The reigning is not a present reality but a future hope for believers.
The Old Testament repeatedly promised Israel a literal, earthly kingdom ruled by Messiah from Jerusalem. God covenanted to give Abraham's seed the land forever ( Gen. 13:14-15; 17:8) and swore to David an eternal throne ( 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 89:3-4). Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah described worldwide peace, justice, and worship centered in Jerusalem ( Isa. 2:2-4; 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44; Zech. 14:9,16-17). The Jewish expectation was simple: Messiah would come once, overthrow Gentile powers, restore Israel, and rule immediately-no concept of a second coming or a rapture.
When Jesus came, this expectation shaped all responses. John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" ( Matt. 3:2; 4:17). Crowds hailed "the kingdom of our father David" ( Mark 11:10) and tried to make Him king ( John 6:15). Many "thought that the kingdom should immediately appear" ( Luke 19:11). The disciples expected thrones and rulership ( Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:29-30) and even after the resurrection asked, "Wilt thou restore again the kingdom to Israel?" ( Acts 1:6).
The crucifixion brought deep confusion-"We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel" ( Luke 24:21). Even hearing of His death puzzled them ( John 12:34), since prophecy spoke of Messiah's eternal reign, not His suffering first.
Israel's rejection of Messiah delayed the kingdom. God then revealed through Paul the hidden "mystery" ( Eph. 3:1-9): Jew and Gentile in one Body, a heavenly people awaiting the rapture ( 1 Thess. 4:13-18). The promised earthly kingdom will still come-but only at Christ's second coming ( Rev. 19-20), after the Church is removed and Israel's prophetic program resumes.
For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
( Jeremiah 29:10-12)
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. ( Isaiah 54:8).
These two passages show that during specific time frames God was leaving His influence from His people. The first verse is part of a lengthy section which reinforces the idea that the false prophets predicting a short time of exile and or good news about resisting Nebuchadnezzar and his army was to be ignored and that the 70 years in the land predicted was a done deal as far as God was concerned. We see this pattern as well with 7 years determined for the Tribulation which in this Isaiah passage and also Isaiah 9 which is in today's Bible verse describes in regard to the conditions during His rule and reign over the earth.
We only need to look at the passages in the Gospels regarding God the Father turning away for the brief moment Christ was on the cross to see the hour of darkness which enveloped the earth ( Luke 22:53) and see the parallel with the son of perdition at that time (Judas Iscariot) and the future one during the Tribulation once the Restrainer is removed ( 2 Thess. 2:6-7).
Jeremiah 3:14 states
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:.. This; despite the passage in verse 8 in the same chapter announcing God's divorce from His people due to spiritual adultery; as it were.
God therefore has purposes in His hidden counsel ( Deut. 29:29); but a greater purpose
Thank you! I believe Peter was sincere when he told Jesus he would never deny Him. But Jesus already knew what Peter would do despite what Peter said or convinced himself of. This was something that God planned and ordained for Peter to go through. Peter didn't fail Jesus by denying Him because Jesus already told Peter what he was going to do. This was all part of God's plan and Peter unknowingly followed along perfectly. There was no way that Peter was not going to deny Jesus because God ordained it to happen. Luke 22:31-32 that you shared is a great piece of scripture. Jesus says to Peter "when you are converted," which in the Greek text it is Aorist Tense which shows us that Jesus is not saying (if) you have enough faith to make it through this trial, then I will be able to use you. None of this was based on what Peter did or did not do or if Peter had enough faith or not. Jesus says when you are returned, not if you are returned based on what you do.
In that little phrase "that thy faith fail not," Jesus says 'thy faith," meaning Peter's faith, not the faith that's produced by God's Spirit. We know that God's Spirit had not been given yet. So, all Peter had was human faith. There are other places where Jesus says "O' ye of little faith." It's literally O' ye of no faith. They did not yet have the faith of God because they did not have the Holy Spirit yet.
I like what you said to Brother Ronald that "You can walk away from a fellowship but you can't change identity." How true is that! When applied to our relationship with Christ, we can walk away and break fellowship with Him, be we can never lose our Father/son relationship. That can never be broken!
When Christ was taken all the disciples turned away. The Holyspirit have not been given yet.
Peter is mostly noted because he said he would never do it!
No one wanted to risk death and witness nor was they equipped to do so.
In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus tells Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus reminds them of what he told them in Luke 24:49.
"But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Afterwards Peter taught and preached boldly the rest of his life while knowing his fate.
31Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." ( Luke 22:31-32).
I inadvertently picked up another version here and am not sure if there may be some correct translation inferring everyone being tested based on Zechariah 13:7 which Jesus quotes in Matthew 26:31. Nonetheless; Jesus prophesied Peter's fall and this shows that Satan was allowed to do this testing. He foreknew that he would repent and strengthen the others that ran off afterwards.
Nonetheless he prayed about the issue; and this was the night of his betrayal and trial before execution.
Luke 22:53 gives further ammunition to this idea that darkness or Satan had his hour at that time when Jesus was arrested.
I find some interesting parallels here to the Tribulation; when all saints will be asked to lay their lives down and Satan's reign with the Beast and False Prophet will be allowed by God for a short time to accomplish His purposes. I won't go too far with this concept but it is interesting in light of the support the Body of Christ has in the church today and how it will be absent at that time when people are facing death. Nonetheless; i believe the prayers of the saints at that time will make the process of being overcomers succeed and that in an overwhelming success when we see countless multitudes of souls under the throne in heaven ( Rev. 7:9 which I misquoted as Revelation 9 the other day)
In regard to prayer; this passage shows that Jesus knew all things and Peter's eventual change of heart was included. Nonetheless prayer is an important part of the mix; and so is any interaction between men and God that can only be accomplished by being regenerated. God knows beforehand who will come to Him; this is something Calvanists and Arminians agree on. His purposes involve interaction among the Godhead and men now to accomplish His plan in His time
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ( 1 Timothy 2:5)
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ( Hebrews 7:25)
During the days of Jesus' earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him 10and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. ( Heb. 5:7-10)
In Luke 22:43 we see that an angel from heaven strengthened Christ in Gethsemene; this was so that He wouldn't die before the cross as He was sweating great drops of blood with water at the time due to stress.
It is more than sobering to consider these things; as a man Christ had to "learn" as it were obedience and therefore God exalted Him. This is in regard to ruling and reigning on the earth but certainly it can't be emphasized enough that because of His atonement we can now be seated in heavenly places and Satan is already defeated. We see His sufferings and it is hard to handle the sorrow that it brings knowing that we put Him there and He had to experience separation from God and our sins for He who never knew sin. Therefore; there surely is no excuse for any arrogance on our part or lack of dependence on the Lord as He purchased us from the slave market where we were doomed to hell and we are now adopted sons of God ( Eph. 1:5).
Let us consider several ways He intercedes in regard to prayer. I have already considered our sinful nature and fleshly desires that may confuse our minds when approaching the Lord in prayer. There are also limitations we have as to intellectual unnderstanding of situations around us; and finally we don't know what is best for others of His ways.
Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.
John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.
Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.
Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18-Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.
Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.
Day four, 13th of Nisan, they were in Bethany in Simon the leper's house, and a woman came in and poured precious ointment on Jesus's head, Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9. Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus, Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11. Toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover, Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-15, and Luke 22:7-13.
In Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7, it says that on the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lambs. The Passover lambs are killed on the 14th, Passover day, not on the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th. The Last Supper was at the beginning of Passover day, before the lambs were killed; we must remember that days start at sundown. We also see in John 18:28 that after the Last Supper, when they took Jesus to Pilate, they would not go into the judgment hall because they would be defiled, as they had not eaten the Passover.
When the sun went down on the fourth day, which we call Wednesday, is the beginning of Passover day, the 14th of Nisan, the day Jesus was crucified and the Passover lambs are killed.
The lambs are killed on the 14th in the evening, when the sun begins to go down, any time after noon until it sets. The lambs are eaten the night of the 15th, the first day of the seven-day feast, which is a holy convocation/Sabbath, Exodus 12:6-16, the same night they went out of Egypt, not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion occurred on Passover day, the fifth day since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, marking it as the 5th day of the week we call Thursday. Friday was the 15th, the first day of Unleavened Bread. John called it a high day, John 19:31. The Greek word is megas, meaning great, a feast holy convocation, which resulted in two Sabbaths in a row, Friday and Saturday.
I believe it was Josh McDowell who originally did a study on the death of Christ; along with others who have done medical analysis as to what the crucifixion would have entailed. We have the Shroud of Turin which certainly seems to be the linen that bears Christ's image; explained as to the apparent later date as being material taken as a sample on the outer edges of the garment that were repaired after fire damage in the 1300's.
At present I don't feel it would be edifying or that I am even worthy of doing an analysis of this chapter. The story unfolds in all its graphic detail; fulfilling numerous prophecies; especially poignant to the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. It is said that the spiritual suffering of Christ being separated for that moment from the Father was worse than the physical agony but can't be ignored; certainly. Satan is no half hearted foe as to the level of destruction he brings in this hour of darkness (see Luke 22:53). God allowed him to bring forth the circumstances leading to His death; Jesus still gave up the ghost when the work was done in saying "it is finished" ( John 19:30). Once again when the "restrainer" is removed from the earth ( 2 Thess. 2:6-8) the powers of evil will have full control for a short time ( Daniel 8:24).
Matthew 28-The Resurrection
Jesus of course came back to life early Sunday morning which we celebrate this week. Hallelujia and Maranatha (Lord come soon). It is hard to fathom how I could live until 18 years old and not know the Lord as I have for the last 42 years. The Gospels are clear that even with one raising from the dead wicked people won't believe (as illustrated in the Parable of the rich man in hell). The nation of Israel still largely is blind until the time the Lord has set for Jacob's trouble. Jeremiah 30:7 says: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Luke 22:31-32 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Ugh. Next to the sufferings of Christ on the cross this may be the hardest scripture to take in. Whew.
Other than Job; there are no other accounts where such an event of permission to attack a saint by Satan himself is mentioned; although there are other occasions when clearly deception was given to the false prophets and collateral damage likely ensued with some of the plagues when David sinned that God allowed but the enemy no doubt wouldn't object to to say the least.
This is savage; there are no minced words here. Peter had been warned previously; I believe in Matthew 16:23 how wishing to escape death for the Messiah was a Satanically inspired comment. Now; Peter himself though his own fear and weakness would buckle to the pressure and deny Christ to save his own skin. Now we do observe that all the other Disciples also ran off; but they didn't have the audacity to make such a statement that they were ready to die for Him ( John 13:37).
Jesus knew that eventually he would be "converted" and strengthen his brothers; that looking ahead to Pentecost no doubt. There were further admonitions at that point as to the veracity and strength of Peter's love at that point which prophecy about Peter's own death to come.
We have the hard truth here that apparently Jesus granted Satan's request. John 18:8-9 showed prophetically that for the time being the disciples were not to be arrested and killed based on John 17:12 which had just been said before this. This is the only time I know of that Jesus referred to any New Testament statement as a prophetic fulfillment; but Peter should have known His prayers would be answered; as well as the promises for him to be the rock ( Matt. 16:18) of the church.
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Jesus has come to the end of His earthly mission, the time of His crucifixion has come near, John 13:1. Jesus said, "glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:" Jesus has been obedient to His Father and has finished what He was sent to do, except for the last hours of left in Passover day when He will suffer and die.
The words that Jesus spoke are written in John 13 through John 16; all five chapters were written about while they were in the room where they had the Last Supper. He lifted His eyes to heaven. Jesus was praying to the Father, and the disciples were there. Judas left just before Jesus started this prayer. Jesus is in the upper room just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prays for Himself, his disciples, and all future believers.
His hour had come, as He said in Luke 22:15-16, He desired to eat this Passover before He suffered, but He would not be there to eat it. And in John 12:23, He said the hour had come that He should be glorified. In John 7:33-39, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit that those who believe in Him will receive, but it has not been given yet because Jesus was not yet glorified/resurrected. God glorified Jesus when He raised Jesus from the dead in His glorified body. We will also be raised in a body fashioned like His, Philippians 3:21.
Jesus knew what He would have to endure later that day: death on the cross. In this prayer, we can see Jesus' love for his disciples and his desire for them to remain in faith and purpose. His emotions in this prayer intensified in the garden, as reflected in Matthew 26:38-43 and Luke 22:40-44. All that Jesus did throughout His mission on earth was to glorify God, showing us the importance of glorifying God in all our actions.
Under the assumption that most here are aware that Christ came to earth as fully God; fully man and He died was buried and rose again; and is now seated at the right hand of the Father and will return a second time to rule and reign on earth along with other basic scriptures I wanted to start with some questions that hopefully can be answered with careful inspection into the Word. We don't fully comprehend all things and may never; certainly on this side of eternity.
Question One: How can we wrap our heads around a member of the Godhead coming to earth to die in our place and not only that but the fact that this was predetermined from before the foundation of the world in eternity past to happen? ( Acts 2:23 etc)
Not only that but He Resurrected with the marks on His body and is the only one in heaven who will always be scarred to remind us of what He did for us. He is still God but His appearance is changed; we ask ourselves did His time on earth change Him in any other way? Since God created time we could say that it was as good as done or in some sense had already happened before it did. Such things are too great to understand; surely Christ's sufferings are over but is it something He can forget? For us mere mortals there will be no more suffering and death so maybe it is in His plan to forget also? We certainly can see how serious sin is but for the Creator of all to do this of course is beyond words. For us to understand His request for the cup to be taken from Him ( Luke 22:42) shows that not only that He condescended to be one of us but had to go through all the doubts which other humans have as part of His suffering; although surely He knew the outcome. I can't wrap my head around it. I'll try to get into some of the answers later; spoiler alert it does help us to understand why we must suffer if He had to go through it surely we puny mortals must suffer as well but there is a plan to bring purpose.
AndJudasIscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Satan enter in Judas Iscariot.
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan intoJudassurnamedIscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Because Judas Iscariot hung himself and Satan pushed out his body , there's a possibility that Judas Iscariot went to hell.
Acts 1:17-18
17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Peter ask Jesus who betray you ? Jesus told Peter not to worry about it, just follow me. I believe by reading this verse, Judas Iscariot will be resurrected in the Antichrist, in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ .
John 21:22
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Jesus said that Judas Iscariot shouldn't been born .
Mark 14:21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man ifhehad never beenborn.
Judas Iscariot went to hell .
Acts 1:25
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his ownplace.
May we all believe the gospel of grace, so we don't have to be in the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Why do Jews in the Old Testament and including the four gospels don't talk about Heaven in the Godhead ? ?
The earthly Kingdom will appear again, but the grace age believes in the Body of Christ Jesus will be taken up in the Rapture first.
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look fornewheavens and anewearth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
New Jerusalem will be the new kingdom on earth.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which isnewJerusalem, which cometh down out ofheavenfrom my God: and I will write upon him mynewname.
Jesus Christ will be the New Messiah drinking the cup in New Jerusalem.
Mark 14:25
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in thekingdomof God.
The Twelve Disiples will have there New Jerusalem, the kingdom on earth.
Luke 22:30
That ye may eat and drink at my table in mykingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
My opinion is that it is clear that Jesus ate the passover meal with His disciples (a day earlier as John writes in his gospel). This is what I get from the scrippure. Matthew 26:17-20, Mark 14:13-17, Luke 22:1-13.
The strange thing is that all three call it the first day of the unleaved bread. Luke 22:7, Mark 26:17, Matthew 26:17.
Lets read Matthew 26:17, "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?" and Mark adds " And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover..."
We know that the lambs were killed on the 14th of Nissan and the next day, the 15th, was the first day of the feast of the unleaved bread. So it seems that the evangelists got it wrong? The most probable explanation that I have read is that during Jesus' time that feast became an 8 day feast instead of a seven day feast (as God commanded to Israelites in Egypt) and the 14th of Nissan was also included in the feast. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who wtote about the Jewish revolution against Romans in 70AD and who lived in Jerusalem during all those events writes in his history "Whence it is, that, in memory of the want we were then in, we keep a feast for EIGHT days; which is called the feast of Unleavened-bread", Antiquities of Jews, Book II, chapter 15, paragraph 1. So it seems that during Jesus' time the 14th of Nissan was included in the feast so it became an 8 day feast.
Another change that was made untill Jesus time is that although God commanded that the lambs must be killed after the sunset (so on the 15th of Nissan) as Deuteronomy 16:6 says, "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun (15th of Nissan), at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt." that was changed later on.
As we see in Matthew 26:17 and Mark 14:10, they say when they kill the Passover (lamb). Luke 22:7 also says when the Passover must be killed. This is on Passover day, the 14th when they killed the lambs. The 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is the Sabbath, not the 14th. The 14th is a preparation day, just like a Friday is for the weekly Saturday.
There are no restrictions on the 14th, Passover Day, the day Jesus was crucified, Joesph could buy or prepare whatever he wanted, before sunset that day. That is why we see they wanted to get Jesus in the tomb before sunset because the next day is the first day of Unleavened Bread is a holy convocation/Sabbath day
In Luke 22:15 Jesus is telling them He desired to eat this Passover, but in the next verse, He says He will not eat it anymore. He said this because He knew He would be crucified that same day, the 14th Passover Day. He would be dead and placed in the tomb before they ate the Passover the next night.
On the 14th, the Lord's Supper, the garden, the arrest, the high priest, Pilate, was crucified, and He died at 3 PM, about 3-4 hours before sunset. The Passover Lambs were killed at even, which would be the afternoon when the sun was going down. Jesus was placed in the tomb before sunset and after sunset, it was the 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, this is when they ate the Passover meal.
Only the priests could catch the blood of the Passover lambs and put it on the altar and the Levites would clean the lambs. In the morning after the Last Supper, the priests took Jesus to Pilate they would not go in, John 18:28 they would be defiled and could not catch the blood of the lambs that would be killed later that day the same day Jesus was crucified, the 14th Passover day.
Mark 14:12, "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?:
Matthew 26:17 agrres to that. Similarly Luke 22:7, "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat."
So the meaning of Luke 22:15 is that Jesus actually ate the passover meal with his disciples.
Now we know from Exodus 12:1-11, that the lambs were sacrificed in the evening of the 14th of Nisan and immediately after when it got dark and the 15th of Nisan started, according to how the Israelites were considering their days and nights, they ate the passover meal. Exodus 12:11, "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover."
But John disagrees to them. He places the Passover one day later. John 18:28, "Then led they (the Pharisses) Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover."
Having in mind that John wrote his gospel last of all, actually as the tradition says many decades after the first three evangelists, when he was in his 80's or 90's, and knew what they had written in their gospels, his story seems to be the right one. So it seems that Jesus ate the passover meal with His apostles one day earlier, probably because He knew that he would be in the tomb the day of the passover. If we see some details in the gospels of the first three, we get the same conclusion. Example: Mark 12:45, "And he BOUGHT fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."
I want to compare Passover to Jesus' Last Supper, as they are distinct events with significant meanings. Passover, as outlined in Exodus 12, involves the Israelites roasting whole lambs, and eating them with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were instructed to eat in haste, ready to leave Egypt, establishing a lasting ordinance for future generations.
Matzah, or unleavened bread, symbolizes the swift departure from Egypt, while bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery. Passover lambs were sacrificed on the 14th and eaten on the night of the 15th. This is why the disciples were at the temple sacrificing lambs instead of being present at the cross when Jesus died.
In Luke 22:15, it is made clear that the Last Supper, the Lord's Supper, was not a Passover meal. Jesus mentioned He would not eat the Passover with His disciples, and the Last Supper occurred on the 14th before the sacrificial lambs were killed. Jesus was crucified later that day; the Passover meal is eaten on the 15th Jesus was in the tomb when the Passover meal was eaten.
During the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples were reclining, not standing with staffs. After their meal, Jesus instituted the new covenant, which commemorates His death for us, rather than being a Passover observance.
Jesus Christ fulfills the Passover, with every instruction pointing to Him and the New Covenant. Just as the Israelites were protected by the blood on their doorposts, we receive life through Jesus' blood. The lamb without blemish symbolizes His perfect, sinless life. The 14th of Nisan, the day of Jesus' crucifixion, is also when the Passover lambs were sacrificed, illustrating the completeness of His sacrifice.
The wine and bread symbolize His body and blood, sacrificed for us, as Jesus fulfills Passover, becoming the final sacrifice that leads us from death to eternal life.
I hope this makes sense, just my understanding. Thank you, brother, for continuing your work,
You mentioned that the early Christians participated in communion by sitting in tables eating like Jesus and the apostles did at the last supper. You have probably seen paintings of The Last Supper as most of us have. If you notice in the painting, they are all sitting on one side of the table looking towards the artist.
That's the vision we get when we think of The Last Supper. But it looked nothing like that. They did not have chairs so the were not sitting. What they did was they reclined at the table. This table had no legs, just a large piece of wood that sat on the floor. But they were not all on the same side of the table. The way they would do it is that they would have the guest of honor (In this case, Jesus), and then it would go from oldest to youngest, the oldest to the right (behind Jesus), and then it would go around the table in order all the way to the youngest which would have been John, directly in front of Jesus.
What they would do is they would put their right arm up on the table and they would actually be reclining. They would actually be laying down with their feet in the back and they would be reaching over and eating with one hand. That's why some find it strange that the one whom Jesus loves is resting on His chest. But that is because he is leaning back onto Jesus, and there is a conversation going on between Jesus and John about what's happening around the table.
One last thing that I find interesting is in Luke 22:15, it is not "the" Passover but "this" Passover. It will be the last Passover. The Messianic Jews to this day hold that Passover meals, now each year, is only a remembrance that this Passover meal is the last Passover meal until Christ comes, very interesting!
Sorry for being long winded. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. And may the Lord continue to give you a hunger for His word. God Bless!!!
Hi Ltrchlasl. Thank you for your question. I would refer you to Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:24,25 (you can hover your mouse pointer over these references to read them fully, or touch them on your phone to read them). So yes, the Lord's Supper (Communion) is observed purely in remembrance of what our Lord Jesus did for us by coming to Earth, laying down His Life in our stead, & rising up from the dead & entering Heaven to be with His Father.
And if you have been following this thread, discussion has come up as to whether the bread & wine we see on the Communion Table only remain as physically bread & wine, or do they, in a mystical way, transform into the actual Body & Blood of our Lord. My understanding of the Scriptures associated with this solemn, yet joyful ceremony, is that what we see on the table before us, do not change at all in their material composition, hence only remain as emblems (or, symbols, tokens) of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Please read these Gospel & the apostle Paul's accounts more fully to understand for yourself, with the Spirit's Help, to what Jesus intended for His disciples and us to understand from this act of fellowship with Him.
Thanks, brother. I hope all is well. I'm unsure about the Year of Jubilee; it might be worth looking into since we know it was a reason for the Babylonian exile.
In my opinion, what makes this topic challenging is that during the time of Christ, the Jews referred to the festival as 8 days by two different names: the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This distinction can be seen in Matthew 26:17 and Luke 22:1, while Mark 14:12 mentions the first day of Unleavened Bread as the time when they killed the Passover lamb.
Today, we see all eight days on the calendar referred to as Passover. However, this is not how it was originally structured. Passover day is the 14th, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed, and it is also the day Jesus was crucified. This day is not a Sabbath or holy convocation or a feast; rather, it is a preparation day for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which runs from the 15th to the 21st. The first and last days of this feast are designated Sabbaths, as noted in Exodus 12:16.
The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath that John mentioned. Jesus had to be placed in the tomb before sunset on Thursday, which was Passover day. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th (Friday), is referred to by John as a "high day" or "high Sabbath." Consequently, both Friday and Saturday were considered Sabbaths.
Not sure why the Sabbath is plural, but Scripture is clear there were two Sabbaths, Friday the first day of Unleavened Bread, and Saturday, an annual Sabbath, and a weekly Sabbath.
Thank you for the post. My answer to your question is yes. I do believe Jesus was speaking figuratively at the last supper. Did Jesus give His literal blood and flesh to them to eat and drink? I have to say no. As far as the bread and wine becoming the flesh and blood of Jesus "by faith," as you mentioned, one would have to be fully persuaded (faith) that these elements are indeed His literal body and blood. I do come to that conclusion.
You're referring to 1 Corinthians Chapter 11, specifically Verse 29 which reads, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
It doesn't say anything about them having a sin. It says if they do it unworthily. It was the manner in which they were participating. When they took the bread and drank the cup, they were not discerning that these elements represented the Lord's body. They were eating it like it was a meal.
Jesus set it up so that when we take the bread or drink the cup, He said do this in remembrance of me. When we participate in communion, we are doing it to remember what Christ has done for us, that He was crucified for us, that He gave His body and He gave His blood at the cross, not at the last supper.
In Luke 22:19, Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it and gives it to them and says, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
From a Hebrew perspective, that little phrase "This is my body" is a very typical Hebrew metaphorical usage of using your body. He's not saying that the bread became His body. He says this is to be done in remembrance of what I've done for you. If you believe that the elements taken in communion are the literal body and blood of Jesus, then I suppose we are in disagreement on this one my brother.
I read the article you shared and would like to clarify a few points regarding the Passover. According to Luke 22:15-16, Jesus wanted to eat the Passover with His disciples before He suffered, but He did not partake in it He knew He would die at the same time as the Passover lambs, so He would not be there on the 15th.
In Exodus 12, we see that lambs were killed on the 14th of Nisan, known as Passover Day, which is also a preparation day for the 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread that begins on the 15th. The Passover meal was consumed on the night of the 15th.
John 18:28 shows that on the 14th, the same day Jesus had the Last Supper in the morning the priests would not enter the judgment hall because they would be defiled and could not catch the blood of the Passover lambs and pour it into the altar or eat the Passover if they were defiled.
The article's author is mistaken in claiming that Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover on Tuesday, as Scripture does not support this.
In summary, the 14th of Nisan is Passover Day and a preparation day for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins on the 15th. The lambs were killed in the evening of the 14th any time after the sun started to go down.
Scripture is clear there were 5 days from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem to when He was crucified, the Scriptures should show if studied in my other post. He rode in on the first day of the week and He was crucified on the fifth day of the week this is what the Scripture tells us.
1 Corinthians 12:13-"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body"-describes the Spirit's operation in this present dispensation of grace, placing believers into the Body of Christ. This is a new creation ( 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 2:15), revealed through Paul as "the revelation of the mystery" ( Eph 3:1-9). It identifies the forming of a joint body of believing Jew and Gentile, apart from Israel's covenant program and apart from water baptism.
The Twelve were called under Israel's prophetic kingdom program ( Matt 19:28; Luke 22:29-30). They were promised positions of authority "judging the twelve tribes of Israel," not membership in the Body of Christ destined for heavenly places ( Eph 1:3; Phil 3:20). Their baptism ( Acts 2:38; Matt 28:19) related to repentance and the kingdom gospel, not Spirit placement into the one Body later revealed through Paul.
Therefore, 1 Cor 12:13 is not retroactively moving the kingdom apostles into a new organism but defining how God now works in this dispensation. The "we all" refers to those who have believed Paul's gospel ( 1 Cor 15:1-4)-whether Jew or Gentile-since the revelation of the mystery. The Twelve remain part of Israel's prophetic calling; the Body of Christ is a distinct, heavenly people formed afterward by the Spirit through Paul's ministry ( 1 Tim 1:16).
G&P
So if your question was to the first part of my thoughts, then Scriptures such as Luke 6:13, Matthew 10:2, Mark 6:30, Luke 22:14, and others show to me that these disciples (Gk. learner, pupil) also named apostles (Gk. messenger, one sent out), though dear to the Heart of the Lord, were by no means a part of the Body of Christ (as we understand this Body that was later formed, Romans 12:5). While they remained & served under the Old Covenant they were simply a motley group of individuals, specially selected by Jesus to learn, to experience the Son of God first-hand, and to increase in faith and love, so that when they would be transformed & "endued with power from on high", they would be the very first 'founding members' upon which the Church (the Body of Christ) would be built upon ( Ephesians 2:20).
In summary, under the Old Covenant, though called 'apostles', these men were not "included in the Body of Christ". But when the New Covenant in Christ's Blood was ushered in and all who came in faith trusting in that Sacrifice wholly for salvation, those apostles were indeed the very first to be included into Christ's Body, the Church; and upon which we stand today, or ought to stand, without any reference to the Old Covenants, Laws, and ceremonial requirements, which ended at the Cross ( Romans 10:4,5). Thus apostolic teaching remains very relevant to us now and does our Lord's; when these are altered, as some 'churches' have done, devising their own doctrines, they declare that the apostles are irrelevant even denying their Lord. GBU.
Yet, the vail, till today, continues to cover their eyes as they read the Old Testament, chained to the Old Covenant. But when the heart is turned to the Lord Jesus, that vail of blindness will lift off, and the Light of Christ and His Gospel will shine on them and give them liberty from the Law & the sin it reveals, and embrace only Christ who sets free ( 2 Corinthians 3:13-17). GBU.
Brother Jesse has provided Scriptures to consider on this matter. I could offer Scriptures that would debate these points, but that would not answer your questions. This doctrine originated in 325 A.D. and was expanded over the next 150 years or so. You need to pray and study for your own conscience.
The majority support this doctrine, and some believe it is essential to be a Christian. Jesus is our Lord, and He gave His life to pay the penalty for sin so that we, through Him, can be reconciled to God. The wages of sin are death, Romans 6:23. Jesus' death on the cross paid this price.
Jesus had His own will, but was obedient and did the will of the Father, John 14:31, Luke 22:42, John 5:30, John 17:16, John 12:49.
The Chalcedonian Creed A.D. 451 states, "Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, in confusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of nature's being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved." Does Scripture support this?
God alone possesses immortality, 1 Timothy 6:16. Our faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:12-17. God cannot die. Jesus was tempted in the same ways we are, Hebrews 4:14-16. God cannot be tempted, James 1:13.
The Bible will answer all questions we have if we are ready to receive the answer, Matthew 7:7, James 1:5, with prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit-not man.
God bless your study,
RLW
If your "battle" is with believing that Jesus is God, may I suggest the following scriptures for your consideration:
Genesis 1:1 along with John 1:1-3, Revelation 19:13, Colossians 1:15-17, Matthew 1:23, John 10:30, John 14:9, Mark 2:5-7, John 8:58, John 20:28, Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:5-7, Colossians 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:8, 2 Peter 1:1, Revelation 1:8, John 5:18, 1 John 5:20, Luke 24:52, John 9:38, Acts 10:25-26, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 22:13, Micah 5:2, John 17:5, John 1:14. There are more, but these should suffice.
You mention that "Christians say that there is no separation between Christ and God," and that the bible shows otherwise. Jesus said I and my Father are one, and He also said that if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. This may not mean anything to you, but in the book of Hebrews, Jesus is described as the APOUGASMA (the out beam) of God's glory, God projecting Himself through the time/space factor in the person of Christ. Jesus Christ, being God, was never separated from the source. This is why Jesus can say if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.
The best example I can give would be taking a flashlight in a dark room and shining it on a wall. The flashlight is the source, and the light is projected on the wall from the source. There is no separation unless the flashlight is turned off. Now, imagine the flashlight being God, and the light shining on the wall is Jesus, again, no separation. Jesus is said to be the true light which came down from heaven, the APOUGASMA of God.
If you are sincerely struggling with the deity of Jesus Christ (Him being God), I hope these scriptures I've provided might help. Also, if you would like, I can share my personal understanding on Matthew 26:39 and Luke 22:42 and why Christ would ask this.
If I may ask, are you a Christian? If so, who do you say Jesus is?
Here's a more detailed breakdown for you.
. The Gospel of the Kingdom
Audience: Israel, under the covenants and promises.
Message: The long-promised kingdom, with Messiah reigning on David's throne, was "at hand."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom"
Matthew 10:5-7 - The Twelve were sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with this gospel.
Luke 22:29-30 - The apostles are promised to sit on twelve thrones judging Israel in that kingdom.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter still offers the kingdom if Israel repents, showing this program was continuing post-cross.
This gospel was prophetic, rooted in promises made "since the world began" ( Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21).
2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul's Gospel)
Audience: Jew and Gentile alike, apart from Israel's covenants.
Message: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sins, offering free justification by faith.
Acts 20:24 - Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God."
Romans 16:25 - This gospel was "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The content: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received it by direct revelation from Christ, not from the Twelve.
This gospel creates the Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6), uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man.
3. Jews Responding to Both Programs
Some Jews believed Peter and the Eleven's message of the kingdom ( Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4). James writes to these scattered tribes ( James 1:1), exhorting them in kingdom-related works and endurance.
Other Jews believed Paul's gospel of grace and became part of the Body ( Rom. 11:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:20-22).
4. Dispensational Distinction
Kingdom Gospel = Israel's prophetic hope on earth.
Grace Gospel = Body of Christ's heavenly hope, revealed through Paul.
Both have Christ as center, but their scope and promises differ.
see pg2
That could be true however there is a unique difference in the way Christ is presented to Lordship over the Church and Lordship in the Kingdom here on earth.
Christ Lordship is over our hearts without any written articles on tablets.
In the Kingdom Christ is ruling with a rod of iron.
In Revelation 12:5 we see the Israel presented as the woman and her children who shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. Christ.
The Church is never identified as the nations or inhabitants of the earth.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19 seems to fit Christ ruling here on earth with a rod of iron as presented in other scriptures and that is a fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."
Other passages;
Revelation 2:27.
Revelation 19:15.
Isaiah 65:16-25 has much to say about this economy.
This echoes Psalms 2:6-9.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Scripture says the Church shall reign with Christ.
Revelation 20:6.
2 Timothy 2:12.
Revelation 5:10.
Luke 22:28-30.
The reigning is not a present reality but a future hope for believers.
Blessings.
This is my understanding on the matter.
The Old Testament repeatedly promised Israel a literal, earthly kingdom ruled by Messiah from Jerusalem. God covenanted to give Abraham's seed the land forever ( Gen. 13:14-15; 17:8) and swore to David an eternal throne ( 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 89:3-4). Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah described worldwide peace, justice, and worship centered in Jerusalem ( Isa. 2:2-4; 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44; Zech. 14:9,16-17). The Jewish expectation was simple: Messiah would come once, overthrow Gentile powers, restore Israel, and rule immediately-no concept of a second coming or a rapture.
When Jesus came, this expectation shaped all responses. John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" ( Matt. 3:2; 4:17). Crowds hailed "the kingdom of our father David" ( Mark 11:10) and tried to make Him king ( John 6:15). Many "thought that the kingdom should immediately appear" ( Luke 19:11). The disciples expected thrones and rulership ( Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:29-30) and even after the resurrection asked, "Wilt thou restore again the kingdom to Israel?" ( Acts 1:6).
The crucifixion brought deep confusion-"We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel" ( Luke 24:21). Even hearing of His death puzzled them ( John 12:34), since prophecy spoke of Messiah's eternal reign, not His suffering first.
Israel's rejection of Messiah delayed the kingdom. God then revealed through Paul the hidden "mystery" ( Eph. 3:1-9): Jew and Gentile in one Body, a heavenly people awaiting the rapture ( 1 Thess. 4:13-18). The promised earthly kingdom will still come-but only at Christ's second coming ( Rev. 19-20), after the Church is removed and Israel's prophetic program resumes.
Blessings to all.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
( Jeremiah 29:10-12)
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. ( Isaiah 54:8).
These two passages show that during specific time frames God was leaving His influence from His people. The first verse is part of a lengthy section which reinforces the idea that the false prophets predicting a short time of exile and or good news about resisting Nebuchadnezzar and his army was to be ignored and that the 70 years in the land predicted was a done deal as far as God was concerned. We see this pattern as well with 7 years determined for the Tribulation which in this Isaiah passage and also Isaiah 9 which is in today's Bible verse describes in regard to the conditions during His rule and reign over the earth.
We only need to look at the passages in the Gospels regarding God the Father turning away for the brief moment Christ was on the cross to see the hour of darkness which enveloped the earth ( Luke 22:53) and see the parallel with the son of perdition at that time (Judas Iscariot) and the future one during the Tribulation once the Restrainer is removed ( 2 Thess. 2:6-7).
Jeremiah 3:14 states
14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:.. This; despite the passage in verse 8 in the same chapter announcing God's divorce from His people due to spiritual adultery; as it were.
God therefore has purposes in His hidden counsel ( Deut. 29:29); but a greater purpose
Thank you! I believe Peter was sincere when he told Jesus he would never deny Him. But Jesus already knew what Peter would do despite what Peter said or convinced himself of. This was something that God planned and ordained for Peter to go through. Peter didn't fail Jesus by denying Him because Jesus already told Peter what he was going to do. This was all part of God's plan and Peter unknowingly followed along perfectly. There was no way that Peter was not going to deny Jesus because God ordained it to happen. Luke 22:31-32 that you shared is a great piece of scripture. Jesus says to Peter "when you are converted," which in the Greek text it is Aorist Tense which shows us that Jesus is not saying (if) you have enough faith to make it through this trial, then I will be able to use you. None of this was based on what Peter did or did not do or if Peter had enough faith or not. Jesus says when you are returned, not if you are returned based on what you do.
In that little phrase "that thy faith fail not," Jesus says 'thy faith," meaning Peter's faith, not the faith that's produced by God's Spirit. We know that God's Spirit had not been given yet. So, all Peter had was human faith. There are other places where Jesus says "O' ye of little faith." It's literally O' ye of no faith. They did not yet have the faith of God because they did not have the Holy Spirit yet.
I like what you said to Brother Ronald that "You can walk away from a fellowship but you can't change identity." How true is that! When applied to our relationship with Christ, we can walk away and break fellowship with Him, be we can never lose our Father/son relationship. That can never be broken!
God Bless!!!
When Christ was taken all the disciples turned away. The Holyspirit have not been given yet.
Peter is mostly noted because he said he would never do it!
No one wanted to risk death and witness nor was they equipped to do so.
In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus tells Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus reminds them of what he told them in Luke 24:49.
"But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Afterwards Peter taught and preached boldly the rest of his life while knowing his fate.
John 21:18-19.
Blessings!
I inadvertently picked up another version here and am not sure if there may be some correct translation inferring everyone being tested based on Zechariah 13:7 which Jesus quotes in Matthew 26:31. Nonetheless; Jesus prophesied Peter's fall and this shows that Satan was allowed to do this testing. He foreknew that he would repent and strengthen the others that ran off afterwards.
Nonetheless he prayed about the issue; and this was the night of his betrayal and trial before execution.
Luke 22:53 gives further ammunition to this idea that darkness or Satan had his hour at that time when Jesus was arrested.
I find some interesting parallels here to the Tribulation; when all saints will be asked to lay their lives down and Satan's reign with the Beast and False Prophet will be allowed by God for a short time to accomplish His purposes. I won't go too far with this concept but it is interesting in light of the support the Body of Christ has in the church today and how it will be absent at that time when people are facing death. Nonetheless; i believe the prayers of the saints at that time will make the process of being overcomers succeed and that in an overwhelming success when we see countless multitudes of souls under the throne in heaven ( Rev. 7:9 which I misquoted as Revelation 9 the other day)
In regard to prayer; this passage shows that Jesus knew all things and Peter's eventual change of heart was included. Nonetheless prayer is an important part of the mix; and so is any interaction between men and God that can only be accomplished by being regenerated. God knows beforehand who will come to Him; this is something Calvanists and Arminians agree on. His purposes involve interaction among the Godhead and men now to accomplish His plan in His time
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ( Hebrews 7:25)
During the days of Jesus' earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him 10and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. ( Heb. 5:7-10)
In Luke 22:43 we see that an angel from heaven strengthened Christ in Gethsemene; this was so that He wouldn't die before the cross as He was sweating great drops of blood with water at the time due to stress.
It is more than sobering to consider these things; as a man Christ had to "learn" as it were obedience and therefore God exalted Him. This is in regard to ruling and reigning on the earth but certainly it can't be emphasized enough that because of His atonement we can now be seated in heavenly places and Satan is already defeated. We see His sufferings and it is hard to handle the sorrow that it brings knowing that we put Him there and He had to experience separation from God and our sins for He who never knew sin. Therefore; there surely is no excuse for any arrogance on our part or lack of dependence on the Lord as He purchased us from the slave market where we were doomed to hell and we are now adopted sons of God ( Eph. 1:5).
Let us consider several ways He intercedes in regard to prayer. I have already considered our sinful nature and fleshly desires that may confuse our minds when approaching the Lord in prayer. There are also limitations we have as to intellectual unnderstanding of situations around us; and finally we don't know what is best for others of His ways.
Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.
John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.
Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.
Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18- Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.
Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.
See part 2
Part 2
Day four, 13th of Nisan, they were in Bethany in Simon the leper's house, and a woman came in and poured precious ointment on Jesus's head, Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9. Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus, Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11. Toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover, Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-15, and Luke 22:7-13.
In Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7, it says that on the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lambs. The Passover lambs are killed on the 14th, Passover day, not on the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th. The Last Supper was at the beginning of Passover day, before the lambs were killed; we must remember that days start at sundown. We also see in John 18:28 that after the Last Supper, when they took Jesus to Pilate, they would not go into the judgment hall because they would be defiled, as they had not eaten the Passover.
When the sun went down on the fourth day, which we call Wednesday, is the beginning of Passover day, the 14th of Nisan, the day Jesus was crucified and the Passover lambs are killed.
The lambs are killed on the 14th in the evening, when the sun begins to go down, any time after noon until it sets. The lambs are eaten the night of the 15th, the first day of the seven-day feast, which is a holy convocation/Sabbath, Exodus 12:6-16, the same night they went out of Egypt, not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion occurred on Passover day, the fifth day since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, marking it as the 5th day of the week we call Thursday. Friday was the 15th, the first day of Unleavened Bread. John called it a high day, John 19:31. The Greek word is megas, meaning great, a feast holy convocation, which resulted in two Sabbaths in a row, Friday and Saturday.
God bless,
RLW
I believe it was Josh McDowell who originally did a study on the death of Christ; along with others who have done medical analysis as to what the crucifixion would have entailed. We have the Shroud of Turin which certainly seems to be the linen that bears Christ's image; explained as to the apparent later date as being material taken as a sample on the outer edges of the garment that were repaired after fire damage in the 1300's.
At present I don't feel it would be edifying or that I am even worthy of doing an analysis of this chapter. The story unfolds in all its graphic detail; fulfilling numerous prophecies; especially poignant to the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. It is said that the spiritual suffering of Christ being separated for that moment from the Father was worse than the physical agony but can't be ignored; certainly. Satan is no half hearted foe as to the level of destruction he brings in this hour of darkness (see Luke 22:53). God allowed him to bring forth the circumstances leading to His death; Jesus still gave up the ghost when the work was done in saying "it is finished" ( John 19:30). Once again when the "restrainer" is removed from the earth ( 2 Thess. 2:6-8) the powers of evil will have full control for a short time ( Daniel 8:24).
Matthew 28-The Resurrection
Jesus of course came back to life early Sunday morning which we celebrate this week. Hallelujia and Maranatha (Lord come soon). It is hard to fathom how I could live until 18 years old and not know the Lord as I have for the last 42 years. The Gospels are clear that even with one raising from the dead wicked people won't believe (as illustrated in the Parable of the rich man in hell). The nation of Israel still largely is blind until the time the Lord has set for Jacob's trouble. Jeremiah 30:7 says: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Luke 22:31-32 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Ugh. Next to the sufferings of Christ on the cross this may be the hardest scripture to take in. Whew.
Other than Job; there are no other accounts where such an event of permission to attack a saint by Satan himself is mentioned; although there are other occasions when clearly deception was given to the false prophets and collateral damage likely ensued with some of the plagues when David sinned that God allowed but the enemy no doubt wouldn't object to to say the least.
This is savage; there are no minced words here. Peter had been warned previously; I believe in Matthew 16:23 how wishing to escape death for the Messiah was a Satanically inspired comment. Now; Peter himself though his own fear and weakness would buckle to the pressure and deny Christ to save his own skin. Now we do observe that all the other Disciples also ran off; but they didn't have the audacity to make such a statement that they were ready to die for Him ( John 13:37).
Jesus knew that eventually he would be "converted" and strengthen his brothers; that looking ahead to Pentecost no doubt. There were further admonitions at that point as to the veracity and strength of Peter's love at that point which prophecy about Peter's own death to come.
We have the hard truth here that apparently Jesus granted Satan's request. John 18:8-9 showed prophetically that for the time being the disciples were not to be arrested and killed based on John 17:12 which had just been said before this. This is the only time I know of that Jesus referred to any New Testament statement as a prophetic fulfillment; but Peter should have known His prayers would be answered; as well as the promises for him to be the rock ( Matt. 16:18) of the church.
Part 1
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Jesus has come to the end of His earthly mission, the time of His crucifixion has come near, John 13:1. Jesus said, "glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:" Jesus has been obedient to His Father and has finished what He was sent to do, except for the last hours of left in Passover day when He will suffer and die.
The words that Jesus spoke are written in John 13 through John 16; all five chapters were written about while they were in the room where they had the Last Supper. He lifted His eyes to heaven. Jesus was praying to the Father, and the disciples were there. Judas left just before Jesus started this prayer. Jesus is in the upper room just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prays for Himself, his disciples, and all future believers.
His hour had come, as He said in Luke 22:15-16, He desired to eat this Passover before He suffered, but He would not be there to eat it. And in John 12:23, He said the hour had come that He should be glorified. In John 7:33-39, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit that those who believe in Him will receive, but it has not been given yet because Jesus was not yet glorified/resurrected. God glorified Jesus when He raised Jesus from the dead in His glorified body. We will also be raised in a body fashioned like His, Philippians 3:21.
Jesus knew what He would have to endure later that day: death on the cross. In this prayer, we can see Jesus' love for his disciples and his desire for them to remain in faith and purpose. His emotions in this prayer intensified in the garden, as reflected in Matthew 26:38-43 and Luke 22:40-44. All that Jesus did throughout His mission on earth was to glorify God, showing us the importance of glorifying God in all our actions.
See part 2
Under the assumption that most here are aware that Christ came to earth as fully God; fully man and He died was buried and rose again; and is now seated at the right hand of the Father and will return a second time to rule and reign on earth along with other basic scriptures I wanted to start with some questions that hopefully can be answered with careful inspection into the Word. We don't fully comprehend all things and may never; certainly on this side of eternity.
Question One: How can we wrap our heads around a member of the Godhead coming to earth to die in our place and not only that but the fact that this was predetermined from before the foundation of the world in eternity past to happen? ( Acts 2:23 etc)
Not only that but He Resurrected with the marks on His body and is the only one in heaven who will always be scarred to remind us of what He did for us. He is still God but His appearance is changed; we ask ourselves did His time on earth change Him in any other way? Since God created time we could say that it was as good as done or in some sense had already happened before it did. Such things are too great to understand; surely Christ's sufferings are over but is it something He can forget? For us mere mortals there will be no more suffering and death so maybe it is in His plan to forget also? We certainly can see how serious sin is but for the Creator of all to do this of course is beyond words. For us to understand His request for the cup to be taken from Him ( Luke 22:42) shows that not only that He condescended to be one of us but had to go through all the doubts which other humans have as part of His suffering; although surely He knew the outcome. I can't wrap my head around it. I'll try to get into some of the answers later; spoiler alert it does help us to understand why we must suffer if He had to go through it surely we puny mortals must suffer as well but there is a plan to bring purpose.
Judas Iscariot met with the chief priests.
Mark 14:10
AndJudasIscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Satan enter in Judas Iscariot.
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan intoJudassurnamedIscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Because Judas Iscariot hung himself and Satan pushed out his body , there's a possibility that Judas Iscariot went to hell.
Acts 1:17-18
17For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Peter ask Jesus who betray you ? Jesus told Peter not to worry about it, just follow me. I believe by reading this verse, Judas Iscariot will be resurrected in the Antichrist, in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ .
John 21:22
22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Jesus said that Judas Iscariot shouldn't been born .
Mark 14:21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man ifhehad never beenborn.
Judas Iscariot went to hell .
Acts 1:25
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his ownplace.
May we all believe the gospel of grace, so we don't have to be in the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
The earthly Kingdom will appear again, but the grace age believes in the Body of Christ Jesus will be taken up in the Rapture first.
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look fornewheavens and anewearth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
New Jerusalem will be the new kingdom on earth.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which isnewJerusalem, which cometh down out ofheavenfrom my God: and I will write upon him mynewname.
Jesus Christ will be the New Messiah drinking the cup in New Jerusalem.
Mark 14:25
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in thekingdomof God.
The Twelve Disiples will have there New Jerusalem, the kingdom on earth.
Luke 22:30
That ye may eat and drink at my table in mykingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Kingdom of Heaven on earth will appear again.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
My opinion is that it is clear that Jesus ate the passover meal with His disciples (a day earlier as John writes in his gospel). This is what I get from the scrippure. Matthew 26:17-20, Mark 14:13-17, Luke 22:1-13.
The strange thing is that all three call it the first day of the unleaved bread. Luke 22:7, Mark 26:17, Matthew 26:17.
Lets read Matthew 26:17, "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?" and Mark adds " And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover..."
We know that the lambs were killed on the 14th of Nissan and the next day, the 15th, was the first day of the feast of the unleaved bread. So it seems that the evangelists got it wrong? The most probable explanation that I have read is that during Jesus' time that feast became an 8 day feast instead of a seven day feast (as God commanded to Israelites in Egypt) and the 14th of Nissan was also included in the feast. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who wtote about the Jewish revolution against Romans in 70AD and who lived in Jerusalem during all those events writes in his history "Whence it is, that, in memory of the want we were then in, we keep a feast for EIGHT days; which is called the feast of Unleavened-bread", Antiquities of Jews, Book II, chapter 15, paragraph 1. So it seems that during Jesus' time the 14th of Nissan was included in the feast so it became an 8 day feast.
Another change that was made untill Jesus time is that although God commanded that the lambs must be killed after the sunset (so on the 15th of Nissan) as Deuteronomy 16:6 says, "But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun (15th of Nissan), at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt." that was changed later on.
Part 1
As we see in Matthew 26:17 and Mark 14:10, they say when they kill the Passover (lamb). Luke 22:7 also says when the Passover must be killed. This is on Passover day, the 14th when they killed the lambs. The 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is the Sabbath, not the 14th. The 14th is a preparation day, just like a Friday is for the weekly Saturday.
There are no restrictions on the 14th, Passover Day, the day Jesus was crucified, Joesph could buy or prepare whatever he wanted, before sunset that day. That is why we see they wanted to get Jesus in the tomb before sunset because the next day is the first day of Unleavened Bread is a holy convocation/Sabbath day
In Luke 22:15 Jesus is telling them He desired to eat this Passover, but in the next verse, He says He will not eat it anymore. He said this because He knew He would be crucified that same day, the 14th Passover Day. He would be dead and placed in the tomb before they ate the Passover the next night.
On the 14th, the Lord's Supper, the garden, the arrest, the high priest, Pilate, was crucified, and He died at 3 PM, about 3-4 hours before sunset. The Passover Lambs were killed at even, which would be the afternoon when the sun was going down. Jesus was placed in the tomb before sunset and after sunset, it was the 15th, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, this is when they ate the Passover meal.
Only the priests could catch the blood of the Passover lambs and put it on the altar and the Levites would clean the lambs. In the morning after the Last Supper, the priests took Jesus to Pilate they would not go in, John 18:28 they would be defiled and could not catch the blood of the lambs that would be killed later that day the same day Jesus was crucified, the 14th Passover day.
I hope this makes sense and not too repetitive.
See part 2
May I share my thoughts on what you posted?
Mark 14:12, "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?:
Matthew 26:17 agrres to that. Similarly Luke 22:7, "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat."
So the meaning of Luke 22:15 is that Jesus actually ate the passover meal with his disciples.
Now we know from Exodus 12:1-11, that the lambs were sacrificed in the evening of the 14th of Nisan and immediately after when it got dark and the 15th of Nisan started, according to how the Israelites were considering their days and nights, they ate the passover meal. Exodus 12:11, "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover."
But John disagrees to them. He places the Passover one day later. John 18:28, "Then led they (the Pharisses) Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover."
Having in mind that John wrote his gospel last of all, actually as the tradition says many decades after the first three evangelists, when he was in his 80's or 90's, and knew what they had written in their gospels, his story seems to be the right one. So it seems that Jesus ate the passover meal with His apostles one day earlier, probably because He knew that he would be in the tomb the day of the passover. If we see some details in the gospels of the first three, we get the same conclusion. Example: Mark 12:45, "And he BOUGHT fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."
I want to compare Passover to Jesus' Last Supper, as they are distinct events with significant meanings. Passover, as outlined in Exodus 12, involves the Israelites roasting whole lambs, and eating them with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were instructed to eat in haste, ready to leave Egypt, establishing a lasting ordinance for future generations.
Matzah, or unleavened bread, symbolizes the swift departure from Egypt, while bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery. Passover lambs were sacrificed on the 14th and eaten on the night of the 15th. This is why the disciples were at the temple sacrificing lambs instead of being present at the cross when Jesus died.
In Luke 22:15, it is made clear that the Last Supper, the Lord's Supper, was not a Passover meal. Jesus mentioned He would not eat the Passover with His disciples, and the Last Supper occurred on the 14th before the sacrificial lambs were killed. Jesus was crucified later that day; the Passover meal is eaten on the 15th Jesus was in the tomb when the Passover meal was eaten.
During the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples were reclining, not standing with staffs. After their meal, Jesus instituted the new covenant, which commemorates His death for us, rather than being a Passover observance.
Jesus Christ fulfills the Passover, with every instruction pointing to Him and the New Covenant. Just as the Israelites were protected by the blood on their doorposts, we receive life through Jesus' blood. The lamb without blemish symbolizes His perfect, sinless life. The 14th of Nisan, the day of Jesus' crucifixion, is also when the Passover lambs were sacrificed, illustrating the completeness of His sacrifice.
The wine and bread symbolize His body and blood, sacrificed for us, as Jesus fulfills Passover, becoming the final sacrifice that leads us from death to eternal life.
I hope this makes sense, just my understanding. Thank you, brother, for continuing your work,
God bless,
RLW
(Part 2):
You mentioned that the early Christians participated in communion by sitting in tables eating like Jesus and the apostles did at the last supper. You have probably seen paintings of The Last Supper as most of us have. If you notice in the painting, they are all sitting on one side of the table looking towards the artist.
That's the vision we get when we think of The Last Supper. But it looked nothing like that. They did not have chairs so the were not sitting. What they did was they reclined at the table. This table had no legs, just a large piece of wood that sat on the floor. But they were not all on the same side of the table. The way they would do it is that they would have the guest of honor (In this case, Jesus), and then it would go from oldest to youngest, the oldest to the right (behind Jesus), and then it would go around the table in order all the way to the youngest which would have been John, directly in front of Jesus.
What they would do is they would put their right arm up on the table and they would actually be reclining. They would actually be laying down with their feet in the back and they would be reaching over and eating with one hand. That's why some find it strange that the one whom Jesus loves is resting on His chest. But that is because he is leaning back onto Jesus, and there is a conversation going on between Jesus and John about what's happening around the table.
One last thing that I find interesting is in Luke 22:15, it is not "the" Passover but "this" Passover. It will be the last Passover. The Messianic Jews to this day hold that Passover meals, now each year, is only a remembrance that this Passover meal is the last Passover meal until Christ comes, very interesting!
Sorry for being long winded. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. And may the Lord continue to give you a hunger for His word. God Bless!!!
And if you have been following this thread, discussion has come up as to whether the bread & wine we see on the Communion Table only remain as physically bread & wine, or do they, in a mystical way, transform into the actual Body & Blood of our Lord. My understanding of the Scriptures associated with this solemn, yet joyful ceremony, is that what we see on the table before us, do not change at all in their material composition, hence only remain as emblems (or, symbols, tokens) of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Please read these Gospel & the apostle Paul's accounts more fully to understand for yourself, with the Spirit's Help, to what Jesus intended for His disciples and us to understand from this act of fellowship with Him.
Thanks, brother. I hope all is well. I'm unsure about the Year of Jubilee; it might be worth looking into since we know it was a reason for the Babylonian exile.
In my opinion, what makes this topic challenging is that during the time of Christ, the Jews referred to the festival as 8 days by two different names: the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This distinction can be seen in Matthew 26:17 and Luke 22:1, while Mark 14:12 mentions the first day of Unleavened Bread as the time when they killed the Passover lamb.
Today, we see all eight days on the calendar referred to as Passover. However, this is not how it was originally structured. Passover day is the 14th, when the Passover lambs were sacrificed, and it is also the day Jesus was crucified. This day is not a Sabbath or holy convocation or a feast; rather, it is a preparation day for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, which runs from the 15th to the 21st. The first and last days of this feast are designated Sabbaths, as noted in Exodus 12:16.
The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath that John mentioned. Jesus had to be placed in the tomb before sunset on Thursday, which was Passover day. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th (Friday), is referred to by John as a "high day" or "high Sabbath." Consequently, both Friday and Saturday were considered Sabbaths.
Not sure why the Sabbath is plural, but Scripture is clear there were two Sabbaths, Friday the first day of Unleavened Bread, and Saturday, an annual Sabbath, and a weekly Sabbath.
Have a great day.
God bless,
RLW
Thank you for the post. My answer to your question is yes. I do believe Jesus was speaking figuratively at the last supper. Did Jesus give His literal blood and flesh to them to eat and drink? I have to say no. As far as the bread and wine becoming the flesh and blood of Jesus "by faith," as you mentioned, one would have to be fully persuaded (faith) that these elements are indeed His literal body and blood. I do come to that conclusion.
You're referring to 1 Corinthians Chapter 11, specifically Verse 29 which reads, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
It doesn't say anything about them having a sin. It says if they do it unworthily. It was the manner in which they were participating. When they took the bread and drank the cup, they were not discerning that these elements represented the Lord's body. They were eating it like it was a meal.
Jesus set it up so that when we take the bread or drink the cup, He said do this in remembrance of me. When we participate in communion, we are doing it to remember what Christ has done for us, that He was crucified for us, that He gave His body and He gave His blood at the cross, not at the last supper.
In Luke 22:19, Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it and gives it to them and says, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
From a Hebrew perspective, that little phrase "This is my body" is a very typical Hebrew metaphorical usage of using your body. He's not saying that the bread became His body. He says this is to be done in remembrance of what I've done for you. If you believe that the elements taken in communion are the literal body and blood of Jesus, then I suppose we are in disagreement on this one my brother.
Blessings to you in Christ!
I read the article you shared and would like to clarify a few points regarding the Passover. According to Luke 22:15-16, Jesus wanted to eat the Passover with His disciples before He suffered, but He did not partake in it He knew He would die at the same time as the Passover lambs, so He would not be there on the 15th.
In Exodus 12, we see that lambs were killed on the 14th of Nisan, known as Passover Day, which is also a preparation day for the 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread that begins on the 15th. The Passover meal was consumed on the night of the 15th.
John 18:28 shows that on the 14th, the same day Jesus had the Last Supper in the morning the priests would not enter the judgment hall because they would be defiled and could not catch the blood of the Passover lambs and pour it into the altar or eat the Passover if they were defiled.
The article's author is mistaken in claiming that Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover on Tuesday, as Scripture does not support this.
In summary, the 14th of Nisan is Passover Day and a preparation day for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins on the 15th. The lambs were killed in the evening of the 14th any time after the sun started to go down.
Scripture is clear there were 5 days from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem to when He was crucified, the Scriptures should show if studied in my other post. He rode in on the first day of the week and He was crucified on the fifth day of the week this is what the Scripture tells us.
God bless,
RLW