The Arm of the Lord Revealed

God is Spirit. The arm of the LORD is a metaphor for God’s power and strength. The arm of the LORD saves, delivers, and redeems.

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:" - Exodus 6:6 (Deuteronomy 26:8).

"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah." - Psalm 77:15.

Then, the Lord speaks of power and redemption by His arm in a much greater way. His arm that saved and delivered His people from physical bondage in Egypt, was now going to take on form.

Not as a literal arm, but as a holy human body that would save and redeem all humanity from the spiritual bondage of sin. This body would be God Himself, revealed in flesh. God’s body is called, “the arm of the Lord.”

God had looked for a man that could redeem mankind, but there was none without sin that could pay the price.

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16 

God Himself stepped in to pay the price. He did this by making Himself a body – the arm of the Lord.

Isaiah describes how God’s arm would be revealed.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? ... He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief… he was despised, and we esteemed him not...But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:1, 3, 5 (See all of Isaiah 53).

We find the arm of the Lord to be God Himself - JESUS CHRIST!

"The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." - Isaiah 52:10 

Jesus, as the arm of the LORD, reaches out to humanity, redeeming us from sin, bringing us back to Himself by the gospel. (Hebrews 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Matthew 1:21-23, Acts 2:38).

The Right Hand of God

When the Bible speaks of the right hand of God, it is not speaking of a physical location next to God, for God is Spirit, filling the universe, and is everywhere at once.

The right hand of God speaks of God’s power, authority, righteousness and salvation. 

"O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory." - Psalm 98:1 KJV

"Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." - Exodus 15:6 KJV

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me." - Psalm 138:7 KJV (See also: Psalm 44:3).

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." - Isaiah 41:10 KJV (See also: Psalm 48:10).

"Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God." - Luke 22:69 KJV

"And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." - Mark 14:62 KJV [“I AM” – Exodus 3:14]

Jesus, the beginning and the end, the author and finisher, God Almighty, suffering the shame of the cross, accomplished His mission, sitting down in the right hand of power in His throne.

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." - Jude 1:24-25 KJV

It is never too early of too late to teach our children the word of God

 It is never too early and never too late to teach our children the word of God. When they hide the word of God in their heart, they will have it their lifetime to call on for their every need.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6 KJV

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 3:15 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Bringing Forth Fruit and Multiplying

 Part 6

Bringing Forth Fruit and Multiplying

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." - Romans 7:4 KJV  

[Strong’s Definitions - “fruit: to be fertile (literally or figuratively):—be (bear, bring forth) fruit(-ful).”].

The children of God’s New Covenant Marriage are born again believers.

Jesus describes the New Covenant Marriage birth of children as a spiritual birth, not a natural birth.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:6 KJV

The children of the New Covenant Marriage are sons of God. They are born of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5).

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 KJV

The Mother is the church. The church is the water part of birth, baptizing new souls in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38).

The Father is Jesus. Jesus is the Spirit part of birth, baptizing new souls with His Spirit. (Acts 2:38-39).

The mother and the father are both necessary for the birth of a child. Only the mother is able to water baptize, and only the Father is able to baptize with His Spirit.

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" - Hebrews 12:7-9 KJV

"Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles." - Romans 1:13 KJV

The church as the Mother also travails (in prayer) to give birth to souls.

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," - Galatians 4:19 KJV

God's New Marriage Covenant with the Church

 Apostle Paul compares God’s New Marriage Covenant with the church to the marriage between a man and a woman. (Ephesians 5:22-32).

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." - Ephesians 5:22-24 KJV

We submit ourselves to the Lord. Christ is head of the church. He is our Savior.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" - Ephesians 5:25 KJV

God loved the church and gave His life for her.

(Ephesians 5:2, Luke 22:19-20, Galatians 1:4, Revelation 1:5, Galatians 2:20).

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," - Ephesians 5:26 KJV

To make her holy and clean (to consecrate and sanctify her), to make her free from the guilt of sin, to purify, by “the washing of water” (baptism) “by the word” (the promise of the pardon of sins- others take ῤήματι “word” here as equivalent to 'the gospel,' c). [From: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon].

"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:27 KJV

"So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

 (Hebrews 13:5).

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." - Ephesians 5:28-30 KJV

(1Corinthians 12:12-13, 27)

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV

To be continued...

Church!

 Church!

"[A Psalm of praise.] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100:1-5 KJV

John the Baptist - A friend of the Bridegroom

 

Part 4

John the Baptist was sent by God to be a witness that Jesus is Christ, God manifest in flesh.

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." - John 1:6

"John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me." - John 1:15 (John 1:10).

Jesus came to bring the New Marriage Covenant of Grace to replace the Old Marriage Covenant of the Law.

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." - John 1:17

 "And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." - John 1:31

"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." - John 1:33-34

The “Son of God” is God manifest in flesh (the body of God).

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus." - John 1:35-37

"After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized." - John 3:22

"And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." - John 3:26

"Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him." - John 3:28

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled." - John 3:29

Jesus was bringing His New Covenant, baptizing. When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, we forsake the world and covenant our faithfulness to Jesus. Our baptism is our blood covenant of marriage. We become the bride of Christ. (1John 2:15-17).

The First Miracle of Jesus was at a Wedding

 Part 3

It seems to be no coincidence that the first miracle of Jesus was at a wedding. God had a mission to fulfill: to give His life for His wife. His death would release His people from the marriage covenant that brought death, so they could enter the marriage covenant that brought life.

The miracle of the wedding at Cana points to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

The account begins with, "And the third day…” - John 2:1 KJV

I count fourteen times in the New Testament that “the third day” refers to Christ’s resurrection.

I count eleven times that “hour” is mentioned concerning Christ’s death.

"And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." - John 2:3-4 KJV

There is only one other time that Jesus called His mother “woman,” and that was at the cross. (John 19:26).

It appears that Jesus turning the water into wine represents His New Covenant. The wine that Jesus brought forth in His miracle at the wedding was the good wine, surpassing the wine that was brought out at the beginning of the feast.

"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was…the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." - John 2:9-10 KJV

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." - John 2:11 KJV

Apostle Paul speaks of the glory of the New Covenant of the Spirit compared to the glory of the Old Covenant Law. In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?" - 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 KJV [See 9-11}.

To be continued…

How God Released His People from the Covenant of the Law

 Part 2

From Mount Sinai on, the Jewish people were bound to keep the Law by their blood covenant marriage to God. (Exodus 24:6-8, Jeremiah 31:31-32).

Because God's righteous Law revealed sin, it brought death. (Romans 3:20).

God wanted to release His people from a covenant that brought death and bring them a new covenant where “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

How could God release His people from their marriage covenant?

Apostle Paul explains:

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

“So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit [the gospel], and not in the oldness of the letter [law]." - Romans 7:1-6 KJV

Paul is explaining the law of marriage. As long as a woman’s husband is alive, she is bound by the law to her husband. If she marries another man, she is called an adulteress. BUT if her husband is dead, she is not an adulteress even though she marries another man.

How did God as husband to His people release them from their marriage covenant of the Law? He manifested Himself in flesh and died.

By His death, the Jewish people were released from their marriage covenant of the Law to marry another, even to Him that is raised from the dead, Jesus.

To be continued…

The Marriage Covenant of the Law

At Mount Sinai, about 3,400 years ago, God became a husband to the Jewish people by their covenant of the Law.

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [my own special treasure] unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:" - Exodus 19:5 KJV

"And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said,

“All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

“And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words." - Exodus 24:6-8 KJV

When Moses read the Law to the people, just as a bride says to her husband, “I do,” the people responded, “We do,” and the marriage vows were complete. Moses sprinkled blood on the people, making their marriage covenant a blood covenant.

About 850 years later, Jeremiah prophesied of the new marriage covenant God would make with His people. Jesus brought the new marriage covenant with the gospel.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;

“After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

To be continued…

Jesus Accomplishing His Purpose to Fulfill the Law

Between the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection, it appears that Jesus completed His purpose in fulfilling the Law.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." - Matthew 5:17 KJV

John the Baptist, a priest (according to his linage in Luke 1:5), fulfilled the law of washing the sacrifice when he washed Jesus by baptism.

"And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." - Matthew 3:15 KJV

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." - John 1:29 KJV

While Jesus was the sacrificial lamb when He died on the cross, He was also the high priest when He applied His blood in the temple in heaven.

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." - Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV

The first temple (tabernacle) on earth was part of the covenant of the Law. It was the pattern of the temple in heaven.

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." - Hebrews 8:5 KJV

"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing [and the system it represented were still in use]." - Hebrews 9:8 KJV

Jesus came to bring His new covenant. (Hebrews 8:6-13).

Peter preached this new covenant on the Day of Pentecost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV 

Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen!

"And very early in the morning the first day of the week [Sunday], they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

“And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

“And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

“And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

“And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." - Mark 16:2-7 KJV

The message as we celebrate this Resurrection Morning?

Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen!

Go and tell!

Applying the Blood of the Lamb by Baptism in the Name of Jesus

 

This Friday night  April 15th (Nissan 15),  over 3000 years ago, was the very first Passover. God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and brought them freedom from Pharoah.

The Jews were about to celebrate the Passover when Jesus was dying on the cross. At the same time Christ our Passover died on the cross, the priests sacrificed the Passover lamb in the temple.

"For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" - 1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

On the very first Passover in Egypt, God instructed Moses to speak to all the congregation of Israel. (Exodus 12:3).

"Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover." - Exodus 12:21 KJV

"And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning." - Exodus 12:22 KJV

"For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you." - Exodus 12:23 KJV

It didn’t matter how much the Israelites BELIEVED in that lamb and his blood…if they didn’t APPLY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB to their houses, the destroyer would have come into their house to smite them, when God would smite the land of Egypt.

It doesn’t matter how much we BELIEVE that Jesus died for our sins. We must APPLY His blood.

We APPLY the blood of Jesus by being BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF “JESUS.” (Acts 2:38).

"He that believeth AND is baptized shall be saved..." - Mark 16:16 KJV (my emphasis).

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

Who His Own Self Bore Our Sins

 "And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together." - Mark 14:55-56 KJV 

"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." - Mark 14:65 KJV

The next morning, they delivered Jesus to Pilate. (Mark 15:1).

"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him." - John 19:1 KJV

The number of stripes allowed by Jewish law was forty (Deut. 25:3). Scourging by the Romans, however, had no legal limit to the number of blows.

Their leather whips would be knotted with sharp pieces of metal designed to tear the flesh from the muscles, leaving deep lacerations and the loss of much blood. The victim of Roman scourging would be left "half-dead," while death was often the result.

"I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." - Isaiah 50:6

"The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows." - Psalm 129:3

"As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:" - Isaiah 52:14 KJV

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5

Jesus not only had the halfway death of scourging, but to fulfill prophecy, He went on to crucifixion. (Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10, John 3:14).

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" - Galatians 3:13 (Deuteronomy 21:23)

"And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified." - Mark 15:15 KJV

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - 1 Peter 2:24 (Acts 2:38).

Christ the Arm of the Lord that Saves and Redeems

God is a Spirit. When He speaks of His arm, eyes, face, back, and so on, He is speaking of things we can relate to in order to understand His aspects. (His right hand speaks of power and authority).

The arm of the Lord speaks of His salvation and redemption.

"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah." - Psalm 77:15 KJV

Isaiah prophesied of the arm of the Lord being revealed that would redeem all humanity. (Isaiah 52:10).

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16 KJV (Isaiah 63:5).

Isaiah chapter 53 prophesies of Christ, the arm of the Lord revealed. It was written approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? …

“There is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief...

“He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter…

“He was taken from prison and from judgment… for the transgression of my people was he stricken…

“He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death…

“When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days…

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities…

“He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." - Isaiah 53:1-12 KJV (see all Isaiah 53, John 12:37-38).

Christ Our Passover

 

Passover celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites from their bitter bondage in Egypt. The Hebrew word for Passover is “Pesach,” which means “to pass over.” On the night of Passover, God passed over the Jewish houses that applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their doorposts, while killing the firstborn in the Egyptian houses that had not applied the blood. Passover this year begins on Good Friday.

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" - 1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV [Leaven is symbolic of sin.]

Just as a lamb was killed and the blood of the Passover lamb had to be applied to their house in order for the firstborn males to be saved from the death angel, Jesus the Lamb of God was killed and the blood of Christ our Passover has to be applied to our house in order to save us. We apply His blood by baptism in His name Jesus (Acts 2:38).

It is said that Jesus was crucified at the same time the Passover lamb was being killed in the temple, (3pm).

The bones of the Passover lamb were not to be broken. (Exodus 12:46) "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs…For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." (see: John 19:31-36).

God told Moses, “Your lamb shall be without blemish…” Jesus was the Lamb of God without blemish. (Exodus 12:5, John 1:29, 1Peter 1:19).

Bitter herbs were eaten with the Passover lamb to remind them of their bitter bondage from which God delivered them. (Exodus 12:8). Jesus our Passover Lamb was given vinegar to drink to remind us of the bitter bondage of sin that He delivered us from. (John 19:29-30, Hebrews 2:14-15).

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." - John 19:30 KJV

By Christ’s death and shedding of blood, the bitterness and bondage of sin is finished. We are set free by the blood of Jesus when we apply His blood. 

The Road to Calvary (Chart from Exploring God's Word Bible study)

"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." - Matthew 16:21 KJV

(Also: Matthew 17:9, 22-23, 20:18-19, Mark 9:30–32; Luke 9:43–45, John 2:19-22, 7:33, 13:33, 14:19, 16:5, 10,16-22).

Isaiah prophesied of the death of Jesus. (Isaiah 53).

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." - Isaiah 53:7 KJV

Jesus was born to die.

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour [But this is the very reason I came!]." - John 12:27 KJV

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" - Hebrews 2:14 KJV

The baptism of Jesus was His death. (Matthew 20:22, Mark 10:38).

"But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" - Luke 12:50 KJV

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 KJV (Acts 2:38).

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also..."

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. [Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.]" - John 14:7-11 KJV  

Jesus was all man, and all God.

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:9 KJV

As man, Jesus was tired, hungry, thirsty, tempted (but remained without sin), prayed, and died.

As God, Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the multitudes, calmed the sea, opened blind eyes and deaf ears, knew all things, walked on water, created the universe, forgave sins, answered prayers, and raised His body from the dead.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God…" - Colossians 1:14-15 KJV

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

Palm Sunday

Jesus, our Heavenly Father, King of the Universe, manifested Himself in flesh. His flesh was born of the lineage of David, fulfilling the promise that David’s offspring would sit on his throne forever.

"And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." - 2 Samuel 7:16 KJV

Because of this prophecy, when people called Jesus, “Son of David,” they were recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah.

Isaiah prophesied of the throne of David.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. " - Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV

Five days before Passover, as Jesus and His disciples were nearing Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples to a nearby village to bring Him a colt whereon yet never man sat. (Luke 19:30). There seems to be a type and shadow…Solomon, son of David, was to succeed David as King, but Adonijah tried to usurp the throne. David had Solomon ride on his mule that only David rode on to show that Solomon was the chosen King. (1Kings 1).

The disciples put their garments on the colt and Jesus sat on him. Some took their cloaks while others cut branches from palm trees and spread them on the road for Jesus as He entered the city. (“Palm Sunday”). The people shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–40, John 12:12–19).

Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was fulfillment of prophecy:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." - Zechariah 9:9 KJV

Cleansing our Temple

 Next Friday, starting at sunset, Jews will be celebrating the Passover. It was on the same Friday, almost 2000 years ago, that Jesus was crucified.

Before Passover began, the Jews were to put away all leaven out of their houses.

"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel." - Exodus 12:15.

Passover was the night of the final plague when God delivered the Israelites from their bitter bondage in Egypt. On that night, they were to apply the blood of a lamb to the doorposts of their houses so the death angel would pass over them when all the first-born males were killed.

Every year Israel was to remember the Passover and their great deliverance. Jesus is the fulfillment of Passover. We are to repent before we apply His blood by baptism. (Acts 2:38).

Apostle Paul spoke of leaven when there was sin in the church at Corinth.

"Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." - 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

Jesus spoke of leaven. "…Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." - Luke 12:1.

Before the Passover, Jesus cleansed His house (the Temple) of leaven.

"And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." - John 2:13-16.

"It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves." - Luke 19:46.

Who is the Son of God?

 The Son of God is our Heavenly Father manifest [made known] in sinless flesh so that He could shed His very own blood to redeem sinful mankind back to Himself. (John 1:1,14). His name is JESUS!

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

I AM

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

“Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [Abraham lived approximately 2000 years earlier.]

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." - John 8:56-59 KJV

Why did the Jews take up stones to cast at Jesus?

Because they understood that Jesus was letting them know He is God, the “I AM.”

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 KJV

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:24 KJV

[In this verse the word “he” is italicized, meaning that the translator added this word because they felt it made a better translation. (There is no Strong’s for this word.) “Most authorities associate this with Ex 3:14, I AM WHO I AM” (NASB95).

 

Paul Baptized

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

“And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

“And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

“And they said, Unto John's baptism.

[John the Baptist spoke about the Holy Ghost. "There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." - Mark 1:7-8. The disciples of John had heard of the Holy Ghost – they just hadn’t heard that the Holy Ghost had begun to be poured out.]

“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

[Paul baptized in the name of Jesus just as Peter preached and baptized on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:38, 41, also Acts 10:48). Just as Philip baptized in the name of Jesus. (Acts 8:16).]

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve [in all]." - Acts 19:1-7

[The men spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Ghost just as all those in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Ghost. 

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1, 4]

[The Gentiles spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Ghost.

"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." - Acts 10:45-46]