Friday March 30, 2018 is what is commonly called “Good Friday.” It is on "Good Friday" that Jesus suffered and died, crucified on a cross. Jesus, the Lamb of God, shed His blood so that we could have life.

Friday March 30, 2018 at sunset is when Passover begins. In Egypt during the time of Moses when the Israelites were enslaved, they were to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to their house to save them from the final plague of death.

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." - Exodus 12:12 KJV

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." - Exodus 12:13 KJV

It was not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of the lamb would save them from death, the Israelites had to APPLY the blood to their house.

The Bible calls Jesus our Passover Lamb. (1Corinthians 5:7) We too are saved when we APPLY the blood of Jesus to “our house” WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME.

It is not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of Jesus will save us, we must APPLY His blood by baptism in Jesus name.

"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

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16 KJV

The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus’ disciples followed Him to the garden of Gethsemane, which means, “an oil press.” There Jesus prayed with intensity, committing His flesh to be the sacrifice that would satisfy the death requirement for our sins.

Just as Jesus crucified His flesh, we also are to crucify our flesh by repentance. We are to purge out sin by recognizing we have sinned, regretting the sin, and committing to never do it again. Our sins are then buried with Him by baptism in Jesus name. (Romans 6:4, Acts 2:38, Colossians 2:11-12)

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6 (old man of sin)

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." - Galatians 5:24

From there, after accepting the cup of suffering, Jesus was betrayed and taken by the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders to the high priest’s house where He was mocked and smitten. (Luke 22:54, 63-65)

Then they led him to Pilate, who sent Jesus to Herod. After mocking Him, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. (Luke 23:11) Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus of the things He was accused. (Luke 23:14)

“I will therefore chastise him, and release him.” - Luke 23:16

The Romans had no legal limit as to how many lashes they could administer. Only the Jews were limited by God’s commandment to 40 stripes. (Deuteronomy 25:3)

Pilate turned Jesus over to receive the whipping that was called the “half way death.” The Roman whipping shredded the back in which there was so much blood loss, that the victim was left half way dead.

“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

It is said it was not usually done that a person would suffer both the whipping of the half way death as well as crucifixion. Pilate, intending to release Jesus, had Him scourged, thinking this would surely satisfy the Jews. (John 19:1-16)

“But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” - Luke 23:21

Because Jesus would become cursed for us, it was necessary that He also be crucified, hanging on a tree. (The cross was fashioned from a tree).

“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)

"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

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” - Luke 23:33

“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” - John 19:29

Jesus was crucified the day before Passover. In Egypt during the time of Moses, when the Israelites were enslaved, the Passover lamb was sacrificed and its blood applied to the house to save them from the final plague.

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." - Exodus 12:12 KJV

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." - Exodus 12:13 KJV

It was not enough to simply BELIEVE the blood of the lamb would save them from death, the Israelites had to APPLY the blood to their house!

The Bible calls Jesus our Passover Lamb. (1Corinthians 5:7) We too are saved when we apply the blood of Jesus to “our house” by baptism in Jesus name. It is not enough to simply BELIEVE His blood will save us, we must APPLY His blood by baptism in Jesus name!

Not a bone was to be broken of the Passover lamb. (Exodus 12:46) While the legs of thieves on the other crosses had their legs broken, because Jesus was already dead, His bones were not broken. (John 19:36)

It appears that the Passover lamb was slain the same hour that Jesus died on the cross.

The Passover supper was eaten with bitter herbs along with the lamb to remind them of their bitter bondage in Egypt. (Exodus 12:8)

Jesus ended our bitter bondage to sin and death when He died on the cross.

“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; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” - 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

The bondage to sin and death is finished for us when we apply Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to our own life. When we repent of our sin, are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins and receive the gift of His Holy Ghost, we are set free from sin and the fear of death.

"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

Jesus Cleaning House Before Passover.

"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 KJV

"And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." - John 2:17 KJV [“Passion for God’s house will consume me.”]

Passover is also called the feast of unleavened bread.

"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 KJV

This is accomplished in Jewish homes throughout the world by their intensive cleaning and inspecting of their homes before Passover, and gradually eliminating leaven from every room and crevice.

In the Bible, we see Jesus accomplishing an intensive cleaning of His house, the temple, and eliminating the “leaven” that He found there.

What does leaven represent?

Jesus spoke of leaven on several occasions.

"Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. ... Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." - Matthew 16:6, 12 KJV

"Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." - Luke 12:1-2 KJV

Paul spoke of leaven.

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you…and ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. ... 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 5:1-2, 6-8 KJV

While Jesus cleaned His house, the Temple, we are to clean our house, our temple (our self). We do this by self-examination and repentance.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that shed His blood so that our sins could be remitted. He is our Passover Lamb that is sacrificed for us.

We can be baptized in His name and apply His blood to our lives after we have cleansed our temple (our life) by repentance. With a repented life and the blood of the Lamb applied to our temple by baptism in Jesus name, we can receive the gift of His resurrecting Spirit to walk in newness of life in Jesus.

Right after Jesus cleansed the Temple, He spoke of His death.

"Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." - John 2:18-22 KJV

Jesus died for our sins. We take up our cross and follow Him by repentance. We are buried with Him by baptism in Jesus name. We rise to a new life in Christ when we receive the gift of His Spirit. We become the temple of God as part of the body of Christ.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV

"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 KJV

The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against the Church Part 2

Matthew 16:18-19 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven…

The rock that the church is built upon is Jesus. It is built upon Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, which is the gospel. (1Corinthians 10:4 the smitten Rock, 1Corinthians 15:1-4)

The “gates” of the larger sort were found in the wall of a city, a palace, a town, the temple, the wall of a prison, and of Hades. It is for access or entrance.

Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. “Prevail” means “superior in strength” or “able to overpower”. Thus, the gates of hell shall NOT be superior in strength or able to overpower. In other words, the gates of hell cannot stand when the church comes against them.

Hell has no power to keep the souls it is claiming. The keys that release souls and bring them into the kingdom of God is the gospel. Jesus paid the price to set them free by his death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus has the keys of hell and death.

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

When a person repents of their sins, is baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins and receives the gift of His Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance, they are set free from hell. (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-48, 1Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 6:1-11, Romans 8:9, Acts 2:38)

The keys Jesus gave to Peter of the kingdom of heaven were given to the church when Peter preached the gospel message on the Day of Pentecost.  

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.

By the gospel, the church has the keys to release souls from hell and death.

Jesus suffered and died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Through repentance, baptism in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, hell has no hold on a soul. Hell’s prisoners are released by the gospel.

The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.


To be continued...

Principalities and Powers in the Gate (Part 1)

Satan is referred to as the Prosecutor. We know him as the accuser of our brethren.

Revelation 12:10 KJV - And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

When Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, he triumphed over principalities and powers.

Colossians 2:15 KJV - And having spoiled {disarmed} principalities and powers, he made a shew {shame} of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

God clothed himself with flesh and blood so that through death he could break the power of the devil who had the power of death.

Hebrews 2:14 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; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

When we take up our cross and follow Jesus’ death by repentance, are buried with him by baptism in Jesus name, and are raised to Life by the Holy Ghost, we are delivered from death and the bondage of fear of death. We have power over the enemy and our names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:18-20 KJV - And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Matthew 16:18 KJV - And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The “gates” of a city not only stood for its access or entrance, but also stood for those who held government and administered justice there. (Vine’s) Thus, those with power and authority would sit in the gate. (2Samuel 18:24, 19:8, Ruth 4:1)

Powers and authorities sitting in the gate can be applied to the gates of hell.

When Jesus died on the cross, he spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them. Satan is the Prosecutor of Justice that accuses us of our past sins. Because Jesus paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross, when we apply Jesus’ blood to our life by baptism in Jesus name, our sins are remitted – blotted out. Satan can no longer rightfully accuse us. God has forgiven us, and satan no longer has power over us.

Because satan no longer has the power of death, he has lost his power in the gates of hell. He has no authority to administer justice to the church – we are under God’s mercy, not justice. We have been forgiven of all our sins, for Jesus took the judgment for our sins when he suffered and died.

Thus, the principalities and powers of hell shall not prevail against the church. Because Jesus is the rock that His church is built upon, satan has no strength or power against it.

To be continued…

Joseph had faith and trust in God knowing "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Joseph was envied by jealous brothers and thrown in a pit, hauled out and sold into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into prison. From start to finish, he was innocent, and faithful to God.

It was by these trials and tests that God perfected Joseph, preparing him to be used in a great way.

The Lord was with him through it all, elevating him in every situation. Finally, God elevated him from prison to rule over all of Egypt, making him a savior in a worldwide famine.

When Joseph was given the opportunity for vengeance upon his brothers, he responded with mercy.

Joseph's crowning statement:

"And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life... And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. ... Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him." - Genesis 45:4-5, 7-8, 15 KJV

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 KJV

Jesus, our heavenly Father, King of the Universe, robed Himself in flesh. He revealed Himself as the chosen King that would sit on the throne of David forever, as He promised to David by the prophet Nathan.

"And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David." - 2 Samuel 7:16-17.

When people called Jesus, “Son of David,” they were recognizing that Jesus is the chosen King Messiah, God manifest in flesh.

The week before Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, as Jesus and His disciples were nearing Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples to a nearby village to bring Him a donkey and her colt. The disciples put their garments on them and Jesus sat on them. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, a very large crowd took their cloaks while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road for Jesus as He entered the city. The people before Him and following Him were shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest! (Matthew 21:1-9)

The word for Hosanna is of Hebrew origin meaning, 'save, I pray.' This day is called “Palm Sunday” because it is recorded in John 12:13 that they "Took branches of palm trees…”

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

Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem was also fulfillment of a type and shadow from the Old Testament of Solomon.

Solomon, the son of David, was chosen by God to be the next king after David. (1Chronicles 28:5)

When Adonijah, another son of David, attempted to crown himself king instead of Solomon, David revealed Solomon to be the chosen king of Israel by having him ride into Jerusalem on his personal mule. By this all Israel knew Solomon was the chosen king.

This account sheds light on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on the donkey. His entry is a revealing that Jesus is the Son of David, the chosen King Messiah. [See 1Kings 1:1-48 for the complete account]

Jesus the King of the Universe and Son of David, God manifest in flesh and Savior of the world. His throne and His kingdom are forever.