520. Many first-century Jews died, just like Jesus, on a cross. Some estimates for the number of Jews crucified in this time for a variety of crimes run as high as one hundred thousand. But this was not at the hand of other Jews. Crucifixion was exclusive to the Romans, and it was an extreme penalty generally reserved for cases of runaway slaves or rebellion against Rome. An uprising of slaves against Rome led by the gladiator-slave Spartacus in 71 B.C. resulted in some six thousand crucifixions. Bodies were left to decompose as a grim warning.
521. Gall is mentioned several times in the Bible. It refers to the juice of a poisonous and bitter plant, but there is no way of knowing exactly which plant. The best guess is the poison hemlock, the plant that poisoned Socrates and served medicinally as a sedative. Hemlock was considered a plant of ill omen and associated with witches and evil spirits.
522. The Seven Last Utterances are the final words spoken by Christ while on the cross. The four Gospels reveal different phrases, but grouped together they include: (1) "Today you will be with me in paradise" (spoken to the thief next to Him). (2) "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (3) "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (4) "I thirst." (5) "Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother." (spoken to Mary and the disciple John). (6) "It is finished." (7) "Into your hands I commit My spirit."
523. "A mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight" was brought after the crucifixion. "Then took they the body of Jesus, and wount it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury" (John 19:39-40 KJV). Myrrh was one of the main ingredients used in the purification of the dead.
524. The linen in which Jesus' body was wount was made from flax, the oldest textile fiber known. In the ancient world there were different grades of linen. Fine linen was used in the cloths of the rich, for curtain hangings in the Temple, and even for sails of Phoenician trading ships. The poor people, however, wore only ordinary coarse linen. The Bible did not specify what type of linen Jesus was wount in.
525. The death of Jesus at Golgotha must have had more significance to the Romans than the deaths of the thousands of other Jews they crucified at that time. Yet soon the whole ancient world heard about Jesus. His disciples carried His teaching to the farthest outpost of the Roman Empire.
526. Yet to one Roman, Christ's death did have significance. The Roman centurion who watched Christ die said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" When he saw the sun darken and felt the earth quake at Jesus' death.
527. The resurrection of Jesus is the central story to all Christianity. After dying on the cross, being wrapped in a burial shroud, and being interred in a sealed tomb, Jesus rose from the dead-conquering death and offering the hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him.
528. After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared several times to various disciples. His resurrection fulfilled every prophecy He and all the prophets had made concerning the Savior of the world. Though some doubted, many believed and were brought to a saving understanding that Jesus was truly their Savior and the King of Kings.
529. Jesus commissioned His followers to preach the Gospel to all people. His call to them brought the disciples and other faithful followers to the beginning of the church. And through a history of almost two thousand years, the church has experienced persecution, misery, and separation. Yet never has it died and never will it fall, despite what might happen, for Christ is the Head of His church. And His Kingdom cannot fail!
530. Christ ascended into Heaven, on a cloud, to be with the Father and to "sit at the right hand of God" until the time of His second coming. He will come again at "the last days" as the Bible writers prophesied, His message remains today for all who will believe in Him and trust Him as their personal Savior.
Monday, August 24, 2015
A Savior, Which Is Christ The Lord lV
510. The "eye of the needle" was the phrase Jesus used in Mark 10:25 when He said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." Those words must have shocked His original audience, who had thought that prosperity was a sign of God's blessing. In recent years some people have tried to identify a particular gate into Jerusalem as "the eye of the needle," thereby missing Christ's main point: Someone committed to worldly wealth is probably not as interested in heavenly gain.
511. Jesus was not alone in works of healing. Just as other men claimed messiahship to attract political followers, numerous wonder-workers and healers wandered the Roman Empire in that day. Jesus even referred to others who were healing in His time. The Jewish Talmud discusses several wonder-working rabbis of Jesus' time. But none made the claim that Jesus' followers made that He had the ability to raise the dead and had done so on three occasions with witnesses.
512. Jesus was well-received by the people as long as He was performing miracles and teaching, but they did not look to Him as the King of Kings. Sadly they were looking for an earthly king instead of a heavenly one. As a result their love for Jesus was short-lived.
513. Jesus took three of His most trusted disciples up on a mountain, where they experienced an extraordinary event. While the disciples watched, Jesus was miraculously "transfigured." His physical being was transformed, and the figures of Moses and Elijah, the two great prophets of Judaism, stood beside Him. The disciples also heard the voice of God saying Jesus was God's beloved Son. The accounts all say Jesus' face shone as Moses' did when he encountered God on Mount Sinai in Exodus.
514. As Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem, He was hailed by the people with palm leaves and shouts of "Hosanna!" The people celebrated Him as their king. They did not want the greatest gift that Christ offered and that they needed most. They wanted freedom from the Romans and a nation of their own instead, and thought Christ brought that, despite the many warnings and explanations given to His ministry.
515. Satan provoked Judas to betray Jesus, as it is stated in the Gospel of John. The treachery of Judas has provoked some speculation over motives, including the notion that he might have been an anti-Roman zealot who was disappointed that Jesus had not proved to be the rebel leader many were expecting. The Gospel of Mark tells how Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus before being offered a bribe, suggesting that he had some other motive besides money. Matthew specifically states that Judas asked how much he would be given, and that he was paid "thirty pieces of silver" in fulfillment of ancient Hebrew prophecy.
516. The Last Supper was a preparation for Jesus Himself as He readied Himself for the end, which He knew was near. Judas Iscariot was even confronted by Christ at the table. The Lord celebrated a final supper with His disciples, His most trusted companions. This special dinner was given to Christians in order to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for His people.
517. The words "Take and eat: this is My body," and "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matt. 26:26,28) are part of a sacrament of the Christian church that originated with the Last Supper. Communion is based on the events of the Last Supper and serves as one of two main sacraments in the Christian church to this day.
518. After the Last Supper, Jesus spent His last night of freedom in the Garden of Gethsemane on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. The name means "olive presses." In Jesus' time the Mount of Olives was covered with a luxuriant growth of these trees, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem often rested there to seek relief from the sun.
519. "Today-yes, tonight- before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown Me three times" (Mark 14:30). On the way to Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciple Peter this prophecy. The roosters first crowed about midnight, and they were so punctual that Roman soldiers used the sound as a signal for changing of the guard. The roosters crowed a second time about three o'clock in the morning, which awakened the second watch of soldiers.
511. Jesus was not alone in works of healing. Just as other men claimed messiahship to attract political followers, numerous wonder-workers and healers wandered the Roman Empire in that day. Jesus even referred to others who were healing in His time. The Jewish Talmud discusses several wonder-working rabbis of Jesus' time. But none made the claim that Jesus' followers made that He had the ability to raise the dead and had done so on three occasions with witnesses.
512. Jesus was well-received by the people as long as He was performing miracles and teaching, but they did not look to Him as the King of Kings. Sadly they were looking for an earthly king instead of a heavenly one. As a result their love for Jesus was short-lived.
513. Jesus took three of His most trusted disciples up on a mountain, where they experienced an extraordinary event. While the disciples watched, Jesus was miraculously "transfigured." His physical being was transformed, and the figures of Moses and Elijah, the two great prophets of Judaism, stood beside Him. The disciples also heard the voice of God saying Jesus was God's beloved Son. The accounts all say Jesus' face shone as Moses' did when he encountered God on Mount Sinai in Exodus.
514. As Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem, He was hailed by the people with palm leaves and shouts of "Hosanna!" The people celebrated Him as their king. They did not want the greatest gift that Christ offered and that they needed most. They wanted freedom from the Romans and a nation of their own instead, and thought Christ brought that, despite the many warnings and explanations given to His ministry.
515. Satan provoked Judas to betray Jesus, as it is stated in the Gospel of John. The treachery of Judas has provoked some speculation over motives, including the notion that he might have been an anti-Roman zealot who was disappointed that Jesus had not proved to be the rebel leader many were expecting. The Gospel of Mark tells how Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus before being offered a bribe, suggesting that he had some other motive besides money. Matthew specifically states that Judas asked how much he would be given, and that he was paid "thirty pieces of silver" in fulfillment of ancient Hebrew prophecy.
516. The Last Supper was a preparation for Jesus Himself as He readied Himself for the end, which He knew was near. Judas Iscariot was even confronted by Christ at the table. The Lord celebrated a final supper with His disciples, His most trusted companions. This special dinner was given to Christians in order to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for His people.
517. The words "Take and eat: this is My body," and "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matt. 26:26,28) are part of a sacrament of the Christian church that originated with the Last Supper. Communion is based on the events of the Last Supper and serves as one of two main sacraments in the Christian church to this day.
518. After the Last Supper, Jesus spent His last night of freedom in the Garden of Gethsemane on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. The name means "olive presses." In Jesus' time the Mount of Olives was covered with a luxuriant growth of these trees, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem often rested there to seek relief from the sun.
519. "Today-yes, tonight- before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown Me three times" (Mark 14:30). On the way to Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciple Peter this prophecy. The roosters first crowed about midnight, and they were so punctual that Roman soldiers used the sound as a signal for changing of the guard. The roosters crowed a second time about three o'clock in the morning, which awakened the second watch of soldiers.
A Savior, Which Is Christ The Lord lll
500. Jesus met all manner of people-and accepted them all if they repented of their sins. Harlots, tax collectors, liars, cheats, the infirmed, and the diseased all received kind words, healing, and a message of hope. One such man was especially memorable.
501. A rich tax collector called Zacchaeus wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but he had to climb a sycamore tree (Luke 19:4). This is an inferior kind of fig tree that has traditionally been a food of impoverished people in the Near East. Thus the rich man was forced to rely on the tree that was a symbol of poverty. Jesus did not harbor any love, however, for the proud and often conniving leaders of the Jewish faith who consistently misled the people.
502. Obedience to laws without a sense of mercy is an action empty of spiritual value. Several times Jesus quoted the prophets who had said, "God desires mercy more than sacrifice." He reserved a special anger for the scribes and Pharisees, who might loosely be called "lawyers." Matthew's term for Pharisees is hypocrites, a term in Greek that applied to actors or people who were pretenders. They were people who said one thing but did another.
503. The Pharisees were a group of Jewish clerics who felt that their strict obedience to Jewish traditions set them apart from the rest of the pagan culture. Their name means "the separated ones." They were intolerant of anyone considered ritually unclean and persecuted many people. Their reliance on rules made them appear pious to the masses, but Jesus criticized them for having an outward show of piety while neglecting the fact that inwardly they were proud, pompous sinners.
504. The Sadducees were the Jewish aristocracy who rather enjoyed the artistic and political advantages that came from being allied to the Roman Empire. During Christ's life they controlled the high Jewish council, called the Sanhedrin, but they were haughty and pompous and generally disliked by the common people.
505. Jesus called special helpers to His aid in order to preach and teach and minister to the people. There were twelve helpers in all-Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
506. The words disciple and apostle are often used interchangeably but mean quite different things. The word disciples means "learners" or "students." The disciples of Jesus were those who listened to Jesus, followed him, and even taught what Jesus taught. An apostle, from the Greek apostolos, for "one who is sent out," generally means a messenger of the Gospel. The author of Luke used the word apostle specifically for the twelve disciples who had been companions of Jesus, were witnesses of the resurrection, and eventually became leaders of the church.
507. The name Mary, derived from the Greek form of the common Hebrew Miriam, the name of the sister of Moses, is the name of three different women in the life of Jesus. His mother Mary only made a few appearances in the Gospel accounts, but she was at the foot of the cross with John. Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus. Jesus healed Mary Magdalene (or Mary of Magdala, a town near Tiberias) by casting out the demons within her. She then became a devoted follower of Christ.
508. To the devout Jews who accepted Jesus, He was the promised Savior who fulfilled the word expressed in their Scriptures of a coming "Messiah" or "Anointed One" from the line of David who would deliver the children of Israel and usher in a new age of peace under God's rule. Though he was later called the "Christ," this is not a name but a title. Christos comes from the Greek meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah."
509. Hebrew was still the language of the places of worship, but outside of them the people spoke a dialect known as Aramaic. They also carried on conversations in Greek. It was not the classical language of Homer and the heroes, but a dialect known as Koine, the language in which the bulk of the New Testament was written. Undoubtedly Jesus learned to speak all three languages.
501. A rich tax collector called Zacchaeus wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but he had to climb a sycamore tree (Luke 19:4). This is an inferior kind of fig tree that has traditionally been a food of impoverished people in the Near East. Thus the rich man was forced to rely on the tree that was a symbol of poverty. Jesus did not harbor any love, however, for the proud and often conniving leaders of the Jewish faith who consistently misled the people.
502. Obedience to laws without a sense of mercy is an action empty of spiritual value. Several times Jesus quoted the prophets who had said, "God desires mercy more than sacrifice." He reserved a special anger for the scribes and Pharisees, who might loosely be called "lawyers." Matthew's term for Pharisees is hypocrites, a term in Greek that applied to actors or people who were pretenders. They were people who said one thing but did another.
503. The Pharisees were a group of Jewish clerics who felt that their strict obedience to Jewish traditions set them apart from the rest of the pagan culture. Their name means "the separated ones." They were intolerant of anyone considered ritually unclean and persecuted many people. Their reliance on rules made them appear pious to the masses, but Jesus criticized them for having an outward show of piety while neglecting the fact that inwardly they were proud, pompous sinners.
504. The Sadducees were the Jewish aristocracy who rather enjoyed the artistic and political advantages that came from being allied to the Roman Empire. During Christ's life they controlled the high Jewish council, called the Sanhedrin, but they were haughty and pompous and generally disliked by the common people.
505. Jesus called special helpers to His aid in order to preach and teach and minister to the people. There were twelve helpers in all-Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
506. The words disciple and apostle are often used interchangeably but mean quite different things. The word disciples means "learners" or "students." The disciples of Jesus were those who listened to Jesus, followed him, and even taught what Jesus taught. An apostle, from the Greek apostolos, for "one who is sent out," generally means a messenger of the Gospel. The author of Luke used the word apostle specifically for the twelve disciples who had been companions of Jesus, were witnesses of the resurrection, and eventually became leaders of the church.
507. The name Mary, derived from the Greek form of the common Hebrew Miriam, the name of the sister of Moses, is the name of three different women in the life of Jesus. His mother Mary only made a few appearances in the Gospel accounts, but she was at the foot of the cross with John. Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus. Jesus healed Mary Magdalene (or Mary of Magdala, a town near Tiberias) by casting out the demons within her. She then became a devoted follower of Christ.
508. To the devout Jews who accepted Jesus, He was the promised Savior who fulfilled the word expressed in their Scriptures of a coming "Messiah" or "Anointed One" from the line of David who would deliver the children of Israel and usher in a new age of peace under God's rule. Though he was later called the "Christ," this is not a name but a title. Christos comes from the Greek meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah."
509. Hebrew was still the language of the places of worship, but outside of them the people spoke a dialect known as Aramaic. They also carried on conversations in Greek. It was not the classical language of Homer and the heroes, but a dialect known as Koine, the language in which the bulk of the New Testament was written. Undoubtedly Jesus learned to speak all three languages.
A Savior, Which Is Christ The Lord ll
490. The Baby Jesus was like any other baby-He was human and had the same needs as babies do today. He cried to be held and fed, needed His diapers changed, and learned to talk like any other baby does.
491. Though nativity scenes tell the story differently, there were likely no animals present at Jesus' birth. The Bible makes no mention of camels, donkeys, cattle, or sheep. All these are cultural additions to the story that have been added through the ages.
492. The shepherds weren't given a miraculous sign to follow like the magi were two years later. The "star of the East" did not guide them. The angels told the shepherds to look for a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Presumably this was an unusual sign in itself and the shepherds found Jesus with little difficulty.
493. The Christmas story has undergone cultural interpretation to such an extent that many people believe the Bible tells of Joseph asking the innkeeper if the Baby can be born there. There is, however, no record of such a conversation occurring. Luke 2:7 simply states: She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
494. Jesus did not receive His name, which means "The Messiah" or "The Christ," until His eighth day when he was circumcised. The name had been given to Mary by the angel before she conceived, but the practice was to officially name the Child when He was circumcised.
495. At twelve years of age, Jesus already demonstrated that He was aware of His lifework. His parents had taken Him to the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. When they left, they thought He was with them, but He had stayed behind in order to speak with the teachers at the Temple.
496. His ministry began when He was about thirty years of age. John the Baptist was serving as a "voice in the wilderness" and calling the people to remember that their Savior was coming, that the time had come to repent. Jesus was baptized by John at the Jordan River.
497. Satan tempted Christ and tried to weaken the Savior's resolve, but Jesus stood firm in His mission. Christ's ministry would ultimately lead to His death, and though satan's temptations would have saved Him great pain, He was faithful to His Heavenly Father.
498. The Lord's preaching took Him all over the area for three years. He traveled throughout Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. He healed the sick and brought hope to many through miracles. He often spoke in parables to the people to help them better understand what His ministry was all about.
499. Jesus spent much of His ministry life in and around the Sea of Galilee. Galileans in Bible times were considered country hicks to the more cosmopolitan residents of Jerusalem. Jesus spoke primarily to the humble people who labored on the land and were familiar with the animals and plants around them. His parables are filled with images of the natural world.
491. Though nativity scenes tell the story differently, there were likely no animals present at Jesus' birth. The Bible makes no mention of camels, donkeys, cattle, or sheep. All these are cultural additions to the story that have been added through the ages.
492. The shepherds weren't given a miraculous sign to follow like the magi were two years later. The "star of the East" did not guide them. The angels told the shepherds to look for a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Presumably this was an unusual sign in itself and the shepherds found Jesus with little difficulty.
493. The Christmas story has undergone cultural interpretation to such an extent that many people believe the Bible tells of Joseph asking the innkeeper if the Baby can be born there. There is, however, no record of such a conversation occurring. Luke 2:7 simply states: She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
494. Jesus did not receive His name, which means "The Messiah" or "The Christ," until His eighth day when he was circumcised. The name had been given to Mary by the angel before she conceived, but the practice was to officially name the Child when He was circumcised.
495. At twelve years of age, Jesus already demonstrated that He was aware of His lifework. His parents had taken Him to the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. When they left, they thought He was with them, but He had stayed behind in order to speak with the teachers at the Temple.
496. His ministry began when He was about thirty years of age. John the Baptist was serving as a "voice in the wilderness" and calling the people to remember that their Savior was coming, that the time had come to repent. Jesus was baptized by John at the Jordan River.
497. Satan tempted Christ and tried to weaken the Savior's resolve, but Jesus stood firm in His mission. Christ's ministry would ultimately lead to His death, and though satan's temptations would have saved Him great pain, He was faithful to His Heavenly Father.
498. The Lord's preaching took Him all over the area for three years. He traveled throughout Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. He healed the sick and brought hope to many through miracles. He often spoke in parables to the people to help them better understand what His ministry was all about.
499. Jesus spent much of His ministry life in and around the Sea of Galilee. Galileans in Bible times were considered country hicks to the more cosmopolitan residents of Jerusalem. Jesus spoke primarily to the humble people who labored on the land and were familiar with the animals and plants around them. His parables are filled with images of the natural world.
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