I always thought the ‘S&H’ of ‘S&H Green Stamps’ stood for something like “Save and Help’ yourself to something better in life like a new toaster. In reality, ‘S&H’ stood for the Sperry & Hutchinson Company (S&H), founded in 1896 by Thomas Sperry and Shelley Byron Hutchinson. Popular in the 1930s through the 1980s. It was one of the very first retail loyalty programs.

Where does our loyalty reside and for what prize?

Luke Chapter 19 starts with the familiar story of Zacchaeus where Jesus stays at his house, the house of a sinner, and declares Zacchaeus’ salvation. Jesus seeks to find and to save what is lost even today through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus; and he was a leading publican, and he was rich. And he was trying to see Jesus, who he was… he was small of statue… so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him…

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay in thy house today.”

All: “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

Zacchaeus to Jesus: “Behold, Lord, I give one-half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Jesus: “Today salvation has come to this house, since he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

What is lost in our lives?

What are we seeking especially day-to-day with the habitual parts of our lives?

For me I sought freedom through compulsive emotional overeating, especially sugary foods. While this self-medication did medicate me in the short-term, which became very short-term over time, it also created another problem in addition to my original problem: obesity and other health issues which I could hide at times, though not always, with my 6-foor, 3-inch frame. I have gained and thankfully lost one hundred pounds probably four or five times in my life. Gratefully, I have not regained that variable hundred pounds in the last eight years.

But what was my base original problem?

Same as many—my selfish nature, my pride and my Silly Ego who told me, convincingly so, that I had to be perfect, in control of all situations and all people, that I had to think in all-or-nothing terms, that I had to be judgmental in nature.

Thankfully, I let all of that go and let God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit more fully into the core of my being through the TROML Process—my Splendid Spiritual Self.

Now I primarily seek Jesus in my thoughts, words and actions and the rest has taken care of itself. Relief has come in terms of freedom from fears and resentments and untruths in life. I am more emotionally mature and better able to handle passing feelings and emotions, especially the disastrous, downward cycle ones. TROML Baby and a Child of God as I. Gratefully, honestly and hopefully eternally!

First we have to know, think, witness and be the salvation that has come to our hearts, minds, and spirits. But in reality that is really secondary to Jesus seeking and saving what is lost in you and me.

All we have to be is honest, willing, humble and open-hearted and open-minded and Jesus will come in ways we could never imagined. In this world and beyond.

See beyond what seems to be!

Those who have hurt you are not those who control your life. Do not fear, have interest and invest in the Lord and He will invest in you. No need for perfection or all-or-nothing thinking or judgmentalism. Don’t judge others, even those who oppress thee, for you will be judged with the same harsh standards. The Lord Jesus is king of our spirits!

Try to seek and to save what is lost within ourselves!

Day 76: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Do we Try to Seek and to Save what is Lost within Ourselves?

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Luke Chapter 19.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Saint Luke, a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul.

In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.

 

Luke Chapter 19:  Zacchaeus tries to see Jesus; Jesus visits the home of Zacchaeus; Parable of the golf pieces; A nobleman orders his servants to trade; Reward for the first servant; Reward for the second servant; The unprofitable servant; Slaying in the nobleman’s enemies; Two disciples sent to obtain a colt; Triumphal entry into Jerusalem; The request of the Pharisees; Destruction of Jerusalem foretold; Cleansing of the Temple; Plots against Christ’s Life.

And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus; and he was a leading publican, and he was rich. And he was trying to see Jesus, who he was… he was small of statue… so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him…

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay in thy house today.”

All: “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

Zacchaeus to Jesus: “Behold, Lord, I give one-half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Jesus: “Today salvation has come to this house, since he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Now as they were listening to these things, he went on to speak a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

Parable of the nobleman and golf pieces.

Jesus: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to obtain for himself a kingdom and then return. And having summoned ten of his servants, he gave them ten gold pieces and said to them, ‘Trade till I come.’ But his citizens hated him; and they sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not wish this man to be king over us…’ when he returned, after receiving the kingdom… that he might learn how much each one had made by trading.”

First Servant: “Lord, thy golf piece has earned ten gold pieces.”

Nobleman to First Servant: “Well done, good servant; because thou hast been faithful in a very little, thou shalt have authority over ten towns.”

Second Servant: “Lord, thy gold piece has made five gold pieces.”

Nobleman to Second Servant: “Be thou also over five towns.”

Another Servant: “Lord, behold thy gold piece, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; for I feared thee, because thou art a stern man. Thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and thou reapest what thou didst not sow.”

Nobleman to Another Servant: “Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knowest that I am a stern man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow. Why, then, didst thou not put my money in a bank, so that I on my return might have gotten it with interest?”

Nobleman to the Bystanders: “Take away the gold piece from him, and give it to him who has ten gold pieces.”

Bystanders: “But Lord, he has ten golf pieces.”

Nobleman: “I say to you that to everyone who has shall be given: but from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away. But as for these my enemies, who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”

Jesus: “Go into the village opposite; on entering it you will find a colt of an ass tied, upon which no man has ever yet sat; loose it and bring it. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ you shall answer him thus, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.”

The whole company of disciples: “Blessed is he who comes as king, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!”

Pharisees to Jesus: “Master, rebuke thy disciples.”

Jesus to the Pharisees: “I tell you that if these keep silence, the stones will cry out!”

Jesus: “If thou hadst known, in this day, even thou, the things that are for thy peace! Nut now they are hidden from thy eyes. For days will come upon thee when thy enemies will throw up a rampart about thee, and surround thee and shut thee in on every side, and will dash thee to the ground and thy children within thee, and will not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation.”

Jesus entering the Temple: “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.”

And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the Scribes and the leading men of the people sought to destroy him; but they found nothing that they could do to him, for all the people hung upon his words.

The ‘Good News’ is that for the most part ‘the land is resting,’—there are no more wars, battles or slaughtering of masses of people. The ‘Better News’ is that the Promised Land is divided but not in the sense of being divided in faith but divided by surveying and distributed to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and then some.

This is not a lesson in geography nor comprehension of geography except for the big picture. If it was Broome County and its sixteen towns I might be able to pass the test. I did find fascinating some of the designated landmarks to be used as borders: the champaign countries; the fountain of the sun, the city of woods, the torrents of Egypt, the most salt sea, and the great sea. Very fascinating!

But the math at times did not add up!

The cities of Juda—all the cities twenty-nine, and their villages in Luke Chapter 15. But than as they are given in more detail by geographical location type there are more than twenty-nine—Lowland (39); Mountain (38), and Desert (6)—the total is eighty-three? Minor issue unless you are a mathematician, or an engineer by training such as me!

I did checkout the overall scenario and yes, all Twelve Tribes of Israel were present and received property of the Promised Land to possess.

In addition Josue and Caleb, the two faithful original spies of the Promised Land were granted property. Hebron earlier to Caleb, now it was Josue’s time to receive:

The children of Israel gave a possession to Josue… in the midst of them, according to the commandment of the Lord, the city he asked for, Thamnath Saraa, in mount Ephraim: and he built up the city, and dwelt in it.

Then Caleb did something intriguing either to insure more land was conquered or that his daughter would be married off:

Not an arranged marriage per say but an interesting one in which Caleb promised his daughter in marriage to he that smite a city and take it. The son of his younger brother does so—a nephew marries the uncle’s daughter—so we have more than ‘kissing cousins’ here in biblical times.

But to Caleb the son of Jephone he gave a portion in the midst of the children of Juda, as the Lord had commanded him; Hebron

Caleb: He that shall smite Cariath-Sepher, and take it, I will give him Axa my daughter to wife. And Othoniel the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Axa his daughter to wife.

Axa to Caleb: Give me a blessing: thou hast given me a southern and dry land, give me also a land that is watered. And Caleb gave her the upper and the nether watery ground.

Lots of laughs, as the daughter was not happy even in biblical times!

Yet still no land for the Levites—for the Levites have no part among you, but the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance.

But in summary, the Promised Land was all divided up and distributed:

These are the possessions which Elezar the priest, and Josue, the son of Nun, and the princes of the families, and of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed by lot in Silo, before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and they divided the land.

In original biblical times one could avenge the killing of any kin by blood. Right, wrong or indifferent—guilt was assumed and judgment not needed to be given. God’s way though this to a higher sense of being was the use of refuge cities where guilt was no longer automatic and the sense of innocent and alive until a reasonable judgment evolved:

Appoint cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses that whosoever shall kill a person unawares may flee to them; and escape the wrath of the kinsman, who is the avenger of the blood… such things as prove him innocent: and so shall they receive him, and give him a place to dwell in… because he slew his neighbor unawares, and is not proved to have been his enemy two or three days before. And he shall dwell in the city, till he stand before judgment to give an account of his fact, and till the death of the high priest, who shall be at that time: then the manslayer return, and go to his own city and house from whence he fled.

These cities were appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the strangers, that dwelt among them” that whosoever had killed a person unawares might flee to them, and not die by the hand of the kinsman, coveting to revenge the blood that was shed, until he should stand before the people to lay open his cause.

The Promised Land divided; not a Lesson in geography or math but more so of history and ancestry.

Day 77: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Promised Land Divided; not a Lesson in Geography or Math….

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Josue Chapters 15-20

Bible Notes:

This Book is so called, because it was written in large part by Josue and is a history of the Jews under his rule. It records the Jewish conquest of the Promised Land, its final distribution, and the last address and death of Josue.

Josue Chapter 15: The territory of Juda; Othoniel wins Axa as his wife; Cities of Juda’ Lowland cities of Juda; Mountain cities of Juda; Desert cities of Juda; Jebusites are not annihilated.

Now the lot of the children of Juda by their kindreds was this:

Kindreds—a person’s relatives collectively; kinfolk; kin; a group of persons related to another; family, tribe, or clan; relationship by birth or descent, or sometimes by marriage; kinship; natural relationship; affinity.

These are the borders round about of the children of Juda in their kindreds… This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Juda by their kindreds.

But to Caleb the son of Jephone he gave a portion in the midst of the children of Juda, as the Lord had commanded him; Hebron

Caleb” He that shall smite Cariath-Sepher, and take it, I will give him Axa my daughter to wife. And Othoniel the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Axa his daughter to wife.

Axa to Caleb: Give me a blessing: thou hast given me a southern and dry land, give me also a land that is watered. And Caleb gave her the upper and the nether watery ground.

Cities of Juda—all the cities twenty-nine, and their villages:

Lowland (39); Mountain (38), and Desert (6)—totals 83???

Gaza with its towns and villages…

But the children of Juda could not destroy the Jebusite that dwelt in Jerusalem: and the Jebusite dwelt with the children of Juda in Jerusalem until this present day.

Josue Chapter 16: Territory of the sons of Joseph; Territory of the Ephraimites; Chanaanites are not annihilated.

And the lot of the sons of Joseph fell from…

And Manasses and Ephraim the children of Joseph possessed it.

And the border of the children of Ephraim was according to their kindreds: and their possession…

This is the possession of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. And there were cities with their villages separated for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the possession of the children of Manasses.

And the children of Ephraim slew not the Chanaanite, who dwelt in Gazer: and the Chanaanite dwelt in the midst of Ephraim until this day, paying tribute.

Josue Chapter 17: Territory of the Manassites; Possessions of the daughters of Salphaad; Boundaries of the territory of Manasses; Chanaanites are not driven out; Land of the children of Joseph increased.

And this lot fell to the tribe of Manasses (for he is the firstborn of Joseph)… these are the male children of Manasses the son of Joseph, by their kindreds.

…had no sons, but only daughters… The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, that a possession should be given them according to the commandment of the Lord a possession amongst the brethren of their father…For the daughters of Manasses possessed inheritance in the midst of his sons…

Neither could the children of Manasses overthrow these cities, but the Chanaanites began to dwell in his land. But after that the children of Israel were grown strong, they subdued the Chanaanites, and made them their tributaries, and they did not kill them.

Children of Joseph to Josue: “Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to possess, whereas I am of so great a multitude, and the Lord hath blessed me?

Josue to the House of Joseph, to Ephraim, and Manasses: Thou art a great people, and of great strength, thou shall not have one lot only, but thou shalt pass to the mountain, and shall cut down the wood, and make thyself room to dwell in: and mayest proceed farther, when thou hast destroyed the Chanaanites, who, as thou sayest have iron chariots, and are very strong.

Josue Chapter 18: The tabernacle set up at Silo; Surveyors appointed to divide the land; Casting lots for the land; The territory of Benjamin; Cities of Benjamin.

And all the children of Israel assembled together in Silo, and there they set up a tabernacle of the testimony, and the land was subdued before them.

Subdue—to bring (land) under cultivation: to subdue the wilderness.

But there remained seven tribes of the children of Israel, which as yet had not received their possessions.

Josue: “How long are you indolent and slack, and go not in to possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given you? Choose of every tribe three men, that I may send them, and they may go and compass the land… divide it yourselves the land into seven parts… that I may cast lots for you before the Lord your God.”

For the Levites have no part among you, but the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance.

And he (Josue) cast lots before the Lord in Silo, and divided the land to the children of Israel into seven parts.

And first came up the lot of the children of Benjamin and their families…

This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their borders round about, and their families.

And their cities were Jericho…Jebus, which is Jerusalem… twelve plus fourteen is twenty-eight cities… This is the possession of the children of Benjamin by their families.

Josue Chapter 19: Territory of Simeon; Territory of Zabulon; Territory of Issachar; Territory of Aser; Territory of Nephtali; Territory of Dan; Josue receives a portion.

And the second lot came forth for the children of Simeon by their kindreds: and their inheritance was in the midst of the possession of the children of…’

This is the inheritance of the children of Simeon according to their kindreds, in the possession and lot of the children of Juda: because it was too great, and therefore the children of Simeon had their possession in the midst of their inheritance.

And the third lot fell to the children of Zabulon by their kindreds: and the border of their possession was…

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Zabulon by their kindreds, the cities and their villages (12).

The fourth lot came to Issachar by their kindreds… this is the possession of the sons of Issachar by their kindreds, the cities and their villages (16).

And the fifth lot fell to the tribe of the children of Aser by their kindreds, and their border was… this is the possession of the children of Aser by their kindreds, and the cities and their villages (22).

The sixth lot came out to the sons of Nephtali by their families… this is the possession of the tribe of the children of Nephtali by their kindreds, the cities and their villages (19).

The seventh lot came out to the tribe of the children of Dan by their families. And the border of their possession was… And the children of Dan went up and fought against Lesem, and took it: and they put it to the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt in it, calling the name of it Lesem Dan, by the name of Dan their father. This is the possession of the tribe of the sons of Dan, by their kindreds, the cities and their villages.

The children of Israel gave a possession to Josue… in the midst of them, according to the commandment of the Lord, the city he asked for, Thamnath Saraa, in mount Ephraim: and he built up the city, and dwelt in it.

These are the possessions which Elezar the priest, and Josue, the son of Nun, and the princes of the families, and of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed by lot in Silo, before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and they divided the land.

Josue Chapter 20: Cities of refuge for manslaughter; Six cities of refuge.

Appoint cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses that whosoever shall kill a person unawares may flee to them; and escape the wrath of the kinsman, who is the avenger of the blood… such things as prove him innocent: and so shall they receive him, and give him a place to dwell in… because he slew his neighbor unawares, and is not proved to have been his enemy two or three days before. And he shall dwell in the city, till he stand before judgment to give an account of his fact, and till the death of the high priest, who shall be at that time: then the manslayer return, and go to his own city and house from whence he fled.

These cities were appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the strangers, that dwelt among them” that whosoever had killed a person unawares might flee to them, and not die by the hand of the kinsman, coveting to revenge the blood that was shed, until he should stand before the people to lay open his cause.

Jesus is sharing a part of the New Covenant with us as He is being constantly challenged by the ruling Pharisees and Scribes who see heaven from our worldly perspective instead of how God, Jesus and the Bible tell us to see it.

We think all our relationships, all our glorious accomplishments and even our beneficial selfishness, you know, the good kind, will carry over to heaven.

So they try to trick Jesus by asking who this childless widow of seven brothers, who did their duty by taking her as their wife when their brother died, will be married to in heaven?

Jesus answered: “The children of this world are marry and are given in marriage. But those who shall be accounted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor take wives. For neither shall they be able to die any more, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead rise, even Moses showed in the passage about the Bush, when he call the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

Even Moses, so very close in interaction to God did not understand or completely comprehend the resurrection and life ever-after in heaven. God is the God of the Living, He is the Living God as well as Jesus lives in our heart and the dynamically alive Holy Spirit permeates our being—spirit, mind, speech, emotions, and body.

 

We will be completely free in heaven as sons of God, risen by the resurrection to become angels of God!

And how do we get to heaven? Not by good works alone but by a desire of the heart to be filled with Jesus from the moment of surrender. Surrender of our free will, our self-will to God’s Will. To giving Jesus gifts of our hearts, ourselves, to turn and walk away from our shortcomings, our character defects, our over-zealous natural, basic instincts now turned into addictions.

Jesus points to the widow who put two mites into the treasury of the temple: “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all. For all these out of their abundance have put in as gifts to God; but she out of her want has put in all that she had to live on.”

Jesus said that “by your patience you will win your souls,” meaning to me to not be lead astray by sin or false prophets. No need to be anxious or terrified with the ways of the world. Jesus said that all that will “lead to your bearing witness. Resolve therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how you are able to make your defense. For I myself will give you utterance and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist.”

That sounds powerful and is powerful with Jesus’ love in your heart, God’s Will your destiny and the Holy Spirit immersing your being.

Imagine God giving us wisdom and putting the right words in our mouths whenever, and always, when needed!   

Chapter 21 of Luke may be more descriptive of the last day than the Book of the Apocalypse of Revelations. There is contradiction and things that don’t make sense or that cannot be unraveled to make sense in my mind.

One big contradiction to me is when Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

 

Seems to directly contradict what God said in the Old Testament back in Genesis Chapter 8:

God was pleased and said: “I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man’s heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done. All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease.”

Ironic isn’t it that we usually tend to want and accept the message of love in the New Testament and want to reject the harshness and bodily death and destruction of the Old Testament and here we have a kinder and gentler promise of God to not wipe us out or destroy the earth.

For me I tend to think of the Bible in terms of one’s personal self, myself included. I didn’t realize it or think about it until a few years ago that in all probability and reality that the earth will live on long after I pass on. This death and destruction of the world is in fact in my opinion this day is the death and destruction of evil within each of us and then bodily death followed by spiritual resurrection to a life lived ever after for all of eternity in heave. Just my opinion, knowing we all have one thing in common for sure—death, and Jesus refers to this by saying, “for come it will upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. Watch, then, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to be, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Chances are we will die an individual death before our habitat, the world is destroyed in God’s plan.

We are angels, sons of God, and sons of the Resurrection!

Day 78: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Angels, Sons of God, and Sons of the Resurrection are We…

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Luke Chapters 20-21.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Saint Luke, a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul.

In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.

 

Luke Chapter 20:  The authority of Jesus; Parable of the vine-dressers; Vine-dressers kill the owner’s son; Condemnation of the Jewish leaders; Tribute to Caesar; The Sadducees ask about the resurrection; Jesus’ answer; The Son of David; Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees.

Chief Priests & Scribes to Jesus: “Tell us, by what authority dost thou do these things? Or who is it that gave thee this authority?

Jesus answered: “I also will ask you one question. Answer me: was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

“If we say ‘from heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

And they answered that they did not know whence it was.

Jesus: “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Parable of the vine-dressers…

Jesus: “A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to vine-dressers, and went abroad for a long time… sent a servant… they beat him and sent him away empty-handed…second servant… they beat and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed… sent a third servant… they wounded and cast him out…sent his beloved son… they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him… What therefore will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers, and will give the vineyard to others.”

Jewish leaders: “By no means.”

Jesus: “What then is this that is written. ‘The stone which the builders rejected, has become the corner stone? Everyone who falls upon that stone will be broken to pieces; but upon whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

For they knew he had aimed this parable at them (the Jewish leaders).

Spies of Jewish leaders to Jesus: “Master, we know that thou speakest and teachest rightly, and showest no favor to any, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

Jesus: “Why do you test me? Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it bear? (Caesar’s) Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”

Master, Moses has written for us… If a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother shall take the widow and raise up issue to his brother… seven brothers… at the resurrection, therefore, of which of them will she be wife? For the seven had her as wife…

Jesus: “The children of this world are marry and are given in marriage. But those who shall be accounted worthy of that world and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor take wives. For neither shall they be able to die any more, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead rise, even Moses showed in the passage about the Bush, when he call the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

Scribes: “Master thou hast said well.”

Jesus: “How do they say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, till I make they enemies thy footstool.’ David therefore calls him, ‘Lord’; how then, is he his son?

Jesus to his disciples: “Beware of the Scribes, who like to walk about in long robes, and love greetings in the market place, and front seats in the synagogues and first place at suppers; who devour the houses of the widows, making pretense of long prayers. These shall receive a heavier sentence.”

Luke Chapter 21:  The widow’s mite; Ruin of Jerusalem and end of the world; Danger of being misled; Persecution foretold; Destruction of Jerusalem; The signs of the last day; Jerusalem’s impending destruction; The need for watchfulness.

Jesus: “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all. For all these out of their abundance have put in as gifts to God; but she out of her want has put in all that she had to live on.”

Jesus foretelling the ruin of Jerusalem and the end of the world: “As for these things that you behold, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Jesus: “Take care not to be led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Do not, therefore, go after them. But when you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; these things must first come to pass, but the end will not be at once. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences and famines, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”

Jesus: “But before all these things they will arrest you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. It shall lead to your bearing witness. Resolve therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how you are able to make your defense. For I myself will give you utterance and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or gainsay. But you will be delivered up by your parents and brothers and relatives and friends; and some of you they will put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake; yet not a hair of your head shall perish. By your patience you will win your souls.”

Jesus: “And when you see Jerusalem being surrounded by an army, then know that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let those who are in her midst go out, and let those who are in the country not enter her. For these are days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those that are with child, or have infants at the breast in those days! For there will be great distress over the land, and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led away as captives to all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the nations be fulfilled.

Jesus regarding signs of the last day: “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations bewildered by the roaring of seas and waves; men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things that are coming on the world” for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming upon a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”

Jesus: “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees. When they now put forth their buds, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things coming to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near, Amen I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things have been accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Bui take heed to your selves, lest your hearts be overburdened with self-indulgence and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare. For come it will upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. Watch, then, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to be, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

So the Promised Land, across the Jordan, was divided amongst the children of Israel.

And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn to give to their fathers: and they possessed it and dwelt in it. And he gave them peace from all the nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion. Not so much as one word, which he had promised to perform unto them, was made void, but all came to pass.

Ironic isn’t it that it was taken by siege and not grown organically? So too was America taken from the natural inhabitants.

I (God) delivered them into your hands, and you possessed their land, and slew them… And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho… And I gave you a land, in which you had not labored, and cities to dwell in which you built not, vineyards and olive yards, which you planted not.

Part of the children of Israel, two-and-one-half tribes did what they promised to do and returned home to the other side of the Jordan with Josue’s blessing:

Josue to Ruben, Gad and Manasses: You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: you have also obeyed me in all things, neither have you left your brethren this long time, until this present day, keeping the commandment of the Lord your God. Therefore, as the Lord your God hath given your brethren rest and peace, as he promised, return, and go to your dwellings, and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan; yet so that you observe attentively, and in work fulfil the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep all of his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul. And Josue blessed them, and sent them away, and they returned to their dwellings.

With much substance and riches, you return to your settlement, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and variety of raiment: divide the prey of your enemies with your brethren.

And the minute something is split from one into two there is the opportunity for comparison, for judgement, for fear and jealousy, isn’t there?

A seemingly just gesture to the Lord was interpreted on various levels and in various ways:

And when they were come to the banks of the Jordan, in the land of Chanaan, they (Ruben, Gad and Manasses) built an altar immensely great near the Jordan.

And when the children of Israel had heard of it… had built an altar in the land of Chanaan, upon the banks of the Jordan, over against the children of Israel, they all assembled in Silo, to go up and fight against them…

Thus saith all the people of the Lord: What meaneth this transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord the God of Israel, building a sacrilegious altar, and revolting from the worship of him? …only depart not from the Lord, and from our society, by building an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God…

Answered the princes of the embassage of Israel: The Lord, the most mighty God, the Lord, the most mighty God, he knoweth, and Israel shall understand: If with the design of transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but punish us immediately… to morrow your children will say to our children: What have you to do with the Lord the God of Israel? The Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and you… but as a testimony between us and you, and our posterity and yours, that we may serve the Lord, and that we may have a right to offer both holocausts, and victims and sacrifices of Peace offerings: and thet your children to morrow may not say to our children: You have no part in the Lord….

We split but we are still part of the original covenant with God, no lesser than our brothers on the other side of the Jordan

Those of the other side of the Jordan in the Promised. And had heard this, they were satisfied: and they admitted most willingly the words of the children of Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe on Manasses… Now we know the Lord is with us, because you are not guilty of this revolt, and you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of the Lord… And the saying pleased all that heard it. And the children of Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession… called the altar which they had built, Our testimony, that the Lord is God.

And that was only a river! Think of seven continents and the vast oceans in between today! Boy, do we need technology and God’s love, compassion, grace, patience and understanding!

And then like Moses, Josue becomes old and ends up dying like the rest of us human beings. Moses, Josue—my curiosity is piqued as to who will take over leadership of Israel in the Promised Land. I probably should know the answer but I don’t. I am intrigued by the reading of the Old Testament and how it will be bridged to modern times or at least times that I can relate to in history that I know and am familiar with.

Josue: “I am old, and far advanced in years, (and I am going into the way of all the earth), and you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you… and many nations remain, the Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you. Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor to the left, lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them; but cleave ye unto the Lord your God: as you have done until this day. And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and strong, and no man shall be able to resist you. One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised. This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God!

Josue: “But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships, know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumbling-block at your side, and snakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you… when you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God.””

This, in my opinion is Old Testament thinking to the Jewish people at the time, not directed to the Gentiles or later Christians relative to the Jewish people—whatever—that was then and now is now—where New Testament thinking of love and acceptance of self and neighbors prevails!

And the Book of Josue ends with a dialogue between Josue and the people. Somehow it seems to forebear the dialogue of us supposedly Christians and Pontus Pilate that ends with us demanding the crucifixion of Christ.

Josue: Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord… you have your choice… as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

People: God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods… we will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

Josue: “You will not be able to serve the Lord: for he is a holy God, And mighty and jealous, and will not forgive your wickedness and sins.”

People: “No, it shall not be so as thou sayest, but we will serve the Lord.”

Josue: “You are witnesses, that you yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him.”

People: “We are witnesses.”

Josue: “Now therefore put away strange gods from among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel.”

People: “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will be obedient to his commandments.”

Josue therefore on that day made a covenant, and set before the people commandments and judgments in Sichem. And he wrote all these things in the volume of the Lord: and he took a great stone, and set it under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the Lord.

And after these things Josue the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord died, being a hundred and ten years old…

And the pendulum, the heart compass always points to us–what is before our eyes; what is our testimony to God going to be?

Day 79: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; What is Before Our Eyes; What is Our Testimony to God?

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Josue Chapters 21-24 (END)

Bible Notes:

This Book is so called, because it was written in large part by Josue and is a history of the Jews under his rule. It records the Jewish conquest of the Promised Land, its final distribution, and the last address and death of Josue.

Josue Chapter 21: Cities for the Levites; Cities for the children of Caath; Cities for the children of Gerson; Cities for the children of Merari; Forty-eight cities to the Levites; Peace comes to the Israelites.

And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, giving to every one by lot. (13+10+12+9+4 = 48)

All the cities were ten, with their suburbs, which were given to the children of Caath, of the inferior degree.

All the cities of the families of Gerson, were thirteen, with their suburbs.

All the cities of the children of Merari by their families and kindreds, were twelve.

So all the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight, with their suburbs, each distributed by the families.

And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn to give to their fathers: and they possessed it and dwelt in it. And he gave them peace from all the nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion. Not so much as one word, which he had promised to perform unto them, was made void, but all came to pass.

Josue Chapter 22: Josue dismisses Ruben, Gad, and Manasses; Ruben, Gad, and Manasses depart; Ruben, Gad, and Manasses build an altar; The other tribes are offended; Ruben, Gad, and Manasses explain their altar; Friendship among the tribes is restored.

Josue to Ruben, Gad and Manasses: You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: you have also obeyed me in all things, neither have you left your brethren this long time, until this present day, keeping the commandment of the Lord your God. Therefore, as the Lord your God hath given your brethren rest and peace, as he promised, return, and go to your dwellings, and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan; yet so that you observe attentively, and in work fulfil the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep all of his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul. And Josue blessed them, and sent them away, and they returned to their dwellings.

With much substance and riches, you return to your settlement, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and variety of raiment: divide the prey of your enemies with your brethren.

And when they were come to the banks of the Jordan, in the land of Chanaan, they built an altar immensely great near the Jordan.

And when the children of Israel had heard of it… had built an altar in the land of Chanaan, upon the banks of the Jordan, over against the children of Israel, they all assembled in Silo, to go up and fight against them…

Thus saith all the people of the Lord: What meaneth this transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord the God of Israel, building a sacrilegious altar, and revolting from the worship of him? …only depart not from the Lord, and from our society, by building an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God…

Answered the princes of the embassage of Israel: The Lord, the most mighty God, the Lord, the most mighty God, he knoweth, and Israel shall understand: If with the design of transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but punish us immediately… to morrow your children will say to our children: What have you to do with the Lord the God of Israel? The Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and you… but as a testimony between us and you, and our posterity and yours, that we may serve the Lord, and that we may have a right to offer both holocausts, and victims and sacrifices of Peace offerings: and that your children to morrow may not say to our children: You have no part in the Lord….

…had heard this, they were satisfied: and they admitted most willingly the words of the children of Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe on Manasses… Now we know the Lord is with us, because you are not guilty of this revolt, and you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of the Lord… And the saying pleased all hat heard it. And the children of Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession… called the altar which they had built, Our testimony, that the Lord is God.

Josue Chapter 23: Josue as an old man counsels obedience; Punishments for disobedience to God.

Josue: “I am old, and far advanced in years, and you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you… and many nations remain, the Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you. Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor to the left, lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them; but cleave ye unto the Lord your God: as you have done until this day. And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and strong, and no man shall be able to resist you. One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised. This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God!

Gentiles—of or relating to any people not Jewish; Christian, as distinguished from Jewish; Mormon Church, not Mormon; heathen or pagan; (of a linguistic expression) expressing nationality or local origins; of or relating to a tribe, clan, people, nation, etc.

Josue: “But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships, know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumbling-block at your side, and snakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you… when you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God.””

I am going into the way of all the earth…

Josue Chapter 24: Josue recalls former blessings of God; People told to choose between God and idols; The people choose to serve the true God; The people promise obedience; Josue renews the covenant; Death of Josue and Eleazar.

Josue: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old on the other side of the river, there the father of Abraham, and Nachor: and they served strange gods. And I took your father Abraham from the borders of Mesopotamia: and brought him into the land of Chanaan… and gave him Isaac; and to him I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave to Esau mount Seir for his possession: but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with many signs and wonders. And I brought you and your fathers out of Egypt… and brought the sea upon them, and covered them (Egyptians)… beyond the Jordan… I delivered them into your hands, and you possessed their land, and slew them… And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho… And I gave you a land, in which you had not labored, and cities to dwell in which you built not, vineyards and oliveyards, which you planted not.

Josue: Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord… you have your choice… as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

People: God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods… we will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

Josue: “You will not be able to serve the Lord: for he is a holy God, And mighty and jealous, and will not forgive your wickedness and sins.”

People: “No, it shall not be so as thou sayest, but we will serve the Lord.”

Josue: “You are witnesses, that you yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him.”

People: “We are witnesses.”

Josue: “Now therefore put away strange gods from among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel.”

People: “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will be obedient to his commandments.”

Josue therefore on that day made a covenant, and set before the people commandments and judgments in Sichem. And he wrote all these things in the volume of the Lord: and he took a great stone, and set it under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the Lord.

And after these things Josue the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord died, being a hundred and ten years old… Elezar also the son of Aaron died…

(Jesus), in like manner he took also the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which shall be shed for you.”

Body of Bread before Supper, new covenant in Jesus’ blood after supper.

What did they eat for supper? Was the meal a Seder, the ritual meal held in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover?

Typically, Christians pray before and after meals. Before: “Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy Bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.” After: “We give Thee thanks Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, and for the poor souls of the faithfully departed, through the Mercy of God, may they rest in peace. Amen.”

 

 

‘Before and After,’ seems to be a common thread in life…

Before and after birth.

Before and after sin.

Before and after death.

See beyond what seems to be!

Sin starts with a thought yet Peter thought and spoke denying knowing the Lord three times.

And at that moment, while he was yet speaking, a cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, “Before a cock crows, thou wilt deny me three times.” And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

God knows our sins and Jesus knows our sins too. Jesus in our heart comforts our spirits and forgives our sinfulness.

“I am perfect, except when I am not,” says this sinful soul.

Jesus said Peter would deny Him that third time. I wonder if seeing and feeling that was worse than the betrayal of Judas which seemed nonessential and routine in terms of biblical drama. Here Peter is not only denying the Lord three times but does nothing to stop the abuse to him.

And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.

When will we stop the abuse to ourselves and the abuse we do to others?

Jesus at the Mount of Olives to Apostles: “Pray you may not enter into temptation.”

Jesus to God: “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but thine be done.”

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven to strengthen him. And falling into an agony he prayed the more earnestly.

And rising from prayer, he came to his disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, that you may not enter into temptation.”

…and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was going before them (a crowd), and he drew near to Jesus to kiss him, But Jesus said to him, “Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

“Lord shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

Jesus: “Bear with them thus far.” And he touched his ear and healed it.

Jesus to the chef priests, captains of the temple and elders: “As against a robber have you come out, with swords and clubs. When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

And the men who had him in custody began to mock him and beat him. And they blindfolded him, and kept striking his face and asking him, saying, “Prophesy, who is it that struck thee?” And many other things they kept saying against him, reviling him.

Elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes gathered together and they led him away into their Sanhedrin, saying, “If thou art the Christ, tell us.”

 

Jesus: “If I tell you, you will not believe me; and if I question you, you will not answer me, or let me go. But henceforth, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

They: “Art thou the Son of God?”

Jesus: “You yourselves say that I am.”

They: “What further need have we of witness? For we have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.”

What is tempting you this very moment? Are you able to turn from it and ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you from the temptation?

What cross are you carrying? Why is it so heavy? Jesus promises us rest!

Pray before supper and pray after supper, and stay in union with Christ all the time!

Day 80: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Before Supper, After Supper, In Union with Christ all the Time!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Luke Chapter 22.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Saint Luke, a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul.

In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.

 

Luke Chapter 22:  The council against Jesus; The betrayal by Judas; Preparation for the Passover; The Last Supper; Institution of the Holy Eucharist; The betrayer; Contention among the Apostles; Peter’s denials predicted; The impending capture of Jesus; The agony in the garden; Jesus finds the disciples sleeping; The kiss of Judas; Jesus arrested; Peter’s denial; Jesus abused; Trial before the Sanhedrin.

Now the feast of the Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was drawing near…

But Satan entered into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, one of the Twelve…

Now the day of the Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover had to be sacrificed.

Jesus to Peter and John: “Go and prepare for us the Passover that we may eat it… Behold, on your entering the city, there will meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house into which he goes. And you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Master says to thee, “Where is the guest chamber, that I may eat the Passover there with my disciples?”’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready.”

Jesus to the Twelve Apostles: “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you that I will eat of it no more, until it has been fulfilled in the kingdom of God… Take this and share it among you; for I say to you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God comes… This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In like manner he took also the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which shall be shed for you.”

“But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man indeed goes his way, as it has been determined: yet woe to that man by whom he will be betrayed.”

Now there arose a dispute among the Apostles, which of them was reputed to be the greatest. But Jesus said to them: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and they who exercise authority over them are called Benefactors. But not so with you. On the contrary, let him who is greatest among you become as the youngest, and him who is the chief as servant. For which is greater, he who reclines at table, or he who serves? Is it not he who reclines? But I am in your midst as he who serves. But you are they who have continued with me in my trials. And I appoint you a kingdom, even as my Father has appointed me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you shall sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Jesus: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may not fail; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, strengthen thy brethren.”

Simon Peter to Jesus: “Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”

Jesus to Simon Peter: “I tell thee, Peter, a cock will not crow this day, until thou hast denied me three times that thou knowest me.”

Jesus to the Twelve Apostles: “When I sent you forth without purse or wallet or sandals, did you lack anything?”

Apostles: “Nothing.”

Jesus: “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a wallet; and let him who has no sword sell his tunic and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must yet be fulfilled in me, ‘And he reckoned among the wicked.’ For that which concerns me is at its end.”

Apostles: “Lord, behold, here are two swords.”

Jesus: “Enough.”

Jesus at the Mount of Olives to Apostles: “Pray you may not enter into temptation.”

Jesus to God: “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but thine be done.”

 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven to strengthen him. And falling into an agony he prayed the more earnestly.

And rising from prayer, he came to his disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, that you may not enter into temptation.”

…and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was going before them (a crowd), and he drew near to Jesus to kiss him, But Jesus said to him, “Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

“Lord shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

Jesus: “Bear with them thus far.” And he touched his ear and healed it.

Jesus to the chef priests, captains of the temple and elders: “As against a robber have you come out, with swords and clubs. When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Woman: “This man was with him.”

Peter: “Woman, I do not know him.”

Someone else: “Thou too art one of them.”

Peter: “Man, I am not.”

Another: “Surely this man, too, was with him, for he also is a Galilean.”

Peter: “Man. I do not know what thou sayest.”

And at that moment, while he was yet speaking, a cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, “Before a cock crows, thou wilt deny me three times.” And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

And the men who had him in custody began to mock him and beat him. And they blindfolded him, and kept striking his face and asking him, saying, “Prophesy, who is it that struck thee?” And many other things they kept saying against him, reviling him.

Elders of the people, the chief priests and the scribes gathered together and they led him away into their Sanhedrin, saying, “If thou art the Christ, tell us.”

Jesus: “If I tell you, you will not believe me; and if I question you, you will not answer me, or let me go. But henceforth, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

They: “Art thou the Son of God?”

Jesus: “You yourselves say that I am.”

They: “What further need have we of witness? For we have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.”

This Book of Judges in the Old Testament is so called, because it is a history of the Jews under the government of the Judges, men, like Gedeon and Samson, who were raised up to rule Israel before they had kings. It describes the religious and political condition of the Jews and the work of the twelve Judges.

My first impression of Judges is that this is a repeat of earlier books and I am disappointed. Then I question my thinking. Why be disappointed prior to experiencing something? Aren’t expectations just a precursor to resentments? So if I am already disappointed and resenting something before even starting then there is definitely something wrong with me.

After all in life the end of anything is very rarely the same as the beginning.

Please agree with me, no rather accept my perspective as it is true for me. My analysis was based on honesty and spiritual principles. I am perfect, except when I am not and that means I am not perfect quite frequently!

A lot of the four gospels in the New Testament are repeating the same story but there is always that one little twist, how a passage is stated, and a certain phrase emerges that connects directly with me. Directly with my heart.

No moment in my life needs to be repeated. No moment in anyone’s life can be repeated. Time moves forward and we either adjust and move with it to some degree or not. If we cannot we are most likely dead already. If we don’t have the proper perspective or are unwilling or so egocentric that we cannot, well we might as well be dead to some degree.

Open-minded and open-hearted is the key to peace, joy and freedom in life, right?

After the death of Josue, the children of Israel consulted the Lord saying: Who shall go up before us against the Chanaanite, and shall be the leader of the war?

And the Lord said: Juda shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hands.

Juda to Simeon his brother: Come up with me into my lot, and fight against the Chanaanite, that I may go along with thee into thy lot. And Simeon went with him.

And then Chanaanite began to dwell with them. But after Israel was grown strong he made them tributaries…

Tributaries—a person or nation that pays tribute in acknowledgment of subjugation or the like; subject; subordinate: a tributary nation.

I did not know that use of the word tributary but it flows from what we see with rivers and tributaries in nature… sorry. My apology for the pun! Remember I am a writer and humorist at heart!

History repeats itself unless we learn from it and pass it along to future generations… God used other nations to tempt Israel or in His words “that through them I may try Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord, and walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not.”

God is always testing us too!

And Josue the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old…

And all that generation was gathered to their fathers: and there arose others that knew not the Lord, and the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served Baalim. And they left the Lord the God of their fathers… and they followed strange gods, and the gods of the people that dwelt round them, and they adored them: and they provoked the Lord to anger, forsaking him…

And all that generation was gathered to their fathers as so too will we be called to a spiritual life after death. Hopefully.

God is always loving us too!

Baalim—a false god; any of numerous local deities among the ancient Semitic peoples, typifying the productive forces of nature and worshiped with much sensuality.

And the Lord being angry against Israel, delivered them into the hands of plunderers: who took them and sold them to their enemies, that dwelt round about: neither could they stand against their enemies.

Seems like maybe they were addicted to something other than serving their Lord?

And the Lord raised up judges, to deliver them from the hands of those that oppressed them: but they would not harken to them, committing fornication with strange gods, and adoring them.

They quickly forsook the way, in which their fathers had walked: and hearing the commandments of the Lord, they did all things contrary.

And when the Lord raised up judges, in their days he was moved to mercy, and heard the groanings of the afflicted, and delivered them from the slaughter of their oppressors. But after the judge was dead, they returned, and did much worse things than their fathers had done, following strange gods, serving them, and adoring them. They left not their own inventions, and the stubborn way, by which they were accustomed to walk.

And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said: “Behold this nation hath made void my covenant, which I had made with their fathers, and hath despised to hearken to my voice. I also will not destroy the nations which Josue left, when he died, that through them I may try Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord, and walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not. The Lord therefore left all these nations, and would not quickly destroy them, neither did he deliver them into the hands of Josue.

And the Lord being angry with Israel, delivered them into the hands of Chusan Rasathaim king of Mesopotamia, and they served him eight years.

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord… and the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years… and afterward they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a savior called Aod… and the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod, and the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jaban king of Chanaan… for he had nine hundred chariots set with scythes, and for twenty years had grievously oppressed them…

This redemption of the children of Israel, now not the first children of Israel but many, many generations later… seems to go on and on in the Old Testament.

But then we are brought to perhaps the very first song in the Bible, the triumphal song of Debbora and Barac—“O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, bless the Lord. Hear, O ye kings, give ear, ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord the God of Israel.”

So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love thee shine, as the sun shineth in his rising. And the land rested for forty years.

Brings to my mind the quotation from Alexander Tyler, a Scottish historian circa 1787 that I used first and foremost in the Introduction to my book, The Approach, written in 2005, perhaps foretelling the Global Financial Crisis of 2008:

“The average age of the world’s greatest civilization has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; and from dependence back into bondage.”

Am I in bondage once again?

God knows this sequence well as demonstrated in the Old Testament…

I will seek God in hopes of being free from all these self-bondages I have created in life!

TROML Baby!

Splendid Spiritual Self…

Day 81: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Judges, Judges, Judges… Strong Tributaries, Broken Covenants, & Rested Souls….

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Judges Chapters 1-5

Bible Notes:

This Book is so called, because it is a history of the Jews under the government of the Judges, men, like Gedeon and Samson, who were raised up to rule Israel before they had kings. It describes the religious and political condition of the Jews and the work of the twelve Judges.

Judges Chapter 1: Juda and Simeon fight the Chanaanites; Punishment of Adomibezec; Attacks on Jerusalem, Hebron, and Dabir; Othoniel wins Axa as his wife; More cities captured; Hebron given to Caleb; Jebusites not annihilated; Capture of Bethel; Chanaanites become tributaries; Danites forced into the mountains.

After the death of Josue, the children of Israel consulted the Lord saying: Who shall go up before us against the Chanaanite, and shall be the leader of the war?

And the Lord said: Juda shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hands.

Juda to Simeon his brother: Come up with me into my lot, and fight against the Chanaanite, that I may go along with thee into thy lot. And Simeon went with him.

And they slew of them in Besec ten thousand men…

And Adonibezec fled: and they pursued after him, and cut off his fingers and toes.

Adonibezec: Seventy kings having their fingers and toes cut off, gathered up the leavings of the meat under my table: as I have done, so hath God requited me.

Requited—to give or do in return.

And the children of Juda beseiging Jerusalem, took it, put it to sword, and set the whole city on fire…

Caleb: Othoniel took Cariath-Sepher (Dabir) and Caleb gave him his daughter Axa to wife.

And the children of the Cinite, the kinsman of Moses…

And Juda took Gaza with its confines…

And the Lord was with Juda, and he possessed the hill country: but was not able to destroy the inhabitants of the valley, because they had many chariots armed with scythes.

Scythe—an agricultural implement consisting of a long, curving blade fastened at an angle to a handle, for cutting grass, grain, etc., by hand.

Show us the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy…

And then Chanaanite began to dwell with them. But after Israel was grown strong he made them tributaries…

Tributaries—a person or nation that pays tribute in acknowledgment of subjugation or the like; subject; subordinate: a tributary nation.

Judges Chapter 2: An angel reproves the Israelites; Death and burial of Josue; Wickedness of the new generation; The Lord punishes the people; The Lord provides judges for the people; Other nations left to try Israel.

An Angel of the Lord to the Israelites: I made you go out of Egypt, and have brought you into the land for which I swore to your fathers: and I promised that I would not make void my covenant with you for ever, on condition that you should not make a league with the inhabitants of this land, but should throw down their altars: and you would not hear my voice: why have you done this?

Children of Israel: They lifted up their voices, and wept… and there they offered sacrifices to the Lord.

And Josue the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old…

And all that generation was gathered to their fathers: and there arose others that knew not the Lord, and the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served Baalim. And they left the Lord the God of their fathers… and they followed strange gods, and the gods of the people that dwelt round them, and they adored them: and they provoked the Lord to anger, forsaking him…

Baalim—a false god; any of numerous local deities among the ancient Semitic peoples, typifying the productive forces of nature and worshiped with much sensuality.

And the Lord being angry against Israel, delivered them into the hands of plunderers: who took them and sold them to their enemies, that dwelt round about: neither could they stand against their enemies.

And the Lord raised up judges, to deliver them from the hands of those that oppressed them: but they would not harken to them, committing fornication with strange gods, and adoring them.

They quickly forsook the way, in which their fathers had walked: and hearing the commandments of the Lord, they did all things contrary.

And when the Lord raised up judges, in their days he was moved to mercy, and heard the groanings of the afflicted, and delivered them from the slaughter of their oppressors. But after the judge was dead, they returned, and did much worse things than their fathers had done, following strange gods, serving them, and adoring them. They left not their own inventions, and the stubborn way, by which they were accustomed to walk.

And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said: “Behold this nation hath made void my covenant, which I had made with their fathers, and hath despised to hearken to my voice. I also will not destroy the nations which Josue left, when he died, that through them I may try Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord, and walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not. The Lord therefore left all these nations, and would not quickly destroy them, neither did he deliver them into the hands of Josue.

Judges Chapter 3: List of the nations left to try Israel; Israel punished for idolatry; Othoniel saves Israel; Israel again punished by God; Aod slays Eglon; Aod escapes; Aol leads Israel against Moab; Samgar defends Israel.

List of nations left to try Israel…

And the Lord being angry with Israel, delivered them into the hands of Chusan Rasathaim king of Mesopotamia, and they served him eight years.

And they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a savior, and delivered them, to wit, Othoniel, the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb, and the spirit of the Lord was in him, and he judged Israel. And he went out to fight, and the Lord delivered into his hands Chusan Rasathaim king of Syria, and he overthrew him. And the land rested forty years, and Othoniel the son of Cenez died.

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; who strengthened against them Eglon king of Maob… and he went and overthrew Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees (Jericho.

And the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years…and afterward they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a savior called Aod… who used his the left hand as well as the right… and Aod put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon’s belly with such force that the haft went in after the blade into the wound, and was closed up with the abundance of fat. So that he did not draw out the dagger, but left it in his body as he had stuck it in.

Haft–a handle, especially of a knife, sword, or dagger.

Follow me for the Lord hath delivered our enemies the Moabites into our hands… they slew all the Moabites at that time, about ten thousand, all strong and valiant men: none of them could escape. And Moab was humbles that day under the hand of Israel; and the land rested eighty years.

Judges Chapter 4: Jaban oppresses the Israelites; Conspiracy of Debbora and Barac; Barac destroys the army of Sisara; Jahel kills Sisara; The Israelites destroy Jabin.

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod, and the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jaban king of Chanaan… and the children of Israel cried to the Lord; for he had nine hundred chariots set with scythes, and for twenty years had grievously oppressed them.

Debbora a prophetess the wife of Lapidoth… and the children of Israel came up to her for all judgment… and she sent and called Barac… The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee… and will deliver them into thy hand… and Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go… Debbora to Barac: Arise, for this us the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands… leaping down from off his chariot, fled away on foot…. And all the multitudes of the enemies were utterly destroyed.

Sisara fleeing came to the tent of Jahel the wife of Haber the Cinite… Come in to me, my lord, come in, fear not… she put the nail upon the temples of his head, and striking it with the hammer, drove it through his brain fast into the ground; and so passing from deep sleep to death, he fainted away and died… and when Barac came into her tent, he saw Sisara lying dead, and the nail fastened in his temples..

So God that day humbled Jabin the king of Chanaan before the children of Israel, who grew daily stronger, and with mighty hand overpowered Jabin king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him.

Judges Chapter 5: Triumphal song of Debbora and Barac; Power of the Lord; The weakness of Israel; The call to battle; The battle; Meroz cursed; Jahel blessed; Sorrow of Sisara’s mother; Epilogue.

In that day Debbora and Barac, son of Abinoem, sung, and said: O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, bless the Lord. Hear, O ye kings, give ear, ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord the God of Israel.

… the paths rested: and they went by them, walked through byways. The valiant men ceased, and rested in Israel until Debbora arose: a mother arose in Israel.

… there let the justices of the Lord be rehearsed, and his clemency towards the brave men of Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the gates, and obtained their sovereignty.

Review of what transpired in Judges Chapters 1 to 4…

So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love thee shine, as the sun shineth in his rising. And the land rested for forty years.

This is the last two chapters—the end—of the The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke, who was a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, and had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul. In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.

Salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone.

Salvation is for all of us imperfect human beings, not for Jesus, The Perfect One, alone.

Salvation is for all of us sinners, not for Jesus, who was without sin, alone.

Luke follows the Gospels of Matthew and Mark and precedes the Gospel of John.

But Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Then Jesus opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.

Be open-hearted! Be open-minded!

Here is the third gospel rendition of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… and be default the end of our life journey and story for we all know that the ending of all in life is usually much different than the beginning, unless, of course, we have Jesus in our hearts, are saved and surrendering our will to God and tapping into His Power, and we are permeated with the Holy Spirit in life.

(Jesus was) delivered to their will (our will when we sin and distance ourselves from Christ)…

“Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them a third time: “Why, what evil has this man done? I find no crime deserving of death in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

… and their cries prevailed… and Pilate pronounced sentence that what they asked for should be done… but Jesus he delivered to their will…

One of the robbers: “If thou art the Christ save thyself and us!”

The other robber rebuked him and said: “Dost not even thou fear God, seeing that thou are under the same sentence? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what our deeds deserved, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Other robber to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”

Jesus cried out in a loud voice and said: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

And having said this, Jesus expired.

The centurion glorified God saying, “Truly this was a just man.”

The crowd began to return beating their breasts…

And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a councilor, a good and just man—he had not been party to their plan of action—of Arimathea, a town of Judea, who was himself looking for the kingdom of God, He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped him in a linen cloth, and laid him in a rockhewn tomb where no one had ever yet been laid… and it was Preparation Day… and the women… and they went back and prepared spices and ointments… and on the Sabbath they rested, in accordance with the commandment.

But on the first day of the week at early dawn, they came to the tomb… and they found the stone rolled back from the tomb. But on entering, they did not find the body of Jesus…

… two men stood by them in dazzling raiment, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he spoke to you while he was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.”

And they remembered his words. And having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Now, it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary, the mother of James, and the other women who were with them, who were telling these things to the apostles. But this tale seemed to them to be nonsense, and they did not believe the women. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths laid there; and he went away wondering to himself at what had come to pass.

And it came to pass, while they were conversing and arguing together, that Jesus himself also drew near and went along with them; but their eyes were held, that they should not recognize him.

And Jesus said to the two apostles: “what words are these that you are exchanging as you walk and are sad?”

One of them Cleophas, answered and said to Jesus: “art thou the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Jesus” “What things?”

They said to him: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, today is the third day since these things came to pass. And moreover, certain women of our company, who were at the tomb before it was light, astounded us, and not finding his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he is alive. So some of our company went to the tomb, and found it even as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

But Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things before entering into his glory?”

And beginning then with Moses and with all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things referring to himself.

“Stay with us, for it is getting towards evening, and the day is now far spent.”

And Jesus went in with them. And it came to pass when he reclined at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke and began handing it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

And they said to each other, “Was not our heart burning within us while he was speaking on the road and explaining to us the Scriptures?”

“The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.”

Now while they were talking of these things, Jesus stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace to you! It is I, do not be afraid.”

But they were startled and panic-stricken, and thought that they saw a spirit.

And Jesus said to them, “Why are you disturbed, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Feel me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

But as they still disbelieved and marveled for joy, Jesus said, “Have you anything here to eat?”

And Jesus said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled that are written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.”

Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.

And Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written; and thus the Christ should suffer, and should rise again from the dead on the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you yourselves are witnesses of these things. And I send forth upon you the promise of my Father. But wait here in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Now he led them out towards Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them, that he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

…that all things must be fulfilled that are written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.”

Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.

But Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Be open-hearted! Be open-minded!

Why be slow of heart? Jesus open my mind so that I may understand… my own personal salvation…

Day 82: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Why be slow of heart? Jesus open my Mind so that I may Understand…

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Luke Chapters 23-24.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Saint Luke, a pagan by birth and a physician by profession, had never seen our Lord. An early convert, he became a companion and co-worker of Saint Paul.

In the first four verses of his Gospel he explains why he wrote it. Paul’s doctrine that salvation is for all, not for Jesus alone, is the theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel.

 

Luke Chapter 23:  Jesus before Pilate; Jesus before Herod; Jesus again before Pilate; Barabbas chosen over Jesus; The sentence of death; The way of the cross; The crucifixion; Christ’s promise to the good thief; The death of Jesus; The words of the centurion; The burial.

Whole assemblage accuses Jesus: “We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ a king.”

Pilate asking Jesus: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered: “Thou sayest it.”

Pilate to the chief priests and to the crowds: “I find no guilt in this man.”

They persisted, saying: “He is stirring up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, and beginning from Galilee even to this place.”

But Pilate, hearing Galilee, asked whether this man was a Galilean. And learning that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him back to Herod, who likewise was in Jerusalem in those days.

Herod… had been for a long time desirous to see Jesus… and he was hoping to see some miracle done by him… with his soldiery, treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him in a bright robe, and sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends that very day; whereas previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Pilate to the chief priests and the rulers and the people: “You have brought before me this man, as one who perverts the people; and behold, I upon examining him in your presence have found no guilt in this man as touching those things of which you accuse him. Neither has Herod; for I sent you back to him, and behold, nothing deserving of death has been committed by him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

Whole mob cried out together: “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!”

But Pilate spoke to them again, wishing to release Jesus.

“Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them a third time: “Why, what evil has this man done? I find no crime deserving of death in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

… and their cries prevailed… and Pilate pronounced sentence that what they asked for should be done… but Jesus he delivered to their will…

Simon of Cyrene… and upon him they laid the cross to bear it after Jesus.

Jesus turning to them said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, days are coming in which men will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if in the case of green wood they do these things what is to happen in the case of the dry?”

Now there were also two other malefactors led to execution with him.

And when they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, and the robbers, one on his right hand and the other on his left.

Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

People and rulers sneering at him, saying: “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is Christ, the chosen one of God.”

Soldiers also mocked him: “If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself!”

An inscription written over him in Greek and in Latin and Hebrew letters: “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the robbers: “If thou art the Christ save thyself and us!”

The other robber rebuked him and said: “Dost not even thou fear God, seeing that thou are under the same sentence? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what our deeds deserved, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Other robber to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”

Jesus cried out in a loud voice and said: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

And having said this, Jesus expired.

The centurion glorified God saying, “Truly this was a just man.”

The crowd began to return beating their breasts…

And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a councilor, a good and just man—he had not been party to their plan of action—of Arimathea, a town of Judea, who was himself looking for the kingdom of God, He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped him in a linen cloth, and laid him in a rockhewn tomb where no one had ever yet been laid… and it was Preparation Day… and the women… and they went back and prepared spices and ointments… and on the Sabbath they rested, in accordance with the commandment.

 

Luke Chapter 24:  The women at the empty tomb; The women report to the Eleven; Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus; The two disciples speak to Jesus; Christ’s words to the two disciples; The two recognize Jesus; They return to Jerusalem; Jesus appears to the Eleven; The last instructions of Jesus; The Ascension

But on the first day of the week at early dawn, they came to the tomb… and they found the stone rolled back from the tomb. But on entering, they did not find the body of Jesus…

… two men stood by them in dazzling raiment, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he spoke to you while he was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.”

And they remembered his words. And having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Now, it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary, the mother of James, and the other women who were with them, who were telling these things to the apostles. But this tale seemed to them to be nonsense, and they did not believe the women. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths laid there; and he went away wondering to himself at what had come to pass.

And it came to pass, while they were conversing and arguing together, that Jesus himself also drew near and went along with them; but their eyes were held, that they should not recognize him.

And Jesus said to the two apostles: “what words are these that you are exchanging as you walk and are sad?”

One of them Cleophas, answered and said to Jesus: “art thou the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Jesus” “What things?”

They said to him: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, today is the third day since these things came to pass. And moreover, certain women of our company, who were at the tomb before it was light, astounded us, and not finding his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he is alive. So some of our company went to the tomb, and found it even as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

But Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things before entering into his glory?”

And beginning then with Moses and with all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things referring to himself.

“Stay with us, for it is getting towards evening, and the day is now far spent.”

And Jesus went in with them. And it came to pass when he reclined at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke and began handing it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

And they said to each other, “Was not our heart burning within us while he was speaking on the road and explaining to us the Scriptures?”

“The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.”

Now while they were talking of these things, Jesus stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace to you! It is I, do not be afraid.”

But they were startled and panic-stricken, and thought that they saw a spirit.

And Jesus said to them, “Why are you disturbed, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Feel me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

But as they still disbelieved and marveled for joy, Jesus said, “Have you anything here to eat?”

And Jesus said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled that are written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.”

Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.

And Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written; and thus the Christ should suffer, and should rise again from the dead on the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you yourselves are witnesses of these things. And I send forth upon you the promise of my Father. But wait here in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Now he led them out towards Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them, that he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

 

Synopsis: Give me a sign says Gedeon… there arose fire from the rock… Okay I will destroy my father’s altar of Baal?… save the children of Israel?… now I need two signs… one a wet fleece and the other a dry fleece… 300 men and a dream fulfilled… no I do not want to be a king….

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord; and he delivered them into the hand of Madian seven years.

And they were grievously oppressed by them. And they made themselves dens and caves in the mountains, and strong holds to resist.

…and they left nothing at all in Israel for sustenance of life…

And Israel was humbled exceedingly in the sight of Madian.

And an angel of the Lord came, and sat under an oak… and when Gedeon was threshing and cleansing wheat by the winepress, to flee from Madian, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said: “The Lord is with thee, O Most valiant of men.”

Gedeon: “I beseech thee, my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why have these evils fallen upon us? Where are his miracles, which our fathers have told us of, saying: The Lord brought us out of Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of Madian.”

And the Lord looked upon him, and said: Go in this thy strength, and thou shalt deliver Israel out of the hand of Median: know that I have sent thee.”

Gedeon: “I beseech thee, my lord, wherewith shall I deliver Israel? Behold my family is the meanest in Manasses, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

And the Lord said to him: “I will be with thee: and thou shall cut off Median as one man.”

Gedeon: If I have found grace before thee, give me a sign that it is thou that speakest to me, and depart not hence, till I return to thee, and bring a sacrifice, and offer it to thee.

Lord to Gideon: “I will wait thy coming.”

So Gedeon went in, and boiled a kid, and made unleavened loaves…

The angel of the Lord put forth the tip of the rod… there arose a fire from the rock… and consumed the flesh and the unleavened loaves… and the angel of the Lord vanished out of sight.

Gedeon: “Alas, my Lord God: for I have seen the angel of the Lord face-to-face.

The Lord to Gedeon: “Peace be with thee; fear not, thou shalt not die.

And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and called it the Lord’s peace, until this present day.

The Lord said to Gedeon: “… thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal, which is thy father’s and cut down the grove that is about the altar. And thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God in the top of this rock, where upon thou didst lay the sacrifice before… and shalt offer a holocaust upon a pile of the wood, which thou shalt cut down out of the grove.”

Then Gedeon, taking ten men of his servants, did as the Lord commanded him. But fearing his father’s house, and the men of that city, he would not do it by day, but did all by night.

It was said: Gedeon the son of Joas did all this. And so they said to Joas: “Bring out thy son hither, that he may die: because he hath destroyed the altar of Baal, and hath cut down his grove.”

Joas answered the men of the town: “Are you the avengers of Baal, that you fight for him? He that is his adversary, let him die before to morrow light appear: if he be a god, let him revenge himself on him that hath cast down his altar.”

So the son stands up to the father and the father stands up for the son!

But the spirit of the Lord came upon Gedeon, and he sounded the trumpet and called together the house of Abiezer, to follow him.

Gedeon said to God: “If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, I will go put this fleece of wool on the floor: if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on the ground beside, I shall know that by my hand, as thou hast said, thou wilt deliver Israel.”

And so it was so…

And rising before day wringing the fleece, he filled a vessel with the dew.

Gedeon to God; “Let not thy wrath be kindled against me if I try once more, seeking a sign in the fleece. I pray that the fleece only may be dry, and all the ground wet with dew.

And God did that night as he had requested: and it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Lord to Gedeon: “Speak to the people, and proclaim in the hearing of all, Whoever is fearful and timorous, let him return.” (Reduced the number from 22,000 to 10,000 remained).

Lord to Gedeon: “Bring them to the waters, and there I will try them: and whom I shall say to thee, This shall go with thee let him go: whom I forbid to go, let him return.”

They that shall lap the water with their tongues as dogs are wont to lap, thou shall set apart by themselves: but they that shall drink bowing down their knees, shall be on the other side.

And the number of them that had lapped water, casting it with the hand to their mouth was three hundred men; and the rest of the multitude had drunk kneeling.

By the three hundred men, that lapped the water, I will save you, and deliver Madian into thy hand: but let all the rest of the people return to their place.

A kinder and gentler God in the Old Testament?

And Gedeon had heard the dream, and the interpretation thereof, he adored: and returned to the camp of Israel, and said: arise, for the Lord hath delivered the camp of Madian into our hands.

And he divided the three hundred men into three parts, and gave them trumpets in their hands empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

What you shall see me do, do you the same.

…and shout together to the Lord and to Gedeon.

So all the camp was troubled, and crying out and howling they fled away. And the three hundred men nevertheless persisted sounding the trumpets. And the Lord sent the sword into all the camp, and they killed one another.

There’s more to the story but suffice it to finish it here…

And Gedeon said to them: “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you, but the Lord shall rule over you.”

In Judges, before Kings 1 and 2 of the Bible… foretelling of democracy? Kings and dictators, empires and dynasties… NOT! Democracy as no one person but the Lord shall rule over you!

And Gedeon had seventy sons, who came out of his thigh, for he had many wives.

And his concubine, that he had in Sichem, bore him a son, whose name was Abimelech.

And Gedeon the son of Joas died in a good old age.

But after Gedeon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, and committed fornication with Baalim.

Aren’t we just like Gedeon always looking for a sign from the Lord and double- and triple-checking that what we want to do is what God wants us to do?

Childish games we adults play! Maybe that is what it means to be childlike to enter the kingdom of God?

Why not build our lives from the inside-out based on prayer and meditation with God, our Savior Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit?

And so it can be in the Third Testament, the finding of our Splendid Spiritual Self. No sign needed Lord. Speak to my heart!

Day 83: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; And so it was so… No Sign Needed Lord… Speak to My Heart!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Judges Chapters 6-9

Bible Notes:

This Book is so called, because it is a history of the Jews under the government of the Judges, men, like Gedeon and Samson, who were raised up to rule Israel before they had kings. It describes the religious and political condition of the Jews and the work of the twelve Judges.

Judges Chapter 6: Madianotes oppress Israel; Oppression is punishment for sins; Gedeon is called to save Israel; Gedeon’s gift is consumed by fire; Gedeon destroys an altar of Baal; Followers of Baal seek Gedeon’s life; Gedeon assembles the people; God’s sign to Gedeon.

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord; and he delivered them into the hand of Madian seven years.

And they were grievously oppressed by them. And they made themselves dens and caves in the mountains, and strong holds to resist.

…and they left nothing at all in Israel for sustenance of life…

And Israel was humbled exceedingly in the sight of Madian.

And he cried to the Lord desiring help against the Madianites. And he sent unto them a prophet, and he spoke: Thus saith the Lord the God if Israel… And you would not hear my voice.

And an angel of the Lord came, and sat under an oak… and when Gedeon was threshing and cleansing wheat by the winepress, to flee from Madian, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said: “The Lord is with thee, O Most valiant of men.”

Gedeon: “I beseech thee, my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why have these evils fallen upon us? Where are his miracles, which our fathers have told us of, saying: The Lord brought us out of Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of Madian.”

And the Lord looked upon him, and said: Go in this thy strength, and thou shalt deliver Israel out of the hand of Median: know that I have sent thee.”

Gedeon: “I beseech thee, my lord, wherewith shall I deliver Israel? Behold my family is the meanest in Manasses, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

And the Lord said to him: “I will be with thee: and thou shall cut off Median as one man.”

Gedeon: If I have found grace before thee, give me a sign that it is thou that speakest to me, and depart not hence, till I return to thee, and bring a sacrifice, and offer it to thee.

Lord to Gideon: “I will wait thy coming.”

So Gedeon went in, and boiled a kid, and made unleavened loaves…

The angel of the Lord put forth the tip of the rod… there arose a fire from the rock… and consumed the flesh and the unleavened loaves… and the angel of the Lord vanished out of sight.

Gedeon: “Alas, my Lord God: for I have seen the angel of the Lord face-to-face.

The Lord to Gedeon: “Peace be with thee; fear not, thou shalt not die.

And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and cllaed it the Lord’s peace, until this present day.

The Lord said to Gedeon: “… thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal, which is thy father’s and cut down the grove that is about the altar. And thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God in the top of this rock, where upon thou didst lay the sacrifice before… and shalt offer a holocaust upon a pile of the wood, which thou shalt cut down out of the grove.”

Then Gedeon, taking ten men of his servants, did as the Lord commanded him. But fearing his father’s house, and the men of that city, he would not do it by day, but did all by night.

It was said: Gedeon the son of Joas did all this. And so they said to Joas: “Bring out thy son hither, that he may die: because he hath destroyed the altar of Baal, and hath cut down his grove.”

Joas answered the men of the town: “Are you the avengers of Baal, that you fight for him? He that is his adversary, let him die before to morrow light appear: if he be a god, let him revenge himself on him that hath cast down his altar.”

But the spirit of the Lord came upon Gedeon, and he sounded the trumpet and called together the house of Abiezer, to follow him.

Gedeon said to God: “If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, I will go put this fleece of wool on the floor: if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on the ground beside, I shall know that by my hand, as thou hast said, thou wilt deliver Israel.”

And so it was so…

And rising before day wringing the fleece, he filled a vessel with the dew.

Gedeon to God; “Let not thy wrath be kindled against me if I try once more, seeking a sign in the fleece. I pray that the fleece only may be dry, and all the ground wet with dew.

And God did that night as he had requested: and it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Judges Chapter 7: Gedeon picks three hundred men; Gedeon eavesdrops in the enemy camp; Gedeon’s strategy; Gedeon defeats the Madianites; Oreb and Zeb are slain.

Then Jerobaal, who is the same as Gedeon…

Lord to Gedeon: “Speak to the people, and proclaim in the hearing of all, Whoever is fearful and timorous, let him return.” (Reduced the number from 22,000 to 10,000 remained).

Lord to Gedeon: “Bring them to the waters, and there I will try them: and whom I shall say to thee, This shall go with thee let him go: whom I forbid to go, let him return.”

They that shall lap the water with their tongues as dogs are wont to lap, thou shall set apart by themselves: but they that shall drink bowing down their knees, shall be on the other side.

And the number of them that had lapped water, casting it with the hand to their mouth was three hundred men; and the rest of the multitude had drunk kneeling.

By the three hundred men, that lapped the water, I will save you, and deliver Madian into thy hand: but let all the rest of the people return to their place.

A kinder and gentler God?

Overheard ‘I dreamt a dream… this is nothing else but the sword of Gedeon the son of Joas a man of Israel. For the Lord hath delivered Madian, and all their camp into his hand.

And Gedeon had heard the dream, and the interpretation thereof, he adored: and returned to the camp of Israel, and said: arise, for the Lord hath delivered the camp of Madian into our hands.

And he divided the three hundred men into three parts, and gave them trumpets in their hands empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

What you shall see me do, do you the same.

…and shout together to the Lord and to Gedeon.

So all the camp was troubled, and crying out and howling they fled away. And the three hundred men nevertheless persisted sounding the trumpets. And the Lord sent the sword into all the camp, and they killed one another.

And having taken two men of Madian, Oreb and Zeb: Oreb they slew in the rock of Oreb, and Zeb in the winepress of Zeb. And they pursued Madian, carrying the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gedeon beyond the waters of the Jordan.

Judges Chapter 8: Gedeon appeases the Ephraimites; Soccoth and Phamuel refuse to help Gedeon; Gedeon captures Zebee and Salmana; Gedeon punishes Soccoth and Phamuel; Gedeon slays Zebee and Salmana; Gedeon refuses to be king; Gedeon makes an ephod; Gedeon’s prosperity and death’ The Israelites turn to idolatry.

And when he had said this, their spirit was appeased, with which they swelled against him.

I will thresh your flesh with the thorns and briers of the desert. When I shall return a conqueror in peace, I will destroy this tower.

For fifteen thousand men were left of all the troops of the eastern people, and one hundred and twenty thousand warriors that drew the sword, were slain.

…and smote the camp of the enemies, who were secure, and suspected no hurt.

Revenge to Soccoth and Phanuel… returned a conqueror…

They were my brethren, the sons of my mother. As the Lord liveth, if you had saved them, I would not kill you.

But he drew not his sword; for he was afraid, being but yet a boy.

Gedeon rose up and slew Zebee and Salmana: and he took the ornaments and bosses, with which the necks of the camels of kings are wont to be adorned.

And Gedeon said to them: “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you, but the Lord shall rule over you.”

Give me the golden earlets of your spoils… a thousand seven hundred sicles of gold.

And Gedeon made an ephrod thereof, and put it in his city Ephra. And all Israel committed fornication with it, and it became a ruin to Gedeon and to all his house.

But Median was humbled before the children of Israel, neither could they any more lift up their heads: but the land rested for forty years, while Gedeon presided.

Ephrod—(Old Testament) an embroidered vestment believed to resemble an apron with shoulder straps, worn by priests in ancient Israel.

Fornication—Bible. Idolatry—the religious worship of idols; excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc.

And he had seventy sons, who came out of his thigh, for he had many wives.

And his concubine, that he had in Sichem, bore him a son, whose name was Abimelech.

And Gedeon the son of Joas died in a good old age.

But after Gedeon was dead, the children of Israel turned again, and committed fornication with Baalim.

Judges Chapter 9: Abimelech made king of Sichem; Joatham rebukes the Sichemites; The Sichemites detest Abimelech; Gaal threatens to remove Abimelech; Zebul urges Abimelech to attack Sichem; Abimelech overcomes Sichem; Abimelech burns the tower of Sichem; Abimelech dies in battle; Joatham’s curse fulfilled.

Whether it is better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerobaal should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you?

…and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech…

…and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained only Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden.

…and they went and made Abimelech king…

Joatham: “The trees went to anoint a king over them… can the olive tree leave its fatness?… can a fig tree leave its sweetness?… can a vine leave its wine?… can a bramble?… come ye and rest under my shadow… let fire come out from the bramble and devour the cedars of Libanus… now if you have done well, and without sin appointing Abimelech king over you…

So Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years. And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem who began to detest him…

Gaal threatens to remove Abimelech.

Where is now thy mouth wherewith thou saidist? Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?

So Gaal went out and fought Abimelech, but Zebul drove Gaal out of the city, and would not suffer them to abide in it.

And Abimelech assaulted the city all that day: and took it, and killed the inhabitants thereof, and demolished it, so that he sowed salt in it.

And surrounding the fort, they set it on fire…

A certain woman casting a piece of a millstone from above, dashed it against the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull…. And he called hastily to his armorbearer and said to him: draw thy sword, and kill me; lest it should be said that I was slain by a woman.

Joatham’s curse fulfilled.

 

I know the name Andrew goes back a long way in the Reistetter family. Flipping through large, old books of baptism records in St. Martin Church, the 16^th century church, in Lipany, Slovakia I saw the long list of Andrews that led back several generations only to end in an Emericus. I don’t know who chose to first name their baby son Andrew but I am happy to presumably be named after a disciple and an apostle.

My father Andrew Charles was not completely named after his father Andrew Ambrose since an earlier child was and had died shortly after birth. My parents made me a junior I guess in some ways to follow the family tradition but with a different middle name.

I like the fact that Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus according to the Gospel of John… again the next day John (the Baptist) was standing there, and two of his disciples… Now Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard John and followed him. He found his first brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messias (Christ) and he led him to Jesus.

But having the same name as a disciple doesn’t automatically make me a disciple.

Andrew led to his brother Simon who Jesus renamed Peter and then to Philip who was from the same town and then to Nathanael who questioned, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ knowing Jesus was the son of Joseph of Nazareth.

Jesus said of Nathanael: “Behold a true Israelite in whom there is no guile.”

Guile means an insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.

Maybe God had given Jesus a heads-up on his longstanding dealing with Israelites?

But are we, modern day descendants of somebody from back then, any better?

I learned my ABC’s from the training I received in Corporate America—‘A’ is for Antecedent, ‘B’ is for Behavior, and ‘C’ is for Consequence.

There is always an antecedent before a behavior and a consequence after a behavior. At least in a worldly sense but not always in the new world of love infiltrated by Jesus’ mercy, grace, and compassion.

I look back at times in my life where the ‘A’ lead to the ‘B’ but not the ‘C’. All Glory be to God!

John the Baptist was an antecedent to Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him… In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not.

There was a man, one sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the light, that all might believe through him.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory—glory as only-begotten of the Father—full of grace and of truth. John bore witness concerning him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who is to come after me has been set above me, because he was before me.’” And of his fullness, we have all received, grace for grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has at any time seen God. The only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has revealed him.

When the Jews sent to John the Baptist from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him: “Who art thou?”

John’s witness: “I am not the Christ.”

What then art thou Elias? “I am not.”

Art thou the Prophet? “No.”

“Who art thou? That we may give an answer to those who sent us. What hast thou to say of thyself?

John: “I am the voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as said Isaias the prophet.”

Why, then, dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elias, nor the Prophet?

John: “I baptize with water; but in the midst of you there has stood one whom you do not know. He it is who is to come after me, who has been set above me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to loose.”

These things took place at Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John to Jesus: “Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me there comes one who has been set above me, because he was before me.’ And I did not know him. But that he may be known to Israel, for this reason have I come baptizing with water.”

John bore witness saying: “I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it abode upon him. And I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He upon whom thou wilt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

What will be the consequence in your life of your baptism in water and The Holy Spirit?

This first of his signs Jesus worked at Cana of Galilee: and he manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus ministry had begun with a familiar miraculous story of turning water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana. But it wasn’t just wine, it was good wine—“but thou has kept the good wine until now.”

Maybe we are the good wine in life kept towards the end of our life to be more fully shared with the world at a time so determined by God?

Jesus ministry wasn’t only one of miracles but also controversial challenges to the powers-to-be at the time which was the Pharisees and Scribes at the time.

Jesus: “Take these things away, and do not make the house of my Father a house of business.”

And his disciples remembered that it is written, “The zeal for thy house has eaten me up.”

A zeal is a fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor. What are the zeals of your life?

Jews: “What sign dost thou show us, seeing that thou dost these things?”

Jesus: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

But he was speaking of the temple of his body.

And lastly at the end of Chapter 2 in the Gospel of John:

But Jesus did not trust himself to them, in that he knew all men, and because he had no need that anyone should bear witness concerning man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knows us, knows our sins, and still loves us. God offers us salvation—eternal life—through acceptance of His son Jesus and turning from sin to do His Will with our life, powered by God.

It can be so easy yet seems so hard at first glance.

Time to come out of denial, rationalization, and justification?

Still think subconsciously that you can rule the world or even one other person, yet not yourself.

See beyond what seems to be—see destiny, see eternal life!

Day 84: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Andrew the First Disciple, of John the Baptist, to follow Jesus!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint John Chapters 1-2.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Saint John, the disciple and Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the brother of James and the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome.

First a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called to follow Christ.

The purpose of his Gospel he states as follows: “these are written that you may believe the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John Chapter 1:  The eternal generation of the world; John the Baptist is His witness; The incarnation; The testimony of John the Baptist; John is asked why he baptizes; “Behold the Lamb of God”; Andrew and John follow Jesus; Andrew calls Peter; Andrew calls Philip; Philip calls Nathanael; Jesus speaks to Nathanael.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him… In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not.

There was a man, one sent from God, whose name was John. This man came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the light, that all might believe through him.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory—glory as only-begotten of the Father—full of grace and of truth. John bore witness concerning him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who is to come after me has been set above me, because he was before me.’” And of his fullness, we have all received, grace for grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has at any time seen God. The only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has revealed him.

When the Jews sent to John the Baptist from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him: “Who art thou?”

John’s witness: “I am not the Christ.”

What then art thou Elias? “I am not.”

Art thou the Prophet? “No.”

“Who art thou? That we may give an answer to those who sent us. What hast thou to say of thyself?

John: “I am the voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as said Isaias the prophet.”

Why, then, dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elias, nor the Prophet?

John: “I baptize with water; but in the midst of you there has stood one whom you do not know. He it is who is to come after me, who has been set above me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to loose.”

These things took place at Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John to Jesus: “Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me there comes one who has been set above me, because he was before me.’ And I did not know him. But that he may be known to Israel, for this reason have I come baptizing with water.”

John bore witness saying: “I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it abode upon him. And I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He upon whom thou wilt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus: “What is it you seek?”

Jesus: “Come and see.”

Andrew to Simon Peter: “We have found the Messeas (which interpreted is Christ).” And he led Simon Peter to Jesus.

Jesus to Simon Peter: “Thou art Simon, the son of John; thou shall be called Cephas (which interpreted is Peter).

Jesus to Philip: “Follow me.”

Philip found Nathanael.

Jesus to Nathanael: “Behold a true Israelite in whom there is no guile.”

Guile—insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.

Andrew to Peter and Philip, Philip found Nathanael.

Google Search/Wiki:     The Gospel of John, unlike the Synoptic Gospels, does not offer a formal list of apostles, but does refer to the Twelve in 6:67, 6:70, and 6:71. The following nine apostles are identified by name: Peter, Andrew (identified as Peter’s brother), the sons of Zebedee (plural form implies at least two apostles), Philip, Nathanael, Thomas (also called Didymus), Judas Iscariot, Judas (not Iscariot). But only seven are named here?

John Chapter 2:  The marriage feast at Cana; The miracle discovered; Cleansing of the Temple; The Jews question Jesus.

This first of his signs Jesus worked at Cana of Galilee: and he manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus: “Take these things away, and do not make the house of my Father a house of business.”

And his disciples remembered that it is written, “The zeal for thy house has eaten me up.”

Zeal—fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.

Jews: “What sign dost thou show us, seeing that thou dost these things?”

Jesus: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

But he was speaking of the temple of his body.

But Jesus did not trust himself to them, in that he knew all men, and because he had no need that anyone should bear witness concerning man, for he himself knew what was in man.

The Lord to the children of Israel: …and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand? And yet you have forsaken me, and have worshipped strange gods: therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and call upon the gods which you have chosen: let them deliver you in the time of distress.

Strong, almost human, parent-child relationship in the Old Testament between God and the children of Israel. It was limiting in scope and in effect, so much so that God progressed to the New Testament and gave His Only Son to the world, so that we would get and experience love through Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. Amen! Alleluia!

Yet how many times do we forsake God? How many times do we forsake ourselves? How many times do we forsake other human beings?

Who can, and who will deliver me in the time of distress?

Certainly not my selfishness or my overactive worldly mind or my self-centered ego. Or the Devil or Satan in disguise. I only feel true relief, comfort and love through Jesus’s love for me and all of us. In my case, food and sugar, while they temporarily self-medicate me, they never can cure me. Only with God’s help, only with Jesus’ help, and only with The Holy Spirit’s help is that even possible.

Analogous to the spiritual law that only light can displace darkness, only love can displace hate, only turning to God can I come out of my self and experience the peace, joy, and freedom in life as Our Creator so intended for us to do so!

We know the familiar story of Abraham willing to sacrifice his son Isaac yet the Lord stopped him in time. Yet there is Jephte in the Book of Judges who fulfilled a vow to the Lord and did sacrifice and offer his daughter as a holocaust to the Lord.

Therefore the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephte… If thou will deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, whosoever shall first come forth out of the doors of my house, and shall meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, the same will I offer a holocaust to the Lord.

And Jephte passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them: and the Lord delivered them into his hands… and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children of Israel.

…his only daughter met him with timbrels and with dances: for he had no other children… for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do no other thing… Grant me only this I desire: Let me go, that I may go about the mountains for two months, and may bewail my virginity… and the two months being expired, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed, and she knew no man.

What are we to make out of this? How are we to understand the meaning of the two biblical Old Testament passages in light of God’s demonstrated love through His Only Son Jesus in the New Testament?

 

Is it as simple as “that was then in God’s wrath in the Old Testament and this is now in Jesus’ love in the New Testament?”

 

Why, therefore, a cow? I have no idea.

And when the flame from the altar went up towards heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended also in the flame.

We shall certainly die, because we have seen God. And his wife answered him: If the Lord had a mind to kill us, he would not have received a holocaust and libations at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor have told us the things that are to come.

And she bore a son, and called his name Samson. And the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the spirit of the Lord…

First bit of country in the Bible… “if the Lord had a mind to kill us”… and the wife figured it out before her husband and she figured it out right!

I beseech you, take her for me to wife…that thou will take a wife of the Philistines, who are uncircumcised? Take this woman for me, for she hath pleased my eyes.

…behold a young lion met him raging and roaring. And the spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he tore the lion as he would have torn a kid in pieces… and behold there was a swarm of bees in the mouth of the lion and a honeycomb…

Samson: …I will propose to you a riddle… out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness…

The story of Samson to be continued…

Our riddle…

Who can, and who will deliver me in the time of distress?

Only God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and The Holy Spirit!

Day 85: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Who Can, and Who Will Deliver Me in the Time of Distress?

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Judges Chapters 10-14

Bible Notes:

This Book is so called, because it is a history of the Jews under the government of the Judges, men, like Gedeon and Samson, who were raised up to rule Israel before they had kings. It describes the religious and political condition of the Jews and the work of the twelve Judges.

Judges Chapter 10: Thola and Jair judge Israel; Philistines and Ammonites oppress Israel; The Israelites cry to God; Israelites put away false gods.

After Abimelech there arose a ruler in Israel, Thola…, and he judged Israel three and twenty years.

To him succeeded Jair the Galaadite, who judged Israel for two and twenty years.

But the children of Israel, adding new sins to their old ones, did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served idols… and the gods of… and they left the Lord, and did not serve him.

And the Lord being angry with them, delivered them into the hands of the Philistines and of the children of Ammon. And they were afflicted, and grievously oppressed for eighteen years… and Israel was distressed exceedingly.

The Lord to the children of Israel: …and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand? And yet you have forsaken me, and have worshipped strange gods: therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and call upon the gods which you have chosen: let them deliver you in the time of distress.

Children of Israel to the Lord: “We have sinned, do thou unto us whatsoever pleaseth thee: only deliver us this time. And saying these things, they cast away out of their coasts all the idols of strange gods and served the Lord their God: and he was touched by their miseries.

Judges Chapter 11: Jephte flees from his brothers; Jephte becomes prince of Galaad; Jephte’s message to the Ammonites; Jephte’s vow; Jephte defeats the Ammonites; Sad fulfillment of Jephte’s vow.

Wife of Galaad: Thou canst not inherit in the house of our father, because thou art born of another mother… and there were gathered to him needy men, and robbers, and thy followed him as their prince.

Jephte: If you come to me sincerely, that I should fight for you against the children of Ammon, and the Lord shall deliver them into my hand, shall I be your prince?

But what the Lord our God hath obtained by conquest, shall be our possession…

Why have you waited so long a time attempted nothing about this claim? Therefore I do not trespass against thee, but thou wrongest me by declaring an unjust war against me.

Therefore the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephte… If thou will deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, whosoever shall first come forth out of the doors of my house, and shall meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, the same will I offer a holocaust to the Lord.

And Jephte passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them: and the Lord delivered them into his hands… and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children of Israel.

…his only daughter met him with timbrels and with dances: for he had no other children… for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do no other thing… Grant me only this I desire: Let me go, that I may go about the mountains for two months, and may bewail my virginity… and the two months being expired, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed, and she knew no man.

Judges Chapter 12: The Ephraimites quarrel with Jephte; The men of Galaad slay the Ephraimites; Death of Jephte.

Sedition—incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government.

And Jephte the Galaadite judged Israel six years: and he died…

Abesan of Bethlehem judged Israel seven years.

Ahialon, a Zabulonite, judged Israel ten years.

Abdon, a Pharathonite, judged Israel eight years.

Judges Chapter 13: Philistines subdue Israel; An angel foretells the birth of Samson; The angel reappears to Manue’s wife; The angel instructs Manue; Manue’s sacrifice; The angel ascends in a flame; Birth of Samson.

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and he delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to the wife of Manue… thou are barren and without children: but thou shall conceive and bear a son… for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from his infancy… and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

…may come again, and teach us what we ought to do concerning the child that shall be born.

…but if thou wilt offer a holocaust, offer it to the Lord.

And when the flame from the altar went up towards heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended also in the flame.

We shall certainly die, because we have seen God. And his wife answered him: If the Lord had a mind to kill us, he would not have received a holocaust and libations at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor have told us the things that are to come.

And she bore a son, and called his name Samson. And the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the spirit of the Lord…

Judges Chapter 14: Samson desires a Philistine wife; Samson kills a lion; Samson finds honey in the lion’s mouth; Samson’s wedding feast; Samson’s riddle; The answer to Samson’s riddle; Samson slays thirty men.

I beseech you, take her for me to wife…that thou will take a wife of the Philistines, who are uncircumcised? Take this woman for me, for she hath pleased my eyes.

…behold a young lion met him raging and roaring. And the spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he tore the lion as he would have torn a kid in pieces… and behold there was a swarm of bees in the mouth of the lion and a honeycomb…

Samson: …I will propose to you a riddle… out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness…

Thou hatest me, and dost not love me: therefore thou wilt not expound to me the riddle which thou hast proposed to the sons of my people. So she wept before him the seven days of the feast: and at length on the seventh day as she was troublesome to him, he expounded it. She immediately told her countrymen. And they on the seventh day before the sun went down said to him: What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?

And the spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ascalon, and slew there thirty men… and being exceedingly angry he went up to his father’s house: but his wife took one of his friends and bridal companions for her husband.