God

Temptation of Jesus: 40 Days in the Desert

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “40 Days in the Desert”

Matthew 4:1-11 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 4:1)

Mark 1:12-13 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 1:12)

Luke 4:1-13 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 4:1)

 

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

 

THE SPLICE

Jesus, 1 abounding in the Holy Spirit, 2 returned from the Jordan and immediately the Spirit 3 impelled Him to go out into the 4 wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And He was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days and nights, being tempted by 5 Satan. And in those forty days and nights, He was with 6 wild beasts. Also, while in the wilderness, He had eaten nothing and after Jesus had 7 fasted for the forty days and nights, He became hungry.

And the tempter, the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread; tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘8 MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” And the devil 9 took Him to the holy city Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘10 HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,’ and, ‘11 ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” And Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and it is said, ‘12 YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

Again, the devil took Him up to a very high mountain and showed Him all the 13 kingdoms of the world and their glory in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “14 I will give You all this domain and its glory; all these things will I give You; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, if You fall down and worship me, it shall all be Yours.” Then Jesus answered him, “Go Satan! For it is written, ‘15 YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an 16 opportune time and 17 behold, angels went to Jesus and began to 18 minister to Him and were ministering to Him.

 

NOTES

1 abounding in the Holy Spirit: The Greek word used here for abounding or full is plérés and means to be “completely occupied with or completely full, to be completely covered”. (Back)

 

2 returned from the Jordan: Jesus had just finished His baptism with John the Baptist. To read about the Baptism of Jesus, see Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:32-34 for John’s testimony concerning the event. To read the Splice about the baptism of Jesus, click here. (Back)

 

3 impelled: See Mark 1:12. The Greek word used for impelled in Mark 1:12 is ekballo which means “to drive out” or “throw out” or “cast out”. (Back)

 

4 wilderness: The Greek word used for wilderness is erémos and means “solitary” or “desolate”. (Back)

 

5 Satan: the name Satan means “adversary”. (Back)

 

6 wild beasts: I looked up what animals live in the Palestinian desert/Judean desert and although I’m sure there have been changes over the past 2000 years, it gives an idea of what could have been living there at the time, including the Syrian brown bear which is now, sadly, extinct in Israel. (Back)

 

7 fasted for the forty days and nights: We know that Jesus fasted from food, but it is unknown if He was drinking water, as the Bible doesn’t talk about that specifically. Moses fasted 40 days from both water and food while he was in the presence of God, writing the Ten Commandments. We should consider these fasts as supernatural miracles, and therefore no one should be attempting to fast from food and water for 40 days in today’s era. (Back)

 

8 MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE: Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. (Back)

 

9 took: The Greek word used for took in Matthew 4:5, 8 is paralambanó and it means “to take” but with a strong interpersonal and active connotation. Also see the Greek word lambanó. Luke uses a different word in Luke 4:5, 9. The word he uses is agó and it means “to lead”. (Back)

 

10 HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS: Satan is referencing Psalm 91:11. (Back)

 

11 ON their HANDS THEY WILL: A reference to Psalm 91:12. (Back)

 

12 YOU SHALL NOT PUT: Deuteronomy 6:16. (Back)

 

13 kingdoms of the world: The Greek word for world used here is oikoumené and means the “inhabited world”. (Back)

 

14 I will give You: Satan is a liar (John 8:44). He doesn’t have the authority to give the dominion or the glory of the kingdoms or of the world away. In totality, it isn’t his; it belonged to God then and it belongs to God now and that includes the governments, the land and all of the people. Jesus is God and therefore already had these things. Reference Psalm 24:1; Matthew 28:18; John 1:1, John 3:35; John 14:10-11; John 17:1-2; Romans 13:1, Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2. What Satan has dominion over is the ability to wreak havoc on human beings, to lure them into sin, get them to serve him, and to rule over the demons. What has been given to him, by God, is the power over the evilness and vileness of the world (see Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12) . Also, Jesus doesn’t need the world’s faded, imperfect and temporal glory. He has His own exalted, perfect and eternal glory (Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 5; 7:9-12; 19:1). See Exodus 33:18-23 and 34:5-7; 29-35 to read more about God’s glory. (Back)

 

15 YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD: Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20 both make this command clear. (Back)

 

16 opportune time: There were lots of opportune times during Jesus’s ministry that the devil could have been around, but two times in particular come to mind. There was the time Peter told Jesus that He would never be killed in Jerusalem in Matthew 16:23. We can assume here that Satan has influenced Peter’s words by what Jesus says. Another time would be when Satan enters Judas to begin the crucifixion process (see  John 13:2 and John 13:27). (Back)

 

17 behold: The Greek word for behold is horaó and it means “to see” or “look”. Behold is a bit of an old-fashioned word for modern English speakers, but it is equivalent to saying “look here/see here” or “understand”. (Back)

 

18 minister: The Greek word for minister is diakoneó and it means “to serve” in general. But it also means to “wait at table”. I think the angels did serve Jesus in general, but it is possible that they also brought Him food. (Back)

The Baptism of Jesus

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “The Baptism of Jesus”

Matthew 3:13-17 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 3:13)

Mark 1:9-12 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 1:9)

Luke 3:21-22 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 3:21)

John 1:32-34 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 1:32)

Mark 1:8
I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

THE SPLICE

All the 1 people were coming to John to be baptized. Jesus arrived from 2 Nazareth in Galilee at the 3 Jordan River. He was coming to 4 John to be baptized by him, too. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be 5 baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering, said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to 6 fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted Him.

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water and while 7 He was praying, the heavens were opened and Jesus saw the heavens opening, and both Jesus and John saw the Holy Spirit of God in the bodily form of a dove and it was descending down, alighting upon Jesus. And a voice out of the heavens addressed Jesus and said, “8 You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” And the voice also testified to John and said, “ This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Immediately the 9 Spirit impelled Jesus to go out into the wilderness. Some time later, John testified publicly about Jesus’s baptism and His Sonship, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a 10 dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon who you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

NOTES

1  people were coming to John to be baptized: The people participating in the baptism included Pharisees, Sadducees, soldiers, tax collectors and others. To read about John’s baptism ministry, see Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:6-8; 15, 19-37; 3:22-36. (Back)

 

2 Nazareth in Galilee: The town of Nazareth isn’t even mentioned in the Old Testament. It seems it might have had a less-than-elegant reputation due to Nathanael’s reaction to it when Philip tells him about Jesus (John 1:45-46).  Jesus wasn’t born in Nazareth (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4), but it is where His mother Mary and adoptive father Joseph were from (Luke 1:26; 2:4) and where they raised Him at (Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:39; 51). It seems Jesus even practiced carpentry there (Mark 6:3). Jesus left Nazareth and moved His base of operations to Capernaum at the very beginning of His ministry (Matthew 4:12-16). He returned to Nazareth to teach in the synagogue, but His hometown people were offended by Him and tried to kill Him for telling them the truth (Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:14-30). Because of Nazareth’s disbelief in His Messiahship, Jesus performed no miracles there, except for healing a few of the sick people (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5). (Back)

 

3 Jordan River: The Jordan River is a tiny river (approximately 220 miles long) in comparison to other historic and well-known rivers, such as the Mississippi (2,300 miles), the Nile (4,130 miles) or the Ganges (1,560 miles). Every year, thousands of people make the pilgrimage to be baptized in the Jordan, the most popular spot being the “Bethany Beyond The Jordan” site, but reviews of the tours are mixed at best. However, just about any tour group in the Holy Land will take you there for the whole baptism experience, prices varying. You must wear a baptismal gown for your baptism in the Jordan River, and if you don’t bring your own, you have to rent one that is provided by the site. Bring your own baptizer (a new meaning to BYOB) because they don’t have someone at the site to perform the baptism for you. Keep in mind that no matter what any tourist group or attraction says, we do not know the precise spots where Jesus was born, baptized, where the upper room was where He spent His last Passover, the exact path He walked to Golgotha, or where He was buried at. We also don’t know when Jesus was born: day, month, or year. Click here to read more about the Jordan River, at Britannica.com. (Back)

 

4 John to be baptized by him: John the Baptist, Jesus’s relative, born to Mary’s relative (probably of the cousin variety), Elizabeth and her husband, Zacharias. You canr ead about John’s baptismal ministry in  Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:6-8; 15, 19-37; 3:22-36, John’s questions and Jesus’s discussion about him in Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-34; John 5:32-36 and his martyrdom in Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29. You can read about Elizabeth’s and Zacharias’s story (and John’s birth) in Luke 1:5-25; 57-80. (Back)

 

5 baptized by You: John does not mean by using water, just as he is using water, but by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). (Back)

 

6 fulfill all righteousness: Jesus bore the punishment for our sins in our place; He became sin on our behalf, although He had no sin at all (2 Corinthians 5:21).  John’s baptismal ministry was ordained by God (John 1:6) to be a witness about Jesus (John 1:7-8, 32-34) and also to urge people to repent for their sins (Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:4). Water baptism is a symbol of and public demonstration of repentance and death to the old self (Romans 6:2-11) and the washing away one’s sins, but it is only the washing and renewing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus (Titus 3:5-7), by His blood, that can actually remove the sins (1 John 1:7-9). To have sin means to have eternal death and to have sinlessness in Christ means eternal life (Romans 6:23). In summary, Jesus’s symbolic water baptism was in keeping with the will of God the Father (because God declared He was pleased with Jesus’s baptism, see Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22), just as His crucifixion was God’s will for the payment of sin (Isaiah 53:4-12). (Back)

 

7 He was praying: We see many of examples of when Jesus prayed (Mark 14:32-39 and John 17, for example) and He instructs us on how to pray as well (Matthew 6:5-13). There is even the promise that the Holy Spirit will intercede on our behalf because we don’t know how we should pray (Romans 8:26-27). Our prayers should be filled with thanksgiving to God (Philippians 4:6), constant (1 Thessalonians 5:17 , Romans 12:12), in complete faith (Mark 11:24), righteous by God’s standards and according to His will (James 5:16 , John 15:7), bringing all things to Him (Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 6:18 ), as well as petitioning for others (1 Thessalonians 5:25). This is not exhaustive direction on how to pray.  (Back)

 

8 You are My beloved Son: God gives a very similar statement when Jesus is transfigured on the mountain (see Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35). To read about this event in the Bible, see Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36. To read the Splice about the transfiguration, click here (Back)

 

9  Spirit impelled Jesus to go out into the wilderness: Jesus spends 40 days and nights out in the wilderness, fasting. The primary reason for this was to be tempted by the devil. To read about the temptation of Jesus, see Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-13 and to read the Splice about the temptation of Jesus, click here. (Back)

 

10 dove out of heaven: As a sign for John the Baptist (see John 1:33). But we can also consider the Holy Spirit descending as a dove upon Jesus as a declaration of Jesus’s innocence of any sin. Jesus Himself uses the imagery of doves and innocence in Matthew 10:16. (Back)

Judas: The Son of Perdition

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Jesus calls Judas Iscariot “the son of destruction/perdition” in John 17:12. John uses the Greek word apóleia, which means “destruction, loss”. 

We learn in Matthew 27:3 that Judas was remorseful about or regretted his betrayal of Jesus, and he even returned the 30 pieces of silver paid to him for his part in Jesus’s condemnation. Why didn’t this save him? The Greek word used for regret in Matthew 27:3 is metamelomai, meaning “repent, regret, changed mind (for the different/good option)”. Although salvation begins with repentance, it requires more than feeling regret or what we might call ‘worldly sorrow’ (see 2 Corinthians 7:10). Unfortunately, Judas stopped at feeling bad and thinking he should have made a better choice; he chose ‘worldly sorrow’. There is a different word used for the kind of repentance that is leads to salvation or life (Acts 11:18). The Greek word used for repent is metanoeó and it means to “repent” but this repentance includes feeling remorse, thinking differently about your sin, turning from the sin and turning to God for salvation from your sin.

The repentance that leads to salvation is the work of God (2 Timothy 2:25), more specifically the Holy Spirit, which He accomplishes through conviction of sin (John 16:8). With this repentance, the saving faith that is a gift from God (see Ephesians 2:8-9) is granted. This God-gifted faith, which is also called trust, allows you to have complete trust in Jesus, as Savior from the sin that you repent of (John 6:40; Romans 10:9-11 ; Galatians 2:20). When you have this faith, you receive the seal or pledge of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30) there is no doubt in you, for you know you are a child of God (John 1:12) and destined to eternal life (Revelation 21-22).

Nothing in the Bible says that Judas turned towards God and had any faith at all in Christ as the Messiah. Here’s another clue into the situation: Judas was trying to fix his sin himself by giving back the money, as atonement. This is an excellent object lesson: we cannot fix our own sin. We cannot atone enough for breaking the laws of God. Only Jesus can fix that kind of mess. See Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:18-19 for Judas’s fate in the aftermath of his betrayal of Christ. 

 

What the Steps Towards Salvation Looks Like

– You agree with God that you are not good and not one single thing about you is right. You hate your rottenness and your sins and you are honest about it. You stop making excuses or justifying yourself.

– You realize that you need Jesus to make you right by forgiving your sins, removing your sins from you, and reconciling you with God. You trust Jesus to make this atonement on your behalf and you turn away from a life of sin and of relying on your own judgment and will, and now you take up God’s ways, will, and life through Jesus.

– Not only do you trust Jesus for this atonement, but you are also grateful, you love Him more than yourself, more than anyone or anything in your life, even more than that old identity that you clung to, and you rejoice in shedding the ugly, old ways/sins you participated in before.

– The new you is at peace and filled with joy in God’s love, in His law and ways. You can trust Him, you trust in His promises and His Word, in every and all situations in your life.

Please note this does not mean your life is perfect (Matthew 6:34), that you are wealthy (James 2:1-6) you are happy all the time (the book of Job; John 11:35; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; 12:7-10 ), or that you will never sin again (Romans 7:14-25). This also doesn’t mean Jesus fixed everything about you that you don’t like about yourself or wiped away all of your hurtful memories/made bad things that happened in the past not hurt anymore. Those experiences, memories, and hurts help to shape us, making us the person we are: this is how God uses us! God uses those bad things to make us useful for His purposes (see Genesis 50:20). 

NASB References to Messianic Mentions in the Law/Moses, Prophets and Psalms

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Luke 24:27

NASB: 27 Then beginning with a Moses and with all the b prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Parallel Greek: καὶ ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ Μωϋσέως καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν διερμήνευσεν αὐτοῖς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς γραφαῖς τὰ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ.

Transliteral Greek: And having begun from Moses and from all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Cross References

a Gen 3:15; 12:3; Num 21:9 [John 3:14]; Deut 18:15 [John 1:45]; John 4:46

Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Genesis 12:3  And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Numbers 21:9  And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

John 3:14   “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

Deuteronomy 18:15  “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.

John 1:45  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

John 4:46  Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.

b 2 Sam 7:12-16; Is 7:14 [Mt 1:23]; Is 9:1f [Mt 4:15f]; Is 42:1 [Mt 12:18ff]; Is 53:4 [Mt 8:17; Lk 22:37]; Dan 7:13 [Mt 24:30]; Mic 5:2 [Mt 2:6]; Zech 9:9 [Mt 21:5]; Acts 13:27

2 Samuel 7:12-16  12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”

Isaiah 7:14  “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sing: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

Isaiah 9:1,2  1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

Matthew 4:15, 16 15 “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—16 THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON HTEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring froth justice to the nations.

Matthew 12:18-21 18 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. 19 HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. 20 A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. 21 AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.” 

Isaiah 53:4 4 Surely our griefs (or sickness) He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. (I added verse 5 to finish the idea)

Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

Luke 22:37  “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.”

Daniel 7:13 13 “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.  (I added verse 14 to finish the idea)

Matthew 24:30  30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET AND THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (I added verse 31 to finish the idea)

Micah 5:2  2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. 3 Therefore He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has borne a child. The remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel. 4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth 5 This One will be our peace. (I added verse 3-5 to finish the idea)

Matthew 2:6  ‘AND YOU BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”

Zechariah 9:9  9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the hose from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River (the Euphrates) to the ends of the earth. (I added verse 10 to finish the idea)

Matthew 21:5 “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’ “

Acts 13:27  “For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.

Luke 24:44

NASB: 44 Now He said to them, “a These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the b Law of Moses and the Prophets and c the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Parallel Greek:  Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς “Οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι μου οὓς ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔτι ὢν σὺν ὑμῖν, ὅτι δεῖ πληρωθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως καὶ τοῖς προφήταις καὶ ψαλμοῖς περὶ ἐμοῦ.”

Transliteral Greek: He said now unto to them, These [are] the words of Me, which I spoke to you still being with you, that it behooves to be fulfilled all things – having been written in the law of Moses, and the Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.

Cross References

a Luke 9:22, 44f; 18:31-34; 22:37

Luke 9:22  saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

Luke 9:44, 45  44 “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 45 But they did not  understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

Luke 18:31-34 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and  mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

Luke 22:37 “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.”

b Luke 24:27

Luke 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

c Ps 2:7ff [Acts 13:33]; Ps 16:10 [Acts 2:27]; Ps 22:1-18 [Mt 27:34-46]; Ps 69:1-21 [Jn 19:28ff]; Ps 72; 110:1 [Mt 22:43f]; Ps 118:22f [Mt 21:42]

Psalm 2:7-9 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

Acts 13:33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’

Psalm 16:10  For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. (or, decay can also be corruption)

Acts 2:27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.

Psalm 22:1-18 1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them. 5 To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. 6But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people. 7All who see me sneer at me; they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, 8 “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him.” 9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. 10 Upon You I was cast from birth; You have been my God from my mother’s womb. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. 13 They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; 18 They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Matthew 27:33-46  33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they have Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. 35 And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38 At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their head 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You re the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 “HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words. 45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

Psalm 69:1-21  1 Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. 2 I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. 3 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; what I did not steal, I then have to restore. 5 O God, it is You who knows my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You. 6 May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; May those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel, 7 because for Your sake I have borne reproach; dishonor has covered mt face. 8 I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to my mother’s sons. 9 For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. 10 When I wept in my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. 11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12 Those who sit in the gate talk about me, and I am the song of drunkards. 13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God , in the greatness of Your loving kindness, answer me with Your saving truth. 14 Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; may I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. 15 May the flood of water not overflow me nor the deep swallow me up, nor the pit shut its mouth on me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; according to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, 17 and do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly. 18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; ransom me because of my enemies! 19 You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; all  my adversaries are before You. 20 Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

John 19:28-30 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that al things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Psalm 72  1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s son. 2 May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice. 3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills, in righteousness. 4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. 5 Let them fear You while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more. 8 May he also rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust. 10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. 11 And let all kings bow down before him, all nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. 14 He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, and their blood will be precious in his sight; 15 So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; and let them pray for him continually; let them bless him all day long. 16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains; its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; and may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth. 17 May his name endure forever; may his name increase as long as the sun shines; and let men bless themselves by him; let all nations call him blessed. 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Matthew 22:43, 44  43 He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44 ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET” ‘?

Psalm 118:22, 23  22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. 23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’?

 

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

The Resurrection of Jesus: Part Two

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Scripture Used to Create “The Resurrection of Jesus” Splice Series

Matthew 28:1-20 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 28:1)

Mark 16:1-20 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 16:1)

Luke 24:1-53 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 24:1)

John 20 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 20:1)

John 21 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 21:1)

Acts 1:1-14 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Acts 1:1)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Resurrection of Jesus: Part One”, click here.

 

1 Peter 1:2o-21
20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

 

THE SPLICE

And two of Jesus’s followers, one who was named Cleopas, were walking 1 that very day to a village named Emmaus, in the country, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about 2 all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached in a different form and 3 began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. The one 4 named Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had seen a  5 vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with 6 Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.  But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and 7 returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and  those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to 8 Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. But the eleven were doubting and didn’t believe them.

At some point here, Thomas has to leave, because he is not here for Jesus’s first appearance to the disciples. It was evening on that day, the first day of the week, while Cleopas and the other traveler were telling these things. The doors were shut where the disciples were, 9 for fear of the Jews. Jesus Himself stood in their midst, while they were reclining at the table and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing  10 a spirit. And He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, for it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw it was the Lord. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”  They gave Him a piece of broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “11 Receive the Holy Spirit. 12 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” He said to them,  “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them,  “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

But  13 Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, 14 appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written 15 in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

 

Want to continue reading? To read “The Resurrection of Jesus: Part Three”, click here.

 

 

NOTES

1 that very day: Sunday, the day of the resurrection.(Back)

2 all these things: The trial, crucifixion, the earthquake and tearing of the temple veil,  the burial, and the reports of the women saying that Jesus was now gone from the tomb: the whole town was buzzing with these phenomenal events because Jesus had been very widely known (see Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:45, Luke 7:17, 21; John 4:39, 45). He had even been welcomed into the city of Jerusalem with fanfare, just a week earlier (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-18). Other than the illegal arrest and trials by the Sanhedrin in the dead of night, the rest of the events of the past several days were quite public (see Matthew 26:47-28:15; Mark 14:43-16:13; Luke 22:47-24:12; John 18:1-20:18.(Back)

3 began traveling with them: Traveling opened you up to dangerous conditions, due to criminals, animals and even the weather.  Walking in groups made it more likely you would make it to your destination. (Back)

4 named Cleopas: The name Cleopas or Kleopas in Greek means “glory, honor”.  We never learn the second traveler’s name.  (Back)

5 vision of angels: The Greek word for vision used in Luke 24:23 is optasia which means “a supernatural visitation or appearance”. It does not mean a dream or hallucination. The Greek word for angel, used throughout the entire New Testament is aggelos which means “angel, messenger”. The word aggelos can be used to mean a human messenger from God, but in Luke 24:23, it is used with the word optasia. These angels are supernatural messengers and not human messengers. (Back)

6 Moses and with all the prophets: See Luke 24:27, 44. Jesus is referring to quite a lengthy list of prophesies. Please see the document Messianic Mentions for the NASB references for Messianic prophesies in the Law/Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. (Back)

7 returned to Jerusalem: It was almost dark or possibly dark by then and Jerusalem was 7 miles away (Luke 24:13)! If it was dangerous to travel during the day, it was even more so in the dark. (Back)

8 Simon: From what Luke writes concerning what Cleopas says to Jesus in Luke 24:21-24, we know that Cleopas and his pal already knew that Jesus was missing from the tomb. By the way the sentences are written in Luke 24:22, and in Luke 24:24,we know that these travelers were there with the disciples when the women returned from the tomb with the report of it being empty. This means that the travelers must have left the group after that event, and also after others had run down to the tomb and then returned. However, they must have left to go to Emmaus before Peter and John returned from the tomb, since it is Peter’s report that they are being given. The Bible doesn’t give us this much information, though, so it is conjecture using logic.  (Back)

9 for fear of the Jews: At first, the Jewish leaders were ex-communicating people (John 9:22) affiliated with Jesus. Ex-communication meant loss business-wise, socially, and religiously. The leaders had turned up the heat with the resurrection of Lazarus (John 12:10). We start reading about people who follow Jesus being arrested and/or murdered in the book of Acts. For examples, see Acts 4:1-3, 5:18, 7:54-60 and 12:1-3.    (Back)

10 a spirit: The Greek word used for spirit in Luke 24:37, 39 is pneuma which means “wind, spirit, breath”. It is actually the same word used for Spirit when referring to the Holy Spirit in the Greek New Testament. There are some English Bible translations that use the word ghost for Luke 24:37, 39 but the original Greek doesn’t say ghost. Compare to Matthew 14:26 where the Greek text uses the word ghost. The Greek word used for ghost is phantasma which means “an apparition, ghost, an appearance of a ghost, or a phantom”. As a side note, the Holy Spirit should never be referred to as a ghost; it borders on blasphemous, when you look at the difference between pneuma and phantasma.    (Back)

11 Receive the Holy Spirit: This gift was fully manifested during Pentecost. To read about Jesus’s promise concerning the Holy Spirit, see John 14:16-18, 16:5-15, 20:22. See Acts 2:1-13 to read about the day of Pentecost. (Back)

 12 If you forgive: Not one human being has the ability to actually forgive sins on God’s behalf. Only Jesus can do that (there are many verses state this truth, but for a sample see Matthew 9:1-6). This statement from John 20:23 is to be viewed in accompaniment with Matthew 18 and specifically verse 18. Read all of Matthew 18, taking out any non-canonical writing and additions (all those headings, references, notes, verse numbers, etc. which were added much later in our Bibles by non-canonical writers). This way, you can see how the writing of Matthew flows with this subject. (Back)

13 Thomas: “Didymus” and “Thomas” both mean “twin”. It is very possible that Thomas did have a twin, but we can’t be sure. Names were very important in ancient Israel, though. Names were considered inseparable from the person’s character, and therefore names were chosen very carefully. It is most certain Thomas said many things over his years with Jesus, but he is most remembered for being a doubter (John 20:24-29). Legend says that Thomas’s ministry (after Jesus ascended into Heaven) took him to China and India to preach the Gospel and that he died by spear in India. Of course, the Bible says none of this, and the proof for these legends is mostly hearsay. Still, even in current times, many Catholic Indians consider Thomas to be the “patron saint” of India. The place where he was said to have been martyred is a hill area called Parangimalai, in Chennai, and there is a shrine dedicated to him there. Thomas has only two other speaking parts in the Bible: John 11:16, and John 14:5. (Back)

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14 appearing to them: Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:6, that after appearing to Peter, Jesus appeared to more than 500 other believers at one time. To see Paul’s list on who saw Jesus after His resurrection, see 1 Corinthians 15:5-8. (Back)

 

15 in this book: The book of John. See John 20:30. (Back)

 

The Burial of Jesus

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “The Burial of Jesus”

Matthew 27:57-66 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 27:57)

Mark 15:42-47 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 15:42)

Luke 23:50-56 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 23:50)

John 19:31-42 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 19:31)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Crucifixion: Part Two”, click here.

 

Revelation 21:4
“…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

 

THE SPLICE

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, so that the 1 bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (2 for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that 3 their 4 legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers 5 pierced His side with a spear, and immediately 6 blood and water came out. And 7 he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, 8 “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” And again another Scripture says, 9 “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” After these things, when it was still evening, a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea (Arimathea is a city of the Jews), who was a prominent member of the 10 Council,  a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action against Jesus), himself had 11 also become a disciple of Jesus/being a disciple of Jesus/waiting for the kingdom of God, but a secret disciple for 12 fear of the Jews, he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus that he might take away the body of Jesus; Pilate 13 wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, Pilate 14 granted permission/ordered it to be given, the body of Jesus, to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down from the cross. 15 Nicodemus (a Pharisee), who had first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a 16 mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 17 a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in clean linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb. This was Joseph of Arimathea’s own new tomb, which he had hewn and cut out in the rock, in which no one had yet been laid for burial. Therefore because of the 18 Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, 19 he/they laid the body of Jesus inside the new tomb; and 20 Joseph rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away (as did Nicodemus, but it is unclear when he left).  There were women who had been at the crucifixion, who among them was 21 Mary Magdalene and 22 Mary, the mother of Joses 23 and the other Mary. 24 These women had come with Him out of Galilee. They followed Joseph to see where Jesus was buried, and saw the tomb and was looking on to see how His body was prepared for burial. While the body was being prepared for burial, at least Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting opposite the grave. Then 25 they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested 26 according to the commandment.  Now on the next day, the day after the preparation the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, 27 “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a 28 seal on the stone that Joseph had rolled against the entrance.

 

Impression of Night

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “The Resurrection: Part One”, click here.

 

Notes

 

bodies would not remain on the cross: The reason why the Jews did not want the bodies of the dead hanging on the crosses after sundown was because of Deuteronomy 21:23. However, Deuteronomy 21:23 does not specify that only Sabbaths and high days are to observe this mandate. Joshua obeys the mandate, with no mention of the day of the week in Joshua 8:29 and 10:26-27. Roman crucifixion practices normally left people to hang there on the cross until they died, and that could take days. (Back)

2 for that Sabbath was a high day:  This high day was in accordance with Exodus 12:16, Leviticus 23:5-8. (Back)

3 their: Referring to Jesus and the two thieves that were crucified that day, too (Matthew 27:38). (Back)

4 legs might be broken: This detail is found in John 19:32. The legs of victims of crucifixion were broken or smashed by an iron club. This practice was called crurifragium. It was used to expedite the deaths of the crucifixion victims. With smashed legs, the victim could no longer use their leg muscles to push themselves upwards to breathe. Thus, many of the deaths of crucifixion victims were due to asphyxiation. (Back)

5 pierced His side with a spear: The soldiers already knew that Jesus was dead; this is why they didn’t break His legs (John 19:33). This seems to be a sadistic act, with no apparent use other than to amuse the soldiers. But the real reason is because God allowed it to happen, to show that Jesus was truly dead. A piercing through the side with a spear would most certainly puncture vital organs. (Back)

6  blood and water came out: A medical explanation for this event would be because the soldier stabbed through Jesus’s heart. For a comprehensive explanation, view this article.  (Back)

7 he who has seen has testified: From John 19:35. “He who has seen and testified” is John, the writer of the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John,  and Revelation. (Back)

8 NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN: From Psalm 34:20. In Exodus 12:46 and in Numbers 9:12, God gives the command that none of the Passover lamb’s bones should be broken. Jesus is our Passover Lamb, as written by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7. (Back)

9 THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED: Zechariah 12:10. (Back)

10 Council: The Council, which was made up of the members of the Sanhedrin, was the exact group orchestrating the death of Jesus (Matthew 26:3-4, 59, Mark 14:1, 55, Luke 19:47, John 11:47-53). (Back)

11 disciple of Jesus/being a disciple/waiting for the kingdom of God: Matthew 27:57 says “also became a disciple of Jesus”, Mark 15:43 and Luke 23:51 says “waiting for the kingdom of God”, and John 19:38 says “being a disciple”. (Back)

12 fear of the Jews: The Pharisees were excommunicating people for loyalty to Jesus (see John 12:42). Excommunication excluded a person from all religious participation, social participation and even from business participation.  An excommunicated person became a total pariah; even the family members had to stop all association with that person, or the family would also risk excommunication (see John 9:1-41 on one man’s story of excommunication). The hate of others is a byproduct of faith in Christ (see Luke 21:16-17). (Back)

13 wondered if He was dead: Victims of crucifixion didn’t normally have a mercifully quick death, and six hours was comparatively quick. Victims could be hanging on the cross for days. To die in a matter of 6-ish hours was rare, if not unprecedented.  (Back)

14 granted permission/ordered it to be given: Matthew 27:58 says “ordered it to be given”, Mark 15:45 and John 19:38 say “granted permission”. (Back)

15 Nicodemus: Nicodemus’s story can be found in John 3:1-21. (Back)

16 mixture of myrrh and aloes: The Jewish people, as well as the Romans, did not use the embalming practices of the Egyptians. The myrrh and aloes were used for the burial materials in place of embalming, on Friday afternoon/towards evening. Mary Magdalene and the Galilean ladies bring spices and perfumes on Sunday morning for anointing (Greek word aleipho), but also due to the assumed decay, and therefore subsequent smell, of the body (see Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, 24:1). (Back)

17 a hundred pounds weight: A Roman pound was 12 ounces, so this weight would be about 75 pounds in today’s current conventional measurement, where 16 ounces equals 1 pound. In metrics (24.35 grams equals an ounce), the weight would be around 30 kilograms. (Back)

18 Jewish day of preparation: The day before the Sabbath. (Back)

19 he/they laid the body of Jesus: Matthew 27:60 and Mark 15:46 mention only Joseph and John 19:42 says “they” (Back)

20 Joseph rolled a large stone: In all likelihood, Joseph ordered several slaves to do the rolling (he’s rich, Matthew 27:57), but the Bible doesn’t say that. Joseph most certainly couldn’t have rolled the stone by himself. This stone is so large, that the ladies going to the burial site on Sunday morning don’t know how they will move it away from the tomb’s entrance (Mark 16:3-4). An angel removes it before they get to the tomb (Matthew 28:2). (Back)

21 Mary Magdalene: Poor Mary M! Ugly rumors have circled around her for centuries, such as claims that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. There is absolutely nothing in the Bible to suggest that Ms. Magdalene was a prostitute. We know that she followed Jesus on His travels, just like the Twelve disciples did, due to Luke 8:1-2; we know that she had seven demons cast out of her due to Luke 8:2, and she was probably supporting Jesus’s ministry with her personal funds, due to Luke 8:3. She was not the only woman in the traveling group. Luke 8:3 tells us there were several women traveling with Jesus and The Twelve. Because of John 6:9, I think there were children traveling with the group, as well and because of 1 Corinthians 9:5, I believe it possible that the married disciples brought their (believing) wives even early in the ministry (1 Corinthians 9:5 refers to a time much later), which also lends credence to children being present. In any case the women that were present could have possibly been utilized to spread the word about Jesus to the women in the villages where Jesus taught. We do know that, at the very least, the ladies ministered to Him (Matthew 27:55). The Greek word for minister is diakoneó and means “to serve or minister”. It generally means to “care for others” and was also used to mean “serving at the table”. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in Matthew 27:56, 61, Matthew 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47, Mark 16:1, 9; Luke 8:2, Luke 24:10; John 19:25, 20:1, 11-18 and she is possibly included in Acts 1:14, but she is not mentioned by name. (Back)

22 Mary, the mother of Joses: Mary, the mother of James and Joseph/Joses is also called Mary, the mother of James the Less (see Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40). I’ve been kicking around the idea that it’s possible that Mary the mother of Joses/Joseph and James, as well as Jude, whose book is placed before Revelation, is Mary, the mother of Jesus. See Matthew 13:55, 27:56, Mark 6:3, 15:40 and see Jude 1. James the disciple, son of Alphaeus, is never called James the Less in any account, and the phrase “James the Less” is only used in Mark. Here’s a link to my study on the whole James debate. Unless there is a direct identity provided in the Bible, we are speculating on which James is which. Just like there were so many people named “Mary” mentioned, there were probably lots of people named “James”, too. (Back)

23 and the other Mary: The other Mary may be Mary the mother of James and Joseph/Joses, but it is unclear. See Matthew 27:61, Mark 15:47, Luke 23:55-56 for mention of these women. (Back)

24 These women: We can safely assume that Mary Magdalene came from Magdala which was on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. (Back)

25 they returned: It is assumed that the ladies returned to wherever they were staying during the Passover and Sabbath, but the Bible does not say where that is at. (Back)

26 according to the commandment: Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17 where resting on the seventh day is recorded as a commandment from God. (Back)

27 You have a guard: This is the group of Roman soldiers that was granted to the Jews. See Matthew 28:12, 14. One could say that this Roman guard came from the Herodians’ influence, because they had been conspiring to put Jesus to death along with the Pharisees. Pilate really only comes into the story during Jesus’s trial but Herod and his Herodians are mentioned a few times before (Matthew 22:15, 16, Mark 3:6, 8:15, 12:13, Luke 13:31-32 and Acts 4:27).We really don’t know much about the guard or who they came from because the Bible doesn’t say. (Back)

28 seal on the stone: I believe this seal is Roman, because the guard is Roman. I believe the guard is Roman because of Matthew 27:65-66 and 28:12, 14. Also, the relevance of a Jewish seal on such an important tomb seems silly, as the Jews didn’t have much power of their own. However, one could argue that the Jews sure had enough power to pressure Pontius Pilate into crucifying people. Simply put, the Bible doesn’t state whether the seal was Roman or Jewish. If it was a Roman seal on Jesus’s tomb, it was an object of authority. (Back)

The Last Supper: Part Six

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Scripture Used to Create “The Last Supper” Splice Series

Matthew 26:17-36 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:17)

Mark 14:12-32 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:12)

Luke 22:7-39(Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:7)

John 13:1-18:1 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 13:1)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Last Supper: Part Five”, click here.

 

Isaiah 65:18
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness.

 

THE SPLICE

 

Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?  So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? 1 We do not know what He is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 2 Truly, truly, I say to you, that 3 you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but 4 your grief will be turned into joy. Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and 5 no one will take your joy away away from you. 6 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in 7 My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be 8 scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet 9 I am not alone because the Father is with Me. You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 10 I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 11 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, yet I will not; I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice  “The Last Supper: Part Seven”, click here.

NOTES

 

1  We do not know what He is talking about:  The disciples are referring to what Jesus had said in John 16:16. Jesus had told the disciples (and others) a couple of times that He was going to die and rise again (see Matthew 17:9, 12, 22-23; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:44, John 7:33-34; 10:15-18) and He even tells them how He will die in John 12:32-33. In Mark 9:32 and Luke 9:45 we are told that the disciples didn’t understand the previous statements of death because the meaning was concealed from them and they were afraid to ask about it. Things will become a little clearer to the disciples by John 16:29, but it is doubtful they have a complete understanding. (BACK)

2  Truly, truly, I say to you: The Greek word for truly is amén and it means “verily, truly, amen”. It’s meant to express “so be it”. This phrasing is important, because in using the word amén, a person is placing emphasis on the truth of their statement or they are nodding in agreement with a statement that is called truth. Jesus uses amén twice, almost like an “extra strength” amén, proclaiming the truth of His words. (BACK)

3 You will weep and lament: See Mark 16:10. (BACK)

4 your grief will be turned into joy: See John 20:20. There is also the future joy, as described in Revelation 21:1-22:5. (BACK)

5 no one will take your joy away: John 16:22. The Greek word used for joy is chara and it means “joy, gladness”. This kind of joy is not fleeting happiness, which is a changing emotion. Joy is bigger than happiness and is sustained by the Holy Spirit as a fruit of the Spirit (see Romans 14:17 and  Galatians 5:22). Joy does not depend on any emotions or your situation in the world. It is the kind of joy that allowed Paul and Silas sing praises to God while imprisoned, even after being beaten with rods (see Acts 16:22-25).  (BACK)

6 In that day you will not question Me about anything: John 16:23. The Greek word used for question is erótaó and it means “ask, request”. It means to present a request, whether humbly or otherwise.  (BACK)

7  My Name: It is important to understand that a person’s name in Jesus’s era was unseparated from their character. Therefore, going to the Father in Jesus’s name means in His will, see 1 John 5:14. Whatever your prayers are about, thankfulness should be the crowning attitude (Philippians 4:6).  (BACK)

8 scattered, each to his own home: This scattering takes place in Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). Since they are in Jerusalem, we can assume that the disciples scatter to the place/s they are staying at in/around Jerusalem, not all the way back to Capernaum, as would be the situation in Peter’s and Andrew’s cases (see Matthew 8:5, 14; Mark 1:21, 29; Luke 4:31, 38). Regardless of where they are scattered to, they are all together again, at least for a partial amount of time, by Sunday (Luke 24:33).  (BACK)

9 I am not alone: Just like Jesus, we can say that we never alone when we belong to God. Psalm 34:4-7 and Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 are striking reminders of His protection and deliverance in times of trouble. We can take comfort in knowing that when He allows us to go through difficulties, He will sustain us. See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 for Paul’s declaration on the sufficiency of God’s grace. (BACK)

10 I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD: Jesus is referencing Zechariah 13:7 (BACK)

11 But Peter said: See Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31. This is the return to the conversation Jesus and Peter had earlier as described in John 13:36-38 and Luke 22: 31-34. We know that Matthew/Mark and Luke/John are describing two different conversations because in Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26 it is stated that Jesus and the disciples have already left for the Mount of Olives. Luke and John describe the conversation they are giving the account for as taking place before leaving the upper room. Jesus and the disciples are described as leaving the upper room for Luke in Luke 22:39 and for John in John 14:31. (BACK)

The Last Supper: Part Five

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Scripture Used to Create “The Last Supper” Splice Series

 

Matthew 26:17-36 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:17)

Mark 14:12-32 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:12)

Luke 22:7-39(Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:7)

John 13:1-18:1 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 13:1)

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Last Supper: Part Four”, click here.

 

Romans 12:9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

 

THE SPLICE

1 You did not choose Me but I chose you,and appointed you that you would go and 2 bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in 3 My Name He may give to you. 4 This I command you that you love one another.  If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world,5 the world would love its own but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you,6 ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they7 persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but 8 now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did,  they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law,9 THEY HATED ME WITHOUT CAUSE. When the 10 Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning. These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. They will make you11 outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is12 offering service to God.  These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, “Where are You going?” But because I have said these things to you,13 sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the14 Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 15 concerning sin 16 because they do not 17 believe in Me; and 18 concerning righteousness , because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the 19 ruler of this world has been judged. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 20 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. A little while, and 21 you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “The Last Supper: Part Six” click here.

 

NOTES

 

1 You did not choose Me but I chose you:  This is true for all of us who belong to God, not just the Twelve. God chose us, long before the world was even created. (see Ephesians 1:4) (BACK)

2 bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain: We were made to do good works for God (Ephesians 2:10). These good works run in accordance with the fruit that we are to bear, as described in Galatians 5:22-23.  In contrast, the things of the world or of the flesh are described in Galatians 5:19-21. It is in our nature to do the worldly things described in Galatians 5:19-21 (see Romans 1:29-31 for more worldly attitudes). When we become the adopted sons of God, it is the things of the Spirit that we strive to do, and by the grace of God, we actually do them (at least in some capacity). It is important to understand that because we are still under the curse (recorded in Genesis 3), we fight within ourselves NOT to be slaves to the things of the world, and yet, we fail (see Paul’s comments on this struggle in Romans 7:21-23). With Christ, we are not under the Law for these sins, but if you are a true, faithful doulos of Christ, it should be bothering you if you do them, just like Paul’s lament in Romans 7:24. See Romans 8 for more on on our deliverance and victory in Jesus.(BACK)

3 My Name: It is important to understand that asking anything of the Father in the name of Jesus means within the character and will of God (1 John 5:14). If you are a slave of Jesus (Romans 6:22), you do have the inheritance of Christ (Colossians 3:24), as you are now an adopted son (“son” is a general term, there is no male or female within the spiritual realm, Galatians 3:28) of God (Ephesians 1:5). But it is apparent and logical that both sons and slaves have no power over the Father or Owner of them (John 13:16). After all, it is He who saved us, not the other way around (Titus 3:5). (BACK)

4 This I command you: This commandment was also given way back in Leviticus 19:18. What does it mean to love? Jesus said that there was no greater love than to lay down one’s life for their friends in John 15:13. God loved us so much, He gave His own Son to reconcile sinners to Himself (John 3:16). We can definitely gather that love is sacrificial and unselfish. To understand more about love, see 1 Corinthians 13. Also, see the analysis, All About Love, for explanation on 1 Corinthians 13.(BACK)

5 the world would love its own: See Romans 1:21-32. This portion of Romans sounds very familiar even in today’s world, especially if you really think about what is given general approval in society. None of the ungodly behaviors mentioned in Romans 1:21-31 should be the practice of those claiming to belong to Christ.(BACK)

6 ‘A slave is not greater than his master’: John 15:20. Jesus had mentioned this to the disciples earlier that night in John 13:16, but He had also said something very similar earlier in His ministry, as recorded in Matthew 10:24.(BACK)

7 persecuted Me: The persecution began when Jesus was just a baby, with Herod’s slaughter of all boys under the age of two, as described in Matthew 2:16. We don’t get any reports of persecution until Jesus’s ministry, which He began when He was around 30 years old (Luke 3:23). Throughout His ministry, persecution was from the people in the synagogues (Luke 4:28-30), the religious leaders, (John 8:48, 52, 10:31, 11:47-53) and even people in His own family (John 7:3-5) and supposed friends (John 13:2). The disciples were also probably harassed along side with Him, if you judge by the these comments in John 9:27-28; 11:16; 12:10. The harassment and persecution would get worse for the apostles (as well as any follower of Jesus’s) after Jesus’s resurrection, as told throughout Acts. Here are some specific spots were you can read about the apostles’ persecution and the persecution of other followers as well: Acts 4:1-21; 5:17-44; 6:8-14; 7:54-8:3; 9:1; 11:19; 12:1-6; 16:22-24; 25:1-26:32. For believers today who refuse to back down from what is truth in God’s word, the persecution is mostly kept to name-calling and “canceling”. However, the persecution is expected to increase in time, see Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4.(BACK)

8 now they have no excuse:Their sin is disbelief in Christ. Some actually attributed His miracles to Satan (Matthew 12:22-24; Mark 3:22). Even at the most basic level, no one has any excuse for their disbelief in God, because He has given us enough to know that He exists, see Romans 1:18-20.(BACK)

9 THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE: Jesus is referencing Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4. (BACK)

10 Helper comes: The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is as follows (this list is not exhaustive): to convict people of their sin and to show them what righteousness means (John 16:8). For those who heed the conviction of their sin, He regenerates us for our justification by Jesus (Titus 3:5-7). He guides believers in all truth (John 16:13). He enables us and causes us to live in obedience to God’s moral laws (Ezekiel 36:27). He gives us our spiritual life (John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6) and dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). He helps us in our weakness, and intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27). To sum it up, the Holy Spirit, Who investigates all things (even God, see 1 Corinthians 2:10)  is the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, truth and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2; 1 John 5:6). (BACK)

11 outcasts from the synagogue: The synagogue was the place where everyone in a town gathered. Inside the synagogue, the Jews conducted religious teaching as well as the worship of God, but they also conducted public court appearances and other general town assemblies there. Outcasting a person from the synagogue was condemning them to total pariah-hood from daily and normal Jewish life. To read about some recent archaeological excavations that surfaced some ancient synagogues in Israel, click here.(BACK)

12 offering service to God: An example of such an erroneous demonstration can be found in Saul (a.k.a Paul, see Acts 13:9) at the martyring of Stephen and afterwards of other followers of Christ (Acts 7:58-8:3, 9:1-2).  Paul eventually changes his ways (Acts 9:3-30), and does end up on the receiving end of the same persecution that he meted out to others, as pronounced by Jesus in Acts 9:16. We don’t know exactly how Paul died, but many hold to the tradition that he was martyred by Nero after the fire in Rome (a fire that was blamed on Christians). To read about some of the persecution experienced by Paul after his conversion, see Acts 9:20-29; 13:50; 16:19-24. Paul gives us a description of his sufferings for Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. We also know Paul wrote, at the very least, these books from prison: Ephesians (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), Philippians (Philippians 1:7, 13, 14, 17), Colossians (Colossians 4:18), 2 Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8, 16, 2:9),  and Philemon (Philemon 1:1, 9, 13).(BACK)

13 sorrow has filled your heart: The sorrow of the disciples seems to last through the night.  The verses of Matthew 26:43 and Mark 14:40 say that in Gethsemane, the disciples’ eyes were very heavy and they were falling asleep. It is in Luke 22:45 where we learn that the sleepiness is due to sorrow. Their sorrow was caused by many things. Jesus has told  the disciples that He will be leaving and the disciples cannot come with Him (John 13:33, 36). Earlier that night, they were told by Jesus that one of them would be betraying Him. Peter is even told that he will be tested by Satan and due to this testing, Peter will deny his friendship (as well as his discipleship) with Jesus that very night. If that weren’t enough, each and every disciple will “fall away”, deserting Him while He is taken under arrest. See Matthew 26:21, 22, 31-35; Mark 14:18-20, 27-31; Luke 22:21-23, 31-34; John 13:21-22, 37-38; 16:32). The disciples have also been told that they will be hated and persecuted (John 15:18-25), but they’ve been experiencing all sorts of hate and persecution already, see Note 7.  Jesus has been forthcoming about His own feelings at the impending betrayal of Judas (John 13:21) and the grief He feels about the subsequent sacrifice that will follow (Matthew 26:37-39; Mark 14:33-36; Luke 22:41-44). For the disciples, all of these things would certainly lend itself to feeling sorrow throughout the entire evening, even before all of the horrors unfold on the next day.(BACK)

14 Helper: John 16:7. The Greek word used for Helper is paraklétos and it means “Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, Helper”. The word can be used in a general sense or a legal sense. Generally, it means someone who gives support, encouragement, or assistance to another. It even applies to someone who intercedes for another. Legally, it means an advocate. The word paraklétos has the feeling of personal involvement and understanding on the part of the helper.   (BACK)

15 concerning sin: John 16:9. The Greek phrasing of John 16:9 transliterally says “about sin, truly, because/since they not have faith/trust in Me”. The Greek word used for sin is hamartia which means “missing the mark, sin, guilt”.  Sin is the leaving off from God’s ways and choosing to pursue your own ways. The Greek word for truly is men and it means “truly, indeed” and is used as an emphasis for the next clause in the sentence. The Greek word for faith (or trust) is pisteuó and it means “to believe, faith, trust, reliance upon”.  This kind of belief has strong personal connection and persuasion; it isn’t a casual or shallow knowledge. Because of the way this sentence is structured, we can understand that the sin Jesus is speaking about is rejecting God-given faith and trust in Jesus. Rejecting faith in Christ is the sin that equals eternal death (John 3:16). All the other sins will be forgiven, except for the one where the Holy Spirit is blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32). This is because the Holy Spirit is the Guide of all truth (John 16:13) and the Witness of Christ (Acts 5:32), and blasphemy would be rejection of the truth. All who belong to Christ have the Holy Spirit and He is the One that lets you know in that proof-positive way that you belong to God (Romans 8:9, 16; Ephesians 1:13-14). Also see Note 17. (BACK)

16 because: John 16:9. The Greek word for because is hoti and it means “that, since, for, because”. It might be more clear for some readers to insert “since” instead of  “because” when reading John 16:9-11. (BACK)

17 believe Me: Not having that trust and faith in Christ is the one sin that cannot be forgiven (see Note 15). If one chooses to keep to the side of sin, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin in Christ (Hebrews 10:26-27). This is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. His testimony regarding Jesus and regarding sin is irrefutable (see Matthew 16:15-17 and then see 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 which cites it is through the Spirit that God imparts wisdom and knowledge of Him). However, you have to be empowered by God to repent and have this faith in the Holy Spirit’s testimony (John 6:44; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:25). (BACK)

18 concerning righteousness: John 16:10. The Greek word for righteousness is dikaiosuné and it means “just/justified or right”. A believer’s “rightness” is not their own righteousness that they have conjured up themselves or earned in any way. A saved person’s  righteousness has been granted to them through Jesus (Romans 3:21-28).(BACK)

19 ruler of this world: The ruler of this world is Satan (1 John 5:19). Satan means “adversary”. Here are some basic things we know about the devil: we know there is a battle in heaven, (Revelation 12:7-9). We know that by the beginning of the human race, Satan was on earth, because he was mobile in the body of a serpent, spreading lies with murderous intent (Genesis 3:1-5; John 8:44). We know that on at least two occasions, when holy angels presented themselves to God, he showed up as well (Job 1:6, 2:1). We know he is always looking for someone to destroy (1 Peter 5:8) and using his minions of humans, he will try to destroy those who belong to God, even though that cannot happen (Matthew 24:24; Romans 8:29-39). Still, he doesn’t mind trying, and will even pretend to be a believer and give all the outward appearances of one (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). We also know his destruction is imminent (Revelation 20:10). In order to stand against all of Satan’s temptations and deception, we have two defenses: we are to submit to God, standing firm in our faith and resist Satan (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9) and we are to stand in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17).(BACK)

20 All things that the Father has are Mine: Jesus mentions in Matthew 11:27 that God has handed all things over to Him. This is probably because all things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).(BACK)

21 You will no longer see Me…see Me: Of course, the disciples did not see Jesus while He was in the grave. After Jesus’s resurrection, He appeared to them and talked with them for 40 days. See Acts 1:3.(BACK)

 

 

Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial”

Matthew 26:57-75 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:57)

Mark 14:53-72 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:53)

Luke 22:54-71 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:54)

John 18:12-27 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 18:12)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus”, click here.

 

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

 

THE SPLICE

1 The Roman cohort, their commander and the officers of the Jews 2 arrested Jesus and bound Him. 3 Peter and another disciple followed after Jesus at a distance. Those arresting Jesus took Him to the house of the high priest. The high priest that year was 4 Caiaphas. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was 5 expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. All of the chief priests, scribes, and elders were gathered there with Caiaphas at his house; 6 Annas, a previous high priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law, was also there.  Those who arrested Jesus led Him to Annas first. During this time, Peter and 7 the other disciple had followed Jesus all the way up to the courtyard of the high priest. The other disciple was known to the high priest, and he was able to enter with Jesus into the high priest’s court, but Peter was standing at the door, outside. So the other disciple went over and spoke to the doorkeeper (who was a female slave) and 8 he brought Peter in. Then the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You are not 9 also one of His disciples, are you?” Peter denied it and said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the officers were sitting there, in the courtyard, having made a charcoal fire in the middle of it, for the night was cold and they were all warming themselves. 10 Peter was below in the courtyard, amongst them, 11 sometimes standing/sometimes sitting and warming himself, awaiting the outcome of Jesus’s trial before the high priest. Now during this time, Jesus was before Annas, and Annas then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? 12 Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer 13 the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (The rest of Peter’s denial of Jesus and Jesus’s time before Caiaphas probably happened simultaneously). While Jesus was before Caiaphas, Peter was below in the courtyard, still warming himself by the fire with the officers and some of the slaves. Now a servant-girl of the high priest came to him, seeing him in the firelight, warming himself, and she was 14 intently looking at him and said directly to Peter, “You too were with Jesus the Nazarene, the Galilean.” And she said to the others around “This man was with Him, too”. But 15 denied it before all of the officers and slaves, saying to her, “Woman, I do not know Him. 16 I do not know, nor do I understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter went out onto the porch. When he had gone out to the gateway, the servant-girl saw him again and with another servant-girl, said to the bystanders who were there, “This man is one of them! He was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again, he denied it with 17 an oath, 18 “I do not know the man.” And during this exchange with the servant-girls, another man was also there who was saying along with the servant girls, “You are one of them too!” And Peter answered him directly and said, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour had passed, the bystanders from earlier saw Peter and one of the men in the group said to the others, in Peter’s hearing, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” And this group then addressed Peter directly, saying, “Surely you too are one of them for you are a Galilean too; for even the 19 way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to 20 curse and swear, addressing the individual man and the whole group saying, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about; I do not know the man, this man you are talking about!” One of the slaves of the high priest, who was a relative of 21 Malchus, who may have been with the group of bystanders, was in near proximity to Peter at this time. He said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately, while Peter was still talking, a rooster crowed for the second time. The Lord Jesus turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “22 Before a rooster crows today, crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and the whole Council/Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death, and they were not finding any testimony that they could use.  Even though many false witnesses came forward and many were giving false testimony against Him, their testimony was not consistent. But later on, 23 two false witnesses came forward, stood up, and gave false testimony. One said “This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the other said, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another 24 made without hands.’” 25 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.   The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent and did not answer. 26 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Jesus away to their council chamber. They were saying to Him, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “27 If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer.” And again, the high priest was questioning Him, and said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; I am; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter, from now on, you will see 28 THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER of God, and COMING WITH THE 29 CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”  Then the high priest 30tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy. What do you think? How does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Jesus to be deserving of death and answered, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth. He deserves death!” Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and then some began 31 spit at Him, they spat in His face and then blindfolded Him, beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming. Then the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

 

 

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “Jesus Before Pilate, the First Time” click here

 

NOTES

 

1  Roman cohort: Although there have been debates as to whether or not the Romans were involved in the arrest of Jesus, John 18:12 is clear that there were Roman soldiers present. The Greek word used in John 18:3, 12 for cohort is speira which means “a body of soldiers”. The Greek word used in John 18:12 for the word commander is chiliarchos which means “a commander of a thousand”. Mark 14:54, 65 and Matthew 26:58 uses the word officers which is the Greek word hupéretés meaning “officer, underling, attendant”. It is unknown how the Pharisees came into possession of this Roman cohort in the first place, but it certainly could have been the Herodians that arranged for it. The Herodians had been in partnership with the Pharisees, plotting Jesus’s murder (see Matthew 22:15, 16; Mark 3:6, 8:15, 12:13). The Jews and Pontius Pilate had a shaky relationship, but it is possible that at some point Pilate had given the guard to the Sanhedrin/Pharisees just to make them happy.  (Back)

2 arrested Jesus: The arrest happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, after the Last Supper. To read about Jesus’s time right before the arrest, see Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46. To read the Splice about Gethsemane, click here. (Back)

3  Peter and another disciple followed Jesus at a distance: Peter and the unknown disciple were at a distance because all of the disciples had run away when Jesus was being arrested (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). At some point, Peter and the other guy returned and decided to follow Jesus to the high priest’s house (Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54; John 18:15). It is unknown what happened to the other 9 disciples at that time and we don’t know where traitor Judas went, either. We do know that at the very least, John shows back up at the foot of the cross (John 19:26) and all of Jesus’s friends were there at His death, looking on from a distance (Luke 23:49).  (Back)

4 Caiaphas: Having the office of high priest was quite a position to have, reaping respect and deference from the Jewish people. As high priest, Caiaphas would be responsible for entering the Holy of Holies and making atonement for the people of Israel once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Leviticus 16 gives information on this holiest of days. The reason why we no longer observe this holy day, as Christians, is because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:15; 5:9-10) and His sacrifice was once and for all; atonement never needs to be made again (Hebrews 10:1-18; Romans 6:10). As a side note, the very first high priest of Israel was Aaron, Moses’s brother (Exodus 28:41; 29:9). (Back)

5  expedient for one man to die: This conversation happened when the Pharisees had gone to Caiaphas because they had were quite upset by Jesus’s miracles, particularly the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46). They went to the high priest, complaining that if Jesus went on performing miracles then everyone would believe in Him, and they feared that if this happened, then Rome would take their nation away. Caiaphas basically gave the stamp of approval for killing Jesus, to save the nation of Israel. See John 11:47-52 to read about this meeting. (Back)

6  Annas: It is unknown whether or not Annas lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Caiaphas. It is unknown whether or not his daughter was still alive. We do know that Annas was high priest at one time, in conjunction with Caiaphas, at the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry (Luke 3:2), during the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1). Annas and Caiaphas show up again, in Acts 4:1-23, when John and Peter are preaching about Jesus’s resurrection. They even recognized John and Peter as having been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).  (Back)

7 the other disciple: Many people assume that the “other disciple” has to be John the disciple/apostle and writer of the gospel of John (as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd letters of John and Revelation). Only John records that Peter had a fellow disciple with him, following Jesus to the high priest’s house (John 18:15). John may or may not have been the apostle accompanying Peter to Jesus’s trial. Why would John mention this disciple if it wasn’t him? On the other hand, John does not refer to the “other disciple” with Peter as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:20-24). John’s usage of  “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is the only confirmed reference to himself throughout his book, as he explains in John 21:24, in reference for John 13:23; 21:20-24 and therefore by relation for 19:26 and 20:2. Another thing to think about is that John and Peter (along with James and Andrew) were fishermen at the Sea of Galilee and therefore probably not highly esteemed among the upper classes in Jerusalem, nor were they probably wealthy. Why would John be known to the high priest of the Sanhedrin at all (John 18:16)? The high priest had the top job over the Sanhedrin, which was the high court of Israel, and he was highly esteemed and wealthy. Back then (just like all through history), common/poor did not mingle with esteemed/wealthy. It is more probable that the relationship that the “other disciple” had with the high priest would have existed before this person became a disciple of Jesus. The word used for known John 18:15 is the Greek word gnóstos which means “known; an acquaintance”. This does suggest an actual relationship, even if a shallow one, and not just “known” by reputation. Besides these two disciples, we can also wonder if traitor Judas was there for the trial proceedings at the house of Caiaphas. The Bible never mentions Judas’s presence at any of the trials of Jesus (there were 5), except possibly in Matthew 27:3 by saying that Judas “saw” that Jesus had been condemned.  The Greek word used for saw in Matthew 27:3 is horaó which means to “see, look upon, experience, perceive”. The word can be used literally or metaphorically, so we can’t know for sure if Judas was physically present at Jesus’s illegal trial. (Back)

8  he brought Peter in: The other disciple is never mentioned again, after this verse in John 18:16.  (Back)

9 also one of this man’s disciples: The Greek word used in John 18:17 for also is kai which means “and, even, also, namely”. In saying “also”, she might have known the other disciple and known about his conversion to becoming a disciple of Jesus’s (another possible indication that perhaps the disciple knew the high priest before his days of following Jesus). But this asks the question: why was Peter afraid, if the other disciple wasn’t? Perhaps Peter didn’t feel he had the same immunity or protection that the other disciple might have had, since this other disciple was known to the high priest (John 18:15). However, there probably wasn’t any protection for anyone from this angry, vengeful mob. Even members of the Sanhedrin who believed in Jesus were afraid of saying so out loud because of the Pharisees and their ire (John 12:42-43). Also, it’s possible that the other disciple was just as afraid as Peter, but had decided he didn’t care anymore if he was arrested for his affiliation with Jesus. (Back)

10 Peter was below in the courtyard: The Greek word used for below in Mark 14:66 is kató meaning “beneath, bottom, down, under”.  This wording suggests that the trial before the high priest was held on an upper floor that looked out and down into the outside courtyard. We know the courtyard is outside because Matthew 26:69 says the courtyard is outside using the Greek word exó meaning “outside or without”. This courtyard is large enough to hold at least some of the officers from the crowd that arrested Jesus, some slaves, and possibly some animals (the Bible only mentions a rooster alongside Peter’s denials, but we don’t know if the rooster is in the courtyard). The room where Jesus’s trial is held must be big enough to hold some more officers and the Council and some false witnesses. This gives us the picture that the high priest’s house is larger than a common house.   (Back)

11 sometimes standing/sometimes sitting: Matthew 26:69 and Luke 22:55 say that Peter was sitting and John 18:25 says he was standing. Logic dictates that he did both while he was there. (Back)

12 Question those who have heard: This answer of Jesus’s, if acted upon, would have done a remarkable thing: given first-hand eyewitness testimony of what He actually said and taught. However, no one at this ridiculous excuse for a trial was truly interested in real testimony. The Council were interested in their agenda and the agenda was killing Jesus (Matthew 26:59; Mark 14:55, John 11:47-53).  (Back)

13 the high priest: Although it is stated that Caiaphas was that year’s high priest (John 18:13), perhaps it was also a title of respect kept for the rest of one’s life, after serving officially as the high priest. Maybe they meant “former high priest”, but the “former” is implied. In any case, Annas had some sort of perceived authority to the Jews (see note 6).  (Back)

14 intently looking at him: The Greek word for intently used in Luke 22:56 is atenizó and it means “to direct the gaze at; to look steadfastly” and has the feel of being “completely fixed” on someone. (Back)

15 Peter denied it: In each of the accounts, the word denial uses the Greek word arneomai and it means to “reject, disown, deny”. Jesus also uses the word deny in the accounts, but He uses a stronger version of the word: aparneomai. It means a strong rejection, or the act of disowning someone. See Matthew 26:70, 72, 75; Mark 14:68, 70, 72; Luke 22:57, 61; John 18:25, 27. (Back)

16 I do not know, nor do I understand: Mark 14:68. The Greek words used here for know (eidó) and understand (epistamai) show us that Peter is saying he has no concept or perception of Jesus. He wants the courtyard folks to believe that he is there, dressed not like a solider or a slave (legitimate people who would be there besides the Sanhedrin) and speaking in a Galilean accent, awaiting the results of Someone’s trial when he has no perception of that Person being in existence. No one is buying it. (Back)

17 an oath: Peter is “swearing to God” or “swearing by God”. Oaths or vows were taken very seriously in Jewish culture. They were used to prove honesty and truthfulness. A false oath is a serious offense against God and this was most certainly a false oath. See Leviticus 19:12; Zechariah 8:17. See Matthew 5:33-37 where Jesus says we are not to make any oaths at all. (Back)

18 “I do not know the man.” See note 15 for usage of the Greek word eidó (Back)

19 way you talk: Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44) in Galilee. He had a house in Capernaum, also in Galilee, see Mark 1:21-29; Luke 4:31-38. Galileans were probably plain folk, Galilee being a fishing region, and therefore probably not especially elegant, particularly in speech. The dialect used in Galilee may have sounded a bit rustic to finely tuned ears and/or it had a specific “Galilean” accent.  (Back)

20 curse and swear: See Mark 14:71. The Greek word for curse used in Mark 14:71 is anathematizó and it’s simple definition is to “invoke a curse” and “to devote someone or something to destruction”. A human curse (not divine curses) in its most simplistic idea, wishes evil and bad things upon someone or something. The Greek word for swear used in Mark 14:71 is omnuó, and its simple definition is “to promise with an oath”. Peter did not necessarily use obscenities, but he was invoking curses upon himself, perhaps even Jesus, and promising under an oath that he did not know Jesus. To summarize, Christians shouldn’t be cursing, which is an expression of wrath and vengeance. See Romans 12:14, 17, 19, 21 on curses and vengeance. We should not be taking oaths (Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12), nor using obscenities (Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:8). For a few more verses about the tongue/what we say, see Proverbs 18:6-7; Proverbs 21:23; James 3:3-12.  (Back)

21 Malchus: Malchus was also a slave of the high priest (John 18:10). In summary, Peter had cut off Malchus’s right ear with a sword while the arrest of Jesus was about to happen in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away because He would allow this arrest to happen and then He healed Malchus’s ear. See Matthew 26:51-54; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50-51; John 18:10-11. Only Luke tells us that Jesus healed the cut off ear.  (Back)

22 Before a rooster crows today, before a rooster crows twice: The accounts about the prediction of the rooster and the actual crowing of the rooster are found in the following: Matthew 26:34, 74; Mark 14:30, 72; Luke 22:34, 60; John 13:38, 18:27. Only Mark tells us that the rooster crowed twice. It should be understood that the Greek word used for twice in Mark 14:30 is dis which means “twice, utterly or entirely” and in Mark 14:72 the Greek word for second is deuteros which means “afterward, again, secondarily, second, in the second place, the second time”. It should also be understood that in none of the accounts is the word “rooster” actually proceeded by “a” or “the” because there is no distinction. It could be “the rooster” (specific rooster or a representative rooster for all roosters) or it could be “a rooster” (unspecific rooster). Roosters begin crowing before sunrise, sometime between 4am and 6am, called Anticipatory Predawn Crowing, and it’s not just one “crow”.  If there is more than one rooster in a flock, there is a pecking order for when each rooster is allowed to crow. What does all this mean? I think it means that Jesus meant that before the main rooster of the high priest’s courtyard finished his morning announcement of the impending sunrise, Peter would have denied Him three grouped-up times (with several denials per grouping, as several people were accusing him). I think Mark is making the distinction that this rooster crows twice for his morning hello, maybe even after all the other roosters have had their turn. The other 3 gospel writers just tell us that the rooster crowed, giving us the finished product without any of the crowing details, so to speak (Back)

23 two false witnesses: Both of these witnesses were misquoting Jesus. To see what Jesus actually said, see  John 2:18-22. Jesus said He would “raise up” the temple in three days. He uses the word egeiró to mean “raise up, arouse, to waken”. The witnesses are saying rebuild in Matthew 26:61 and Mark 14:58, using the Greek word oikodomeó, which means “to build, to build a house”. As a side note, Jesus will have two witnesses again, this time testifying for Him. See Revelation 11 (Back)

24 made without hands: The Greek word used for this phrase is acheiropoiétos and it is meant to be interpreted as divine design. The false witnesses are proclaiming that Jesus called Himself God. This would be a problem if any other person said they were God (Isaiah 44:6); we know that Jesus is God (John 10:30). Regardless, He didn’t actually use these words. See  John 2:18-22 (Back)

25 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent: This is the crime that the Sanhedrin want to pin on Jesus, that He called Himself God. In reality, they are envious of Jesus (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10) and the miracles He has performed and the following He had acquired (Matthew 4:24-25). Jesus was also healing on the Sabbath, which they didn’t like (John 5:18) and Jesus didn’t mince words regarding the Pharisees’ hypocrisy to everyone (Matthew 23:1-36; Luke 12:1-3). To make the charge more palatable for Pilate, they tell him that Jesus is a troublemaker, stirring up the general population to revolt against Rome, calling Himself the King of the Jews (Luke 23:2, 5, 13, 14). (Back)

26 When it was day: It is possible that it took all night to find the false witnesses and it turned to day when they took Jesus to their council chamber. It is also possible that Jesus waited in prison while the council dispersed for a bit and when the council regathered a couple of hours later, it was considered “day”.  (Back) (Back)

27 If I tell you, you will not believe: It’s a worthless effort, trying to talk someone into believing about Jesus. We can only pray for people who do not believe Him and we can present the truth of the Bible. (Back)

28  THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER: Jesus is referring to Psalm 110:1.  (Back)

29  CLOUDS OF HEAVEN: Jesus is quoting from Daniel 7:13. I do not believe that the “clouds of heaven” are ordinary clouds, such as a cumulus cloud—something we would normally see in our atmosphere. I believe that there will be no mistaking these as supernatural clouds when they are seen.  (Back)

30 tore his robes: This was a traditional way to show mourning or grief. Many Jewish people still practice this tradition. In Joel 2:13, God instructs those who would turn to Him to rend their hearts, not their garments. This is what the repentance of sin is about. (Back)

31 to spit at Him: It was a disgrace to be spit on, particularly in the face (Numbers 12:14). Jesus was spit on, to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah 50:6. (Back)

The Last Supper: Part One

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Scripture Used to Create “The Last Supper” Splice Series

Matthew 26:17-36 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:17)

Mark 14:12-32 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:12)

Luke 22:7-39(Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:7)

John 13:1-18:1 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 13:1)

 

1 Corinthians 5:7
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.

 

THE SPLICE

Now before the 1 Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, 2 having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 3 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, Jesus was sending Peter and John out to prepare for the Passover,  and He said to them, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” Peter and John said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  Jesus said to them, 4 “Go into Jerusalem and when you have entered the city, a certain man will meet you and 5 he will be carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ And the owner of the house himself will show you a 6 large upper room that is furnished and ready; prepare the Passover for us there.” Peter and John did as Jesus had directed them; they left Jesus and went into the city and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, Jesus went to the upper room with the twelve. When the supper hour had come, 7 He reclined at the table, and with Him, the twelve disciples/the apostles. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I 8 suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it 9 until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes , until the day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” During supper, 10 the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given 11 all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, He got up from supper, and laid aside 12 His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to 13 wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, 14“Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash 15 my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “16 He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “17 Not all of you are clean.” When He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, 18 you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 19 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you . I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 20 ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, 21 he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and 22 he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” After Jesus had said this and while they all were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus became troubled in spirit, and testified and said,  “Truly, truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom 23 one of His disciples whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”  He leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” Being 24 deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “It is one of the twelve; 25 he who dipped and dips his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. For the Son of Man is to go 26 just as it is written of Him, as it has been determined; but 27 woe to the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man 28 if he had not been born.” 29 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “ You have said it yourself.”

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “The Last Supper: Part Two”  click here.

 

“Picked for a Charoset”

 

NOTES

 

1  Feast of the Passover: To read about the history of The Feast of the Passover and about the Passover Lamb, see Exodus 12:1-20, 42-50, 23:15; Leviticus 23:5-7; Numbers 9:1-14, 28:16-25; Deuteronomy 16:1-8 and Ezekiel 45:21. (Back)

2 having loved His own: From John 13:1. The Greek word used for loved in this verse is agapaó and it means “to love”. Agapé love is unconditional, made by choice and on purpose. God’s love for His elect begins before the person has even been given the gift of faith to believe (see Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:19). This love cannot be separated from those whom God has chosen as His own (Romans 8:38-39). Contrary to the teachings of some sects, the Bible says you cannot lose your salvation nor God’s love. Jesus’s sacrifice was sufficient and complete (Hebrews 10:10). (Back)

3 On the first day of Unleavened Bread: The first day of Unleavened Bread is a part of the seven days of Passover. From the 14th of Abib/Nisan (the first day of Passover and when the Passover lambs are sacrificed) until the 21st, no leaven is eaten. On the 15th is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. See Note 1.  (Back)

4  Go into Jerusalem: This event is included to show us the divinity of Christ. It is possible that the water-man or the owner of the house believed that Christ is the Messiah or heard Him teach on an occasion or two, but the Bible does not mention these possibilities, nor does it mention that Jesus, Peter, John, or any of the disciples had physically met these people before. See Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13. (Back)

5 he will be carrying a pitcher of water: People had to fetch their water every day, drawing it from wells or springs, and carrying it home in jars. To read some articles on the water supply of ancient Israel, click here and here. (Back)

6 large upper room: Was this the same upper room that the disciples were meeting in later on in Acts 1:13?  It is very possible; they would have needed a very large room, because by that time there were about 120 people gathering in it (Acts 1:12-15).(Back)

7 He reclined at the table: In ancient Rome and Israel, it was customary for people to lay down while eating. They leaned on their side, with their feet away from the table. To read about this ancient practice, click here. (Back)

8 Suffer:  Crucifixion was the worst way to die in ancient Rome. You can read about Jesus’s crucifixion in Matthew 27:26-56; Mark 15:15-39; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:16-30. To read the Splice on the crucifixion, click here.  (Back)

9 until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God: It is possible that Jesus is referring to the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:9). Since the Bible is not clear on the meaning, this is a guess. (Back)

10 the devil had already put into the heart: The devil can tempt anyone to do anything, but people always have the choice to resist, and to rely on the power of God (James 4:7-8). There are always lots of little steps that lead up to the committing of sin. At any of those steps, we can turn to God and ask for help to endure the temptation, and flee from it. See 1 Corinthians 10:13. (Back)

11 all things into His hands: With the understanding of John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 15:27,  Colossians 1:15-20 and Hebrews 1:2-4 see these verses: Matthew 11:27, 28:18; Luke 10:22; John 3:35, 16:15; Ephesians 1:22. We might ask why it is this way. The only answer available to us to consider is that the Father loves the Son (John 3:35) and because of  Revelation 5:9-10. I’m sure the full answer is vast and wide and beyond our comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9). (Back)

12  His garments:  The Greek word used for garments in John 13:4 is himation which is an outer cloak or robe; the word is in the plural for this verse, so probably both a cloak and a robe. These are probably the outer clothes that the guards will divide up between the four of them (John 19:23) approximately 12-15 hours later. People did not own multiple cloaks or robes back then unless they were wealthy. See Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34 and John 19:23-24 for the account of the guards dividing up Jesus’s outer clothes and casting lots for Jesus’s tunic. (Back)

13 wash the disciples’ feet: Washing feet was a servant’s job, if you had one. To read about this custom in ancient Israel, click here and here. (Back)

14  Never shall You wash my feet!: Some believe this statement of Peter’s was an example of Peter’s pride. I don’t believe this to be true, because then Peter wouldn’t have been so quick to say, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head” in John 13:9. I believe the reason why Peter says “Never shall You wash my feet!” is because he was shocked at Jesus’s positioning as a lowly slave, washing feet. Knowing that Jesus was the Messiah, (see Matthew 16:16 and Mark 8:29), Peter was finding feet-washing an unfathomable position for Jesus and he didn’t understand yet that it was an object lesson. Jesus explains to him that he will understand it eventually. See John 13:4-10. (Back)

15 not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. In my opinion, Peter says Feet, Hands and Head because: Feet carry us to where we go (whether walking towards good or towards bad, metaphorically or physically), Hands are the tools we use to do work (whether good or bad, whether metaphorically or physically), and in the Head is where we first decide whether or not to sin, whether to do the Lord’s work or our own. (Back)

16 He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean:  Here, Jesus is saying that once you are saved (clean) you don’t need to be saved again. Allegorically, He is saying that this washing of the feet is the continued work that He performs in our lives, and the intercession that He makes on our behalf (Romans 8:30, 33, 34; Hebrews 7:25). (Back)

17 Not all of you are clean: Lookin’ at you, Judas Iscariot! Matthew 10:4, Luke 6:16; John 6:64, 70-71; Acts 1:16-17. (Back)

18 you also ought to wash one another’s feet: The idea of being a servant or a slave in God’s kingdom is an honored and elevated position, quite contrary to our nature as human beings and how the world views (and uses) slavery and servitude. See Matthew 20:20-28; 23:11. (Back)

19 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master: The Greek word used for truly is amén and it means “verily, truly”. It is used to emphatically mark the sentence as truth. It is used twice in a row in John 13:16. (Back)

20  HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME: Jesus is quoting from Psalm 41:9. (Back)

21 he who receives whomever I send receives Me: Jesus teaches this lesson vividly in Matthew 25:31-46. (Back)

22 he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me: See John 1:1, 14:6-11. (Back)

23 one of His disciples: John, writer of the gospel of John, 1st, 2nd and 3rd epistles of John and Revelation. John recalls this as a memory in John 21:20. (Back)

24  deeply grieved: The Greek text says “grieved exceedingly”. The Greek word used for grieved in Matthew 26:22 is lupeó and this kind of grief means “to experience an intense, deep grief, or an overwhelming sorrow”. Jesus was called “a man of sorrows” in Isaiah 53:3. See Isaiah 53 for an almost poetical description on the sufferings and sorrows of the Messiah.  (Back)

25 he who dipped and dips: It is important to understand that at the Passover meal, Jesus would be residing over it and would have given pieces of food to everyone there and everyone would have been dipping in the bowl with Him. (Back)

26 just as it is written of Him: See Isaiah 53. (Back)

27 woe to the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed: This would be Judas Iscariot. At least one of Judas’s duties was steward of the coffers (John 12:6, 13:29) for Jesus’s ministry. He, like so many others when given the opportunity, was stealing from the funds (John 12:4-6). Some of that money was from private donations from women (Luke 8:3), a group of people that were disregarded and marginalized by society, so it makes the crime even more distasteful, if that’s possible. He arranged with some of the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus, for a price of 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-6). When he realized his sin, he went out and tried to give the money back to the priests. Then he hanged himself and in the process, his body fell headlong and burst open on the ground (Matthew 27:3-10; Acts 1:16-20) . The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:9-10). (Back)

28 if he had not been born.: There are worse things than not being born. Being born and then dying into eternal damnation is far worse than not being born at all. Hell is eternal separation from God, eternal pain and suffering, eternal shame and darkness. See Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 12:2; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Jude 1:13; Revelation 14:11, 20:10-15. (Back)

29 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “ You have said it yourself.”:  John 13:21-30 says that Jesus explains who the betrayer will be, and it also explains that no one recognizes that the betrayer is Judas. They don’t even recognize it when in Matthew 26:25, Jesus outright and out loud says, Yes, it’s you, Judas (I’m paraphrasing here). Why? There were several times where the Bible records that the disciples were kept from recognizing truth for God’s purposes. For an example, see John 20:9. It is possible that the other 11 disciples were too wrapped up in their own grief in hearing that one of them was to betray Jesus to pay any attention to what Jesus was saying to Judas, or it was kept from their sight because they might have tried to stop Judas. Peter was fairly quick with that sword in John 18:10, after all. It was for God’s purpose that Judas be the betrayer and actually go through with betraying Jesus. (Back)