Pause: Jesus Teaching...

14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. John 7:14

What it would have been like to see Jesus come into the room and see Him teach.

I picture Him coming with authority and teaching. (I shared this yesterday).

God shared this with me (the idea) and got me thinking about what it would have been like to see Jesus come into the room and see Him teach. (So, I share it with you).

But before we move on in this series, I got a sense to talk about this today (well yesterday for today).

God in the flesh came into your home church and started to teach/preach think about that?

How cool would that be!!!!

I never really thought about Jesus teaching in the temple till yesterday as the marvel it is!!!

All the knowledge He had and all the authority He had as he would come into the room.

He came in humbleness, never as He was the God, boastfully.

What I picture next is that they had God in the flesh with them and they chose to kill Him not learn from His teaching.

I know it had to happen that He be crucified and then arose in three days.

But I couldn't do it after hearing Him teach.

I would probably be like Judas.

But then God told me Jesus is not dead nor that He teaches, He is still doing it today just not in the flesh.

But then I go back to the flesh and think and marvel!!!

 And Jesus responded and began saying, as He taught in the temple area, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? Mark 12:35

35 And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David? Mark 12:35

Rejoice and marvel at this today for God in flesh teaching and also in the teaching today!!!

A Party for God: Then John 7...

 but then I found John 7. 

In my study of this, I had originally found this but when I went back to study and do my research, I did not find this- meaning God did not show it to me again till yesterday.

So, I share it today.

Chapter 7 of John shows that He went to the festival and not only that he taught at the festival.

10 But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as though in secret. 

14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple area, and began to teach.  John 7:10,14 

What it would have been like to see Jesus come into the room and see Him teach.

I picture Him coming with authority and teaching.

You are going to Church and Jesus walks in and starts to teach.

Would you shout for Joy or want to kill Him as they did during this festival?

.20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill You?” 

25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this man not the one whom they are seeking to kill?

37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John7: 20,25,37-39

Jesus on the last day gets up on the day of the feast and cries out.

Could you imagine just sitting there and eating and someone cries out.

I leave you with that thought today!

A Party for God: Festival of Booths and Jesus Explained...

So how does Jesus fit into this festival, to understand this let's look at the Orthodox Jewish Bible First.

And it came about, just as the men departed from Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach, Kefa said, Adoni, it is good for us to be here; let us make shalosh sukkot, one for you and one for Moshe Rabbeinu and one for Eliyahu HaNavi. (Kefa did not know what he was saying.) Lukas 9:33

33 And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. Luke 9:33

Shalosh means three in Hebrew.

Some other versions say tents or huts, booths, shelters, or dwellings.

This all leads to it being some sort of place where they would live for the festival in the Bible days.

So both these verses from the Jewish Bible to the American standard bible talk about the same thing, that Peter wanted to make a sukkot for three people the main one being Jesus.

But after that let's look:

34 But while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. Luke 9; 34-36

The people who were with Jesus before they were alone- Jesus and His disciples. 

30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, Luke 9:30

What a sight that would have been to stand there among Jesus and those great men!!!

So, all this took place from what I researched at the time of the festival even though it does not say it directly.

Nothing else is said about the festivals in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. only that one verse.

This is the first time we see Jesus and how he relates and/or fits into this festival.

continued tomorrow...

A Party for God: Festival of Booths Explained...

 So, the Festival of Booths/Sukkot has three major traditions.

The first major tradition is the building of the tent.

In the days of the Bible, they would live and have all their meals in this tent called Sukkot.

The second major tradition is to eat- meaning have meals in in the tent.

Special blessings are recited at the meals.

The third major tradition is that they would wave the lulav and the etrog.

Both the Lulav and the etrog represent the four species.

Etrog is something that is related to the lemon.

The Lulav is made up of three components.

The first being three myrtle twigs.

The second being two willow twigs.

The third being palm frond.

This was waved together, and blessings were recited.

This waving was waved in all directions 4 or 6 depending on how you counted it, but it all led to representing God's dominion over Creation. (6 was counted if you took into account up and down as some did.)

They also used these things in the synagogue services, walking around reciting prayers.

We will continue this tomorrow and see where Jesus fits in this Festival.

A Party for God: Festival of Booths Explained...

 Today we will continue and talk about Sukkot or as it is in the Bible the feast of booths.

This holiday or festival is a seven-day event that arrives in the Hebrew month of Tishrei which for us is during September/October.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord. Leviticus 23:34

“You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths for seven days when you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; Deuteronomy 16:13

This holiday/festival is based on When Jews would build huts near their fields during the harvest.

One of the huts that was made for this was called sukkah.

Sukkot is just the plural word for sukkah-Meaning many huts.

These huts provided shade for the workers but all helped during the harvest so workers could get more done.

Sukkot also refers to the Jews who were wandering in the desert for 40 years after they were delivered from Egypt.

42 You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’” Leviticus 23:42-43

When they moved from place to place, they built Sukkots which are tents or booths.

So, the festival of Sukkot is a reminder of the agricultural History of Israel and the exodus from Egypt.

Tomorrow we will continue and see how this festival was celebrated.

Matthew West - Don't Stop Praying (Lyric Video)

Done Yet/Crazy Check-In...

We have been talking about the Passover but felt led to pause again to check in on the year of the crazy

How has this year met you so far?

What has God done for you so far? or has he not done anything yet?

Have you seen a move of God or God hasn't done anything Yet? 

In the words of Matthew West:

Don't stop praying
Don't stop calling on Jesus' name
Keep on pounding on Heaven's door
And let your knees wear out the floor
Don't stop believing

It goes on to say 'Cause mountains move with just little faith.

And that Your father's heard every single word you're saying.

So, if you gone crazy, or haven't done this yet? And nothing has happened, keep on doing it, and God will take care of it. (remember it's in His timing)

As the song says don't stop praying but we can insert don't stop worshiping, dancing, calling out the devil, reading our word, and anything that we do to seek and worship God.

In this year of the crazy just keep leaning into Him even more and it will be taken care of.

14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 American Standard Bible

A Party for God: Passover Explained/Where Jesus...

 On the seventh day, the Passover morning service took place.

The Torah was read, prayers uttered and blessings from the priest happened.

A festive lunch meal took place.

Evening prayers and blessings were recited.

Candles were lit and festive evening meal.

Some say there are 8 days and celebrate that way, but we are going with seven as that is what Jesus would have done (the Bible only talks about seven).

With all that being said how does Jesus fit into this festival because we are to glorify Him.

Jesus did participate in the festival.

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 2:13

And so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” Luke 22:8 

and other verses point to that Jesus participated in this festival.

Jesus cleansed the temple.

Jesus instituted the Lord's supper on the Passover.

From what I read I have read more than once that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Passover.  

7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7

For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ: -the last part of verse seven in the American Standard Bible.

What do you think?

A Party for God: Passover Explained...

 So each day had a ritual. As I mentioned yesterday that there were rituals.

Getting ready for the Passover was the fasting of the firstborn.

All the makes that were the firstborn were required to fast for the day.

Candles were lit, blessings recited, and evening prayers.

This also included the First Sedar-meal.

The first day was the morning service.

Torah was read and prayers were uttered and the priest blessed the congregation.

Candles were lit and blessings were said.

The second Seder took place-meal.

On the second day morning service took place.

Torah was read and prayers said.

Blessing from the priest.

Candles were lit and blessings said.

this nighttime marked the start of the Passover's intermediate days.

This means that most of the things they did during their daily lives resumed.

A relaxing meal happened as well

On the third day of Passover morning service took place.

Torah was read and prayers were said

Evening prayers happened and a ceremony.

On the 4th day of Passover Morning service took place.

Torah was read and prayers were said.

At nightfall, prayers were uttered.

Intermediate days still in effect- meaning with limiting work restrictions.

On the fifth day morning service happened.

The Torah was read, and the prayers were said.

Intermediate days are still in effect- meaning with limiting work restrictions.

On the sixth day morning service happened.

Torah scrolls are read, and prayers are said.

Intermediate days are still in effect- meaning with limiting work restrictions.

Candles were lit for the seventh day of Passover.

This is the first six days simply explained. Tomorrow we will talk about the seventh and where does Jesus fits into this festival called Passover.

A Party for God: Passover Explained...

Yesterday we looked at the meaning of the name Passover and what it was for. Now let's turn our focus on how they celebrated it.

In the Jewish calendar month of Nisan which is late March to April, Passover is celebrated.

The Passover is 7 to 8 days depending on where you live since calendars do not match up.

14 ‘Now this day shall be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as [q]a permanent ordinance. Exodus 12:14

But for us, it would 7 days since we are looking for at Bible times.

The Passover was made of many rituals the most important being the Seder which is the Passover meal.

The Passover had many restrictions on how the Jews could eat the food.

The main one was that the food had to be kosher.

Kosher is just simply saying that the food had to be proper or fit to eat.

An example of this is they could not eat bread that was leavened instead they ate Matzah bread that in unleavened.

Think no yeast or baking powder.

The reason for eating this bread was to remember the haste that happened when fleeing the Egyptians.

other types of things that may not have been eaten are rye, wheat, barley, spelt, or oats.

Spelt is a type of wheat.

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. Exodus 12:15

I am learning so much about this festival. How about you?

Tomorrow we will keep looking at this festival and go from where God directs me.

A Party for God: Passover Explained...

Now that we have read all the verses about the Passover, let's look at what it means and was for.

The Passover is one of the biggest and most important festivals for all Jewish people.

This is also one of the most widely celebrated festivals by Jews.

This festival was to commemorate what happened to the Hebrews in Egypt, and their freedom from bondage by being slaves.

“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Exodus 12:14

14 And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Exodus 13:14 

The name of the festival comes from the name of God's angel of death "passing over" which is talked about in Exodus.

13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you [p]to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:13

In Exodus, there are 10 plagues.

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will let them go, and [b]under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.” Exodus 6:1

Plagues according to dictionary.com says, an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence, or to trouble, annoy, or torment in any manner.

These are two definitions that fit what we are talking about the best.

The last plague was the death of the firstborn.

So this was to remember all that happened during that time of the death and the freedom from bondage.

Names of festivals and such had great importance in the Bible, as you can tell by the Passover.

A Party for God: Passover Explained...

Luke continued:

And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 22:11

And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 22:12

And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 22:15

Verses about the Passover in John:

First Passover—Cleansing the Temple

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2:13

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they observed His signs which He was doing. 2:23

Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 6:4

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country prior to the Passover, in order to purify themselves. 11:15

Mary Anoints Jesus

Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 21:1

The Lord’s Supper

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 13:1

Jesus before Pilate

Then they *brought Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 18:28

However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover; therefore do you wish that I release for you the King of the Jews?” 18:39

Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, “Look, your King!” 19:14

Verses about the Passover in Acts:

When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending only after the Passover to bring him before the people. 12:4

Verses about the Passover in 1 Corinthians:

Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 5:7

Verses about the Passover in Hebrews:

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 11:28

Tomorrow we find out what all these verses are talking about...

A Party for God: Passover Explained...

The first festival we will look at is the Passover.

We will start by looking at all the scriptures in the Bible about the Passover then we will move on to what it means.

All verses for this series will be taken from the New American Standard Bible.

Verses about the Passover in Matthew:

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.” 26:2

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 26:17

And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” 26:18

The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 26;19

The Last Passover

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve. 26:20

Verses about the Passover in Mark:

Death Plot and Anointing

Now the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest Him covertly and kill Him; 14:1

The Last Passover

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples *said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 14:12

and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 14:14

The disciples left and came to the city, and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 14:16

Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 15:6

Verses about the Passover in Luke:

Visit to Jerusalem

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 2:41

Preparing the Passover

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 22:1

Now the first day of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 22:7

And so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” 22:8

Tomorrow, we continue to look at the rest of the verses, I had no idea that there were so many verses on the Passover...

A Party for God: Festivals Explained NT...

Today we start a series called A Party for God: Festivals Explained in the New Testament.

A festival according to dictionary.com, is a day or time of religious or other celebration, marked by feasting, ceremonies, or other observances or it means a periodic commemoration, anniversary, or celebration.

Festivals in the New Testament align with the definition that is listed above.

Festivals in the New Testament marked something religious or harvest time and such.

So, each day we will look at one of the festivals, and in detail, I will explain its meaning and what happens during the festival.

Things to think about:

Distance-how long it took to get to the festival.

Purpose-what was it for?

Time- how long was it for?

Jesus- did He partake in each festival?

Christians- Did they partake once they were established.

Today- do they still happen?

Today for us- are we to party for God?

Think about these things and get ready tomorrow, we start looking at our first festival.

“Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. Numbers 9:2

“Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. Deuteronomy 16:1

You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end. Exodus 34:22

You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. Exodus 23:16

And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. Exodus 12:17

Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:8

All Bible verses taken from the ESV.

NT is an abbreviation of the New Testament.

Let's get ready to party for God!!!