1 Samuel 9 ~ behold

The tomb of Samuel has not been proven archaeologically to be Samuel's. One of the historical proof's would be Judas Maccabeus, in 167 B.C., honored the site as Samuel's tomb. In 1 Samuel 25, Samuel was buried at his house in Ramah. Today Nebi Samuel and the surrounding archeological excavations are now part of a National Park. Samuel's house was also where Saul went to meet him for the first time.

1 Samuel 9

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul [and he spoke with Saul] on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

Behold is a word we don't hear enough. The ability not just to hear & see, but to observe and reason. Life moves faster and faster. My oldest son was fortunate to go to a very privileged school when he was young; we routinely received school messages from the principal, or the priest, or guidance counselor saying it is wonderful to have all types of lessons & athletic competitions, but every child really learns from having time to themselves. We need to have time to discover for ourselves our...soul. When you read this passage of Saul do you rush through it because Saul didn't turn out to fulfill his potential? Handsome, wealthy, tall, considerate of his father, polite, diligent for the needs of his family, faithful and humble. I really had forgotten Saul had so many blessings. Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. Saul begins by being welcomed by Samuel, prophet of God, and Saul recognized the greatness of the honor. Of all Saul's attributes, the most important, Saul understands to seek direction from God. By Samuel 15 (notice the Scriptures do not have a book of Saul) the Lord is replacing Saul, Saul transferred his respect for God to the ability to make fast decisions for himself. Saul began to honor all of his own decisions as wise. God does not treat Saul with perpetual disfavor, not in the beginning of Saul & not at the end. We may rush through the biblical chapters of Saul, but even Samuel cared for Saul and mourned his trouble. Saul may have made a hash of it all, even murdering the priests for doing God's will. At the end of Saul's life, Samuel tells Saul he will be with him. God knew and saw all of Saul's life; as we would recall a movie we have already seen. Saul did not do well all of his days, yet the Lord lived with Saul in Saul's heart, knowing his joy and his bitterness. The Lord was far from being a stranger to Saul - in potential, in victory, in defeat and in death. The Lord loved Saul and gave us his life as lesson to remember to seek the Lord and realize He is close to us, even when we feel invincible, overwhelmed, un-blessed, and pressed for a decision. If the Lord never abandoned Saul, even if Saul felt forsaken - just as Jesus cried out- He will never forsake you. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” <><

Psalm 114 ~ who turns

Pre-Communion Prayer: "Just say the word, Lord, & I shall be healed"

Psalm 114

1 When Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.

3 The sea looked and fled;
Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.

5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.

The people of Judah, or Judea, expected the Messiah to be like Moses. Just like today, we pray and expect God to give us what we want. A little bit like Abraham deciding to take God's will into his own terms, and Ishmael was born. Abraham believed he was right to act for God, he'd been promised and it seemed nothing was happening in Abraham's time schedule. Or horribly, like Judas, who decided what he wanted was best - why - all kinds of reasons, jealousy, anxiety over the repeat attempts to take Jesus, wanting to be with the powerful winner, realizing he'd been caught stealing from the disciples and Jesus, greed - any reason. Or just plain thinking that morality was up to Judas to determine. Judas put his own needs and desires first.

The people of Judea expected Jesus to be their magic 8 ball. Give us what we want or we'll crucify you. Or depending on the century... we'll find another god. I'm seeing this in my son's college age friends. Sometimes it is called humanism. Or realism - you decide what is meaningful to you.

It is not uncommon, even among the people who believe fervently. Moses threw a temper tantrum between God's instructions, his own danger, stress of responsibility & the continual thunderous threats of the children of Israel for water. Moses was the one caught between a rock and hard place.

Who turns; who has the will to bend in man's perpetual struggle for his own plans in this life - a life that is over so quickly? God or man. Read the Old Testament, even the villains struggling only for themselves alone accomplish God's will. Prayer can sometimes be a struggle for man speaking with God- struggling to accomplish man's will. God gave us His Son. God's will is going to be accomplished. His purpose for you will be complete. God answers prayer, but even Paul had to let God's will prevail in Paul's life. The prayer of Jabez was willingly granted. David was anointed of God, but he struggled with God's will and his own will. Jesus understood man's desires, and he gave us this parable:

Luke 18:1-818:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Jacob/Israel struggled with God. We all do. Jacob learned something David learned. Something Job learned. Something Paul learned.

Psalm 8:1-4
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

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Psalm 111 ~ Great are the works of the Lord

Hereford Cathedral - what does Heaven look like to you?

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

Footnotes 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

What does Heaven look like to you? Jesus called it the Kingdom of Heaven and Paradise. Cathedrals have their place in God's worship, even if you prefer an outdoor guitar celebration for Easter.

Church worship should inspire you to think about the sermon and the readings. Our guest preacher inspired me to think about the Church and being part of the loving body of Christ. I sometimes miss being part of the huge Church, one of the nation's largest, at Easter and Communion. It would bring tears to my eyes to see people going up to take communion in the awesome, vast, auspicious Church. I told my husband it is like seeing people queue up to enter the Gates of Heaven. All different types of people in line to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, expectant faces.

Smaller churches are like family. My family has decided we love our church. The drawbacks? Say you & your husband decided to play hookie and walk to Starbucks on a beautiful Sunday morning, the next Sunday, someone is going to ask you what you were doing when they saw you walking while they were on the way to church. Yes, and decorating the church for Holy Saturday... there is going to be that sister who is letting you know how it should be done and correcting your word usage. If they were your actual sibling, you might accidentally pinch them. But nothing takes the place of your family when your baby dies, as our daughter did.

Last night, my husband & I were winding down our Easter celebration meal, it was dark outside and we looked through our 300 hundred channels to find something reminding us this actually is Easter. So thanks, television schedulers for letting us have one choice. One? We were watching Anthony Hopkins in a movie called "Peter and Paul". Edward turned to me and said, "What do you think Jesus looked like when He returned? Did He look good, remember the tombs opened and prophets and people returned like Jesus. The photo I saw had hands clawing their way out of the ground like zombie day. And they weren't in the ground, they had tombs!"

Edward's question reminded me of the early days after Isabelle died and he asked me forlornly what babies did in Heaven. Which caused me to go the the Scriptures and find Isaiah 49. Yes, this is getting to a point. There actually is a physical resurrection of Jesus. Paul let us know about the new physical body, so the answer is... He looked great. Which reminded me of the jumping little lamb photo I had tucked away.

So...now for the Easter sermon we heard. Our guest was a young man in his 20's, who had bounced from Brazil to America with his family, with his father's employment. He had bonded as a young adult with Brazil and chose to go back, away from his arguing family, and found lots and lots of drug related trouble. He had a church family in Brazil, due to being with his family sometimes in Brazil. They spoke to him, but he was taken in, physically, with the drug family to become part of the drug dealing and drug smuggling culture. After being involved in a very violent fight, he'd brought the baseball bats from America, that became a gunfight/drive by, he realized he was no longer part of the body of Christ. The friend he saw dying, if it had been him, he was destined for hell. He found his aunt, she helped him detox and found a youth weekend were he opened his heart to Jesus Christ. Now he is a young man on his way to youth ministry and seminary.

Where does that leave the body of Christ? This is worth a lot of thought. My father was very important to me. He had many wonderful qualities. He had a fatal flaw, he medicated his hurts with alcohol and was an alcoholic. He told me one of the troubles he had with church was to see upright men so comfortable in church. It is a perpetual problem with the upright, in the congregation. It is an ongoing situation for well over 2,000 years.

Consider if you had been this preaching young man's church family. Would you invite a teenager to live with you knowing he had drug issues, drug friends, drug possession, drug police & drug usage? Would you expose your young children to him? Part of the real problem, this boy brought the bats used to create some of the violence with him from the USA. It is impossible for men to save men from themselves. Only with God is this possible. His church family did not save him, God did. His church family was still speaking to him, so I would hope they continued to pray for him.

Where does that leave you? If you are part of Jesus Christ, it asks you to approach people and their troubles with prayer. It asks you to look for the open door God will provide for you and the person you are praying for. It asks you to act when God prepares a path. Where does that leave you if you are the person who is hurting? You are a child of God. Never forget it. God won't forget His child. Never neglect it. Get yourself to a Christ honoring Church. Make your feet take you weekly. Why? Dropping in and out makes it easier for you to drop out. Realize as you sit in the congregation of God, you are not more unworthy than anyone else. You are not saved by your worthiness, you are saved as a gift of God. Be grateful and remember.

Matthew 22:37-40

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

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Luke 24:1-35 ~ going farther

Eucharist Window. Stained Glass is sand pummeled, beaten, stained, fired, beautifully & diligently made to the glory of God.

Luke 24:1-35

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Each time Scripture for Today Blogspot has a biblical reading with some archaeological proof, it is a joy. Yet each archaeological site or artifact always has a skeptic or an opposing view point. It is difficult to have an object with complete proof. If you look all over Jerusalem today, you would see churches over the declared site of many important occasions of Jesus' life. There is not definitive proof of a physical resurrection for Jesus Christ. There are reliable historian references to eye witnesses of Jesus' life. There are two millenniums of changed lives, giving service and love to God Almighty, enabling mankind to do what isn't done by kings, governments & agencies of charities. There are miracles not explainable by chance or circumstance, by those who have sought the Lord.

The Church of Jesus Christ has had mighty victories. And famous defeats crowed over by enemies of the Church, in every century. The enemies of the Church are not new. Because the Church is not man, forgiveness from God and His people allow what a man-made structure could not do; carry on in hope of the saving power in Jesus Christ. Only love can defeat darkness.

John 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world, [Or For this is how God loved the world] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Where is the proof? In each of us the proof must come from you and Your Creator. What do you believe? Jesus told us we would find if we knocked, looked and sought diligently. He said we would be invited in, to have Him dwell in our souls and He will be our salvation.

One night, years ago, I had enjoyed the company of Christians, and clung to my doubts. Yes, the people around me had faith, but this faith was filled with unknowable aspects. Surely the people surrounding me had the same doubts, but this cheerful faith was just a bit false. Gradually it dawned on me, this was not false. A priest asked us that dark night, where did we stand in our faith, did we believe? I cried out to the Lord and knew the love of my Father. My life has changed forever with God's love; I am a believer, a child of God in Jesus Christ. The light shone in the darkness.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [ Or for so it pleased you well] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We returned home from our Easter service; our guest, preaching, used to be a drug smuggler until one night a gunfight caused the realization he had become a monster who did not deserve heaven. His faith, time in church, had given him friends who would still speak to him during his drug dealing years, but it had gone no further. He found Jesus Christ in a youth mission and the love of God has changed his life from drug dealer/smuggler to youth minister attending seminary to spread Jesus' love. The doors of the church, the heart of Jesus, remained open & waiting for this man to seek, to knock, to seek diligently, to go farther.


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Mark 15:42-47 ~ preparation

Holy Saturday, mosiac by A.L. Gardere


Mark 15:42-47
⁴² It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵ When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.


Matthew 27: 62-66

⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' ⁶⁴ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

⁶⁵ "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Luke 23:55,56
⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

John 19:38-41
³⁸ Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰ Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹ At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.


John 20:19
¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders

What will you remember from the readings of late Good Friday (Preparation Day), Holy Saturday (Passover or Special Sabbath) and early the first day of the week (Easter Sunday)? If you are focusing on the details of the embalming spices, you are either fortunate to have not have lived through a trauma or you are seeing a "mistake" in the gospels. Mary Magdalene & the other ladies were not merely making a mistake by bringing a second round of spices to a sealed tomb. This is, more than likely, not a mistaken detail in the Gospels.

In an extreme trauma, people all react differently. Some bring spices in an effort to do the last possible thing for one whom they have given their heart to, Jesus. Some will be focused on observing the ritual to pull them through, like following step a to step b, believing life will go on more easily if all the steps are followed appropriately. Some will cling to the Jewish burial customs because they are numb and unable to focus properly. Some come to the tomb because they are trying to believe Jesus' tragic death did occur. Some will come to be near Jesus, a first step in good-bye.

During Jesus' trial, His suffering and His death, all the Temple authorities heard Jesus declare He was God's Son. Pilate heard Jesus say He was a King and declared so himself by posting the sign in 3 languages. The Roman Guard knew Jesus' death was of an innocent, declared to be God. The crowd waited with morbidity to see if a miracle would occur. Those guilty in His death placed damage control in place.

The disciples were hiding in fear. Jesus lived defiantly through an attempt to stone him, once the temple guards wouldn't take Him because the realized He spoke unlike anyone else, with authority from His Father. Jesus lived through several attempts to seize him. Some believed they would be next to be destroyed by the Temple authorities. The beloved disciple, John, knew he had directly seen the most evil the spiritual realm had to offer. John believed for the rest of his life, the world would end soon. Some of the disciples were defiantly angry - Thomas. Some of the disciples were ashamed. All were afraid and heart broken.

Mary, the mother of God, is not heard from. She was probably beyond being seen by others. Simeon had told about Mary's sorrow in Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Yet the people involved with Jesus and Good Friday had one emotion in common, they were all waiting. Some to help Jesus' body, to see if the crowd would react or to find out if they would be seized; unlike most deaths, people were expectant of the next event. The Roman Empire would be waiting during the next 350 years to eradicate Jesus.

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Luke 22:57-71, Luke 23 ~ the cross, to carry

Luke 22:57-23:56

57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from is own lips.”

Luke 23

1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him." [Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival.]

Scala Sancta, according to Christian tradition, are the 28 steps that led to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Jesus stood on the Scala Sancta during his trial. The original marble steps are encased with wood. They are located today in the Lateran Palace, part of the Vatican that was once a Papal residence.

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, [in the letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew] “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed [blasphemed] at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour, [noon] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, [3 PM] 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Cross placed in tomb floor, Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Good Friday, Jerusalem

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning [dawning]. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Just as God gives us physical seasons and seasons of growth in our lives, we have Holy seasons to re-evaluate our faith. This Easter is a good time to look into our souls and decide all signs in our heart, mind, soul point to Jesus as God's Son, our Savior. God sent His Son to save. All we must do is believe in our heart and confess with our lips Jesus Christ is Lord.



Clips from The Passion of the Christ, Choreography by Jason Tremblay

2 Peter 1:20-21
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 And we also thank God constantly [without ceasing] for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.


John 3:11-12
11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

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Isaiah 64 ~ our iniquities, like the wind, take us away

Come unto Me, by Carl Bloch

Isaiah 64

1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence—
2 as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
4 From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
those who remember you in your ways.
Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;
in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
[in your ways is continuance, that we might be saved]
6 We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have made us melt in [have delivered us unto]the hand of our iniquities.

8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord,
and remember not iniquity forever.
Behold, please look, we are all your people.
10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness;
Zion has become a wilderness,
Jerusalem a desolation.
11 Our holy and beautiful [holy and glorious] house,
where our fathers praised you,
has been burned by fire,
and all our pleasant places have become ruins.
12 Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord?
Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?

We are approaching Good Friday. Historically, Jesus, The Word, became flesh and made his dwelling among us (we have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth) this was the week the Pharisees, the Jewish ruling council, and the teachers of the law could tell the crowd was angry with Jesus. The Messiah was to come in great glory.

The people felt they had given Jesus great glory, hadn't they run out to the street and waved Palm branches at Him and hailed Him as King of the Jews? Yes, Jesus had healed the blind, the deaf could hear, the lepers were cleansed, but..... the poor were waiting. Rome had swept in, creating amazing fortunes in front of them. Oxford Historians said the fortunes would not be repeated until the 16th Century Anno Domini, so great were the fortunes created by the Roman Empire. That's right, the righteous poor were waiting. They had had enough of Rome, Herod, Pilate and the rest. Now it was Jesus' turn to triumph, throw out the baggage, gather the armies and let Israel shine.

Did the people wonder if Jesus was Son of God?

Yes, they asked Him. People who don't read the Bible ask, today, "Did Jesus ever actually say He was the Messiah?" This question isn't to be frowned at! This is the door open for Jesus! The answer is answered in almost every other chapter (letter) of the Gospels. The Scriptures repeat and repeat. Just as Jesus implied, said plainly, and gave great and amazing wonders proclaiming Jesus is the Son of God.

The Scriptures repeat. The Ark of the Covenant was put together after all the great plagues the scientists agree occurred in Egypt around 1250 B.C.. - this according to the National Geographic Channel program on Holy Week of this year. The people of Israel won battles and traveled safely through the desert for 40 years. They loved to take the Ark of the Covenant in battle with them. But when they sinned, the Ark & the hand of God went against them. Even King David was worried by the power and the stories of destruction from God's Ark. The people were happy to have a place for the Ark, behind a curtain, where only one priest with a cord tied around his waist (in case the priest died they could pull him out with the cord without entering themselves) would enter once a year. God in a box for them.

The people wanted Jesus to be a tool getting them the freedom they wanted. "Was Jesus the Son of God?" Did He say it. Really. Yes. (In your ways is continuance, that we might be saved!)


John 1:5 ~
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:49,50
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

⁵⁰Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." ⁵¹He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

John 4:
²⁵ The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

²⁶ Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

John 7:
Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, ²⁹but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."

John 9:
²⁵ He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

³⁶ "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

³⁷ Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."

³⁸ Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

John 11:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

²⁷ "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."



Matthew 16:

¹⁶Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

¹⁷Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Why was Jesus killed? Because He was proclaimed as God, King on earth, King of the Jews.

John 7:45
⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" ⁴⁶ "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

Mark 15:
²"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

Luke 22:
⁶⁶At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. ⁶⁷"If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us."

Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸and if I asked you, you would not answer. ⁶⁹But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

⁷⁰They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

⁷¹Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

John 8:58
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

Exodus 3:13-17
Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

¹⁴ God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Yesterday, the people saw amazing events, but could not comprehend Jesus. Look around you. The Church of Jesus Christ has existed for 2,000 years.

Matthew 16:

¹⁶Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

¹⁷Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are You, Lord Jesus Christ. And blessed be the people who proclaim You.

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Prayer Request

Please pray for our country, the Christians and non-Christians, during Holy Week. Last night we watched the National Geographic Channel on the Plagues of the Exodus, they did a pretty honest job of trying to discover a subject requiring faith with science. It was not a slam dunk for the faithful or the apostates. It presented more evidence for the faithful, saying science does not deny these events did take place, actually science agrees the plagues occurred. The next program for the Shroud of Turin left out the more recent evaluations, but still gave a chance for the faithful to speak.

My prayer would be for the media programs. Tonight we watched the Colbert Report, where the host began by saying he is a Roman Catholic and ended the sentence by saying Jesus came to life by the magic of the Easter bunny and marshmallow candy. This is so very inappropriate, especially for Holy Week. He continued the report by targeting the Pope and sex scandals of the Church from years prior. I am Protestant, but I know the news has not accurately reported the American Catholic people of the Northeast have begun their process of forgiveness for the Church. Tonight's report on the Colbert Report did not even touch on the fact this Pope has worked tirelessly to make sure justice is served by Christian Priests.

My prayer this week is Holy Week would draw the respect it deserves. It would be great if we had more biblical programs for Passover and Easter during Holy Week. It is a great injustice we see faith mocked instead. Father God, may the Love You have given us gather respect instead of derision and half-truths. Give Your childrens' prayers a voice in the media, Father God, to glorify Your Love and Your Saving Help. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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Luke 5:17-39 ~ I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home

Luke 5:17-39

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good [better].’”

There is an energy to the 5th chapter of Luke. Jesus knew what He was doing. He moves with certainty. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law debate and grumble endlessly. Jesus did not take the time to finesse the Pharisees into agreeing with Jesus' healing from God. Jesus is busy doing His Father's business. Jesus walked past Levi and asked Levi to follow Him. The Pharisees are puzzled why John the Baptist's disciples fast, pray, but do not have this deliberateness, this directness of Jesus and want to understand the difference.

It is interesting they see extraordinary events, but cannot comprehend Jesus.

So many of the paintings, particularly paintings of Jesus painted in the last century, portray Jesus as a man of intimate conversation. He took His time when the crowd wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery, in fact, He deliberately waited for the blood fever in the crowd to become moral, reasoned thinking. John ends the Gospel of John by explaining much more of Jesus occurred than books could hold. Jesus' longest conversations seem to be the hours He spent in prayer.

Jesus willingness to spend hours in prayer is More Good News for us. The gospels record Jesus as getting to the point in conversation. Yet we see Him spend time with His Father, for hours. Just as Jesus was always willing to give His time, His patience to the needs of the daughter of the Synagogue ruler. His time to Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. His patience for the woman caught in adultery. Forgiveness for the frightened woman who had reached out to touch the fringe of His garment. Patience and love to Peter for forsaking Him 3 times.

Let the energy of Jesus in the 5th chapter of Luke guide your time in prayer with Father God. The willingness to heal, to redeem is swift. Just like the Father running to His prodigal son. Jesus, our elder brother, knows His Father's Love.

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