#“While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Plot to Kill Jesus

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples, “You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

The Passover with the Disciples

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”

Institution of the Lord's Supper

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.

So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

But Jesus remained silent.

Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

“He deserves to die,” they answered.

Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Peter Denies Jesus

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.”

At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!”

And immediately a rooster crowed.

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. — Matthew 26 | The Reader's Bible (BRB) The Reader’s Bible © 2020 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. All rights Reserved. Cross References: Genesis 9:6; Genesis 50:2; Exodus 12:18; Exodus 21:32; Exodus 24:8; Leviticus 5:1; Leviticus 24:16; Numbers 14:6; Deuteronomy 15:11; Deuteronomy 19:15; Deuteronomy 21:22; 2 Samuel 20:9; 2 Kings 9:1; Job 30:10; Psalm 27:12; Psalm 41:9; Psalm 42:2; Psalm 42:5; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 19:1; Isaiah 50:6; Zechariah 11:12; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 2:23; Matthew 4:11; Matthew 4:21; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:25; Matthew 6:12; Matthew 7:28; Matthew 10:4; Matthew 10:33; Matthew 11:6; Matthew 12:14; Matthew 17:1; Matthew 18:7; Matthew 20:13; Matthew 20:24; Matthew 21:17; Matthew 21:42; Matthew 23:7-8; Matthew 27:5; Matthew 27:40; Mark 10:1; Mark 14:13; Mark 14:43-44; Mark 14:53; Mark 14:60; Mark 14:63; Mark 14:65; Luke 9:32; Luke 22:14; Luke 22:21; Luke 22:42; Luke 22:54-55; Luke 22:64; John 13:22; John 18:10; John 18:16; John 18:19; John 18:25-26; John 18:27; Acts 2:7; Acts 10:4; Acts 13:10; Acts 19:29; Acts 24:25; 1 Corinthians 11:28; 1 Corinthians 16:12; 2 Corinthians 12:8

[heelsandhalos]

Good Evening ladies! I know I'm late, but before this Wednesday officially comes to a close, I just wanted to take some time to do our daily devotional.🩷 (Better late than never, am I right?😅)

The title of our devotional this week in case you missed it is, "Walking with Jesus: A Journey Through Easter Week" ✝️

Day 3: Anointed at Bethany

Matthew 26:6-13

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)

"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table."🦋

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.🌺🦋❤️✨️

Reflection:

In an act of extravagant love and devotion, a woman anointed Jesus with costly perfume, anticipating his impending death and burial. Like her, let us offer our most precious gifts to Jesus, holding nothing back in our worship and adoration of him.Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. May our worship be a sweet fragrance to you, pleasing in your sight. Help us to pour out our lives as offerings of love and devotion, surrendering everything to you. May our actions reflect the depth of our gratitude for your sacrificial love. In your holy name, amen.✝️🌺❤️🦋✨️

Pray with Me:

Lord Jesus, you are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. May our worship be a sweet fragrance to you, pleasing in your sight. Help us to pour out our lives as offerings of love and devotion, surrendering everything to you. May our actions reflect the depth of our gratitude for your sacrificial love. In your holy name we pray, amen. ✝️🦋🌺💖

Sweet dreams @everyone 😴😴😴

[dfroza]

A betrayal of the King

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 26th chapter of the book of Matthew:

And so this is what happened, finally. Jesus finished all His teaching, and He said to His disciples,

Jesus: The feast of Passover begins in two days. That is when the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.

And almost as He spoke, the chief priests were getting together with the elders at the home of the high priest, Caiaphas. They schemed and mused about how they could trick Jesus, sneak around and capture Him, and then kill Him.

Chief Priests: We shouldn’t try to catch Him at the great public festival. The people would riot if they knew what we were doing.

Meanwhile Jesus was at Bethany staying at the home of Simon the leper. While He was at Simon’s house, a woman came to see Him. She had an alabaster flask of very valuable ointment with her, and as Jesus reclined at the table, she poured the ointment on His head. The disciples, seeing this scene, were furious.

Disciples: This is an absolute waste! The woman could have sold that ointment for lots of money, and then she could have given it to the poor.

Jesus knew what the disciples were saying among themselves, so He took them to task.

Jesus: Why don’t you leave this woman alone? She has done a good thing. It is good that you are concerned about the poor, but the poor will always be with you—I will not be. In pouring this ointment on My body, she has prepared Me for My burial. I tell you this: the good news of the kingdom of God will be spread all over the world, and wherever the good news travels, people will tell the story of this woman and her good discipleship. And people will remember her.

At that, one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests.

Judas Iscariot: What will you give me to turn Him over to you?

They offered him 30 pieces of silver. And from that moment, he began to watch for a chance to betray Jesus.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples said to Jesus,

Disciples: Where would You like us to prepare the Passover meal for You?

Jesus: Go into the city, find a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is near, and I am going to celebrate Passover at your house with My disciples.’”

So the disciples went off, followed Jesus’ instructions, and got the Passover meal ready. When evening came, Jesus sat down with the twelve. And they ate their dinner.

Jesus: I tell you this: one of you here will betray Me.

The disciples, of course, were horrified.

A Disciple: Not me!

Another Disciple: It’s not me, Master, is it?

Jesus: It’s the one who shared this dish of food with Me. That is the one who will betray Me. Just as our sacred Scripture has taught, the Son of Man is on His way. But there will be nothing but misery for he who hands Him over. That man will wish he had never been born.

At that, Judas, who was indeed planning to betray Him, said,

Judas Iscariot: It’s not me, Master, is it?

Jesus: I believe you’ve just answered your own question.

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He offered a blessing over the bread, and then He broke it and gave it to His disciples.

Jesus: Take this and eat; it is My body.

And then He took the cup of wine, He made a blessing over it, and He passed it around the table.

Jesus: Take this and drink, all of you: this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until I am with you once more, drinking in the kingdom of My Father.

The meal concluded. Together, all the men sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, and then they took a late evening walk to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus: Scripture says,

I shall strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will scatter.

Just so, each of you will stumble tonight, stumble and fall, on account of Me.

Afterward I will be raised up. And I will go before you to Galilee.

Peter: Lord, maybe everyone else will trip and fall tonight, but I will not. I’ll be beside You. I won’t falter.

Jesus: If only that were true. In fact, this very night, before the cock crows in the morning, you will deny Me three times.

Peter: No! I won’t deny You. Even if that means I have to die with You!

And each of the disciples echoed Peter.

At that, Jesus led His disciples to the place called Gethsemane.

Jesus: I am going over there to pray. You sit here while I’m at prayer.

Then He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He grew sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Jesus: My soul is overwhelmed with grief, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.

He walked a little farther and finally fell prostrate and prayed.

Jesus: Father, this is the last thing I want. If there is any way, please take this bitter cup from Me. Not My will, but Yours be done.

When He came back to the disciples, He saw that they were asleep. Peter awoke a little less confident and slightly chagrined.

Jesus (to Peter): So you couldn’t keep watch with Me for just one short hour? Now maybe you’re learning: the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Watch and pray and take care that you are not pulled down during a time of testing.

With that, Jesus returned to His secluded spot to pray again.

Jesus: Father, if there is no other way for this cup to pass without My drinking it—then not My will, but Yours be done.

Again Jesus returned to His disciples and found them asleep. Their eyes were heavy-lidded. So Jesus left them again and returned to prayer, praying the same sentiments with the same words. Again He returned to His disciples.

Jesus: Well, you are still sleeping; are you getting a good long rest? Now the time has come; the Son of Man is just about to be given over to the betrayers and the sinners. Get up; we have to be going. Look, here comes the one who’s going to betray Me.

There he was, Judas, one of the twelve leading a crowd of people from the chief priests and elders with swords and clubs; the chief priests and the elders were right there, ready to arrest Jesus. And Judas, the one who intended to betray Him, had said to the elders and the chief priests that he would give them a sign.

Judas Iscariot: I’ll greet Him with a kiss. And you will know that the one I kiss is the one you should arrest.

So at once, he went up to Jesus.

Judas Iscariot: Greetings, Teacher (he kisses Him).

Jesus: My friend, do what you have come to do.

And at that, the company came and seized Him. One of the men with Jesus grabbed his sword and swung toward the high priest’s slave, slicing off his ear.

Jesus: Put your sword back. People who live by the sword die by the sword. Surely you realize that if I called on My Father, He would send 12 legions of messengers to rescue Me. But if I were to do that, I would be thwarting the scriptural story, wouldn’t I? And we must allow the story of God’s kingdom to unfold. (to the crowds) Why did you bring these weapons, these clubs and bats? Did you think I would fight you? That I would try to dodge and escape like a common criminal? You could have arrested Me any day when I was teaching in the temple, but you didn’t.

This scene has come together just so, so that the prophecies in the sacred Scripture could be fulfilled.

And at that, all the disciples ran away and abandoned Him. The crowd that had arrested Jesus took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and elders had gathered at Caiaphas’s house and were waiting for Jesus to be delivered. Peter followed Jesus (though at some distance so as not to be seen). He slipped into Caiaphas’s house and attached himself to a group of servants. And he sat watching, waiting to see how things would unfold.

The high priest and his council of advisors first produced false evidence against Jesus—false evidence meant to justify some charge and Jesus’ execution. But even though many men were willing to lie, the council couldn’t come up with the evidence it wanted. Finally, two men stood up.

Two Men: Look, He said, “I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.” What more evidence do you need?

Then Caiaphas the high priest stood up and addressed Jesus.

Caiaphas: Aren’t You going to respond to these charges? What exactly are these two men accusing You of?

Jesus remained silent.

Caiaphas (to Jesus): Under a sacred oath before the living God, tell us plainly: are You the Anointed One, the Son of God?

Jesus: So you seem to be saying. I will say this: beginning now, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God’s power and glory and coming on heavenly clouds.

The high priest tore his robes and screeched.

Caiaphas: Blasphemy! We don’t need any more witnesses—we’ve all just witnessed this most grievous blasphemy, right here and now. So, gentlemen, what’s your verdict?

Gentlemen: He deserves to die.

Then they spat in His face and hit Him. Some of them smacked Him, slapped Him across the cheeks, and jeered.

Some of the Men: Well, Anointed One, prophesy for us, if You can—who hit You? And who is about to hit You next?

As all this was going on in Caiaphas’s chamber, Peter was sitting in the courtyard with some servants. One of the servant girls came up to him.

Servant Girl: You were with Jesus the Galilean, weren’t you?

And just as Jesus had predicted, Peter denied it before everyone.

Peter: Not me! I don’t know what you’re talking about.

He went out to stand by the gate. And as he walked past, another servant girl recognized him.

Another Servant Girl (speaking to those standing around): That man over there—he was here with Jesus the Nazarene!

Again, just as Jesus had predicted, Peter denied it, swearing an oath.

Peter: I don’t know Him!

Peter then went to chat with a few of the servants. A little while later, some other servants approached him:

Other Servants: Look, we know that you must be one of Jesus’ followers. You speak like you are from the same area as His followers. You’ve got that tell-tale Galilean accent.

Cursing and swearing, Peter denied Him again.

Peter: I do not know Him!

As the exclamation left his mouth, a cock crowed. And Peter remembered. He remembered that Jesus had looked at him with something like pity and said, “This very night, before the cock crows in the morning, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter went outside, sat down on the ground, and wept.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 26 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

It is indeed a dark, bitter night. The disciples are sad and confused, and maybe a little bit prideful. Peter can not believe that he could ever betray his Lord.

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 6th chapter of the book of Micah:

Listen to what the Eternal is saying.

People of Israel, stand up and plead your case to the mountains;

Let the hills hear what you have to say.

Listen, jury of mountains, to the complaint of the Eternal One;

listen, you enduring foundations of the earth,

For He brings a charge against His people and argues against Israel.

Eternal One: My people, what have I done against you?

How have I made you tired of Me? Answer Me!

I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, paid your ransom,

freed you from that place of slavery, and sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.

O My people, remember how King Balak of Moab plotted against you,

how Balaam (Beor’s son) answered him, refusing to curse you?

Everything happened between Shittim and Gilgal

as you took possession of the lands I promised you,

So that you might remember all the saving acts of the Eternal.

Israel: What should I bring into the presence of the Eternal One

to pay homage to the God Most High?

Should I come into His presence with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves to sacrifice?

Would the Eternal be pleased by thousands of sacrificial rams,

by ten thousand swollen rivers of sweet olive oil?

Should I offer my oldest son for my wrongdoing,

the child of my body to cover the sins of my life?

No. He has told you, mortals, what is good in His sight.

What else does the Eternal ask of you

But to live justly and to love kindness

and to walk with your True God in all humility?

The voice of the Eternal cries out to the city of Jerusalem,

and the wise fear Your name.

Eternal One: Listen, all of you gathered there, (tribe and people):

Can I overlook the treasures of wickedness

Stored away in the house of the wicked,

the dishonest scales and measures that I hate?

Can I overlook the one who uses crooked scales

and bags of dishonest weights to cheat the innocent?

Her rich are filled with violence, her citizens speak lies,

and the words of their mouths can never be trusted.

That is why I will strike you down with disease,

destroy you because of your wrongdoing.

You will eat, but you will never be satisfied;

you will always feel the gnawing pangs of hunger.

You will store away but never keep safe;

what you have put aside I will destroy with the sword.

You will sow grain but never reap it;

you will plant olives but never anoint yourself with their sweet oil;

You will harvest vineyards for juice but never drink the wine.

For you have followed the ways of Omri

and all the works of the kingdom of Ahab,

And you have followed their paths of wickedness.

That is why I can justifiably decimate you.

Your citizens will be the subject of satire and mockery,

and you will bear the scorn My people deserve.

The Book of Micah, Chapter 6 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

Many Christians wonder what God wants from faithful followers. Does He want them to sacrifice everything for Him? Does He want them to keep strict codes of behavior—refuse to do this or always do that? People in the past and people today have all sorts of opinions about how the faithful should act; and in several other places in the Bible, all of the so-called laws, rules, regulations, and suggestions are boiled down to their simplest form: in order to make God happy, do what is right, love kindness, and live with compassion toward others; walk in right relation to the God of Abraham, and do so humbly. By doing these things, Micah says, God’s followers will please Him and live happy lives. In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus similarly says people are to worship only one God; to love that God with heart, mind, body, and soul; and to love their neighbors as themselves.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Thursday, february 1 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the First and 2nd Commandment:

Historically, Christian tradition has regarded the First Commandment (of the Ten Commandments) to be: “You shall have no other gods before me" (Exod. 20:3), though Jewish tradition regards the opening words, "I am the LORD your God (אנכי יהוה אלהיך) who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exod. 20:2) to be the First Commandment -- and the foundation upon which all the other commandments are based.

Though the statement “I am the LORD your God...” is not an imperative, it nevertheless assumes that you will accept the truth of God’s revelation, and therefore it might also be understood as the duty or commandment to accept the truth. “I am the LORD your God who brought you out...” refers to the saving acts of God performed on your behalf, and therefore the proper response is one of heartfelt gratitude.

After all, without faith in the truth that the LORD is your Redeemer who loves and chooses you, the subsequent commandments would be devoid of context and significance. Indeed all the subsequent commandments are grounded in the truth of God that is received by faith (Hab. 2:4), and therefore the first commandment is to have emunah, or faith in God. Moses ben Nachman interprets the First Commandment to know that God exists and to believe in him, which implies studying and exploring the greatness of the Creator and Savior.

Finally, note that connection between the First Commandment to accept the truth of God's reality and the Shema: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד - "Hear O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone!" (Deut. 6:4). Like the First Commandment, the Shema is a declaration that the LORD is your God alone, and everything follows from that realization.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Exodus 20:2 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod20-2-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod20-2-lesson.pdf

The Second Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exod. 20:3), implies individual accountability for your soul before the Creator of all reality. Pagan religions often believe in a supreme being but regard such as unknowable and distant and therefore they commonly appeal to divine "subordinates" (e.g., angels, other beings with godlike powers, etc.) to intervene on their behalf.

The second commandment teaches that there are no intermediate or subordinate beings to which we may appeal, since there is only one God who holds all power and authority in heaven and earth and we are each accountable directly to him. When we pray, then, we are not to venerate angels or saints or to appeal to God on behalf of intermediaries. We come boldly before the Throne of Grace to make our appeals personally before the Living God (Heb. 4:16). The second commandment implies monotheism with the implication that appealing to other gods (or god-like powers) is actually worship of demonic entities (see Deut. 32:17; 1 Cor. 10:20). We are to know that “the LORD is our God, the LORD alone,” as the opening of the Shema proclaims: שׁמע ישׂראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד (Deut. 6:4).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Exodus 20:2 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod20-3-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod20-3-lesson.pdf

1.31.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

There are many people for whom faith is expressed only outside the home. They attend church or synagogue services at appropriate times. They send their children to religious schools. They may even attend classes themselves. But for many, when the service is over and they return home, they leave God at the front door. Even for many people who worship regularly, home life is not permeated with faith. The mezuzah on the doorpost of the house is there to remind these people that their relationship with God continues in the home.

For others, the reverse is true. There are many people who profess faith in God and raise their families with values that are consistent with this faith. And yet, they are loath to profess this faith in the public square. They prefer faith to be a private matter. To these people, the commandment to affix a mezuzah on the doorpost of the gates, in the public square, sends an important message. Commitment to God is not only a private matter. Biblical faith is meant to govern society, not merely individuals.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

February 1, 2024

How to Know the Truth

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)

The apostle Paul, in his last epistle, wrote about certain philosophers who would be “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). In the next verse, Paul makes it clear why such people, no matter how scholarly or well educated they seem to be, are still incapable of accepting real truth. “So do these also resist the truth,” he says (v. 8). They could not learn the truth because they were not willing to believe or obey the truth when they learned it. For example, a very vexing controversy among modern Christians is whether or not the Genesis account of six-day creation can be so interpreted as to accommodate the billion-year, geological-age system of Earth history.

Perhaps the difficulty, in this as well as in other such doctrinal controversies, is a basic unwillingness to believe doctrines plainly revealed in God’s Word when they conflict with doctrines based solely on human reasoning. When the Lord Jesus spoke the words of our text, He was speaking to arrogant religionists who regarded Him as nothing but an itinerant preacher, rejecting His teachings even though they knew these teachings were fully biblical.

His rebuke of these hypocrites is truly a timeless criterion for recognizing God’s truth and knowing His will. Such a heart does not try to twist God’s Word to accommodate a human philosophy, nor does it try to accommodate one’s personal will by persuading oneself that it is God’s will. God’s will is always consistent with God’s Word, which is written to be easily understood by anyone who is willing to believe His Word and do His will. HMM

[gracecast]

Costly Worship (mp3) (video)

Sarah and Jonny Griffiths on August 6, 2023

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

[marybrownnaturals]

100% Natural Biblical Purification Soap with Spikenard - Real cassia (cinnamon), frankincense, Spikenard & myrrh in soap based on biblical texts.

This soap adds to our exfoliant collection with solid cassia and spikenard in the soap. Sweet yet spicy, Spikenard is a nerve soother as well as a stimulant that helps clear the mind.

This familiar warm aroma of ancient Cassia (cinnamon) is a great mind & body revitalizer, helping to alleviate exhaustion, depression & weakness.

The frankincense & myrrh transport you to a thoughtful reflective place while cleansing your hair, face, and body.

“While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure Spikenard, and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.” Gospel of Mark, 14:3

Purchase today at https://www.barebeautynaturals.com or check the link on our Instagram Bio!

[prju77]

Lavish - Your Lion Bite Word For Today!

Tis the season for lavishments: lavish parties, lavish meals, and oh how you love to give lavish gifts to those you love, friends, a co-worker perhaps, maybe even a stranger or two. So what gift will you bring to me, the King of Kings. Do you know what I would want? Have you asked?

Will you ask me what I want specifically from you? But know this it will cost you. Do you go out of your way to find the perfect gift? You pick up extra shifts at work, take another part-time job, go to five different stores in three different towns, wait outside in the freezing cold for hours, scour the internet to find the best deal, while others of you will spend hours handcrafting a gift. The point is you’ll spare nothing to give that perfect gift to those you love. Will you not lavish on me the same?

Activation: Take time to ask the Lord what he would like from you this holiday season. It could be: time, a step of faith, to forgive someone, to read the Bible story in front of non-believing relatives/friends, to share the gospel with someone, the list is endless. Then step out in obedience for what he has asked of you to do.

Matthew 26:6-10 (NIV) "While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me."

Matthew 2:7-12 (NKJV)"Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way!"

[jcs-study]

While I want to continue the "Heaven On Their Minds" / fav. Judas conversation, I also want to get on with the song by song analysis... so I'm doing exactly that.

"Hey, Gibson, wait a minute... what the hell is this?! I don't remember this being part of JCS! I mean, the melody's familiar, but what is this song, and why is it here?"

Glad you asked, Anonymous Strawman! Hit the jump for more!

The Lyrics

ENSEMBLE WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY, WHAT A...

(instrumental)

SIMON THE LEPER JESUS, WELCOME TO MY HOUSE IT'S CERTAINLY QUITE A THRILL FOR ME! YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE WITH US DOWN IN BETHANY!

ENSEMBLE WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

SIMON THE LEPER HELLO PETER, ANDREW, PHILIP JAMES AND JAMES, AND JUDE AND JOHN BART AND MATTHEW, JUDAS, SIMON I'M GLAD, SO GLAD, THAT YOU CAME ALONG!

ENSEMBLE WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY, WHAT A...

(instrumental)

SIMON THE LEPER TAKE YOUR PLACES, EVERYONE! NOW DON'T HESITATE, THE DINNER'S FINE. HELLO, THOMAS! YOU DON'T NEED TO DOUBT THE QUALITY OF THE WINE!

ENSEMBLE WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY! WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY!

WHAT A PARTY! LORDY, LORDY, WHAT A PARTY, LORDY, LORDY WHAT A PARTY!

The Plot

The Gospels according to Matthew and Mark mention a figure named Simon the Leper, whose house in Bethany Jesus visited during the last week of his life. During his visit, a woman anointed Jesus' head with costly ointment, which occasioned complaints from Judas and other disciples at the money wasted on this item which could have been given to the poor. Jesus soundly rebuked them and praised the woman for her attention to his needs.

If that scene sounds familiar, that's because it is. "What's The Buzz," "Strange Thing, Mystifying," and "Everything's Alright" tell the bulk of that story in JCS as we know it. "What A Party," then, essentially sets this scene, with gracious host Simon -- incidentally played on this track by the late Tony Ashton, of Ashton, Gardner, and Dyke fame -- welcoming Jesus and friends to his home, name-checking the individual apostles (presumably for the audience's sake) and at one point slipping an in-joke at the expense of the future St. Thomas into the proceedings. (If you listen closely, you'll faintly hear the late Jack T. Chick "haw haw"-ing from his grave. Google is your friend if you don't know who that is.)

The (Context and) Analysis

This song was first written about in Ellis Nassour and Richard Broderick's Rock Opera, an invaluable (sadly out-of-print, and used copies on Amazon tend to be expensive) tome on the creation of the original album, show, and film, about which more can be read on the Disclaimer and Credits page. Consequently, those JCS fans with expert knowledge of its "deep cuts" always knew it existed. The only revelation when it surfaced as a bonus track on the 50th-anniversary re-release of the concept album was what it actually sounded like.

Apparently, when it came time to finalize things in mixing and mastering, label execs pressed Rice and Lloyd Webber to cut anything non-essential so they didn't spill into a third disc and risk raising the album's already-precarious price in the shops (a double LP was not cheap), so "What A Party" got the ax.

Listening to it 50 years on, in this fan's opinion, it was an easy cut to make and decidedly the right choice. Not only is it the very definition of filler, but it also reminds me of what Tim Rice said when he once aptly remarked on what he felt helped JCS succeed:

We broke all the rules. For example, we [...] ditched the book. Nor did we worry about scene transitions. No matter that the Apostles had to enter stage-left just as 450 Roman legionnaires exited stage-right. It was like writing a show for radio, which, indeed, we were, because radio was then the only outlet for this project.

I couldn't agree more. And, to his point, "What A Party" smacks of -- for lack of a better phrase -- book material; it oozes with an air of "conventional musical theater" in purpose that JCS never needed (and ultimately succeeded without). With all due respect and apologies to those who add it to their super-playlists (hi Tyler, love you!), what remained hangs together well enough that we just don't really need it, at least from where I'm sitting.

Plus, let's be real: most of the exposition in it is unnecessary. (For one handy example, aside from Judas, Simon, and Peter, we'd never deal with the other apostles as individuals again after this song if it stayed.) All it really adds to the scenes that follow is the chaos of a "ride into Jerusalem" pre-game, if you will, to further stoke Jesus' annoyance with the world at large and his followers in particular, and as the show's success over the past half-century has proved, it would be gilding the lily, if anything, to include it.

Coming Up Next:

We're back in familiar territory as we uncover "What's The Buzz" and encounter a "Strange Thing, Mystifying."

[human-perspective]

"While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head."

Mark 14:3 NIV 

[sshortblnd]

Alabaster Jar

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the…

[writingasjudasiscariot]

A Plan of Mine [EXTRA (right before the Last Supper)]

Hello to all of you. Today, I have done something that I am not entirely sure is right. It all started when we were with Jesus in Bethany in the home of Simon, a former leper.

While Jesus was eating, a woman entered the room with a beautiful alabaster jar. After a few whiffs of its contents, I was able to determine that the jar contained expensive perfume. The woman looked familiar and after some recalling, I realised that she was the same woman who was caught and accused of adultery, if Jesus had not stepped in, she would have been stoned to death!

She then broke the jar and poured the very expensive perfume over his head. I immediately stood up, indignant. That was worth a year’s wages for a normal person!

Other disciples stood as well and complained alongside me. We scolded her, saying that it could have been sold and the money used for helping the poor. However, Jesus took her side again, saying, “Leave her alone, why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could and anointed my body for burial ahead of time.”

I frowned, again with the death talk. I didn’t know Jesus was so pessimistic.

“I tell you the truth,” he continues, “wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

As the treasurer, I can tell that it is a huge waste of money. Incredibly annoyed, I wait until everyone finished eating and went outside.

Then, I went to the leading priests as I knew that they had been plotting Jesus' capture for a long time. I knew that I could be of help so I went to them so that Jesus’ capture could be arranged.

I suggested that I could give Jesus a kiss on the cheek to lead the guards to the right person, that way, no one would have their guard up until it was too late. The leading priests agreed to my plan. I then asked how much they would pay me for giving Jesus away. After even more discussion, they agreed that 30 pieces of silver would be given to me. I did not fail to notice that it was the same price as purchasing a slave, however, I was too timid to bargain with them.

From that day on, I have been looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. It has to be at a time where there are no crowds so that the people will not riot.

I will be updating you on my progress and I hope that it will not cause too much harm to anyone.

(475 words)

Scripture reference: Matthew 26: 6-16, Mark 14: 1-11 & Luke 22: 1-6

[alexandrummer]

Why This Waste?

Earlier this week, I was sent an article about a missionary named John Chau who was martyred while trying to share the gospel to the Sentinelese people just off the shores of India. Admittedly, I ignored it at first. But after it blew up on the internet, I finally read into the situation. And his story brought to mind the narrative of Jesus anointed by the woman at Bethany.

Just days before his death, Jesus was dining with his disciples at the home of Simon the Leper when all of a sudden a woman named Mary comes to pour a year’s worth of perfume onto Jesus’ head (Mk 14:3) and begins wiping his feet with her hair (Jn 12:3). Judas Iscariot then angrily asks, “Why this waste? This perfume could have sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” (Mk 14:5). And Jesus quiets and rebukes him, saying that everywhere the gospel is preached, the story of what this woman has done will be told.

All of this has made me reflective on the trajectory of my life and my own experiences in Chicago so far. I’m here in medical school, and I hear a lot excitement for me coming from other people. “Alex! You’re going to make such a great doctor!” and “I can’t wait to see what kind of positive impact you’ll make in medicine!”. It should go without saying that I appreciate these kind, undeserved words, no doubt. But what if after residency, God so chooses (either with or without my full enthusiasm) to redirect my life in some other path that has nothing to do with medicine to somehow bring Him more glory? Would I be foolish and absurd? Would that be an inefficient use of the past 7+ years and $200,000 of tuition? Would I be an irresponsible steward of this privilege I have of practicing medicine? Sure. But as I read the Bible, as I grow in my understanding of what’s primary versus secondary in this life, I begin to realize that such a life of complete surrender to God is not ultimately foolish or irresponsible. It may be seen as such in this life, but on the landscape of eternity, it’s just plain smart. It just makes perfect sense to invest in that which is not fleeting but eternal.

In reading all these articles on John Chau, I couldn’t help but notice the mocking and outrage against John Chau--even by self-professing Christians: “What a fool! Stupid religious colonizer. Complete waste of a perfectly good life and education”. But could it be that those who grind and labor for Christ in obscurity on this earth are the talk of heaven? If all we’ve got is this life here on earth, then sure, that was a dumb move. Even the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians that if Christ has not been raised, then our faith is futile, we’re still in our sins, and Christians are the most to be pitied of all people.

But what a difference eternity makes! What a difference it makes that Christ resurrected! May my life, then, be poured out like perfume at the feet of Jesus. May you and I be like coins in His pocket, willing to be spent as He chooses.

[dfroza]

A betrayal

(accusing the Creator)

the One who brought in (A new covenant of grace)

to form a pure Church (Body) and A new Family to inherit Heaven and earth.

do you love God?

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 26th chapter of the book of Matthew:

And so this is what happened, finally. Jesus finished all His teaching, and He said to His disciples,

Jesus: The feast of Passover begins in two days. That is when the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.

And almost as He spoke, the chief priests were getting together with the elders at the home of the high priest, Caiaphas. They schemed and mused about how they could trick Jesus, sneak around and capture Him, and then kill Him.

Chief Priests: We shouldn’t try to catch Him at the great public festival. The people would riot if they knew what we were doing.

Meanwhile Jesus was at Bethany staying at the home of Simon the leper. While He was at Simon’s house, a woman came to see Him. She had an alabaster flask of very valuable ointment with her, and as Jesus reclined at the table, she poured the ointment on His head. The disciples, seeing this scene, were furious.

Disciples: This is an absolute waste! The woman could have sold that ointment for lots of money, and then she could have given it to the poor.

Jesus knew what the disciples were saying among themselves, so He took them to task.

Jesus: Why don’t you leave this woman alone? She has done a good thing. It is good that you are concerned about the poor, but the poor will always be with you—I will not be. In pouring this ointment on My body, she has prepared Me for My burial. I tell you this: the good news of the kingdom of God will be spread all over the world, and wherever the good news travels, people will tell the story of this woman and her good discipleship. And people will remember her.

At that, one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests.

Judas Iscariot: What will you give me to turn Him over to you?

They offered him 30 pieces of silver. And from that moment, he began to watch for a chance to betray Jesus.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples said to Jesus,

Disciples: Where would You like us to prepare the Passover meal for You?

Jesus: Go into the city, find a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is near, and I am going to celebrate Passover at your house with My disciples.’”

So the disciples went off, followed Jesus’ instructions, and got the Passover meal ready. When evening came, Jesus sat down with the twelve. And they ate their dinner.

Jesus: I tell you this: one of you here will betray Me.

The disciples, of course, were horrified.

A Disciple: Not me!

Another Disciple: It’s not me, Master, is it?

Jesus: It’s the one who shared this dish of food with Me. That is the one who will betray Me. Just as our sacred Scripture has taught, the Son of Man is on His way. But there will be nothing but misery for he who hands Him over. That man will wish he had never been born.

At that, Judas, who was indeed planning to betray Him, said,

Judas Iscariot: It’s not me, Master, is it?

Jesus: I believe you’ve just answered your own question.

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He offered a blessing over the bread, and then He broke it and gave it to His disciples.

Jesus: Take this and eat; it is My body.

And then He took the cup of wine, He made a blessing over it, and He passed it around the table.

Jesus: Take this and drink, all of you: this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until I am with you once more, drinking in the kingdom of My Father.

The meal concluded. Together, all the men sang a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, and then they took a late evening walk to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus: Scripture says,

I shall strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will scatter.

Just so, each of you will stumble tonight, stumble and fall, on account of Me.

Afterward I will be raised up. And I will go before you to Galilee.

Peter: Lord, maybe everyone else will trip and fall tonight, but I will not. I’ll be beside You. I won’t falter.

Jesus: If only that were true. In fact, this very night, before the cock crows in the morning, you will deny Me three times.

Peter: No! I won’t deny You. Even if that means I have to die with You!

And each of the disciples echoed Peter.

At that, Jesus led His disciples to the place called Gethsemane.

Jesus: I am going over there to pray. You sit here while I’m at prayer.

Then He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He grew sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Jesus: My soul is overwhelmed with grief, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.

He walked a little farther and finally fell prostrate and prayed.

Jesus: Father, this is the last thing I want. If there is any way, please take this bitter cup from Me. Not My will, but Yours be done.

When He came back to the disciples, He saw that they were asleep. Peter awoke a little less confident and slightly chagrined.

Jesus (to Peter): So you couldn’t keep watch with Me for just one short hour? Now maybe you’re learning: the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Watch and pray and take care that you are not pulled down during a time of testing.

With that, Jesus returned to His secluded spot to pray again.

Jesus: Father, if there is no other way for this cup to pass without My drinking it—then not My will, but Yours be done.

Again Jesus returned to His disciples and found them asleep. Their eyes were heavy-lidded. So Jesus left them again and returned to prayer, praying the same sentiments with the same words. Again He returned to His disciples.

Jesus: Well, you are still sleeping; are you getting a good long rest? Now the time has come; the Son of Man is just about to be given over to the betrayers and the sinners. Get up; we have to be going. Look, here comes the one who’s going to betray Me.

There he was, Judas, one of the twelve leading a crowd of people from the chief priests and elders with swords and clubs; the chief priests and the elders were right there, ready to arrest Jesus. And Judas, the one who intended to betray Him, had said to the elders and the chief priests that he would give them a sign.

Judas Iscariot: I’ll greet Him with a kiss. And you will know that the one I kiss is the one you should arrest.

So at once, he went up to Jesus.

Judas Iscariot: Greetings, Teacher (he kisses Him).

Jesus: My friend, do what you have come to do.

And at that, the company came and seized Him. One of the men with Jesus grabbed his sword and swung toward the high priest’s slave, slicing off his ear.

Jesus: Put your sword back. People who live by the sword die by the sword. Surely you realize that if I called on My Father, He would send 12 legions of messengers to rescue Me. But if I were to do that, I would be thwarting the scriptural story, wouldn’t I? And we must allow the story of God’s kingdom to unfold. (to the crowds) Why did you bring these weapons, these clubs and bats? Did you think I would fight you? That I would try to dodge and escape like a common criminal? You could have arrested Me any day when I was teaching in the temple, but you didn’t.

This scene has come together just so, so that the prophecies in the sacred Scripture could be fulfilled.

And at that, all the disciples ran away and abandoned Him. The crowd that had arrested Jesus took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and elders had gathered at Caiaphas’s house and were waiting for Jesus to be delivered. Peter followed Jesus (though at some distance so as not to be seen). He slipped into Caiaphas’s house and attached himself to a group of servants. And he sat watching, waiting to see how things would unfold.

The high priest and his council of advisors first produced false evidence against Jesus—false evidence meant to justify some charge and Jesus’ execution. But even though many men were willing to lie, the council couldn’t come up with the evidence it wanted. Finally, two men stood up.

Two Men: Look, He said, “I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.” What more evidence do you need?

Then Caiaphas the high priest stood up and addressed Jesus.

Caiaphas: Aren’t You going to respond to these charges? What exactly are these two men accusing You of?

Jesus remained silent.

Caiaphas (to Jesus): Under a sacred oath before the living God, tell us plainly: are You the Anointed One, the Son of God?

Jesus: So you seem to be saying. I will say this: beginning now, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God’s power and glory and coming on heavenly clouds.

The high priest tore his robes and screeched.

Caiaphas: Blasphemy! We don’t need any more witnesses—we’ve all just witnessed this most grievous blasphemy, right here and now. So, gentlemen, what’s your verdict?

Gentlemen: He deserves to die.

Then they spat in His face and hit Him. Some of them smacked Him, slapped Him across the cheeks, and jeered.

Some of the Men: Well, Anointed One, prophesy for us, if You can—who hit You? And who is about to hit You next?

As all this was going on in Caiaphas’s chamber, Peter was sitting in the courtyard with some servants. One of the servant girls came up to him.

Servant Girl: You were with Jesus the Galilean, weren’t you?

And just as Jesus had predicted, Peter denied it before everyone.

Peter: Not me! I don’t know what you’re talking about.

He went out to stand by the gate. And as he walked past, another servant girl recognized him.

Another Servant Girl (speaking to those standing around): That man over there—he was here with Jesus the Nazarene!

Again, just as Jesus had predicted, Peter denied it, swearing an oath.

Peter: I don’t know Him!

Peter then went to chat with a few of the servants. A little while later, some other servants approached him:

Other Servants: Look, we know that you must be one of Jesus’ followers. You speak like you are from the same area as His followers. You’ve got that tell-tale Galilean accent.

Cursing and swearing, Peter denied Him again.

Peter: I do not know Him!

As the exclamation left his mouth, a cock crowed. And Peter remembered. He remembered that Jesus had looked at him with something like pity and said, “This very night, before the cock crows in the morning, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter went outside, sat down on the ground, and wept.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 26 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 22nd chapter of the book of Job:

Eliphaz the Temanite made suggestions to Job.

Eliphaz: Can a strong person be of any use to God?

How about one who is wise? Can he help himself?

Is the Highest One made happy if you are righteous?

Does He profit from your perfect ways?

Do you really think He takes you to task because you revere Him too much?

Is this why He brings allegations against you?

Is it not possible that you are, in fact, great with wickedness

and endless in your wrongdoing?

When your relatives came to you needing money,

for no good reason you took their clothes for collateral

and left them naked.

You have never given so much as a cup of water to the thirsty

or a crumb to the hungry.

You must think only the powerful and privileged possess the land

and can live in it any way they wish.

You have sent away widows who were wanting,

and you have obliterated the only support of orphans.

This is why you are surrounded by snares,

why you are overcome with dreadful fears,

Why you’re in the dark, without a glimmer to help you see,

sunk beneath the rush of flooding water.

Is not God up there at the crown of the highest arc of heaven?

And the highest stars!

See how lofty they are!

But you—you say, “What does God know?

Can He send His judgments through such thick darkness?

Those clouds are just a veil for Him so He does not have to look upon us

while He saunters, oblivious, through the chambers of the sky.”

Job, are you now guardian of the ancient road

where the wicked have traveled?

The wicked, who are captured

and taken off before their time,

their foundations washed out by a flooded river,

They are the ones who tell God, “Leave us be.”

They say, “What can the Highest One do to us?”

How are they repaid for their insolence?

You say, “He stuffs their homes with goodness,”

Then you shake your head and mutter,

“Far be it from me to understand the thoughts and plans of the wicked.”

The righteous would look upon their ruin and laugh for delight;

the innocent would taunt

By saying, “Sure enough, our enemies have gone to their annihilation,

and what they’ve left behind feeds a hungry fire.”

Now be of use to God;

be at peace with Him,

and goodness will return to your life.

Receive instruction directly from His lips,

and make His words a part of you.

If you return to the Highest One,

you will be restored;

if you banish the evil from your tents,

And consider your gold as common as earth’s dust

and Ophir’s refined gold as plentiful as stones in rock-lined streams,

Then your true treasure will be the Highest One—

worth more than gold and silver beyond measure.

For then, at last, you will find pleasure in the Highest One,

and you will finally be able to show Him your face.

When you approach Him, He will listen;

you will make good on your promises to Him.

You will pronounce something to be,

and He will make it so;

light will break out across all of your paths.

God will humble, but you say, “Raise them up.”

He will save the downcast.

He will even consent to deliver those who are not innocent

through the purity of your then-washed-clean hands.

The Book of Job, Chapter 22 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Wednesday, may 17 of 2023 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the fear (reverence) of the Lord:

What we fear says a lot about us, since fear is closely linked to what we value and ultimately worship... The Spirit attests that all the world is lit up with the radiance of God our Savior: קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ יְהוָה צְבָא֑וֹת מְלא כָל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ - “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:3). Fearing lesser things blinds us to the truth of Reality and glorifies the realm of darkness. The world system is based on slavery to such lesser gods and fears, but we are to walk in the awe of the LORD God Almighty alone, and the light of his reverence overcomes the fear of this world. As the Gerer Rebbe said: "If a man has fear of anything except the Creator, he is in some degree an idolater. For to fear is to offer worship to the thing feared, and this form of worship may be offered only to the LORD." As it is written: "It is the LORD your God whom you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God" (Deut. 6:13-15).

The fear of the Lord, yirat HaShem, is reverent awe and wonder that resembles the great trembling of love: “With this ring I do worship thee...” The Scriptures repeatedly state that this fear is reishit chockmah (רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה) – the "beginning of wisdom" and the foundation of all true godliness and obedience.... Sin always entices us to fear the “lesser gods”; it seduces us to live in arrogance, pride, anger, envy, lust, despair, and so on. Sin expresses the opposite of godly reverence and seeks to justify cowardly indolence so that people learn to actually “love” and defend what enslaves them...

Fearing lesser gods is an affront to the glory and majesty of our Savior. We are commanded to be full of courage given by God's own spirit: It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut. 31:8). "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Josh. 1:9).

The fear of the LORD expresses the power of faith to repel the schemes and designs of the devil. Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve'" (Matt. 4:10). "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Ultimately, the fear of the LORD is a great gift, the underlying motive of all true teshuvah (repentance).

When the people heard the Voice of the LORD thunder at Sinai, they drew back in fear and appealed to Moses to be their mediator: “You speak with us and we will listen, but let not God speak with us, for we might die” (Exod. 20:19). Moses replied, “Do not be afraid, for God came in this way to test you and in order that His fear should remain before you, so that you do not sin” (Exod. 20:20). The point of fearing God, then, is to keep us from what separates us from the love of God. The Kotzker Rebbe commented: “When Moses exhorted the people not to be afraid, he meant that the fear “for we might die” was not what God wants from us. Rather, God desires that the fear of Him should remain before you so that you do not sin. That is the only true fear of heaven.” The "fear of the LORD" is that we might lose sight of what we really need for life...

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Proverbs 1:7 reading (click):

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/prov1-7-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/prov1-7-lesson.pdf

5.15.23 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel 365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

May 17, 2023

Good Soldiers

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

From a Kingdom perspective, a good soldier has several responsibilities. Initially, we can expect challenges, wherein we might “suffer trouble as an evil doer” (2 Timothy 2:9), endure afflictions (2 Timothy 4:5), or even be afflicted (James 5:13).

Ultimately, a soldier has one purpose, “that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Put another way, “do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Soldiers are called out of the normal life of a nation and dedicated to executing the will of the king.

Thus, from a spiritual perspective, “know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). The source of that friendship is a focus on walking by the flesh, which has no good thing in it and cannot please God (Romans 8:8).

We are to “war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) and to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Fighting God’s battles with God’s armor ensures the ultimate victory promised by our King, Creator, and “captain of the host of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14). “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8). HMM III

[earlsings]

Reposted from @christchapelofthevalley Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” -Mathew 26:6-13 https://www.instagram.com/p/CcTWzosPnTR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure Spikenard, and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.” Gospel of Mark, 14:3

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[carolap53]

Mark 14:1-26Jesus Anointed at Bethany

14 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Last Supper

12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

New International Version

(NIV)