Yes, Jesus is of the tribe of Judah and the line of David who was of the tribe of Judah, you can read the genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:21-38. Jesus the Son of God was made of a woman, made under the law, Galatians 4:4. Not sure about your question was Jesus a Jew? Today when we hear the word Jew it is taken to mean anyone who is of the religion of Judaism regardless of their genealogy.
The same when we hear the word Gentile or Gentiles, we think of anyone who is not a Jew but there are more to these words. After Soloman died the tribes of Israel divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. The southern kingdom was the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the Levites tended to the temple; it is called the kingdom of Judah. When they were taken captive by Babylon, the slang term began to be used. Jew is an abbreviated slang term for Judahite, a resident of the southern kingdom of Judah.
the dead know nothing at all must be read in its context." For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion./For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." Dead and the living. For to him (Christ) that is joined to all the living there is hope. (Jesus Christ-"I am the Life") Those who have found life know there is a physical death. Hence they keep themselves pure unspotted from the world. They are like the tree planted by the river (Ps.1) and their hope is like an anchor. Jesus explained who the dead are. Luke 9:60 The dead may be workaholic, socially active, volunteers to every politically correct causes.But after soul is cast to hell there would be no remembrance and tey are blotted out of the book of life and book of the lamb. A woman who lives in pleasure is dead.
In the Old Testament; there were 2 types of roles for a Prophet. In 1 Chronicles 21:9-13 we have Gad who is David's "seer".
He was given the task of telling David after the Satanically inspired census that there were 3 punishments that would result.
He had no need at that time apparently to mention what the punishment was for as David apparently realized the error of his ways. That is different than Nathan the Prophet at the time he took Bathsheeba as his wife and had Uriah the Hittite set up to die on the front lines in 2 Samuel 11. It would seem that Proverbs 6:34 showed Solomon's wisdom in avoiding showing feigned favor to the husband of a woman someone else is involved with; perhaps it was inspired from what happened in part with David and his mother years previous.
The second role was more of a general statement of future events covered in much of the "major prophets" such as Daniel; Jeremiah; Isaiah and Ezekiel and the minor ones (with smaller overall text) such as Zechariah; Zephaniah; etc.
I am no expert on the office of Prophet today but it seems cessationists may say a Pastor teaching from the Word is also in that type of ministry. I would also say that those who use the Word only as a warning could be in that category. The controversy is if these "signs and wonders" gifts have ceased. I would first eliminate all the pretenders who clearly make things up from their imaginations and false prophets and those who have no factual basis or vary vague statements about persons or events that are very subjective. We are also warned that should someone say something that doesn't come to pass OR that DOES but incites us to worship a false God is to be ignored and kicked out of any church if they try to do this. (See Deut. 18:22 and Deut. 13:2).
We must also avoid fear of things to come. Someone telling the truth should offer some hope even in the worst warnings. The biggest red flag is always predicting prosperity.
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ( Genesis 49:10)
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ( 1 Peter 4:11)
When taking a look at scripture; there are roles women play as Prophetess; prayer; teaching children; or the "virtuous woman" summing up Proverbs 31. When it comes to the 10 Commandments and the laws of the Lord in the Old Testament; or the rules about women remaining silent in the New Testament ( 1 Corinthians 14:34-35) it seems in regard to instruction in law continues as a man's responsibility. That would have further implications in regard to teaching established DOCTRINE related to the law; or the Gospel of Grace which expounds the full meaning of what is concealed in the Old Testament but revealed fully now.
When we try to fully grasp these concepts in human understanding; of course we fall short. An example that gives us insight is in Exodus 15:20 which shows Miriam; the older sister of Moses and Aaron as the first Prophetess in scripture. We could say in some way that Moses acted as the first Prophet in the Bible; at least in predicting what would happen to Israel in the last days in Deuteronomy 4; but Deuteronomy 18 talks about the coming Prophet like Moses who must be heeded (Christ). Technically Abraham was called a Prophet; the first example in the Bible but his predictions were toward his descendants when giving the family blessings at his death.
We see with Miriam that she foolishly spoke out about the second wife of Abraham of African descent and was struck with leprosy temporarily. Her best moment was in the role of the victory song as they crossed the Red Sea.
According to Revelation 12 the emergence of Michael the Archangel is in direct connection to the appearance of The Woman. During the course of her ministry is where you will find Michael. Jesus comes next. Hope that helps.
The earliest blessing in scripture is for Ishmael who is said in Genesis 16:12. It isn't exactly something to be desired; except for the fact that in the family lineage there would be many descendants. He was said to be a wild "donkey" of a man; and cause much contention and strife among others. Moving on to Genesis 26:39-40 we see the blessing of Esau; and it wasn't faring much better; he was to live by the sword and eventually throw the "yoke" off his back of basically servitude to Jacob. Finally; we see Jacob's blessing of his sons; to become the 12 patriarchs; which is a mixed bag with particularly gruesome futures for Issachar (once again like a donkey" and of course Dan being as a snake. Reuben the firstborn committed sin and thus lost privileges for that position; and altogether we may say that Judah had the best blessings offered.
These patterns are interesting in that prophetically God's will was ultimately done. We can see this perhaps clearest with God explaining the futures of Jacob and Esau before they were even born. We also see the future of the bondservant (Hagar) and free woman (Sarah) and how it affects the world still to this day with the Arab (mainly Muslim) populus in the surrounding lands of the sons of Sarah and Abraham in Israel. We could say that this most clearly demonstrates what we may call a generational curse as well as blessings that are inherited.
Jeremiah 35:19 is perhaps one of the most interesting prophetic statements; in this case to adults who had been obedient to God from the start. They were promised because of that and passing the test on not drinking wine or strong drink that they would perpetually have someone to serve God; at least seemingly promising a believer to be in the family lineage throughout the generations. As to curses; we do well to meditate on Exodus 20:5 and 6 we see generational affects but those who LOVE God He shows mercy ending the curse.
I have often kidded around about having someone memorize the first 6 or 7 chapters of 1 Chronicles. Genealogies aren't to be obsessed over ( 1 Tim. 1:4); however they are vital in seeing the lineage of God's people. The beginning of Matthew; for instance gives us the lineage from Abraham to Joseph; and Luke from Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam. This of course goes back to Genesis 3:15 and the "seed of the woman" prophecy. These two lineages probably are enough to know in themselves from the whole Bible in regard to that subject. If we go deeper into meanings of names particularly in the first generations it appears there is a prophetic indication of Christ to come if we list the names and their meanings in order in Hebrew. There are no doubt patterns of equidistant letters that are unique in scripture pointing to certain events. Again; like genealogies; they are best not obsessed over; for we already know Christ is the living Word so we don't need hidden clues as to who He is. We can look to past events; and I have stated that Michael Drosnin's prediction of Rabin's assassination in 1996 may have been something the Lord allowed so others wouldn't meet the same fate. Since we are now still in the Church Age; we are not in the time of Revelation when prophets once again are on the earth in that role and there is a known 7 year template for all the judgments to occur. God has ultimate truths that must come to pass; but some things are conditional which only He knows that prayer and action now can possibly delay judgment; as we see with the example of Nineveh.
We can look to history and scientific facts as authenticated from the Bible; with more coming all the time. For the skeptic who God chooses to enlighten it may be a good witnessing tool; but we shouldn't make such methods are only talking points for apologetics. First we must see if someone is serious about wanting to hear the truths of the Word
This upper room has been prepared for a special occasion. Who had it prepared for Jesus? In the Gospel of St John Jesus assured his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:3). "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (He.3:4) As with the colt for his Son to go to Jerusalem God had provided all thing for life and godliness for his Son. God had appointed himas the heir of all things.
When Jesus said of foxes having holes and the birds their nests he was stating his own case as a man. In the world each one is so particular to flaunt their fashionable address God chose the upper room, and the Spirit has not given as one except that whatever God chose was in his Power and glory.
Jesus assured "My Father and I are one" and wherever he walked and abode signaled his Father to testify. "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(1:11). Psalmist refers to this relationship of the Father. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps.139:8)
The Last supper enacted in that upper room evokes for us the same betrayal when Satan betrayed the trust of the Most High. For this reason Jesus refersto Judas as the son of perdition. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:12)
We have several instances where what are presented before us is a kangaroo word in terms of the eternal Word. Thus the alabaster box is a kangaroo word for the woman who prepared the body of the Son for his burial. Ezekiel thus ingesting the roll that God gave him becomes a double for the Son. "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."(Ez.3:1)
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head."(v.3)
All the four gospels carry this incident where the woman had prescience to anoint Jesus for his burial. None present there except Jesus who understood the significance of her action. "He (Jesus Christ) knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."Besides he knew what he was there for, among them and also knew where he was going to. His deity was as the Word become flesh. In Luke we read thus, "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end."( Luke 22:37)
How can a woman of ill repute find the right occasion to be born again or in this case, Mary as John gives her a name, break the box unless her faith and of Christ was one?( John 12:3) God breathed into man and made him a living soul. Faith is what explains this relationship between God and man. "Faith is one."(Ep.4:5) So in her action she poured out herself in order to prepare him beforehand for her burial.
What is the significance of Bethany? In the Gospel of John Jesus was in the company of Lazarus whom he had raised from death. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."( John 11:25).
The alabaster box is similar to the earthen vessel that Jeremiah broke as commanded of God. The box doubles for Mary whose faith became a memorial unto her. St Mark juxtaposes this with the breaking of bread during the Last supper.(v.22)
"And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?"(v.35). The scribes as mentioned here is a generic name for those who interpret the Law but they do not consider they are bound by it. "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." For they says, and they do not."(Matt.23:2-3). Matthew is referring to the scribes and the Pharisees who sit in Moses' seat. It is a metaphor for spiritual authority of the Law. Isaiah gives us a throne which is the ultimate authority "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool."(Is.66:1)
Mark gives 'the woe to ye' discourse in Ch.23 as part of his doctrine which explains why the word of God is a two-edged sword (He.4:12).The Gospel is for salvation and if it is neglected it shall prove unto damnation. "And he said unto them in his doctrine," is consequential since it is the eternal word. In our times we could call what the scribes indulged was in Jesus talk. The saying of Jesus "but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not," is a sane advice for Christians who would want to live a godly life.
Jesus.
In vv.35-37 Jesus asks,"How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?"The scribes erred in their textual criticism by omitting the intent and the integrity of the Psalm 110:1 This is what literal approach does. What they threw out is the everlasting covenant were seven days pendent on the day decreed for the Son. Along with it goes the significance of the Lamb slain, (Ps.2:7; Re.13:8) What happened in a megachurch where The elders had publicly disciplined a woman for refusing to take back her husband owes to their lack of understanding the word. As it turned out, the woman's fears proved true, and her husband went to prison for child molestation and abuse. The church never retracted its discipline or apologised in the 20+ years since.
Scripture Interpretation: Part 2 on introduction to the law and differences in Old and New Testaments
A general concept as pointed out in my last post is that the Old Testament law and sacrifices had temporal methods and sufficiency and were based on behaviors of Israel as to whether blessings or cursings resulted. The Spirit of God was more transient and was no guarantee of salvation such as seen in the example of Saul's prophesying as well as Baalam's repeated attempts to curse Israel and being overtaken to make proclamations under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David even asked God not to remove His Holy Spirit as apparently happened with Saul who needed David to play music for a temporary "fix" to his bizarre disorders.
John 16:8 essentially gives indication of permanent residence of the Father and Son in a believer and thus sealing them until the Day of Redemption. What we cannot do is glibly assume we are saved without testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; and certain behaviors especially illustrated in Corinthians show the result of sickness and death with communion taken unworthily and the case of the man sleeping with his father's wife. There is always hope of repentance if someone is alive; but we cannot continue a LIFESTYLE of sin and be presumptuous thinking God will overlook our sin as an exception to His rule for the rest of mankind.
Matthew 5:17 states that Christ came not to abolish but fulfill the law and the prophets. This is a segway into the second theme in this introduction: Prophecy...
INTRO.
Prophecy begins with Genesis 3:15 in the garden with the serpent being told that he would receive a deadly wound and that Christ would recieve a wound on the heel (the seed of the woman representing the virgin Birth and the wound that of His piercing on the cross). Jesus was the end of Prophecy as THE Prophet; but in real time we still see Him as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1; and we still see 2 Prophets in Rev. 11.
Revelation 12:10-14 help us to understand prophecies of Isaiah described as posted below:
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven(heaven?Eph.1:3-8),Now is come salvation,and strength,and the KINGDOM OF OUR GOD (Re. 11:15-18 combined with 1Cor.15:24-26 & Luke 20:35-36.Take a look), and the power of his Christ:for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,which accused them before our GOD day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the BLOOD of the Lamb,and by the Word of their testimony;and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice,ye heavens(the celestial environment of the OT and NT-Eph.1:3-8),and ye that dwell in them.Woe to the inhabiters of the earth(Israel,the clay-Is.64:8-the dry land-Gen.1:9)and of the sea (waters-Gentile nations-Re.17:15)! for the Devil is come down unto you,having great wrath,because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon(Re.12:9)saw that he was cast unto the earth,he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman(to the Church of the Lord)were given two WINGS(OT and NT-the Bible)of a great eagle,that she might FLY into the wilderness,into her place,where she is nourished(by the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD)for a time,and times,and half a time(1260 days, caught up), from the face of the serpent.
There will be WAR against three unclean spirits like frogs-Re.16:13-15-,and one of the seven heads of the Beast of sea(waters-Re.17:15- refer to a Gentile Beast) will be wounded mortally.(Re.13:3). By the way, the next Pope is the last to be elected.
Mat.25:6-At midnight there was a cry:Behold,the bridegroom cometh;go ye out to meet Him
Rev.19:7-8
7Let us be glad and rejoice,and give honour to him:for the marriage of the Lamb is come,and his wife hath made herself ready
8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:the fine linen is the righteousness of saints
How does Revelation describe the marriage supper?
Re.19:17-18
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun;and he cried with a loud voice,saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great GOD;
18That ye may eat the flesh of kings,and the flesh of captains,and the flesh of mighty men,and the flesh of horses,and of them that sit on them,and the flesh of all men...
Questions?
1-An angel standing in the sun:What sun?
We know that the woman is clothed with the sun-Re.12:1.It must be the light of the greater Light-JESUS. Malachi 4:2-Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
2- the fowls that FLY in the midst of heaven:What fowls?
Is.60:1-5&8-A clue to understand these allegories:
1Arise,shine;for thy light is come,and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2For,behold,the darkness shall cover the earth(Israel,the clay-Is.64:8 combined with Gen.1:9),and gross darkness the people:but the Lord shall arise upon thee,and His glory shall be seen upon thee
3And the Gentiles(the waters-Gen.1:9 and Re.17:15)shall come to thy light,and kings(Re.1:6) to the brightness of thy rising
4Lift up thine eyes round about,and see:all they gather themselves together,they come to thee:thy sons shall come from far,and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side
5Then thou shalt see,and flow together,and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged;because the abundance of the sea-Re.17:15-shall be converted unto thee...the Gentiles shall come unto thee
...
8Who are these that FLY as a cloud,and as the doves to their windows?
"And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?"
Ministry of Jesus Christ was foreordained so how the Gospel yielded on earth was in terms of the Son. As the Son of man he became the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. so the number of Seven as the Perfect Number has ministry yet being crowned with glory and honor. So we have Jesus Christ who of God has become Sanctification. "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,"(He.2:9-11; 1 Co.1:30) What Elijah did in the time of the kings was as a double for the Son. The Spirit gives the tag Three and a half (Time, Times and a Hal another variant)" to establish in terms of the Word was God and the Word become flesh there is split. Seven days in the everlasting covenant shall be fulfilled.
St Mark's narrative prepared for this confession by Peter by the healing of the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman. Truth in her inward parts gave faith wings when needed to say what pleased Jesus. "And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter./And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed."(7:29) Truth for all is the same since God fashioned all heart alike. But He shall try their works. So faith with works is working in obedience to the word and with the Son. "And he charged them that they should tell no man of him."(v.30)
As with the blind man Jesus tells his disciples to tell no one. We have an example in Matt.28:12-18. The Jews conspired to bury the truth of resurrection and still is continues where alternate reality is practised and the base cannot have enough of it.
Thanks..I guess there are some silent viewers out there. My main prerogative is to stick to scripture as much as possible; yet find relevant topics and discuss hard truths especially found in the Bible.
Contending for the faith involves strict adherence to what is clear in the Bible and I try to constantly emphasize cross references.
Knowing the Lord through His Spirit is different than knowing a lot about the Lord. There is always a certain amount of truth involved in deception. This is what allows a false doctrine to sneak in when cherry picking verses that seem to prove a point and disregarding context. When someone is proved false then often the "baby goes out with the bathwater"; and people want to disbelieve God is capable; for instance of still doing the miraculous today.
A good case in point is those who claim to cast out demons. As far as "signs and wonders" go; I would call this a necessary gift as I can't see how there aren't as many demons around today as ever (thus disproving "casting them back into the pit" which is clearly unscriptural.) From my own limited experience in that arena; I have seen demons removed and heard of evidence of it occuring quietly in more traditional churches (in one case through a specific name a Pastor's wife had of an entity that had affected a church member attacking his wife in his sleep who had it cast out through prayer). This was kept "in wraps"-this Godly woman is a very shy person and some are of a cessationist mentality in that denomination. The other case was a Baptist church long ago where such an event was described to me as happening in the late 70's and it was a sort of matter of fact statement.
Today's sideshows on camera unless followed by a legitimate testimony are immediately suspect. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be seen by multitudes going through something like that knowing of the ridicule it would inevitably produce with unknown social media links.
"And he (Jesus) charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it."
Firstly the crowd became vocal in proportion to his command that they refrained. "For of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." ( Luke 6:46). The Spirit gave us another example that truth in inwards when touched by faith can go straight to the heart of the problem. The Syrophoenician woman having understood from the manner dogs behave about the family dinner lifted it to connect with the truth, and it was her faith than gave it wings and her daughter was healed instantly. Prophet Isaiah spoke og the word sent forth by God and it never returned in void. The preacher's verse underpinned her faith so the children's bread in fact came from the providence of God. It is thus faith draws its conclusions instantly when required. (Is.55:11;Ec.11:1)
By the same token the multitude overwhelmed by the deaf dumb man speaking plainly gave vent to a full throated praise, they could not refrain from telling to all and sundry. When Jesus rode through Jerusalem some of the Pharisees wanted Jesus to restrain the multitude. "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."( Luke 19:40). The point is that truth will prevail always. These two illustrations have been included for our spiritual instruction.
Lastly when Jesus would heal the man "And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened./ And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain." (vv.34-35) We can infer that he healed him as the Son of man. The feeding of Five Thousand we compare with this healing. "fer that he healed him as the Son of man. The feeding of Five Thousand we compare with this healing.."Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth."
The word became flesh is distinct from the Son "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds".In the case of the former as he himself confessed, "For the things concerning me there is an end" which refers to his humanity When he came into his own,"and his own received him not." But John adds,"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."(He.1:2; John 1:11-12). Nevertheless he is the Son master of his own house and Israel would learn the truth in the end to their utter dismay.
Here we have an illustration of what the house would mean. As a corollary to this we have a verse which could help us understand the select passage. "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."God has cast his bread, which is intended for His children. The word of God says it shall be found after many days.
In the light of the above let us examine the Syrophoenician woman, whom the nation of Israel considers as an outsider.
v.27 "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." He intended the house of Israel here. Whereas her answer showed the truth that was written by God in her inward parts. She was not merely speaking from her objective experience of what house dogs would do. She referred to the bread from heaven sent forth along the river of time. " And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs."
" For this saying go thy way."Jesus rewarded her for her saying, and it was faith put the Preacher's precept in real time, and it is what truth does.(Ec.11:1) "Prayer of Jesus has this line "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
"(Jesus)he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."
As with the raising of Jairus' daughter Jesus does healing and St Mark intends us to see it as significant. "And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him./And he took him aside from the multitude,." In the case of the man with palsy, "And it was noised that he was in the house."(2:1) He saw the faith who found an ingenious way to get the man before Jesus. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."(2:1-5,10) Who was Jesus? "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," it was faith that connected him to the world. His Father sent him with a mandate that made sin standing athwart man and his malady. So he addressed it by forgiving him. Their faith was good as of the impotent man.
Whether in the house or in the open, the man in need of a cure was on one-to -one with Jesus and faith was what effected the healing. In the case of the Syrophoenician woman who sought out Jesus when he visited their environs, the demon-possessed damsel was in her house while her mother displayed her faith. She was as much an intercessor as Jesus stood in relation to his Father. "Behold I and the children which God hath given me./ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;/And deliver them.(He.2:13-15)" Her daughter was instantly healed as in the case of the deaf and dumb man. " And straightway his ears were opened,... and he spake plain."(v.35) What is the significance of a man's spittle when it was the means to heal him? It just proves," Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." His humanity fits with his need.
In vv.3-4 Mark explains for the non Jewish converts about the tradition of the elders. Similarly he quotes the words and supplies its meaning. "Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."(5:41)
In vv. 5:40 "And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying." The world would not know the distinction between sleeping and dying. In the land of the living Jesus knew his Father better than they all. He is the God of the living. So he did not want the disbelieving world in the house where he was present.
Another interesting feature of the gospel is in the manner the Evangelist uses the tag of the house to designate two worlds. In the raising of the dead Jesus goes into the house and in healing the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman he rewarded her implicit faith by sending her off,"And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed."(7:30).In both cases the house has to have belief for its own sake. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"( Luke 18:8). The earth abides forever because it belongs to the Son.
vv.14-16 Jesus preaches gospel to the world and the Spirit gives us a clue as to how it is to be interpreted." If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." St Mark thereafter inserts this verse, "And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable."(v.17) The house is where the Master expounds truth to those who hunger after righteousness."But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear./ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them./Hear ye therefore." (Matt.13:16-18)
"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years," The Spirit gives us when it comes to the healing of the daughter of Jairus and the woman with an issue of blood the number in terms of years in both cases.
In the previous post we covered the Command number 12 being assigned to the gospel whether in heaven or on the earth. For this reason the Spirit refers to the everlasting gospel. ("And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."-Re.14:6)
The spiritual significance of the gospel is set in terms of man. In the case of Noah we have this rule:"And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."(Ge.6:3) Life of The two who stood in need of healing was set in context of the word of God. By the same token having decreed a day for the Son (Ps.2:7-8) the seven 'days' are not days as we normally apply the duration of 24 hours. Instead it is set in the context of the everlasting covenant between God and Man. It is how we approach the entire opening chapter of the Book of Genesis. 'Days' and years" are kangaroo words so we are warned to look beyond the chronological time. We are considering the word as eternal and his promises are yea in his Son.
The woman with the issue of blood came where Jesus was present in order to get the healing. He was in a throng did not stop her, She herself thought of a way and "She said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole./ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague./ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"(vv.28-30) She was a pioneer for this reason. We read in 6:56 the sick touching the hem.
Why wouldn't women be allowed to preach as long as they speak from the Spirit of Truth? The term "woman" simply refers to a form of flesh. There's no such thing as female or male Spirit. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts as nothing. God is Spirit. Spirit gives birth to spirit; flesh gives birth to flesh. Certainly males can and do often times speak and preach NOT from the Spirit of Truth , but from faith in the flesh as being one's identity. Again God is Spirit and Spirit gives birth ONLY to spirit.
Speaking Truth given us ONLY by the Holy Spirit, is communicated from the Mind of God to the mind of His creation, discerning not whether the speaker perceives one's self as male or female. We All were created by His Spirit as perfect equals. Focusing on bodies will show us this isn't true. The Vision of Christ overlooks the physical and knows you exactly as you were created; out of Holiness. If God is perfect and eternal, then by definition anything He creates would also have to be perfect and eternal. This is flawless logic. Nothing and no one can change God's Mind. Truth should not be complicated.
"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;"(v.7)
This number is constant and it broadly signifies the gospel. When God sent forth his word it signaled the good news of fellowship where all are invited in his Son. So 3x4 makes up the command number. For this reason when Judas Iscariot left the original twelve it necessitated choosing one to fell into the breach. "Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Besides those who were assembled in the number were multiples of 12."12x10 clues us in what bonded them, - it was the word, the peace which the Lord had left them with, -or the presence of the Lord, the word is set down by the command number (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)"Ac.1:26,15; John 14:27).
This gospel outreach was in the divine Will when he appointed a day for the Son with the emblem, the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world(Re.13:8) Pre-eminence of Jesus Christ was established in heaven and on the earth and the lower parts. So the Four and twenty elders (8x3) are as memorial before the throne of God. This significance we see in the multiplying of loaves in vv.37-43. "And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes." These baskets are memorial of his ministry.
In the preceding chapter Mark prepares us with the number 12. The woman with the issue of blood and the daughter of Jairus are both tagged by the number 12. Jesus commanded the word "Talitha cumi" and was in keeping with the divine Will.(Ps.107:20; 5:41) "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years," Her faith completed the divine Will and the healing. What connected her with Christ while she was among a throng? His virtue went out to establish that he was Christ. How a believer can deny the truth? "Thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Ps.45:7)
"But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."
St John sums it up this way, "He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not."(v.11). He refers his Jewishness. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,/To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."(Gal.4:4-5) The nation of Israel understood what the law meant but not what it referred to. Herein lay their dilemma. Law for them became traditions of their fathers so when the Law (its fulness) walked among them full of grace all they could say "they( the Pharisees) said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (Matt.12:24). Jesus was a sign as Moses was one. He served as his double before his Advent. They could not keep the Law of Moses but would want to go back to Egypt under another captain it showed they were incapable of holding truth.(Nu.14:4)
Symptomatic of their perverseness was their curiosity. How often they demanded of Jesus to show them a sign. It merely satisfied their shallow religiosity. Jesus rightly condemned their place among the wicked adulterous generation than as the sons. "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."(Matt.12:39). Without entering into spiritual significance of the sign, and without dying in him they were not worthy to be called sons. In their rebellious spirit all chastisement was wasted so Jesus dismissed them by saying,"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt.23:36-38). For this reason Jesus instructed his disciples to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony.(6:11)
Jesus was ever dutiful Son who would while hanging on the cross entrusted the care of his mother to John, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!/Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."( John 19:26-27). By literal approach how false teachers consistently strip passages of their pith and serve the husks instead. This is one example. Covenant between God and Man entrusts man with His creation and does he care?
God had prepared a worm as he a great fish to instruct Prophet Jonah. At the end of the book He tells Jonah,"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Family of man is incomplete without this same care for His creation. The Four beasts in heaven is a memorial.
Pilgrims in 1630 settled in the Americas to make a New Canaan. However it was like sewing old garment to the new in the manner the divine Will was shortchanged. Salt crystal is made up of chlorine and sodium which by themselves have their distinctive characteristics. Sodium is metal, and corrosive while chlorine is a gas and poisonous. How billions of these atoms are precisely arranged by force keeping the formation gives the table salt its savor. In the manner culture wars have dogged the country tells making a family or nation without fulfilling the will of the Father is a non-starter. "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."(2:22)
In this passage the Spirit is setting two sets of families each representing the world of the Spirit and of the body. In the former world familial relationship is pendent to the covenant between God and Man, The latter is symbolic of heaven but in keeping with the body formed of the dust, it is the union of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(12:25; Matt.22:30). Resurrection of the dead is restoration of the covenant to its former glory where Power and glory of God renders the Man his throne so "and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Re.21:3)
Thus the saying of Jesus refers to the world of the Spirit,"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren./And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."(Matt.23:8-9)
In marriage man and woman leave their parents and they shall be one flesh, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"( Luke 16:12; Ge.2:23)
This was provisioned for in the covenant. In Ge.1:28-29 we are shown what our Father in heaven had entrusted them with His creation. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This was entrusted with man in his Son. It is to this God willed and the covenant exists, and as a proof sent his only begotten Son to the world in fulness of time.
As the key verse states there is no gender difference. Only those who do the will of God.
Jesus says to the Samaritan woman "God is Spirit" Jn. 4:24.
This means that God is not just "a" spirit being, like angels. But He is pure Spirit. He is ALL Spirit, without components or parts.
Some say He is "simple" in this way, not made up of parts that He must derive outside of Himself. He is all of His attributes, they are not "things' that He possesses. He is Love, Power, Life, etc.
It is difficult for us who are material creatures to imagine what God is like in this, His "aseity" (what He is in essence)
How beautifully "OTHER" He is than any beings He created.
Also, the Holy Spirit is God, a distinct person in the Godhead along with the Father and the Spirit. He is spoken of as having a will, thoughts, can speak, pray, be grieved, be lied to, can regenerate, sanctify, and convict; teach, resurrect, and cause conception. He indwells, believers and the Father and the Son. He unites believers to God. He is not the Father, nor the Son, but has all the attributes of God and of a distinct person who has all of the divine nature fully.
Luke and Matthew also give the context and the quote, "And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."( Luke 6:5;12:8) The everlasting covenant is between two equals so the eternal word is the Law backed by the kingdom of the Father. In case of faith we have the basis of these two worlds (He.11:3) which we shall leave aside for the moment. What are the equal entities here? They are Power on the part of God Wisdom on the part of Man. St Paul separates Man as the Lord of heaven, from man who is the earthy. "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven."(1 Co.15:47-48)
When Jesus was born of woman his deity was never in jeopardy since he is the Word become flesh and sent with the divine Mandate. ( John 3:16)
When Jesus spoke "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" it is this Word was God it refers.( John 1:1; 5:17-23)
Speaking of the context Mark 2:24 we have the Pharisees questioning "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."
Next point of Sabbath is that the day Seven. God has decree the day which touches his Alpha Omega aspect. " I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee./Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."(Ps.2:7-8) There is no sanctity for observing Sabbath without the Son element incorporated in our lives. This heresy has arisen because the Christians interpret the word of God literally and assume it is the seventh day of a week. It is an error. It is thus approaching the Bible with out the aid of the Spirit. John's epistle speaks of those who have the Son has also the Father.
Do you believe that the will of the Father and the will of the Son are always the same or different?
Jesus was obedient to the Father, Jesus said many times it is not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him, the same as we are to do, John 4:34John 5:30Mark 3:35.
Do you believe that a human being can truly save all men from sin and death by a perfect life in their own will?
First, I will have to say it was the will of the Father, Jesus at the end even asked His father if there was another way but not Jesus's will but the will of His Father, Matthew 26:39Luke 22:42. We are told this is the foundation of our faith, Jesus' sacrificial death. God cannot die God is Spirit He has no blood to shed for sin it had to be a man, His Son, born of a woman.
John 3:16 God gave His Son not Himself 1 John 2:221 John 4:32 John 1:7Romans 5:82 Corinthians 5:21, God cannot be made sin, 1 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus died, and God raised Him from the dead, the first man to live a perfect life, the first fruits of those who sleep in death. 1 Corinthians 15:14 as said if Jesus was not a man who lived a perfect life and died and was raised from the dead all is vain.
The first Adam was the first man Jesus was the last Adam and the second man, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The law had to be fulfilled by a man.
How would a human being know that they are the Messiah from birth and thus know not to ever sin?
As we see Luke 2:51-52 Jesus grew up increasing in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. Jesus was twelve years old and He knew His father was God, but it doesn't say Jesus knew then He was to be the Messiah. God also said He would raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-5Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed in Luke 4:18-21. Romans 1:1-42 Timothy 2:8.
It is said by Catholics that marriage is a sacrament that is only necessitated by the vow a man makes with a woman; and I agree with that view despite disagreeing with many other things in their belief system. The idea of a minister to oversee the event from what I can tell helps to involve two or three witnesses (usually along with parents) such as 2 Corinthians 13:1 states. There are other verses as well; none directly discuss a marriage or any other vow; but it does apply in the fact that should one or more parties violate the covenant church discipline can be used against them. I am not sure how things are in the big picture but it seems whenever marriages do occur it is often in another church that the family prefers and many times there is little sense of a whole congregation being involved at least like they used to in the past. Maybe I am off somewhat but that's how I see it.
Good counsel is helpful in that respect however; if anything to keep a healthy balance of older women guiding the youth and allowing for good interactions and support. This is something more favorable it seems today in the Reformed churches from my experiences. Such interactions of a church being a family of course should extend to foreign missionaries that are affiliated with a denomination. It is a shame when we think of missionaries being "out there" and we detach ourselves emotionally when we give financial support. Their marriages and family are components of their witness as much as their evangelism and one can't be separated from the other; although of course some are single individuals on the mission field.
Again; it is sad to say that from my viewpoint there is a tolerance for remarriage in these same sort of congregations (although many won't perform them). I would say that existing marriages have greater chance of longevity and less for divorce in the Reformed circles than others who have 50 percent divorce rates as all of society if they marry at all.
Yes, Jesus is of the tribe of Judah and the line of David who was of the tribe of Judah, you can read the genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:21-38. Jesus the Son of God was made of a woman, made under the law, Galatians 4:4. Not sure about your question was Jesus a Jew? Today when we hear the word Jew it is taken to mean anyone who is of the religion of Judaism regardless of their genealogy.
The same when we hear the word Gentile or Gentiles, we think of anyone who is not a Jew but there are more to these words. After Soloman died the tribes of Israel divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. The southern kingdom was the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the Levites tended to the temple; it is called the kingdom of Judah. When they were taken captive by Babylon, the slang term began to be used. Jew is an abbreviated slang term for Judahite, a resident of the southern kingdom of Judah.
Hope this helps.
God bless,
RLW
the dead know nothing at all must be read in its context." For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion./For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." Dead and the living. For to him (Christ) that is joined to all the living there is hope. (Jesus Christ-"I am the Life") Those who have found life know there is a physical death. Hence they keep themselves pure unspotted from the world. They are like the tree planted by the river (Ps.1) and their hope is like an anchor. Jesus explained who the dead are. Luke 9:60 The dead may be workaholic, socially active, volunteers to every politically correct causes.But after soul is cast to hell there would be no remembrance and tey are blotted out of the book of life and book of the lamb. A woman who lives in pleasure is dead.
In the Old Testament; there were 2 types of roles for a Prophet. In 1 Chronicles 21:9-13 we have Gad who is David's "seer".
He was given the task of telling David after the Satanically inspired census that there were 3 punishments that would result.
He had no need at that time apparently to mention what the punishment was for as David apparently realized the error of his ways. That is different than Nathan the Prophet at the time he took Bathsheeba as his wife and had Uriah the Hittite set up to die on the front lines in 2 Samuel 11. It would seem that Proverbs 6:34 showed Solomon's wisdom in avoiding showing feigned favor to the husband of a woman someone else is involved with; perhaps it was inspired from what happened in part with David and his mother years previous.
The second role was more of a general statement of future events covered in much of the "major prophets" such as Daniel; Jeremiah; Isaiah and Ezekiel and the minor ones (with smaller overall text) such as Zechariah; Zephaniah; etc.
I am no expert on the office of Prophet today but it seems cessationists may say a Pastor teaching from the Word is also in that type of ministry. I would also say that those who use the Word only as a warning could be in that category. The controversy is if these "signs and wonders" gifts have ceased. I would first eliminate all the pretenders who clearly make things up from their imaginations and false prophets and those who have no factual basis or vary vague statements about persons or events that are very subjective. We are also warned that should someone say something that doesn't come to pass OR that DOES but incites us to worship a false God is to be ignored and kicked out of any church if they try to do this. (See Deut. 18:22 and Deut. 13:2).
We must also avoid fear of things to come. Someone telling the truth should offer some hope even in the worst warnings. The biggest red flag is always predicting prosperity.
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ( Genesis 49:10)
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ( 1 Peter 4:11)
When taking a look at scripture; there are roles women play as Prophetess; prayer; teaching children; or the "virtuous woman" summing up Proverbs 31. When it comes to the 10 Commandments and the laws of the Lord in the Old Testament; or the rules about women remaining silent in the New Testament ( 1 Corinthians 14:34-35) it seems in regard to instruction in law continues as a man's responsibility. That would have further implications in regard to teaching established DOCTRINE related to the law; or the Gospel of Grace which expounds the full meaning of what is concealed in the Old Testament but revealed fully now.
When we try to fully grasp these concepts in human understanding; of course we fall short. An example that gives us insight is in Exodus 15:20 which shows Miriam; the older sister of Moses and Aaron as the first Prophetess in scripture. We could say in some way that Moses acted as the first Prophet in the Bible; at least in predicting what would happen to Israel in the last days in Deuteronomy 4; but Deuteronomy 18 talks about the coming Prophet like Moses who must be heeded (Christ). Technically Abraham was called a Prophet; the first example in the Bible but his predictions were toward his descendants when giving the family blessings at his death.
We see with Miriam that she foolishly spoke out about the second wife of Abraham of African descent and was struck with leprosy temporarily. Her best moment was in the role of the victory song as they crossed the Red Sea.
The earliest blessing in scripture is for Ishmael who is said in Genesis 16:12. It isn't exactly something to be desired; except for the fact that in the family lineage there would be many descendants. He was said to be a wild "donkey" of a man; and cause much contention and strife among others. Moving on to Genesis 26:39-40 we see the blessing of Esau; and it wasn't faring much better; he was to live by the sword and eventually throw the "yoke" off his back of basically servitude to Jacob. Finally; we see Jacob's blessing of his sons; to become the 12 patriarchs; which is a mixed bag with particularly gruesome futures for Issachar (once again like a donkey" and of course Dan being as a snake. Reuben the firstborn committed sin and thus lost privileges for that position; and altogether we may say that Judah had the best blessings offered.
These patterns are interesting in that prophetically God's will was ultimately done. We can see this perhaps clearest with God explaining the futures of Jacob and Esau before they were even born. We also see the future of the bondservant (Hagar) and free woman (Sarah) and how it affects the world still to this day with the Arab (mainly Muslim) populus in the surrounding lands of the sons of Sarah and Abraham in Israel. We could say that this most clearly demonstrates what we may call a generational curse as well as blessings that are inherited.
Jeremiah 35:19 is perhaps one of the most interesting prophetic statements; in this case to adults who had been obedient to God from the start. They were promised because of that and passing the test on not drinking wine or strong drink that they would perpetually have someone to serve God; at least seemingly promising a believer to be in the family lineage throughout the generations. As to curses; we do well to meditate on Exodus 20:5 and 6 we see generational affects but those who LOVE God He shows mercy ending the curse.
I have often kidded around about having someone memorize the first 6 or 7 chapters of 1 Chronicles. Genealogies aren't to be obsessed over ( 1 Tim. 1:4); however they are vital in seeing the lineage of God's people. The beginning of Matthew; for instance gives us the lineage from Abraham to Joseph; and Luke from Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam. This of course goes back to Genesis 3:15 and the "seed of the woman" prophecy. These two lineages probably are enough to know in themselves from the whole Bible in regard to that subject. If we go deeper into meanings of names particularly in the first generations it appears there is a prophetic indication of Christ to come if we list the names and their meanings in order in Hebrew. There are no doubt patterns of equidistant letters that are unique in scripture pointing to certain events. Again; like genealogies; they are best not obsessed over; for we already know Christ is the living Word so we don't need hidden clues as to who He is. We can look to past events; and I have stated that Michael Drosnin's prediction of Rabin's assassination in 1996 may have been something the Lord allowed so others wouldn't meet the same fate. Since we are now still in the Church Age; we are not in the time of Revelation when prophets once again are on the earth in that role and there is a known 7 year template for all the judgments to occur. God has ultimate truths that must come to pass; but some things are conditional which only He knows that prayer and action now can possibly delay judgment; as we see with the example of Nineveh.
We can look to history and scientific facts as authenticated from the Bible; with more coming all the time. For the skeptic who God chooses to enlighten it may be a good witnessing tool; but we shouldn't make such methods are only talking points for apologetics. First we must see if someone is serious about wanting to hear the truths of the Word
This upper room has been prepared for a special occasion. Who had it prepared for Jesus? In the Gospel of St John Jesus assured his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:3). "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (He.3:4) As with the colt for his Son to go to Jerusalem God had provided all thing for life and godliness for his Son. God had appointed himas the heir of all things.
When Jesus said of foxes having holes and the birds their nests he was stating his own case as a man. In the world each one is so particular to flaunt their fashionable address God chose the upper room, and the Spirit has not given as one except that whatever God chose was in his Power and glory.
Jesus assured "My Father and I are one" and wherever he walked and abode signaled his Father to testify. "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(1:11). Psalmist refers to this relationship of the Father. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps.139:8)
The Last supper enacted in that upper room evokes for us the same betrayal when Satan betrayed the trust of the Most High. For this reason Jesus refersto Judas as the son of perdition. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:12)
We have several instances where what are presented before us is a kangaroo word in terms of the eternal Word. Thus the alabaster box is a kangaroo word for the woman who prepared the body of the Son for his burial. Ezekiel thus ingesting the roll that God gave him becomes a double for the Son. "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."(Ez.3:1)
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head."(v.3)
All the four gospels carry this incident where the woman had prescience to anoint Jesus for his burial. None present there except Jesus who understood the significance of her action. "He (Jesus Christ) knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."Besides he knew what he was there for, among them and also knew where he was going to. His deity was as the Word become flesh. In Luke we read thus, "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end."( Luke 22:37)
How can a woman of ill repute find the right occasion to be born again or in this case, Mary as John gives her a name, break the box unless her faith and of Christ was one?( John 12:3) God breathed into man and made him a living soul. Faith is what explains this relationship between God and man. "Faith is one."(Ep.4:5) So in her action she poured out herself in order to prepare him beforehand for her burial.
What is the significance of Bethany? In the Gospel of John Jesus was in the company of Lazarus whom he had raised from death. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."( John 11:25).
The alabaster box is similar to the earthen vessel that Jeremiah broke as commanded of God. The box doubles for Mary whose faith became a memorial unto her. St Mark juxtaposes this with the breaking of bread during the Last supper.(v.22)
"And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?"(v.35). The scribes as mentioned here is a generic name for those who interpret the Law but they do not consider they are bound by it. "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." For they says, and they do not."(Matt.23:2-3). Matthew is referring to the scribes and the Pharisees who sit in Moses' seat. It is a metaphor for spiritual authority of the Law. Isaiah gives us a throne which is the ultimate authority "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool."(Is.66:1)
Mark gives 'the woe to ye' discourse in Ch.23 as part of his doctrine which explains why the word of God is a two-edged sword (He.4:12).The Gospel is for salvation and if it is neglected it shall prove unto damnation. "And he said unto them in his doctrine," is consequential since it is the eternal word. In our times we could call what the scribes indulged was in Jesus talk. The saying of Jesus "but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not," is a sane advice for Christians who would want to live a godly life.
Jesus.
In vv.35-37 Jesus asks,"How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?"The scribes erred in their textual criticism by omitting the intent and the integrity of the Psalm 110:1 This is what literal approach does. What they threw out is the everlasting covenant were seven days pendent on the day decreed for the Son. Along with it goes the significance of the Lamb slain, (Ps.2:7; Re.13:8) What happened in a megachurch where The elders had publicly disciplined a woman for refusing to take back her husband owes to their lack of understanding the word. As it turned out, the woman's fears proved true, and her husband went to prison for child molestation and abuse. The church never retracted its discipline or apologised in the 20+ years since.
A general concept as pointed out in my last post is that the Old Testament law and sacrifices had temporal methods and sufficiency and were based on behaviors of Israel as to whether blessings or cursings resulted. The Spirit of God was more transient and was no guarantee of salvation such as seen in the example of Saul's prophesying as well as Baalam's repeated attempts to curse Israel and being overtaken to make proclamations under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David even asked God not to remove His Holy Spirit as apparently happened with Saul who needed David to play music for a temporary "fix" to his bizarre disorders.
John 16:8 essentially gives indication of permanent residence of the Father and Son in a believer and thus sealing them until the Day of Redemption. What we cannot do is glibly assume we are saved without testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; and certain behaviors especially illustrated in Corinthians show the result of sickness and death with communion taken unworthily and the case of the man sleeping with his father's wife. There is always hope of repentance if someone is alive; but we cannot continue a LIFESTYLE of sin and be presumptuous thinking God will overlook our sin as an exception to His rule for the rest of mankind.
Matthew 5:17 states that Christ came not to abolish but fulfill the law and the prophets. This is a segway into the second theme in this introduction: Prophecy...
INTRO.
Prophecy begins with Genesis 3:15 in the garden with the serpent being told that he would receive a deadly wound and that Christ would recieve a wound on the heel (the seed of the woman representing the virgin Birth and the wound that of His piercing on the cross). Jesus was the end of Prophecy as THE Prophet; but in real time we still see Him as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1; and we still see 2 Prophets in Rev. 11.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven(heaven?Eph.1:3-8),Now is come salvation,and strength,and the KINGDOM OF OUR GOD (Re. 11:15-18 combined with 1Cor.15:24-26 & Luke 20:35-36.Take a look), and the power of his Christ:for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,which accused them before our GOD day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the BLOOD of the Lamb,and by the Word of their testimony;and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice,ye heavens(the celestial environment of the OT and NT-Eph.1:3-8),and ye that dwell in them.Woe to the inhabiters of the earth(Israel,the clay-Is.64:8-the dry land-Gen.1:9)and of the sea (waters-Gentile nations-Re.17:15)! for the Devil is come down unto you,having great wrath,because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon(Re.12:9)saw that he was cast unto the earth,he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman(to the Church of the Lord)were given two WINGS(OT and NT-the Bible)of a great eagle,that she might FLY into the wilderness,into her place,where she is nourished(by the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD)for a time,and times,and half a time(1260 days, caught up), from the face of the serpent.
There will be WAR against three unclean spirits like frogs-Re.16:13-15-,and one of the seven heads of the Beast of sea(waters-Re.17:15- refer to a Gentile Beast) will be wounded mortally.(Re.13:3). By the way, the next Pope is the last to be elected.
Be careful and get ready
Rev.19:7-8
7Let us be glad and rejoice,and give honour to him:for the marriage of the Lamb is come,and his wife hath made herself ready
8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:the fine linen is the righteousness of saints
How does Revelation describe the marriage supper?
Re.19:17-18
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun;and he cried with a loud voice,saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great GOD;
18That ye may eat the flesh of kings,and the flesh of captains,and the flesh of mighty men,and the flesh of horses,and of them that sit on them,and the flesh of all men...
Questions?
1-An angel standing in the sun:What sun?
We know that the woman is clothed with the sun-Re.12:1.It must be the light of the greater Light-JESUS. Malachi 4:2-Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
2- the fowls that FLY in the midst of heaven:What fowls?
Is.60:1-5&8-A clue to understand these allegories:
1Arise,shine;for thy light is come,and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2For,behold,the darkness shall cover the earth(Israel,the clay-Is.64:8 combined with Gen.1:9),and gross darkness the people:but the Lord shall arise upon thee,and His glory shall be seen upon thee
3And the Gentiles(the waters-Gen.1:9 and Re.17:15)shall come to thy light,and kings(Re.1:6) to the brightness of thy rising
4Lift up thine eyes round about,and see:all they gather themselves together,they come to thee:thy sons shall come from far,and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side
5Then thou shalt see,and flow together,and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged;because the abundance of the sea-Re.17:15-shall be converted unto thee...the Gentiles shall come unto thee
...
8Who are these that FLY as a cloud,and as the doves to their windows?
Next
"And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?"
Ministry of Jesus Christ was foreordained so how the Gospel yielded on earth was in terms of the Son. As the Son of man he became the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. so the number of Seven as the Perfect Number has ministry yet being crowned with glory and honor. So we have Jesus Christ who of God has become Sanctification. "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,"(He.2:9-11; 1 Co.1:30) What Elijah did in the time of the kings was as a double for the Son. The Spirit gives the tag Three and a half (Time, Times and a Hal another variant)" to establish in terms of the Word was God and the Word become flesh there is split. Seven days in the everlasting covenant shall be fulfilled.
St Mark's narrative prepared for this confession by Peter by the healing of the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman. Truth in her inward parts gave faith wings when needed to say what pleased Jesus. "And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter./And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed."(7:29) Truth for all is the same since God fashioned all heart alike. But He shall try their works. So faith with works is working in obedience to the word and with the Son. "And he charged them that they should tell no man of him."(v.30)
As with the blind man Jesus tells his disciples to tell no one. We have an example in Matt.28:12-18. The Jews conspired to bury the truth of resurrection and still is continues where alternate reality is practised and the base cannot have enough of it.
Contending for the faith involves strict adherence to what is clear in the Bible and I try to constantly emphasize cross references.
Knowing the Lord through His Spirit is different than knowing a lot about the Lord. There is always a certain amount of truth involved in deception. This is what allows a false doctrine to sneak in when cherry picking verses that seem to prove a point and disregarding context. When someone is proved false then often the "baby goes out with the bathwater"; and people want to disbelieve God is capable; for instance of still doing the miraculous today.
A good case in point is those who claim to cast out demons. As far as "signs and wonders" go; I would call this a necessary gift as I can't see how there aren't as many demons around today as ever (thus disproving "casting them back into the pit" which is clearly unscriptural.) From my own limited experience in that arena; I have seen demons removed and heard of evidence of it occuring quietly in more traditional churches (in one case through a specific name a Pastor's wife had of an entity that had affected a church member attacking his wife in his sleep who had it cast out through prayer). This was kept "in wraps"-this Godly woman is a very shy person and some are of a cessationist mentality in that denomination. The other case was a Baptist church long ago where such an event was described to me as happening in the late 70's and it was a sort of matter of fact statement.
Today's sideshows on camera unless followed by a legitimate testimony are immediately suspect. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be seen by multitudes going through something like that knowing of the ridicule it would inevitably produce with unknown social media links.
Agape; Rich p
"And he (Jesus) charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it."
Firstly the crowd became vocal in proportion to his command that they refrained. "For of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." ( Luke 6:46). The Spirit gave us another example that truth in inwards when touched by faith can go straight to the heart of the problem. The Syrophoenician woman having understood from the manner dogs behave about the family dinner lifted it to connect with the truth, and it was her faith than gave it wings and her daughter was healed instantly. Prophet Isaiah spoke og the word sent forth by God and it never returned in void. The preacher's verse underpinned her faith so the children's bread in fact came from the providence of God. It is thus faith draws its conclusions instantly when required. (Is.55:11;Ec.11:1)
By the same token the multitude overwhelmed by the deaf dumb man speaking plainly gave vent to a full throated praise, they could not refrain from telling to all and sundry. When Jesus rode through Jerusalem some of the Pharisees wanted Jesus to restrain the multitude. "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."( Luke 19:40). The point is that truth will prevail always. These two illustrations have been included for our spiritual instruction.
Lastly when Jesus would heal the man "And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened./ And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain." (vv.34-35) We can infer that he healed him as the Son of man. The feeding of Five Thousand we compare with this healing. "fer that he healed him as the Son of man. The feeding of Five Thousand we compare with this healing.."Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth."
The word became flesh is distinct from the Son "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds".In the case of the former as he himself confessed, "For the things concerning me there is an end" which refers to his humanity When he came into his own,"and his own received him not." But John adds,"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."(He.1:2; John 1:11-12). Nevertheless he is the Son master of his own house and Israel would learn the truth in the end to their utter dismay.
Here we have an illustration of what the house would mean. As a corollary to this we have a verse which could help us understand the select passage. "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."God has cast his bread, which is intended for His children. The word of God says it shall be found after many days.
In the light of the above let us examine the Syrophoenician woman, whom the nation of Israel considers as an outsider.
v.27 "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." He intended the house of Israel here. Whereas her answer showed the truth that was written by God in her inward parts. She was not merely speaking from her objective experience of what house dogs would do. She referred to the bread from heaven sent forth along the river of time. " And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs."
" For this saying go thy way."Jesus rewarded her for her saying, and it was faith put the Preacher's precept in real time, and it is what truth does.(Ec.11:1) "Prayer of Jesus has this line "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.
"(Jesus)he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."
As with the raising of Jairus' daughter Jesus does healing and St Mark intends us to see it as significant. "And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him./And he took him aside from the multitude,." In the case of the man with palsy, "And it was noised that he was in the house."(2:1) He saw the faith who found an ingenious way to get the man before Jesus. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."(2:1-5,10) Who was Jesus? "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," it was faith that connected him to the world. His Father sent him with a mandate that made sin standing athwart man and his malady. So he addressed it by forgiving him. Their faith was good as of the impotent man.
Whether in the house or in the open, the man in need of a cure was on one-to -one with Jesus and faith was what effected the healing. In the case of the Syrophoenician woman who sought out Jesus when he visited their environs, the demon-possessed damsel was in her house while her mother displayed her faith. She was as much an intercessor as Jesus stood in relation to his Father. "Behold I and the children which God hath given me./ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;/And deliver them.(He.2:13-15)" Her daughter was instantly healed as in the case of the deaf and dumb man. " And straightway his ears were opened,... and he spake plain."(v.35) What is the significance of a man's spittle when it was the means to heal him? It just proves," Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." His humanity fits with his need.
In vv.3-4 Mark explains for the non Jewish converts about the tradition of the elders. Similarly he quotes the words and supplies its meaning. "Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."(5:41)
In vv. 5:40 "And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying." The world would not know the distinction between sleeping and dying. In the land of the living Jesus knew his Father better than they all. He is the God of the living. So he did not want the disbelieving world in the house where he was present.
Another interesting feature of the gospel is in the manner the Evangelist uses the tag of the house to designate two worlds. In the raising of the dead Jesus goes into the house and in healing the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman he rewarded her implicit faith by sending her off,"And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed."(7:30).In both cases the house has to have belief for its own sake. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"( Luke 18:8). The earth abides forever because it belongs to the Son.
vv.14-16 Jesus preaches gospel to the world and the Spirit gives us a clue as to how it is to be interpreted." If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." St Mark thereafter inserts this verse, "And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable."(v.17) The house is where the Master expounds truth to those who hunger after righteousness."But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear./ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them./Hear ye therefore." (Matt.13:16-18)
"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years," The Spirit gives us when it comes to the healing of the daughter of Jairus and the woman with an issue of blood the number in terms of years in both cases.
In the previous post we covered the Command number 12 being assigned to the gospel whether in heaven or on the earth. For this reason the Spirit refers to the everlasting gospel. ("And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."-Re.14:6)
The spiritual significance of the gospel is set in terms of man. In the case of Noah we have this rule:"And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."(Ge.6:3) Life of The two who stood in need of healing was set in context of the word of God. By the same token having decreed a day for the Son (Ps.2:7-8) the seven 'days' are not days as we normally apply the duration of 24 hours. Instead it is set in the context of the everlasting covenant between God and Man. It is how we approach the entire opening chapter of the Book of Genesis. 'Days' and years" are kangaroo words so we are warned to look beyond the chronological time. We are considering the word as eternal and his promises are yea in his Son.
The woman with the issue of blood came where Jesus was present in order to get the healing. He was in a throng did not stop her, She herself thought of a way and "She said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole./ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague./ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"(vv.28-30) She was a pioneer for this reason. We read in 6:56 the sick touching the hem.
Why wouldn't women be allowed to preach as long as they speak from the Spirit of Truth? The term "woman" simply refers to a form of flesh. There's no such thing as female or male Spirit. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts as nothing. God is Spirit. Spirit gives birth to spirit; flesh gives birth to flesh. Certainly males can and do often times speak and preach NOT from the Spirit of Truth , but from faith in the flesh as being one's identity. Again God is Spirit and Spirit gives birth ONLY to spirit.
Speaking Truth given us ONLY by the Holy Spirit, is communicated from the Mind of God to the mind of His creation, discerning not whether the speaker perceives one's self as male or female. We All were created by His Spirit as perfect equals. Focusing on bodies will show us this isn't true. The Vision of Christ overlooks the physical and knows you exactly as you were created; out of Holiness. If God is perfect and eternal, then by definition anything He creates would also have to be perfect and eternal. This is flawless logic. Nothing and no one can change God's Mind. Truth should not be complicated.
"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;"(v.7)
This number is constant and it broadly signifies the gospel. When God sent forth his word it signaled the good news of fellowship where all are invited in his Son. So 3x4 makes up the command number. For this reason when Judas Iscariot left the original twelve it necessitated choosing one to fell into the breach. "Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Besides those who were assembled in the number were multiples of 12."12x10 clues us in what bonded them, - it was the word, the peace which the Lord had left them with, -or the presence of the Lord, the word is set down by the command number (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)"Ac.1:26,15; John 14:27).
This gospel outreach was in the divine Will when he appointed a day for the Son with the emblem, the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world(Re.13:8) Pre-eminence of Jesus Christ was established in heaven and on the earth and the lower parts. So the Four and twenty elders (8x3) are as memorial before the throne of God. This significance we see in the multiplying of loaves in vv.37-43. "And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes." These baskets are memorial of his ministry.
In the preceding chapter Mark prepares us with the number 12. The woman with the issue of blood and the daughter of Jairus are both tagged by the number 12. Jesus commanded the word "Talitha cumi" and was in keeping with the divine Will.(Ps.107:20; 5:41) "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years," Her faith completed the divine Will and the healing. What connected her with Christ while she was among a throng? His virtue went out to establish that he was Christ. How a believer can deny the truth? "Thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Ps.45:7)
"But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."
St John sums it up this way, "He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not."(v.11). He refers his Jewishness. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,/To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."(Gal.4:4-5) The nation of Israel understood what the law meant but not what it referred to. Herein lay their dilemma. Law for them became traditions of their fathers so when the Law (its fulness) walked among them full of grace all they could say "they( the Pharisees) said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (Matt.12:24). Jesus was a sign as Moses was one. He served as his double before his Advent. They could not keep the Law of Moses but would want to go back to Egypt under another captain it showed they were incapable of holding truth.(Nu.14:4)
Symptomatic of their perverseness was their curiosity. How often they demanded of Jesus to show them a sign. It merely satisfied their shallow religiosity. Jesus rightly condemned their place among the wicked adulterous generation than as the sons. "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."(Matt.12:39). Without entering into spiritual significance of the sign, and without dying in him they were not worthy to be called sons. In their rebellious spirit all chastisement was wasted so Jesus dismissed them by saying,"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt.23:36-38). For this reason Jesus instructed his disciples to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony.(6:11)
Jesus was ever dutiful Son who would while hanging on the cross entrusted the care of his mother to John, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!/Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."( John 19:26-27). By literal approach how false teachers consistently strip passages of their pith and serve the husks instead. This is one example. Covenant between God and Man entrusts man with His creation and does he care?
God had prepared a worm as he a great fish to instruct Prophet Jonah. At the end of the book He tells Jonah,"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Family of man is incomplete without this same care for His creation. The Four beasts in heaven is a memorial.
Pilgrims in 1630 settled in the Americas to make a New Canaan. However it was like sewing old garment to the new in the manner the divine Will was shortchanged. Salt crystal is made up of chlorine and sodium which by themselves have their distinctive characteristics. Sodium is metal, and corrosive while chlorine is a gas and poisonous. How billions of these atoms are precisely arranged by force keeping the formation gives the table salt its savor. In the manner culture wars have dogged the country tells making a family or nation without fulfilling the will of the Father is a non-starter. "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."(2:22)
"Who is my mother, or my brethren?"
In this passage the Spirit is setting two sets of families each representing the world of the Spirit and of the body. In the former world familial relationship is pendent to the covenant between God and Man, The latter is symbolic of heaven but in keeping with the body formed of the dust, it is the union of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(12:25; Matt.22:30). Resurrection of the dead is restoration of the covenant to its former glory where Power and glory of God renders the Man his throne so "and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Re.21:3)
Thus the saying of Jesus refers to the world of the Spirit,"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren./And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."(Matt.23:8-9)
In marriage man and woman leave their parents and they shall be one flesh, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"( Luke 16:12; Ge.2:23)
This was provisioned for in the covenant. In Ge.1:28-29 we are shown what our Father in heaven had entrusted them with His creation. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This was entrusted with man in his Son. It is to this God willed and the covenant exists, and as a proof sent his only begotten Son to the world in fulness of time.
As the key verse states there is no gender difference. Only those who do the will of God.
Jesus says to the Samaritan woman "God is Spirit" Jn. 4:24.
This means that God is not just "a" spirit being, like angels. But He is pure Spirit. He is ALL Spirit, without components or parts.
Some say He is "simple" in this way, not made up of parts that He must derive outside of Himself. He is all of His attributes, they are not "things' that He possesses. He is Love, Power, Life, etc.
It is difficult for us who are material creatures to imagine what God is like in this, His "aseity" (what He is in essence)
How beautifully "OTHER" He is than any beings He created.
Also, the Holy Spirit is God, a distinct person in the Godhead along with the Father and the Spirit. He is spoken of as having a will, thoughts, can speak, pray, be grieved, be lied to, can regenerate, sanctify, and convict; teach, resurrect, and cause conception. He indwells, believers and the Father and the Son. He unites believers to God. He is not the Father, nor the Son, but has all the attributes of God and of a distinct person who has all of the divine nature fully.
Luke and Matthew also give the context and the quote, "And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."( Luke 6:5;12:8) The everlasting covenant is between two equals so the eternal word is the Law backed by the kingdom of the Father. In case of faith we have the basis of these two worlds (He.11:3) which we shall leave aside for the moment. What are the equal entities here? They are Power on the part of God Wisdom on the part of Man. St Paul separates Man as the Lord of heaven, from man who is the earthy. "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven."(1 Co.15:47-48)
When Jesus was born of woman his deity was never in jeopardy since he is the Word become flesh and sent with the divine Mandate. ( John 3:16)
When Jesus spoke "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" it is this Word was God it refers.( John 1:1; 5:17-23)
Speaking of the context Mark 2:24 we have the Pharisees questioning "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."
Next point of Sabbath is that the day Seven. God has decree the day which touches his Alpha Omega aspect. " I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee./Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."(Ps.2:7-8) There is no sanctity for observing Sabbath without the Son element incorporated in our lives. This heresy has arisen because the Christians interpret the word of God literally and assume it is the seventh day of a week. It is an error. It is thus approaching the Bible with out the aid of the Spirit. John's epistle speaks of those who have the Son has also the Father.
Part 4 Trinity discussion.
Do you believe that the will of the Father and the will of the Son are always the same or different?
Jesus was obedient to the Father, Jesus said many times it is not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him, the same as we are to do, John 4:34 John 5:30 Mark 3:35.
Do you believe that a human being can truly save all men from sin and death by a perfect life in their own will?
First, I will have to say it was the will of the Father, Jesus at the end even asked His father if there was another way but not Jesus's will but the will of His Father, Matthew 26:39 Luke 22:42. We are told this is the foundation of our faith, Jesus' sacrificial death. God cannot die God is Spirit He has no blood to shed for sin it had to be a man, His Son, born of a woman.
John 3:16 God gave His Son not Himself 1 John 2:22 1 John 4:3 2 John 1:7 Romans 5:8 2 Corinthians 5:21, God cannot be made sin, 1 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus died, and God raised Him from the dead, the first man to live a perfect life, the first fruits of those who sleep in death. 1 Corinthians 15:14 as said if Jesus was not a man who lived a perfect life and died and was raised from the dead all is vain.
The first Adam was the first man Jesus was the last Adam and the second man, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The law had to be fulfilled by a man.
How would a human being know that they are the Messiah from birth and thus know not to ever sin?
As we see Luke 2:51-52 Jesus grew up increasing in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. Jesus was twelve years old and He knew His father was God, but it doesn't say Jesus knew then He was to be the Messiah. God also said He would raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-5 Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed in Luke 4:18-21. Romans 1:1-4 2 Timothy 2:8.
See part 5
It is said by Catholics that marriage is a sacrament that is only necessitated by the vow a man makes with a woman; and I agree with that view despite disagreeing with many other things in their belief system. The idea of a minister to oversee the event from what I can tell helps to involve two or three witnesses (usually along with parents) such as 2 Corinthians 13:1 states. There are other verses as well; none directly discuss a marriage or any other vow; but it does apply in the fact that should one or more parties violate the covenant church discipline can be used against them. I am not sure how things are in the big picture but it seems whenever marriages do occur it is often in another church that the family prefers and many times there is little sense of a whole congregation being involved at least like they used to in the past. Maybe I am off somewhat but that's how I see it.
Good counsel is helpful in that respect however; if anything to keep a healthy balance of older women guiding the youth and allowing for good interactions and support. This is something more favorable it seems today in the Reformed churches from my experiences. Such interactions of a church being a family of course should extend to foreign missionaries that are affiliated with a denomination. It is a shame when we think of missionaries being "out there" and we detach ourselves emotionally when we give financial support. Their marriages and family are components of their witness as much as their evangelism and one can't be separated from the other; although of course some are single individuals on the mission field.
Again; it is sad to say that from my viewpoint there is a tolerance for remarriage in these same sort of congregations (although many won't perform them). I would say that existing marriages have greater chance of longevity and less for divorce in the Reformed circles than others who have 50 percent divorce rates as all of society if they marry at all.
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