Notes for BSF
JESUS IS RISEN (Matthew 28:1-15)!
The resurrected Jesus was seen by the Mary’s first
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after he was buried, on a Sunday. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb, they witnessed an angel rolling the stone away from Jesus’ tomb, and they experienced great fear.
All throughout the Bible, whenever man comes into the presence of God or the angels, man’s reactions are always fear, that compelled us to fall on our faces out of worship, or reverent fear. This gives us a glimpse of what it is like to be in the presence of God and angels in our fallen form – God’s holiness is so great, we cannot help but feel extremely inadequate in His presence and thus experience fear. The “fear” recorded here is not the same kind of fear we feel when we are simply afraid of the unknown. This “fear” is fear out of reverence. Being in the presence of God and angels, we become clearly aware of the holiness of the situation, filling our hearts with reverent fear.
The angel then commanded the women to spread the GREAT NEWS of Jesus’ resurrection. And when they saw the resurrected Jesus, they were commanded to do the same as they worshiped Jesus by His feet.
Matthew 28:10
Jesus told them, “Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
One of the methods doubters and non-believers try to dismiss this miracle (and other miracles of the Bible) is to claim that the Bible was just a collection of made-up stories or to discredit eyewitness accounts as hyperboles. I’m not going to try and dispute all such arguments in a small paragraph, but I do want to point out one caveat to claims that eyewitness accounts were doctored to fit the story. Back in those days, women were not held in high regard – or any regard, in that matter. In fact, the status of women was valued below that of slaves. Slaves, on certain levels, were at least treated like human beings. Women, however, were simply property to be traded. Also back in those days, eyewitness accounts are the main sources of proof of events – as it is today in most judicial systems. If the Bible was written as a made-up story or composed of falsified eyewitness accounts to convince people of events that never took place, why would the writer(s) choose female eyewitnesses? Women had no value, no authority in society back then; nothing they said were ever considered valid in court; and certainly, no man would ever take the account of a woman seriously. Logic would dictate that if anyone were to make up an amazing miracle such as the resurrection of Christ, he would at least have all the eyewitnesses as men! The fact that the first eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus were women suggest that the intention of this documentation was not to convince anyone of anything – but rather, just a straightforward report of what took place. Further, it shows the tenderness of Jesus’ heart toward women.
How does each one of us respond to the resurrection of Christ? (Cf. Luke 24:19-27)
Jesus’ disciples couldn’t believe until they saw
Before seeing Jesus alive with their own eyes (and Thomas even had to physically touch the nail marks on Jesus wrists before he believed – John 20:27), even the disciples couldn’t really believe that Jesus would rise from the dead. They knew that His body was not to be found in the tomb. However, they couldn’t really wrap their heads around anyone beating death! It wasn’t until Jesus broke bread with them later that night that they finally grasped that our Lord had risen (Luke 24:28-34)! What opened their eyes? The Bible doesn’t say, but I suspect it was them seeing the nail marks through Jesus wrists as He broke bread!
The reason why they finally believed was not due to blind faith. They were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus – and this Truth gave them all the courage they needed to spread the Gospel. Death no longer feared them because our Lord has conquered death! We may be amazed at how so many men readily die standing up for Christ, but when we realize the reality our eternal life with Christ in our resurrected bodies, death has no hold on our eternity! Only a fool would give up eternal life to avoid physical death, to swap eternal life for temporary life!
The guards died from extreme fear
They guards were non-believers, who were directly in charge of guarding the tomb. They were put there in the first place, because all were aware of the prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection, and the religious leaders and the Roman government wanted to make sure that this event never took place. If anyone were to know what really happened, none would know more than the guards. They knew what had happened, and it wasn’t something that could be covered up by hand-waving explanations. Because they had witnessed what happened, they couldn’t tell themselves lies to make them feel better. They knew the truth, and the truth literally shocked the life out of them.
The Jewish leaders refused to see the truth and chose to believe a lie that was more comfortable to their lifestyle
The Jewish leaders, on the other hand, never witnessed what actually took place at the tomb on the dawn of Jesus’ resurrection. They heard that Jesus’ body was not to be found, and 1) immediately assumed Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body; and 2) bribed the soldiers to lie about what had happened to Jesus’ body.
It never fails to strike me just how ironic the Jewish leaders were. They were held in the highest regard as the authoritative figures in anything that pertained to God. And yet, they were the most blinded people to the truth of God. They knew prophecies of the coming Messiah, yet every time Jesus fulfilled a prophecy, they came up with a reason for how Jesus cannot be the Messiah.
Why is that?
1) Jesus was not the Messiah they wanted
The religious leaders were expecting their Messiah to come as KING, someone who was strong and powerful – not a no-name carpenter from a no-name town from a no-name family (although if they had bothered to take the time to trace His blood lineage, perhaps they would have realized His royalty). And because Jesus was not the King they wanted, they found every possible way to disregard all evidence that pointed them to Jesus as the Messiah.
2) They loved their power too much to relinquish it
Throughout the short ministry of Jesus, the religious leaders were rebuked time and time again by Jesus for their hypocrisy. As true children of God, we all ought to have the humility to be rebuked and reflect – and repent when we are convicted. We saw none of that kind of heart in the religious leaders. They prided themselves in being the authority on anything pertaining to God. They allowed that pride to elevate themselves above the rest, to a level that they could do no wrong. They bathed in the power of the authority that they had given themselves through a system that they had established – and when Jesus came, on the authority of God the Father, they knew their system was jeopardized. And instead of recognizing how far their prideful sin had taken them off the path, they sought ways to shut up Jesus for good.
We may look at the religious leaders and wonder how they could make such a serious mistake, but when we allow the sins of our lives to drive our carnal desires, we can easily tell ourselves lies that would make us feel more comfortable about our continual sin. But learn from the religious leaders – All lies eventually run out of room to run, and we all are smacked with the truth at the end of each run. It is just so much more liberating to live in the light of truth rather than having to constantly run and hide in the shadows.
The Jewish people blindly followed falsified media hype
The lies about Jesus’ resurection spread by the religious leaders were gobbled up by the Jewish people, and to this day, they still doubt Jesus as their Messiah.
We need to realize that although the news media is supposed to be unbiased and report events as they are, that simply is not reality. I am not saying we should doubt everything we read or hear, but I am advocating that we at least think about it. Don’t just accept conclusions as they are reported. Instead, follow up with some research. If multiple resources from various perspectives all match up, the chance of that being the truth is high. If, however, there are some contradictory voices, it is worth our time to determine the reason behind these voices. Often times, when we are willing to dig a bit for those reasons, the picture becomes far clearer. If we readily accept whatever conclusions people throw at us, we become extremely easy for manipulation and can be led to think any way people want us to.
Hear His voice! (John 10:3-5, 14, 27-28)
John 10:14-16
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
We are given the command to go out and spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). The Gospel, the Good News, is that Jesus has eternally cleansed us of our sins. He was sacrificed for us, but God brought Him back to life, for all who are sinless have eternal life with God. As Jesus’ disciples, we have the confidence that through the cleansing of Jesus’ blood, we, too, share in His eternal glory. This is the great news that we should be out sharing with everyone!
Jesus’ bodily resurrection is a critical criterion for our salvation (1 Corinthians 15)
Cf. John 10:17-18; Acts 2:31; Psalm 16:10; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:45-58; Ephesians 1:18-20; Romans 6:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14; Hebrews 7:16, 23-28; 1 Peter 1:3-5
1 Corinthians 15:5-8
He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Matthew 29:9
Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
Luke 24:5-7
The angels said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
1 Corinthians 15:14-19
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise… And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Understand what Paul is saying here. If Jesus was not bodily resurrected, our faith is EMPTY, FUTILE. We would still be in our sins, and death would still have a hold over us due to our sins (Romans 6:23). If Christ was not resurrected, then those who had died in Christ, those who continue to live through Christ, we would be pitiable, pathetic, because such hope is an empty hope!
Paul was certainly a highly educated man, with incredible intelligence. He fully understood what it meant to place his faith in Christ. He fully understood what it meant if Jesus was not who He claimed He was. Yet, Paul remained firm in his faith. Why? Because he was an eyewitness and
beneficiary of the promises and blessing of Jesus. Strong faith comes from knowledge and personal experience and is always based on evidence. It thus stands up to the toughest scrutiny, and we can confidently defend it.
SPREAD THE GOSPEL (Matthew 28:16-20)
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.
We are to make disciples of ALL nations, teaching them the things that have been taught to us by Jesus – baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We don’t make up stories; we don’t add anything to the story. We study the Bible and teach ONLY what the Bible teaches.
Share with the heart of Jesus
It is difficult to share the Gospel without annoying or offend other people. However, we can’t let this stop us. Instead, we each need to find our own way to share the story of Jesus to try and save more souls.
Live out the Gospel
Romans 5:10
If Jesus loved us so much to redeem us even when we were sinners and enemies against Him, imagine how much more we would receive from Him when we are now following Him as disciples!
2 Corinthians 4:10-18
The renewal of our mind, body, and soul occurs through the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. As we live, we live with the life of Christ inside of us. In this fallen world, we may continuously run into problems and be tempted to sin. This may lead us to great discouragement, but don’t forget that we have the power of Christ within us. Be encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to renew our spirit so that we can face each day with the strength of Christ!
Galatians 2:20
When we choose to walk with Christ, in a way, we are crucified with Christ. Our decision signifies our commitment to live APART from sin. We nail our sins to the cross. And from then on, we walk forward with Christ, not with ourselves controlling our lives, but allowing Christ to take over, allowing Him to guide our decisions. Why? Because we couldn’t live a sinless life without Christ. When we were the ones controlling our own lives, we continued to sin. We couldn’t break the cycle. Only when Jesus came and died for us could we successfully escape sin.
So, having learned that alone, we cannot conquer sin, it’s time to try something better, try the best. Let Jesus take control of our live and learn to truly live apart from sin!
Philippians 3:10
Because we know how much God has had to sacrifice to redeem us, we ought to be grateful for all that He has given us.
Colossians 3:1-4
Since we have made the commitment to follow Christ, let our minds be occupied with things that are of Christ. We should embrace the heart of God, seeking ways to bring the Good News to more unsaved souls. We should be focused on following Jesus commandment to spread the Good News. Because in this lifetime, there is nothing else more important than to receive eternal salvation. Because once this lifetime is over, none of us would have the opportunity to make that decision! So, be focused on the missions of God and not be tempted by the missions of man!
Friday, April 25, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Temple Institute Holds Passover Reenactment in Jerusalem
from the April 08, 2014 eNews issue
Visit Koinonia House for a FREE subscription
Passover is upon us. The Jewish people will celebrate Passover on the 15th of Nisan, which begins on April 14th this year, Monday at sundown. Jewish families will gather together to eat the Seder meal on that evening, to remember that world-changing night when HaShem passed over the homes of the Israelites and killed the firstborn of the Egyptians who were not covered by the blood of the Passover lamb. It was a real event in history, and it changed the world. The Jews escaped Egypt and were led to the Promised Land. They are now back in that land, and every day people ask the rabbis, “When are we going to be able to bring the Passover offering again?”
The Temple Mount Symposium
The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans. Since that day, the Jews have not been able to sacrifice the korban pesach—the Passover lamb—as required by the Torah. Not in the Temple. The Temple Institute will be doing a reenactment this year, however, this Thursday, the 10th of Nisan in the courtyard of the Talmud Torah Ma’or HaTorah on Ben Tzion Street in the Kiryat Moshe district of Jerusalem. Hundreds of people have attended these reenactments in past years, but this year is expected to be special. The rabbis note that people are excited, they are actively interested in doing more on Passover than eating the Seder with the dry shank bone, missing the most important element of the Pesach meal.
The Temple Institute has organized a symposium for the day, complete with Torah classes and children’s activities. Cohenim (priests) whohave been studying at the Temple Institute will be wearing kosher priestly garments and will reenact the Passover sacrifice in the manner specifically described by the Torah. A choir will sing praises, and renowned rabbis will be giving blessings. Entrance is free.
The Temple Institute is focused on being able to build the Temple once again in Jerusalem, to reinstitute the holy sacrifices as commanded in the Torah, to celebrate the feasts of Israel again in the manner required by the Law. They long for the Temple and the ability to worship the LORD as their fathers did, before it was destroyed by the Romans. The Romans forbade the Passover offering, and then the Byzantines forbade it and the Ottomans and so forth until the present day, when the Israeli government forbids it.
Still, the Jews will spend this week scouring their homes and their hearts, making sure that they are leaven-free in and out. They will be tying their Passover offerings to their bedposts on Thursday, Nisan 10, the day they would have picked out the pure, spotless lamb that they would keep in their homes until the day it was sacrificed on their behalf.
The goal of the symposium is to bring Passover to life for the people of Israel. The rabbis recognize that studying Pesach in books is distant and academic, but when the people see it alive before them, it becomes real to them. Every year at the Seder the question is asked, “What makes this night different from other nights?” The organizers of the symposium hope to answer that question in a bigger way than the Jews have been able to experience for two millennia.
A Heart for HaShem
Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute stated Monday, “Every year that goes by there have been more and more people talking about it in the streets. People literally stop me in the streets and they say, ‘Rabbi, Can we bring a Passover offering this year?’
“In recent years,” he continued, “the interest has grown and the dynamic is being increased exponentially and there is a groundswell of understanding, reeducation, feeling revitalization in our people that is demanding the right of the Jewish people to act like the Jewish people are supposed to act. What’s holding us back?”
Right now the Temple Mount is off-limits to Jews. They cannot even pray there, lest they anger the Muslims who control the mount. Any talk or small effort to rebuild the Temple has raised immediate rage among not just the local Muslims, but those who believe that political correctness is necessary for peace. And talk of rebuilding the Temple is not politically correct.
“Passover is all about this eternal covenant that the Jewish people have with the Almighty, and the sparks that fly from that covenant, they radiate to the whole world. The Covenant is based on the eternal ordinance of the Passover offering.”
The True Passover Lamb
In Genesis 22, God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, his son of promise. God provided Himself a lamb for Abraham, and he promised Abraham that He would bless the entire world through his seed. Abraham even named the spot on Mount Moriah, Jehovahjireh, “The LORD provides.” Abraham did not hold back his only son, and God has not held back His only Son. And through Him, a son of Abraham, God has blessed all the world with salvation, (John 3:16).
As Christians, we believe that the true Passover lamb has already been sacrificed. We know that Gabriel promised Daniel that the Messiah would be cut off (though not for himself) and then the city and Temple would be destroyed (Dan 9:25–26). Those events have already taken place; the Messiah has already come. We know that Jesus was presented on the 10th of Nisan when he rode a donkey into Jerusalem (Zec 9:9), and he was sacrificed on Passover as our true Passover lamb. His blood covers us, so that the judgment of God can pass over us, in fulfillment of a multitude of Old Testament prophesies (Isa 53, Psa 22, John 3:14, Zec 12:10 et al).
We believe that the Temple will once again be built, the Messiah will return to sit on the throne of David. Until that time, may we continue to pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters who love the LORD and seek to serve Him with all their hearts. May we also pray for the peace of Jerusalem. “They shall prosper that love thee,” (Psa 122:6).
Notes
Study, Practice and Reenactment of the Passover Offering
— The Temple Institute
Temple Talk Radio
— Universal Torah Network
Visit Koinonia House for a FREE subscription
Passover is upon us. The Jewish people will celebrate Passover on the 15th of Nisan, which begins on April 14th this year, Monday at sundown. Jewish families will gather together to eat the Seder meal on that evening, to remember that world-changing night when HaShem passed over the homes of the Israelites and killed the firstborn of the Egyptians who were not covered by the blood of the Passover lamb. It was a real event in history, and it changed the world. The Jews escaped Egypt and were led to the Promised Land. They are now back in that land, and every day people ask the rabbis, “When are we going to be able to bring the Passover offering again?”
The Temple Mount Symposium
The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans. Since that day, the Jews have not been able to sacrifice the korban pesach—the Passover lamb—as required by the Torah. Not in the Temple. The Temple Institute will be doing a reenactment this year, however, this Thursday, the 10th of Nisan in the courtyard of the Talmud Torah Ma’or HaTorah on Ben Tzion Street in the Kiryat Moshe district of Jerusalem. Hundreds of people have attended these reenactments in past years, but this year is expected to be special. The rabbis note that people are excited, they are actively interested in doing more on Passover than eating the Seder with the dry shank bone, missing the most important element of the Pesach meal.
The Temple Institute has organized a symposium for the day, complete with Torah classes and children’s activities. Cohenim (priests) whohave been studying at the Temple Institute will be wearing kosher priestly garments and will reenact the Passover sacrifice in the manner specifically described by the Torah. A choir will sing praises, and renowned rabbis will be giving blessings. Entrance is free.
The Temple Institute is focused on being able to build the Temple once again in Jerusalem, to reinstitute the holy sacrifices as commanded in the Torah, to celebrate the feasts of Israel again in the manner required by the Law. They long for the Temple and the ability to worship the LORD as their fathers did, before it was destroyed by the Romans. The Romans forbade the Passover offering, and then the Byzantines forbade it and the Ottomans and so forth until the present day, when the Israeli government forbids it.
Still, the Jews will spend this week scouring their homes and their hearts, making sure that they are leaven-free in and out. They will be tying their Passover offerings to their bedposts on Thursday, Nisan 10, the day they would have picked out the pure, spotless lamb that they would keep in their homes until the day it was sacrificed on their behalf.
The goal of the symposium is to bring Passover to life for the people of Israel. The rabbis recognize that studying Pesach in books is distant and academic, but when the people see it alive before them, it becomes real to them. Every year at the Seder the question is asked, “What makes this night different from other nights?” The organizers of the symposium hope to answer that question in a bigger way than the Jews have been able to experience for two millennia.
A Heart for HaShem
Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute stated Monday, “Every year that goes by there have been more and more people talking about it in the streets. People literally stop me in the streets and they say, ‘Rabbi, Can we bring a Passover offering this year?’
“In recent years,” he continued, “the interest has grown and the dynamic is being increased exponentially and there is a groundswell of understanding, reeducation, feeling revitalization in our people that is demanding the right of the Jewish people to act like the Jewish people are supposed to act. What’s holding us back?”
Right now the Temple Mount is off-limits to Jews. They cannot even pray there, lest they anger the Muslims who control the mount. Any talk or small effort to rebuild the Temple has raised immediate rage among not just the local Muslims, but those who believe that political correctness is necessary for peace. And talk of rebuilding the Temple is not politically correct.
“Passover is all about this eternal covenant that the Jewish people have with the Almighty, and the sparks that fly from that covenant, they radiate to the whole world. The Covenant is based on the eternal ordinance of the Passover offering.”
The True Passover Lamb
In Genesis 22, God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, his son of promise. God provided Himself a lamb for Abraham, and he promised Abraham that He would bless the entire world through his seed. Abraham even named the spot on Mount Moriah, Jehovahjireh, “The LORD provides.” Abraham did not hold back his only son, and God has not held back His only Son. And through Him, a son of Abraham, God has blessed all the world with salvation, (John 3:16).
As Christians, we believe that the true Passover lamb has already been sacrificed. We know that Gabriel promised Daniel that the Messiah would be cut off (though not for himself) and then the city and Temple would be destroyed (Dan 9:25–26). Those events have already taken place; the Messiah has already come. We know that Jesus was presented on the 10th of Nisan when he rode a donkey into Jerusalem (Zec 9:9), and he was sacrificed on Passover as our true Passover lamb. His blood covers us, so that the judgment of God can pass over us, in fulfillment of a multitude of Old Testament prophesies (Isa 53, Psa 22, John 3:14, Zec 12:10 et al).
We believe that the Temple will once again be built, the Messiah will return to sit on the throne of David. Until that time, may we continue to pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters who love the LORD and seek to serve Him with all their hearts. May we also pray for the peace of Jerusalem. “They shall prosper that love thee,” (Psa 122:6).
Notes
Study, Practice and Reenactment of the Passover Offering
— The Temple Institute
Temple Talk Radio
— Universal Torah Network
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Genesis 1:1
Bible study with Dr. Chuck Missler
INTRODUCTION
There are only two world views: either everything is a result of a cosmic accident, or we are the result of a deliberate design by a Designer.
Two Critical Discoveries
1) We have in our possession an Integrated Message System, consisting of 66 separate books penned by 40 different individuals over thousands of years...
2) Which provably has its origin from outside our time domain.
One Integrated Design: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
— Augustine
The Old Testament is an account of a Nation. The New Testament is the account of a Man. The Creator became a Man. His appearance is the central event of all history: He died to purchase us and is alive now. The most exalted privilege is to know Him. That’s what the Bible is all about.
The Torah: The Five Books of Moses
Genesis The Book of Beginnings
Exodus The Birth of the Nation
Leviticus The Law of the Nation
Numbers The Wilderness Wanderings
Deuteronomy The Laws Reviewed
Who Wrote the Torah?
Documentary Hypothesis (Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis) says that the Torah was compiled by later editors: J (Jehovahist, Yahwist); E (Elohist); D (Deuteronomic source); and, P (Priestly source). This hypothesis was created without any compelling historical, linguistic or textual evidence and has been shredded by Oswalt T. Allis, R.N. Whybray, E.J. Young, Umbertos Cassuto, R.K. Harrison, Kenneth A. Kitchen, et al.
Luke Chapter 24: The Walk to Emmaus – Jesus said Moses wrote the Torah
Luke 24:25-27
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Textual Rebuttals: Jesus said Moses wrote the Torah
• Emmaus Road Account (The key phrase is quoted above)
• Authentication of Moses: Mt 8:4; 19:7,8; 23:2; Mk 1:44; 10:3,4; 7:10; Lk 5:14; 16:19, 31; 20:37; 24:27,44; Jn 3:14; 5:39,45,46; 6:32; 7:19, 22,23.
• All Scriptures are Christ Centered: Jn 5:39; Ps 40:7; Mt 5:17,18.
• Old Testament Quotes:
– Adam: Deut, Job, 1 Chr.
– Noah: 1 Chr, Isa, Ezek.
– Abraham: 15X in OT; 11X in NT.
– Jacob: 20X in OT; 17X NT.
• New Testament Quotes of Genesis:
– 165 direct quotes; ~200 allusions;
– ~100 of the first 11 chapters
John 5:45-47
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
New Testament References to the Book of Genesis
• The Creator and the Creation: Mt 13:35; Mk 13:19; Jn 1:3; Acts 4:24; Acts 14:15; Rom 1:20; 2 Cor 4:6; Col 1:16; Heb 1:10; 11:3.
• Allusions to the Creation: Rom 1:25; 16:25; Eph 3:9; 1 Tim 4:4; Heb 2:10; 4:10; 9:26; Jas 3:9; Rev 3:14; 4:11; 10:6; 14:7.
• Creation of Man and Woman: Mt 19:4-6, 8; Mk 10:6; Acts 17:26; 1 Cor 6:16; 11:8,9; Eph 5:31; 1 Tim 2:13, 14; Rev 2:7; 22:2, 14.
• The Fall: Rom 5:11, 14, 17, 19; 8:19-20; 1 Cor 15:21-22; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 20:2.
• The Flood: Mt 24:37; Lk 17:26; 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5; 3:5-6.
• The Patriarchs: Mt 23:35; Lk 3:34-38; 11:52; Heb 11:4-7, 23; 12:24; 1 Jn 3:12; Jude 11, 14.
Every New Testament writer refers to the early chapters of Genesis: portions of Chapters 1 – 11 (except 8) is referred to in New Testament.
John 5: 39
Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Christ is on every page!
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:16-17
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
John 5:45-47
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Why Study the Book of Genesis?
It is the Book of Beginnings (Law of First Mention)
Creation • Man • Woman • Sabbath • Marriage • Home • Childhood • Sin • Murder • Sacrifice • Grace • Trade • Agriculture • City life • Races • Languages • Chosen people, etc.
Genesis anticipates all false philosophies
• Atheism (Genesis says the world was created by God)
• Pantheism (Genesis says God is transcendent and distinguishable)
• Polytheism (Genesis says there is One God)
• Materialism (Genesis says that matter had a beginning)
• Humanism (Genesis says that God, not man, is the ultimate reality)
• Evolutionism (Genesis says “God created”)
• Uniformism (Genesis says God intervenes in His creation)
All major doctrines have their roots in Genesis:
Sovereign election • Salvation • Justification by faith • Believer’s Security • Separation • Disciplinary chastisement • Divine Incarnation • Rapture of the Church • Death and Resurrection • Priesthoods (Aaronic and Melchizedek) • The Antichrist • Palestinian Covenant
Genesis Outline
Part 1: Genesis 1, 2 Creation
Genesis 3 Fall of Man
Genesis 4 Cain & Abel
Genesis 5 Genealogy of Noah
Genesis 6-9 Flood of Noah
Genesis 10-11 Tower of Babel
Part 2: Genesis 12-20 Abraham
Genesis 21-26 Isaac
Genesis 27-36 Jacob
Genesis 37-50 Joseph
Creation Week: Day One: “Let Light Be”
2nd Day: Stretching of Space
3rd Day: Land and vegetation
4th Day: Sun, Moon, Stars
5th Day: Sea Animals & Birds
6th Day: Land Animals & Man
The Word of God is inexhaustible. The truth is in the details. Every detail is connected to every other; it is an integrated message. What do we do with “difficult” passages? Put Christ right in the middle and see what happens! We will discover that Christ is on every page!
Some Fundamental Questions
• Is the Universe ~15 billion years old? (Hubble Telescope, et al.)
• Was it created in 6 days? 144 hours? Were aging factors built in? Was light created “in transit”?
• Or were the “days” of Genesis simply geological eras? Was “evolution” the mechanism God used?
The Nature of Reality: A Glimpse of Hyperspaces
The rules we learned in school were for a universe of only two dimensions, that’s why we call it “plane” geometry; or “plane” trigonometry. In spherical (3-D) trigonometry, a triangle of more than 180 degrees implies a convex surface; a triangle of less than 180 degrees implies a concave surface.
Einstein’s Revolution
Special Relativity (1905): Length, mass, velocity and time are relative to velocity of the observers General Relativity (1915): There is no distinction between time and space = a 4-dimensional continuum (confirmed 14 ways to 19 decimals).
We have the advantage of modern physics, although few appreciate its aid to our understanding Biblical insights!
The Nature of Gravitational Time Dilation
Identical Atomic clocks are located at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado, and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. The NIST clock ticks 5 μ seconds/year faster than an identical clock at Greenwich. Which is correct? Both are! Boulder,
Colorado = 5400 ft altitude; Greenwich, England = 80 ft. Atomic clocks are faster by the rate of 10-16 sec/meter elevation. Other demonstrations include the aircraft experiment (1971) where the plane traveling eastward lost 0.059 microseconds and the one flying westward gained 0.273 microseconds, accounting for the Earth’s rotation, etc., exactly what Einstein’s formula predicted! And a classic is the hypothetical trip to Alpha Centauri by the twin astronauts.
Time is not uniform: it is a physical property that varies with mass, acceleration and gravity…among other things... We exist in more than three dimensions (apparently 10). This physical insight will dissolve most theological paradoxes.
The Nature of God
Is God subject to the restrictions of mass? Acceleration? Gravity? He is not simply One with “lots of time,” He is outside of the restrictions of time. This uniqueness is His Personal Imprint… From Outside Time.
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity…
Since God has the technology to create us, He certainly has the means to get a message to us…but how does He authenticate His message so that we know that it is really from Him, and not a contrivance or a fraud? By prophecies.
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done...
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Hebrew: Beresheet Bara Elohim et ha-Shamayim et ha-Eretz
Beresheet = In beginning
Bara = Create out of nothing
Elohim = God; plural noun, used as a singular
Age of the Earth?
Classic Date of October, 1404 B.C.: Archbishop James Ussher & Dr. John Lightfoot (17th century). Similar studies by William Henry Green, & B. B. Warfield, Princeton (19th century) and E.W. Faulstich, computer analysis, 1979; Walter T. Brown, 1995. More recent parallel studies not materially different. “Gaps” in genealogies not materially relevant.
Some Preliminaries
It is essential to “blindfold our prejudices” and shed the baggage of our misconceptions. The only sure barrier to truth is the presumption that you already have it… 20th century science has vindicated the Biblical perspectives of reality (the finite universe; the discovery of the nature of time, the realization of hyperspaces...and more!).
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is condemnation before investigation.
— Edmund Spencer
Thermal Decay
Heat always flows from hot bodies to cold bodies. If the universe was infinitely old, the temperature throughout the universe would be uniform. It isn’t; therefore, it isn’t infinitely old. The universe had a beginning. And it is destined for an ending. The most profound discovery of modern physics is that we live in a finite universe. From a singularity of a beginning… to an ultimate thermodynamic termination as an ending.
The “Big Bang” Models
• Steady State Model
– Einstein’s Biggest Mistake
• Hesitation Model
– Refuted in the 1960s
• Oscillation Model
– Refuted by entropy laws, lack of mass.
• Inflation Model
– Requires antigravity forces never observed
The Stretch Factor (re: Dr. Gerald Schroeder)
• The expansion factor: ~1012
• 16 billion years x 365 = 6,000,000,000,000 days
• 6 x 1012 days ÷ 1012 = 6 days! Cosmic
• Background Radiation: Initial formation (hadron nucleosynthesis):10.9 x 1012k/2.73k (today) = 4 x 1012
Boundaries of Reality
There are two mathematical concepts that go beyond our physical reality: infinity and randomness.
Infinity and Chaos Theory: Our physical universe is a subset of an ultimate set of conditions and length, mass, and time = quantized.
Physical Chronometers
• Radiometric Dating
• Known clock rate
• Clock set accurately at beginning
• Clock must not be disturbed during measure
• Uniformitarian Thesis vs Catastrophism
Young Earth Indicators
Moon Dust
The lunar surface is exposed to direct sunlight, and strong ultraviolet light and x-rays can destroy the surface layers of exposed rock and reduce them to dust at a rate of a few ten-thousandths of an inch per year. But even this minute amount during the age of the moon could be sufficient to form a layer several miles deep.” (R. A. Lyttleton, astronomer and consultant to NASA, 1956.) Neil Armstrong, Apollo 12, was concerned as he stepped out -- fortunately for him, there was only a few thousand year’s worth found.
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Earth’s magnetic field half-life is calculated to be 1,400 years. Based on measurements taken from 1835 to 1965 estimates an age of less than 10,000 years. If extrapolated back 20,000 years, the joule heat generated would liquefy the earth. [Thomas G. Barnes, Origin and Destiny of the Earth’s Magnetic Field, Institute for Creation Research, 1983. After revisions for magnetic reversals, etc., Dr. Russell Humphreys confirmed these results. (John D. Morris, The Young Earth, 1994.)]
Mississippi River Delta
Approximately 300 million cubic yards of sediment are deposited into the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi River each year. Analysis of the volume and rate of accumulation and dividing the weight of the sediments deposited annually, the age of the delta appears to be about 4,000 years old. (Henry M. Morris, ICR.)
Salinity of the Oceans
The uranium, sodium, nickel, magnesium, silicon, potassium, copper, gold, molybdenum, and bicarbonate concentrations in the oceans are much less than would be expected if these elements and compounds were being added to the oceans at the present rate for thousands of millions of years. Nitrates and uranium do not break down or recycle like salt. Implies oceans are a few thousand years old. (Henry Morris, SA Austin, Dr. Humphreys, et al.)
Poynting-Robertson Effect (“Solar Janitor”)
Photons slow down the forward movement of objects in space. The solar drag force exerted upon micrometeoroids causes the particles to spiral into the sun. The sun is sweeping space at the rate of about 100,000 tons/day. There is no known source of replenishment. Their current abundance speaks for a young universe. (Stanley P. Wyatt, Jr. and Fred L. Whipple, “The Poynting-Robertson Effect on Meteors,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol 3, Jan 1950, p.134-141; David A Weintraub, “Comets in Collision,” Nature, Vol 351, 6 June 1991, p.440-441.)
Radiohalos
Primordial Polonium 218 has been found in mica and fluorite. Polonium 218 has a half-life of only 3 minutes. This is evidence of an instantaneous crystallization of the host granite concurrent with the formation of the polonium. This speaks of an instantaneous creation.
Decreasing Velocity of light (c)
Four of five related atomic properties dependent upon c have demonstrated decrease. Slowing of atomic clocks relative to orbital clocks; if atomic clocks are correct, orbital speeds of Mercury, Venus and Mars are increasing. [William Tifft, University of Naval Observatory: atomic clocks are slowing several parts per billion/year. D. Russell Humphreys: “White Hole” (Black hole in reverse).]
Quantization of Red Shift
Distortion of gravity during an early expansion phase. Time stands still at event horizon.
Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Is the Bible “Inerrant”?
What about 1 Kings 7:23?
1 Kings 7:23
And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
We all know from school that the circumference of a circle is pi x diameter. For the Bible to suggest that the circumference was 3 x diameter, that rubs many mathematicians the wrong way.
Hebrew Alphanumerics: A spelling lesson
The word circumference, in the Hebrew, was written as "hwq kethiv" in the text. This phrase's numeric value total 111.
Ancient scribes noticed the use of the phrase and were aware that the actual phrase should really be "wq qere (marginal annotation)." This phrase's numeric value total 106.
Instead of just changing the text, the scribes maintained the integrity of the original text and in the margins, denoted the phrase commonly used for circumference.
Taking these numerical values in account and making the respective mathematical conversions, going back to the text, we get 30 cubits x 111/106 = 31.41509433962 cubits! That is, in a circumference of over 46 feet, the ancient text actually denotes pi to an error of less than 15 thousandths of an inch!
The above is just one example that tells us our God is a God of details. The deeper we dig, the more we find how each detail fit perfectly with understanding we have had to spend decades of scientific research to develop. Each of these example within the Bible is another of these puzzling ostensible “coincidences” that are too astonishing to dismiss. The rabbis would suggest that each of these may simply be a remez, a hint of something deeper.
From my own personal study of the Bible, I have found that literally or figurative, superficially or digging deeper into the text, the Bible ALWAYS makes sense. That is just how amazing God is. He has given us His Word that proves His existence -- not just through prophecies that have been fulfilled and will be fulfilled but also in the design itself. It show mathematical beauty and perfection -- a feat that could have never been accomplished by accident, not even by many men with the power of several super computers!
Follow-up Questions/Perspectives
1) How do we know that time is a physical property? How does that impact our Biblical views?
2) Why do most people believe in a very “old” universe?
3) What does thermodynamics indicate about the age of the universe?
4) How does our world view affect our everyday life? Can we adduce the real world view from one’s behavior?
5) How does the Book of Genesis refutes each of the major false philosophies prevalent today?
6) How old do we believe the universe is? Why do we believe that? Is the age of the earth any different?
7) Infinity and randomness are two concepts in mathematics that do not exist in our physical universe. What does that imply about our reality?
8) We need to realize that the Big Bang Theory, no matter how astounding, is, well, a theory. The theory has evolved over the years as more and more scientific data suggest why the most current version cannot be physically true. And because science has yet to establish the dogma, the Big Bang Theory continues to evolve. As such, there continue to be problems with the various views of the “Big Bang.” This is how science works. Science, but its nature, does not have the ability to prove anything to be true. It can only prove something to not be true. This is not to say science has not value. On the contrary, science has allowed us to explore and marvel at this world. We just need to be aware that science is not perfect. It has limitations, and as we read into scientific data, we need to always keep that in mind.
INTRODUCTION
There are only two world views: either everything is a result of a cosmic accident, or we are the result of a deliberate design by a Designer.
Two Critical Discoveries
1) We have in our possession an Integrated Message System, consisting of 66 separate books penned by 40 different individuals over thousands of years...
2) Which provably has its origin from outside our time domain.
One Integrated Design: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
— Augustine
The Old Testament is an account of a Nation. The New Testament is the account of a Man. The Creator became a Man. His appearance is the central event of all history: He died to purchase us and is alive now. The most exalted privilege is to know Him. That’s what the Bible is all about.
The Torah: The Five Books of Moses
Genesis The Book of Beginnings
Exodus The Birth of the Nation
Leviticus The Law of the Nation
Numbers The Wilderness Wanderings
Deuteronomy The Laws Reviewed
Who Wrote the Torah?
Documentary Hypothesis (Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis) says that the Torah was compiled by later editors: J (Jehovahist, Yahwist); E (Elohist); D (Deuteronomic source); and, P (Priestly source). This hypothesis was created without any compelling historical, linguistic or textual evidence and has been shredded by Oswalt T. Allis, R.N. Whybray, E.J. Young, Umbertos Cassuto, R.K. Harrison, Kenneth A. Kitchen, et al.
Luke Chapter 24: The Walk to Emmaus – Jesus said Moses wrote the Torah
Luke 24:25-27
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Textual Rebuttals: Jesus said Moses wrote the Torah
• Emmaus Road Account (The key phrase is quoted above)
• Authentication of Moses: Mt 8:4; 19:7,8; 23:2; Mk 1:44; 10:3,4; 7:10; Lk 5:14; 16:19, 31; 20:37; 24:27,44; Jn 3:14; 5:39,45,46; 6:32; 7:19, 22,23.
• All Scriptures are Christ Centered: Jn 5:39; Ps 40:7; Mt 5:17,18.
• Old Testament Quotes:
– Adam: Deut, Job, 1 Chr.
– Noah: 1 Chr, Isa, Ezek.
– Abraham: 15X in OT; 11X in NT.
– Jacob: 20X in OT; 17X NT.
• New Testament Quotes of Genesis:
– 165 direct quotes; ~200 allusions;
– ~100 of the first 11 chapters
John 5:45-47
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
New Testament References to the Book of Genesis
• The Creator and the Creation: Mt 13:35; Mk 13:19; Jn 1:3; Acts 4:24; Acts 14:15; Rom 1:20; 2 Cor 4:6; Col 1:16; Heb 1:10; 11:3.
• Allusions to the Creation: Rom 1:25; 16:25; Eph 3:9; 1 Tim 4:4; Heb 2:10; 4:10; 9:26; Jas 3:9; Rev 3:14; 4:11; 10:6; 14:7.
• Creation of Man and Woman: Mt 19:4-6, 8; Mk 10:6; Acts 17:26; 1 Cor 6:16; 11:8,9; Eph 5:31; 1 Tim 2:13, 14; Rev 2:7; 22:2, 14.
• The Fall: Rom 5:11, 14, 17, 19; 8:19-20; 1 Cor 15:21-22; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 20:2.
• The Flood: Mt 24:37; Lk 17:26; 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5; 3:5-6.
• The Patriarchs: Mt 23:35; Lk 3:34-38; 11:52; Heb 11:4-7, 23; 12:24; 1 Jn 3:12; Jude 11, 14.
Every New Testament writer refers to the early chapters of Genesis: portions of Chapters 1 – 11 (except 8) is referred to in New Testament.
John 5: 39
Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Christ is on every page!
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:16-17
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
John 5:45-47
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Why Study the Book of Genesis?
It is the Book of Beginnings (Law of First Mention)
Creation • Man • Woman • Sabbath • Marriage • Home • Childhood • Sin • Murder • Sacrifice • Grace • Trade • Agriculture • City life • Races • Languages • Chosen people, etc.
Genesis anticipates all false philosophies
• Atheism (Genesis says the world was created by God)
• Pantheism (Genesis says God is transcendent and distinguishable)
• Polytheism (Genesis says there is One God)
• Materialism (Genesis says that matter had a beginning)
• Humanism (Genesis says that God, not man, is the ultimate reality)
• Evolutionism (Genesis says “God created”)
• Uniformism (Genesis says God intervenes in His creation)
All major doctrines have their roots in Genesis:
Sovereign election • Salvation • Justification by faith • Believer’s Security • Separation • Disciplinary chastisement • Divine Incarnation • Rapture of the Church • Death and Resurrection • Priesthoods (Aaronic and Melchizedek) • The Antichrist • Palestinian Covenant
Genesis Outline
Part 1: Genesis 1, 2 Creation
Genesis 3 Fall of Man
Genesis 4 Cain & Abel
Genesis 5 Genealogy of Noah
Genesis 6-9 Flood of Noah
Genesis 10-11 Tower of Babel
Part 2: Genesis 12-20 Abraham
Genesis 21-26 Isaac
Genesis 27-36 Jacob
Genesis 37-50 Joseph
Creation Week: Day One: “Let Light Be”
2nd Day: Stretching of Space
3rd Day: Land and vegetation
4th Day: Sun, Moon, Stars
5th Day: Sea Animals & Birds
6th Day: Land Animals & Man
The Word of God is inexhaustible. The truth is in the details. Every detail is connected to every other; it is an integrated message. What do we do with “difficult” passages? Put Christ right in the middle and see what happens! We will discover that Christ is on every page!
Some Fundamental Questions
• Is the Universe ~15 billion years old? (Hubble Telescope, et al.)
• Was it created in 6 days? 144 hours? Were aging factors built in? Was light created “in transit”?
• Or were the “days” of Genesis simply geological eras? Was “evolution” the mechanism God used?
The Nature of Reality: A Glimpse of Hyperspaces
The rules we learned in school were for a universe of only two dimensions, that’s why we call it “plane” geometry; or “plane” trigonometry. In spherical (3-D) trigonometry, a triangle of more than 180 degrees implies a convex surface; a triangle of less than 180 degrees implies a concave surface.
Einstein’s Revolution
Special Relativity (1905): Length, mass, velocity and time are relative to velocity of the observers General Relativity (1915): There is no distinction between time and space = a 4-dimensional continuum (confirmed 14 ways to 19 decimals).
We have the advantage of modern physics, although few appreciate its aid to our understanding Biblical insights!
The Nature of Gravitational Time Dilation
Identical Atomic clocks are located at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado, and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. The NIST clock ticks 5 μ seconds/year faster than an identical clock at Greenwich. Which is correct? Both are! Boulder,
Colorado = 5400 ft altitude; Greenwich, England = 80 ft. Atomic clocks are faster by the rate of 10-16 sec/meter elevation. Other demonstrations include the aircraft experiment (1971) where the plane traveling eastward lost 0.059 microseconds and the one flying westward gained 0.273 microseconds, accounting for the Earth’s rotation, etc., exactly what Einstein’s formula predicted! And a classic is the hypothetical trip to Alpha Centauri by the twin astronauts.
Time is not uniform: it is a physical property that varies with mass, acceleration and gravity…among other things... We exist in more than three dimensions (apparently 10). This physical insight will dissolve most theological paradoxes.
The Nature of God
Is God subject to the restrictions of mass? Acceleration? Gravity? He is not simply One with “lots of time,” He is outside of the restrictions of time. This uniqueness is His Personal Imprint… From Outside Time.
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity…
Since God has the technology to create us, He certainly has the means to get a message to us…but how does He authenticate His message so that we know that it is really from Him, and not a contrivance or a fraud? By prophecies.
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done...
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Hebrew: Beresheet Bara Elohim et ha-Shamayim et ha-Eretz
Beresheet = In beginning
Bara = Create out of nothing
Elohim = God; plural noun, used as a singular
Age of the Earth?
Classic Date of October, 1404 B.C.: Archbishop James Ussher & Dr. John Lightfoot (17th century). Similar studies by William Henry Green, & B. B. Warfield, Princeton (19th century) and E.W. Faulstich, computer analysis, 1979; Walter T. Brown, 1995. More recent parallel studies not materially different. “Gaps” in genealogies not materially relevant.
Some Preliminaries
It is essential to “blindfold our prejudices” and shed the baggage of our misconceptions. The only sure barrier to truth is the presumption that you already have it… 20th century science has vindicated the Biblical perspectives of reality (the finite universe; the discovery of the nature of time, the realization of hyperspaces...and more!).
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is condemnation before investigation.
— Edmund Spencer
Thermal Decay
Heat always flows from hot bodies to cold bodies. If the universe was infinitely old, the temperature throughout the universe would be uniform. It isn’t; therefore, it isn’t infinitely old. The universe had a beginning. And it is destined for an ending. The most profound discovery of modern physics is that we live in a finite universe. From a singularity of a beginning… to an ultimate thermodynamic termination as an ending.
The “Big Bang” Models
• Steady State Model
– Einstein’s Biggest Mistake
• Hesitation Model
– Refuted in the 1960s
• Oscillation Model
– Refuted by entropy laws, lack of mass.
• Inflation Model
– Requires antigravity forces never observed
The Stretch Factor (re: Dr. Gerald Schroeder)
• The expansion factor: ~1012
• 16 billion years x 365 = 6,000,000,000,000 days
• 6 x 1012 days ÷ 1012 = 6 days! Cosmic
• Background Radiation: Initial formation (hadron nucleosynthesis):10.9 x 1012k/2.73k (today) = 4 x 1012
Boundaries of Reality
There are two mathematical concepts that go beyond our physical reality: infinity and randomness.
Infinity and Chaos Theory: Our physical universe is a subset of an ultimate set of conditions and length, mass, and time = quantized.
Physical Chronometers
• Radiometric Dating
• Known clock rate
• Clock set accurately at beginning
• Clock must not be disturbed during measure
• Uniformitarian Thesis vs Catastrophism
Young Earth Indicators
Moon Dust
The lunar surface is exposed to direct sunlight, and strong ultraviolet light and x-rays can destroy the surface layers of exposed rock and reduce them to dust at a rate of a few ten-thousandths of an inch per year. But even this minute amount during the age of the moon could be sufficient to form a layer several miles deep.” (R. A. Lyttleton, astronomer and consultant to NASA, 1956.) Neil Armstrong, Apollo 12, was concerned as he stepped out -- fortunately for him, there was only a few thousand year’s worth found.
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Earth’s magnetic field half-life is calculated to be 1,400 years. Based on measurements taken from 1835 to 1965 estimates an age of less than 10,000 years. If extrapolated back 20,000 years, the joule heat generated would liquefy the earth. [Thomas G. Barnes, Origin and Destiny of the Earth’s Magnetic Field, Institute for Creation Research, 1983. After revisions for magnetic reversals, etc., Dr. Russell Humphreys confirmed these results. (John D. Morris, The Young Earth, 1994.)]
Mississippi River Delta
Approximately 300 million cubic yards of sediment are deposited into the Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi River each year. Analysis of the volume and rate of accumulation and dividing the weight of the sediments deposited annually, the age of the delta appears to be about 4,000 years old. (Henry M. Morris, ICR.)
Salinity of the Oceans
The uranium, sodium, nickel, magnesium, silicon, potassium, copper, gold, molybdenum, and bicarbonate concentrations in the oceans are much less than would be expected if these elements and compounds were being added to the oceans at the present rate for thousands of millions of years. Nitrates and uranium do not break down or recycle like salt. Implies oceans are a few thousand years old. (Henry Morris, SA Austin, Dr. Humphreys, et al.)
Poynting-Robertson Effect (“Solar Janitor”)
Photons slow down the forward movement of objects in space. The solar drag force exerted upon micrometeoroids causes the particles to spiral into the sun. The sun is sweeping space at the rate of about 100,000 tons/day. There is no known source of replenishment. Their current abundance speaks for a young universe. (Stanley P. Wyatt, Jr. and Fred L. Whipple, “The Poynting-Robertson Effect on Meteors,” Astrophysical Journal, Vol 3, Jan 1950, p.134-141; David A Weintraub, “Comets in Collision,” Nature, Vol 351, 6 June 1991, p.440-441.)
Radiohalos
Primordial Polonium 218 has been found in mica and fluorite. Polonium 218 has a half-life of only 3 minutes. This is evidence of an instantaneous crystallization of the host granite concurrent with the formation of the polonium. This speaks of an instantaneous creation.
Decreasing Velocity of light (c)
Four of five related atomic properties dependent upon c have demonstrated decrease. Slowing of atomic clocks relative to orbital clocks; if atomic clocks are correct, orbital speeds of Mercury, Venus and Mars are increasing. [William Tifft, University of Naval Observatory: atomic clocks are slowing several parts per billion/year. D. Russell Humphreys: “White Hole” (Black hole in reverse).]
Quantization of Red Shift
Distortion of gravity during an early expansion phase. Time stands still at event horizon.
Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Is the Bible “Inerrant”?
What about 1 Kings 7:23?
1 Kings 7:23
And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
We all know from school that the circumference of a circle is pi x diameter. For the Bible to suggest that the circumference was 3 x diameter, that rubs many mathematicians the wrong way.
Hebrew Alphanumerics: A spelling lesson
The word circumference, in the Hebrew, was written as "hwq kethiv" in the text. This phrase's numeric value total 111.
Ancient scribes noticed the use of the phrase and were aware that the actual phrase should really be "wq qere (marginal annotation)." This phrase's numeric value total 106.
Instead of just changing the text, the scribes maintained the integrity of the original text and in the margins, denoted the phrase commonly used for circumference.
Taking these numerical values in account and making the respective mathematical conversions, going back to the text, we get 30 cubits x 111/106 = 31.41509433962 cubits! That is, in a circumference of over 46 feet, the ancient text actually denotes pi to an error of less than 15 thousandths of an inch!
The above is just one example that tells us our God is a God of details. The deeper we dig, the more we find how each detail fit perfectly with understanding we have had to spend decades of scientific research to develop. Each of these example within the Bible is another of these puzzling ostensible “coincidences” that are too astonishing to dismiss. The rabbis would suggest that each of these may simply be a remez, a hint of something deeper.
From my own personal study of the Bible, I have found that literally or figurative, superficially or digging deeper into the text, the Bible ALWAYS makes sense. That is just how amazing God is. He has given us His Word that proves His existence -- not just through prophecies that have been fulfilled and will be fulfilled but also in the design itself. It show mathematical beauty and perfection -- a feat that could have never been accomplished by accident, not even by many men with the power of several super computers!
Follow-up Questions/Perspectives
1) How do we know that time is a physical property? How does that impact our Biblical views?
2) Why do most people believe in a very “old” universe?
3) What does thermodynamics indicate about the age of the universe?
4) How does our world view affect our everyday life? Can we adduce the real world view from one’s behavior?
5) How does the Book of Genesis refutes each of the major false philosophies prevalent today?
6) How old do we believe the universe is? Why do we believe that? Is the age of the earth any different?
7) Infinity and randomness are two concepts in mathematics that do not exist in our physical universe. What does that imply about our reality?
8) We need to realize that the Big Bang Theory, no matter how astounding, is, well, a theory. The theory has evolved over the years as more and more scientific data suggest why the most current version cannot be physically true. And because science has yet to establish the dogma, the Big Bang Theory continues to evolve. As such, there continue to be problems with the various views of the “Big Bang.” This is how science works. Science, but its nature, does not have the ability to prove anything to be true. It can only prove something to not be true. This is not to say science has not value. On the contrary, science has allowed us to explore and marvel at this world. We just need to be aware that science is not perfect. It has limitations, and as we read into scientific data, we need to always keep that in mind.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Matthew 27:32-66
Notes for BSF
JESUS WILLINGLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US BECAUSE HE LOVED US (Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:22-24; John 19:23-30)
Jesus took off His robe or righteousness so that we may be clothed in His righteousness (Cf. Genesis 3:7; Isaiah 61:10; 64:6; Matthew 22:11-12; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Revelation 3:17; 19:7-8).
Our sins can only be washed away with blood of an innocent man, the blood of the Lamb, of Jesus Christ
Leviticus 4:12, 21; Leviticus 4:28-29; 5:5
Jesus was our sin offering.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
He became accursed of God for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus was made to be sin for us, so that we can become righteous in Him.
Hebrews 13:11-13
Jesus’ death sanctified us with His blood.
1 Peter 1:18-19
We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Peter 2:24
Jesus was beaten so that we might live free. Jesus bore our sins on the Cross, so that we may live righteously.
We must understand the seriousness of these passages. Jesus died for our sins so that we may be clean. He died a brutal death so that we may be free. To continue our lives as sinners, to ignore the sins in our lives, to remain prideful and think that we can redeem our own righteousness, that would be us continuing to mock Jesus, to beat Jesus, to abuse and nail Jesus on the Cross over and over again. Until we recognize how great a sacrifice God has given to us so that we may LIVE ETERNALLY with Him, we will never fully comprehend the immense seriousness of our sins. And when we don’t understand the seriousness of our sins, we will remain prideful and ignorant of our helplessness – and be like the men who tortured Jesus on the Cross.
Jesus’ death fulfilled prophecies (Compare Matthew 27 with Psalm 22, for example)
Psalm 22 prophesied Jesus’ death on the Cross in accurate details. Prophecies regarding the death of the Messiah are documented in other books of the Bible as well, though the discussion below will focus on those recorded in Psalm 22 God the Father turned His back on God the Son.
Psalm 22:1
Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” as he dying on the Cross.
Psalm 22:2-6
Jesus took on the sins of the people. Because Jesus became sin, He could no longer be in the presence of God the Father; and God the Father could no longer look upon Jesus as His Son. For the first time in Jesus’ life, God had to turn His back on Him! Any parent can feel some of the immense pain that God must have felt, as God had to turn away from Jesus, and allow our sins to torture Him. This is such a heartbreaking scene and illustrates vividly how great God’s sacrifice was to redeem us.
Jesus was mocked and tortured before being nailed on the Cross
Psalm 22:7-9
As Jesus was nail to the Cross, the people mocked Him, saying, “Let your God save you!”
Psalm 22:12-13
Many people who were against Christ surrounded Him as He was dying, mocking Him and abusing Him.
Psalm 22:18
The guards cast lots to divide up Jesus’ clothes.
Psalm 69:21
The guards gave Jesus gall for my food and vinegar to drink.
Some pastors said this drink contained sedatives to make the torture more bearable, and Jesus refused it because He wanted to be clear-minded through this process. Other pastors said this drink was actually offered as further mockery of Jesus. It was offered with the sponge that slaves used to wipe their masters’ butt after they have relieved themselves in public restrooms.
The drink was not offered out of care; it was offered out of mockery and hatred.
Jesus died
Psalm 22:14
When the guards punctured His heart, a mixture of blood and water flowed out.
Psalm 22:15
Jesus died. Jesus died a physical death. He didn’t swoon or just lose consciousness. He literally died.
Psalm 22:16
Jesus was pierced in his feet and hands – This method of crucifixion was not the traditional way the Jews executed prisoners. Stoning had always been reserved for capital punishment under Jewish law. In fact, this method was prophesied 700 hundred years before it was even invented by the Persians!
Psalm 22:17
Not one of Jesus’ bones was broken. This was a miracle, since guards often have to break the bones of the prisoners on the cross to expedite their death. The reason why the guards didn’t have to break Jesus’ bones was because Jesus was already dead by that time.
Psalm 22:19-21
God the Father raised Jesus, God the Son, from the dead in 3 days.
God proves to us the validity of His Word by showing us history in advance – We call this prophecy. No one in the world can predict future events with exact accuracy – Only someone who has foreseen it all can have the foresight to know what is going to happen. The Old Testament is full of prophecies that we have witnessed to come true. It is because of these fulfilled prophecies that allow me to trust that God is God – and to have complete faith in His Word and promises.
JESUS’ DEATH BROKE DOWN THE BARRIER BETWEEN GOD AND US (Hebrews 9)
The Holy of Holies is an area within the Temple separated by a temple curtain. Only the High Priest, after preparations meticulously done according to the Bible, could enter the Holy of Holies. The High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year, during the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). He enters it with the blood of an innocent lamb, to cleanse the nation of Israel of its sins.
The Temple curtain was said to be 60 feet long, 20 feet wide and 4 inches thick. Upon Jesus’ passing, the curtain was torn in half by the heavens.
Matthew 27:51
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Before Jesus redeemed the world with its blood, our sins prevented us from being in the presence of God. This was why we could only communicate with God through a mediator, the High Priest – A mediator chosen not by man but by God. The curtain was both a physical and a symbolical separation of man from God. The Holy of Holies was where God’s presence would descend when He met with the High Priest. If the High Priest did not cleanse himself as God had commanded in Leviticus 16 prior to entering into God’s presence, God’s perfect righteousness would strike the High Priest dead immediately. This was why the High Priest often entered the Holy of Holies with a rope tied to his ankle, so that should he be struck dead, people could pull him back out without having to go into the Holy of Holies.
Because Jesus Christ – our ETERNAL mediator between God and us – cleansed us with His blood, then as long as we place our faith in Christ, we need no other mediator between God and us. The blood of a perfect lamb could only redeem us temporarily because a lamb is not a complete sacrifice for man. The only perfect sacrifice for man is another man – and not just any man, because any man with sins could die only for his own sins. His death redeems no one else but himself. Hence, the only way we can be redeemed of our sins is if someone without sin dies in our place – and the only man that fits that description is Jesus Christ. The blood of a lamb is temporary – but the blood of THE Lamb of God, that is eternal.
Through Jesus, we thus gain PERMANENT and DIRECT access to God. This was why God struck down the curtain, signifying the end of an old era and the coming of a new era – an era where God has personally redeemed us in Him, so that we can directly interact with Him!
JESUS WAS BURIED AS PROPHESIED (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50-53; and John 19:38-42)
Jesus’ death and burial were prophesied hundreds of years ahead of time.
Prophecy – Isaiah 53:9
And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Reality – Matthew 27:57-60
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Jesus died with the sinful but was buried among the rich.
Pilate tried to prevent fulfillment of prophecy
Knowing that the Messiah was prophesied to rise from the dead on the 3rd day, the religious leaders requested that Pilate seal Jesus tomb at least until after the third day, so that they could ensure that nothing would happen to Jesus’ body. They naively thought that they could out-maneuver God! Of course, we know what happens next, despite the tomb having been sealed and guarded by soldiers!
Matthew 28:5-6
Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.
JESUS WILLINGLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US BECAUSE HE LOVED US (Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:22-24; John 19:23-30)
Jesus took off His robe or righteousness so that we may be clothed in His righteousness (Cf. Genesis 3:7; Isaiah 61:10; 64:6; Matthew 22:11-12; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Revelation 3:17; 19:7-8).
Our sins can only be washed away with blood of an innocent man, the blood of the Lamb, of Jesus Christ
Leviticus 4:12, 21; Leviticus 4:28-29; 5:5
Jesus was our sin offering.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
He became accursed of God for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus was made to be sin for us, so that we can become righteous in Him.
Hebrews 13:11-13
Jesus’ death sanctified us with His blood.
1 Peter 1:18-19
We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Peter 2:24
Jesus was beaten so that we might live free. Jesus bore our sins on the Cross, so that we may live righteously.
We must understand the seriousness of these passages. Jesus died for our sins so that we may be clean. He died a brutal death so that we may be free. To continue our lives as sinners, to ignore the sins in our lives, to remain prideful and think that we can redeem our own righteousness, that would be us continuing to mock Jesus, to beat Jesus, to abuse and nail Jesus on the Cross over and over again. Until we recognize how great a sacrifice God has given to us so that we may LIVE ETERNALLY with Him, we will never fully comprehend the immense seriousness of our sins. And when we don’t understand the seriousness of our sins, we will remain prideful and ignorant of our helplessness – and be like the men who tortured Jesus on the Cross.
Jesus’ death fulfilled prophecies (Compare Matthew 27 with Psalm 22, for example)
Psalm 22 prophesied Jesus’ death on the Cross in accurate details. Prophecies regarding the death of the Messiah are documented in other books of the Bible as well, though the discussion below will focus on those recorded in Psalm 22 God the Father turned His back on God the Son.
Psalm 22:1
Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” as he dying on the Cross.
Psalm 22:2-6
Jesus took on the sins of the people. Because Jesus became sin, He could no longer be in the presence of God the Father; and God the Father could no longer look upon Jesus as His Son. For the first time in Jesus’ life, God had to turn His back on Him! Any parent can feel some of the immense pain that God must have felt, as God had to turn away from Jesus, and allow our sins to torture Him. This is such a heartbreaking scene and illustrates vividly how great God’s sacrifice was to redeem us.
Jesus was mocked and tortured before being nailed on the Cross
Psalm 22:7-9
As Jesus was nail to the Cross, the people mocked Him, saying, “Let your God save you!”
Psalm 22:12-13
Many people who were against Christ surrounded Him as He was dying, mocking Him and abusing Him.
Psalm 22:18
The guards cast lots to divide up Jesus’ clothes.
Psalm 69:21
The guards gave Jesus gall for my food and vinegar to drink.
Some pastors said this drink contained sedatives to make the torture more bearable, and Jesus refused it because He wanted to be clear-minded through this process. Other pastors said this drink was actually offered as further mockery of Jesus. It was offered with the sponge that slaves used to wipe their masters’ butt after they have relieved themselves in public restrooms.
The drink was not offered out of care; it was offered out of mockery and hatred.
Jesus died
Psalm 22:14
When the guards punctured His heart, a mixture of blood and water flowed out.
Psalm 22:15
Jesus died. Jesus died a physical death. He didn’t swoon or just lose consciousness. He literally died.
Psalm 22:16
Jesus was pierced in his feet and hands – This method of crucifixion was not the traditional way the Jews executed prisoners. Stoning had always been reserved for capital punishment under Jewish law. In fact, this method was prophesied 700 hundred years before it was even invented by the Persians!
Psalm 22:17
Not one of Jesus’ bones was broken. This was a miracle, since guards often have to break the bones of the prisoners on the cross to expedite their death. The reason why the guards didn’t have to break Jesus’ bones was because Jesus was already dead by that time.
Psalm 22:19-21
God the Father raised Jesus, God the Son, from the dead in 3 days.
God proves to us the validity of His Word by showing us history in advance – We call this prophecy. No one in the world can predict future events with exact accuracy – Only someone who has foreseen it all can have the foresight to know what is going to happen. The Old Testament is full of prophecies that we have witnessed to come true. It is because of these fulfilled prophecies that allow me to trust that God is God – and to have complete faith in His Word and promises.
JESUS’ DEATH BROKE DOWN THE BARRIER BETWEEN GOD AND US (Hebrews 9)
The Holy of Holies is an area within the Temple separated by a temple curtain. Only the High Priest, after preparations meticulously done according to the Bible, could enter the Holy of Holies. The High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year, during the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). He enters it with the blood of an innocent lamb, to cleanse the nation of Israel of its sins.
The Temple curtain was said to be 60 feet long, 20 feet wide and 4 inches thick. Upon Jesus’ passing, the curtain was torn in half by the heavens.
Matthew 27:51
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Before Jesus redeemed the world with its blood, our sins prevented us from being in the presence of God. This was why we could only communicate with God through a mediator, the High Priest – A mediator chosen not by man but by God. The curtain was both a physical and a symbolical separation of man from God. The Holy of Holies was where God’s presence would descend when He met with the High Priest. If the High Priest did not cleanse himself as God had commanded in Leviticus 16 prior to entering into God’s presence, God’s perfect righteousness would strike the High Priest dead immediately. This was why the High Priest often entered the Holy of Holies with a rope tied to his ankle, so that should he be struck dead, people could pull him back out without having to go into the Holy of Holies.
Because Jesus Christ – our ETERNAL mediator between God and us – cleansed us with His blood, then as long as we place our faith in Christ, we need no other mediator between God and us. The blood of a perfect lamb could only redeem us temporarily because a lamb is not a complete sacrifice for man. The only perfect sacrifice for man is another man – and not just any man, because any man with sins could die only for his own sins. His death redeems no one else but himself. Hence, the only way we can be redeemed of our sins is if someone without sin dies in our place – and the only man that fits that description is Jesus Christ. The blood of a lamb is temporary – but the blood of THE Lamb of God, that is eternal.
Through Jesus, we thus gain PERMANENT and DIRECT access to God. This was why God struck down the curtain, signifying the end of an old era and the coming of a new era – an era where God has personally redeemed us in Him, so that we can directly interact with Him!
JESUS WAS BURIED AS PROPHESIED (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50-53; and John 19:38-42)
Jesus’ death and burial were prophesied hundreds of years ahead of time.
Prophecy – Isaiah 53:9
And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Reality – Matthew 27:57-60
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Jesus died with the sinful but was buried among the rich.
Pilate tried to prevent fulfillment of prophecy
Knowing that the Messiah was prophesied to rise from the dead on the 3rd day, the religious leaders requested that Pilate seal Jesus tomb at least until after the third day, so that they could ensure that nothing would happen to Jesus’ body. They naively thought that they could out-maneuver God! Of course, we know what happens next, despite the tomb having been sealed and guarded by soldiers!
Matthew 28:5-6
Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Matthew 26-27
Notes for BSF
JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS (Matthew 26:47-56; John 18:1-11)
Peter reacted rashly
When the religious leaders came to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out his sword and cut off one of the guard's ear. Although it was based on a tender and pure heart for Jesus that Peter took such an action to protect Jesus, this was not a well thought through plan. If Jesus had not intervened by stepping forward immediately and healing the guard's ear, Peter's action could very well have resulted in everyone getting arrested, or worse, killed. Further, it was a reaction out of hate, which is completely opposite of the two commandments emphasized by Jesus.
Jesus came to fulfill the law
Jesus knew the mission He had come to fulfill. Even His arrest, we should note, took place by His arrangement. Previous attempts to either arrest or kill Jesus always resulted in Jesus being able to successfully slip away -- because it simply wasn't time yet for His fulfillment of prophecies. When the time came, He prompted Judas' hand and forced His arrest to occur during feast celebrations (which under usual circumstance, the religious leaders would avoid this). He knew His time had come -- for He was the Passover Lamb -- and He thus allowed the soldiers to arrest Him. Even at His arrest, He had full control of the situation, fielding the guards for His disciples, protecting His disciples from the possible clash with the guards.
Matthew 26:53
Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
Everything that took place that night was part of God's plan of redemption.
Matthew 26:56
All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
JESUS IS ILLEGALLY INTERROGATED BY THE SANHEDRIN (Matthew 26:57-68; 27:1-2; John 18:12-14, 19-24)
Before the night was over, Jesus were put through 6 trials, all of which were illegally conducted. First, Jesus was questioned by Annas, Caiaphas' father-in-law, before He was interrogated by Caiaphas himself.
During Caiaphas' examination of Jesus...
Phase I
The religious leaders paid people to be false witnesses against Jesus. These false witnesses were "bought" by the religious leaders.
Phase II
Caiaphas put Jesus on the trial, forcing Him to answer false accusations.
Phase III
Caiaphas condemned Jesus for blasphemy -- even though Jesus spoke nothing but the truth -- and the crowed beat Him for it.
Jesus publicly announced His Godship
When asked if he were the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus confirmed this as fact. For Jesus to make this claim, we can deduce a couple of possibilities:
1. If Jesus is NOT the Son of God yet claims He is, Jesus is either a liar or delusional -- even crazy.
2. If Jesus IS the Son of God, then He is telling the truth.
We could go for hours bringing up details after details why Jesus IS the Son of God. For starters, it is not everyday that nations become devoted followers of a lunatic. It is even rarer to have people readily die for a lunatic. During this illegal trial and subsequent trials, none of the "judges" could find any fault with Jesus -- Clearly, Jesus was no lunatic. Caiaphas falsely accused Jesus of blasphemy because despite all reasoning and evidence, he refused to accept the truth in order that he might continue to live and divulge in sin. Let us learn from his mistake. There is no escaping the truth -- It exists whether we want to believe it or not. We may be able to close our eyes for a while, but ultimately, all truths catch up with us.
PETER DENIES JESUS THREE TIMES (Matthew 26:69-27:10; Luke 22:59-62; John 18:12-27)
Peter denied knowing Jesus every time he was asked if he knew Jesus, just as Jesus had prophesied.
Peter and Judas both betrayed Jesus -- but one was repentant whereas the other was not
Judas regretted his betrayal, but he never repented -- He carried his guilt with him to his grave, but he never returned to God. Jesus gave Judas a chance to be truthful about the sin he was about to commit, and instead of repenting, Judas immediately ran to the religious leaders to arrest Jesus that night. God always gives us chances to make the right choice. And so, at the end of the day, we are always responsible for the sins that we each commit.
Peter also regretted his betrayal, but he repented. When Jesus was resurrected, Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to redeem his faith (for the 3 times that Peter denied Jesus) – and each time, Peter confirmed that he loved Jesus. Peter than went on to be the founding father of the Church!
Repent means to literally turn around. When we are repentant, we will stop doing what we’re doing and TURN AROUND so that we are no longer walking the same path – but a completely opposite path.
Someone who is just sorry can surely feel regret. We can feel regret for a lot of reasons. We could feel sorry because we realize the choice we have made did not make us rich or made us lose something we really valued (like our jobs or our positions, etc.). Being sorry, without being repentant, means we continue to walk down the wrong path. We remain prideful in our previous decision and have no will to change. Judas died in this condition. I pray that none of us would repeat his path.
PILATE WANTED ONLY FAME FROM JESUS (Matthew 27:11-31; Luke 23:1-12)
When Jesus was born, Herod traveled all the way to Bethelhem because he knew the prophecy of Jesus’ birth was fulfilled and that the people called him as the king of the Jews. Herod came to seek the child not to offer his blessings but to murder Him -- because he didn't want to relinquish his position as Herod. Thirty some years later, Pilate was asking the same question. And on this day, Jesus confirmed it for Pilate.
Herod was not blind. He knew Jesus was the Messiah. Sadly, he had the knowledge, but he had no heart.
It is not enough for us to just know who God is. We have to also willingly follow Him. We have to love Him with our heart. Knowing is not enough to solidify our relationship with God. We have to build it with trust and by walking with God.
Pilate found no fault in Jesus (cf. John 18:28-19:16)
Pilate realized that Jesus was speaking the truth and did not lie. Therefore, Jesus did not blaspheme, like what He had been wrongfully accused of.
John 18:37
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
The religious leaders wanted to persecute Christ by any means necessary
The religious leaders, however, were not interested in the truth. They just wanted to get rid of Jesus so that they could remain at the top of the food chain, so to speak. Before Jesus' arrival, the religious leaders had power over the people. They used religion as a tool for them to gain wealth and power. With His coming, Jesus changed all that. He rebuked the religious leaders for their wrong-doing, and most importantly, their sinful hearts. Instead of repenting, the religious leaders decided to kill Jesus instead, so that they could return to their sinful ways.
John 18:31-32
The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
The religious leaders, under Roman rule, could not execute anyone. In order to carry out the death sentence, they had to convince to Roman rulers the prisoner at hand deserves death. As we have seen, they were so desperate about getting rid of Christ, that they bribed people to be false witnesses against Jesus.
Pilate executed an innocent man in place of a guilty man
In not wanting to risk becoming an enemy of Caesar, Pilate, despite knowing the truth, released Barabbas in exchange for Jesus' life. That is, Pilate chose to please man than God.
John 19:12-13
From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is calledThe Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
Pilate, because of his eagerness to please man, lost his salvation. There is nothing worth enough in this world for us to trade our eternal salvation with. We really must learn from the mistakes of people like Pilate and make sure we never make the same mistake. Eternal life or temporary self-glory? Choose wisely!
JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS (Matthew 26:47-56; John 18:1-11)
Peter reacted rashly
When the religious leaders came to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out his sword and cut off one of the guard's ear. Although it was based on a tender and pure heart for Jesus that Peter took such an action to protect Jesus, this was not a well thought through plan. If Jesus had not intervened by stepping forward immediately and healing the guard's ear, Peter's action could very well have resulted in everyone getting arrested, or worse, killed. Further, it was a reaction out of hate, which is completely opposite of the two commandments emphasized by Jesus.
Jesus came to fulfill the law
Jesus knew the mission He had come to fulfill. Even His arrest, we should note, took place by His arrangement. Previous attempts to either arrest or kill Jesus always resulted in Jesus being able to successfully slip away -- because it simply wasn't time yet for His fulfillment of prophecies. When the time came, He prompted Judas' hand and forced His arrest to occur during feast celebrations (which under usual circumstance, the religious leaders would avoid this). He knew His time had come -- for He was the Passover Lamb -- and He thus allowed the soldiers to arrest Him. Even at His arrest, He had full control of the situation, fielding the guards for His disciples, protecting His disciples from the possible clash with the guards.
Matthew 26:53
Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
Everything that took place that night was part of God's plan of redemption.
Matthew 26:56
All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
JESUS IS ILLEGALLY INTERROGATED BY THE SANHEDRIN (Matthew 26:57-68; 27:1-2; John 18:12-14, 19-24)
Before the night was over, Jesus were put through 6 trials, all of which were illegally conducted. First, Jesus was questioned by Annas, Caiaphas' father-in-law, before He was interrogated by Caiaphas himself.
During Caiaphas' examination of Jesus...
Phase I
The religious leaders paid people to be false witnesses against Jesus. These false witnesses were "bought" by the religious leaders.
Phase II
Caiaphas put Jesus on the trial, forcing Him to answer false accusations.
Phase III
Caiaphas condemned Jesus for blasphemy -- even though Jesus spoke nothing but the truth -- and the crowed beat Him for it.
Jesus publicly announced His Godship
When asked if he were the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus confirmed this as fact. For Jesus to make this claim, we can deduce a couple of possibilities:
1. If Jesus is NOT the Son of God yet claims He is, Jesus is either a liar or delusional -- even crazy.
2. If Jesus IS the Son of God, then He is telling the truth.
We could go for hours bringing up details after details why Jesus IS the Son of God. For starters, it is not everyday that nations become devoted followers of a lunatic. It is even rarer to have people readily die for a lunatic. During this illegal trial and subsequent trials, none of the "judges" could find any fault with Jesus -- Clearly, Jesus was no lunatic. Caiaphas falsely accused Jesus of blasphemy because despite all reasoning and evidence, he refused to accept the truth in order that he might continue to live and divulge in sin. Let us learn from his mistake. There is no escaping the truth -- It exists whether we want to believe it or not. We may be able to close our eyes for a while, but ultimately, all truths catch up with us.
PETER DENIES JESUS THREE TIMES (Matthew 26:69-27:10; Luke 22:59-62; John 18:12-27)
Peter denied knowing Jesus every time he was asked if he knew Jesus, just as Jesus had prophesied.
Peter and Judas both betrayed Jesus -- but one was repentant whereas the other was not
Judas regretted his betrayal, but he never repented -- He carried his guilt with him to his grave, but he never returned to God. Jesus gave Judas a chance to be truthful about the sin he was about to commit, and instead of repenting, Judas immediately ran to the religious leaders to arrest Jesus that night. God always gives us chances to make the right choice. And so, at the end of the day, we are always responsible for the sins that we each commit.
Peter also regretted his betrayal, but he repented. When Jesus was resurrected, Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to redeem his faith (for the 3 times that Peter denied Jesus) – and each time, Peter confirmed that he loved Jesus. Peter than went on to be the founding father of the Church!
Repent means to literally turn around. When we are repentant, we will stop doing what we’re doing and TURN AROUND so that we are no longer walking the same path – but a completely opposite path.
Someone who is just sorry can surely feel regret. We can feel regret for a lot of reasons. We could feel sorry because we realize the choice we have made did not make us rich or made us lose something we really valued (like our jobs or our positions, etc.). Being sorry, without being repentant, means we continue to walk down the wrong path. We remain prideful in our previous decision and have no will to change. Judas died in this condition. I pray that none of us would repeat his path.
PILATE WANTED ONLY FAME FROM JESUS (Matthew 27:11-31; Luke 23:1-12)
When Jesus was born, Herod traveled all the way to Bethelhem because he knew the prophecy of Jesus’ birth was fulfilled and that the people called him as the king of the Jews. Herod came to seek the child not to offer his blessings but to murder Him -- because he didn't want to relinquish his position as Herod. Thirty some years later, Pilate was asking the same question. And on this day, Jesus confirmed it for Pilate.
Herod was not blind. He knew Jesus was the Messiah. Sadly, he had the knowledge, but he had no heart.
It is not enough for us to just know who God is. We have to also willingly follow Him. We have to love Him with our heart. Knowing is not enough to solidify our relationship with God. We have to build it with trust and by walking with God.
Pilate found no fault in Jesus (cf. John 18:28-19:16)
Pilate realized that Jesus was speaking the truth and did not lie. Therefore, Jesus did not blaspheme, like what He had been wrongfully accused of.
John 18:37
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
The religious leaders wanted to persecute Christ by any means necessary
The religious leaders, however, were not interested in the truth. They just wanted to get rid of Jesus so that they could remain at the top of the food chain, so to speak. Before Jesus' arrival, the religious leaders had power over the people. They used religion as a tool for them to gain wealth and power. With His coming, Jesus changed all that. He rebuked the religious leaders for their wrong-doing, and most importantly, their sinful hearts. Instead of repenting, the religious leaders decided to kill Jesus instead, so that they could return to their sinful ways.
John 18:31-32
The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
The religious leaders, under Roman rule, could not execute anyone. In order to carry out the death sentence, they had to convince to Roman rulers the prisoner at hand deserves death. As we have seen, they were so desperate about getting rid of Christ, that they bribed people to be false witnesses against Jesus.
Pilate executed an innocent man in place of a guilty man
In not wanting to risk becoming an enemy of Caesar, Pilate, despite knowing the truth, released Barabbas in exchange for Jesus' life. That is, Pilate chose to please man than God.
John 19:12-13
From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is calledThe Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
Pilate, because of his eagerness to please man, lost his salvation. There is nothing worth enough in this world for us to trade our eternal salvation with. We really must learn from the mistakes of people like Pilate and make sure we never make the same mistake. Eternal life or temporary self-glory? Choose wisely!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)