The Last Supper/New Covenant

The Last Supper is one of the most well known events in the New Testament and for the Christian it is a powerful one. Jesus sits down with His twelve disciples and has His final meal with them in which He institutes the New Covenant. There is a lot to be learned by this event which can be seen in all four Gospels and also in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians. I intend to give an expository response to this event in light of all four Gospels and 1Corinthians. The majority of my text will be in the Synoptic Gospels because of the detail given in these texts, whereas John’s Gospel focuses more on events that surround the Last Supper and 1Corinthians is really just a repeat of what the Gospels recorded.
Now On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of Unleavened Bread or the Passover would take place on Nisan fifteen and continue until the twenty-first of Nisan. The feast lasted seven days, and on the first day and last day there would be a convocation in which the people of Israel would eat a meal in which there would be a meeting between God and man. Many times in preparing for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in which there was no leavened bread eaten for the entire week, they would sprinkle leaven crumbs throughout the house and allow the kids to run around and find them all, and in so doing they would purge their homes of all leaven which was symbolic of sin and evil.(1) Leaven is a substance that causes fermentation, and so sin in our lives will also infect us in a similar means. 1Corinthians 5:6 says “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” In Matthew 16:6 Jesus tells His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. The Passover meal was instituted to remember the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. This deliverance form Egypt was the central act of redemption in the Old Testament, and after this meal with His disciples Jesus is going to provide a new central act of redemption for all of mankind in the New Testament. This was no doubt an important event in the lives of the disciples and necessary for Jesus to institute. In Luke’s Gospel it says that Jesus had an earnest or fervent desire to eat the Passover to eat this meal with His disciples.
The disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” It is interesting to note that the disciples are coming to Jesus on the very day that the Passover in to commence and they are just now asking where to prepare the Passover. It would seem as though there may be a little bit of procrastination on their part. Jesus then tells them to go into the city, we know that the city was Jerusalem because the Feast had to be celebrated in Jerusalem, and find a man carrying a pitcher of water. Now this would seem a little vague to most of us, since there is estimated to have been two million in the city that year, but not to the Jew in that time period. Men would not be seen carrying pitchers of water that was what the woman carried; the men would be carrying an animal skin filled with liquid not a pitcher.(2) This would be a distinct sing for the sent disciples to look for, and in Luke’s Gospel we know that it was Peter and John that were sent by Jesus. (Luke 22:8) As always, when the disciples got there it was exactly as Jesus had said, so they prepared the Passover in a large upper room in the house of the man with the water pitcher.
When evening had come He sat down with the twelve. According to the Jewish calendar the day began at sundown. So when it was evening or the beginning of the Passover day which will be the same day that Jesus will be crucified. Jesus sits down with His disciples to eat this final meal with them. It should be noted that they are seated while they are eating and literally in the Greek it says that they are reclining, which was custom of the day when eating meals. However there is something more significant to note here. In Exodus 12:11 it says “And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD's Passover.” The fist Passover meal was eaten standing up and in haste ready to leave Egypt. Now as the Jews celebrate this meal they do it sitting down recognizing the rest they now have in God’s deliverance. Just as we today have rest in the work of Christ on the cross, Hebrews 4:10 “for he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” This was quite the statement for Jesus to make and it is interesting that all of them become sorrowful and each one of them asks Him if it is them. None of them at this point are so confident that they wouldn’t betray Him; however they also don’t know the extent of the betrayal yet either. The betrayal that Jesus is talking about is that of delivering Him unto death. Jesus makes the distinction that the one who will betray Him is one that dips with Him in the bowl. That is to say that it is a friend who is close to Him because they all are dipping with Him in the bowl. This does show us the love that Jesus had for Judas as He is calling him a friend even after know what Judas has already determined to do in his heart. After this statement we see the true hypocrisy of Judas showing as Judas says “Rabbi, is it I?” To be able to look Jesus in the face and ask such a blasphemous question must have crushed Jesus’ spirit as He responds saying “You have said it.” I am sure Jesus’ response was one of love and kindness as He is still seeking to draw Judas to repentance. In the Middle Eastern culture betraying a friend after the intimate experience of meal time was said to be the worst kind of treachery and this is exactly what Judas did to Jesus. John’s Gospel tells us that it was actually during the meal that Judas left to betray Jesus. John 13:27 says “Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’”
And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Jesus is at the head of the table and a custom the head would stand up and say “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let everyone who hungers come and eat; let everyone who is needy come and eat the Passover meal.” This is not what Jesus does; instead He takes the bread and reinterprets it to be His body. Each of the Passover elements had a special significance to the original Passover. The bread represented the affliction in Egypt, the bitter herbs represented the bitterness of slavery, the salt water represented the tears shed over Egyptian slavery, and of course the lamb represented the sacrifice given for the blood on the door post for deliverance from death. Jesus said in John 6:48-51 “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." I am sure that as Jesus is instituting the New Covenant by reinterpreting the meaning of the bread the disciple’s minds are going back to this saying of Jesus after the feeding of the five thousand. We today can see Jesus in the bread in three different ways, 1. He had no leaven (sin) in Him, 2. He was striped for our transgressions (the bread cakes had lines on them), 3. He was pierced (the bread cakes had holes in them). Jesus says take, eat, this is very important in the Greek language. The word for take is λάβετε and it is in the imperative mode which means it is a command and literally means: you all are commanded to take!, and the same is true for the word eat which is φάγετε and literally means: you all are commanded to eat! So we also see that it is directed at everyone and not just the twelve, Jesus says you all are commanded to do this. We are commanded to take and eat, which also shows that it is not forced, we must receive it, and that it is important for our health, without Jesus we will perish.While I am on the subject of Greek the word that is used for giving thanks is εὐχαριστήσας or eucharist which is where the term for the Last supper came from.
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink for it, all of you. The Greek here is the same as with the bread so I will not go into that again, but there are some important things to note here. In Luke’s Gospel there is a distinction between two cups. In Luke 22:17 it says “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves.” We then read of Jesus taking the bread and breaking it and in Luke 22:20 it says “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” After supper He took another cup and this is the cup of the New Covenant. It is interesting when looking at the Jewish Passover that there are four cups that are taken and each one has significance. This can be seen in Exodus 6:6-7 “Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” The first cup is I will take you to be my people, second is I will deliver you from slavery, the third is I will redeem you with a demonstration of my power, this is the cup that the disciple and ourselves partake of because of Christ, and the fourth is I will take you as my people. Jesus will not partake of this cup until He is with His entire church in the Kingdom and there it will not be the Passover, it will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb that is talked about in Revelation 19:9.
Because of this institution of Jesus and the Last Supper we can better understand the meaning of the New Covenant that is given in Jeremiah 31:33-34 “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." The Covenant has been sealed with blood just as the old covenant was in Exodus 24:8 “And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words."

Update

It has been great being out here in California at Bible College this semester. God has truly been blessing and growing me this semester. I can’t wait to see you all again and be able to share with you what God is doing out here face to face, but I guess an email will have to do for now. I have been really busy with school work and such and that is why I have been long in writing to you, but I want you all to know that I am praying for you and for the New England area. I truly believe that God is desiring to do a work in the New England area and what a blessing it would be if God chose New Hampshire to begin that work. Jeremiah 15:16 says Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. We are all called by God and He has given to us His word in which we can study and meditate on in order to know exactly how God is calling us. I am so excited to be out here and be able to set some time aside and delight in the words of the LORD, and I want to encourage all of you to take some time to set aside to spend with the Lord in His word. Again in Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. We cannot walk in our own steps and be able to walk in a straight line, I think we all know this, but if we are, as Jeremiah was, to meditate on the Word of God we can then be guided and directed in His steps and not our own. It has been a great semester thus far and I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for the rest of my time here. It is amazing to think about how fast time goes by, it seems as though a couple of weeks ago I was with you all, and now half of my semester is over and already looking to returning to the great state of N.H. You know, I am studying the book of Revelation this semester, and as I look at the different prophecies regarding the end times it appears that we are in the last days of the Church. It would seem as though the age of the Philadelphia faithful church is ending (Rev 3:7-13) and the age of the Laodicea apostate church is here (Rev 3:14-22). The Lord is at hand and I believe He is coming to rescue His church from this lost and dying world. More and more of the open doors in ministry are closing even as whole countries are closing their doors to missionaries; we are truly coming to the end. One thing that I am convicted by and burdened by is all the lost souls that are going to have to suffer the effects of the Great Tribulation. I do not want to write you guys a depressing letter but rather to encourage you guys that we are living in a tremendous time period and that God has chosen us, He has chosen this generation that is alive today, that is you and me, to minister to His people. God has called us to reach this world for the Kingdom of God and bring in a great harvest of souls before He removes His Church. Friends I hope we can see the importance of the calling that God has given to us. Jeremiah was given a ministry by the Lord in which he was to go and preach to the nation of Israel even when God told him that they would not listen to him, and he was obedient to the call of God when he knew his ministry would be fruitless. How much more should we be obedient and be willing to answer as Isaiah did Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here I! Send me." Have you heard the voice of the Lord? Are you willing to be sent? How about if it is in your own backyard? What if it is to your own family, your friends, co-workers, will you go? Let me ask you a question, what church are you from? Are you part of the Philadelphia church or the Laodicea church? Read Revelation 3:7-22 and ask yourself what church you are a part of. I pray that you are a part of the Philadelphia church, if not it is not too late to change churches and become a member of the Philadelphia church. Philippians 3:13b-14 but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.We have been called, and that call comes from above! Scientists were doing some studies on the Norwegian wharf rats. They took the rats and placed them in a tub of water and continued to spray the tubs so that the rats could not roll over and float. The rats ended up dying after just seventeen minutes of swimming. The scientists again took another set of rats and repeated the experiment only this time after sixteen minutes as the rats were about to die they removed them and dried them off, placed them in their cage and fed them. They let the rats recover for a few days and allowed them to live a normal life again. Then after some time had passed the rats are put back in the tubs of water only this time the rats swam for more than thirty seven before they died. The scientist concluded that the reason for this extended life spam was that they had a salvation experience and they were for a repeated salvation. The rats were able to swim thirty seven hours instead of seventeen minutes because they had hope. They have the hope of salvation. We as Christians also have this same hope of salvation that is given to us because of the cross of Jesus Christ. We need to apply this to our ministry, as we are swimming through this difficult world, are we clinging to the hope we have is Jesus, are we trusting in His guiding hand as we minister in our homes, and our work places. Or have we given up, has the body of Christ just rolled over in the tub and died? I fear too many Christians and even whole churches have just simply given up on ministry. I pray this is not the case with you dear brothers and sisters. May you be encouraged today and be willing to step up and make a difference in your community. Will you be the difference in your church? We need men and woman to be willing to be raised up as leaders in this fallen world as Isaiah willing to be (Isaiah 6:8). Let me just pray for you right now and I would encourage you to join me in this prayer as you are reading it.

“Lord I hope not. I pray that you would renew in my brothers and sisters a passion for You oh God! I pray that you would prolong your coming just a little bit longer, I ask You to allow us to minister to those who mean the most to us. I ask You God to grant us the boldness we need to be Your ambassadors and fulfill the ministry that You have put us in. Give us the heart that You gave Your apostle Paul, give us the boldness that he had to minister to those who You have already called into Your Kingdom. But first and foremost God, renew our fellowship with You. Help us to take time to make time and just seek your face. Your Son Jesus Christ sought you on a daily basis early in the morning, and if Jesus needed to seek You, how more do we need You! Draw us close God! Speak to us, and grow Your Church, not just in numbers God but also in passion. Lord we no longer want to be complacent Christians, our desire is to be obedient, I ask You God to make our desires Your desires and that every decision we make will be one that is conformed to Your perfect will. Revive Your Church Oh God I pray, Revive Your Church, Please God keep us from apostasy and bring us into the shadow of Your wings where we can become complete lacking nothing! God I commit these things to You and I pray these things in the name of Your precious Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus comes to the DOGS!

Mark 7:24-30 24

From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter. 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. (NKJV)
We read here that Jesus is departing into the city of Tyre a popular port city of the day. Tyre became a Jewish city during the conquest of Joshua as the nation of Israel came into the Promised Land, you can read about this in Joshua 19:29. Now as Jesus is now entering this city it is no longer a Jewish city, we see it first taken into Gentile hands is in Isaiah 23 where Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to the city for a total of thirteen years before it is completely overtaken, and then later in 333B.C. Alexander the Great lays siege to the city for seven months after building a causeway using debris from a city earlier seized to gain access into the city. Because of Israel’s disobedience the city is given over to the Gentiles and continues to be under Gentile control. So we see here the Jewish Messiah going to this Gentile city in order to seek some alone time, no doubt He was tired and eager to escape the pressure of the Jewish crowds thronging Him. However the text here says that even though He seeks to be hidden He is not able to find it for the Son of Man cannot be hidden, even in a Gentile city. His fame has traveled far and wide even among the Gentile cities.
Is Jesus just seeking refuge and rest from His ministry? Or is there a deeper lesson here? Let’s take a minute and go back to the beginning of chapter seven. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their putting the traditions of men above the Word of God. I effect He tells them that it is not the exterior that is defiled and unclean but rather the inside the defiles us. Jesus teaches an important message here and then we are going to see Him take it a step farther by putting into practice that which He teaches. We see Him here in the city to Tyre that I have already showed to be a Gentile city. Now to understand the meaning of this we must know that the Gentiles are considered unclean by the Jewish community. Jesus is here seeking apply His own teaching by going to this “unclean” and ultimately healing a Gentile woman’s daughter. Jesus is here teaching us a very important lesson about the grace of God.
An unnamed Gentile, specifically Syro-Phoenician, woman comes to Jesus. She has a daughter who is also unnamed, but her condition is one of great concern and trouble. This woman has a daughter that is demon possessed which can be a very difficult and even dangerous affliction. This woman has found no remedy for her daughter and she is now seeking Jesus the one who the Jews have been following and receiving many miracles by Him, no doubt word has gotten to her about Jesus’ miracles and she is seeking Jesus for this same miracle. Demon possession is nothing new to the New Testament, nor is it anything new to Jesus’ ministry. In Matthew’s gospel chapter 15 verse 22 we see a couple of interesting things about this account. First we see that her daughter’s state of possession is severe showing the woman’s urgency in seeking Jesus’ healing power. Second we see that she calls Him by His Messianic title “Son of David” showing her knowledge of the Old Testament prophecies and gives us some insight on where her faith is coming from as she seeks Jesus for this healing.
This woman knows who Jesus is and appropriately falls at His feet in reverence for who He is and how desperate she is. She knows that she has no business being in the presence of the Jewish Messiah nor does she deserve the healing that she is seeking for her daughter. As she is crying out to Him according to Matthew’s gospel He didn’t answer her pleading, and we see the heart of His disciples who are telling Jesus cast her away. Jesus’ disciples are showing us how the Gentiles are viewed by the Jews at this point, “just get rid of her, we don’t need these Gentiles following us too.” Oh how this may have discouraged her as she is hoping for deliverance for her daughter and is looking to Jesus in desperation. She knows that she is not worthy of what she is asking for, but how often when in a state of despair we will cast out all barriers and differences in hopes that those you are seeking help from will do the same. This Gentile woman is at that point where she is willing to step over the line of “proper” in order to see her daughter saved.
Now Jesus gives her an answer in which she may have expected. “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Ok let’s break down what Jesus is saying. The children mentioned here are clearly the Jews for they are often referred to as the children of God and the Messiah came for the Jews to reach the Jews, so we can clearly understand that He is referring to the Jews here. “Be filled” is interesting to note, it is not just “fill” but to fatten or to gorge, the children are to be fully filled as seen in the Greek. Now Jesus adds in this very important word that can often be overlooked, it is the word “first”. It is as if Jesus is saying first things first, He is not eliminating all hope but rather stating His priority. Jesus was to go first to the Jews and then later to the Gentiles. We do know that Jesus came for the Jews and it was after their rejection of Him that He is then brought to the Gentiles or in this case the Greeks.
Jesus calls her a dog, or literally a little dog. Now it was common for the Jews of that day to call the Gentiles dogs, they were the children of God and everyone else is nothing more than a dog. It was a very derogatory term of the day and here Jesus uses this term in reference to this Syro- Phoenician woman. Now there are two Greek words for dog, the first is kuōn which means dog, the other is kunarion meaning little dog or puppy. Jesus uses this word meaning puppy. So here is the picture, Jesus has just taken this Greek woman who is normal outside as a kuōn dog and He has brought her into the house as a kunarion puppy that is part of the family. It is not good for the puppy to “take” the break of the Jews says Jesus. Jesus is seeking to remind this woman of who she is and in which to keep her humble, she has come to the Promised Messiah and she need not forget her place. It is important to be humble before Jesus, and we will see that this woman is just that, humble.
Her response to this statement is fascinating. This Syro –Phoenician woman knows exactly what Jesus is saying to her. He is speaking allegorically and she picks up on it. She also responds allegorically. “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” She understands her place, she knows she is nothing more than a little dog that is under the table that the Jews are eating off from, and she is not seeking to “take” the bread that they are eating, but rather, she is hoping to receive a crumb that might fall from the table. Here is Jesus who came to the Jews and has spent most of His ministry in the Jewish cities, He is now in a Gentile city and this woman seeking by faith to receive what has just fallen from the table of the Jews and what she seeks she views as only a crumb. She knows that it is nothing for Jesus to heal her daughter, it is but a crumb, and as a puppy under the table she is satisfied with only the crumb.
Jesus hearing her response and seeing her faith, even though she is a Gentile He heals her daughter. It is interesting to note that no word of healing is said by Jesus, but just that her daughter is already healed. This healing happened at some distance showing that Jesus does not need words nor does He need to be close by to heal and have power over the Spiritual realm. The demons know who Jesus is and they know His power and authority and with just a thought they flee.
We see in this story the day in which Jesus came to the Gentiles, the dogs. Here Jesus is expanding His ministry to not just the “children of God” but also to the dogs as well. Jesus will no longer seclude Himself to the Jews only; He is now available to the Gentiles as well. This is very important us because we are Gentiles and this shows us that we too have the ability to call upon Jesus and seek His power and authority in our lives. We have been graphed into the family of God and can now receive the same bread that the Jews are eating. The day Jesus came to the Syro-Phoenician woman is the day Jesus came to you and me. Galatians 3: 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

How Big is our God?

Just a quick note, I was doing some studying and I stumbled upon something amazing so check this out.So this picture is a diagram of a protein molecule called Laminin. What in the world is Laminin right? Laminin is a molecule that really is the base of all internal organs. What it does is the three short arms will attach themselves to other Laminin molecules while the longer arm will ancor itself to a cell in which it will form a sheet that lines our internal organs. This specific protien molecule truly is vital to holding together all of our bodily structures. Do you think it is a coinincidence that it just so happens to be in the form of a cross? NO! absolutly not! Our Creator knew exactly what He was doing when He created us, and we truly are created in His image (Genisis 1:26). We know that Jesus Christ was the active agent in creation as John 1:1-3 tells us, so as we are created in the image of Jesus Christ and that which holds us together is a cross, which was the primary work of Jesus Christ in redeeming man. So I ask you how big is your God?
Colosians 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
I would encourage you to watch this short 8 min video of Louie Giglio explaining this:



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This next picture is accually a galaxy that was taken from the Hubbel telescope. This galaxy is called the wirpool galaxy and can accually be seen by amateur astronomers. This galaxy is located about 23 million light years away and is accually one of the most popular galaxys observed by astronomers. As you can clearly see the cross in the center of the of the galaxy which is formed by two dust rings created by the black hole in the center. I find it facinating that God would put the cross of Jesus Christ all through His creation, whether it is 23 light years away in the vastness of space or under the microscope of molecular biology to hold our bodies together. How Big is Your God? Mine is big enough to put His signature in places that can't be seen by the human eye without help.

The hope of a wharf rat.

Do you have hope in your life? How important is hope? Did you know that most marriages that fail are because a lack of hope, they have lost all hope of their problems being resolved so they file for divorce. It is also a major reason for suicide, people lose all hope in life so they will just end it. Scientists were doing some studies on the Norwegian wharf rats. They took the rats and placed them in a tub of water and continued to spray the tubs so that the rats could not roll over a float. The rats ended up dying after just seventeen minutes of swimming. The scientists again took another set of rats and repeated the experiment only this time after sixteen minutes as the rats were about to die they removed them and dried them off, placed them in there cage and fed them. They let the rats recover for a few days and allow them to live a normal life again. Then after some time had passed the rats are put back in the tubs of water only this time the rats swam for more that thirty seven hours before they died. The scientist concluded that the reason for this is that they had a salvation experience and they were hoping for a repeat salvation. The rats were able to swim thirty seven hours instead of seventeen minutes because they had hope. The hope of salvation. It is interesting how we as Christians have hope in Jesus Christ, and this hope gives us peace that surpasses all understanding. The question is why are so many of us afraid to give this hope to others. There are so many out there that need the hope that Jesus offers and yet no one is going out and sharing it. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope implies a certain amount of despair, wanting, wishing, suffering or perseverance -i.e., believing that a better or positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary. The word hope appears 142 times in the Bible, Jesus gives us a true hope in that one day we will spend eternity with Him.

Colossians 1:27 says "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Romans 5:1-5 says "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Titus 1:2 says "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,"

Romans 15:4 say "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

We have a spiritual hope that gives us a confident expectation in things beyond this world. Our salvation goes beyond the boundaries of this world and into a eternal kingdom and it is in that hope that I rest and take comfort in. How many of us feel like the first set of rats that are quickly approaching the seventeen minute mark and wondering how we will ever get out of this watery tub we call life. Allow Jesus to become your hope, let Him remove you from the tub and dry you off and feed you so that when you face life's difficulties you can place that hope in Him because He never fails. Jesus will never leave nor forsake you. Life is to short to live without hope and eternity is to long to live without Christ. Place your hope in Him.

Leaven or Leprosy

What do you have dwelling in you? When we look into the Old Testament we see that there are two words that often speak about evil and sin. These are leaven and leprosy. The interesting thing about both of these is that they are recognized in modern science today as micro-organisms. A microorganism is simply an organism that is microscopic and cannot be seen by the unaided eye. What is interesting is that these are pictured by the Bible as a type of sin. (Leviticus 14,Matthew 16:12) Leaven or Yeast is classified as a eukaryotic micro-organism which is the fastest known type of a micro-organism. Leprosy is classified as Mycobacterium leprae micro-organism which is said to be the slowest known type of a micro-organism. I know much of this is going over your head and it is mine too, just know that leaven is the fastest growing and leprosy is the slowest growing. It is fascinating to note that even today with advances in modern medicine that is is no known cure for leprosy or Hansen's disease, however there are medicines that can stop its effects. Even though it is incurable God still allowed opportunity for Him to move and work among His people. If you read in Leviticus chapter fourteen you will see the process the priest was to go through for the cleansing of a leper even though it was incurable. The priest was to take two birds and kill one of them and pour out its blood into an earthen vessel, the priest would then dip the live in the blood and sprinkle the blood seven times on the leper to cleans him and then the live bird would be let loose to then fly into the heavens. What a beautiful picture of our Lord Jesus as He was killed and His blood was sprinkled on us for our redemption and then He ascending into Heaven just as the living bird did. God made a window for Himself to do the impossible. We also see Jesus curing a leper in the gospels (Matt 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16). Leprosy is a disease that infects from the inside out and can last for many years. Yeast or leaven on the other hand has an immediate effect and only needs a very small amount to take that effect. We see this clearly in Galatians 5:9 "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." As mentioned before both of these are typified as sin in the Bible. We know as well with sin that it is an infectious disease that is incurable and can have either a very fast or very slow effect in our lives and that effect only needs a very little amount to have an eternal affect. But the beautiful part about this is that God also made a way for Him to move inside what is incurable. We know that the result of sin is death and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). God sent His only Son to die on the cross to become sin for us and die in our place in order to make us clean and cure us of the sin that is in our lives if we would just call upon Jesus and declare Him as our Savior. Just as the bird in Leviticus 14 flies to the heavens alive, so too Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is alive today in heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father (Ephesians 1:20). Note He is seated because the work is "Finished" and need not be repeated (John 19:30). So the question remains, What is dwelling in you? Is it a type of leaven that is quickly and uncontrollably ruling your life in rebellion to God, or is it that leprosy that is inside you that no one will see until many years later as it begins to effect you outer being, that slow secret sin that leads into rebellion and you don't even realize it? I ask you today to purge the evil from your midst and trust in the only cure that is available, and that is Jesus Christ the true and living God!

Grapes

"God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us." My Utmost for His highest by Oswald Chambers.
The Question is when we are grapes being squeezed by the hand of God what is it that is coming out? Is it sweetness or is it whine. I look at my life and the difficulties that I have had though minor compared to some, my response is not usually a good one. I think of Daniel as he is taken captive by the Babylonians. Upon arriving in Babylon he is made a eunuch, forced to learn Chaldean, given a pagan name (Belshazzar), and told to change his eating habits, all for a king and nation that is not yours. Talk about being squeezed. Daniel is undergoing a great amount of pressure and the Bible tells us in Daniel 1:8 that he purposed in his heart not to defile himself. If anyone had the right to feel resentment it was Daniel and his response is purposing his heart toward his God in heaven. I cannot say I have ever been squeezed that hard, and when I am squeezed my response is not that of Daniel’s. God squeezes us so that the sweetness comes out and we can then be poured out as a drink offering. Too often instead of sweetness coming out I tend to let out whine. “But God I wanted to….” “Why me God?” Does this sound familiar? Oh how I pray for the faithfulness of Daniel. The amazing part about Daniel’s story is that because he purposed in his heart to follow after God, God granted him favor with the chief eunuch (Daniel 1:9) and was able to keep from eating the kings meat and drinking the kings wine. If we will just be obedient to God and purpose in our hearts as Daniel did, God will make a way for us to be obedient. Even in what looks like an impossible situation we must remember that God is bigger than our little problems and can work through them so that we can honor and glorify Him. We are grapes in the hand of the Almighty God, and every now and again He will begin to squeeze us and add pressure. When He squeezes He is attempting to release the sweetness that is inside of you. He desires to pour you out as a drink offering. Because of Daniel’s obedience he gains favor with king Nebuchadnezzar and is promoted to ruler of the Babylon province. So my question to you is what will you do when the Lord begins to squeeze your life? Will He get sweetness out of you or will it be whining.
“Lord will you make me like your servant Daniel. I pray that I can respond to pressure in a way that would honor and glorify You. Help me to purpose my heart after You and Your precepts. It is my desire to follow after You with my whole heart and live a life that brings You glory. I know and believe that You are a sovereign God that is in control of all things may I be Your servant that is able and willing to go no matter what the calling and no matter what the cost. Amen”

The church is Emerging!

What is the Emergent Church? This is a question that I had for quite some time. So what is it? 2 Peter 2: 1-3 says “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” The Bible talks a lot about false teachers, this is something that we as the church should know about and be ready for, but unfortunately these things are going on today and we don’t even know it and if we do we and doing nothing about it.
The Emergent church by definition is "a label that has been used to refer to a particular subset of Christians who are rethinking Christianity against the backdrop of Postmodernism.” How do you rethink Christianity and what is Postmodernism? Well to understand Postmodernism one must understand Modernism first. Modernism in short is the belief that truth is absolute and knowable, and truth can be found by human reason and modern scientific study. Postmodernism is the exact opposite. Postmodernism is the belief that we cannot know truth and it only exists in relation to the individual, it is relative. Your truth is not necessarily my truth. We have all seen this in one way or another, for instance “well church works for you but I am not religious.” This is postmodern thinking and it is where our culture is today.
The troubling part is that there is a movement inside the Christian church that has adapted this train of thought and is reshaping Christianity to fit inside of this ideology. It is called the Emergent Church. The emergent church movement is seeking to deconstruct and reconstruct Christian beliefs, standards, and methods to accommodate our postmodern culture. They have adapted the beliefs of today’s postmodern culture as well relativism which says that there are no absolutes. Do you know what this means? The emergent church is saying that we cannot be absolutely sure the Bible is true. With the absence of absolutes and truth what are we left with?
The Christian faith is founded on these very principles. We believe that the Bible is absolutely God’s Word and that it is the truth. 2Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” If there is no sure thing as absolute truth then we might as well just throw the Bible out the window. Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The word truth appears 223 times in the Bible, why would the Bible talk so much about something that didn’t exist? The fact is, this movement is a tool of the enemy. The enemy has crept in the back of the church and is spreading false doctrine and even omitting parts of the Bible like the virgin birth saying that it is more myth than actuality. The emergent church is only the next step in what Charles Spurgeon called “Christianity on the Down Grade.” It is pragmatism gone worse.
Christian brothers and sisters we need to be watchful and ready, the Bible tells us to be ready in season and out of season in 2Timothy 4:2. Do not be deceived by these false teachers who come as a wolf in sheep’s clothing Matthew 7:15. 'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.' "Matthew 15:8-9.

Some of the characteristics of an emergent or emerging church.
• A highly creative approaches to worship and spiritual reflection. This can involve everything from the use of contemporary music and films through to liturgy or other more ancient customs. ...
• A flexible approach to theology whereby individual differences in belief and morality are accepted within reason.
• A more holistic approach to the role of the church in society. This can mean anything from greater emphasis on fellowship in the structure of the group to a higher degree of emphasis on social action, community building or Christian outreach.
• A desire to re-analyze the Bible against the context into which it was written...."


2Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

1Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

2Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Pontius Pilate's letter

I find this very fascinating, it is a bit lengthy but I trust you will enjoy it. I do not know how authentic this letter is but is does make for a good read. Enjoy!

Historic Letter Resurrected Pilate's lengthy letter to Tiberius Caesar---Discusses at length the arrest, the trial and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

TIBERIUS CAESAR-EMPEROR OF ROME-NOBLE SOVEREIGN

GREETING:

The events of the last few days in my providence have been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred, as I should not be surprised if, in the course of, time, they may change the destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be propitous. I am almost ready to say, Cursed be the day that I succeeded Vallerius Falceus in the government of Judea; for since then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.

On my arrival at Jerusalem I took possession of the Praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the Tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed hour no guest appeared. This I considered an insult offered my dignity, and the whole government which I represent. A few days later, the high priest designed to pay me a visit. His deportment was grave and deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants to sit at the table of the Romans, and eat and offer libations with them, but this was only a sanctimonious seeming, for his very countenance betrayed his hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of the conquerors; and I would warn the Romans to beware of the high Priests of this country. They would betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious living. It seems to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to govern. So turbulent are the people that I live in momentary dread of an insurrection. I have not soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I had only one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested a reinforcement from the perfect of Syria, who informed me that he had scarcely troops sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate thirst for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our whole government. I lived secluded from the masses, for I do not know what those priests might influence the rabble to do; yet I endeavored to ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the people.

I WAS TOLD IT WAS JESUS

Among the various rumors that came to my ears there was one in particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it was said, appeared in Galiee preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name of God who had sent him. At first I was apprehensive that his design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews. One day in passing by the place of Siloe, where there was a great concourse of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, so great was the difference between him and those listening to him. His golden-colored hair and beard gave him the appearance of a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years old. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a Contrast between him and his hearers, with their black beards and tawny completion!

Unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I continued to walk, but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. My secretary's name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who encamped in Eturia waiting for Cataline. Manlius had been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering the Praetorium I found Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of the philosophers anything that can compare to the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious Jews, so numerous in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he replied: "Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's."

I EXTENDED TO HIM MY PROTECTION

It was on account of his sayings that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it was in my power to have him arrested, and exiled to Pontus; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Roman Government in all its dealings with men; this man was neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to him my protection, unknown perhaps to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by any Praetorian mandate. Should it ever happen {May the gods avert the omen!} should it ever happen, I say that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be to this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature death, while I, miserable wretch, will have been the instrument of what the Jews call Providence, and we call destiny.

This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews--not the poor, but the rich and powerful. It is true that Jesus was severe on the latter, and this was a political reason, in my opinion, for not restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. "Scribes and Pharisees," he would say to them, "you are a race of vipers; you resemble painted sepulchers; you appear well unto men, but you have death within you." At other times he would sneer at the alms of the rich and proud, telling them that the mite of the poor was more precious in the sight of God. Complaints were daily made at the Praetorium against the insolence of Jesus.

I was even informed that some misfortune would befall him; that it would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called themselves prophets; an appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my conduct was approved by the Senate, and I was promised a reinforcement after the termination of the Parthian War.

Being too weak to suppress an insurrection, I resolved upon adopting a measure that promised to restore the tranquility of the city without subjecting the Praetorium to humiliating concession. I wrote to Jesus requesting an interview with him at the Praetorium. He came. You know that in my veins flows the Spanish mixed with Roman blood--as incapable of fear as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance I was walking in my basilica, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement, and I trembled in every limb as does a guilty culprit, though the Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself. When he came up to me he stopped, and by a signal sign he seemed to say to me, "I am here," though he spoke not a word. For some time I contemplated with admiration and awe this extraordinary type of man--a type unknown to our numerous painters, who have given form and figure to all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing about him that was repelling in his character, yet I felt too awed and tremulous to approach him.

"Jesus," said I unto him at last--and my tongue faltered--"Jesus of Nazareth, for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage--I know not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know, there is in your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble representative in this country, am glad of having allowed you that liberty of which you are worthy. However. I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies. Nor is this surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell victim of their hatred. Yours are doubly incensed--against you on account of your discourses being so severe upon their conduct; against me on account of the liberty I have afforded you. They even accuse me of being indirectly leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the little civil power which Rome has left them. My request---I do not say an order---is, that you be more circumspect and moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of them, lest you arouse the pride of your enemies, and they raise against you the stupid populace, and compel me to employ the instruments of law."

The Nazarene calmly replied: "Prince of the earth, your words proceed not from true wisdom. Say to the torrent to stop in the midst of the mountain-gorge: it will uproot the trees of the valley. The torrent will answer you that it obeys the laws of nature and the Creator. God alone knows whither flow the waters of the torrent. Verily I say unto you, before the rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just shall be spilt."

"Your blood shall not be spilt," said I, with deep emotion: "you are more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all of the turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by the Romans. They conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear, impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin. Insolent wretches! they are not aware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin of sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My Praetorium shall be an asylum both day and night."

"THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS MUST BE

ACCOMPLISHED"

Jesus carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile: "When the day shall come there will be no asylums for the son of man, neither in the earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the just is there," pointing to the heavens. "That which is written in the books of the prophets must be accomplished."

"Young man," I answered mildly, "you will oblige me to convert my requests into an order. The safety of the province which has been confided to my care requires it. You must observe more moderation in your discourses. Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences. May happiness attend you. Farewell."

"I CAME NOT TO BRING WAR INTO THE WORLD, BUT PEACE, LOVE AND CHARITY."

"Prince of the earth," replied Jesus. I come not to bring war into the world, but peace, love and charity. I was born the same day on which Augustus Caesar gave peace to the Roman world. Persecutions proceed not from me. I expect it from others, and I will meet it in obedience to the will of my Father, who has shown me the way. Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the foot of the tabernacle of expiation."

So saying he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the basilica--to my great relief, for I felt a heavy burden on me, of which I could not relieve myself of in his presence.

JESUS APPEARED TO BE ONE OF THOSE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS THAT

GREAT NATIONS SOMETIMES PRODUCE

To Herod, who then reigned in Galilee, the enemies of Jesus addressed themselves, to wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene. Had Herod consulted his own inclinations, he would have ordered Jesus immediately put to death; but, though proud of his royal dignity, yet he hesitated to commit an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate, or like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer to be afraid of a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called on me at the Praetorium, and, on rising to take leave, after some trifling conversation, asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes produced; that his doctrines were by no means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to that freedom of speech which was justified by his actions. Herod smiled maliciously, and, saluting me with ironical respect, departed.

CLAMORING FOR THE DEATH OF THE NAZARENE

The great feast of the Jews was approaching, and the intention was to avail themselves of the popular exultation which always manifests itself at the solemnities of the Passover. The city was overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed in bribing the people. The danger was pressing. A Roman centurion had been insulted. I wrote to the Perfect of Syria for a hundred foot soldiers and as many cavalry. He declined. I saw myself alone with a handful of veterans in the midst of a rebellious city, too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious rabble, although they had nothing to fear from the Praetorium, believing, as their leaders had told them, that I winked at their sedition, continued vociferating: "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Three powerful parties had combined together at that time against Jesus. First, the Herodians and the Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives: they hated the Nazarene and were impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered the holy city with banners that bore the image of the Roman emperor; and although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance also rankled in their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. My proposal was scorned. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them wherever he went. Timid and too weak to act by themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. Besides these three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate populace, always ready to join a sedition, and profit by the disorder and confusion that resulted therefrom.

CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Jesus was dragged before the High Priest, and condemned to death. It was then that the High Priest, Caiaphas, performed a divisory act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me to confirm his condemnation and secure his execution. I answered him that, as Jesus was a Galilean, the affair came under Herod's jurisdiction, and ordered him to be sent thither. The wily Tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man to my hands. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Jerusalem was inundated with crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judea appeared to be pouring into the city.

"BEWARE, BEWARE, AND TOUCH NOT THAT MAN; FOR HE IS HOLY."

I had taken a wife from among the Gauls, who pretended to see into futurity. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet she said to me: "Beware. Beware, and touch not that man; for he is holy. Last night I saw a vision. he was walking on the water; he was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake; all were obedient to him. Behold, the torrent of Mount Kedron flows with blood, the statues of Caesar are filled with gemonide; the columns of the interium have given away and the sun is veiled in mourning like a vestal in the tomb. Ah! Pilate, evil; awaits thee. If thou wilt not listen to the vows of thy wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate; dread the frowns of Caesar."

By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to the halls of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone what they demanded.

"The death of the Nazarene," was the reply.

"For what crime?"

"He blasphemed; he has prophesied the ruin of the temple; he calls himself the Son of God; the Messiah, the King of the Jew."

"Roman justice," said I, "punishes not such offences with death."

"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"

"Crucify him! crucify him!" cried the relentless rabble. The vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its foundations.

There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of the vast multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many fruitless attempts to protect him from the fury of his merciless prosecutors, I adopted a measure which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save his life. I proposed a measure, as it was their custom to deliver a prisoner on such occasions, to release Jesus and let him go free, that he might be the scapegoat, as they called it; but they said Jesus must be crucified. I then spoke to them of the inconsistency of their course as being incompatible with their laws, showing that no criminal judge could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted one whole day; and that the sentence must have the consent of the Sanhedrin, and the signature of the president of that court; that no criminal could be executed on the same day his sentence was fixed, and the next day, on the day of his execution, the Sanhedrin was required to review the whole proceeding; also, according to their law, a man was stationed at the door of the court with a flag, and another a short way off on horseback to cry the name of the criminal and his crime, and the names of his witnesses, and to know if anyone could testify in his favor; and the prisoner on his way to execution had the right to turn back three times, and to plead any new thing in his favor. I urged all these pleas, hoping they might awe them into subjection; but they cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

I THEN CALLED FOR A BASIN, AND WASHED MY HANDS

I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury. I then called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving of death; but in vain. It was his life these wretches thirsted for.

Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared with what I witnessed on this occasion. it might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the portals of the Praetorium even into Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum.

By degrees the day darkened like a winter's twilight, such as had been at the death of the great Julius Caesar. It was likewise the ides of March. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning against a column of my basilica, contemplating athwart the dreary gloom these fiends of Tartrus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her indwellers through the funeral gates that leads to Gemonica. An air of desolation and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the centurion, with a distressed play of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at that moment appertained rather to the history of the gods, than that of men. A loud clamor was heard proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle of the temple, and setting over the city covered it as with a veil. So dreadful were the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed: "Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling apart."

Whilst these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earthquake in lower Egypt, which filled everybody with fear, and scared the superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known. He was a strong friend of the Nazarene.

THE SACRICIFICE WAS CONSUMMATED

Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and went down into the city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohort pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in token of grief, and I overheard some of the Jewish soldiers murmuring strange words which I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those which have so often smitten the Romans by the will of gods. Sometimes groups of men and women would halt remain motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy.

THEY ALL SLUNK OFF LIKE COWARDLY CURS

I returned to the Praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs, the steps of which were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept most bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart being already overcharged with grief, we though strangers, wept together. And in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold him, those who testified against him, those who cried, "Crucify him! we have his blood," all slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with vinegar. As I am told that Jesus taught a resurrection and a separation after death, if such be the fact, I am sure it commenced in this vast crowd.

"Father," said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings," who are you, and what is your request?"

PERMISSION TO BURY JESUS OF NAZARETH

"I am Joseph of Arimathaea," replied he, "and am come to beg of you upon bended knees the permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth."

" Your prayer is granted." I said to him, and I ordered Manilus to take some soldiers with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be profaned.

A few days after the sepulcher was found empty. His disciples proclaimed all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had foretold. This created more excitement even than the crucifixion. And to its truth I cannot say for certain, but I have made some investigation of the matter; so you can examine for yourself see if I am in fault, as Herod represents.

Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated his resurrection or calculated to cut him another, I cannot tell. The day after he was buried one of the priests came to the Paetorium and said they were apprehensive that his disciples intended to steal the body of Jesus and hide it, and then make it appear that he had risen from the dead, as he had foretold and of which they were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard {Malcus} to tell him to take the Jewish soldiers, and place as many around the sepulcher as were needed; then if anything should happen they could blame themselves, and not the Romans.

When the great excitement arose about the sepulcher being empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who told me he had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the sepulcher. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what had occurred there that morning I sent for this man Isham, who related to me, as near as I can recollect, the following circumstances; He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch; He saw a soft and beautiful light over the sepulcher. He at first thought the women had come to embalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they had gotten through the guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold the whole place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their graveclothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard: and the whole air seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he could not stand on his feet. he said the earth seemed to swim from under him, and his senses left him, so that he knew not what did occur. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he thought of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then he remembered it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness might not have come from being awakened and getting up too suddenly, as it sometimes had the effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep all night, as the penalty was death for him to sleep on duty. He said he had let some of the soldiers sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I asked him how long the scene lasted. He said he did not know, but he thought it was nearly an hour. He said it was hid by the light of the day. I asked him if he went to the sepulcher after he had come to himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief came they all went to their quarters. I asked him if he had been questioned by the priests. he said he had. They wanted him to say it was an earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say that the disciples came and stole Jesus; but we saw no disciples, he did not know that the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was the private opinion of those priests he had conversed with. He said that some of them thought that Jesus was no man; that he was not a human being; that he was not the son of Mary; that he was not the same that was said to be born of the Virgin in Bethlehem; that the same person had been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and at many times and places.

It seemed to me that if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are correct, for they are in accord with this man's life, as is known and testified by both friends and foes, for the elements were no more in his hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could convert water into wine; he could change death into life, disease into health; he could calm the seas, still the storms, call up fish with a silver coin in its mouth. Now, I say if he could do all these things, which he did and many more, as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things that created this enmity against him-- he was not charged with criminal offenses, nor was he charged with violating any law, nor of wronging any individual in person, and all these facts are known to thousands, as well by his foes as by his friends--I am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross: "Truly this was the Son of God."

Now noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so that you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear Antipater has said many hard things of me in this matter. With the promise of faithfulness and good wishes to my noble Sovereign.

I am your obedient servant.

Pontius Pilate.

This letter backs up the biblical account of the events of the Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Circle

Stepping out side of our comfort zone can be a very nerve racking and even traumatizing experience. However, if we are not pressing against the boundaries of our little circle we call our comfort zone then how will we know how to respond to the calling that God has placed on our lives. The problem is that most of us are not walking in that calling. We have all settled for something less, we have all compromised in some way and have become complacent in our Christian lives. We sit back and allow others to do the work that so desperately needs to be done. The problem with is that you and me are not the only ones with this mentality. God has so much more for us if we would only press up against the boundaries of our own faculties and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. I am a very shy and quiet person by nature, my box is a small one, I do not like to come out of it, at least this was true about three years ago. You see God let me do MY own thing for quite some time, but when I was is junior high I made a promise to do the work of the Lord whatever the calling. You know the Bible talks about making promises with God. In Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 it says "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." God came to me to collect on the promise I made to Him. Over the last couple of years I have begun to break through some of the things that I was unwilling to do myself. God has called me to study and teach His Word, and I have to tell you that it has been a tremendous blessing and a great joy to finally be inside the will of God and allow Him to work through me. For many of us there are two circles in our lives, the first is our comfort zone where we shrink back and remain complacent in our lives, this is were we don't allow ourselves to get hurt, we do not open up and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. This is the circle that the enemy wants you in, because here he can keep you comfortable and unproductive in the Kingdom of God. The second circle in that of God's will. This is were we open up and allow God to shape us and mold us into the vessel that He desires. Here we are a little uncomfortable, we feel vulnerable, and we are inadequate to perform the task in front of us. This is where we need to be, this is where God can do a mighty work. You see we need to uncomfortable so that we continue to find our comfort in Jesus Christ. We need to be vulnerable so that we don't become hard and unmoldable in the Potters hands. And finally we must come to the place where we realize that it is NOT us that is doing the work but rather God the Holy Spirit that is doing the work in and through us to receive the glory. So I ask you, which circle are you standing in? I was once in my circle nice and comfortable and it was not until I stepped out of my circle and into God's that my life suddenly found meaning and purpose. God gives us the choice, we can live our lives in our circles doing our own thing. Or we can step out into God's circle, the circle that will stretch and enlarge as we continue to press into Jesus and the calling He has put on your life. The Christian life is not an easy one, just look at the apostles and men and women throughout history that have suffered and died for their faith, but they will have great rewards in heaven for their faith. Where are storing your treasures? To quote one of my teachers; "I believe in global warming, one day this world is going to be on fire with God's judgment." So the question is where are your treasures, are they here on earth where moth and rust corrupt, where thieves break in and steal. Are they in a place that will one day be on fire! Or are your treasures in heaven where moth and rust does not corrupt and thieves do not break in and steal. God is calling you into His circle where He can grow you and yes stretch you, where He can look after you and bless you. I ask you to evaluate your life and asses what circle you are in and step into a place where you can store eternal treasures. I have been in that small confined circle, I lived there for many years, but now that God has called me out I could never dream of going back. So step out and experience a life that will have an eternal purpose. Luke 9:23 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."