Arrest…

Another day….

I arrived in the city on the week of the Jewish Passover. I asked around about what this meant…they are celebrating the release from the Egyptian slavery hundreds of years ago…the “Passover” was the angel of death who  passed over those who had their doorposts painted with a pure lamb’s blood…otherwise the first born of the other homes died that night…

I guess the Egyptians practically begged the Israelites to leave their country, giving them their wealth as they journeyed out of Egypt…

The Jews have a dinner celebrating the Passover on this day of the week…I was told that Jesus took his disciples into a house which had an upper room for their celebration…apparently he told them of his coming crucifixion, taught them how to celebrate the future without him with a cup of wine and a loaf of bread to remember him by…

He knew that one of his disciples had betrayed him to the religious leaders who  were still looking for a way to get rid of him as they feared he would take away their power…( how would you like to have a church leader who has that kind of hatred in their heart?)

The betrayer was Judas who took care of the money for the group..

Another thing that happened in the room was the leader, Jesus washed his disciple’s feet of all things..can you imagine? Washing feet is a servant’s job, even in our culture, not a leader’s…I guess he was showing them servanthood, humility and serving with love…he was not what these people expected of him, a king riding on a kingly horse to conquer the Romans…

All the disciples pledged to follow this Jesus no matter what…

After the dinner, all the men except Judas went to a place called Gethsemane…where they prayed…he told them.”My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, pray with me”…and asking God who he claimed as his father to please save him from what was coming…, but his disciples kept falling asleep.

Then he called them to rise and meet the betrayer …who came with a large armed crowd. Judas kissed Jesus upon meeting him, a sign he had arranged with the chief priests and elders before hand to show who was Jesus…(they should have known, as they saw him frequently)…

They seized Jesus and arrested him, took him to the high priest, where the teachers and elders had assembled. Only Peter of all the disciples followed, the others fled.

Thera priest were looking for any false evidence to put Jesus to death, but they couldn’t find any… Jesus was silent throughout all of this dialogue…

Finally, the high priest said to Jesus, ““I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 

“What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Peter, who had followed denied Jesus three times and afterwards felt great sadness for turning his back on his friend…

You know, dear friend , I have not told you everything that has happened…so much more , I will wait to see you face to face to tell you all…but, I do know this, from coming into this city, on this particular week, I feel was no accident…I feel I am meant to be here right now…there is something about this man, which draws me…I don’t understand why or how, but it is there wooing me to take what he has said or others have said about him and to believe far beyond just knowing, but a heart and soul belief…something I have never experienced before…

Thank you for listening…I am tired for now …it has been a very long and tumultuous day.. I have never seen such hatred and such love…

 Dear friend,I fear this letter is getting long…but there is so much to observe and tell…and I am not getting but a piece of the telling of this great city or of this man, Jesus…there are so many people! But our goods are selling well.this city will be a good one to return with more goods at a later date, I hope to be sold out by the time I leave…

The people…there are many people here, rich or poor, various cultures, government, or religious…

On the top, it seems to be Roman soldiers and rulers…they rule over this region now…the soldiers are brutish men who push their way through the throngs of people along the narrow streets…although I did meet one who had the air of authority, but seemed to treat others with respect…he came from Capernaum, he said…there he had met with Jesus asking him if he would heal his servant who was ill…….Jesus didn’t even go to centurion’s home, but said it would be done and the servant was healed…

the Roman rulers seem interested only in padding their pockets with bribes for this and that…

The religious leaders of these Jews seem more interested in proudly walking around the streets trying to impress others with their robes, knowledge of the law and looking for ways to judge others…they are opposed to this man, Jesus, because he has become so popular and treats others as a shepherd , teaching the love of one another rather that man’s traditions and laws, plus he stands up to their  proudness…and he calls himself the Son of God…apparently that didn’t go over too well with the religious leaders…it is said that these leaders are looking for a way to end Jesus’ popularity and do away with him…so far they haven’t been successful…

Then there is just the common people, the shop keepers, the fisherman-smelling like fish, the travelers like me, the children running along the pathways, the residents of the city…these are the ones who are the backbone of the area…but, they are hungry for a promised Messiah who was promised by their prophets of old…they want self rule without the Romans, they want a Jewish ruler…to make everything “right”…they keep looking toward this Jesus as this new Ruler, but he has not shown that inclination as he has wondered the area…he insists on teaching about servanthood, love, forgiveness , the future times, parables about so much, the kingdom of God and so on…plus all the healing he has done…from blind men to his friend, a lame man to a woman who touched his garment, many, many, many more…

Jesus is always surrounded by people, but 12 men seem to be the core group. His disciples, they are called…he is intent on teaching them all the time as if time is short…these men come from  a variety of backgrounds, none highly educated, fishermen, a tax collector ..and Jesus himself was trained in carpentry, but he speaks as though he was educated in the best schools of the time…

Well, I must close again…time to rest for the next adventures tomorrow….

 Okay, I have a quite of bits of my business concluded…now I can write of this weeks events with this man, Jesus…

As I mentioned before, he came right into town on a donkey(I still can’t get over that, the children, the adults praising him). 

From that procession, he went to the temple…

This gets interesting…he entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and. selling there…the merchants had set up their booths inside and were selling animals that others were using for sacrifices, there were money changers as well exchanging currencies for people who were not local…apparently these people were overcharging and deceptively using this opportunity to gain wealth from the foreigners…( it seems that there is that problem here just like in our country, people taking advantage of others, I guess wrong does exist everywhere)…

He even said,  “ my house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.”

After all the merchants left, Jesus proceeded to heal the blind and the lame….can you imagine, right there he healed them and they walked away  new people, healed …I have never seen anything like it…and, of all things the leaders instead of rejoicing over the healing, they were indignant….I wish I could have had our dear sister here . What a wonderful thing to see her healed by this man…maybe I could bring her back here someday…

Following that, he left, some said he went to the city of Bethany , not too far away…I retired to my lodgings as well…

The following day, he came back and taught in the temple…he taught about things I have ever heard, he taught with authority…all kinds of people were there listening intently, as did I…

The leaders challenged him again and he stood up to them…

He taught in stories, parables…talked about the kingdom of God…things like I have never heard, my heart was so overwhelmed by him, his demeanor, his words…

I didn’t know it then but the leaders were trying to find ways to trap him and arrest him….

One of the things he said, “But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”

Then he addressed them with “woe to you several times”…it is a wonder the leaders could stand before his wrath…

From there he walked with his friends to the place they call the Mount of Olives. Where he proceeded to tell them about the “end times”…I didn’t even know there was going to be end times…doesn’t the world just keep on going forever…not from what he said…it didn’t sound pleasant I can tell you…and then his “return”…hummmm…he called himself the Christ, the Son of Man…talking about “Salvation , the gospel…

These things  are words I have never heard before…I need to investigate….

Closing for now….

 I am sorry not to get back to you sooner. Yesterday, a busy business day…scurrying through the busy, packed streets of Jerusalem . I wanted to get my business concluded as soon as possible, but, I think I will be here all week… 

But, I wanted to combine my business dealings with finding more about this man who came into town so triumphantly…many people were captured by his presence, while others scowled and had a look of distain….especially the leaders of the area…

I didn’t see him around anywhere…so maybe it was a one  time event of no importance …oh well, the parade added some excitement to my journey….

Will write again to tell more of my visit….

Psalm 145:14-19….God the Giver…

 Psalm 145:14-19….God the Giver…

When you read through the Bible taking into account all the things God gives, it is infinite…

From the forming of the earth and everything in it, plus the people…the manna and water in the desert for Moses, the oil in the jars for the widow, through the Old Testament down through the New…to a Savior , salvation…the promise of preparations for believers in heaven… God is definitely a giver…and he delights in giving…

There is even a spiritual gift of giving , which admonishes those who have it to be generous …

God is generous…in his giving…

 14The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.

(Psa. 37:24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psa,148: 8     the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,)


15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.

(Psa.a104: 27 All creatures look to you
    to give them their food at the proper time.)


16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

(Psa.104: 28 When you give it to them,
    they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied with good things.)

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.


18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.

(Deut.4: 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 

John 4: 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”)


19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.

(Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Pro. 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.)

James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

2 Cor.9: 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

John3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thank YOU…

Gifts from God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfLGfuINnG4

Giver of light…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X5YPArcPyQ

Hello…

 

Hello, I am new to the area…what’s going on?  Why are all these people lining the road waving those palm fronds? Who is the man riding that donkey? Singing “Hosanna”?

 (A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”Matt. 21:8-11)

Don’t you know, haven’t you heard of this man, Jesus?

No, what is so special about him?

The people around me start telling me about all he had done…raised a dead man, healed someone’s daughter, healed some blind men, taught crowds, fed five thousand plus people with a small boy’s lunch…said he was from God…and on and on, so many things that could have filled many books…

These people were joyous that he was by them…maybe if they touched his robe the sick could be healed like the woman they knew of… but they raised their branches and sang with the others…

I found myself watching him…his smile lit the day…the colt carried him as if he was no burden…his peaceful countenance among so many was hard to miss…

I needed to find out more about while I visited this town…who was he…did he really do all  these people reported…where was he from…what was his name?

I think I will follow and find out….do my business quickly and look into this man whom these people revere…

Hosanna…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsAbyS3HiJU

 Psalm 145:8-13….God is good…

8..The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  

(But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. 

Psalm 86:15

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

Exodus 34:6

The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18)

9..The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.  

( For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5)

10..All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.  

( The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Praise God in the great congregation;
    praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.

Psalm 68:26)

11..They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 

12..so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.  

(Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done

Psalm 105:1)

13..Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. 

(Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen

1Tim 1:17

and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Pe. 1:11)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

Gal 5:22 

 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Joshua 21:45

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 23:6

Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

Psalm 25:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 86:5

 Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

Thank YOU…

God is good…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC6dN8cN52s