Created by pastorbuddy on 3/11/2009
mystery
THE mystery of the SECOND PASSOVER
The Second Passover is a little known feast of the Old Testament. It was
Implemented by Moses at the request of certain obedient Israelites who did
Not want to miss the important celebration of Passover itself. They had been
Ceremonially unclean at first Passover and inquired as to whether or not
They could still partake of the feast. The Biblical story occurs in Numbers
9:1-14 and should be read now. This passage contains important clues
Concerning who should partake of Second Passover today, namely those who
Understand that they ARE IN A FAR JOURNEY OR live in the perpetual state of
Being defiled by a dead body, by a carnal nature.
The Second Passover is a little known feast of the Old Testament. It was
Implemented by Moses at the request of certain obedient Israelites who did
Not want to miss the important celebration of Passover itself. They had been
Ceremonially unclean at first Passover and inquired as to whether or not
They could still partake of the feast. The Biblical story occurs in Numbers
9:1-14 and should be read now. This passage contains important clues
Concerning who should partake of Second Passover today, namely those who
Understand that they ARE IN A FAR JOURNEY OR live in the perpetual state of
Being defiled by a dead body, by a carnal nature.
Passover itself is really the preeminent feast of those who seek to overcome
The feast prophesied the sacrifice and crucifixion of Yahweh-savior
Whereby His blood redeems Adam kind from the curse of death, allowing the
Angel of death to “pass over” us so that we can live in Yah’s presence. This
Is why yah commanded Israel in the days of Moses to place the blood of a
Lamb on their door posts and lintels. The Passover lambs were effective for
The forgiveness of sins and the passing over of the death angel because
Their blood represented the blood of the Lamb of el, Yahweh Himself.
Yet, there is an important mystery hidden in the Second Passover. That feast
Relates to prophetic truth beyond our spiritual redemption in Yahweh shua. I
Can only find one instance other than the one above in Numbers 9 of an
Observance of Second Passover in all of Scripture. This is the account of
Second Passover celebrated by King Hezekiah of Judah in 2 Chronicles 30. I
Urge you to read that entire chapter now and again when you finish this
Article because the whole passage deals with Hezekiah’s keeping of the
Second Passover and includes many important prophetic truths.
The Biblical account of Hezekiah in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah
Carries an Overcomer, or Sons of yah, theme.
The best place to gain an
Understanding of the Overcomers is in the second and third chapters of
Revelation in the letters to the seven churches. Clearly messiah wrote those
letters to Christians who were members of those churches. He makes it clear
Throughout these letters that only a small group of these congregations, a
Remnant,” would ever qualify as Overcomers and thus partake of the rule and
Reign of His coming Kingdom. Many of his parables in the Gospels include
This theme. The idea of an Overcomer as a specific type of believer is found
throughout Scripture, Old and New Testaments. I cannot dwell more upon this
idea here.
Understanding of the Overcomers is in the second and third chapters of
Revelation in the letters to the seven churches. Clearly messiah wrote those
letters to Christians who were members of those churches. He makes it clear
Throughout these letters that only a small group of these congregations, a
Remnant,” would ever qualify as Overcomers and thus partake of the rule and
Reign of His coming Kingdom. Many of his parables in the Gospels include
This theme. The idea of an Overcomer as a specific type of believer is found
throughout Scripture, Old and New Testaments. I cannot dwell more upon this
idea here.
We see the Overcomer theme in the story of Hezekiah in quite a few verses.
First, Hezekiah was an obedient believer according to 2 Kings 18:3-6. Second
when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threatens to destroy Hezekiah and all of
Judah, Hezekiah seeks Yahweh and He answers through His prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah brings a word to Hezekiah prophesying Sennacherib’s destruction. See
Isaiah 37:21-38. Part of this prophecy includes the following sign given to
Hezekiah:
(Isa 37:30-32 NKJV) {30} “This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this
year such as grows of itself, And the second year what springs from the same
Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of
them. {31} And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall
again take root downward, And bear fruit upward. {32} For out of Jerusalem
shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of
yahweh of hosts will do this.”
By comparing verse 30 above with Leviticus 25:11, we see that Yahweh here
gives Hezekiah a jubilee sign. Israel was to neither sow nor reap each
fiftieth year. The key aspect of the jubilee is found in Leviticus 25:13
where yah commands that in the 50th year “each of you shall return to his
possession.” In the natural this meant that no man could lose his land, or
real estate, forever. Prophetically, it means that mankind’s spiritual
possession, his glorified body, will be restored to him on some future
jubilee. Also, note the “remnant” theme here in Isaiah 37:31-32.
Now it so happened that Hezekiah almost died of an infectious boil just
after this mighty deliverance from the hand of Sennacherib. Isaiah tells the
king to prepare his house for he is going to die. Hezekiah prays for his
life, however, and Yahweh grants him an additional fifteen years. This is
interesting for many reasons. One is that it fits in with the sign given
above. Up to this time Hezekiah was childless. The line of David would
possibly have ended if Hezekiah had died from his boil. The sign above,
however, states that in the third year from the time of the prophecy,
Hezekiah should sow and reap. Well, he did exactly that. In the third year
thereafter his wife, Hephzibah, conceived. Hephzibah is a prophetic name we
also find in Isaiah 62:4 and speaks of the Bride of messiah. At the end of
this third year, his son, Manasseh, was born. Manasseh, of course, is the
name of Joseph’s son who, according to 1 Chronicles 5:1, received “the
birthright,” i.e. the Kingdom. The birth of Manasseh thus speaks of sonship
and the inheritance of the birthright. This relates to ruling and reigning
with yahweh in His Kingdom. Thus we see that the story of Hezekiah
prophetically speaks of the “Sons of yah,” the Overcomers. It concerns our
time today.
Now remember that it is Hezekiah who partakes of the second Passover and
that he is the only person ever mentioned by name as having celebrated this
feast. This uniquely relates the second Passover to the Overcomers. Also,
since Hezekiah deals with a jubilee theme, this means that the second
Passover also prophesies the glorification of the Sons of yahweh, that event
that we have come to call “the sons of the most high. melchizedek of the new
coveant”
On the other hand, I see that Josiah, who faithfully kept the first Passover
in 2 Chronicles 35:1, represents a faithful, but late-blooming hebrew.
Notice that he is not even aware of yahs Law until the 18th year of his 31
year ministry as king. When he does find the Law he obeys, but by then
yahweh says that it is too late to avert His judgment upon his kingdom. I
believe the same thing applies to our day. Most Christians have still not
found yahweh’s Law. They misuse yahweh’s grace as a license to sin and call
any use of yah’s Law “legalism.” They write books that undermine yah’s Law
and words. Christians’ repudiation of the words and law of the messiah have
led to the current “leavened” state of all the world, leavened by sin and
false doctrine. It is too late now to avert yah’s judgment upon this
Mystery Babylon,” mankind’s governments and institutions. The time is late.
A few saint’s, like Josiah did, are beginning to obey yahweh’s word. They
are finding His Law. But, according to Matthew 25 we know that at some point
there is no longer time to buy enough oil to qualify as a wise virgin and
enter the wedding feast. I think the 1st passover Josiah kept represents
this.
We may already have entered this late time, but only yahweh knows who
qualifies as a wise virgin and who does not. Josiah represents saints who
will not be counted as Overcomers, who will not receive their glorified
bodies at the second resurrection. and will not be allowed to minister yah
s truth in their natural bodies in the Kingdom Age. They will not live, but
they will shall die. but to those that have solved the mystery of the second
passover is the promise given, Isaiah describes as follows:
(Isa 65:18-25 NKJV) {18} But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. {19} I
will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall
no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. {20} “No more shall an
infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled
his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner
being one hundred years old shall be accursed. {21} They shall build houses
and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. {22} They
shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat;
For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect
shall long enjoy the work of their hands. {23} They shall not labor in vain,
Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of
the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. {24} “It shall come
to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still
speaking, I will hear. {25} The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The
lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says yahweh.
Josiah, like all blind Christians, partook of the first Passover, not the
second. This is the only recorded Passover observed by a king of Israel or
Judah. The first Passover, of which all believers partake, is the Passover
of spiritual death. this represents our spiritual rebirth. The death angel
passes over us so that we do not die forever. In the natural, in Exodus, the
death angel passed over the first born who partook of the Passover. The
Egyptians did not partake of this Passover. Therefore, all of their
firstborn died.
The second Passover, however, prophesies a different type of “pass over.” It
is that represented by yahweh’s parable in Matthew 24:37-51. The
interpretation of the one taken and the one left really does not matter here
I have heard various speakers refer to one or the other, the one left or
the one taken, as referring to the chosen. The point is that at the second
Passover, the ones who are not Overcomers shall be passed over, in a seeming
reversal of the first Passover. The Overcomers, or first born of the Sons of
God will be chosen to rule and reign with yahweh messiah. “Many are called,
but few are chosen.” Thus the remnant, the Overcomers, the Sons of yah, the
first born, will partake of the second Passover in the sense that they will
be chosen as such at the time of the prophetic fulfillment of this feast.
There is one other interesting point related to the second Passover.
According to Leviticus 23:10-11 the priest was to wave a sheaf of the
firstfruits of harvest of barley unto yahweh. This occurred on the “morrow
after the Sabbath” during the “feast of unleavened bread” celebrated for
seven days after Passover. 2 Chronicles 30 makes it clear that the feast of
unleavened bread is also celebrated at Second Passover. Since the Jews
measure time in lunar months, it so happens that every few years a month has
to be added to the calendar to keep the months aligned with the seasons.
They use the degree of maturity of the barley crop to determine when to add
a month. If the barley will not be ripe for the Passover of the first month,
then a thirteenth month is added to the year. In essence, this pushes the
Passover off to the second month of the new year (although it actually
becomes the first month since a thirteenth month was added to the old year).
My point is that this practice becomes a type of celebrating the second
Passover and the reason for doing so is to ensure that the barley will be
ripe for the wave sheaf offering. A careful reading of Scripture shows that
barley is often associated with Overcomer themes, thus making barley itself
a type of the Overcomer. The prophetic fulfillment of the second Passover,
therefore, will occur when the barley is ripe, when the Overcomes will
receive their glorified bodies and begin to rule and reign with yahweh.
“THE MESSIAH
WAS NOT KILLED IN THE FIRST PASSOVER”
In John’s gospel, chapter 11, we find yahweh-shua’s arrival in Bethany, a
small village near Jerusalem, where he came to the sisters Mary and Martha
who are grieving the death of their brother Lazarus that took place four
days prior. yahweh-shua had delayed his arrival in Bethany so that His
raising of Lazarus from the dead would serve to glorify him as yahweh and
reveal who He was. it would also serve to give the Jewish sandherdin high
court ruled by caiaphas the high priest and the scribes and the the elders
that were assembled in the temple a legal reason to delay killing the
messiah in the first passover because he touched the dead body of lazarus.
11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come
forth.
WAS NOT KILLED IN THE FIRST PASSOVER”
In John’s gospel, chapter 11, we find yahweh-shua’s arrival in Bethany, a
small village near Jerusalem, where he came to the sisters Mary and Martha
who are grieving the death of their brother Lazarus that took place four
days prior. yahweh-shua had delayed his arrival in Bethany so that His
raising of Lazarus from the dead would serve to glorify him as yahweh and
reveal who He was. it would also serve to give the Jewish sandherdin high
court ruled by caiaphas the high priest and the scribes and the the elders
that were assembled in the temple a legal reason to delay killing the
messiah in the first passover because he touched the dead body of lazarus.
11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come
forth.
11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with
graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. yahweh-shua saith
unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things
which yahweh-shua did, believed on him.
11:46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what
things yahweh-shua had done.
11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said,
What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans
shall come and take away both our place and nation.
they knew that a very large number of Isralites would be in Jerusalem for
the 1st passover feast. this was a perfect reason for the delay of killing
the messiah in the first passover, the fear of the jewish high court to
kill him him in the presences of the large crouds would give them time for
the large crowds to disperse after the first passover. the large crowd would
have long returned to their homes after the first passover and present the
jewish high court a chance to condeem the messiah as unclean and have him to
return in the second passover so they could kill him in a much smaller
crowd.because the messiah had gained a lot of respect among the people
proving he was indeed the messiah. The time is now getting critical in
yahweh-shua’s ministry.
For three years he had taught yahweh’s purpose throughout the region of
Judea. Though yahweh-shua’s ministry was centered around Capernaum in
galilee, yahweh-shua visited Jerusalem during all the commanded feasts. His
close proximity with the Jewish leadership engendered conflict on each of
these visits as the messiah taught a gospel of real truth and grace that
refuted the legalistic and condemning practice of the Jewish leaders. These
leaders saw this self proclamied messiah as an uneducated cult leader who
was leading people away from the Jewish law and out from under their
authority. They interpreted his theology as capital blasphemy worthy of
death. Consequently, each time we see an encounter between the messiah and
the Jewish leadership we see such conflict, and each time the leadership
retreats into secret council’s and builds their capital case against Him
hoping to put him to death.
Chapter 12 of John finds the messiah six days before the 1st passover still
in the home of his friend Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead four days
proir, with Mary, and Martha in Bethany. he is making preparations for his
entrance into Jerusalem as He is prepearing to take part in another Passover
feast. but as we shall see the sanherdin jews will use the factor of
numbers chapter nine as toucthing the dead to judge him unclean by reason
of raising lazarus, and will require the messiah, alone with lazarus, and
all the disciples and those that touched lazarus to return to jerusalem 30
days later to keep the second passover!
John 12:1-2.
Then Jesus six days before the Passover the messiah came to Bethany, where
Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2There they
made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat
at the table with him.
The scripture does not record any of the conversations between the messiah
and Lazarus’ family in the days following the raising of Lazarus from the
dead, but one can only imagine the joy that was felt by Mary and Martha as
the grief of their brother’s death and the hopelessness of their future
instantly vanished at his resurrection. As Mary and Martha saw their future
restored and were thinking about the things that they would do, Lazarus had
the unusual opportunity to do the same. As each is sharing about their
future, the messiah knew clearly what the nature of His future on earth
would be: He would be captured by the religious leadership that sought Him,
and he would suffer a tortuous death. The range of emotions present at this
time would be extreme.
John 12:3.
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed
the feet of the messiah , and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house
was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Mary’s gesture of love is curious. The imported oil that Mary used would
have cost about 300 denarii, about a year’s wages for an average workman.
Because of its value and small size, many kept such oils as an investment
that could be sold quickly when cash is needed. As the messiah was reclined
at the table, in the manner of first-century custom, His feet would be quite
accessible. Mary wanted to show her love and gratitude to him for His part
in the restoration of the life of her brother, so she took her vial of oil,
opened it, and anointed yahweh’s feet with it. Foot washing was a common
practice in their culture, as people wore sandals as they traveled in the
dusty streets. The lowest servant would draw the task of washing the feet
of guests. Mary’s gesture goes far beyond even this ritual in its humility
and expression of love. the messiah’s feet would have already have been
washed as He entered the home.
Now, Mary uses this every expensive oil to
cleanse His feet. The aroma of the oil would fill the entire room, and all
who were present would witness this act of love and humility.
The oil that Mary applied to the messiah’s feet is also used to anoint the
body of one who had died as they prepare it for burial. It is unclear if
Mary yet knew that the messiah was about to die, and within the context of
her witness of the raising of her brother, it is quite doubtful that the
idea entered her mind. Mary would not have known the significance of her
anointing of the messiah in the context of His coming death on the tree of
Calvary. Still, her expression of love was profoundly generous, and would
have been noticed by all who were in the house.
cleanse His feet. The aroma of the oil would fill the entire room, and all
who were present would witness this act of love and humility.
The oil that Mary applied to the messiah’s feet is also used to anoint the
body of one who had died as they prepare it for burial. It is unclear if
Mary yet knew that the messiah was about to die, and within the context of
her witness of the raising of her brother, it is quite doubtful that the
idea entered her mind. Mary would not have known the significance of her
anointing of the messiah in the context of His coming death on the tree of
Calvary. Still, her expression of love was profoundly generous, and would
have been noticed by all who were in the house.
John 12:4-6.
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should
betray him, 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and
given to the poor? 6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but
because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Not everyone in the room was appreciative of Mary’s gesture. the messiah
knew Judas’ nature, and his upcoming act of betrayal (John 6:70). What
Judas lacked in an appreciation for human need he gained in his desire for
financial success. His interest in things financial gained him the task of
holding and managing the treasury of yahweh-shua and the apostles.
This
close proximity to their money was a temptation that Judas was not wanton to
overcome: he helped himself to the contents of the bag at his own pleasure.
This act characterized Judas as a thief. Judas’ concern for the
expenditure of the oil was not related to its application to help the poor.
If the spikenard were to be sold, it would have added a year’s wages to his
moneybag, providing him with more funds from which to pilfer.
John 12:7-8.
Then said the messiah, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she
kept this. 8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
yahweh’s statement clearly delineates the contrast between Mary’s devotion
to the messiah and that of Judas. yahweh-shua’s statement may have even
surprised Mary as He stated that what Mary had just done served a specific
purpose: to prepare Him for His upcoming death.
close proximity to their money was a temptation that Judas was not wanton to
overcome: he helped himself to the contents of the bag at his own pleasure.
This act characterized Judas as a thief. Judas’ concern for the
expenditure of the oil was not related to its application to help the poor.
If the spikenard were to be sold, it would have added a year’s wages to his
moneybag, providing him with more funds from which to pilfer.
John 12:7-8.
Then said the messiah, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she
kept this. 8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
yahweh’s statement clearly delineates the contrast between Mary’s devotion
to the messiah and that of Judas. yahweh-shua’s statement may have even
surprised Mary as He stated that what Mary had just done served a specific
purpose: to prepare Him for His upcoming death.
There is little question
that with the tree of Calvary looming so near, yahweh’s mind was focused on
it. As Mary anointed his feet He would have immediately recognized the
appropriateness of her act, and at this first opportunity to speak, he
shared this with others. he was not making a disparaging statement about
the poor, but rather than pointing out to Judas that if he really wanted to
help the poor he could have been doing so at any time before, and will be
able to continue doing so for as long as he walks the earth. Judas’ lack of
concern for the poor is clearly exposed. yahweh-shua then reveals the
brevity of His own presence. Though the poor will always be around, He will
not. he told the people in the room that He would be dying sooner than they.
Little did they understand at this point, that he was speaking of the
events that would take place soon, and little did Judas know that he would
survive little longer when the consequences of his greed and deceit would
devour him.
that with the tree of Calvary looming so near, yahweh’s mind was focused on
it. As Mary anointed his feet He would have immediately recognized the
appropriateness of her act, and at this first opportunity to speak, he
shared this with others. he was not making a disparaging statement about
the poor, but rather than pointing out to Judas that if he really wanted to
help the poor he could have been doing so at any time before, and will be
able to continue doing so for as long as he walks the earth. Judas’ lack of
concern for the poor is clearly exposed. yahweh-shua then reveals the
brevity of His own presence. Though the poor will always be around, He will
not. he told the people in the room that He would be dying sooner than they.
Little did they understand at this point, that he was speaking of the
events that would take place soon, and little did Judas know that he would
survive little longer when the consequences of his greed and deceit would
devour him.
John 12:9-11.
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not
for messiah’s sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had
raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests consulted that they might put
Lazarus also to death; 11Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went
away, and believed on yahweh.
The crowd that gathered at this time at this home in Bethany had come, not
only to see the messiah, but to see Lazarus. People had heard and witnessed
yahweh-shua’s power to heal, and many came to meet and speak to Lazarus.
Even today, if one were to return from the dead as some claim to have done,
people will seek to learn through that experience and the survivor will be
afforded a lot of attention. This further inflamed the crisis that was
brewing in the Jewish leadership. They were witnessing more and more people
coming to the messiah and his ‘blasphemous” doctrine.
Before yahweh-shua
came they were the proud carriers of the faith and were in total control of
Jewish religion, culture, and teaching. they were the center of their
religious universe. yahweh-shua had severely eroded that position of power,
and this event in Bethany only served to turn more people away from them.
At the rate that they saw their influence eroding and it was only a matter
of time before they felt they would be completely overthrown. Now they were
faced with this man, Lazarus, who was giving a powerful testimony in support
of the messiah, and he was bringing as many followers to yahweh. The
religious leaders realized that the only way to quiet Lazarus would be to
kill him, so they conspired amongst themselves as to how they would go about
it. One can only imagine the conversation among these religious leaders as
they tried to figure out how to kill someone who had already died once
before! Surely, yahweh-shua would just raise him from the dead again.
Certainly, they faced a most unusual dilemma, one for which they would
shortly find a solution.
John 12:12-13.
came they were the proud carriers of the faith and were in total control of
Jewish religion, culture, and teaching. they were the center of their
religious universe. yahweh-shua had severely eroded that position of power,
and this event in Bethany only served to turn more people away from them.
At the rate that they saw their influence eroding and it was only a matter
of time before they felt they would be completely overthrown. Now they were
faced with this man, Lazarus, who was giving a powerful testimony in support
of the messiah, and he was bringing as many followers to yahweh. The
religious leaders realized that the only way to quiet Lazarus would be to
kill him, so they conspired amongst themselves as to how they would go about
it. One can only imagine the conversation among these religious leaders as
they tried to figure out how to kill someone who had already died once
before! Surely, yahweh-shua would just raise him from the dead again.
Certainly, they faced a most unusual dilemma, one for which they would
shortly find a solution.
John 12:12-13.
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard
that the messiah was coming to Jerusalem, 13Took branches of palm trees, and
went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel
that cometh in the name of Yahweh.
As he entered Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, he was accompanied by
a large crowd that was made up of two groups. When we observe the record
made by the writers of the other three gospels (Matt 21, Mark 11, Luke 19),
we find that one group were those Jews who had made the pilgrimage to
Jerusalem to observe the Passover. Travel was difficult in the first
century, so typically, most of the people who came would have originated
from the nearby region, including Capernaum where the messiah had spent the
large part of his three-year ministry. These would have previously heard of
the messiah, and many would respond positively to the knowledge of his
presence among them. The larger group that honored yahweh-shua at the gate,
however, was that which came with him from Bethany, the group that had
either witnessed the raising of Lazarus, or those who joined shortly
thereafter. Consequently, the praise that was afforded to the messiah did
not start at the gates of Jerusalem, but rather at the grave of Lazarus.
One can envision the town of Bethany emptying out to accompany the messiah
and Lazarus to the City of Jerusalem. Nothing like this had ever occurred
before, and the leaders of the City were well-aware of this dangerous
situation.
yahweh-shua’s previous entrances to Jerusalem were wither quiet or almost
secretive because, as we find in previous chapters, yahweh-shua’s time had
not yet come. However, in Bethany he stated that it was now His time, so
there was no such need for secrecy. However, the riotous nature of the
crowd’s response at this point adds a new factor to the equation: the power
of the Roman leadership. Rome was successful in holding many lands far from
Rome due to the governmental structure that was in place. Local communities
were allowed to rule themselves under Roman supervision as long as the taxes
were paid to Rome and the people were kept under control. The presence of
so many Isralite’s in Jerusalem during the Passover had been considered
dangerous without this new controversy. Because of this, all of the local
Roman leadership was in the city during the Passover, and the Roman guards
were on alert for any problems. Therefore, when this crowd entered
Jerusalem with a controversial message, the the King of Israel (Psalm
118:25-26), is entering, the leadership that was responsible to Rome saw
their future to be bleak indeed.
The chant made by the people was clearly a
call for the Messiah. They were shouting, “Hosanna”, which means literally,
“Save us!” In order to keep their positions, the Jerusalem leadership, both
Jew and Roman, had to keep the peace, and now a crowd was advocating a new
King over Israel. This situation was exceedingly dangerous.
John 12:14-19.
And yahweh-shua, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is
written, 15Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on
an ass’s colt. 16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but
when he was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written
of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17The people therefore
that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him
from the dead, bare record. 18For this cause the people also met him, for
that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19The Pharisees therefore
said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world
is gone after him.
call for the Messiah. They were shouting, “Hosanna”, which means literally,
“Save us!” In order to keep their positions, the Jerusalem leadership, both
Jew and Roman, had to keep the peace, and now a crowd was advocating a new
King over Israel. This situation was exceedingly dangerous.
John 12:14-19.
And yahweh-shua, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is
written, 15Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on
an ass’s colt. 16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but
when he was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written
of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17The people therefore
that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him
from the dead, bare record. 18For this cause the people also met him, for
that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19The Pharisees therefore
said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world
is gone after him.
The synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke provide more details
concerning the procurement and use of the donkey upon which the messiah rode
into Jerusalem. First, this form of entry fulfilled the prophesy of
Zechariah 9:9. A king who would come to power would enter the gates on a
horse, a “mighty steed,” and would be surrounded by his army. Though we can
see parallels in this entry, the steed was a simple donkey, and because of
its youth, a small one at that. The donkey was used by the poorest people,
and a horse by the richest. messiah’s entrance on a donkey is an
illustration of his humble roots, and also serves to dissuade any thought
that His entrance is one that is militant in nature. yahweh-shua’s army is
not bent on overtaking Jerusalem, it is simply focused on the person of
messiah as their king,
Yahweh-shua attained that position with the people, not from military
junta, but by winning their hearts with his love and caring nature. This
was not the type of King that was expected by the Jews. Still, however,
this did not lessen the danger that the crowd presented to the religious
leaders. For three years they had observed the growth of this self
proclaimed yahweh messiah’s following, and their inability to thwart it.
Verse 19 shows how they felt that in spite of all of their desires to stop
this movement, and against all of their efforts to take action against it,
they had gained nothing. In their view they can see that the entire
community, the “world,” is going to follow this new messiah, and their
future is about to radically change, and in their opinion, it is certainly
not for the better.
Even as all of these events were transpiring, the disciples were so caught
up in them that they did not quite realize the significance of them at the
time. Those who were most focused on the details of this event were those
who witnessed the raising of Lazarus, and they kept a detailed record of
these events. It would be from this record that the disciples and others
would later realize that they had witness the fulfillment of prophesy. At
the time, the disciples lacked the spiritual discernment that they would
attain after Pentecost when the record of all of these events would come
together in their memory to validate even more the nature, calling, and
purpose of this man who had said to them he was yahweh come in the flesh,
the Christ, the Messiah. Through that record, their confidence and faith
would be affirmed all the more.
John 12:20-22.
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the
feast: 21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of
Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see the messiah. 22Philip
cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell yahweh-shua.
The group that entered with the messiah included many pilgrims, and
including among them were Greeks (or Gentiles), non-Jews who came to
Jerusalem to worship yahweh. Their presence would only serve to inflame the
already dangerous situation since they held no allegiance to the religious
leadership of Jerusalem, or to anyone else for that matter. Gentiles were
summarily rejected by the religious leaders and were forbidden from entering
the inner areas of the court because they were considered “unclean.” The
riot in the temple that resulted in Paul’s imprisonment was started by the
rumor that he had taken a Gentile into the inner court.
The type of
leadership that the Gentiles saw in yahweh-shua was quite different. the
messiah had took his message of grace to the greeks without hesitation.
After he healed the Gentile demoniac of Gadara, His message spread
throughout the Decapolis, the ten-city cluster that was East and Northwest
of the Sea of Galilee. It is possible that some of these cities were
represented in this group. These gentiles sought an audience with this
powerful man who call himself yahweh god of Israel, and rather than go to
Him directly, they went to Philip, who like a few other disciples, had a
Greek name. Philip went to Andrew, another Greek-named hebrew, and together
they went to tell yahweh messiah of their request to see Him.
leadership that the Gentiles saw in yahweh-shua was quite different. the
messiah had took his message of grace to the greeks without hesitation.
After he healed the Gentile demoniac of Gadara, His message spread
throughout the Decapolis, the ten-city cluster that was East and Northwest
of the Sea of Galilee. It is possible that some of these cities were
represented in this group. These gentiles sought an audience with this
powerful man who call himself yahweh god of Israel, and rather than go to
Him directly, they went to Philip, who like a few other disciples, had a
Greek name. Philip went to Andrew, another Greek-named hebrew, and together
they went to tell yahweh messiah of their request to see Him.
John 12:23.
And messiah answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man
should be glorified.
It is not clear whether messiah’s response to the request for an audience
was directed to Philip and Andrew, or if the Greeks were also included.
However, his response is clearly directed to a Greek audience that had
heretofore been somewhat limited in their contact with the one who call
himself the god of Israel.. So, he gives to the Greeks a clear and unveiled
answer: the time has now come that the Son of Man, referring to himself,
should be glorified, or lifted up. he announced to the Gentiles that now
was the time for Him to fulfill His purpose, a purpose which involved
merging both Judah israel together under His kingship. Unlike the rest of
the Jews who had rejected the Gentiles, messiah had never done so and in His
last statement to the Gentile community, He announces His purpose, and by so
doing, includes them in it. Now the religious leadership find themselves up
against a following that not only includes the pilgrims and the village of
Bethany, but the Gentiles too! To add insult to blasphemy, this so called
self proclaimed messiah is opening his fellowship to Gentiles!
When one
observes the dynamics of what is taking place at the gates of Jerusalem, it
is easy to see why the religious leadership worked so hard and so quickly to
diffuse this growing situation by killing this man from galilee. At this
point, they would stop at nothing to quell the impending “disaster.”
John 12:24-26.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground
and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He
that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this
world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow
me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him
will my Father honor.
observes the dynamics of what is taking place at the gates of Jerusalem, it
is easy to see why the religious leadership worked so hard and so quickly to
diffuse this growing situation by killing this man from galilee. At this
point, they would stop at nothing to quell the impending “disaster.”
John 12:24-26.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground
and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He
that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this
world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow
me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him
will my Father honor.
messiah repeats to the Gentiles a statement that he had repeatedly taught
the Jews. It is recorded in Matthew (10:39) as spoken to the disciples, and
in Mark (8:36) to the disciples and a crowd, and in Luke (14:26) only
recently to a mixed audience, When looked at within this context, we see
that yahweh-shua’s message of salvation is extended just as clearly and
openly to the Gentiles as it was to the Jews. In explaining the teaching
to the Gentiles, he uses the metaphor of a seed of wheat. As one witnesses
the life of living wheat, it grows and goes to seed. However, it is at an
appropriate time that the wheat dies, and its seed falls to the ground.
However, this death is necessary so that the seed can be empowered.
The
dead seed will, at its appointed time, spring back to life, and bring forth
much more fruit. the messiah’s death is like that of the wheat stalk. It
is necessary for Him to die, so that through that death, fruition can be
found in new life that is afforded to Jews and Gentiles alike. This cannot
take place without the atoning death of the king on the tree.
Consequently, as the messiah opens His arms to both Jews and Gentiles, all
must make a decision to follow Him or reject Him. Verse 25 is very familiar
to many Christians. Three different words for “life” are used here, and
understanding them might help us to appropriate a deeper knowledge of
messiah’s statement. The first, psyche, from which English gets the word,
psychology,” refers to the individual’s personality and all that its
expression achieves. To love one’s life is to place himself at the center
of his world, to make all of life’s priorities center around himself. All
of the achievements of this life will be lost at death, and the person who
clings to this has no hope.
dead seed will, at its appointed time, spring back to life, and bring forth
much more fruit. the messiah’s death is like that of the wheat stalk. It
is necessary for Him to die, so that through that death, fruition can be
found in new life that is afforded to Jews and Gentiles alike. This cannot
take place without the atoning death of the king on the tree.
Consequently, as the messiah opens His arms to both Jews and Gentiles, all
must make a decision to follow Him or reject Him. Verse 25 is very familiar
to many Christians. Three different words for “life” are used here, and
understanding them might help us to appropriate a deeper knowledge of
messiah’s statement. The first, psyche, from which English gets the word,
psychology,” refers to the individual’s personality and all that its
expression achieves. To love one’s life is to place himself at the center
of his world, to make all of life’s priorities center around himself. All
of the achievements of this life will be lost at death, and the person who
clings to this has no hope.
The second word for life is zoe, refers to the spiritual life that we
experience, and all that its expression achieves. yahweh created adam in
His image, as beings who are not only physical and psychological, but also
spiritual. It is this nature in adam that separates him from all of
creation. We choose the foundation upon which we build our spirituality.
One can build it based upon the nature of this world, under the dominion of
Satan, or one can build it based upon the nature of yahweh. The word that
is rendered, “hateth,” is a hate that results in rejection. Once we can
replace the word in the scripture and keep the meaning: He who rejects the
Prince of this World shall overcome it, and be rewarded with eternal life.
Yahweh-shua then states that it is only through following Him that one can
make that distinction. Following him is demonstrated by rejecting the
nature of this world and following Him as master. Those who follow him do
so by submitting themselves to His kingship, and by so doing, become His
Servants. It is these servants of messiah Christ that yahweh will honor on
the last day.
Again, it is very interesting to note that this last opportunity that the
messiah has to teach this truth is given to the Gentiles who asked for an
audience with Him. Likewise, as yahweh revealed Himself to this lost and
wicked world, He did so first through the house of judah, However, at the
appointed time, he chose to extend his message of salvation to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel [gentiles] as well, and bring under His
kingship all jacob without regard to their worldly affiliation, as one body
of believers, under One Holy Spirit.
By including both Jew and Israel [Gentile] in His plan of salvation, yahweh
is, indeed, king of All. There is no distinction in the mind of messiah
Christ when He lavishes His love upon us. Likewise, those who number
themselves among His servants, should draw no distinctions when it comes to
inviting others to find the light and life of the gospel. yahweh is king of
All, and it is the mission and ministry of the prophets to bring all of the
lost sheep back to Him.
the plot to kill him;
the new testement is clear that the messiah himself did not die in the first
passover but did in fact die on the second passover. now lets see if that is
so as we study the word of those that were present at the first passover, as
they plotted to kill him in the passover season. THE Jews plot to Kill the
Messiah
John 11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put
him to death.
26:1 And it came to pass, when Yahweh-shua had finished all these sayings,
he said unto his disciples,
26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son
of man is betrayed to be crucified.
26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the
elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called
Caiaphas,
26:4 And consulted that they might take Yahweh-shua by subtilty, and kill
him.
the new testement is clear that the messiah himself did not die in the first
passover but did in fact die on the second passover. now lets see if that is
so as we study the word of those that were present at the first passover, as
they plotted to kill him in the passover season. THE Jews plot to Kill the
Messiah
John 11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put
him to death.
26:1 And it came to pass, when Yahweh-shua had finished all these sayings,
he said unto his disciples,
26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son
of man is betrayed to be crucified.
26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the
elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called
Caiaphas,
26:4 And consulted that they might take Yahweh-shua by subtilty, and kill
him.
26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the
people.
Did you notice verse five ? “NOT ON THE FEAST DAY” lest there be an uproar
among the people.!
Now let us see if they killed him on the first passover;
Matt; 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples
came to Yahweh-shua , saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for
thee to eat the passover?
Here we can plainly see the messiah is still alive on the 15th the first day
of the feast of unleavened bread! If they had of killed him on the 1st
passover he would have died on the 14th day of the passover day at 3 PM!
Lets see what mark has to say on the subject;
Mark;
14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread:
and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by
craft, and put him to death.
14:2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the
people.
14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat
there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very
precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
Here we can plainly see mark also says he is alive, ”But the Jews said,
Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people”
But of all things the messiah is sitting in the house eating with a leper! A
leper was unclean and if he was going to eat the passover he would of never
broken his own law to sit with the unclean or touch a dead body.
Mark 14-12,13
12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his
disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou
mayest eat the passover?
14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye
into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water:
follow him.
Very clearly the messiah is alive after the first passover of the Jews, the
court brands him unclean and this will require the messiah to return to his
own city to purify himself in order to be ready for the second passover.
Lets see what city he returns too.
John 11:54 Yahweh-shua therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but
went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called
Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
11:55 And the Jews’ passover [the second] was nigh at hand: and many went
out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves
11:56 Then sought they for Yahweh-shua, and spake among themselves, as they
stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
11:57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment,
that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take
him.
and when the time came to return to Jerusalem to purify HIMSELF ALONG WITH
ALL THE OTHERS THAT WERE UNCLEAN the Jews sized upon the opportunity and
Apprehended and killed him on the 2ed passover of the unclean.
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