They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
John 18:5 ESV

The ESV, usually very literal, I think adds too much text here. Yeshua didn't say "I am he", but simply "I am". Of course, one can still argue about what he meant by that.

In this chapter, Yeshua is recorded saying "I am" three times, while Peter says, "I am not" three times.

And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.
Mark 7:33

Human saliva contains enzymes that promote healing, but that is clearly not what is happening in these instances. Jewish folklore believed that the saliva of a firstborn son had healing power. I doubt that is relevant either, but I don't have another explanation.

Why did he take the man away from the crowd? Perhaps to give the man room to hear clearly, a metaphor of distancing oneself from the world in order to hear God?

It's a very odd episode.

Q74: At what city is it recorded that Paul was stoned?

#quiz

Source: www.biblequiz.biz

PS: Discussions are very welcome, but please do not give the answer away in your discussions.








Acts 14:8,19

SERIES D --- YHVH’S TABERNACLE --- LESSON 17

CONSECRATION CEREMONY

THE CONSECRATION CEREMONY FOR AARON AND HIS SONS

From Leviticus 8

[Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tabernacle, Adonai told Moses. Bring the garments you have made for them, the anointing oil and the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. Then call all of the people of Israel to gather there for a meeting.] Moses obeyed Adonai’s Commandments, doing all that He had said. When the people of Israel had gathered before the doorway of the tabernacle, Moses spoke to them. Adonai has Commanded us to do these things, he told them. Moses had Aaron and his sons come to the entrance of the tabernacle, where he washed them with water. Then he put the sacred robe upon Aaron, tied the sash about his waist, put the ephod on him and tied its band about him. He put the breastpiece on Aaron and in the pouch or pocket of it he put the Urim and Thummim. Moses then placed the turban on Aaron’s head and fastened the golden plate, the holy crown, at its front, just as Adonai had Commanded. Moses anointed the tabernacle and all its furnishings by sprinkling the anointing oil on them. He anointed the altar and its utensils seven times, as well as the laver and its stand, consecrating them to Adonai. Next, Moses anointed Aaron, pouring some of the anointing oil on his head, to consecrate him to Adonai. After that, Moses clothed Aaron’s sons with their robes and sashes and put caps on their heads, as Adonai had Commanded him. He brought the young bull that would be a sin offering to the tabernacle entrance and had Aaron and his sons put their hands on its head. Then Moses killed it and put some of its blood on the horns of the altar, to purify the altar. He poured the blood that was left at the base of the altar, consecrating the altar, to make atonement for it. Moses took the fat that was on the entrails of the young bull, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat and burned these upon the altar as an offering. He burned the rest of the bull and its waste materials in a fire outside the camp, as Adonai had Commanded Moses. The ram of the burnt offering was brought to the tabernacle and after Aaron and his sons put their hands upon its head, Moses killed it and sprinkled its blood around the altar. He cut the ram into pieces and burned them with the head and suet. Then he washed the entrails and legs with water and burned them upon the altar. The entire ram was offered as a burnt offering, presenting a pleasing aroma to Adonai, just as Adonai had Commanded Moses. Moses brought the second ram, which was to be used for the ceremony of consecration. After Aaron and his sons put their hands upon its head, he killed it, putting some of its blood on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand and the big toe of his right foot. Moses also put some of the blood on Aaron’s sons, on the lobes of their right ears, the thumbs of their right hands and the big toes of their right feet. He then poured the rest of the blood around the sides of the altar. Moses took several pieces of the ram; the fat, the tail, the fat upon the entrails, the lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, as well as the right thigh. From the basket of unleavened bread set before Adonai, he took one unleavened cake; one cake of bread mixed with oil and one wafer and placed them upon the pieces of the ram. He presented these to Aaron and his sons, who in turn presented them as a wave offering to Adonai, waving them back and forth. After the offering, Moses took these things from the hands of Aaron and his sons and burned them as a burnt offering to Adonai. They were a consecration offering by fire, sending a pleasing aroma to Adonai. Moses presented the ram’s breast as a wave offering to Adonai. For this particular ceremony it was Moses’ portion of the ram, as Adonai had Commanded him. Moses next mixed some of the blood from the altar with some of the anointing oil and sprinkled it upon Aaron and his sons and all their garments, consecrating Aaron and his sons and their garments to Adonai. Boil the meat of the ram at the doorway of the tabernacle, Moses told Aaron and his sons. Eat it there with the bread from the basket which is set apart for consecration, as I have told you to do. Then burn the leftover meat and bread in the fire. Remain at the entrance of the tabernacle for seven days, until the time of your consecration is completed, for Adonai will complete your consecration in seven days. All of these things which we are doing today have been Commanded by Adonai, to make atonement for you. Remember now, to remain at the entrance of the tabernacle for seven days, for if you leave, you will die. Adonai has spoken! Aaron and his sons did exactly as Adonai Commanded them through Moses.

COMMENTARY

RITES OF SANCTIFICATION

When the tabernacle was set up in the wilderness for the first time, certain ceremonies had to be performed before it could be used as a place of worship. The purpose was to sanctify both the tabernacle and the priests who performed the rituals. It was essential that they be set apart as especially holy. The people of Israel always cleaned themselves before they took part in certain religious acts. Doing this set the acts apart from everyday activities and thus made them special. The cleansing procedure for ordinary Israelites was less complicated than for priests, but they had some things in common. A person who wanted to be sanctified washed the clothes he wore, usually the only clothes he or she owned. Hands and feet were carefully washed. Married people refrained from sexual activities for a certain period of time. These actions made a person ritually clean and ready to worship YHVH. The outer cleanliness was meant in part as a sign of inner purity.

And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
Mark 7:32

#yeshua healed this man's hearing and speech. Immediately the man spoke clearly with no impediment. His speech impediment was probably caused by his impaired hearing. Even if Yeshua healed a physical defect like a cleft palate, he also had to transform--not just heal--his mind and musculature or else the man would have spent years learning to speak properly.

On this date in history, 01/10/1776: Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense. #otd #tdih https://www.historycarper.com/....1776/01/09/common-se