Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8 ESV
Prophecy does not refer to the public reading of Scripture as some have claimed, nor does it refer to routine expounding on the Scriptures--no matter how fantastic or truthful--or else Paul would not have listed teaching separately.
Prophecy is relaying a message directly from God to some other person or people. Reading a passage from the Bible is merely repeating a prophecy that God gave to someone else. Expounding on the Scriptures is not prophecy unless it could legitimately be prefaced with “Thus saith the Lord...”
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WORD FOR TODAY “does your heart long to do this?”: Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
WISDOM FOR TODAY: Pro 19:29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.
www.BGMCTV.org
PART 21 B
APPEARANCE BY LAKE KINNERET
Yeshua revealed Himself to the disciples again at Tiberias, close to Lake {Kinneret}. Together there were Shimon Kefa, T’oma the twin, Nathan-El of Kana in the Galil, Zavdai's sons (Ya'akov and Yochanan} and two of His other disciples. Shimon Kefa said, "I am going fishing." They all said, "We will go with you." They went immediately and entered a ship. They caught nothing that night. When morning came,
Yeshua stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize it was Yeshua. Then Yeshua said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" "No," they said. "Throw the net over on the right side of the boat and you will find some." He said. They did it and suddenly they were not able to pull it in because of the abundance of fish. The disciple whom Yeshua loved {Yochanan} said to Kefa, "It is Adonai!" When Shimon Kefa heard that it was Adonai, he put on his fishing jacket, because he was unclothed and threw himself into the water. The other disciples came in the boat dragging the net with the fishes. They were not far from shore, only about 200 cubits. As soon as they arrived on shore they saw a fire of coals there, with fish cooking on it and bread. Yeshua said to them, "Bring of the fish that you caught." Shimon Kefa pulled the net to shore full of a hundred-fifty-three large fish. Even with so many, the net was not broken.
Yeshua said to them, "Come! Eat!" None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" Knowing that He was Adonai. Then Yeshua took the bread and the fish and gave it to them. This was the third time that Yeshua showed Himself to His disciples after He arose from the dead. So when they had eaten, Yeshua said to Shimon Kefa, "Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me more than this?” {Yeshua spoke of fishing.} Kefa said, "Yes Adonai. You know that I care for You." Yeshua said to him "Feed My lambs." A second time Yeshua said to Kefa, "Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me?" "Yes, Adonai," Kefa answered. "You know that I care for you." "Feed my sheep," Yeshua said. A third time Yeshua asked him, "Shimon, son of Yonah, do you care for Me?" Kefa was grieved because Yeshua asked him the third time, "Do you care for Me?" So he said to Yeshua, "Adonai, you know all things. You know that I care for you." "Feed my sheep," Yeshua said. "Amen, amen! I tell you, when you were young, you clothed yourself and walked wherever you wanted, but when you get old, you will stretch out your hands and another will clothe you and carry where you do not want to go." Yeshua spoke this to signify what kind of death Kefa would endure to glorify Elohim. "Follow me." Yeshua said. Then Kefa turning around saw the disciple whom Yeshua loved {Yochanan} following along with them. He is also the one who leaned on Yeshua during the Seder and said "Adonai, who is the one who betrayed you?" When Kefa saw him {Yochanan}, he said, "Adonai, what about this man?" "If I desire for him to live until I come, why should you worry?" Yeshua answered. "You follow Me." Therefore, the rumour was broadcast among the brothers, that that disciple {Yochanan} would not die. But Yeshua did not say, "He shall not die."
APPEARANCE ON A MOUNTAIN IN THE GALIL
Then the eleven disciples went farther {north} into the Galil, up into a mountain where Yeshua had appointed them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, yet some still had doubts. Then, Yeshua spoke to them, "All authority is Mine in Heaven and in Earth. Go then and teach all nations, preaching the good news to everyone and performing mikveh for them in the Name of Abba, HaBen and Ruach HaKodesh. The one who trusts Me and obeys the mikveh will be saved, but the one who doubts will be condemned. Teach them to observe everything I have ever commanded you. Signs will follow those who trust in My Name. {Such as} some will have deceiving spirits removed. Some will speak with new languages. Some will have serpents discharged. And some may happen to drink poison, but it will not harm them. Look, watch! I am with you all the time until the end of the world."
ASCENSION
"I spoke to you the things while I was with you, so that all things concerning Me written in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms, would be completed. Therefore, it is written, that it was necessary for Moshiach to suffer, die and to rise from the dead the third day. That t'shuvah and removal of sins would be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Yerushalayim. You are witnesses of these things. Now watch! I send the promise of Avi upon you. But wait in the city of Yerushalayim until you are endowed with authority from on high." They asked Him, "Adonai, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Yisrael?" He said, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which Abba has put in His own power. But you will receive authority after Ruach HaKodesh comes on you and you will be My witnesses both in Yerushalayim, in all Yehudah, in Shomron and to the farthest reaches of the Earth." Yeshua led them all the way to Beit-Ani, to the Mount of Olives. Then He lifted His hands and blessed them. While He blessed them, He departed from them by ascending up in a cloud into the heavens out of their sight. (He sat down at the right hand of Elohim.) While intently looking toward Heaven as He went up they worshiped Him. Then suddenly, two men stood by them in white garments, who said, "You men of the Galil, why do you stand gazing up into the heavens? This Yeshua, the same One who has ascended from you into Heaven, He will come back in a like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven." They returned to Yerushalayim from the Mount of Olives with much celebration. Continually they were in the Mikdash praising and blessing Elohim.
CONCLUSION
Yeshua performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. These have been written, so you can trust that Yeshua is Moshiach, the Son of Elohim and that in trusting you might have {eternal} life through His Name. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with Elohim and the Word was Elohim. The same was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were created by Him. Nothing in all of creation was created without Him. In Him is life and the life is the Light for men. The Light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it. He is the Light of Remembrance, who Lights every man who comes into the world. He was in the world and the world was created by Him, but the world did not know Him. He came to His own {possession} and His own {possession} did not accept Him. But to those who accepted Him, He gave the authority to become the sons of Elohim; to all those who trust in His Name. These are not born to Him by blood, nor by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but by Elohim. The Word was made flesh and tabernacle among us. We looked on His glory, the glory of the only issue of Abba, fully enabled and the Remembrance.
PART 21 A
RESURRECTION
At the end of the {seventh day} Shabbat, {toward evening} as it began to be the first day of the week, there was a powerful earthquake. A messenger of YHVH descended from Heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door, then he sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was snowy white. The guards shook with fear at the site of him and fell down like they were dead. Some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief Kohenim everything that had happened. The chief Kohenim had then met with the Zakenim and devised a plan. They gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, "You are to report this, 'His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." Therefore, the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. Because of it, this story has been widely publicized among the Yehudim to this very day. Then at dawn, on the first day of the week, Miryam of Migdal and Miryam the mother of Ya'akov and Shalome and Yochanah were coming to see the Tomb. They brought spices to anoint Yeshua's body. Because a huge stone was over the entrance, they conversed among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" Then looking, they saw the stone was already rolled back. So they entered the tomb and the body of Yeshua was gone. Then Miryam of Migdal ran to Shimon Kefa and the other disciple {Yochanan}, whom Yeshua loved and said, "They have taken away Adonai out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid Him." Immediately, Kefa and that other disciple ran out together, but the other disciple outran Kefa and came to the tomb first. He stooped down and saw the linen clothes lying there, but he did not go in. Then Shimon Kefa arrived and went into the tomb and saw the linen clothes lying there and the cloth which was around His head was not lying with the linen clothes, but was wrapped together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went in, who was first on the scene and he saw and believed. For at this point they did not know the scriptures which say, He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples left and went to their own homes. But Miryam stood outside at the tomb crying. As she wept she stooped down into the tomb and saw two messengers in dazzling white clothing sitting on the right side, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had lain. When the woman saw them she was frightened and bowed her face to the ground. They said to her, "Woman, why do you cry?" She said, "Because they have taken away Adonai and I do not know where they have laid Him." One messenger said to the woman, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? You do not need to fear, for I know that you look for Yeshua HaNatzeret, who was executed on the stake. He is not here. He is risen! Come and see the place where YHVH was laid." {She looked, then the messenger said,} "Remember how He spoke to you when He was in the Galil? He said, 'the Son of man must be put into the hands of sinful men and be executed on the stake and after the third day rise again.' Quickly go now and tell His disciples that He has been resurrected from the dead. Watch! He proceeds you into the Galil. You will see Him there, as I have told you." She hurriedly began to depart from the tomb with trembling and joyfulness. When Miryam had turned to leave she saw Yeshua standing there, but did not know it was Yeshua. Yeshua said unto her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She supposed He was the gardener, so she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him from here, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away." "Miryam," Yeshua said. She turned around and said to him, "Rabbi!" Yeshua said, "Hello!" The woman came and held Him at His feet and worshiped Him. "Do not touch Me," Yeshua said, "for I am not yet ascended to Avi. Go to My brothers and tell them that I ascend to Avi, your Abba; to My Elohim and your Elohim. Do not be afraid. Go tell My brothers to go to the Galil. They will see Me there." So she returned from the tomb and told all these things unto the eleven and to all the rest. It was Miryam of Migdal and Yochanah and Miryam the mother of Ya'akov and others with them, who told these things to the Shaliachim. But their report seemed to them to be fictional stories and they did not believe them.
WALK TO AMMA'US
It happened that two of them travelled that same day from Yerushalayim about seven miles, to the village of Amma'us. Along the way they conversed about all these things which had happened. While they reasoned together, Yeshua Himself came near and walked with them. But their eyes were set ahead and they didn't recognize Him. He asked them, "What kind of conversation is this you are having together as you walk? And why so sad?" Cleophas, one of them, answered, "Are you a newcomer to Yerushalayim? Haven't you heard about the things which have happened here recently?” "What things?" He said. "Concerning Yeshua HaNatzeret," they said. "He was a mighty prophet in deeds and words, in the sight of Elohim and all the people. The chief Kohenim and our rulers sentenced Him to be condemned to death and they have executed Him on the stake. But, we trusted in Him to be the Redeemer of Yisrael. Besides all this, today is after the third day since these things were done. Yes and some women of our company who were earlier at the Tomb have amazed us. They did not find His body and they told us that they had also seen a vision of messengers {from Heaven}, who said that He was alive. Ones who were with us went to the tomb and found it {empty} just as the women had told us, but they did not see Him." "Oh you foolish ones and slow to put your trust in all that the prophets have spoken!" Yeshua declared. "Was not Moshiach supposed to suffer these things and then to enter into His glory?" Then, beginning with Moshe and all the prophets, He explained to them all the things in the scriptures concerning Himself. They were nearing the village where they were going and Yeshua acted as though He was going to go farther. But they stopped Him by saying, "Stay with us, because it is getting late and not much daylight is left." So He went in to stay with them. As He sat down at the dinner table with them, He took some bread and blessed {"Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam ha'motzi lechem min ha'aretz"} and broke it and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. But He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us while He conversed with us on the road and while He revealed the scriptures to us?" At that same time they got up and returned to Yerushalayim and found the eleven gathered together and others with them there, reporting, "Adonai is truly risen! He has appeared to Shimon." So, they also reported what happened on the road and how Yeshua was revealed to them with the breaking of bread.
APPEARANCE TO DISCIPLES IN YERUSHALAYIM
Then that same day at evening, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the leaders of the Yehudim, Yeshua appeared and stood among them. "Shalom Aleichem," He said to them and told them how displeased He was that they did not trust the report of those who had seen Him after He arose. But, they thought they were seeing a ghost. So, Yeshua said, "Why are you troubled? Why do you think that way? See My hands and My feet. It is I! Touch Me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." When He showed them His hands and His side, the disciples celebrated. Yet they still doubted in amazement. They were all sitting at dinner. Yeshua said, "Do you have anything to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish and He ate it in front of them. "Shalom Aleichem," Yeshua said to them again. "As Abba has sent Me, so I send you the same way." Then He breathed out on them and commanded, "You will receive the Ruach HaKodesh! Whose sins you send away, they will be sent away from them. Whom you strengthen, they are strengthened." T’oma, a twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. Later, when the disciples saw T’oma they said, "We have seen Adonai." "Unless I see His hands with the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into His side, I will not believe," T’oma answered. After eight days Yeshua's disciples were still in hiding and T’oma was with them. While the doors were shut, Yeshua once again came and stood among them and greeted them with, "Shalom Aleichem!" Then Yeshua said to T’oma, "Look at My hands. Take your finger and touch them. Reach in here with your hand and touch My side. Do not doubt, rather keep on trusting." T’oma said, "Adonai and My Elohim!" Yeshua said, "T’oma, because you have seen Me, you have trusted. Blessed is the one who has not seen, but has also trusted.”
PART 20 B
TRIAL, BACK BEFORE PILATE
On that day Pilate and Herod became friends, but before then they were enemies. Pilate once again went before the chief Kohenim and leaders of the people and said, "You have brought this man to me, as one who corrupts the people. Take note of this! I have examined Him before you and have found this Man 'not guilty' concerning those things which you have accused Him. Nor has Herod. For I sent you all to Herod and look, nothing requiring death has been found against Him. Therefore, I will punish Him and release Him." At the Feast {of Pesach} the governor was willing to release to the people a prisoner they wanted freed. In custody was a famous prisoner, called Bar-Abba, who was bound in prison, along with others, for committing insurrection and murder. Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Bar-Abba or Yeshua who is called Moshiach, the King of the Yehudim?" For Pilate knew that it was because of envy they had arrested Yeshua. When Pilate sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for a dream I had today about Him has caused me great distress." But the chief Kohenim and Zakenim persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Bar-Abba and execute Yeshua. Then the governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" The crowd said, "Away with this man! Release Bar-Abba to us." Pilate said to them, "Then what will I do with Yeshua, who is called Moshiach, the King of the Yehudim?" "Allow Him to be executed on the stake," they all answered. The governor asked, "Why, what evil has He done?" They shouted even more, "Allow Him to be executed on the stake." Then Pilate released Bar-Abba to them and had Yeshua scourged. Then the governor's soldiers took Yeshua to the common hall and the whole troop gathered around Him. They stripped Him and put a regal-purple robe on Him. They formed a crown from thorn branches and put it on His head. They put a rod in His right hand, then they bowed on their knee before Him and made fun of Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Yehudim!" They spat on Him, hit Him with their fists and took the rod and struck Him on the head. Pilate therefore went out to the crowd again and said, "Look! I bring Him out to you, so you will know that I find Him 'not guilty.'" Then Yeshua came out wearing the crown of thorns and the regal-purple robe and Pilate said, "Look at the man!" When the chief Kohanim and officers saw Him they shouted, "Execution on the stake! Execution on the stake!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and execute Him on the stake, because I find Him, 'not guilty!'" The leaders of the Yehudim said, "We have a law and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself out to be the Son of Elohim." When Pilate heard that saying, he was very afraid. So he went again into the judgment hall and said to Yeshua, "Where are you from?" But Yeshua gave no answer. Then Pilate said, "You do not speak to me? Don't you know I have the power to execute You on the stake or to release You?" "You would have no power against Me," said Yeshua, "unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who brought Me to you has sinned more." Pilate tried even harder to release Him, but then leaders of the people shouted, "If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." When Pilate heard that, he brought Yeshua out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Pilate understood that he could not change their view and that a riot was in the making. So, he took some water and washed his hands in the sight of the mob. He said, "See this! I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous Person." Then the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children." {So then, Yisrael in a type accepted His blood as a Pesach sprinkling.} It was about noon now on {the day of Pesach, 14 Abib,} a preparation for the Feast. Pilate says unto the Yehudim there, "Look! Here is your King!" They yelled, "Away, away, execute Him on the stake!" "Shall I crucify your King?" Pilate said. Chief Kohenim answered, "We have no king except Caesar!" Then Pilate turned Yeshua over to be executed on the stake. They took Yeshua out. After they mocked Him, they removed the robe from Him and put His garments on Him, then led Him away to be executed on the stake.
EXECUTION ON THE STAKE
As Yeshua was going He was carrying His execution stake. {It was heavy and He was weak from His suffering,) so He fell under the weight of it. Therefore, they grabbed a man coming from the country named, Shimon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They laid the execution stake on him, to carry it behind Yeshua. Also, following Him was a great crowd of people and women who mourned and travailed for Him. Yeshua turned to them and said, "Daughters of Yerushalayim, do not shed tears for Me, but weep instead for yourselves and for your children. For watch! The days are coming in the which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs which never gave birth and the breasts which never nursed’. Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' Because, if they do these things to a green tree, what will be done to a dry one?" Also, there were two other criminals who were led with Him to be executed. When they came to the place call 'The Shull,' which is 'Golgatha' in Hebrew and 'Kalvari' in Latin, they proceeded with His execution on the stake. The two criminals were put on each side; one on the right hand and the other on the left. Someone offered Him wine mixed with bitter herbs to drink but, learning what it was, He would not drink it. {These were Pesach elements, which He said He would not take until the Kingdom comes.} Pilate had the accusation written and put on His stake which said, "Yeshua HaNatzeret, Melekh Yehudim." Many of the Yehudim read this title, for the place where Yeshua was executed on the stake was near to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Then the chief Kohanim said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Yehudim,' but that 'he said, I am King of the Yehudim.'” Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." Four soldiers stripped Yeshua and put Him on the stake. They took His clothes and made four parts. Every soldier got one part. But His tallit was without a seam, woven from the top to bottom. So they agreed together, "Let's not tear it, but rather let us throw the dice to see who gets it." In this way the scripture was fulfilled which says, "They divided my garments among them and they gambled for my tallit." Then Yeshua said, "Abba, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." The people stood there looking on. But rulers with them sneered at Him and said, "He healed others, now let Him heal Himself! That is, if he is Moshiach, the chosen of Elohim!" Some others passed by and said, "Ha! You who destroys the Mikdash and builds it again in three days. If You are Moshiach save Yourself and come down from the stake, if You are the Son of Elohim!" Chief Kohenim mocked along with some Soferim, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Yisrael, the Moshiach, so let Him now come down from the stake and we will trust in Him when we see it. He trusts in Elohim, so let Him save Him now if He wants Him." The soldiers also jeered at Him, coming to Him, offering Him vinegar and saying, "If you are the King of the Yehudim, save yourself." One of the criminals who was hanging there blasphemed, saying, "If you are Moshiach, save Yourself and us." The other one rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear Elohim? Don't you realize you are getting the same condemnation as Him? Yet, we are being treated with justice, for we are getting the due reward for our actions, but this man has not done anything wrong!" Then he said to Yeshua, "Adonai, be mindful of me when You come into Your Kingdom." Yeshua said to him, "Amen! I tell you; today you will be with Me in paradise." Standing there beside the stake of Yeshua was His mother, His mother's sister, Miryam the wife of Cleophas and Miryam of Migdal. When Yeshua saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom {it was said} He loved, He said to His mother, "Woman, look! Here is your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Look! Here is your mother!" From that time, that disciple took her in as part of his own household. From noon until three o'clock {p.m. for three hours} darkness was over all the land. The Sun did not shine. About three o'clock Yeshua yelled out {in Hebrew}, "Elohi, Elohi, l'mah sh'vaktani?" Which is, "My Elohim, My Elohim, why have You ceased being with Me?" Some of those who stood there said, "This one calls for Eliyahu {the Prophet}." Immediately, one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar and put it on a branch and was going to give it to Him to drink. The others said, "Wait and let us see whether Eliyahu will come to save him." After this, Yeshua knew that all things {concerning His suffering} were now completed. So that the scripture might be fulfilled, He said, "I am thirsty." So they raised the sponge of vinegar, which was on a hyssop branch, to His mouth. When Yeshua had accepted the vinegar, He cried with a loud voice, "It is finished!" Then said, "Abba, into Your hands I commit My Spirit." Then He bowed His head and breathed His last. It was seen that the veil of the Mikdash was ripped in two from the top to the bottom. There was an earthquake and the rocks split. The tombs opened up (and many bodies of the holy ones who were asleep {dead} arose. They were seen out of the tombs after His resurrection as they went into the holy city and appeared to many). When the {Roman} centurion and those with him who were watching Yeshua, felt the earthquake and saw the events, they became frightened and said, "This was a Son of Elohim, a righteous man, absolutely!" When the great crowd of people who had gathered saw what had happened, they returned home beating their chests. Many of the women who followed Yeshua from the Galil and served His ministry, were watching from a distance. Also at the site were Miryam of Migdal, Miryam the mother of Ya'akov and Yosef {Yeshua's brothers}, the mother of Zavdai's children and Shalome. It was the preparation day {Pesach before Chag Matzah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread} and the bodies should not remain upon the stake on a Shabbat, for that Shabbat day was a high holy day {the first day of Chag Matzah starting that evening, 15 Abib}. Therefore, the leaders implored Pilate for their legs to be broken and the bodies carried away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first criminal and of the other who was executed with Him. Yet, when they came to Yeshua, they saw that He was already dead, so they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side and immediately blood and water flowed out. He who saw this is recording it and his record is correct and he knows that what he says is correct, so you can trust it. For this was done that the scripture should be fulfilled, "A bone of Him will not be broken." Also, "They will look on Him whom they have pierced."
BURIAL OF YESHUA
After this, Yosef of Ramatayim, who though he was a secret disciple of Yeshua because he feared the leaders of Yehudah, boldly implored Pilate to let him take away the body of Yeshua. Pilate asked the centurion if Yeshua was already dead and was amazed to learn He was already dead. Pilate gave Yosef permission, so he came and took the body of Yeshua at evening just before the Feast's Shabbat. Yosef was a member of the religious council; a rich nobleman who was a good and righteous man and he did not consent to the council's deed {of condemning Yeshua}. Nicodemus, who from the start came to Yeshua by night, also came and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Yeshua and wound it in linen cloth along with the spices, as is the burial practice of the Yehudim. In the place where Yeshua was executed there was a garden and in the garden was a new tomb which Yosef had hewn out of a rock and no one had ever been buried there. They laid Yeshua there on preparation day {on Pesach, just before the Chag Matzah Shabbat}, because the tomb was nearby. Then they rolled a large stone over the door to the tomb. Miryam of Migdal and Miryam the mother of Yosef watched where Yeshua was buried and they sat down close to the tomb. Then they returned home and prepared spices and ointments.
GUARDS PLACED AT TOMB
Now the next day following the day of the preparation {Pesach}, the chief Kohenim and some P'rushim came to Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still living, 'After three days I will rise again.'" So they asked Pilate to, "Command that the tomb be made secure until the three days are up, in case His disciples come by night and steal His body, then tell the people, 'He is risen from the dead.' Then the last error will be worse than the first." Pilate said unto them, "Go ahead. You can set up a guard and make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting up a guard.
PART 20 A
BETRAYAL AND ARREST
Yehudah Kir'yot knew that Yeshua often withdrew with His disciples to the garden, which was {eastward} beyond the brook Kidron. A mob and officers from the chief Kohanim, P'rushim and
Zakenim, were led there by Yehudah with lanterns, torches and weapons. Then he went ahead and came up to Yeshua and kissed Him, saying "Hello, Rabbi." For Yehudah had told the officers to arrest whomever he kissed; that one would be Yeshua. "Friend," Yeshua responded to him, "you have finished what you came to do." Yeshua knew all the things that would happen to Him. So, He went forward and said to the mob, "Who are you seeking?" "Yeshua HaNatzeret," they answered. "I AM," He said. They all fell backwards onto the ground. Then asked He them again, "Who are you seeking?" They said, "Yeshua HaNatzeret." Yeshua said, "I have told you that I AM. If you seek Me, let the others go on their way." Then Shimon Kefa drew his sword and struck Melekh the Kohen Gadol's servant, cutting off his right ear. "Put your sword back into the sheath!" commanded Yeshua. "For all who use the sword will die by the sword. Shall I not drink the cup which Avi has given to Me? Allow it to be. For don't you consider that I could request Avi and He would at this moment send Me more than twelve thousand messengers {from Heaven}! But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled? Thus, it must be this way." Then Yeshua reached out and healed Melekh's ear. "Have you come out here to arrest Me like you would a robber, with swords and spears?" Yeshua said to the mob. "I was sitting every day in the Mikdash teaching and you didn't arrest Me, but this is the time for you and the power of darkness. All this is being done so that the scriptures of the Prophets are fulfilled." Then the disciples ran swiftly away and left Yeshua standing alone, except for one young man covered in a tallit. The mob with {leadership from} the captain of the officers arrested Yeshua and they took hold of the young man, but he got free and left the tallit as he ran away. So they tied Yeshua's hands and led Him away.
TRIAL BEFORE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
They took Him to Chanan and Chaiyafa, because Chanan was the father-in-law to Chaiyafa, who was the Kohen Gadol that year. {They shared the office of Kohen Gadol.} {Remember,} it was Chaiyafa, who counselled the leaders of the Yehudim, that it was best for one man to die for the people. With him were assembled the chief Kohanim, Zakenim and Soferim. It was early in the morning. From a distance Shimon Kefa followed Yeshua and also another disciple {Yochanan}, who was known to the Kohen Gadol, so he went in with Yeshua into the palace of the Kohen Gadol. Kefa stood outside by the door. Then the other disciple, who was known by the Kohen Gadol, spoke to the doorkeeper woman and he brought in Kefa. Then the doorkeeper woman said to Kefa, "Aren't you one of this man's disciples?" "I am not," he said {denying Yeshua the first time). The servants and officers who stood there made a fire of coals, because it was cold and they warmed themselves. So Kefa stood with them and warmed himself. The Kohen Gadol asked Yeshua about His disciples and His doctrine. Yeshua answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always was teaching in the synagogue and in the Mikdash; wherever our people are. I have not spoken secretly. Why ask Me? Ask those who heard Me, as to what I've said to them. They know what I said." Then one of the officers who stood there struck Yeshua with the palm of his hand saying, "Do you dare answer the Kohen Gadol that way?” "If I have spoken evil, then testify to that evil," Yeshua answered. "But if {I speak} correctly, why do you hit me?" Then the chief Kohenim and all the council sought for a witness against Yeshua {in order to find cause} to put him to death, but could not find any. Many gave a false witness against Him, but their reports did not agree. Some gave a false witness against Him, saying, "We heard him say, I will destroy this Mikdash which is made with hands and within three days I will build another one made without hands." But their testimony was inconsistent. The Kohen Gadol stood up among them and asked Yeshua, "Will you not answer this? What is it that these are saying against you?" But Yeshua kept silent. Again the Kohen Gadol asked Him, "Are you the Moshiach, the Son of the Blessed One?" "If I tell you, you will not trust Me. Also, if I ask you, you will not answer Me, nor free Me." Yeshua said. "I command You by the living Elohim! Are You or are You not the Moshiach?" he demanded. "I AM, as you have said and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of Heaven." Yeshua answered. Then the Kohen Gadol tore his clothes and said {to the council}, "You have heard the blasphemy from His own mouth! What do you think?" The council answered, "What further witness do we need?" They all judged Him to be guilty of blasphemy and condemned Him to death. Some began to spit on Him. They covered His face and beat Him, then commanded Him, "Prophesy! You Moshiach! Which one of us struck you?" Then, as the officers took Him into custody, they hit Him with their hands.
KEFA'S DENIAL
One of the maids of the Kohen Gadol who saw Kefa warming himself, said to him, "You also were with Yeshua of Natzeret." He denied Him {the second time), saying, "I don't know or understand what you are saying." He went out into the porch and the rooster crowed. Another maid saw him and told those standing there, "This is one of them." A little later, those who standing there said to Kefa, "Surely you are one of them, for you are from the Galil. Your speech gives you away!" Then a relative of Melekh, whose ear Kefa had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" Then Kefa began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about." {Denying Yeshua the third time.} The rooster crowed once again. Then Kefa remembered the word that Yeshua gave him, "Before the rooster crows three times, you will deny me three times." Thinking about what he had done, he went out and cried bitter tears.
YEHUDAH'S REMORSE
When Yehudah, who had betrayed Yeshua, saw that He had been condemned, he was sorry for himself. He brought the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Kohenim and Zakenim and said, "I have sinned, because I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us? Take care of it yourself!" they replied. Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the Mikdash and departed and went and hanged himself. The chief Kohenim took the silver pieces and said, "It is not proper Torah to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood." So, they counselled to buy a potter's field with them to bury strangers in. Therefore that field is called to this day, Acheldahma, Field of Blood. Then what was spoken by the Prophet Yirmi'yahu was fulfilled which says, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price for which He was valued, whom those from the children of Yisrael had valued and gave them for the potter's field, as YHVH appointed me."
TRIAL BEFORE THE ROMANS
Then the chief Kohenim held a consultation with Zakenim, Soferim and the council and led Yeshua way bound to the judgement hall of Pilate {the Roman governor}. They themselves did not go into the judgment hall, for fear they would be defiled and they were attempting to continue to celebrate the Pesach Feast. Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If he was not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you." Then Pilate said, "You take him and judge him according to your law." "According to your law we are not allowed to put any man to death," they replied. "We found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding giving taxes to Caesar and proclaiming that He is Moshiach, a king." Then Pilate entered into his palace and called Yeshua to him and asked, "Are you the King of the Yehudim?" Yeshua answered, "Do you ask this about Me because of your own knowledge or did someone tell it to you?" "Am I a Yehudah?" Pilate said. "Your own nation and the chief Kohenim have brought you to me. What have you done?" Yeshua answered, "My Kingdom is not from this world. If My Kingdom was from this world, then My servants would fight for Me and I would not be arrested by the leaders of the Yehudim, but as of now My Kingdom is not from here." "Are you a king then?" Pilate asked. Yeshua answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born for that end. But I came into the world for this reason: that I would testify to the Remembrance. Everyone who belongs to the remembrance hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is the remembrance?" But Yeshua no longer answered Him. Pilate asked again, "Do You not hear how many charges they bring against You?" Yeshua spoke nothing. Not one word. So Pilate was amazed and he went out again to the leaders of the Yehudim and said, "I do not find He has committed any crime." They became more insistent, saying, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all the Yehudim, beginning from the Galil to this here."
TRIAL BEFORE HEROD
When Pilate heard 'the Galil,' he asked whether the man was from the Galil. As soon as he learned that Yeshua belonged in Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Yerushalayim at that time. Herod was very happy to see Yeshua. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he heard many things about Him and he hoped to see some miracle performed by Him. So Herod questioned Yeshua with many words, but Yeshua gave him no answer. The chief Kohenim and Soferim stood there and strongly accused Him. So Herod, along with his men of war, viewed Yeshua as nothing and mocked Him and arrayed Him in a majestic robe, then sent Him back to Pilate.
PART 19
THE FAREWELL DISCOURSE
"Do not allow your heart to become troubled," Yeshua said. "You trust in Elohim, so trust in Me the same way. In Avi's house are many places to dwell. I would have told you if there was not. I go to prepare a place for you all. Since I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and bring you to Me, so that you will be there where I am. You know now where I am going and the path there you know." T'oma said to Him, "Adonai, we do not know where You are going, so then how can we know the path to get there?" "I am the Light on the path, the Remembrance and Life itself. No one {ever} comes to Abba, except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known Avi, but from now on you know Him and have seen Him," Yeshua answered. Philip said to Him, "Adonai, show us Abba and it will be enough for us." "Have I been with you such a long time and yet, you have not known Me, Philip?" Yeshua said. "The one who has seen Me has seen Abba! Why do you say, 'Show us Abba?' Do you not trust that I am in Abba and Abba is in Me? The words which I speak to you I do not speak on My own. Abba who indwells Me does the works. Trust Me that I am in Abba and Abba is in Me. At least trust Me because of the works. Amen, amen! I tell you, the one who trusts in Me will also do the works that I do. Also, he will do even more than these because I go to Avi. I will do whatever you will ask in My Name, so that Abba may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask any thing in My Name, I will do it. If you love Me, obey My Commandments {for they are permanent from the beginning of time}. Then I will ask Abba and He will give you another Helper and He will abide with you forever. {He is} the Ruach of Remembrance, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see Him, nor knows Him. However, you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Yet, in a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. On that day you will understand that I am in Avi and you are in Me and I am in you. The one who has My Commandments {which are permanent from the beginning of time} and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by Avi and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him." {The other disciple named} Yehudah, who was not from Kir'yot, said, "Adonai, why will you reveal Yourself to us, but not to the world?" Yeshua answered, "If a person loves Me, he will obey My Word and Avi will love him and we will come to him and make our dwelling in him. The one who does not love Me does not obey My instructions. The Word which you shema is not Mine, but Abba's who sent Me. These things I spoke to you because I am present with you. But the Helper, Ruach HaKodesh, whom Avi will send in My Name, He will teach you everything and bring everything to your remembrance. That is: whatever I have said to you. Shalom I leave with you. My Shalom I impart to you. I do not give you the kind the world gives. Do not allow your heart to be troubled, nor allow it to be afraid. You have heard Me tell you that I am going away and will come back to you. If you loved Me you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to Avi,' for Avi is more than me. I have predicted to you what will happen, so that when it happens you will trust. After this I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world is coming and owns no part of Me. But so the world may know that I love Abba, I do exactly as Abba commands Me. Now get up, let us go over here." {Yeshua and the twelve went to a place on the Mount of Olives where there was a vineyard.} "I am the true vine and Avi is the Farmer. Every branch which is in Me that does not grow fruit He removes and every one which grows fruit He prunes, so that it can grow more fruit. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me and I will be in you. Since the branch cannot grow fruit on its own unless it remains in the vine, you can't either unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I am in him, that one grows abundant fruit. Without Me you can do nothing. If a person does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch which has withered and men gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My Word remains in you, you may ask for whatever you seek and it will be accomplished for you. In this way Avi is glorified because you grow abundant fruit.
So you will be My disciples. As Abba has loved Me, so I have loved you. Continue in My love. If you obey My commandments you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed Avi's commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy will remain in you and you will be full of joy. This is a commandment of mine: you love one another, as I have loved you. No one has more love than this: when one sacrifices his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do whatever commandment I gave you. From now on I will not call you My servants, for the servant does not know what Adonai is doing. I have called you My friends, for all things which I have heard from Avi I have made known to you. You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, for you to go and grow fruit and for your fruit to remain. Then, whatever you ask from Abba in My Name, He will give it to you. This commandment I give to you: you shall love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before you. If you were {a part} of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not {a part} of the world and I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the Word I told you, 'The servant is not greater than Adonai.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have obeyed My sayings, they will also obey yours. All these things they will do to you on account of My Name, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin. But now, they have no kippur [covering] for their sin. The one who hates Me hates Avi also. If I had not performed the works among them which no other man has done, they would not have had sin. Now they have both seen and hated both Avi and Me, that the Word might be fulfilled which is written in the Torah, 'They hated Me without a cause.' When the Helper has come, whom I will send to you from Abba, the Ruach of Remembrance who proceeds from Abba, He will testify concerning Me. You also will be a witness, because you have been with Me from the start. These things I have spoken to you, so that you would not fall away. They shall put you out of the councils. Yes, the time comes, that whoever kills you will think that he serves Elohim. They will do this to you, because they have not known Abba, nor Me. But I have I told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you this from the start, because I was with you. But now I go on My path to Him who sent Me. Yet, none of you asks Me, 'Where are you going?' For since I said these things to you, your heart is filled with sadness. Still, I tell you, remember. It is best for you now that I depart, for if I do not depart the Helper will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you. When He comes He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. {He will prove the world to have} sin, because they do not trust in Me. {He will prove to the world what is} righteousness, because I go to Avi and no longer will I be here for an example {of righteousness}. {He will prepare the world for} judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged. There are yet many things I would like to say to you, but you cannot handle them now. However, when He who is the Ruach of Remembrance comes, He will guide you to remember all things. He will not speak about who He is, but whatever He hears is what He will speak. Then He will show you the things to come. He will glorify Me, because He will receive what is Mine and reveal it to you. All things that Abba has are Mine also. For this reason I told you that He will take what is Mine and reveal it to you. Because I go to Abba in a little while, you will not see Me. Then a little while more and you will see Me once again." Then some of the disciples wondered among themselves, "What is He trying to tell us? What does He mean by 'a little while'? We cannot understand what He is talking about." Yeshua knew they wanted to ask Him about it, so He said, "Do you inquire among yourselves because I said, 'A little while and you will not see Me, then a little while more and you will see Me again?' Amen, amen! I tell you, you will cry and grieve, but the world will celebrate. You will be very sad, but your sadness will be changed to joy. When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her time {for giving birth} has come, but as soon as she delivers the child, she loses the memory of the anguish, because of the joy that her child has been born into the world. Therefore, you are sorrowful, but I will see you again, then your heart will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you. At that time you will not ask Me for anything. Amen, amen! I tell you, whatever you will ask Abba in My Name, He will give you. To this point you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, so your joy may be full. These things have I taught you in proverbs. But the time is coming when I will not anymore speak to you in proverbs. Instead, I will show you clearly from Abba. At that time you will ask in My Name and I do not tell you that I will pray to Abba for you. For Abba Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have trusted that I came out from Elohim. I came out from Abba and came into the world. Now, I leave the world and go to Abba." His disciples said to Him, "We are taking note! You are speaking clearly and not using a proverb. Now we are sure that You know everything, because You do not need for anyone to ask You {before You tell them}. By this we trust that You came out from Elohim." "Now you have trust?" Yeshua said. "Watch, the time is coming, yes; it is now here, for you to be dispersed. Everyone will go to his own {house} and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because Abba is with Me. I have told you these things so that you can have Shalom in Me. In the world you will have pressures, but have courage. I have won the victory over the world." Once Yeshua said this, He raised His eyes to Heaven and said, "Abba, the time has come! Glorify Your Son, that also Your Son may glorify You. You have given Him power over all humans, so that He can impart eternal life to as many as You have given to Him. This is eternal life: To know You, the only remembered Elohim and Yeshua HaMoshiach, whom You sent. I have glorified you on the Earth. I have finished the work you gave Me to do. So now, Oh Abba, You glorify Me along with Yourself, with the same glory I had with You before the existence of the world. I have revealed Your Name to the men whom you gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me. They have obeyed Your Word. They have known that everything You have given Me is Yours. For I have given to them the words which You gave Me and they have received and known surely that I came out from You. They have trusted that You did send Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those who You have given Me, for they are Yours. All mine is Yours and Yours are Mine and I am glorified in them. Now I am not going to be in the world, but these are in the world. I come to You, Holy Abba. With Your own Name guard those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as are we. While I was with them in the world, in Your Name I guarded them. Those whom You gave to Me I have safely guarded, so none of them are lost except the ruined child, in order to complete the scripture. Now I am coming to You. These things I speak in the world, so they can have My joy filling up their being. I have given them Your Word and the world has despised them, because they do not belong to the world, even as I do not belong to the world. I do not pray for You to take them out of the world, but instead, that You would guard them from the evil one. They do not belong to this world, the same as I do not belong to this world. Make them holy through Your Remembrance. Your Word is the Remembrance. As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world, in like manner. For their sakes I make Myself holy, that they also might be made holy through the Remembrance. I do not pray this only for these, but also for those who will trust in Me through their communication. In this way, may they all be one. As You, Abba, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be one in Us, that the world may trust that You have sent Me. The glory which You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be one, even as We are One. I in them and You in Me, that this way they may become as one upon completion. That through this the world may know that You have sent Me and You have loved them, as You have loved Me. Abba, It is My will that those whom You have given to Me would also be with Me where I am. That they may look upon My glory, which You have given to Me. For You loved Me before the conception of the world. Oh Righteous Abba, the world has not known You, but I have known You and these here have known that You did send Me. I have declared to them Your Name and will certify it {in this way}: That the love with which You have loved Me will be in them and I in them.”
AGONY IN GETHSEMENE
While in Gethsemane, Yeshua said to the disciples, "You sit here, while I go and pray over there." He took along with Him Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai {Yochanan and Ya'akov} and began to be heavy hearted and full of sadness. So He says to them, "My soul is grieving extremely, even to the point of death. You wait right here and watch with Me. Pray you will not enter into temptation." He went about a stone's throw away and fell on His face and prayed, "Oh Avi, all things are possible for You. If You will do it, allow this cup to be removed from Me. Yet, no matter what My desire is, You do as You require." Yeshua came to the disciples and found them asleep. So He says to Kefa, "What! Couldn't you watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray now. That way you will not enter temptation. Surely, the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." He went away the second time and prayed, "Oh Avi, if this cup cannot be removed from Me and I must drink it, Your will be done." Then a messenger from Heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. Yeshua came back and found them asleep again, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what excuse to give Him. He left them and went away the third time and prayed the same words. While He was praying, He became more intensely in anguish and His sweat turned into large drops of blood falling to the ground. Finally, Yeshua came to His disciples and said, "Go ahead and sleep; get your rest. But, notice now, the time is near when the Son of man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners." {After a while longer Yeshua awoke them saying,} "Get up now and let us be going. Look, the one who betrays Me is nearby."
Philosophy is partially defined as, the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge. However there has become a philosophical tangent concerning the Bible. In 1828 Noah Webster wrote, “True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle.” In the past Philosophy began with the premise that the Bible was true, but the new tangent rejects that premise and attempts to establish the Bible as false. This removes any search for knowledge or truth because en the search for truth, one must consider all of the information and not only what is convenient.