Day 88 ~ The end is in sight

Although it was my intent to blog something for each day's reading, I failed after about the eighty-second day, as you can see. I took notes for days 83 & 84, but never got them online, and won't take time to do so now. After that, I didn't really even take notes...the rest of the journey (Galatians on) has kind of been completed with a snow plow, but it has been taken. I was also more familiar with the mid section of the New Testament, and I think that familiarity was kind of lulling me into a stupor at times. Tonight I will launch into the book of "levelation" as Grace calls it when she sings the New Testament book song she learned with Pastor Ben on family nights. I told her I was starting the last book of the Bible tonight, and asked her what it was. She buried her head in her hands for about 20 seconds then said "levelation! - I was singing in my head"

Well, I'll be singing in my head after tomorrow night - Hallelujah!. We've already had about 25 people report in that they've completed the challenge. 182 let us know that they were going to try when the program started back in August. I'm sure many will trickle in over the next week or so. I commend you all! I sure each journey was different. I'm sure each journey was worth it.

I will have to say I really got the most out of the old testament, and other than slacking a bit in some of the books of poetry, I felt I really tried to absorb and understand what I was reading from at least an historical perspective. The challenge was well worth it. I honestly think I'll read through some book on the rise and fall of the Roman empire - specifically how it interacts with the ministry of Jesus and the destruction of the temple in 69ad.

The New Testament, however, was just too much to try to digest and make commentary and complete my reading goal. Maybe another time.

What will I do with the hour or so that I've spent reading over the last 90 days? Hopefully look back through my blogs and see where I commented that I wanted to spend more time, or do a character study (add to that Gaius, mentioned in 4 NT books). Or topical studies (how about adding homosexuality, given what I read in Jude last night seems like it permeates the entire letter.) Or how about that Paul? Do you think he was real pleasant in person? My guess is no. But he was a powerful witness. I could go on....but I need to ready half of Revelation. And it is not the book of Revelations. that drives me nuts when people add an s. There is my last bit of commentary!

Signing off - better for accepting and completing the challenge - Beth

Day 82 ~ Do you want a spanking?

You can tell that Paul has a personal relationship with the people from Corinth (unlike the Roman church, where he had not yet been). They are addressed like a petulant child who, when out of sight, does as they please. But, someone in Chloe's household has ratted out some of the bad behavior (1:11), and Paul is not happy. In fact, he asks the Corinthians if they want him to "come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"

So what are the Corinthians doing?

• Division over who preached to them or baptized them - sectarianism.
• Bragging about their wisdom (or as Paul identifies, their actual lack of wisdom).
• Sexual immorality - a man with his father's wife - within the church - and the church seems to be turning a blind eye to the sin.
• Taking brethren within the church to public court rather than working out the situation fairly amongst themselves.
• Sexual sin among the unmarried, and tension within marriages over sex. There must have been many divorcing or contemplating divorce. Paul recommends remaining single and exhibiting self-control.
• They are apparently eating food that has been offered to idols, and becoming a stumbling block to others with their actions. In effect, he says just because it isn't illegal for fat women to wear spandex doesn't make it a good idea.
• Paul's advice: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it"
• There seemed to be a power struggle between the men and women in the assembly. The argument is about hair and hair coverings, but it's deeper argument is being under authority.
• They have no true understanding of the communal institution of the Lord's supper. Paul gives them instructions, and tells them "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged" (11:32). There must have been more concerning the Lord's supper, because Paul says he will set the rest in order when he comes.
• They were assigning more honor to some spiritual gifts over others, and Paul says that they are hurting each other and the church as a whole with this conduct.
• In fact, it would seem that the members of the church of Corinth were doing all things that I Corinthians 13 says that love doesn't do, and he offers love as an antidote for their actions.
• He encourages them to seek the gifts that edify the entire church fellowship.
• Their meetings must have been unorganized, and Paul provides guidelines for order.
• They are worried about those already dead and how they will rise again with Christ, and are apparently baptizing for the dead. Paul says they lack knowledge of the scriptures and should be ashamed. He explains about the difference between earthly bodies and heavenly bodies

Days 80 & 81 ~ This is Heavy!

I forgot to mention in Acts how prevalent women are mentioned by Paul in his ministry. Reading through Romans made me think of it again, especially in the last chapters as he name several women.

What can I say about the first three chapters of Romans? circumcision...faith...impute...law...grace...works...sin...Spirit - those words just repeat in my head over and over again. This is some pretty deep stuff, and you can see Paul's experience as a Pharisee being put to full use! The heavier Jewish law stuff seems to end by chapter three and it becomes easier to understand and apply starting in chapter 4.

Romans 10:17 - faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Days 78 & 79 ~ Acting out

Wow, I haven't posted in four days. I got stuck in Acts. Trying to absorb and think and comment on so much has nearly defeated me, but last night, laying in bed and reading to Grace, I completed the book of Acts. What follows is my limited scrawlings as I reigned in my wandering mind and tried to get through the task. According to most, the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are written by the same author, Luke, and Acts is almost like a second volume to Luke.

• Acts 1:1 - Jesus will return like He left
• 1:13 - yet another list of apostles names with alternate names sent me looking for a chart of all the names assigned to each of the twelve. Two Judas? Two James? I found an interesting blog that contained the following list at http://p099.ezboard.com/fsabdiscussionboardcontradictions.showMessage?topicID=1558.topic

1. Simon Peter Cephas
2. Simon Zeolotes the Canaanite
3. James the son of Alphaeus
4. James the son of Zebedee (son of Thunder)
5. Judas Lebbaeus Thaddeus the brother of James
6. Judas Iscariot
7. Thomas Didymas the twin
8. Bartholmew Nathanel
9. John the son of Zebedee (son of Thunder)
10. Andrew
11. Philip
12. Matthew Levi

• 1:20 - the apostles chose another to fill Judas Iscariot's spot per Ps 109:8. I'm assuming that whomever they chose had spent quite a bit of time with them and with Jesus.
• 1:26 - they cast lots to determine whom would be chosen. Casting lots has occurred many times in the Bible, sometimes by a sorcerer, but also by the priests and others. Remember Urim and Thummin? I think they might be involved in casting lots. Why don't we cast lots now? What was God's role in this?
• 2:1 - Pentecost was the "Feast of Weeks" which occurs 7 weeks after Passover for the completion of the harvest as an offering of "first fruits". The city is very crowded, and the "first fruits" of the new church was 3000.

2:4 - my personal take on "tongues" in this passage is that the Holy Spirit equipped those who would be spreading the gospel to speak in languages that they had not been taught but were spoken by those that they would be witnessing to. They would need to fulfill verse 1:8 to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. It was like a reversal of the tower of Babel. Although many main-stream religions would claim that this is the introduction of a holy language for glorifying God, a prayer language of sorts, that would be understood by God, in context, I don't see that in this passage. But on in 8:47, Peter is in Caesarea preaching to the Gentiles in Cornelius' house, and the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers and the Jews who were there were astonished "For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God" - was this a prayer language of sorts? How would people know what they were saying - they were described as magnifying God - how would one know unless at least one person understood the language.

2:38 - "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Pretty clear. But it doesn't always happen in that order - the Holy Spirit is not limited or tied only to baptism. We've seen the Holy Spirit "drop in" in several instances, especially when miracles occur. He also returns to fill those who have already been baptized (like 4:31). Compare this also to 8:14-17, where believers in Samaria had been baptized but did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John came and prayed and laid hands on them. Was this a lesson for Peter and John? Also see 8:44-48, where the Holy Spirit came first and the baptism second.

• 4:6 - I thought Annas was the father of the High Priest - apparently they are under a different High Priest. We are also dealing throughout the book with different Roman rulers - there is Claudius, and two Herods. Acts goes through at least 6 years of time just in the asides like "they spent one year and six months in the city".
• 4:8 - As Jesus said, don't worry what to say under pressure, the Holy Spirit will give you the words.
• 4:22 - what is the significance of the healed man being over 40?
• 4:31 - stress - prayer - refreshing indwelling
• 5:38,39 - wise words, not followed (vs. 40 - they beat them)

Chapter 6 - a Hellenist is a Greek-speaking Jew. The council (Sanhedrin) is the hightes ruiling and judicial body of Jews, but they are under the ultimate political authority of Rome. The council consists of 71 members including Pharisees, Saducees, scribes, preists and elders (leading men). The council had it's own police force, but were prevented by Rome in exercising capital punishment (which we saw with Christ and will see with Paul). So there was division among the council (Pharisees/Saducees), division amongst the Jews (Hellenist/Hebrew speaking), division politically (under Roman rule), and religiously (Greek gods, Roman gods, Christianity, Judiasm).

• 6:15 - how did Stephen's face look like the face of an angel? And they stoned him anyway?
• Chapter 7 - Stephen delivers a good overview of the history of Israel for the New Testament readers.
• 7:58 - Saul, who would become Paul
• This stoning of Stephen seems to have opened the door widely to sprad the Word across the surrounding areas, as the people scattered.
• 8:39 - the Spirit moved Philip physically over geographical boundaries.
• 9:2 - the new religious movement is called "the Way" - followers of Christ.
• 9:5 - what does "kick against the goads" mean?
• 9:15 - Saul is a chosen vessel by God to the Gentiles
• 10:15 - The vision shows Peter that "the Way" is not just for Jews, but for Gentiles as well.
• 11:15 - as at the beginning - at Pentecost?
• 11:18 - woo hoo! "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life"
• 11:26 - first called "Christian"
• 12:17 - back to the names of the apostles - James - when I read this I wondered if Peter didn't know that James was dead (12:2), but apparently he must have been referring to the other James, not the son of Zebedee.
• 12:24 - I wonder how Roman history records the death of this Herod
• 14:19 - Paul is first worshipped as a god, then quickly the mob turns and he is stoned, but he lives.
• 14:23 - they appointed elders in every church
• 15:20 - When the argument comes up that the gentiles should have to follow Mosaic law and be circumcised if they convert to "the Way", the apostles say it is not necessary. However, they do come up with four rules that the gentile converts need to follow: abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. Seems like an interesting combination, given everything else they could have chosen. Avoid idol pollution: check. Avoid sexual immorality: check. Avoid blood: I'm assuming you mean eating blood, like it says in Moses' law: check. Avoid things strangled: I don't get it.
• 16:3 - why was Timothy circumcised? They just said it wasn't necessary. And if his mother was a Jew, why didn't that occur a long time ago?
• 18:2 - Jews were being kicked out of Rome by Claudius. Persecution of the Jews.
• 18:21 - Paul says he must have Passover in Jerusalem, but he goes to Israel and then heads north and spends 2 years in Ephesus.

So, other than Peter and John, who we see traveled to Caesarea and preached to the gentiles there, and Philip, who explained Isaiah to the Egyptian fellow, and James, who is killed, what are the other Apostles up to while Paul is roaming around spreading the word. Apparently Luke is pretty well connected to Paul because he writes this account. But Luke wasn't an apostle.

• 21:8 - Philip - one of the 7 - one of what seven?
• 21:26 - why would Paul offer up a sacrifice of purification? Wasn't he no longer under that law of sacrificing and purification? He had made a vow in 18:18 and cut off his hair then, too.

Paul was well equipped to get out of situations - he could play the "Pharisee" card the "Jew" card, the "Roman" card - and he didn't hesitate to do so.

Day 77 ~ who is the disciple that Jesus loved?

A quick view of tomorrow's reading made me think I would finish out John tonight and start Acts fresh by itself. So instead of John 8-15, I'm blogging John 8-21.

Hatred of the Samaritans by the Jews is very evident in the book of John. Just like the crowds seemed more oppressive in Mark over Matthew, Luke and John. The Samaritans were Jews, too - Samaria was the capitol of the northern kingdom. Of course, more than 700 years ago they went into captivity to Assyria and intermarried and never really recovered. This is basically the southern tribe, knowing by scripture that the Messiah would come from them, thumbing their noses at the "weaker" northern tribe. Yet when the Messiah was right in front of their noses - pun intended, they were determined to deny that Christ was the answer to what they had been waiting for. Another obvious theme - probably in every chapter - Jesus is the Light.

• John 8:6, 8 - what did Jesus write on the ground? it must have been very convicting
• 8:33 - "We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone" - how could the Jews say that - they had been in bondage to Babylonians and the Persians and who know who else in the 400 years since Malachi.
• 9:7 - Pool of Siloam - Jesus again showing His power is triumph over the water of the rituals.
• 9:16 - there is division among the priests. Remember Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night and professes his believe in Christ as the Messiah. Also, Nicodemus helps Joseph with the body of Christ after removal from the Cross and donates spices to help with burial preparations.
• 10:22 - feasts of ligh - Hanukkah. This is not a feast prescribed by the Old Testament, but instituted to celebrate the cleansing of the temple after the desecration in the intertestamental period by raising an altar to the Greek god Zeus. I would also count that as being in bondage, when the temle you're suppose to be running is desecrated - so there you priests in 8:33.
• 11:47-48 - Is this what was driving the Jewish leadership to be so fearful of Christ - “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” I don't want to go down the trail to see what threats the Romans held over the heads of the Jews, but I think they are kidding themselves that the Jews actually have any control - they are living in a Roman territory that just happens to have a governor who is tolerant of their religion. That won't last much longer.
• 11:55 - Passover #3
• 12:27 - Here is a secondary statement (the other while praying in the garden of Gethsemane) where Jesus shows his trepidation, however momentary, about the job in front of him. God's reply was to verbally encourage Jesus.
• 12:32-33 - " 'And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die." - does this describe death on the cross?
• Chapter 13 - shows a real intimacy between the apostles and Jesus. He washes their feet (remember, they wore sandals and walked in dirt all day). They recline and eat together. They share food.
• 14:6 - no one comes to the father except through Jesus. Not through Buddha, not through works, not through reincarnation, not through prayers on your behalf...through Jesus.
• 14:9-10 - how many times has Jesus said "If you see Me you see the Father" or something similar - at least a dozen in what we've read in John so far. What would be the reason for Philips question? Did he not believe?
• 14:15-18 - Spirit of Truth, the Helper, promised. This is the Holy Spirit (14:26)
• 14:22 - Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” - answered in part by "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" - does this mean the Word in the form of the New Testament to be written by the Holy Spirit working through the authors?
• 15:1-8 - am I bearing fruit, not just fruit, but good fruit, much good fruit? Or am I spinning my wheels simply doing what I deem to be good - am I fine-tuned to God's desire to work through me, am I finely grafted to the vine as a healthy branch?

I don't see anything about Jesus stepping on the head of a snake in John, either, like in the movie Passion of the Christ. I only bring this up because it was so startling in the movie. I know, everything that you see on TV or the movies isn't true. Artistic liscense, I presume. There is certainly much evidence of Gibson's catholicism throughout the film.

• John 18:6 - people fell over in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus answered "I am He" - wonder who fell - I don't remember this from the other three gospels.
• 18:18 - Jews of the council, who have been plotting the death of an innocent man, wouldn't dare enter the Praetorium and be defiled for Passover. This makes me ill thinking about how hypocritical the religious leaders were.
• 18:31 - what had Christ done unlawful that would have been worthy of death in a Roman court? Declared Himself the King? 19:7 states that the Jewish law Jesus had "broken" was cause for death in Jewish law. But they say they can't kill him - why? Because of Passover? Because the Romans won't allow the Jews to punish at that level?
• 19:21 - the Jewish leadership want Pilate to change the sign above the cross from "King of the Jews" to "He says He is King of the Jews". Pilate refuses. Again, that awesome attention to detail by the religious!
• 19:25 - these Mary's are hard to keep track of - three of them are together her, Jesus' mother, the mother of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Wonder who this Clopas is.

The empty tomb - here is a thought - 19:41-42 - "Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby." So, is it possible this tomb where He was laid not the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea? Did they place Jesus' body hastily in a temporary location, perhaps just inside the cemetery (for lack of a better word) because of the coming sabbath, which would allow no work? When Mary says in 20:2, 13 that "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him” - who is "they" - was she expecting someone to take the body, and the question was where the body was? Was Joseph to move the body to his donated tomb as soon as sabbath was over. Just a thought.

• 20:21 - Jesus breathed on them - did he give them the Holy Spirit with this breath - when He says "receive the Holy Spirit" does He mean right now? If not, and the Holy Spirit won't be received until Acts 2, why does he breathe on him?
• 20:17, 26/27 - what's going on with Jesus' body? Is it "unstable" - he tells Mary not to cling to Him because He hasn't yet ascended to His Father. But 8 days later, Jesus invites them to stick fingers in his wounds, and later he eats something. In the 8 day period, did His body "gel" in some way, or did he ascend and it become stable?
• 21:2 - Nathanael - I wondered when he was first introduced in John 1 if he was an apostle by another name. Now I really wonder if this is the case, as he is with some other disciples. Maybe he is Bartholomew. He is mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke but not John, and vice versa for Nathanael. Maybe he's a sidekick. I think he'll be mentioned in Acts.

Who is "the one Jesus loved?" At one point, the disciple "the one Jesus loved" was leaning against Jesus chest at the Passover meal and shared an intimate conversation about who would betray Jesus with Peter. Who is this "one Jesus loved?" I would think that it would be one of the inner circle of closer disciples to Jesus - Peter, James, John (our author). This phrase is only used in John.

Is it James, the brother of Jesus? (Mary’s other sons included Joses (Joseph), James, Judas and Simon [Mt 13:55-56, Mark 6:3]). John 19:26 says that the one Jesus loves was at the base of the Cross with Mary the mother of Jesus and Jesus called Mary this loved disciple to "behold your mother." I take that literally, but of course it could be figurative as well. And John is not listed as a biological brother of Jesus that I'm aware of. John is the brother of James, but a different James, the son of Zebedee.

I wonder if "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur would answer that question. I think that book is floating around the house somewhere from Jeff's participation in men's breakfast. Maybe he read it and can tell me.

The author in 21:24 basically seems to say that he is the one described as the one that Jesus loved. Another question for the ages.

Day 76 ~ Jesus cries out at a pivotal feast

I closed up Luke last night, so I started fresh with a new book - number 37 if you're keeping track. John's writing style is totally different. It's very poetic, highly stylized. He is the author of the book of Revelation, and if you want to talk about highly stylized, Revelation fills the bill.

• John 1:40 - Andrew apparently was the first of the apostles to know Jesus. Not only was he a fisherman, but also a follower of John the Baptist. When he meets Jesus, he knows what he has found - the Messiah, and brings his brother Simon Peter to Christ to meet him.
• Who is Nathanael? Is he an apostle known by another name? Or just someone who exhibits some faith.
• 2:4 - The first miracle - water into wine in Cana - Jesus tells His mother His time has not come yet. What does that mean? And did his time come just a few minutes later?
• 2:20 - It took 46 years to build the temple (when Christ talked about the temple being rebuild in 3 days).

King Herod (the father of the current king Herod, the one who killed the babies), started a major reconstruction/ restoration of the temple in 19BC that he pledged would be reminiscent of the glory of Solomon's temple. It continued until 64AD, or for a total 83 years or so. So, if we're 46 years into the rebuilding, it would make it about 27AD, right? In 70AD, this new temple would be destroyed by the Romans. John was writing this gospel about 90AD from all accounts. He would have known about the temple destruction. Does he ever allude to it in this gospel, or in I, II or III John, or Revelation?

• 5:22 - Jesus had been given the authority to do all judging, God won't do the judging.

We have a chart of the parables of Jesus in the gospels. But John bases his gospel around several key miracles which point to important qualities of the Messiah. So, can I find a chart of the miracles of Jesus in the gospels. Here you go: http://www.jesuschristsavior.net/Miracles.html. Five of the seven miracles in John are unique to John.

• 6:4 - This is the second Passover mentioned in John (the first was 2:13) and the next will be the final one. This helps us to determine the length of the ministry portion of Jesus' life.
• 6:60-67 - Som find Christ's teaching too hard to comprehend and abandon following Him.
• 7:28 - while teaching in the temple during the feast of booths (do I remember correctly that this falls in the same month as Passover?), Jesus "cried out" - in anger? in frustration? to deliver a point? to get attention? to be heard above a crowd?
• 7:35 - "Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?" - what does this mean? what is the Dispersion among the Greeks and why is it capitalized.

7:37 - on the last day of the feast of tabernacles, Jesus cries out again. Let me share from you from the commentary from the NKJV Word in Life Study Bible about the importance of this verse.

The annual feast of tabernacles (or booths or tents) swelled Jerusalem to an overflow of festive crowds. Every Jewish family within 20 miles of the city was required to move out of its home and live in a booth or tent in remembrance of Israel's wanderings in the wilderness. Many chose to move into the city for the week. Reunions and parties alternated with solemn processions from the temple down to the Poolof Siloam, a reservoir. PUshing its way through the crowded streets, the throng sang Psalms 113 to 118 in anticipation of God's righteous reign over Jerusalem.

Jesus chose to keep a low profile at this year's festival (7:2-10). He taught in the temple, but waited for the right moment to declare Himself publicly. It came on the last day of hte feast, probably at the climax at the daily processional.

As on the previous six days, the high priest filled a goblet of water from Siloam and carried it back to the temple, where he poured it out for all the people to see. Each day at that point the crowds chanted, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord" (Ps 118:1) and "Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity" (Ps 118:25). Then they shook myrtle, willow, and palm branches toward the altar, as if to remind God of His promises. Then, after a pause, sacrifices were offered.

On the last day, however, just after the crowds had not only waved their branches, but as was the custom, literally shook them to pieces in a frenzy of enthusiasm, a voice suddenly cried out: "If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink." Jesus' timing couldn't have been more perfect or His claim more explicit: He was declaring Himself to be none other than the long-awaited Christ who would pour out the Holy Spirit, as many in the crowd immediately recognized (7:38-43).

In many ways 7:37 acts as the pivot for John's account. From that point on, the hostility of Jesus' enemies mounted until they finally arrested Him (18:12) in vain hopes of shutting off the "living water."

Day 75 ~ pass the buck to Herod

• Luke 16:16 - the law of the prophets lasted until John. Since then, the King of of God has been preached.
• 16:19-31 - Did you ever notice how when you see really poor people interviewed on TV that they have a deep devotion to God. They have so little, yet they are so appreciative. I was watching a TV show about diamond mines yesterday and there was a man in Sierra Leone working for like a dollar a day in the muddy pits and living in a mud hut with a grass roof. And he continually talked about God's will in his life.
• 17:5 - Apostles ask Christ for what they need - to increase their faith.
• 17:20 - what are our duties to do without thanks - spiritually and in daily life? This fits well with the sermon this morning about how we grumble about the little things.
• 19:11 - the apostles thought that the Kingdom of God would come immediately - I wonder if they were constantly thinking - "okay, this is it" like Fred Sanford "Oh, this is the big one 'lizabeth!"
• 19:37 - Jesus and the Mt. of Olives. - Here is a panoramic photo of Jerusalem taken from the mount of Olives. On the wall below and to the right of the golden dome of the rock and the foreground spruce tree is the eastern gate, sealed over. Directly in front of the gate is a graveyard. Some think that this will keep Christ from returning through the eastern gate as announced in Revelation because a good Rabbi would never cross over dead bodies (or something like that). I don't think it will stop Him! Also, note that close proximity - just a valley away from the main walled city. Jesus will return to this hill to pray in the garden of Gethsamane. http://www.hatzphoto.com/Jerusalem/index.html I have some really good photos of this as well from 1998.
• 21:9 - "But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” This passage adds a bit to the end times info - don't be terrified, and it will not come immediately. Did you know the concept of the rapture, that Jesus would take away His believers before the tribulation, was first gained popularity in the early 1800s and most famously by John Nelson Darby in 1837. If the tribulation is to occur in my life time or the lifetime of my child, I hope Christ snatches us away first, or that we will be dead.
• 21:36 - watch and pray - don't be caught unaware!
• 22:3 - how was Judas, who was with Jesus and and heard and learned so much from him, able to betray Him? Satan entered him.
• 22:30 - the apostles would judge over the tribes of Israel in Christ's kingdom
• 22:35 - the tides have changed - no longer can the apostles count on the welfare of others - be prepared and armed.
• 22:43 - an angel came and strengthened Christ while He prayed in Gethsamane. Did we hear that yet? When does he step on the snakes head like was so well portrayed in the jolting image from "The Passion of the Christ" movie. Must come in John. Or was that Hollywood?
• 23:6-12 - a little more info on Pilate (Roman governor of Judea) and Herod (tetrarch of Galilee and Perea). I don't know if they were equal in authority, but they ruled different territories. I don't know if Herod was a ruler over Pilate or not. Herod was not the same Herod from Jesus' birth who killed all the babies, but his son. Herod was the one who killed John the Baptist. I think you would liken Herod to the roman governor of Israel, and Pilate was the mayor of a large territory
• 23:48 - where are the apostles? the women are near the cross.
• 24:21 - "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel" the apostles after Jesus is discovered missing from the tomb. What did they expect Jesus to do? They still fundamentally didn't get it. They said this to Christ who met them on the road and walked with them but they didn't know it was Him.
• 24:27 - "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" - I wish they would have written that down!
• 24:49 - stay in Jerusalem until you are given power from on High - in Acts 2

I read one chapter into tomorrow's reading to end Luke

Day 74 ~ I could never be a Catholic

Beginning with chapter 10 of Luke, several parables are told that have not yet been shared in Matthew or Mark. I've seen a couple of charts with the parables laid out, and they don't include the gospel of John in the chart. Are their no parables in John? Guess we'll find out in a few days. Seems to me that when you read the gospels in a parallel Bible, John is always included. This chart - http://www.lifeofchrist.com/teachings/parables/ - lists the parables with John, and it lists three parables in John, none of which are recounted in Matthew, Mark or Luke. At least 20 parables are told in John that do not appear in any of the other three gospels. All of them but one (in 7:41-43) appear in chapter 10 or later of Luke. Matthew has 15 that are not included in any of the other gospels. Mark only contains two unique parables.

• Chapter 10:1-12 - 70 are sent out to heal and announce the coming of the Kingdom of God has come. I don't know if this included the 12 apostles - I suspect they stayed with Christ - the 70 weren't gone long, for in verse 17 they returned to profess their joyful accomplishments.
• Chapter 10:38-42 - Mary and Martha - I remember reading a book that discussed the characteristics of a Mary or Martha church. I know I lean more toward being a Martha, but need to heed the warning about being busy and not being fed spiritually.

Let's talk about Catholicism. Most of my knowlege is from a historical study, showing all the corruptness and political side of it, and I'm not a big fan of Catholicism.
In Luke 11:27-28 - Jesus' response to praise of His mother - "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” This makes me wonder why the Catholic church so highly exalts Mary, the mother of Jesus. I'm assuming that the Catholic religion bases their praying to Mary for intercession based on Mary's song from Luke 1. Why do they need an otherworldly intercessor to Jesus to God? When Jesus is the ultimate interecessor, why do we need to get his attention through his mother? Especially when Jesus downplays the praise of His mother in these two verses.

I found the phrase "Mary co-redemptrix" doing websearches (with http://www.goodsearch.com/ with Cicero Christian Church as the charity, of course!). That phrase really scares me. Just like the Pharisees added layers of details to the law of Moses, the Popes of the Catholic church have applied layers of attributes to Mary over the years, such as Pope Boneventure in the twelveth century "[Mary is called] the gate of heaven, because no one can enter that blessed kingdom without passing through her." Okay, how is that Biblical? or Pope Pius XII, in his Munificentissimus Deus (1950-NOV-1), defined that Mary, "after the completion of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven." That is, she was "taken up body and soul into heaven," at the time of her death. She is there "exalted as Queen of the Universe." This, to me, is dangerous. I guess it is safe to say that I will never be a Catholic, and I will have a very difficult time if my daughter were to consider dating a "good Catholic boy". Yes, I said it, Popes of the Catholic church can be likened to Pharisees. Apparently, many people like to be told what to do by the Pope, as over 1/6th of the population of the world profess to be Catholic.

• 12:8 - I think this is why we profess our belief in Christ in front of witnesses - “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God."
• 13:1 - "Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices" - wonder what this was. It appeared some had been martyrs at the hand of Pilate. I always thought of Pilate as a decent guy in a bad situation when he had to give Christ over to the Jewish authorities. But maybe Pilate wasn't that nice a guy.
• 14:2 - what is dropsy? Wikipedia says it is "edema" which is extra fluid in an organ causing inflamation.
• 14:7-11 - to me this is a good example of being humble / the first shall be last.
• 15:25-30 - the prodigal son. Having being raised in the church and educated in a religious college, I too would likely respond as the obedient son who didn't welcome back his prodigal brother.

Day 73 ~ the chronological gospel

Luke tells us in the third verse that he is writing in consecutive order. He starts with John the Baptist, who is from the tribe of Levi.

• 1:15 - John is filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother's womb
• :74 - serving God without fear can be accomplished through Christ
  

Chapter 2 - Quirinius is the governor of Syria - I love these details that can be corroborated in historical evidence and thus proving the factuality of the Bible. Also, verse 3:1 gives some excellent info to check against Roman history.

This is the chapter that is read on Christmas morning in my family before any presents are opened. I can remember sitting in jammies with a tape recorder as dad read to us and recorded it for my grandparents living in Florida to listen to. There is a great photo somewhere of what I call the "refuge" christmas - Todd, Christy and I in underwear and t-shirts, sitting crosslegged in front of the christmas tree with the worst possible posture ever. We progressed on to a video tape machine in the corner. There was always some twist to the wrapping - three big piles covered with newspaper, presents wrapped but labeled only with numbers 1, 2 or 3, or the sleeping bag christmas when all the presents were hidden under the blue patch quilt patterned bags. I now know as a parent that my folks simply didn't have the time to get them all wrapped. I'm sure some years they didn't have the money or time to shop until just before the big day. Some years they attempted to hide them in advance from us, but attic access in the garage proved to be a poor choice. We also were good at shaking, or opening and rewrapping.

• 2:24 - Joseph and Mary offered a sacrifice at the temple according to the Law of Moses for their new Son.
• 2:36-37 - Anna, widowed after only 7 years of marriage, served out her life in the temple in a ministry of prayer - what a crown of glory to see the Messiah in her old age

Chapter 3 - I wonder how much before Christ's ministry began did John begin his ministry? We know he was well known at the time of Jesus' ministry.

• 3:6 - "all flesh shall see the salvation of God" - quoted from Isaiah 40:5. The blood of the cross covers all, back to Adam.
• 3:23 - begins the geneology - again through Joseph - all the way back to Adam. I thought one of these geneologies traced it from the side of Mary as well. Guess we have to wait for John to see. Jesus' ministry begins about his 30th year.

Chapter 4:6 - the fallen earth has been handed over to satan, per satan

• 4:14 - news about Jesus spread - was this even before he had done any miracles? Perhaps some time has passed. In 4:23, it alludes to some miracels already done by not told in Luke. And in Mark, several miracles are recounted before Jesus goes to Nazareth.
• 4:30 - "passing through their midst" - hwo do you go from being nearly thrown off a cliff to walking away - did Jesus change bodily form to escape? like a ghost?
• Jesus did a lot of teaching throughout the synagogues before he picked his disciples.
• 4:37 - word was spreading about Him
• 4:38 - Simon (Peter, see Matthew 8:14) - when was he actually called as a disciple? It seems he may have been the first, and that Jesus had a relationship with Peter's family.

Chapter 5:10 - Simon, James and John were partners in fishing.

• :16 - Jesus seems to re-energize through prayer
• :17 - were there times when the power of the Lord was not present for healing? What would those times have been? Did Jesus run out of juice, and have to recharge through prayer and fasting? Or was the power constant?
• :27 - Matthew (Levi) the tax collector joins the disciples. Looking back at Matthew's gospel, he doesn't recount any of the activities of the disciples together until the Sermon on the Mount, which occurs in part in Luke 6 starting with verse 20. Based on the chronological account per Luke, this makes sense.

Chapter 6:12 - disciples vs. apostles. Apparently Christ had many followers he called disciples, probably including Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Jesus. But the inner circle of twelve he calls his apostles. Only the men who studied with Christ are called apostles. There are no modern day apostles, but there are modern day disciples.

6:38 - "For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you"

Chapter 7 - do you notice that Capernaum (on the northern edge of the sea of Galilee) is a home base for Jesus? One of the sites we visited when we went to Israel in 1998 was Capernaum, and we stood on the ruins of a first century synagogue that was built on the remains of the synagogue that was mentioned in verse 5. Visit here for a picture of what I'm talking about - http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sites/TScpsyn1.html

• :18 - I would have thought that God would have made it known to John that Jesus was the One, but apparently not. Wasn't it clear from chapter 3 when John baptized Jesus?
• The woman who cries and washes Jesus' feet with her tears is often said to be Mary Magdelene. But that is not clear here.

Day 72 ~ okay, once again...on the third day, I'm going to raise from the dead...

• Mark 9:10 - the disciples at the transfiguration questioned what rising from the dead meant. Jesus had "spoke this word openly" back in 8:31-32. Why did they not understand? again in 9:30-31: " He taught His disciples and said to them, 'The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.' But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him." Why were they afraid? Why did they not understand? Did they think he was talking in parables again? He tells them again in 10:33&34.
• 9:43 - eternal fire in hell. Quote from Isaiah 66:24 about the fire that is not quenched - you would have had to have been paying close attention to catch that and equate it to the reality of an eternal punishment in hell - back when we were looking for the promise of heaven in the Old Testament. There is no lack of talk of eternal life in the New Testament.
• 10:25 - I remember from somewhere that the "eye of the needle" was a gate in a city and the talk of getting the camel through was to envision a camel loaded with stuff and trying to fit him through a stone gate in a wall too small for him to fit. He would have to be unloaded and practically go through on his knees to fit. Unburdened, like one who sold all their possessions and became humbled.
• 10:35 - the Sons of Thunder seem to treat Jesus like a genie in a bottle - grant us our wish. Seems a bit unbelievable. How long had these guys been with Jesus? Would you ask Jesus that question in their situation?
• 11:24 - "whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" is quickly followed by "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” My guess is that if you are in a state of trespass with God, He is unlikely to answer your prayers.
• 12 - vineyard parable - I'm going to say that God is the vineyard owner, the vineyard is heaven, Jesus is the son that is killed by the vinedressers, the vinedressers are Jews, and the gentiles are the ones who will receive the vineyard.
• 12:18 - sadducees. I remember from "Jet Cadets" back in the 5th or 6th grade that sadducees are "sad, you see" for they don't believe that Jesus would raise from the dead. And that pharisees were "fair, you see" or not as bad as the saducees.
• 14:51-52 - what is the significance of the naked man?
• Mark doesn't say anything about graves opening up when the temple curtain rips, nor does he say anything about the earthquake or the curtain rip for that matter.
• 16:17-18 - who displays these signs? I think it is the disciples he is addressing who truly believe He has been raised from the dead. Jesus has just rebuked them for their unbelief at His appearances after his death. Perhaps those who truly didn't believe wouldn't be able to display the signs. I don't think these signs necessarily were displayed by anyone who believed, or else the whole country side would be filled with people picking up snakes and speaking new languages (which is a skill they would need if they are to go out to every nation).
• 16:19 - which hand of God will Jesus sit at? the right hand of course

Day 71 ~ Crowd pressing in from all sides

Thinking through Matthew, I wondered if Jesus and the disciples ever offered a sacrifice. Doesn't seem that there would be a need since Jesus could forgive. They went to the temple, the celebrated the passover feast. Also, it would seem that the high priest would be very busy with sacrifices and such around the temple, but apparently he had time for all the political play going on.

• 1:12 - the Spirit drove Jesus to the wilderness for the temptation
• :15 - Jesus told them to believe in the "gospel" - what was the gospel to them?
• :20 - what happened to Zebedee. His wife, the mother of James and John, is mentioned a couple of times in Matthew. Zebedee is mentioned here as being left with the hired hands and James and John go with Jesus.
• :24 - the demons know who Jesus is, also vs. 34

Mark makes the multitudes and the pressing of the crowds more apparent, more pressing, more exhausting, more constant. Jesus tells many of those he heals, and the demons that he cast out, to be silent about who He is and what He has done. Is this to help with crowd control? or reverse psychology to spread the word?

• :43 - this is another instance, as was verse 24, where Jesus told those healed not to tell of who He was

Chapter 3 - disciples are named and charged. Mark calls Peter "Simon" and Matthew "Levi" and the Sons of Thunger James and John "Boanerges".

• 3:21 - He is out of His mind - are they talking about Jesus (I think so) Why do they say this?
• 5:13 - what would Jews do with 2000 pigs? They can't eat them.
• 5:19 - the demon possessed man was told to tell his friends. This is the opposite - usually Christ tells them to keep silent
• 5:30 - Jesus felt the power go out of him when the woman touched his robe. Did the healing take a physical toll on Christ?
• 6:13 - disciples anointed with oil those who were sick. Did Jesus ever do this? He sometimes used his spit.
• 6:52 - part of the reason that the disciples didn't understand is that they had hard hearts.
• 7:24 - Gentile girl healed (not a Jew). The mother argued successfully with Jesus with the dog / crumb analogy.

Day 70 ~ Jesus sings a hymn

Matthew Chapter 22 - many are called but few are chosen (or few make the cut). Parable of the wedding guests - you better come with your game clothes on if you're given a chance to hit the field. The greatest commandment is the shamah - Deut 6:5-6

Chapter 23 - Scribes seem to be in an elevated position since the old testament. Thye have created additional rules over those given to Moses and complicated things - all for show. They were mentioned, and I really never knew what they were, so I guess I should finally look it up. Interestingly enough, the reference says "scribe" can be confusing. sometimes it means "lawyer" meaning a teacher of the law. During the reign of David and Solomon, it was like an administrator similar to secretary of state. In other times, they were more like recorders, chroniclers or historians, recording history as it happens (this is what I think of). But in Jesus' day, scribes had become a learned class in Israel who studied the scriptures and served as copyists, editors and teachers. Once qualified through years of training, they could act as judges, rabbis and joined the chief priests and aristocratic families who made up the Jewish council.

Chapter 24 - signs of Christ's return. This chapter deals with two separated but connected things - the soon-to-come fall of Jerusalem (again) and the end times when Christ returns after his resurrection and return to heaven (hasn't occurred yet). It's hard to tell them apart. If you were to read this outside of context of other scripture, say Revelation, then you could think that the tribulation at the end of the times would occur with believers going through the tribulation. The desecration of the altar is talked about - it will occur when the Romans destroy the temple in about 35 years after Jesus' death, and will occur again after the temple is rebuilt in the future. This is a piece of the pre-post-mid tribulation puzzle. I guess the main point is to be ready at all times, don't be caught off guard, know what you believe.

Chapter 25 - Chief priest vs. high priest. I think I was confusing chief priest with high priest before and didn't realize it until I read about the high priest (only one) being Caiaphas. The priests can't "get Jesus" on their own, they have to resort to trickery and their goal is death of Jesus.

• Jesus is anointed with oil in preparing his body for his death.
• Judas sells him out.
• Jesus celebrates his final passover. It appears that passover has become part of the routine once again instead of forgotten in the past.
• :27 - Jesus is the blood of the NEW covenant
• :30 - Jesus and the disciples sing a hymn. I guess I always thought about singing to Jesus, but it's kind of cool imagining Him singing.
• :32 - Jesus says he will reappear in Galilee (after his death)
• :33 - Peter - bullheaded and proud, is corrected by Jesus when he says he won't deny Christ.
• :41 - the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak - pray is a key to avoiding temptation
• :47 - hail, hail, the gang's all here - in the garden of Gethsamane - multitude led by Judas, chief priest, elders - but it doesn't say soldiers. Wonder if the other gospels provide that fact.
• :60 - two false witnesses testify - remember OT law requires two witnesses to allow for discussion of death

Chapter 27 -

• :1 - Chief priest and religious leaders know they can kill him according to Jewish law, but the need more plotting to make it "legal" in roman law.
• :18 - Pilate knew the religious leaders motives - envy
• :52 - I don't think I caught this before - when Jesus dies, graves were opened and fallen saints rose up and appeared to many in town. interesting. folks had to know something was up!
• :58 - imagine Joseph of Arimathea going to Pilate and asking for Jesus' body. I think of it being dark and being dimly lit by candles, a very intimate exchange between the two men, perhaps Pilate even discussing how he felt. Just my imagination.

Chapter 28 - Jesus reminds them that he will see them in Galilee. The plot thickens with the religious leaders - lies get bigger and more costly to cover their tracks. The chapter ends with Jesus reappearing before his disciples and the great commission.

Day 69 ~ multitudes and miracles

Matthew - Jesus answers his proponents questions with questions. Many times it is mentioned that Jesus was surrounded by multitudes, and healing multitudes. Just try to imagine this scene over and over and how you might handle it. Jesus did take some time alone to recharge when he could. It's hard to give my thoughts in this fast moving full to over flowing content without just giving you an outline of the book, but here we go.
Chapter 12 -

• 12:7 - as we've seen many times in the Old Testament, God desires mercy, not sacrifice
• :16 - this is at least the third time Jesus has told someone not to tell what He has done for them
• :25 - a house divided cannot stand
• :31-32 - blasphemy of the Spirit is not forgiveable
• :34b - the mouth speaks what is in the heart.
• :38 - sometimes it is quite clear that these people are Jews by their hard-headedness - how many signs do they need?
• :40 - the answer to the sign that they need - Jesus, like Jonah who was 3 days in the belly of the whale, will be 3 days in the heart of the earth (he gives this as an answer a bit later in Matthew as well)
• :50 - whomever does the will of the Father in heaven are brothers and sisters with Christ

Chapter 13 - many parables - sower and the seeds, tares and the wheat, the mustard seed. Nazrareth rejects him as prophesied.

• :55 - the actual brothers of Christ are named - James, Joseph, Simon (not Simon Peter), Judas (not Iscariot) and unnamed sisters

Chapter 14 - John the Baptist loses his head, literally. Jesus feeds multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fishes and walks on water with Peter.

Chapter 15 - Pharisees go out to meet Jesus from Jerusalem - they were becoming focused against Jesus. But they make a pretty weak argument about washing hands in verse 2.

• :24 - Jesus says He was sent only to the Jews (the lost sheep of the house of Israel). Remember in the beginning of Matthew when the disciples are sent out specifically to the Jews first?
• Disciples are sometimes thick-skulled - 15:12 they ask Jesus if he knows that he made the Pharisees mad. 15:33 - where will we get food? Did they forget about the feeding of the multitudes with only 5 loaves and 2 fish?

Chapter 16 - Pharisees are now joined by the Saducees - well at least they can get along when they have a common goal - getting rid of Jesus.

• :15 - who do you say that I am?
• :18 - Peter is the rock on which the church will be built. The Catholics consider him the first priest, I think based on this.
• :20 - again, tell no one that I am the Christ
• :23 - a short 5 verses after the spirit-supplied answer of "you are the Christ, the son of the Living God" is given by Peter, Peter is rebuked by Christ for his doubt with "get behind me Satan"
• :24-27 - deny, take up your cross, save your life by losing it

Chapter 17 - transfiguration

• :11-12 - Jesus states that Elijah, who appears with Moses at the transfiguration with the "inner circle" of disciples and Christ, had come again through John the Baptist.
• :17 - Jesus is frustrated with the disciples lack of faith to cast out demons. There is a parenthetical verse 21 (why?) that says this kind of miracle required prayer and fasting.

Chapter 18 - become like little children - humble / don't be a stumbling block / keys to conflict resolution / forgiveness examples with the master and servant

Chapter 19 - Divorce discussed

:12 - what is a Eunuch from his mother's womb? A hermaphrodite?

:13 - let the children come to me - did the disciples not listen in chapter 18?

:23 - hard for rich man to get to heaven

:26 - with God, all things are possible

Chapter 20 - the first will be last the last will be first - the parable of the Vineyard owner is a tough nut to crack - I don't really get it.

• :18 - Jesus tells the disciples exactly what is going to happen - my guess is that they don't get it or don't believe it, or they think he's talking in a parable they don't understand. He will be delivered to the chief priests, die and raise again.
• :22 the sons of Zebedee's mom is vying for position in heaven - pretty tasteless.

Chapter 21 - Jesus is procurred a donkey to ride. He overturns the money changers tables in the temple. He "calls a spade a spade" and leaves no question about how he views the Pharisees and the chief priests, and they receive his message (vs. 45)

Day 68 ~ Jesus' ministry begins, disciples chosen

Chapter 1 - The lineage of Jesus (through his earthly father, Joseph; his line through his mother is in another gospel) contains some familiar names now, doesn't it. I'm assuming that Jews can trace lineage after the silence of the 400 years since Malachi and know who the people after Zerubbabel, which is the last familiar name to us. There is so much mathematical beauty to the Bible, much of it hidden it the details. Here, 1:17 tells us the 14 generations from Abraham to David, from David to Captivity, from captivity to Christ. Wonder what happened 14 generations after Christ?

• 2:6 - quoting from Micah to King Herod, and King Herod is scared for his political office.
• Chapter 2 - isn't it interesting how Egypt is interwoven into the history with Israel. Again, they provide a place of safety for the new king. After a time, they returned to Israel, but not to their original home, instead settling in Nazareth were they felt more safe from the political ruler.
• Chapter 3 - John kind of reminds me of Ezekiel and all the weird things he had to do as object lessons to the people. John was a little rough around the edges. We learn more about him in another gospel (cousin of Jesus, about 6 months older).
• This whole thing of baptism is just plopped right down for us. Wonder what the history of this ritual is? It wasn't in the old testament, was it? And here, it is an act of confession of sins. Why wouldn't they just sacrifice - the temple is still around? At any rate, his baptism was different that Christ's, because Christ would include the Holy Spirit. John baptizes Jesus and the Spirit of God "alighting upon him" - just what he needed for the next 40 days of temptation to come. He was prepared.
• Chapter 4 - quite obvious - after 40 days and nights of fasting, Jesus was hungry (4:1). Jesus quotes Deuteronomy - we'll learn that he knows the scriptures inside and out, but so does the Tempter.
• The ministry begins - 4:17.
• Chapter 5 - begins gathering disciples, starting with the fishermen Simon Peter and his brother Andrew and James and his brother John.
• 4:23 Synagogues - this is a new thing since Malachi as well.
• Beatitutes Chapter 5, also in Luke 6.
• Salt and Light 5:13-16
• He came not to get rid of the Law, but to fulfill it (5:17-18)
• This got Jimmy Carter in trouble. Why in the world did he agree to be in Playboy anyway? 5:28
• Jesus is putting an ethical twist on strict rules, making them think of the context, not just act by rote.
• Chapter 6 - don't let your acts of worship to God be known - charity, fasting, prayer - no one needs to know other than God, who will reward you.
• 6:1-4 - do your charity work in secret - don't be a show off.
• The prayer of example - The Lord's prayer - 6:9-13. Praise, thanks, petition
• 6:19-34 - don't worry, God will provide, keep your treasure in heaven
• Chapter 7 - don't judge; do unto others what you want them to do to you; follow the narrow path; you will be known by your fruits; wise/foolish housebuilders. Note in 7:29 that the scribes have lost their authority in the eyes of the people.
• Chapter 8 - healing of leper, centurion's servant, Peter's ma-in-law. Jesus says that the Jews won't believe (8:10-11); no where to lay His head; calms a storm - rules nature (did you know the Sea of Galilee and Morse Reservoir are the same length - 7 miles? - the sea of Galilee is much wider, but this puts in perspective how small it really is - not a sea at all.); demons fear Him and recognize who He is. Why did they want Jesus to leave? (8:34)
• Chapter 9 - Jesus has the power to forgive sins, considered blasphemous. Adds Matthew to his crew. 9:13 - quoting God's words mentioned many times in the Old Testament "I desire mercy and not sacrifice". Healings: dead girl raised, woman touches robe, blind men, demon-possessed mute. Harvest is plentiful, laborers are few (9:37)
• Chapter 10 - the disciples are listed - and he gave them power over unclean spirits, and to heal. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, Judas. He sent them to the lost sheep of Israel - that's his first goal, and they depend on the kindness and peacefulness of strangers to meet their needs. He warns them of the trouble they will encounter, and tells them they will be given the words to say by the Spirit. Don't fear those who can only kill the body, but not the soul - they are trying to save the lost from the one who can kill both the body and soul. Following Christ will be costly.
• Chapter 11 - John the Baptist - Jesus says "he is Elijah who is to come". Wonder what that means. Jesus is thankful that he has men with open minds to help Him. Jesus' yoke is easy and burden light.

Day 67 ~ did you skip, or catch up?

I skipped, wished I would have read ahead!

Day 66 ~ the end of an era, then 400 years of silence

Zephaniah

• Zephaniah was a prophet writing to Judah, a contemporary to Jeremiah with good king Josiah (killed by Pharaoh Necho). We read again the sentiments that the chosen people will build houses and not live in them, will plant gardens but will not get to harvest their crops.

Haggai

• Haggai 1:1 - written in August - December, 520bc. "In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest..." - you don't get much more specific in identifying when this was written. This is 18 years after Cyrus has allowed the captives to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. But the temple is still not rebuilt, and the people are just barely getting by. 1:9-10 tells us: "...Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit". In other words, get busy.
• Chapter 2 - even though the temple is not as nice as it's former building, the glory and peace will be greater.
• 2:12 - Zerubbel,the high priest, came back in 538bc (see Ez. 2:2)

Zechariah

• Two months after calling Haggai to prophecy, the Lord calls Zechariah. Chapters 1-8 are to be contemporaneous to Ezra 5-6. Zechariah worked with Haggai. There are many messianic references in this book.
• 1:11 - was the earth at peace in the eleventh month of 520bc? It would be interesting to compare historical records.
• 2:8 - the Jews are the apple of God's eye
• 4:6 - not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.

Let's talk about Government, and the transition that is occuring post exile. 4:11-14 - A new type of government is described, more balanced. The line of kings line has been cut off with the captivity. We don't hear of another king after Jehoiachin (who served in bondage in Babylon and was released by Evil-Merodach) or Zedekiah (who reigned as a puppet of the Babylonian empire in Jerusalem until the fall in 586bc). Of course, God never wanted kings in the first place (I Samuel 8:19-21). The more balanced government that will begin to transition through the next four hundred years before Christ is governors and a high priest instead of kings overbearing weaker high priests. Here, Zerubbabel is governor in Jerusalem, Joshua is the high priest in the first wave of returnees. In a later wave, Nehemiah is the governor, and Ezra is the high priest.

• 5:11 - a house of wickedness will be removed from Jerusalem and will be built in Babylon (Shinar).
• 7:4-10 - What is your motivation for fasting? empty religion vs. true spirituality. Genesis
• 9:9-10 - king riding a donkey, fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-5
• 11:4-13 - prophecy of shepherds interesting - dismissed three in one month - what does that mean? 30 pieces of silver - like with Judas selling Jesus
• 12:10 - they will look on Me whom they have pierces - Christ on the cross fulfilled in John 19:34-37
• 14:5 - reference to the earthquake during king Uzziah's day.
• Chapter 14 - end times? not yet occurred in our day?

Malachi

• Written to Israel - the name used for the recombined kingdom with one capitol in Jerusalem. Sounds like the priests are going off track again - this time substituting sub-standard sacrifices where good stuff is available.
• 1:11 - God's name will be great among the Gentiles
• Chapter 2 contains some commentary on marriage. Apparently, to cleanse themselves of pagan culture, many divorces occurred when the Jews returned to Israel. They had been captives 70 years (or more in the case of those returning from the northern kingdom) and had married outside the tribes of Israel. Their answer was a quick and easy divorce. But God thought that was dealing treacherously.
• 3:1 - the next prophet will prepare the way before Me. Matthew 11:7-10 - John the Baptist. After a succession of overlapping prophets, the Jewish people will have to wait 400 years.
• 3:8-10 - don't rob God of his tithes and offerings.
• Chapter 4 - Elijah will return. Many thought Jesus was Elijah. Elijah never died, remember?

So, what happens the next four hundred years before the New Testament begins (Intertestamental period)? Apparently the books of the Old Testament, even these later ones after the exile, were well known, because Jesus starts out quoting them from the beginning of his ministry. I gathered this info from some online sources, including "gotquestions.org":

• The political, religious, and social atmosphere of Palestine changed significantly during what some refer to as the “400 silent years”. Much of what happened was predicted by the prophet Daniel. See Daniel Chapters 2, 7, 8, and 11 and compare to historical events.
• Israel was under the control of the Persian Empire from about 532-332bc and allowed the Jews to practice their religion with little interference (including the time of rebuilding the temple.
• This relatively peaceful and content time was just the calm before the storm. Alexander the Great defeated Darius of Persia, bringing Greek rulership to the world and required that Greek culture be promoted in every land that he conquered. As a result, the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek, becoming the translation known as the Septuagint (which is what Jesus probably knew). Alexander did allow the Jews religious freedom, though he still strongly promoted Greek lifestyles. This was not a good turn of events for Israel, since the Greek culture was very worldly, humanistic and ungodly.
• After Alexander died, Judea was ruled by a series of successors, culminating in Antiochus Epiphanes who overthrew the rightful line of the priesthood and desecrated the temple, defiling it with unclean animals and a pagan altar (see Mark 13:14) (Was this the desolation described in Daniel?). Eventually, Jewish resistance to Antiochus restored the rightful priests and rescued the temple.
• The period that followed was still one of war, violence and infighting. Around 63 BC, Pompey of Rome conquered Palestine, putting all of Judea under control of the Caesars. This eventually led to Herod being made King of Judea by the Roman emperor. This would be the nation that taxed and controlled the Jews, and eventually executed the Messiah on a Roman cross.
• Roman, Greek, and Hebrew cultures were now mixed together in Judea, with all three languages spoken commonly.
• During the span of the Greek and Roman occupations, two important political/religious groups emerged in Palestine. The Pharisees added to the Law of Moses, through oral tradition, and eventually considered their own laws more important (see Mark 7:1-23). The Sadducees represented the aristocrats and the wealthy. The Sadducees, who wielded power through the Sanhedrin, rejected all but the Mosaic books of the Old Testament. The Jews, once again, were conquered, oppressed, and polluted.
• The synagogue was created. Most of the Jews in Babylonia remained there even after King Cyrus permitted them to return to the Land of Israel. While sacrifices could be offered only from the altar in Jerusalem, prayers and study of scripture could be offered anywhere. The Talmud tells that at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (69ad, soon after Christ's death), there were 394 synagogues in Jerusalem alone.

Day 65 ~ Self-indulgent? Who, Me?

Amos lives south of Jerusalem in Tekoa, but his message is for the northern kingdom, pre-captivity (before 722BC). He is a contemporary of Micah, Isaiah, Hosea and Jonah. Assyria and Egypt are experiencing weakness during the time of Amos' writing. There is much prosperity in Israel during the reigns of Uzziah (Israel) and Jereboam (Judah). Likely about 760bc.

• 1:1 - two years before the earthquake (also referred to in Zech 14:5). Israel is on an earthquake faultline and earthquakes aren't unusual, but this one must have been remarkable enough to be mentioned twice. There is archaeological evidence of an earthquake about 760bc, and Josephus refers to an earthquake related to Uzziah.
• 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13..."and for four" - what is the significance of this phrase
• 2:5 - fire will be on Jerusalem - prophesying Babylon's burning of the temple in a few hundred years
• Chapter 4 - even when many would seek out God in times of trouble (no rain, disease, war, famine), God's blasting the Israelites with these calamities did not send them to their knees toward God.
• 5:3 - Ten percent will survive the coming attacks and will be displaced. Enough to bury the dead.
• 5:11 - the Israelites are living comfortably, oppressing the poor, taking bribes

Amos 6:3-7, the people are described as self-indulgent. Here the commentary has some thought provoking questions for us modern day readers under the title "Self-Indulgent? Who, Me?"

Is your lifestyle focused on peace and pleasure, comfort and convenience? The affluent people to whom Amos was speaking lived a lifestyle of luxury that many modern-day westerners would recognize. But the prophet pronounced woe on them for allowing their easy living to lull them into spiritual slumber (6:3). Their self-indulgence completely deadened their sensitivity to the Lord. Could your lifestyle be described as self-indulgent? Is it designed around making yourself feel good and satisfy your own desires, with little thought of the needs of others or the values and concerns of God? To help you think about these issues, carefully read Amos's description of the Israelites' lifestyle, then reflect on the following questions. The point is not that having material things is a cause for guilt, but to think carefully about what Jesus called the "deceitfulness of riches" (Matthew 13:22), which can strangle your spiritual life.

1. Do you view a forty-hour maximum work week as a right to which you are entitled?
2. What kind of home do you live in? Would others in our society be envious? Is your home a benefit to anyone else?
3. Do you spend more on clothing each month than you give to your church or to charity in a year? Who benefits materially from your disposable income?
4. How much do you spend on personal grooming--for example, on such things as hair care, manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, cosmetics or perfumes?
5. Have you ever had plastic surgery other than to correct a medical problem? Describe your motivation in doing so.
6. What percentage of your income do you donate to your church, religious organizations, or charitites? Has that increased or decreased in the past three years? How much is your giving determined by tax advantages?
7. Do you aspire to be rich? How would you define rich? What do you consider to be "enough" for you in financial terms? Could you live on 10 percent less than you have now? 30 percent? how about 50 percent?
8. Do you own a second home or vacation home?
9. How do you spend your leisure--the time that is not taken up with work and family obligations?

How would you hold up to Amos's scrutiny? What kind of a steward are you with God's resources?

• chapter 7 - Amaziah, the priest, does not recognize Amos' prophetic calling.
• 7:14 - does a sycamore tree have fruit? other versions (I'm reading New King James most of the time) state sycamore-fig
• 9:12 - when temple is restored (which has not yet been destroyed in Amos' writing), Gentiles will be called by God's name.

Obadiah - one chapter addressed to Edom. Remember Edom is started by Esau when he gives his birthright to Jacob. Eventually, they will be ruled by the Israelites (though not yet in anything we've read)

Jonah - Ninevah is the capitol of Assyria that the Lord instructs Jonah to go and preach too. Jonah is a Hebrew. Ninevah was founded by Nimrod, the great-grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:11-12). Jonah preaches there (after attempting to run from God) before the fall of the northern kingdom. Ninevah (or Nivenah, as Grace always pronounced it as a young child) was a huge (at least 120,000 people per Jonah 4:10), splendid, irrigated city with a gigantic wall surrounding it. It was destroyed in 612bc by Babylon/Sythian/Mede attack. Mound of ruins has only been studied in the last century.

1:3 - Jonah tries to run away to Tarshish - although unknown where this is, it may be in Spain - that's a long way from home or Ninevah. This makes me wonder what is going on in other civilized areas in the time frame of this writing - before 722bc fall of northern kingdom.

• 800bc - the Illiad written
• 780-560bc - Greeks are establishing colonies on Asia Minor. 776bc first olympic games held in Greece.
• 770bc - eastern Chou dynasty begun in China
• 753bc - Rome founded
• 722bc - Samaria (capitol of northern kingdom) captured by Assyria
• 701bc - Sennacherib locates his capital of Assyria at Ninevah
• 689bc - Assyrians flood Babylon
• 612bc - Ninevah destroyed by Medes, Babylonians and Scythians
• 608bc – Necho of Egypt defeats and kills Josiah, king of Judah, at the Battle of Megiddo.
• 600bc - Life of Susruta, of Varanasi, the father of surgery. His ayurvedic treatises cover pulse diagnosis, hernia, cataract, cosmetic surgery, medical ethics, 121 surgical implements, antiseptics, use of drugs to control bleeding, toxicology, psychiatry, classification of burns, midwifery, surgical anesthesia and therapeutics of garlic
• 600bc - Taoism in China (for next 2000 years)
• 586bc - Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem
• 559bc - Cyrus founds Persian empire

Okay, back to Jonah

• 1:7 - doesn't say whale - a great fish
• 3:5 - the people of Nineveh react the exact opposite of the Israelites when given the prophetic message of destruction - they repent! But, this repentance wouldn't last long. The visit of Jonah to Nineveh is placed about 759bc during Assur-dan III. In 722bc, Israel will fall.
• Chapter 4 - aren't we like Jonah? we say one thing and wish for another. He cared more about a dead plant that served his purposes than a city of 120,000.

Micah - a contemporary to Isaiah, Amos, Hosea and Jonah. Prophecy to rulers in Samaria and Jerusalem. Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings - the capitols of were full of idolatry.

• 4:3 - swords turned to plowshares
• 5:2 - one to be ruler in Israel will be from Bethlehem - Jesus
• 6:8 - "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"
• 7:18b - "He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy."

These minor prophets are like a broken record of evil, warnings, ignoring of warnings, devastation, restoration

Nahum - to Ninevah, after the fall of Israel, before the fall of Judah, predicted conquest by Babylon/Synthian/Mede empires in 612bc

• 1:1 - God is slow to anger
• 1:7 "The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him."
• 3:8-9 - powerhouse of Egypt which fell - No Amon (Thebes) is an example to Ninevah that power doesn't last

Habbakuk - Chaldeans (Babylon) is rising up

• 1:12 - questions why God would use and evil nation like Babylon to do His will
• 2:4 - live by faith
• 3:4 - sounds like a superhero - "His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden."
• Chapter 3 is also a song or psalm.

Day 64 ~ minor prophets start

• Daniel 11 - vision with the angel Michael. This is a question of when this vision will be fulfilled. Has it been fulfilled? Resist...urge...to...graph...
• 11:32 - abomination of desolation - of course my Bible chooses this area to be silent. There are no commentaries on this prophetic passage that many believe will occur before Christ returns.
• 12:2 - promise of everlasting - even to those already dead - everlasting life or everlasting shame and contempt. Also 12:13 - arise to inheritance. More promises of eternal life.
• 12:11 - after the abomination of desolation, 1290 days (real days?, figurative days?). Blessed is he wo waits nad comes to 1,335 days. What about the 45 days between? What events have occurred that fit into this prophecy? any?

Daniel ends the "major" or longer books of prophecy. We now enter in to the "minor" or shorter books of prophecy - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi which closes out the Old Testament. Which is what we'll do in a few days. Can you believe it?

Hosea - back up 200 years or so, after a larger focus on the southern kingdom of Judah, Hosea prophecies to the northern kingdom of Israel the last 30 or so years before their captivity by Assyria in 722BC. Israel is sometimes referred to as Ephraim, the largest tribe of the northern kingdom.

• Chapter 1 - Hosea marries a prostitute as a symbol of God's love for a wayward nation.
• 1:11 - reunited after captivity as one nation
• 5:14/15 - God will take Israel and Judah into captivity then wait until they acknowledge their sin and seek him earnestly.
• 6:2 - Messianic - like Jesus, raised up on the third day?
• 6:6- God desires mercy, not sacrifice; Knowledge of God is more than burnt offerings.- this has been stated many times now since the rules of Leviticus were given.
• 11:7 - "My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High. None at all exalt Him."

Joel is written to Judah. Many agriculture references. Again, we are told of the lament of coming invasions to not only Judah and Israel, but the surrounding countries.

• 2:13 - rend your heart, not your garments.
• 2:28-29 God will pour out his spirit - fulfilled as quoted in Acts chapter 2:16-21.

I saved Amos to begin tomorrow.

Day 63 ~ the Golden toenail

• Daniel was a Jew taken captive as a child or very young many in the first round of capitives taken to Babylon during the reign of king Nebuchadnezzer in about 605bc. In our timeline, Ezekiel refers to Daniel, who by the time of Ezekiel would have likely been in a position of power in the court of Nebuchadnezzar.
• Chapter 1 - Best and brightest youn men/children were chosen to serve in the kings court, Daniel and his three friends were chosen and given new names.
• 1:16 - something to be said for vegetarian diets.
• 1:21 - Daniel must have lived all but his childhood in Babylon - he served under Nebuchadnezzar until at least the early years of Cyrus - about 68 years or longer.
• Chapter 2 - does Nebuchadnezzar's dream have any correlation to another prophet's vision?
• 2:5-6 - you don't want to mess with Nebuchadnezzar
• Daniel, known as a wise man, was being searched out to be killed per Neb's demand that the wisemen be killed because they could not interpret his dream. Daniel thinks quickly on his feet, and we see that he keeps the safety of others foremost in his thoughts (2:24). Daniel also makes sure to give God the glory before he even begins the task before him (2:28).
• According to the commentary in my Bible, Nebuchadnezzar II built the hanging gardens of Babylon (one of the seven wonders of the world), Ishtar gate, Ziggurat (like a pyramid without smooth sides), canals, and he was the father of Evil-Merodach, the king who released king Jehoiachin (Judah's king in exile).
• Not only does Daniel interpret the king's dream, he tells the king what the dream was.
• In the description of the statue, indicating weakening rulers of Babylon, I'm thinking that the correspondence goes as follows just off the top of my head - Gold - Nebuchadnezzar, Silver - Evil Merodach, bronze - ?, iron - ?, iron/clay - Belshazzar.
• Chapter 3 - the huge golden statue. When Grace was about 3, we had a VBS that had a dramatic segment about Daniel and the call to worship the golden statue. As an actor portraying a Babylonian under king Nebuchadnezzar's rule, I created a huge golden toenail and told the kids that I had stolen it off the statue. The children were jewish captives that were not to bow to false idols. We talked about worshipping false gods and the rules that Neb had created for requiring idol worship at the sound of specific instruments, and talked about what the consequences were if you didn't bow, plus what the eternal consequences were if you did bow. We cued some appropriate music and I told the kids (as the Babylonian idol worshipper) that they had to, by law, bow to the golden toenail. Half the kids, including Grace, hit the deck and bowed that golden toe in fright. It was something else. We had to have a good discussion about how God would view that weakness in our faith. I wonder if I scarred her for life.
• 3:5 - who else was in the furnace? An angel, some say Jesus. How does Nebuchadnezzar know what the "son of God" looks like? Had God appeared to Neb before?
• Chapter 5 - Belshazzar - son of Nabonidus (per my commentary), but that isn't clear to me from scripture. I realize that when they say "son of" that they mean in the line of. Anyway, he was a royal descendant of Nebuchadnezzar who took the throne (I think he's the iron/clay feet). Under Belshazzar's rule, Persians take over - in fact, that very night (5:30) of the writing by the hand on the wall. Apparently, the Persians had been seiging the city (just as Babylon had done to Jerusalem) for some time, and they cut off the Euphrates. Belshazzar didn't much mind - he must have felt (falsly) safe enough to hold a party for 1,000.
• Chapter 6 - Daniel is one of three in charge in the new Persian government. He was "set up" by power hungry men who got the king to make a decree that they knew Daniel wouldn't follow. The king should have read the fine print, for he was very upset when Daniel was a victim of the severe consequences.
• Chapter 7 - Highly prophetic - end times? "Ancient of Days" there are so many questions to be answered - a riddle answered by a riddle
• Chapter 8 - okay, with all this highly prophetic stuff, my commentary in my Bible is silent.
• 8:14 - 2300 days = 20 years. Is this a vision of kingdoms who would rule over Judah in captivity?
• 8:17 - Time of the end of what?
• 8:21 - Greece - do they defeat Persia? Does Persia defeat Greece? Is this the first reference to Greece that we see?
• Chapter 9 - Daniel knows the 70 years of captivity is almost over.
• 9:21 - Gabriel flew fast - from where? heaven?
• 9:25-26 - 25 “ Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. "
• Okay. Is this telling them when the Messiah would come? What is the length of a "week?". Sixty two "week" would be 434 "days" - is a day a year? Wouldn't that be about right - aren't there 400 years between the last book of the Old Testament and Jesus? Just guessing, I would say a "day" is a year.
• Why would a chapter break (10-11) occur in the middle of a parenthetical statement?

Day 62 ~ Where are my notes??

• Chapter 36:17 - this is the third or fourth reference in Ezekiel about a woman during her impurity. Outside of Leviticus, and a similar reference in Ezra, Ezekiel is the only one who uses this reference in comparing Israel's sin.
• chapter 37 - the two kingdoms (Israel & Judah) will become one nation
• chapter 38 - Gog & Magog - I know that this is heavy in the end times prophesy discussions. I am resisting the urge to go down that track!

Okay, this is where I have lost my notes from chapters 39 - 48, and I'm not going to try to recreate them - but most of the end of Ezekiel reads like the assignment of territories.