The LORD our Passover

I trust the Spirit of Holiness and all Truth to reveal the essence of Christ restored within you by your trusting Him to start with. May He enlarge the stakes of your tent to receive the knowledge and revelation of Christ as He fills both me and you. In Jesus' own words when He said, My words are spirit and life as written by John in chapter 6 verse 63 which states this; “It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you that believe not.” When we have clear perception we can hear the words of Genesis 1:26a and 27 which states this, “God said, Let us make man in Our Image, after Our Likeness: ….... So God created man in His Image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Here we find man as spirit and word being one in God before the foundation of the world were laid. To this was man created and is the whole scenario of scriptures and the purpose exposed by God for our learning and understanding. But as Jesus said not all have the ability to believe, which is the key that opens the door to receive this. Because life and death are in the power of the tongue in its proper metaphoric application.

For fun lets look at what Paul has to reveal to us about marriage because I am sure that hidden within the passages we will realize just what I have been pressing out of the vineyard of God's own words as the juice of the grape that fattens us all. This is the very Life blood of the vine into Whom we have been grafted, our LORD-GOD. What might be of help is an understanding of a few terms like LORD, yoke, betrothal, marriage, husbandman, Father, Master, steward, husband and the like. We have already looked at LORD and yoke where we found that Yehovah is our husbandman, vine, husband, the root and trunk of a mighty tree, Father and Master. And the trunk of a heavy tree like the oak of which we are its branches. The oak tree was used to show strength and the large amount of shade it cast outward. Yoke is a type of shepherd staff, easier to carry then that figured being in use by the Jewish Priesthood, as a heavy burden, under which we receive training and teaching and the rule (law of the kingdom) of God (yoke) for service as Jesus taught and teaches it even now. Jesus in most of His parables used these and other metaphoric words to describe spiritual realities and it is in this knowledge that His words are stumbling blocks to the spiritually blind.

When I did a word search in the OT for marriage there were only 2 references listed for both verses and matches, in the NT there were 16 verses and 17 matches. This is another way of knowing the magnitude of God's intended revelation as contained in the NT. Before turning our attention toward Paul lets look at what Jesus says in Luke chapter 20 beginning at verse 34 in answering a probing question asked by a sect of the Sadduccees; “Jesus answering said to them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, (Ps. 16:5-11, 22:23-26, Heb. 11:16) being the children of the resurrection.(Zec 3:7, 1Cor. 15:42, Mat. 22:30, 1John 3:2, Romans 8:16-23, 24-25, Rev. 5:9-14) Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed this at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live in (through and because of) Him.” (John 6:57, 11:25-26, 14:19, Rom. 6:10-11, 22-23, 14:7-9, 2Cor. 6:16, 13:4, Rev. 7:15-17, I know that I have loaded this with related verses but each is important for the bigger picture.)
If we see only the literal and natural of this we will miss out on the greater blessing of the spiritual which we receive by trusting God, in the taking Him at His word. (as did Enoch, Noah, Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac and the Prophets did) In the revelation of the secret things hidden from man in veiled language of similitudes. The source of all promises is hidden in Genesis 3:15 and the actions of words in Genesis 2:21-24. The key is our union and unity with the LORD in the yoke as a form of betrothal in the consummation and inauguration of the New Covenant in the Last Supper an on into His death/blood, burial, resurrection and ascension and the return in the person of the Holy Spirit. For with God all things are possible, He is the LORD of even the impossible. We are admonished not to look down on small beginnings but to keep our eyes on the LORD of the harvest.

I want to share with you something that the LORD showed me early this morning in what He said as recorded by John in chapters 6 and 10, first 6 where it states this in verse 57: John 6:53-59 “Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats Me, even he shall live by* Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live forever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.”


And then in John 10 it states this in verse 9: John 10:6-19 “This parable spoke Jesus to them: but they understood nothing of what things they were which He spoke to them. Then said Jesus to them again, Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by* Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: (mere natural man has the character of Satan with the poison of asps under the tongue) I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeing the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. (todays divided churches in denominationalism of mans Religion in what ever form it maybe and in hypocrisy, these people are like unwanted weeds that spring up everywhere) The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: (not of Israel, as the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable Romans 11:29) them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (Not a house divided and in strife caused by that division.) Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of My Father. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.”
*In both passages the word “by” has the meaning of through, as for the specific reason and ground of Me. 

The LORD our Passover

Picking back up with John 6:60 we find the following:

Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said to them, Does this offend you? And if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the Spirit that quickens spirit; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, are spirit, and are Life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. And He said, Therefore said I to you, that no man can come to Me, except it were given to him of My Father (Who is Spirit).

From that time on many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will you also go away? Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that You are Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Now we will look at marriage and how this all ties us to Him even though in metaphoric language and by similitude. In order to keep it veiled to the unknowing, though they maybe redeemed. It seems that only after our entry into God's Salvation, through the door others hidden, do these things come to Light in the learning and revelation of Christ. In the accepting of His yoke of Matthew 11:29. In the passage just looked at we have mans Redemption in the quickening of mans spirit where the flesh profits nothing which substantiates what I have already stated. It is for this reason that for years I was troubled beyond measure because of what I both saw and heard from mans pulpit. And though I tried to work among them they remained resistant to what God wanted to accomplish be it through me or anyone else Spiritually lead.

I do not want to retrace our steps of Matthew 21 and 22 and the related passages we have already looked at. So I will turn to Isaiah's letter to see what he reveals concerning the revelation of union and unity in the bond of peace as recorded in chapters 54 and 62. And then possibly Paul's account in his Epistles in the marriage of two parties, where the weaker takes on the identity of the stronger, in the exchange of the surname, usually of the male. With the female becoming know by her husbands last name, this being in the name of. For we have in like fashion spiritually had this exchange take place. This is also the action of the LORD's Last Supper or Betrothal Feast/Marriage of the Lamb and our being identified in His death. She has all right and privileges of her husbands name. This is exactly what the Lord Christ Jesus and Paul by revelation speak of as a mystery. Okay Isaiah 54 beginning at verse 1 of chapter 53 to keep the flow going through chapter 54 verse 10 we find this spoken through the prophet concerning the need or want of faith and the sufferings of Christ and the Church promised with Grace in the promises revealed.

“Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed (brought into His Salvation in unity with Him, spiritual Life restored). All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; (the work of a callous heart of unbelief which stretcher into our Redemption period of training, tutoring and teaching) and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief: when You shall make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the LORD. Enlarge the place of Your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of Your habitations: spare not, lengthen Your cords, and strengthen Your stakes; For You shall break forth on the right hand and on the left; and Your seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed: neither will you be confounded; for you shall not be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called. For the LORD has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were refused, says your God. For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you. In a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah to Me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you.” (more can be found in Psalm 45:10-17, Jeremiah 3:14-16, Ezekiel 16:8, Hosea 2:19-23) To all this hear what John the Baptist has to say as recorded by John in chapter 3 beginning with verse 27; “John answering said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. As you yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom:(LORD) but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this is my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: He/he that comes from heaven is above all. And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony. He that has received His testimony has set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He that believes the Son has Everlasting Life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides/remains on him.”

This statement can be applied to the Son's of God who now have God's righteousness and kingdom rule and law at work within them, by trust which has become His Faith.

With our spiritual eyes and ears now opened we can perceive through His righteousness, the passages just quoted, we can hear and learn of those who have been born into Christ and Christ rebirthed within them. This is New Covenant and kingdom of heaven and of God ground, in a true marriage of two becoming as One, in this kind of language. In the marriage of Spirit to spirit. For the average person this may not register at first and does not to those who have received their Redemption as laid out by God. As it remains a mystery until Salvation takes a grip and become our new stronghold within our very soul.  

The LORD our Passover

I left off with this statement, Though the scriptures do seem to point to any other period of Israel's rebirthing, which could be at the end of the sixth period. I want to say this about it, many people who are either literalist's or futurists believe this statement to be true because of the language of certain texts within the OT writings. What is not perceived by them is this, with God all things are possible and with each dispensations period of His own making and design there are terms and conditions that must be fulfilled by man. These terms and conditions maybe known or unknown but still they are limits or measurements built into each by His design. Most people I have read believe that there are no more then seven or at the most eight dispensational periods for man to pass through. And those who study numerology will stress the importance of both the number seven as God's number and eight as the number of perfect completion. Eight then being the number for Eternity in which the Spirit God rules and Lives.

With the Passover, mankinds return to soveriengty is introduced in the death, burial, resurrect and ascension of Jesus and His partnering with us and us returned to being one in Him. In the Passover meal and His return in the person of the Holy Spirit, the design of God's secret begins to unfold in those who become His righteousness or rightous ones. This is seen in the wall of faith in Hebrews 11 which lists those of them who had gone on, in Israels past history. In the meal is found our being betrothed to the LORD as our husbandman, in the essence of the Last Supper. Thou these secrets are hidden far and wide from seeking, prying eyes, of the unregenerate man. And remain far reaching beyond our limited understanding and perfected perception of all things Spiritual, the fulness in them still remains a mystery. As Paul states to the Romans in 8:39 and 11:33 and then again to the Ephesians 3:17-21. It is for this reason that God through His Spirit showed Israel through Jesus and then Paul the hidden meaning of marriage. But this was resisted by them (Israel as a nation of set apart people) because of a stony heart of unbelief. This heart of unbelief is caused by the callousness as its covering placed there by the fear of death and sins darkness. For that one reason I will turn to look at the related passages to aid us in our learning of Him.(Mat. 11:29)

First as a means of foundation I want to look at John 6:41 through 69, which states this from the mouth of our LORD because of what Daniel 2:21 states, first Daniel 2:20-23 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And He changes the times and the seasons: He removes kings,(Job 34:24-29) and sets up kings: He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know (have) understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is in the darkness, and that light dwells with Him. I thank You, and praise You, O God of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and have made known to me now what we desired of You: for You have made known to us the King's matter.” Turning to John 6:41.

“The Jews then murmured about Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He said, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes to Me. (Isaiah 2:3, this is also a well known Hebrew song, 54:13, Jeremiah 31:33-34, Micah 4:2; NT Ephesians 4:21-22, 1Thessalonians 4:9 and Hebrews 8:10-11, 10:16) Not that any man has seen the Father, save He which is of God, He has seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believes Me has everlasting life. I am that bread of Life. Your fathers did eat manna (the what is it? bread that tasted like Almonds, a part of which was placed within a earthen vessel and placed inside to Golden Seat of Mercy with the rod that budded and the tablets of stone) in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I AM the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh,(as the sacrificed lamb who's leg was not broken) which I will give for the Life of the world. (Genesis 1:1-3, 4-5, John 1:5, 9, 3:19)

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has Eternal Life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him. (this being in His name clothed with Him on the outside an Spirit on the inside, has no substance as man perceives Spirit.) As the Living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father: so He that eats Me, even he shall live by (by reason of, on account of) Me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live forever. These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.

The LORD our Passover

Now Peter's witness or sermon

to the Hebrews on New Covenant ground, in Acts 2:14 and following.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, You men of Judea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
 
You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by (through) Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know: He, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. For David spoke concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, (in Psalm16:8-11, 109:31, 110:5, Isaiah 41:13, 50:7-9) that I should not be moved:(in Psalm 21:7, 30:6, 62:2, 6) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; (Psalm 16:9, 22:22-24, moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because You will not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 49:15, 86:13) You have made known to me the ways of life; You shall make me full of joy with Your countenance.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to Him, that of the fruit of His loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His Throne; (in Psalm 2:6-8, 9-12, 72:1-19) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. (in Psalm 16:10) This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He has shown this, which you now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit You on My right hand, Until I make Your foes Your footstool. (Psalm 110:1, 2:8-12, 18:40-42, 21:8-12, 72:9, Isaiah 49:23, 59:18, 60:14, 63:4-6) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, Whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you into the LORD, Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Genesis 12:3 where it says, “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”, 17:7-8, Psalm 115:14-15, Jeremiah 32:39-40, Joel 2:28) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (wicked, perverse, vain within each) generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear and awe came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

All this is now history from this point to our own day is the operation of the New Covenant Family unite in Christ, as brought about by God in the betrothal feast of the Lamb, which all from Genesis 3:21 no was hidden as a mystery in God. God in His own divine council before the foundation of the world had choreographed mans return to Him in a sovereign state of being. Then held it to Himself as a secret until the end of the fifth dispensational period in which Israel as a nation was His focus came to its predetermined end. Though the scriptures do seem to point to any other period of Israel's rebirthing, which could be at the end of the sixth period.  

The LORD our Passover

Being that the accounts of Acts, written by Luke, in the continuation of all that we have so far covered, I must of necessity continue in it through chapter 2. Chapter 2 because after it is recorded the workings of God and Christ in the person of the Spirit of Holiness and Truth through the believers and receivers of the ontological Spiritual essence of Christ Jesus, restored to all who will receive His revelation. On the way to becoming Sons of God, Sons of the New Covenant of promise first seen in Genesis 3:15 then 12:3 and a few more times there after in the Psalms and the Prophets, where it is called and labeled as being New. New because it is after the completion or fulfillment of days realized in Christ Jesus as the prophet like unto Moses. In the person of the ancient of Days, and the phrase of the gentile priest's of the Most High God, Jesus is the everlasting one, the for ever, forever and the end of days as seen in the OT. Which simply means that these days all find there completion in Him and Through Him.

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, (a fictional person meaning believer) of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen: (called out from among the unrighteous duplicated again in 2Corinthians 6:11 through 7:4 as Israel was a called out people or nation) To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, you have heard from Me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Joel 2:28-32)

When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will You at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power. But you shall receive power, (as in the right to become sons of God again, John 1:12, and) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses of Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth. When He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven. 

Then returned they to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 
 
At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. It was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, “The field of blood.” For it is written in the book of Psalms, “Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric (office) let another take.” Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all men, show whether of these two You have chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 

When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared upon them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 
 
There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue and language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.   

The LORD our Passover

The resurrection of Jesus

parallel passages in Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8 and Luke 21:1-12

John 20:1-3 On the first day of the week come Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and seeing the stone taken away from the sepulcher. She ran, coming to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher.

I must place here the account of Matthew 27, at the end of verse 51, where the (;) sign is found, this means that there was a brake in the time sequencing of this passage, which reveals an earth quake early in the morning which states the following and which also the passages in brackets referenced reveal; “and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” This took place very early in the predawn hours as the Lord Jesus was leading the captives held in Abraham's bosom to the heavenliest place, His first ascension as described in Colossains 1:11-20, and the Redemption price now paid as laid out in the following verses 21-29 of Col. 1. This one passage is loaded with cross references from both the Old and the New Covenants.


John 20:4-10, 11-18, 19-23, 24-29, 30-31 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeing the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. (Psalm 16:10, 22:15, Colossians 1:18-20, Isaiah 25:8, 26:19, 53:10-12, Hosea 13:14, Acts 2:25-32, 13:29-37, 1Corinthians 15:3-4) Then the disciples went away again to their own home.
 

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

parallel passage in Mark 16:9-11

Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and seeing two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. They told her, Woman, why weep you? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? whom seek you? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to Him, Sir, if you have borne him hence, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned herself, and said to Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus said to her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say to them, I ascend to My Father, and your Father; and go to My God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. 

Jesus Appears among the Disciples

parallel passages in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18 and Luke 24:36-49

That same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He showed to them His hands and side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be to you: as My Father has sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Ghost: Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted from them; and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained.

Thomas' Unbelief

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. Then after eight days (which proverb states from Judges 5:12 “Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead your captivity captive, you son of Abinoam.” Psalm 68:18, (Isaiah 14:2, 33:1), Isaiah 49:24-26, Ephesians 4:8, 2Timothy 2:(26)19-26) again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: came Jesus again, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace unto you. Then said He to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold My hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answering said to Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe.

The Purpose of the synoptic book of John

Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.  

The LORD our Passover

The Death of Jesus

parallel passages in Matthew 27:45-56, Mark 15:33-41 and Luke 23:44-49

John 19:28-30 "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,(finished in the requirement of righteousness in the Mosaic Law, Psalms and the Prophets, the Temple veil, which was old was about to be rent* from top to bottom signifying its complication and fulfillment) that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost (His spirit, mans last breath)."
*It might be noted that this veil was massive in size and on it were the symbols of heaven and the mystical revelation of Christ in God revealed though not understood. This veil served as a separation between God and man, though the High Priest once a year would go behind it to worship, having a tether rope tied to his heel. With which if he was killed by God's presences they could retrieve his now dead body from behind the veil.

In Matthews account we find this in chapter 27 and verses 38-48; "Then were there two thieves crucified with Him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. They that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, You that destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, save Thyself. If You be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; He Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God. 

The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in his teeth." (Job 30:7-9, Psalm 35:15-16, Mark 15:32) 

Before I continue with this I want to look at Luke for the rest of the story in chapter 23 and picking up at verse 39 through 45 where it states this as a witness; “One of the malefactors which were hung with Him railed on Him, saying, If You be Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? For we indeed justly deserve this our reward; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. He said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. To this Jesus said to him, Verily I say to you, To day shall you be with Me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the middle.”

Returning to our text we find this:

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? 
 
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calls for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink.

Care of Jesus' body

John 19:31- 37 "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.(Deuteronomy 21:22-23) Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they broke not His legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (Zechariah 13:1, 2-5; Revelation 1:5, 7:14) And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knows what he said to be true, that you might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, a bone of Him shall not be broken.(Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 22:14, 34:20, 35:10) And again another scripture said, They shall look on Him whom they pierced." (Psalm 22:16-17, Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7) 

The Burial of Jesus

parallel passages in Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47 and Luke 23:50-56.

John 19:38-42 "After this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand."