NEWS: At the end of a two day meeting in Cairo, Syria’s National Coalition announced they will meet in Istanbul on March 2 to choose a prime minister to head a provisional government to operate in rebel-held areas of the country. At that point they can be recognized as a legitimate government with territory and citizens, which can request foreign military assistance as the rebels in eastern Libya did.
COMMENTS: Bill Lussenheide, sent in a comment that requires an extensive response. I welcome this opportunity to cover the subject in depth and I intend to publish this as a full post, however I do not think it appropriate for Sabbath.
Today I want to begin the Gospel according to John, with John 1-2, and hopefully do the Rotary post on Sunday
John
The Word [Logos] was present at creation with the member of the Elohiym [Mighty Ones] family who became the Father. In the beginning the two members of the Elohyim family said:
Gen 1:26 And God [Elohyim] said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
1:1 In the beginning was the Word [who was an Elohyim, the Creator; and later became the physical Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God [the Word was a part of the Elohiym family and was with another of that family, who later became the Father], and the Word was [a member of the Elohiym family along with the other member of the God family] God.
There were two beings in the beginning, both called God [Elohiym; the family of Mighty Ones]
1:2 The same [Logos, Christ] was in the beginning with God [the Father].
All things were made by the Logos [Christ] in consultation with the Other. The Other who became the Father gave instruction, and the Logos who became the son carried out the actions of creation by commanding all the heavenly angels in their tasks.
All things were made in the beginning by the Logos who later gave up his God-hood to become flesh as the son, Jesus Christ.
1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The life of the Logos made flesh is the example and light by which all men should live. Yet those without God’s spirit, who live in the darkness of ignorance could not comprehend the example and instructions of Christ.
1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John Baptist is introduced, see Luke one.
1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ [Yeshua] the light of the world
1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him [Christ might believe, repent and be saved] might believe.
1:8 He [John] was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Jesus Christ was the light of spiritual understanding, and the way to salvation for all peoples.
1:9 That [Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
The Creator made the world and came to the people he had created and they neither knew nor received him.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Those the Father calls to Christ, and who respond positively; become the disciples of Christ and receive the blotting out of their sins through repentance and the application of Christ’s sacrifice and are reconciled to the Father.
The called out, become the sons of the Father, through their espousal to Christ, as son’s in law of the Father; this through the will of the Father who called them into his family.
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Creator gave up his God-hood to be made flesh, he was not made a combination of spirit and flesh, for spirit being of a different composition, cannot fertilize a human egg. The Creator was changed from spirit to become completely flesh as a human embryo and placed in the womb of Mary as his surrogate mother. In this manner the Creator Elohiym was made flesh.
John and the disciples were witnesses to all the sayings and acts of Yeshua [Jesus Christ] who became the son of the Father when the father placed him in the womb of Mary.
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John prepared the way by calling people to repentance and bearing witness of the Savior of humanity who would come in his lifetime.
1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
As Moses was the mediator of the Mosaic Covenant; Jesus Christ has become the Mediator of a New and Better Covenant, Jer 31; which reconciles us to the Father, through the application of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God to repentant sinners.
1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace [forgiveness for repented sin] and truth [understanding] came by Jesus Christ.
The Father was not seen or known until the Creator in the flesh revealed HIM.
1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John made NO claims about himself, only teaching that the Christ should come in his days.
1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
John said that he was preparing the way for Messiah, as Isaiah had foretold.
1:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
1:24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
When John was asked why he baptized to wash away sin; he responded that the physical washing was only an example of what the Christ would do.
1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 1:26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
Bethabara is just north of the Dead Sea.
1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John recognizes Christ coming to him.
1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John says that he did not know who Christ was, only that he was coming; and he recognized Christ by the spirit of God descending upon him.
1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Two of John Baptist’s disciples follow Christ.
1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
Andrew, Peter’s brother, understood that Jesus was the Christ from the words of John Baptist.
1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
At this point Jesus goes out into the wilderness to be tried, and Andrew goes to get his brother Peter.
Cephas or Petros: The word Peter in Greek is petros, which means “a piece of rock; a
stone; a single stone; movable, insecure, shifting, or rolling.
” The word Rock; upon which the church is built is Petra, which means “a rock; a cliff; a projecting
rock; mother rock; huge mass; solid formation; fixed; immovable; enduring” and refers to Jesus Christ.
1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A [petros or small stone] stone.
After his temptation Jesus goes into Galilee, Mat 11-12.
Doubtless Andrew and Peter went about telling their friends of Christ and Jesus begins to call disciples first in Bethsaida.
1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Nathanael a humble, honest, forthright person is called.
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
John 2
The third day after Nathaniel was called, the wedding feast miracle at Cana.
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have [run out of] no wine. 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Mary as his adoptive mother; insisted, in faith.
2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Jesus turns the water into wine.
2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 2:8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor [equivalent to today's best man, who takes care of such things] of the feast called the bridegroom, 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This first miracle of Jesus caused those whom he had called to be his disciples to believe in him.
2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
Later as spring came, Jesus and his disciples went up to Jerusalem for the Passover according to the commandment in the law.
In his last writings on the side of the Jordan, Moses commanded from God, that when they entered the Promised Land and had a central place of worship:
Deu 16:5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates [our own homes] , which the LORD thy God giveth thee: 6But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
2 Ch 7:12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
At the FIRST Passover of the ministry of Christ he casts the evil doers and disrespectful OUT of his Father’s house. He is about to do the same thing again, Rev 3:16
2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
the people then asked by what right did he do this casting out of the faithless, lax, complacent and self righteous?
Jesus responding to their threatening and speaking of his own body; declared that when they would kill him he would be raised up at the third day.
2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
The angry priests and merchants misunderstood that he was speaking of their desire to kill him. All those with God’s spirit are the temple of the spirit of God. And if we do not keep ourselves free from the uncleanness of willful sin; we shall surely be rejected by the spirit of God and Christ.
2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Three years later his disciples remembered this saying when they had received the Holy Spirit themselves.
2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
After the Passover day, on the First High Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the temple in the presence of the people Christ did many miracles
2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
Jesus knew the wicked hearts of men and did not trust the priests, scribes and Pharisees.
2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
JMM
February 23rd, 2013 at 09:51