HE+ SHALL PURIFY...

Behold, I will send My messenger, 

and he shall prepare the way before ME:

and the LORD, whom ye seek, 

shall suddenly come to His+ temple,

even the Messenger of the Covenant, 

whom ye delight in: 

behold, HE+ shall come, 

saith the LORD of Hosts.

But who may abide 

the day of HIS+ Coming?

and who shall stand 

when HE+ appeareth? 

for HE+ is like a refiner's fire, 

and like fullers' soap:

And HE+ shall sit as a refiner 

and purifier of silver: 

and HE+ shall purify the sons of Levi, 

and purge them as gold and silver, 

that they may offer unto the LORD

an offering in righteousness.

+  +  +

Now the GOD of peace, 

that brought again from the dead 

our Lord JESUS,  

that Great Shepherd+ of the sheep, 

through the Blood 

of the Everlasting Covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do HIS will, working in you that which is well pleasing in HIS sight, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

Hebrews 12:20-21

+  +  +

The Time of the Preparation for the GREAT PASSOVER is upon us once more. 

Repentance is due now .  .  .

for WHO may abide 
the Day of HIS+ Coming ?  

As the people of YHWH were in the wilderness 40 years, as Our LORD JESUS CHRIST was in His+ wilderness being tempted by the devil for 40 days, let us SET ASIDE these next 40 days before HOLY WEEK and even now, remove the leaven out of our hearts and homes and lives.  

As followers of JESUS,  we know HE+ forgives the repentant one.  But let us walk these days in the awareness that we are mortal: 

"Remember: you are dust 

and to dust 

you shall return," 

REPENT and 

BELIEVE the GOSPEL.

+  +  +  

HOLY WEEK TIME-LINE

Sacrifice of the PASSOVER LAMB

HOLY WEEK 
Time-Line

REMEMBER:  All events were intricately tied to the Jewish Passover Holy Days, as JESUS CHRIST was the UN-blemished Passover LAMB+, the LAMB+ of GOD.

1. Lazarus Saturday ~ The Raising of Lazarus of Bethany who had been dead 4 days, from the tomb.

2.The LORD'S Day ( i.e., Sunday ) ~ His+ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem ~ Following a great feast hosted by the family of Lazarus, a multitude from Bethany accompanied JESUS on His+ way in to Jerusalem. They were met by a multitude coming UP FROM Jerusalem, to greet the SON+ of DAVID.

3. Monday ~ The Second Cleansing of the Temple -- The merchants and money-changers were waxing profitably due to the influx of Passover Pilgrims coming into Jerusalem at this time.
.
Josephus estimated the in-coming crowd to be around 2.7 million VISITORS in Jerusalem during Passover time. The census was ordered by Rome, to be taken by the Temple priests, according to Josephus. 
.
According to Matthew 21, though, the 2nd Cleansing of the Temple was after His+ Triumphant ride into Jerusalem ... not the day afterwards. The Church proper usually keeps the two events separated.  

4. Tuesday -- The Last Supper, the betrayal, and the drops of blood sweat in the Garden of Gesthemane, followed by the illegal night "trial" of The LORD.

5. Wednesday --- The Scourging, the parade of the Cross-carrying through Jerusalem to Golgotha, the dreadful crucifixion at the 3rd Hour (  9 a.m.), the time of the morning sacrifice in the Temple.

The darkened sky from noon, the 6^th Hour, until the 9th Hour ( 3 p.m.) when it was FINISHED and HE+ committed His+ spirit into the hands of The FATHER... at the time of the Evening Sacrifice in the Temple ... at which time the veil of the Temple was torn from TOP to the bottom.

Joseph of Arimathea laid His+ Body in the new Tomb.

First NIGHT in the heart of the earth.

6. Thursday --- High Holy Day. The HIGH Sabbath.

First DAY in the heart of the earth.

Second NIGHT in the heart of the earth.

7. Friday --- Day of Preparation for the regular Sabbath Day. The women went to buy spices to anoint His+ Body.

Second full DAY in the Heart of the earth.

Third full NIGHT in the Heart of the earth.

The "3 nights" in the heart of the earth were completed.

8. Saturday --- Regular Sabbath Day. The women rested.

The third full DAY in the heart of the earth

 was completed at 3 p.m. Saturday,

at the same hour

that HE+ died on the Cross

on Wednesday.

Having spent 3 full days and 3 full nights in the heart of the earth, as HE+ told us in Scriptures that HE+ would do,  from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 3 p.m. Saturday, His+ Resurrection had to occur at 3 p.m. Saturday.

However --- the FIRST WITNESSES, the women, did not SEE HIM+ until very early, before dawn, on The LORD'S day ( i.e., Sunday). That is when HE+ was revealed to them.

+  +  +

Having said all this, we remember that the Christian church services are commemorative, that is, we join together to REMEMBER these events.

Thus, we join with other Christians on Good Friday to commemorate His+ death and on Sunday to celebrate the REMEMBRANCE of His+ Glorious Resurrection.

Although there is no need to negate the truth of the timeline, there is also no need to cause more division in the Christian camp.  

+  +  +

Isaiah 53

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
.

  ² For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³ 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.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ 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.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ 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 openeth not his mouth.

⁸ 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.

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt 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.

¹¹ 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.

¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath 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.

His+ First TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE into Jerusalem ... But NOT His+ LAST !

SEE: Time-Line for the HOLY WEEK , Passover, PASCHA, Passion of CHRIST below the post.

The TRIUMPHAL ENTRY of CHRIST

The crowd went wild for they had seen the dead arise before their eyes, summoned by a Voice+ it knew.

The Grave obeyed THAT Voice+ , too, of HIM+ Who+ carries keys of Hades' grave which none stop still when HE+ arises in great TRIUMPH to do His+ FATHER'S Will.

Roaring sounds on hills abound. Shouting Pilgrims rushing, greeting this King+ Who+ raised their dead instead of stealing health and wealth like earth-bound rulers wrestle life from grapes and grain and subjects, freely.

Demanding naught, HE+ wept and taught the hurting to embrace the Life HE+ gave to spare their souls of death's lying. Behold, HE+ said, I have the keys to Hell's iron gate; death's own sting is waning, dying.

Facing combat at the Cross, enshrouded firm in FATHER'S Will, HE+ settled the score but took the loss; Divine Blood dropping before scourge or nail embedded HIM+ in Battle.

HOSANNA!

SAVE NOW !

Joyous, dancing, waving Crowds proclaimed with glee; the SON of David riding slowly on the un-ridden colt towards death to open Hades' gate, never done before or after-- so HE+ received these momentary lauds with tears ... instead of laughter.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem ... HE+ faced your gates with wrenching tears , seeing sorrow marking time to devour  the sons of Jerusalem who willed to kill the Prophets and now turning from His+ Coming.

Rejoice, rejoice O Bethany ! On this day, GOD came to Thee! They received their dead alive because HE+ came to revive His+ friend in time to see His+ own demise and RESURRECTION Power !

AGAIN and again and again and again...

+  +  +

The TIMELINE  of Holy Week

REMEMBER:  All events were intricately tied to the Jewish Passover Holy Days, as JESUS CHRIST was the UN-blemished Passover LAMB+, the LAMB+ of GOD.

1. Lazarus Saturday ~ The Raising of Lazarus of Bethany who had been dead 4 days, from the tomb.

2.The LORD'S Day ( i.e., Sunday ) ~ His+ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem ~ Following a great feast hosted by the family of Lazarus, a multitude from Bethany accompanied JESUS on His+ way in to Jerusalem. They were met by a multitude coming UP FROM Jerusalem, to greet the SON+ of DAVID. 

HE+ was going into Jerusalem to CLEANSE the TEMPLE.

3. Monday ~ The Second Cleansing of the Temple -- The merchants and money-changers were waxing profitably due to the influx of Passover Pilgrims coming into Jerusalem at this time. THIS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY... but the church proper generally separates the two events.

4. Tuesday -- The Last Supper, the betrayal, and the drops of blood sweat in the Garden of Gesthemane, followed by the illegal night "trial" of The LORD.

5. Wednesday --- The Scourging,

the parade of the Cross-carrying through Jerusalem to Golgotha, the dreadful crucifixion at the 3rd Hour (  9 a.m.), the time of the morning sacrifice in the Temple.

The darkened sky from noon, the 6^th Hour, until the 9th Hour ( 3 p.m.) when it was FINISHED and HE+ committed His+ spirit into the hands of The FATHER... at the time of the Evening Sacrifice in the Temple ... at which time the veil of the Temple was torn from TOP to the bottom.

Joseph of Arimathea laid His+ Body in the new Tomb.

First NIGHT in the heart of the earth.

6. Thursday --- High Holy Day. The HIGH Sabbath.

First DAY in the heart of the earth.

Second NIGHT in the heart of the earth.

7. Friday --- Day of Preparation for the regular Sabbath Day. The women went to buy spices to anoint His+ Body.

Second full DAY in the Heart of the earth.

Third full NIGHT in the Heart of the earth.

The "3 nights" in the heart of the earth were completed.

8. Saturday --- Regular Sabbath Day. The women rested.

The third full DAY in the heart of the earth

 was completed at 3 p.m. Saturday,

at the same hour

that HE+ died on the Cross

on Wednesday.

Having spent 3 full days and 3 full nights in the heart of the earth, as HE+ told us in Scriptures that HE+ would do,  from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 3 p.m. Saturday, His+ Resurrection had to occur at 3 p.m. Saturday.

However --- the FIRST WITNESSES, the women, did not SEE HIM+ until very early, before dawn, on The LORD'S day ( i.e., Sunday). That is when HE+ was revealed to them.

+  +  +

Having said all this, we remember that the Christian church services are commemorative, that is, we join together to REMEMBER these events.

Thus, we join with other Christians on Good Friday to commemorate His+ death and on Sunday to celebrate the REMEMBRANCE of His+ Glorious Resurrection.

Although there is no need to negate the truth of the timeline, there is also no need to cause more division in the Christian camp.  

FOUNTAIN of Favor ... Passover (Pascha) Meditations --- Ephesians 1: 2 --- The Sacrifice Lamb+

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain
His blood on the alter a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain
To bring hope eternal
Salvation has come to the world
God's only Son to the world
JESUS the ONE+ for the world
YESHUA+ is HE ... Lyrics by Lamb, Joel Chernoff

Meditations  for Pascha

(The Passover Season, 2016)

+  +  +

Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart

Now is My+ soul troubled;

and what shall I+ say ...

FATHER, save ME+

from this hour ?

but for this cause

came I+ unto this hour.

FATHER,

Glorify Thy Name.

Then came there a Voice from Heaven,

saying,

I have both glorified It,

and will glorify It again.

John12:27-28

+  +  +

Meditation Verse : Ephesians 1:2

Grace to you all and peace from out of GOD, FATHER of us and of LORD JESUS CHRIST.

( Literal Greek, SRJ.  + + + )

Grace to you and peace from GOD our FATHER and from the LORD JESUS CHRIST. (KJV)

 +  +  +

Either way this verse is read, we see that The LORD GOD is the fountain of favor towards us all, and HE is the place of peace.

As a matter of fact, there is NO PEACE to be had in this world --- or in the world to come --- apart from The LORD.

Additionally, there is NO FAVOR or grace to be had, in Truth, in this world --- or in the world to come --- apart from The LORD.

How, then, do we obtain this unmerited favor and un-earned peace?

WHAT?

Know ye not

that your body is the temple

of the HOLY SPIRIT

which is in you,

which ye have of GOD,

and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a

Price+:

therefore glorify GOD

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are GOD'S.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Our peace with GOD our FATHER and that great Favor from HIM came at the highest PRICE+ imaginable:  through The BLOOD of Our FATHER'S Only-begotten SON+.  

HE+ became the LAMB+ of GOD, the unblemished LAMB+ provided by GOD The FATHER as an ACCEPTABLE sacrifice to cover our sins... the only acceptable sacrifice, ever. 

That PRICE+ cost The FATHER, as well as HIS SON+. Even though The FATHER did not leave His Throne in Heaven ( as some teach ? ), the sacrifice of HIS dearly-beloved SON+ cost HIM. 

We see the picture shown to us through Abraham not withholding Isaac as a sacrifice, a prophetic portrayal given to us as a pattern or TYPE that we should recognize The Jewish MESSIAH+ when HE+ came. Anyone who loves his child would realize the enormity of The FATHER'S sacrifice, even from a finite, human perspective.

The FATHER loveth the SON+

and has given all things

into His+ Hand.

John 3:35

Peace and favor are unobtainable in this world.  Some may negotiate for peace with bribes, as the nations of the world do.  Some may bribe --- or belong to the right "clubs" --- in order to obtain favor in this world. Most sell their soul in one way or another to obtain favor.

However, that elusive favor and un-obtainable peace come ONLY FROM The LORD.

Peace and Grace are not obtainable with gold and silver, with money or possessions. They are not obtainable with skills or gifted abilities, either, although the world would like us to BELIEVE that they are... hence, the carrot-and-stick "motivational" force behind worldly ambition.

Belonging to the “in” group of controllers only adds to our lack of peace; these groups are NOT known for their kindness to even their fellow club members.

The richest person on earth cannot purchase his own peace and personal grace from others. Neither can the most clever, the most talented and gifted ones among us. The biographies of the world's greatest names --- from artists to scientists --- show us that truth.

Peace and Grace come ONLY from Our FATHER Who art in Heaven, ( Hallowed be HIS name ), because HE sent HIS only-begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to obtain peace and grace for us. 

JESUS paid the price for our Peace with The FATHER.

JESUS paid the price for our favor and grace with HIM, also. 

HE+ gives those unobtainable precious possessions to those who are bought with a PRICE+ and are not their own. 

Are you "your own" man today?

If you are, you will not be counted as His+ own.

Is your body functioning as the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT, today ?

If not, a cleansing of the Temple is in order; recall: it has been done before.  A whip of cords was necessary that time because the users of the Temple KNEW better … but refused to cleanse their Temple themselves.

Is your spirit  earnestly living in eager pursuit of the Will of GOD ? Or... is the Will of the LORD an inconvenience imposed into your day ?   

Let us Pray:

O LORD CHRIST, forgive me for choosing my own agitation and fear over peace with THEE+. 

Help me to cleanse my temple, holding nothing back for my own comfort and indulgence of Self when I am hurting.  Help me to stop nursing my grievances and yes, even my sorrows. Help me to yield my emotions unto THEE+ ; I give THEE+ free rein to cleanse me of them.

Grant me Thy+ favor before GOD. If favor before man is Thy+ Will, then grant me the humility to know that favor actually only comes from THEE+ and that THOU+ hast a purpose in it. It is NOT for my own glory, but rather, for THINE+, O LORD.

I am indeed bought with a Price+, Thy+ Blood.  I give THEE+ back what is THINE+ by creation…  and THINE+ by purchase.

Help me to remember it.

In Thy+ Holy Name I pray these my imperfect prayers. Amen.

+  +  +

Glory be to The FATHER,

and to His Beloved SON+

JESUS CHRIST,

and to the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT.

ONE GOD:

FATHER, SON+, and HOLY SPIRIT,

both now and forever,

world without end.

Amen.

+  +  +

Worthy is the LAMB+.

Worthy is The LAMB+

that was slain.

Worthy is the LAMB+,

slain

from the foundation

of the earth.

Revelation 13:8