NOT to Destroy But to FULFILL ...

ADVENT MEDITATIONS # 2

2016

JESUS CHRIST / Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA+

The Law Incarnate

… versus …

[ "Now I'm saved; I can sin all I want to." ]

GOD FORBID!

+  +  +

Think not that I+ am come

to destroy The Law, 

or the Prophets:

I+ am not come 

to destroy,

BUT TO FULFILL.

+

Words of Our LORD 

Matthew 5:17

+  +  +

Our LORD JESUS / Y'SHU+ spoke clearly and plainly about His+ Mission. After His+ great trial of temptation by the devil in chapter 4 of Matthew, HE+ emerged victoriously to establish the Kingdom of GOD on earth.

Leaving Nazareth, HE+ moved beside the Sea of Galilee, to Capernaum in the districts of Zebulan and Naphtali ( Mt. 4:13-17), thus FULFILLING Isaiah 9:1-2.

Nevertheless

the dimness shall not be 

such as was in her vexation,

when at the first 

HE lightly afflicted

the land of Zebulun 

and the land of Naphtali,

and afterward 

did more grievously afflict her

by the way of the sea,

beyond Jordan, 

in Galilee of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a Great LIGHT+:

they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,

upon them hath The LIGHT+ shined.

Isaiah 9: 1-2

The LORD JESUS / Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA+ preached repentance and called His+ first disciples to Him+ . 

HE+ healed the sick and great crowds from the surrounding areas flocked to HIM+.  HE began teaching them in the Sermon on the Mount, chapter 5.

Think not 

that I+ am come

to destroy The Law, 

or the Prophets:

I+ am not come 

to destroy,

BUT TO FULFILL.

Mt. 5:17

The LORD honored The LAW. 

HE+ spoke often of its abuses and mis-applications by men, but The Law itself HE+ honored. It revealed His+ own Divine Character and the character of His+ Heavenly FATHER. HE+ was in agreement with it.

In fact,

The LORD JESUS / 

Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA+

 expanded   

The Law !

As the MESSIAH / M'SHIKHA, HE+ explained how the keeping of The Law was to GO DEEPER than the Jews' observance of it.

The Law was to be kept in the MOTIVES and inside the hidden places of the heart, where no-one could see ... except GOD. 

HE+ explained this when teaching about lusting after another was ALREADY an act of adultery in the eyes of GOD.

GOD'S standard of right vs wrong did not CHANGE at the advent of CHRIST / the M'SHIKHA+. 

The LORD JESUS 

/ Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA+ 

came

to restore GOD'S Law

... in Spirit, this time,  

and in Truth.

+  +  +

Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly FATHER,

Hallowed be Thy Name, O HOLY FATHER, and the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ , The LORD JESUS / Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA+. 

I thank THEE+ for Thy Law, for giving forth the Divine Standard of Right, for teaching me what is wrong, and that Thy Standard does not change.

I confess , O LORD, that I am ashamed for the times I have hid sins in my heart, thinking no-one could see me. 

Please forgive me and cleanse me by the BLOOD of Thy Precious SON+. Make me pure through-out. Amen. 

+  +  +

In the Name of 

The FATHER,

Who created us;

And HIS HOLY SON+

JESUS / Y'SHU+ ,

Who+ saves us;

And The 

Blessed HOLY SPIRIT 

/ RUACH ha KADOSH,

Who sanctifies us. 

+  +  +

NOT ASHAMED OF ... US ? ... RESURRECTION WEEK, Day 5 ... MEDITATIONS

Touch ME+ not; I+ am not yet ascended... 

[ The Resurrection Season was not limited to Resurrection Sunday. It lasted until Ascension Day.  This Resurrection "season" was the 40 days and 40 nights the Resurrected LORD JESUS CHRIST  spent with His+ disciples--- in His+ glorified body ---, teaching them things and opening their understanding unto the Scriptures  which told about HIM+. 

These Scriptures, of course, were the Prophets and Patriarchs and Psalms found in the Old Covenant because ... the New had not yet been written. ]

John 20:17

JESUS said unto her

Touch ME+ not;

for I+ am not yet ascended

to My+ FATHER:

but go to My+ brethren,

and say unto them,

I+ ascend

unto My+ FATHER,

and your FATHER;

and to My+ GOD,

and your GOD.

   +  +  +

But we see JESUS,

WHO+ was made

a little lower than the angels

for the suffering of death,

crowned with glory and honor;

that HE+

by the grace of GOD

should taste death for every man.

For it became HIM,

for WHOM are all things,

and by WHOM are all things,

in bringing

many sons unto glory,

to make

the CAPTAIN+ of their Salvation

perfect through sufferings.

For both

HE+ that sanctifieth

and they who are sanctified

are all of one:

for which cause

HE+ is not ashamed

to call them Brethren.

HEBREWS 2:9- 11

+  +  +

MEDITATION

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? 

How can that be ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? …  who whine and murmur, groan and complain through-out our day ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? … who are so concerned about our own family's salvation but do not have time to concern ourselves about the salvation of strangers ... whether they be nearby or across the sea ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? … who refuse to don a head-covering ( 1 Cor. 11) , who refuse to forsake looking like the world, talking like the world, and behaving like the world ?

HE+ is not ashamed of us ? …   who are too tired and busy to stop our day to come before HIM+ ... in humility and thanksgiving ?

NO, rather...  the truth of the matter is this:  

HE+ is NOT ASHAMED

of those…

who are NOT ASHAMED

of HIM+.

Those who confess HIM+ before the  hidden, Unseen Watchers and put to chase the spirits of Self, complaining, and grumbling … HE+ is openly not ashamed of these Blood-washed Believers.

Those who make a sacrifice of thanksgiving and with determination maintain their trust in HIM+ to utterly conduct their affairs as HE+ sees fit --- even when adversity arrives --- HE+ is unreservedly not ashamed of these Faithful ones who lift HIM+ up in their hearts.

Those who care about the dying souls who have never heard the Word+ of GOD or those who care about the many souls who have never understood clearly the CHOICE between Eternal Life and Eternal Damnation... HE+ is joyously not ashamed of these Laborers in His+ Kingdom.

Those Followers who have forsaken the world, its ways, and ALL of its values and have maintained a distinct separation... so distinct that the worldlings may see at a glance a glimmer of the Essence of GOD... ah, no, HE+ is definitely not ashamed of these Separated ones who follow HIM+ boldly and unashamedly !

Those who pay the price that the world exacts on those who REFUSE to allow "the requirements" to absorb their entire life's energy --- for a job, a career, for fine housing and all the amenities of this life --- in order to have SOME QUALITY energy to devote to CHRIST JESUS ... YES ! HE+ is delightedly not ashamed of these Single-of-Eye Followers. 

For both

HE+ that sanctifieth

and they who are sanctified

are all of one:

for which cause

HE+ is not ashamed

to call them Brethren.

Are we His+ Brethren ? 

Yes, we are ... when we live in ONENESS with Our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Both a babe in CHRIST and a mature Follower of JESUS can live in ONENESS with CHRIST ... if that Follower determines to do so.

It is simply a matter of priorities.  

When we yield our lives unto His+ rule, HE+ sanctifies us daily.

HE+ is NOT ASHAMED 

of those HE+ sanctifies.

Furthermore, HE+ confesses us as "His+ Brethren" before Our FATHER WHO art in Heaven, hallowed be HIS Name, and before His+ Holy Angels.

+  +  +

Let us pray...

Dear Heavenly FATHER,

We are not ashamed of Thy+ Holy SON+ JESUS CHRIST !

We are not ashamed of HIM+ before our family, before our relatives, before our neighbors and friends. 

And we are not ashamed of JESUS CHRIST before our enemies... both visible and invisible.

Help us to STAND for JESUS in the inner man when the fear of the face of man raises its ugly head. 

Help us to STAND for JESUS in the inner man in spite of our aching bodies and hurting hearts.

Help us to STAND for JESUS in the inner man in the face of  adversities... knowing YOU are working in us a far greater maturity in CHRIST.

We thank THEE , O CHRIST, for calling us Thy+ "brethren."  Fit us for this calling, as only YOU+ can do.

For Thy+ Glory we pray this, O LORD, through the Name of JESUS CHRIST, our Risen LORD and SAVIOR.  Amen.

+  +  +

I+ am the resurrection,

and the life:

 he that believeth in ME+,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth

and believeth in ME+

shall never die.

Believest thou this?

Yes, LORD, I+ believe

 that THOU+ art the CHRIST,

the SON+ of GOD,

 WHO+ should come into the world.

+  +  +

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.