HE+ Shall PURIFY the Sons of LEVI

REMEMBER:

You are dust, and to dust you shall return.

REPENT,

and believe the GOSPEL+. 

+  +  +

Most HOLY and Most Merciful ABBA... 

We confess to THEE and to one another and to the whole communion of saints in Heaven and on earth and before Your Heavenly Host... 

that we have sinned

by our own fault

in thought, word, and deed; 

by what we have DONE

and by what we have

LEFT UN-DONE. 

 As it is written:

Thou shalt love The LORD thy GOD, The ELOHIM, with ALL thy heart, with ALL of thy soul, with ALL of thy mind, and with ALL  thy strength.  

This is the first and great commandment.

So now, we confess to THEE, O LORD:

We have not loved THEE with our whole heart... 

NO RATHER,

we have set our hearts on other things, other persons, other loyalties. We are divided in our loyalty to THEE; only a "part" do we give to THEE, alas. 


Yes, we love THEE and Thy Holy SON+ JESUS,  ... but we have mingled our love of THEE with strange things that are NOT of THEE+.  We have placed strange fire upon Thy Altar, the altar of our hearts. 

Cleanse our hearts, O HOLY ONE+ of Israel, by the in-breathing of Thy Precious HOLY SPIRIT.  Help us to separate ourselves unto THEE+ during this season of the Preparation for the GREAT PASCHA, the Great Passover. 

O HOLY FATHER, HOLY ABBA... we ask Thy help to find all the leaven in our house, in our temple, that we may make an offering to you in Righteousness ... after we remove those hateful things from our midst.   

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.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 -20

 +  +  +

 Create in me a clean heart, 

O GOD and renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away 

from Thy+ Presence; 

and take not Thy HOLY SPIRIT

from me. 

Restore unto me 

the joy of Thy+ SALVATION; 

and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

Psalm 51

+  +  + 

Ashes to ashes,
 Dust to Dust
in sure and certain hope 
of the Resurrection
unto Eternal Life,  
through JESUS CHRIST 
OUR LORD. 
+  +  +

Amen, and thankfully so !

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.  

ARE YOU EMPTY ? --- Passover Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart ... THE SEED

Are You EMPTY ?

We Try to Fill the Emptiness of our lives with everything... Except JESUS

We work.

We go to school.

We marry and raise children.

We pursue careers and advancements.

We buy. We sell.

Sometimes we buy a BIGGER house, lots of rooms to renovate into the current styles and LOTS of yard to manicure.

We rent, too, and thus we re-locate a lot.

Then again, we sometimes move to a little apartment in order NOT to manicure our living quarters and expansive, growing yard.  We avoid  “that kind” of busy-ness.

What does any of it accomplish?

Other than basic --- and I do mean BASIC --- necessities for our health and care of those we are responsible for, what does this constant involvement in this temporal world accomplish for our souls  ?

Nothing ?

Wrong.

WORSE than nothing.

We stay busy and concerned with all manner of temporal matters which touch our lives and of which ( we think ) we have control ( i.e., as many options as our money will buy or our lender will allow.)

Then we are in debt.

What has been accomplished ?

Nothing.

Actually , worse than nothing.

After the last room has been renovated, the last bloom planted, fed, and trimmed back, and the last loan has been paid off... we are still empty, devoid of REAL Life in the inner man. … emptier than ever before !

Our lives, unfortunately, have become emptier and emptier of REAL life. Things of this world DRAIN us of that real life.

Why is this so ?

Inanimate objects simply have NO life in them. The more we pursue them, the emptier we become.

Man's life DOES NOT consist in the abundance of things he possesses, or THINKS he possesses, or Things that POSSESS him.

More significantly, they HINDER us from accessing true Life. They clutter and impede our pursuit of REAL Life.

Life, as we see it, is not tangible. It cannot be touched. It consists of "something" NOT visible or touchable... like love. 

Love is not something that can be seen with the eye, touched with the hand, or bought with money. If demanded or grasped, Love eludes the Demander and Grasper.

Life --- REAL Life in the inner man --- is like that too. It cannot be BOUGHT with money. One cannot "demand" Life nor greedily grasp it at will. 

The effects of having REAL life bear witness to it, but truthfully, LIFE which operates in the inner man cannot be seen with the eye nor touched with the hand.

REAL Life comes from JESUS the LORD.  There is no substitute for the Life HE+ brings in the inner man.

HE+ changes us from being a dead soul into a living spirit when we share His+ death.

Yes, share His+ death.

We will never have a garden if the seeds remain huddled together in a dry packet.

Each and every seed requires moisture before it will sprout.  Either in soil or in a sprouting jar, the seeds need moisture. 

They absorb the moisture even through their hard hulls or coats and swell INTERNALLY. 

Then they send a shoot, a sprout, through that hull.  If in soil, the sprouts will continue on to grow into little plants and the hulls will fall away and dissolve into the ground, their job being completed.

Now... what if the hulls REFUSED to function as all hulls are supposed to do... and instead, harden themselves as best they could ? 

What if they secretly AVOID coming in contact with any moisture ( sigh --- What a job! ) ?

What if they gather about them all manner of rocks and stones and bits of plastic, trying to prevent their demise?

We laugh…

knowing seed coats never function like that. They do not function like that because their Creator  DID NOT GIVE THEM A CHOICE.

But, we humans DO function like that because GOD did indeed give us a choice at our creation.

We dig in our heels and steadfastly avoid anything that might water the Word+ of GOD which we inadvertently have heard.

If our consciences DO rise up and bother us, we drown those well-meaning voices out in busy-ness over our concerns of the day. 

We gather pieces of rock and stone and bits of plastic all around us to prevent our demise, refusing to look at Truth.

The Truth, that is,

that all flesh will die.

This TRUTH has been screaming at us since we realized that our puppies and kittens and goldfish are not breathing or moving about any more.  They cannot communicate with us in any way. They are dead and will have to be buried else they stink.

But now, as adults, we pretend that by hardening our hulls, by gathering stones and bits of plastic about us, that our outer man will not perish like all flesh.

JESUS told us differently. HE+ said it in many ways. 

HE+ said,

I+, 

I+ AM the Way,

the Truth,

and The Life.

No man comes to The FATHER

except through ME+.

HE+ was not bragging.

HE+ was simply stating a fact of life ... a very IMPORTANT FACT.  And if we will accept it, THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT of both Life and Death found in the Universe !

JESUS is the Way.  HE+ is the Way to live in this temporal world so that we avoid filling our lives with EMPTINESS.

JESUS is the TRUTH. HE+ Who+ never lost His+ integrity in sin tells us how to come to The FATHER for REAL Life.

JESUS is the LIFE.  HE+ died so that we might live.  We die to Self and live unto JESUS CHRIST in order to be given REAL Life ... both here and beyond the grave.

What shall we choose ?

To die to Self and have REAL Life with JESUS ? 

--- Or ---

To cling madly onto "our" little world

inside the hull ... which will be taken from us

at the appointed time.

You see, the seeds can NOT keep their hulls intact once moisture touches them in a jar or in the ground. 

Likewise, we can NOT keep our hulls intact, our outer coats pristine, once we are placed in the ground. They dissolve, just like the seed-coats.

Nor can we keep them once the Water of the Word+ affects them. 

We either sprout, are planted,

and grow, bearing fruit,

as our Old Hull falls away

 --- OR ---  

we ROT and DIE in our SINS.

JESUS said,

I+  

I+ AM

 the WAY,

 the TRUTH,

and the LIFE;

no man comes to The FATHER

except through ME.+

 

Are you EMPTY ?

Then YIELD your Life to JESUS, die out to Self, and you will bear fruit in HIM+. 

EMPTY ?

You won’t be empty… 

IF  you are bearing Fruit.

+  +  +