Jesus in the Spring

As we look out our windows in North Carolina we see that Spring has arrived. The winter chill is almost gone and flowers are beginning to come out of the ground. I love the daffodils and forsythia with their brilliant yellow color. I anticipate the tulips, azelia, fruit trees, redbud and dogwood trees. Portions of my garden are in and the entire world is coming alive around us.

Tulips in the spring garden at the Biltmore Estate

As I look out my window I think about Jesus and his disciples in the Spring. The month of March is generally near the end of the rainy season. Fields would be at their greenest and many flowers would be blooming. The barley harvest would be anticipated or occurring and farmers would be looking forward to wheat which comes in just after Passover.

Our Passover Haggadah which explains the entire Seder

The Spring festival, Passover is one of the most mentioned holidays in the BIble. Passover is mentioned multiple times in the Gospels and forms the background of many other Old Testament and New Testament passages. The Lord’s Supper was a Passover meal and the early church used these as a pattern for other meals. Jesus is considered the Passover Lamb whose blood was placed on the doorposts.

Sarah at a Doorway in ancient Katzrin, Israel

The only reference we have of Jesus during his childhood was during the Passover. Luke says, “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” (Luke 2:41-42) We know that Joseph sacrificed a lamb and Mary prepared a feast for the family. Other family members or friends probably celebrated Passover with Jesus. These Passovers turned into memorable events.

Our Spring book which shares Passover through the Bible

When Jesus’ parents left Jerusalem at the end of the Passover recorded in Luke 2, Jesus remained behind. Joseph and Mary traveled for a day before they realized Jesus was not with them (the reason can be found in Spring: Connecting WIth God), so they returned to Jerusalem and searched for three days to find their son. They found him “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” This is like the wise son of the taught about in the Passover Haggadah.

A typical street in Jerusalem

John recorded another warm spring night fifteen years later when Jesus once again came to Jerusalem for Passover. John records on that night Nicodemus came to ask Jesus a question. Jesus, looking out into the spring night said, “You must be born again.”

Nicodemus asked, “How can someone be born when they are old?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum

The next year, Jesus’ second year of ministry, he celebrated Passover at the Sea of Galilee because it was too dangerous to go into Jerusalem. People gathered to hear the great teacher, and again there were questions. They asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” and “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?” and other questions. Jesus explained to them he was the bread which came down from heaven. On that Passover, in all four Gospels, it is recorded that Jesus fed 5,000 people.

The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem

The next year, in Jesus’ third year of ministry and on his final night he once again celebrated Passover. It was spring.

Spring is a great time to celebrate the festival of Passover. The book A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition can guide your family or Sunday School class in this celebration. If you would like someone to lead a Christian Passover for you, please contact me.

Speaking to Groups, Bible Studies and Jerusalem Tours

In my last post I began telling how I taught Adult Vacation Bible School at Fairview Baptist Church recently. The lessons were simple, and well known: Zacchaeus (little man up in a tree), Samaritan Woman (came to the well), Nicodemus (came to Jesus at night), Blind Bartimaeus, and Jesus’ rebuff to his disciples “Let the children come to me.”

The Cardio ... Main Street in Jerusalem

One lesson which captured the people’s interest was on Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He was of the wealthy ruling class of the city of Jerusalem. As I began the lesson, I took my class to places I did not know existed until only recently.

Herodian Home from the Wohl Museum

On my last visit to Israel with Chelsea and Sarah we visited the Wohl museum and the Western Wall Tunnel. These tours were a fascinating exploration of the city as known by the Nicodemus of John 3. I shared pictures from the upper city where the High Priest lived. The class also viewed maps of the bridge which connected the upper city to the Temple. Then I showed pictures of our tour under the bridge, then north along the wall of the Temple. We walked on the very streets where Jesus walked, and experienced a part of Jerusalem frozen in time.

Basement level of a Herodian home. The Mikvah is down there.

I showed the class mikvah pools in Jerusalem. These included both ancient pools which had been dug up and modern pools. We learned about the purpose of cleansing, and visited a few of the pools near the Temple. I also showed how the Essenes cleansed themselves. The Essenes were a Jewish group who lived in the desert, south of Jericho and near the Dead Sea. Some think John the Baptist was an Essene.

Qumran, home of the Essenes

I shared differences between Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Zealots. We also looked at the Herodians and the Sanhedrin. I shared pictures, experiences in Israel, and readings from Josephus and the MIshnah. The class began to understand life in Jerusalem in the days of Jesus and the religious groups which vied for power. The evening tour brought Jerusalem to life.

Street Jesus walked on -from Underground Western Wall Tour

Our story the third night of Adult VBS was about Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night. This was not because he was fearful, but because he walked in Spiritual Darkness. He wanted to know how Jesus performed miracles. Jesus said, “you must be born again.” Jesus explained that Nicodemus must be born anew through the Spirit of God. He must come to know the gift which Jesus came to give. “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.” Jesus explained to Nicodemus how God gave His only Son so whoever believes might have eternal life. Jesus explained light which came into the world, and Nicodemus understood. The Bible tells us Nicodemus came into the light.

Robinson Arch and southern approach to Temple Mount

I desire to share the light of the Bible with Christians so they can understand Israel and Jerusalem in the days of Jesus. Perhaps the best way to do this is to take people to the very streets where Jesus walked. I have written about my desire to take a group to Israel in June 2018. Will you go with me?

Jerusalem from the top of the Tower of David Museum

Some cannot travel with me to Israel, so I want to mention a second way to take the trip (not as good, but still very worthwhile). I have put together several presentations to bring Israel to your church. I am available to speak to Senior Adult groups, Sunday school classes, and worship services to share tours of Israel. For more information, please contact me.

Vacation Bible School group at Fairview Baptist Church, Statesville

My presentations include pictorial tours of various areas of Israel as well as bringing the Bible to life for people. I want to help people walk in the shoes of men and women of the Bible so they can better understand the world about which they read.

I also share (visit KosherCopy on Facebook) the Jewish Passover (and other holidays) in order for people to understand the culture of the people of the Bible. And I enjoy taking people on a tour of the Tabernacle built by Moses in the Wilderness. As we tour the Tabernacle, people come to understand what God desires of us in worship and how we can please God.

Heaven

     Have you ever wondered what Heaven will be like? In real life sometimes we can catch glimpses of Heaven through the words of the dying, who see through the valley of the shadow of death, and tell us the things they have seen. A few people have come back from near death experiences and describe the things they have seen. More profound, Jesus tells us about heaven, and shares his credentials as the one who came down from heaven. (John 3:13; 6:38; 8:58)
     Throughout the Bible details are shared of what Heaven will be like. Some of these are simple, and show the real life going on in Heaven (Zech 8:3-6). Other scenes are more lofty and tell of the beauty of heaven (Revelation 21). The Bible says those who believe will go to heaven, while the ones who choose to fight God will suffer punishment.
     I have heard many who describe heaven as a place where we receive our angel wings and spend the day playing harps. But through this statement, people miss the things the Bible teaches about heaven. When we get to heaven and lie down in green pastures, life does not stop. Our life continues. God will show us things we could not understand on earth. We will enjoy great times of worship before the throne of God in heaven. And we will get to hang out with friends, new and old. Life will go on, but life will be much better than what is experienced here on earth.
     When I studied for and wrote chapter 9 of Spring: Connecting with God (Kindle), I found a unique picture of heaven in Psalm 23. I invite you to order and read this book. And through the book, I hope you will see how much God loves us and calls us to enjoy the life He has offered both here and in heaven.

Spring – The Last Supper

     Question: How many Passovers (Kindle) did Jesus celebrate? Answer: He celebrated Passover (Kindle) with family or friends every year! Because Jesus was Jewish, we know the Passover was a significant event for him, his family and his friends.
     The New Testament contains details from four Passovers which Jesus celebrated. Each year the celebration was unique and important in his life and ministry. I have detailed these in more depth in my book Spring: Connecting with God. (Kindle)
     The first recorded Passover celebrated by Jesus occurred when he was twelve. His family went to Jerusalem for this important Harvest Festival. During the time of the preparation for the feast, Jesus’ family left him alone, and he went to the Temple. While in the Temple he began to dialogue with the Sadducees, Pharisees, Sanhedrin members and Priests. The Bible records how his parents left him behind in the city when they went home; from the culture we can understand more details.
     The first Passover of Jesus’ ministry years was celebrated in Jerusalem. The Gospel of John contains eye-witness details of this Passover, including a visit to Nicodemus, teacher of the people of Israel. In this Passover Jesus shared with his disciples how to come out of bondage to sin into the light of God’s love.
     The year before Jesus died, he did something very unusual: He celebrated Passover at home. Every other year (except for the years spent in Egypt) Jesus, his family and his friends traveled to Jerusalem. John 6 contains details of how Jesus celebrated this Passover at the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus raised the Motzah on this Passover, he called himself the bread of life.
     Jesus’ last Passover is called the Last Supper. All four gospels tell about this Passover Seder. Matthew, Mark and Luke briefly skim over this dinner. (Luke’s Gospel contains some unique details). John’s gospel goes into detail as he describes the actions and teachings which occurred in the upper room.
     When we understand the Passover we understand more about Jesus, his culture and the teachings he was trying to share. In the Christian world today, it is sad that we too often rush through the cup and bread without understanding the great lessons of Passover; and in these great lessons the things Jesus was really telling us.