The Prophecy

Unless the Lord builds the house,
.     the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
.     the guards stand watch in vain.  - Psalm 127:1
Christmas is an amazing fulfillment of prophecy.

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Long ago God told the world that He would send the Messiah to redeem people and bring joy into their lives. Isaiah wrote:

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. …
For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. - Isaiah 9:1-7

The Western Wall at Night

Jesus said of his own ministry (quoting from the book of Isaiah),
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
.   because he has anointed me
.   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
.   and recovery of sight for the blind,
.   to set the oppressed free,
.   to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (61:1,2)

Sheep in Israel

Many of the prophets these are very specific like the child would be born in Bethlehem.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
. though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
. one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
. from ancient times. …
He will stand and shepherd his flock
. in the strength of the Lord,
. in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
. will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace - Micah 5:2-5

Camels on their way to Bethlehem

God predicted the Magi would come:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
. and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
. and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
. and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
. and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
. to you the riches of the nations will come.
Herds of camels will cover your land,
. young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
. bearing gold and incense
. and proclaiming the praise of the Lord. - Isaiah 60:1-6

A Star in Bethlehem

It was said they would follow the star:
“I see him, but not now;
. I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
. a scepter will rise out of Israel.” - Numbers 24:17

Flowers in Israel

Other prophecies are telling because God is going to bring salvation.
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
. from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
. the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
. the Spirit of counsel and of might,
. the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
. or decide by what he hears with his ears;
But with righteousness he will judge the needy,
. with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. - Isaiah 11:1-4

Western Wall in 1900 - Picture

The story of Jesus is a story freedom because God wants to save you from whatever it is in your life in your world that's holding you back. When a person truly seeks to follow God, that person begins to accomplishing the things for which God created each unique individual.
“For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
. the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
. and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
. for precious is their blood in his sight.” - Psalm 72:12-14

Joy in Safat

Do you truly know what Christmas is?? The season is about more than gifts. It is about more than lights. It is far more than today’s traditional parties. It is about love, but not just the love of humans, the love of God that changes the heart, drawing joy from where there was once depression and placing peace in the lives of the confused.
.     “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” - John 3:16-17

The Donkey Jesus Rode

A story is told of a donkey born long ago in the province of Galilee. He was born on a farm with much rocky soil. One night a neighbor who had been ordered to travel several days distance in order to pay his taxes came to this farm. He wished to take his wife, who was near delivery of her child and would find it hard to walk, with him on this journey. The poor farmer lent the donkey to Joseph and his wife Mary for their well-known journey to Bethlehem.

The Donkey Farmer from our production of
The Case of the Missing Body

Soon after this journey to Bethlehem, the donkey carried the baby and his mother on another journey to a foreign land to escape the anger of Judea’s cruel king. This child, more than any other, was special to the donkey, who following this time would live a hard life.

The Donkey watched as Jesus was born

The donkey was sold to a caravan, and for years carried loads on journeys to far away places. When her feet gave out and she could not travel as far, she was sold to a farmer near a town she remembered as the birthplace of that special child. The donkey worked for the farmer plowing his fields and carrying his loads to the market … even to the market in the populous city of Jerusalem.

A Donkey Caravan in the Desert

One day in the market with a foal of her own, the donkey heard a voice, and remembered the baby she had met so long ago. She was led to this person, now a man who stooped and petted her mane. He said, “Never fear, little donkey, you have helped me once and you will help me again as we travel this road like a king.”

The Jerusalem Marketplace from our Drama

The road they traveled led to the city gates, where a crowd had gathered to sing praise to God. Palm branches and cloth cushioned the feet of the donkey, who thought her heart would burst with joy.

An old photo of the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem

A week went by, and the farmer’s work was done. He packed his boxes and a remaining load on the back of this donkey that had been so loyal and true. As they left the town, a sinister crowd formed and grew in number. They were jeering and hissing at three criminals, all bearing their own crosses on which they would be crucified for their crimes against God and man, so the world would be a better place to live.

Roman Soldiers at the Cross

But one of the three did not fit the scene. His face was serene and pure. The donkey knew the man because of His purity. This was the baby she had carried into Egypt. And this was the man whom but a week before had ridden this donkey into Jerusalem amid a joyful crowd. But this day was so dark. The donkey knew she couldn’t help him on this day, for his load was to be borne alone. But a shadow fell on the back of the donkey that day; the shadow of the cross which this man carried. And the shadow stuck and will be seen today on all donkeys you see (and those you don’t) – to remember the life of this well-known man who carried the greatest load of all time.

The Audience meets Jesus in
The Case of the Missing body

The man with the cross is Jesus Christ, who came to forgive all our sins. He bore the load for all who accept and receive Him as Savior and Lord.

The Case of the Missing Body is a great read for Easter

This story is an excerpt from the book The Case of the Missing Body: A Walk-Thru Drama for Easter. The book contains an Easter drama, and much more. There is Biblical information about each person in the scenes of this play (including the Donkey) and there are stories to help the cast get into character (like the one in this blog). Well worth the one dollar cost on Amazon.com

These books are available at Amazon.com

I have produced several other books with stories from Bible times including Israel: Stories for Your Journey (more than 250 stories written to help tourists understand Israel, but interesting reading for anyone); Spring: Connecting With God (a book about how Passover has been celebrated through the years. The chapter on Jesus contains stories from four of the Passovers he observed as written about in the Gospels); A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition (a home Passover observance with a full explanation of each part and leader instructions); Advent Journeys (What Joseph, Zacharias, the Shepherds, the Magi and the Maccabees would have blogged during their journeys to Bethlehem and beyond). If you enjoy stories you can read these books on Amazon Prime for free or purchase them on Kindle or in print.

Preparation for a Church Passover

Passover is a festival that is mentioned throughout the entire Bible, yet most churches only keep the Lord's Supper as the remnant of this incredibly rich holiday. Most Christians have never seen a Passover demonstration, which adds to the knowledge of the Bible and Lord's Supper, adding depth to the faith. Far fewer Christians have experienced an actual Passover dinner. These facts show a huge void in a complete understanding of both the Old Testament Passover Seder and the New Testament celebration called the Lord’s Supper.

Communion is a regular part of church worship

The Passover is an enduring event. People have gathered around the dinner table for over 3.500 years. This one event has been credited with building a stronger Judaism and in some cases, keeping the faith alive. I have written a guide to help churches organize Passover Seders entitled A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition

This book shares leader instructions and insights to Passover

Churches should attempt at least once every 3-4 years to hold a Passover event. Such an event  helps people better understand the Old Testament and the background of the Communion. A church supper held around the dinner table in order to teach faith could also provide a great model for Christian homes.

A special speaker at a church supper celebrating Passover

The Passover celebration could be shared as a presentation in worship service (least memorable), a reenactment with communion and other elements in a worship service (more participatory), or a meal where people tell the story and eat together (most memorable and participatory). The meal can be held as a whole church event, or in larger churches the supper could be held by individual or combined small groups. When people sit down together as families around the Passover meal they create memories, build a stronger understanding of the Bible, and grow closer in their relationships with God.

Reenacting Jesus' last Passover including Communion

The first step in holding a Passover event is to place it on the calendar. The second step is to decide what kind of event it will be: worship only, reenactment, or dinner. The third step is to designate a leader for the event. Will the Pastor or a Church member lead the Seder, or will the church invite an outside speaker?

Children should be part of a Church Passover event

At this point, the church needs to decide who will come to the Passover Seder. Will only church members be invited to attend (not recommended), or will the event be opened to the larger community? I encourage people to hold an open event, and encourage regular church attenders to invite guests to the special supper. It should be publicized in the church for at least five weeks. Publicity should include bulletin, newsletter, small group announcements, postcards, e-mails (both surface mail and electronic media are important), facebook, twitter, instagram, and phone calls. People should be invited to share with others through social media. A public service article should also be placed in newspapers and radio stations in the area. Let the world know about this special event. Jesus said to “Go into all the world,” and a special event like Passover is one way churches can obey this commandment.

A menu needs to be set for the meal. The meal could be covered dish (no leavened bread), cooked at the church or catered. If the dinner is held by a small group the dinner could be held in a home or a private room in a restaurant. The meal should be well planned as this is similar to a Thanksgiving event with quality and quantity planned for the evening. China plates, cloth napkins and real silver are not inappropriate.

Special foods of the Passover

Special foods are needed for the supper. These include wine (grape juice), bitter herbs (horseradish), Charoset (an apple and nuts mixture or applesauce with cinnamon), greens (parsley), salt water, Matzoh (unleavened bread), the shankbone of a lamb and an egg (or eggs). A good Passover Haggadah such as A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition contain instructions for setting up the table. An instruction page I share with churches is shown below.

Instructions for setting up for a Church Passover

The room should be set up with two places in view of each person. One place is for the leader, the second place is for “Elijah” who will “make a visit” as described in the Passover Haggadah. Places should be set up for each person expected for the meal. At each place include a spoon, napkin, a small cup with wine, and small plate with Horseradish, apple mixture, and greens (these can also be made available for each place or served from the head table according to size of the group). Salt water should be available to each person for dipping.  A plan should be made to refill the wine cups and for each person to be able to wash their hands at least twice during the service.

Creativity and beauty in Communion and Passover

It is good to involve people in the Passover Seder presentation or dinner. People participate in meals by eating. As a preliminary to the meal, and part of the worship service, people taste different foods as meanings are explained.

Books to help lead a Church Passover

In Jewish services people are encouraged to participate through responsive readings. I have included responsive readings on my 99¢  participant books available on Kindle (these books do not contain all the leader material). I always have people read the Hallel Psalms responsively. I also include people by assigning individuals to read parts of the four questions and four sons. In two of my presentations on the Passover story, participants are assigned parts and props so the story does not seem so long. All the parts and props must be assembled in preparation before the meal.

Sample Passover Bulletin (inside portion)

When I lead a Passover Seder in a church, I send a personalized program for churches to duplicate. The bulletin includes sections of responsive readings and also information which participants would want to know about the Passover. When I began leading Seders, I made booklets for each individual. I have since found that a legal sized piece of paper printed on both sides is adequate for what most people need. (If you would like me to lead a Passover Seder at your church, please contact me).

Descending the Precipice - Picture at heading

Our first trip to Israel in 2012 was a learning experience.  The land was not what we expected.  We expected a land which was similar to where we live: tree covered woodlands with rolling hills, rivers and streams, and in places green farmland.  The land was much more arid, similar to Wyoming where I lived for four years, with few trees and few rivers.

We traveled to Israel with Biblical Israel Tours led by John Delancey and Shlomo-Ben Asher who did a great job of orienting us to the land and sharing the Biblical stories connected with each place we visited.  And we visited a lot of places.

On our first trip we drove from Mt. Carmel to Megiddo, across the Jezreel Valley and up into the Galilean highlands to visit Nazareth.  We drove through the edge of the modern city of Nazareth to an overlook known as the precipice.  From this overlook we could see the locations we had visited earlier plus Mt. Tabor, Mt. Moreh, and Mt. Gilboa.  We could see recently harvested wheat and barley fields.  We could almost see from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River.

The precipice is the place Bible teachers believe Synagogue leaders took Jesus after he read from the scroll of Isaiah and announced he was the Messiah.  The leaders and people became furious and “took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.” (Luke 4:16-30)  Because it was not the time for Jesus to die, he was able to walk through and away from the crowd.

From the top of the hill we were able to look down into the bowl where modern day, and ancient Nazareth sat.  We saw the Church of the Nativity, which is over the place where Jesus lived.  We were told how Jesus probably came out to this cliff and played with his friends.  We were given a sense of what life must have been like when Jesus was alive.

On a second trip in 2014, we saw the site of Sipporis, where Joseph probably worked as a carpenter.  We saw the beautiful mosaic floors and the ruins of this once great city.

The point is Jesus was from a common every-day family, and when the census notice was delivered, Joseph had to travel as most people did in his day: on foot.  The first part of the trip would be difficult as Joseph and his pregnant wife descended from their highlands home into the valley below.  I talk about this trip in my book Advent Journeys.

The Real Topic "Connecting with God" (A Great Study!)

     Many years ago, while I was still in Seminary, I was asked to help put together a Passover Hagaddah for the Messianic Jewish Community in Louisville, KY. Across the years I have enjoyed sharing the Passover, and recently I have put this Seder into print: A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition. And in the process of producing this Hagaddah, God did something wonderful.
     As I tried to put the Hagaddah into presentable form, God spoke to me. This occurred while I was on a trip to see my father. As I drove, the Lord brought ideas and chapters to my mind which I had studied in the past. These realizations came from the time I assembled the first Passover Hagaddah for our group in Louisville.
     In my book Spring: Connecting with God I follow the development of the Seder, from the Garden of Eden (when Adam used to walk with God in the cool of the day); to the Communion of Abram and Melchezedek (Genesis 14:18); to the instructions of the first Passover in Exodus 12 (and its observance in Exodus 13); all the way to it’s history during time of the Kings of Judea. I teach on how the Passover has ties to the Peace offering of Leviticus 3-4 (and 7). I also examine four Passover Seders observed by Jesus in the New Testament (at 12 years of age, and each year of his ministry). I show how the agape feast of the early church is tied to the Passover, and how we will enjoy fellowship meals in heaven.
     I thought I wrote a good book, until God showed me something else. I was asked to share an outline of Spring: Connecting with God in a local Senior Adult group, and put the outline into presentation format. As I shared, I realized the book is more about our relationship with God than it is about the Passover.
     Spring: Connecting with God shows how our love for God goes from passionate to cool; and from churchy to forgotten. The book is a call for us to fan to flame the love which is in our hearts for God, and shows us how to avoid the things which cool us off. I would encourage people to take the book, and use it as a 10 week study (but then as the author I am biased). But I know study groups could be enriched through this study.

Whispers

A Whisper
Coming softly to my ears
Murmuring something
That I cannot understand
Unless I listen
With my whole being

What is it saying?
I wonder
Is it telling me
Something important
That will change
My entire life ...

(Poem © Chelsea Simon) ...
It’s completion & more poems can be found in the book.

Amidah 15 – Prayer for the Messianic King

Speedily cause the offspring of your servant David to flourish, and let him be exalted by your saving power, for we wait all day long for your salvation. Blessed are you, O Lord, who causes salvation to flourish.

In Fiddler on the Roof Motel says to the Rabbi: “we've been waiting all our lives for the Messiah. Wouldn't now be a good time for Him to come?”

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

Maimonides says: “Whoever does not believe in him (Messiah), or does not await his coming, denies not only the other prophets but also the Torah and Moses, our teacher, for the Torah attests to his coming.”

The Scripture is filled with verses which tell us who to look for as we long for the Messiah. They speak of His lineage (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:19; 28:13-14; 49:10; Isaiah 11:1; 2 Samuel 17:11-16) The Messiah will be from the house and lineage of King David.

He will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); at a specific time (Daniel 9:24-27). His birth will attract shepherds and kings (Nu 24:17; Ps 72:10-13; Isaiah 60:1-7). Herod would try to kill him (Jer 31:5) and his family would go to Egypt (Hos 11:1).

He will be preceded by Elijah the Prophet (Isa 40:3-5; Mal 4:5). He will be anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isa 61:1-2). He will be a man of peace (Isa 42:1-6) and righteousness (Isa 11:4). He will come as a prophet (Deut 18:18). He will bring a New Covenant (Isa 42:6-7; Jer 31:31).

He will begin his ministry in Galilee (Isa 9:1-2). He will cure the sick (Is 35:1-6), still the storms (Ps 107:29-30); teach in parables (Ps 78:1-2). When he comes to Jerusalem, he will ride a donkey (Zech 9:9) and cleanse the Temple (Hag 2:6-9; Mal 3:1-4).

He will be betrayed by a friend (Ps 41:9; 55:11-14) for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-13). He will be taken to the rulers who will falsely accuse him and die for the sins of the people (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22; Zech 12:10; Ps 34:19-20). He is the offering that will save our lives (Ex 12:6; Ge 22; Lev 16). He will be buried with the rich (Isa 53:9), but will not stay in the grave (Ps 16:9-10; 49:14; 71:19-20). He will ascend to heaven (Ps 68:18), and come again.

At Christmas we sing, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.” Paul wrote: “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Eph 3:7-12)