Thursday, April 4, 2013

In Matthew 26:12, it was the scene of the last Supper, and Jesus said, " ...I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

The cultural etiquette was that you were to keep your napkin folded if you were going to return, to finish.  But, more on that later.

Before the high priest, Jesus said, " ...Hereafter shall you see the son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds."  The high priest rent his clothes.

Jesus was sent back and forth from Pilate, to Herod, and back to Pilate again.  They stripped Jesus of His clothes, and put a scarlet robe upon Him ...and a crown of thorns upon His head, mocking Him.

They took the robe away, and put His own clothes back on Him.  Pilate washed his hands ...as he communicated that he was done with it.

They led Him away to be crucified, and along the way there were a great company of people.  Jesus turned to them, and in Luke 23: 28-30, said, " ...weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children ...for behold the day are coming in which they shall say, Blessed  are the barren, and the womb that never bare ...they shall say to the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills, cover us."  That is what Jesus says they will say, not as the ways things should be ...but as they will be.  I think of today, how we have made wombs ...tombs for the dead.  Do we think we are near End Times?

They parted His garments, casting lots.  John 19:23, says, " ...and also His coat ...without seam woven from the top throughout."

They crucified Him ...and He died.  Matthew 27:51, states, " ...the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom ..."

John 19:30, says, "It is finished!"  Yes, it was, and is ...but, He wasn't, and isn't.

Joseph of Arimathaea got permission from Pilate for the body of Jesus, and wrapped Him in clean linen and laid Him in a tomb.

Chapter 20, of John, tells of Mary Magdalene visiting the sepulchre  ...or tomb, and seeing the stone rolled away.  She runs to tell of it, and Peter goes too, noticing, "And the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself."  I don't know if Mary folded them, if Jesus did, or if an angel folded or neatly placed the clothes.  But, as I mentioned earlier, it was customary to keep the napkin folded if one is not finished having communion with those you are with.

Mary Magdalene remained weeping as the others left.  Jesus then, made His first appearance after His resurrection, as John 20:17, says, "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 to My God, and your God."

There were those who doubted what Mary told them.  What did they do?  They went back to doing what they had done before they had met Jesus for the first time ...they went back fishing.

But, He appeared to them ...at a distance, and asked them to cast their nets.  And they were filled.  

And later they were also filled with the Holy Spirit.  Thomas, doubting, was also invited to touch His wounds ...and to believe.  Luke 24:42-43, says, Jesus took a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb, and ate it, communing with them.  Matthew 27:52-53, continues on to say, " ...and graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints came out of their graves after His resurrection, and went  into the holy city, and appeared unto many."  And I can imagine that they would immediately believe also.

Acts 1:8, says, " ...the Holy Spirit is come unto you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."  And when He had spoken these words, they beheld He was taken up in a cloud out of their sight.


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