Dave Norris and his writings on the Belgian Bible Students

With articles like “The Watchtower Belgian Biblestudents“, “Belgian Biblestudent Deception- 1″, “Belgian Biblestudent Deception- 2″, “Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 3” the blogger Dave Norris who likes us to call “kindergartner” “toddler” or sometimes “spiritual kindergarteners”, he presents a lot of nonsense about our community, clearly showing he does not know much about us nor similar groups, but even worse, does not seem to have a clue about the Bible Student movement and the history of such religious groups as the Bible Students, Christadelphians, Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) and many other non-Trinitarian groups.

On the blog “The Bible & Exposing Cult Error Darkness Into Light” he wants his readers to believe he exposes errors of others but in fact does nothing more than presenting his own errors, ignorance or lack of knowledge.

We do notice we are not the only target or are not spitting the only purpose of his gal. He seems so frustrated in his faith and religion he loves to write a lot about other religious groups instead spending more time to proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God or to give more information about his own faith group or church.

He calls us a “Spirit of deception” but clearly he throws so much untruth on the net we can not resist in the end to react to it and to let others know some of the incredible untruths that he proclaims as our doctrine. It is therefore very important that we expose these gross lies and clarify our positions. It is because of several of his writings and attacks on us and other their attacks we started in the end to present a new website for unmasking people like him: Please find and look at the new site Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people.

The man, who presents himself as a bully in his mails to us, writes on the internet:

The Watchtower Belgian Bible student movement did precede the actual formation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Charles T Russell was their leader. {The Watchtower Belgian Biblestudents}

Charles Taze Russell may have been a pupil of John Thomas, the founder of the Brothers in Christ or Christadelphians, but for sure has never been our founder nor our leader.

Ch. T. Russell may be called the founder of the American Bible Students and of the International Bible Students, but is neither the founder of the Free Bible Students (who discarded many of the teachings of the American Bible Student founder Charles Taze Russell) nor from Belgian Bible Students nor the founder of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Russell never was a Jehovah’s Witness, like Mr. or the adolescent Norris wants his readers to believe. In case Mr. Russell would present himself to become a Jehovah’s Witness he would even not be accepted by that organisation.

An other fault which Mr. Norris does is to say we are associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society which is at all not so. We do have no association with that publication institute nor with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Organisation be it of Brooklyn, New York, Pennsylvania or of Canada or even of any other states like Australia, nor with the JW Organisation. For clarity the Belgian Bible Students have nothing to do with the Jehovah’s Witness nor with any of their other organisations or missions.

It is not because we do believe in the same One True God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, that we would belong to one and the same Church.

We too may come from hundreds of ethnic and language backgrounds, and may, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have the same goal to praise and honour Jehovah God being united by common goals. The same as those lovers of God, we too want to do our best to imitate Jesus Christ and are proud to be called Christians. As followers of Christ Jesus we take his command to go out in the world as a serious matter and like the JW we too witness for Jehovah, each of us regularly spending time helping people learn about the Bible and God’s Kingdom. Because we witness, or talk, about Jehovah God and his Kingdom, some may confuse us with those other people who have the same goal as us and are known as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Opposite claims by Mr. Norris, we have very clearly presented our history to him, which can be found more extensively on the net. As such we find again a gross misrepresentation of the facts, him writing on the net:

I wish the Belgian Biblestudents would be honest with me about their history as they have not been.

I do admit that they were right about Charles Russell not beginning Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was a false prophet nevertheless and they can’t get around that. Woe to the foolish Prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.{The Watchtower Belgian Biblestudents}

Though after this writing he continues

Biblestudents are a deceptive group under their leader Charles T Russell who is the founder of the Watchtower and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The group Christadelphians have a lot to do with this movement. Imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived. They are presently deceivers because they were being deceived by Charles Russell whom they hold up as their leader. {Belgian Biblestudent Deception- 1}

and repeats

They claim to follow the Bible but they deny the Triune Godhead. As I said in another report before Russell founded Bible students he began the Watchtower with the basic Jehovah’s Witnesses Doctrine in force. {Belgian Biblestudent Deception- 1}

Who is the deceiving person or spirit in this case?

He then presents a whole of prophesies we supposedly would have believed or followed, which is totally untrue and we even do not get any idea where he gets it form we would have hold fast on such prophesies when we ourselves always clearly say it is no man given, even not Christ Jesus, to know when the end times are coming, though we agree we can see the signs, we can never say an exact date. We, like nobody, according to us, can ever give a correct date on it.

We want our readers to know we do have nothing to do with prophesies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses nor ever would have believed in such a date setting.

Prophecies which may have been made by the JW but never by the Belgian Biblestudents (like Dave Norris and some other bloggers on the net want their readers to believe).

Mr. Norris also wants his readers to believe in high and low that we

are almost like the New Apostolic Reformation with a prophecy accuracy rate of 20%. {Belgian Biblestudent Deception- 2}

and asks his readers to examine for themselves, but giving a photograph of a Watchtower which is even not the Zion’s Watchtower of the American Bible Students nor our old magazine Zion’s Wachttoren (19th and 20th century publications) and not at all a magazine of our community, but a publication by the WTBTS.

Though Mr. Norris in his previous writing said he understood Russell was not the founder of the JW he again presents him as a prophet for the JW and worse of all also for us, which is against our teachings, we only are recognising such prophets as those declared by the Word of God, namely Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadia, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaiah, Haggai, Zecharia, Malachi and Jesus, considering many others as false prophets.

Mr. Norris also wirtes

Biblestudents don’t believe in the hell that Jesus talked about and yet they say they follow Jesus. {Belgian Biblestudent Deception- 2}

which is again a lie, we believing in sheol or hell, like Jesus was for three days in hell and also talked about hell.

Continuously that blog writer from the so called exposing Christian error site wants to associate us with the JW and again giving wrong dates concerning our history.

In 1879 he began the perversion of Jehovah’s Witnesses but under a different name. The Biblestudents didn’t start until 1876 and they themselves told me that when they said Russell was their founder. His organization wasn’t yet called Jehovah’s Witnesses but the obvious poisonous theology was in place. {Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 3}

A painting depicting the conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium. – Episode of the Belgian Revolution of 1830, Gustaf Wappers (1834), (Museum of Fine Art, Brussels)

After the Battle of Waterloo (1815) several Students of the Bible living in the region of France its Low Countries got a more nationalistic feeling and when the Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons had meetings in Rheims or Paris they wanted to make it clear they came from the Gallic (Gaul) or Belgica or Côtes Lorraines region or the plain of Flanders, and the Kempenland (French: Campine) and did not consider themselves any more to be part of the Nord–Pas-de-Calais or le Nord (North of France) region with Cambrai where also several Bible Students had found their home in a very hostile area for non-Trinitarians and/or Protestants. After the States-General in Brussels voted in favour of secession and declared independence the small state Belgium was formed and with it also the “Belgian Bible Students”, which at that time, may have had most of it members in the Famenne, Sambre, La Louvière, Borinage and Hainaut region, long before Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), or Pastor Russell, the American Christian restorationist minister from Pittsburgh, was born. It were such sincere students of the Bible who made it possible to get one of the first major Bibles in the French language circulating in the region and had one which was printed in Mons. There in Mons can still be found a copy of the first Gutenberg Bible (1455) which was used as a base (unfortunately incomplete). It was Canon Edmon Puissant (1860-1934) who came into possession of this copy in 1926.

 

D Norris telling a lot of nonsense in several articles on what he calls on Belgian Biblestudies, though our community is called Belgian Bible-students and has nothing to do with Ch.T. Russell as so called founder and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Though we do agree Ch.T. Russell’s writings circulated and still circulate amongst us and got several of his and other brethren their English writings translated in French, Swiss German and Dutch by our community. In the early 20th century Russell even came to visit our community.

Next he presents an article on Armstrong false prophecy as a ‘Next’ article containing false prophecies of Herbert W Armstrong marking him as a false prophet, as if we would also follow this man.  This article is followed by “Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 4” were he keeps dragging on with prophecies of some one we do not have as our leader, what he keeps others to believe. And than he asks

Here are two more of Charles Russell’s false prophecies. What amazes me is how Belgian Bible students can justify this? {Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 4} {find our reaction if he publishes it}

And he keeps disbelieving that Russell was not our founder, as if we, as community would not know our own history and he knowing it much better than serious history writers or serious encyclopaedia.

But the Belgian Biblestudents still speak very highly of their founder Charles Russell despite all his false prophecies. Examine also the references for the false prophecies. They’re in the very same Bible studies that the Belgian group supports. Are they as blind as their founder was? I will have more in part 5. {Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 4}

Nowhere shall you find prophecies made by Russell or any other person which we would say you have to believe. We also do not know where he gets it from that we would hold Charles Russel‘s “Studies in the Scriptures” in such high regard. (Perhaps he assues that because we also took care for a translation and distribution of this work in our regions.) {Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 5} {we asked him also} Again he wants to do that Russell is the founder of our community and writes

the founder of this group as this book is full of lies and false prophecies. Worse still the Belgian Biblestudies group backs thiss book to the hilt. They know what’s in here and they believe it. {Belgian Biblestudies Deception- 5}

Dave Norris his continual misleading of the internet-public with attacking plus false sayings and making false connections in several of his articles, a.o. in his series Belgian Biblestudies Deception – {picture fragment from Belgian Biblestudies Deception – 6}

After a reaction we made on 2018 August 10 19.35 pm about having our name right we noticed he suddenly changed the title of his series.

In Belgian Biblestudents Deception- 7 Mr. Norris keeps telling untruths, now saying JF Rutherford otherwise known as Judge Rutherford

took over when Russell died as head of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. {Belgian Biblestudents Deception- 7}

Judge Rutherford being jailed for sedition against the Armed Forces is considered by Mr. Dave Norris a sign of him and Non-Trinitarian pacifists to be losers

Mr. Dave Norris in his series Belgian Biblestudents Deception- 8 all the time bringing in matters of prophesies in which we do not believe but which he wants to have his readers come to believe they are part of our teachings (which they are not at all)

Also when looking at the lies he writes about other denominations one an wonder what Mr. Norris his agenda really is?!? Problem would be in case many of his readers would consider his writings as bringing the truth about us and those other denominations.

Clearly he twists the truth and does as if we changed our teachings, but again uses material from an other  denomination to have it look as if it is ours.

Mr Norris looking at the New World Edition of the Bible which Jehovah’s Witnesses cherish, presenting it in his article Belgian Biblestudents Deception- 8 as if it is ours + asking to look at the changes

Mr. Norris also wants to give the impression when people read certain books, they are taken by those books and agree with everything what is in those books. He might perhaps follow everybody whose books he reads and may be limited in his amount of reading books and papers, only concentrating on what he agrees with. His knowledge about us and other groups he tries to pull down, shows clearly enough he did not do enough research and did not read enough about those groups, their leaders and teachers, often having no clue at all about their teachings, the same as with us. Or, in case he knows what our and their teachings are and what the background is of those groups he writes about, then it is clear he wants to spread fake news (therewith wanting to be popular in these times of someone speaking all the time of fake news) or does not mind to bring all sorts of inaccuracies to bring damage to those societies or communities.

Belgian Biblestudents Deception- 8 by D Norris on Exposing Christian error -about JW + Cd + false prophecies ~~~ Russell never made his own Bible or Scripture or never made our Holy Scriptures, like Norris wants his readers to believe.

Mr. Norris has also clearly a different view of what a cult is than what the state or a court would consider a cult or a sect. We can assure all his and our readers they do not have to worry that we would try to lure them in a sect and like certain churches do, then demand money and oblige them to stay with us. Every body is free to come and free to go in our churches (ecclesiae).

Only if one wants to join our community (as a member) we ask the candidate to believe in God as the Only True God and to believe that through God His only begotten beloved son salvation has come upon mankind and that this man of flesh and blood is the way to God and now the mediator between God and the people and is our high priest for God.

Psalms 83:18 (AKJV)
18 That men may know that you, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the most high over all the earth.

Romans 10:13 (AKJV)
13 For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Matthew 3:16-17 (AKJV)
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him: 17 And see a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John 14:6 (AKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

1 Timothy 2:5 (AKJV)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 12:24 (AKJV)
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things that that of Abel.

Hebrews 3:1 (AKJV) Hebrews 3
1 Why, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 6:20 (AKJV)
20 Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Clearly the intentions of Mr. Dave Norris can be seen in his many articles against Catholics and all sorts of Protestants, Emergent Church, Extreme Prophetic Movement, Hebrew Roots Movement, but also Judaism. Main churches also do not escape his acid pen. But Non-Trinitarians seem to work on him as a red cloth on a bull. He not only writes about them a lot of lies but also has no decency when they write to him in a polite manner. Some of his replies may be lot worse than the once shown here (and therefore we would not make public.).

An example of the way Mr. Dave Norris answers people who wrote to him

An example of the way how Mr. Dave Norris react to people when they ask him to show the link for the article he talks about in a previous reply, him writing: “I linked to an article from Wikipedia it clearly states your history. Russell did many false prophecies as in his successor Rutherford Hayes. You need to Bone up on your history.” And we having stated that there is no such page in Wikipedia telling about the history of the Belgian Biblestudents.

Though we can only find

Proof of “Belgian Bible Students” Wikipedia page not existing on 2018 August 11

 

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Preceding

Charles Taze Russell and what he started

Was Russell and Rutherford “Illuminati”?

Jesse Hemery and the The Goshen Fellowship

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS) main groups that broke away

Different approach in organisation of services #1

Different approach in organisation of services #2

Different approach in organisation of services #3

Belonging to or being judged by

Jehovah’s Witnesses Circuit Assembly and a Pillar to freedom

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Please find also to read

1. International Biblestudents Association
2. International Bible Students Association
3. International Bible Students Association
4. Jehovah’s Witness
5. Charles Taze Russell
6.  Dawn Bible Students Association
7. Italian Bible Students Association in Hartford, CT Christian Millennial Fellowship
8. What are Brothers in Christ
9. Who are Christadelphians
10. Against the anti Jehovah people
11. Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people
12. Aim of Unmasking anti Jehovah people
13. Joseph Rutherford with the iron glove
14. To remove the whitewash of the Jehovah Witnesses as being the only true Bible Students and Bible Researchers
15. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian
16. Faith coming by hearing and sent preacher gift from God
17. Jehovah steep rock and fortress, source of insight
18. Confrontation by people telling lies to force others to avoid the targetted groups
19. For those who do everything to stop the work of Christadelphians
20. Who cries out against a hearty and uncompromising castigation of error
21. re-frame obligation into conscious choices
22. Christianity primarily a matter of imitation

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When Jesus speaks of obedience, he is speaking of a lifestyle of devotion to that which garners his devotion. Jesus’ disciples obey him by keeping what he keeps, and holding on to that which he holds… with a steadfast dedication. Once again we see our definition of a disciple emerge:

Necessity to imitate the Jewish master teacher Jeshua or Jesus Christ, following his commandments trying to become like him, is what the Belgian Bible Students do.

Related

1. 4 attacks on Jehovah’s Witnesses churches linked -25k reward offered
2. Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses preach?
3. Romans 8:12-17 – Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ
4. Brothers in Christ – bond in Christ
5. Loving One Another
6. 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16 – Facing the challenges of ministry
7. 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
8. Get to Know Your Sources
9. Illogical thinking is extraordinarily widespread
10. Untruth…
11. Stubborn Things
12. The Truth And The Untruth Lay On The Same Level.
13. The Death of Truth: Indications of Untruth in Trump’s Age
14. First Principles: Falseness of Tongue Leads To Falseness of Heart
15. How accurate is your knowledge? What you read, see, hear, and say…
16. To the Compulsive Liar
17. The Value of Truth
18. Myths About Net Neutrality
19. Lovers of God are Better Lovers
20. Part 1 – Your Relationship with God
21. 6 Priorities You Need
22. Four – Understanding Our Purpose, p. 126 Jesus came to be what the original Adam was supposed to be: the very “image” of God.
23. Four – Understanding Our Purpose, p. 128
24. Six – Understanding the Holy Spirit, p. 176
25. Six – Understanding the Holy Spirit, p. 178
26. Imitating Jesus — From the new book Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus)
27. Following Jesus requires you to grow up
28. Proclamation
29. Ep. 4 – Jehovah’s Witnesses
30. Notes on the Proclaimers Book
31. Some Prophetic Speculations
32. Jehovah’s Witness Myopic View Of Jesus (I)
33. Jehovah’s Witnesses and False Prophecies
34. Dance me to the end

Matthew 12:38-42 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Signs in Jonah and the Queen of the South

Matthew 12:38-42 – Signs in Jonah and the Queen of the South

|| Luke 11:29-32

MT12:38 Some of the scribes and Pharisees[1] responded to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign[2] from you.” MT12:39 Jesus answered them, saying, “A wicked and adulterous generation[3] keeps seeking for a sign; and, no sign will be given it other than the sign of Jonah.[4] MT12:40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish[5] three days and three nights, just so will the Son of Humankind be in the heart of the earth[6] three days and three nights.[7] MT12:41 Male[8] Ninevites will stand up [again][9] in the judgment[10] with this generation and will condemn it[11] – because they repented at the preaching of Jonah,[12] and, look! something more of Jonah is present![13] MT12:42 The queen of the south[14] will be raised up in the judgment with this generation[15] and will condemn it – because she came from earth’s limits[16] to hear the wisdom of[17] Solomon; and, look! something more of Solomon is present.[18]

*

[1] The scribes and Pharisees: Have some of them repented and changed their tune? Has the warning of the Nazarene made them think? They now address as “Teacher” the one they insinuated was in league with Beelzebul.

[2] We wish to see a sign: Paul writes, “Jews ask for signs.” (1 Corinthians 1:22; Luke 11:29) It is said of a certain Rabbi that when he was asked when Messiah would come, he responded, “I am afraid you will ask me for a sign.”

[3] Wicked and adulterous generation: Jesus does not compromise or water down his response. Surely the words are directed at the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is to use the whole condemnatory phrase again at Matthew 16:4. Or, GDSP: wicked and faithless. On the derogatory adulterous compare Jeremiah 3:6-11.

Jonah mosaic in Aquileia cathedral – Mosaic of the biblical story of Jonah; in the cathedral in Aquileia, Italy. – SCALA/Art Resource, New York

[4] The sign of Jonah: This cryptic must have grabbed at the Pharisees who loved riddles. They knew the Book of Jonah well. How could this prophet be involved here?

[5] Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish: Jesus believes in the account of Jonah and the great fish which is nowhere described as a whale.

[6] Heart of the earth: Meaning Hades or the grave.

[7] Three days and three nights: A Hebraism meaning any part of three days or less. It is clear Jesus was to be raised the third day for he so states (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; Luke 24:46). Compare 1 Kings 12:12ff (Hosea 6:2; 1 Corinthians 15:4).

[8] Male: There are a number of Greek words that may be translated “man (men).” Here the Greek is ANDRES (ANDROS).

[9] Stand up [again]: The Greek is ANASTESONTAI and essentially means the same as the English “resurrected.” Related words occur in the third century BC Jewish Greek Septuagint (LXX): Job 14:12 (ANASTE), Job 42:17 (ANASTESESTHAI, ANISTESIN), Isaiah 26:19 (ANASTESONTAI), Daniel 12:13 (ANASTESE). Jesus uses forms of the word over a dozen times. Compare John 5:28, 29 where the Nazarene alludes to Isaiah 26:19 LXX.

[10] In the judgment: Or, Judgment Day. Or, NEB: when this generation is on trial; WEY: awake at the judgment. See the key words Judgment Day and resurrection. See Revelation 20:5, 12-14.

[11] Will condemn it: Or, LAM: find it guilty; KNX: will leave it without excuse.

[12] They repented at the preaching of Jonah: Read Jonah chapter 3. Tens of thousands of people responded to Jonah’s warning and as a result the city was spare, much to the disappointment of Jonah who was then taught another divine lesson.

[13] Something more of Jonah is present: Or, KJV: behold, a greater than Jonas is here; TCNT: here is more than a Jonah; WEY: and, mark! there is One greater than Jonah here. He means himself.

[14] Queen of the south: Jesus means the Queen of Sheba who journeyed to hear Solomon for herself (1 Kings 10:1-10). It was not Solomon per se but his God which motivated her, for the account reads, “the report regarding Solomon with regard to the name of Yehowah.”

[15] Raised up in the judgment with this generation: From the Nazarene here we know the Ninevites, the queen of Sheba, and that generation will be resurrected (Acts 24:15).

[16] She came from earth’s limits: She traveled 1,200 miles from northern Africa. This was one serious effort on her part and her entourage. The great trade routes to and from Jerusalem were classically great.

[17] To hear the wisdom of: The contrast between the effort of this godly lady and the Nazarene’s generation is stark. What do they have before them and instead of listening to wisdom they accuse him of demonism and ask for an evidence.

[18] Something more of Solomon is present: Solomon is said to have written 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32). He wrote Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. And, yet, this crowd as much more before them in Jesus. How Solomon will fair in the resurrection is left to the judgment of God.

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Preceding

Matthew 12:1-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Something Greater than the Temple

Matthew 12:9-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Is It Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath?

Matthew 12:22-30 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: the Charge of Demonism

Matthew 12:31-32 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Blasphemy against the Pneuma

Matthew 12:33-37 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment Day

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Related

1. Matthew 12丨C. H. Spurgeon
2. The Sign of Jonah: Swallowed in Death, Raised in Life (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:38–41)
3. Matthew 12, Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath,blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the sign of Jonah, Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
4. 4-30-2018 Bible Study – Life of Messiah Study 46
5. Did Jesus Really Spend Three Days in the Heart of the Earth?
6. Bible study: what difference does the resurrection of Jesus make?
7. Looking for a Sign
8. Favorite 21 Signs of the Prophets
9. This Wicked and Perverse Generation

A fact of History or just a fancy Story

A man killed for an other

The previous weeks we looked at the suffering of Jesus and how he came to an end. When he was killed, our story did not end. We got to read that he in a strange way disappeared from the grave in which he was put in.

Certain Christian views on Hell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three days after the crucifixion, the tomb of Jesus was found empty by his closest friends, who did not know what could have happened. normally his body would be part of the world of the dead, going to become victim of decay. But to the unbelief and surprise Jesus appeared to his followers, who where very much afraid for what went on and for the reprisals of the Romans and locals.

They all had witnessed how Jesus died and knew he was buried. Today there are people who take Jesus to be God, but than they forget that God can not die. Jesus really did. He had given his body, of flesh and blood to his Holy Father, the Only One God, Jehovah. In common with all other men his life came to an end, but unlike other men he returned from Hades (Sheol = hell) were he had stayed for three days. He was not tortured over there, because the hell is just the burial place or grave, where people are place in when they die. there would also not be one reason to put Jesus into a torture place for the sins he might  have done, because Jesus was the only man who could stay without any sin.

Jesus offered himself to his Father who resurrected him out of the dead and made him higher than angels, to which he was lower before. God is and always has been the most High, but now He allowed Jesus to come sit next to Him, to be a mediator between Him (God) and men.

A great miracle and reason for Christianity

For Christians this taking out of death is one of the greatest of all miracles since the creation itself, and could have been accomplished only if Jesus got the full blessing of his Father,  God, the Creator of the universe. The death and resurrection of Jesus marks the central point of God’s master plan for the world.

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of the promises made by God and the reason of existence of Christianity. Everything else that was said or done by Christ and the apostles is secondary in importance to the resurrection. If the resurrection did not take place then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then we got the proof of the Old Testament sayings and have proof of the Messiah ship of the Nazarene Jew Jeshua, Jesus Christ, the son of man and son of God.

In case Jesus would have been God, than God just faked a death and presented a show of His body going out of a grave. As an eternal spirit God has always existed and shall always exist, but is also everywhere at once, and not bounded to any place. But Jesus Christ was bounded to the environment where he preached. He also was tempted, while God can not be tempted. After he died, Jesus was taken out of the boundary where his body was put in the clothes. The guards in front of his grave could take care his body was not been stolen, nor that a living person would be able to roll away the very heave stone on his own.

Charlatan or madman

If all of this is somehow a delusion and if Jesus of Nazareth did not really rise from the dead, then he is either a god who fooled everybody, and let the people suffer for many years before intervening, or he was no different from other great men who are also dead. He is worse than they, in fact, because he is thereby branded as either a charlatan or a madman, since he staked all his claims to be the son of God and being the Way to his Father, and who would come back to the earth after his death.

On the other hand, if the resurrection is really a demonstrable fact of history, then not only are his claims vindicated, but so are God His promises and the promises of Jesus. In case Jesus really died and was taken out of death, we have the proof of the love of God, who is willing to bring an end to the curse brought forward by the first men. In Jesus we can find then the new Adam, or the first one of  the New Creation, the 2° Adam. With Christ Jesus we than can find a new beginning of which all followers of Christ may be part of.

Then we may believe that death is not, after all, the great victor, but is a defeated foe.

“3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 KJ21)

Provider of a New Covenant

Jesus had brought his followers hope to life using the true Word, showing them how they could follow in his footsteps and go through the small gate to enter the Kingdom of God. By the work Jesus had done, his death made them free. By his offering they became partakers of the New Covenant with God  by which they received new life which is not like their old life. Also for us, who want to follow Christ Jesus and believe in his resurrection we are not bounded any more to our old birth coming from mortal sperm. In case we face the reality of the Nazarene man having died and being resurrected by the Force of God, we can receive that new birth which comes from God’s living Word, which lives and stays for ever. (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) We can get a new and better life, because Jesus was willing to give himself as a ransom for us all.

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind; be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 KJ21)

“By Him ye believe in God, who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1:21 KJ21)

Seeing the son, lower than the Father

In case you have doubts about the death and resurrection of Christ, think what reasons the whole parade would have been useful for. If Jesus is God, why did God wait such a long time before taking steps to save the world. And why did He not say directly who He really was when He would have been here on earth as Jesus. Plus how could all those people see and touch Jesus when he would have been God, because God Himself told the world that they could not see Him and live.

“And He said, “Thou canst not see My face, for there shall no man see Me and live.”” (Exodus 33:20 KJ21)

When we take Jesus to be God, we minimise his suffering, his death and his resurrection. Though as followers of Christ, being Christian, we should follow the teachings of our master and believe his words.  He never claimed to be God and always told others to recognise the Hand of his father in the works he did. Jesus also was fully aware that his Father, God was mightier than him.

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19 KJ21)

“Ye have heard how I said unto you, ‘I go away and come again unto you.’ If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice because I said, ‘I go unto the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28 KJ21)

Worshipping the Right One

Jesus often spoke to his Father, whom he worshipped and told us also to pray to Him like he prayed to his Father, who is the Master or Head of Christ.

“But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3 KJ21)

“And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son Himself also be subject unto Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28 KJ21)

As Christians we should believe the words of Christ and be believers because we trust the proclamation that Christ is alive, risen from the dead.

Smoke and mirrors

We have to face it — if Jesus did not really died and there’s no resurrection for Christ, everything the apostles told us is smoke and mirrors, and everything we have staked our life on is smoke and mirrors.

But we also have to be aware that there is an even bigger problem and a very bad sign we do give to those who do not believe in God or who do believe in other gods than our only One God, Jehovah. We would namely give the impression that all the sayings of the Old Testament make no sense at all and that God bends His words. We would be guilty of telling a string of barefaced lies about God, all these affidavits the apostles passed on to us verifying that God raised up Christ — sheer fabrications, if there’s no resurrection.

If corpses can’t be raised, then Christ wasn’t, because he was indeed dead. If Christ is God he could not die and was not dead, so could not have been standing up from death, but if he would have fallen asleep, He just would have woken up and walk out the grave, no matter if it was sealed or closed by one or more heavy stones, because He can go through everything.

And if Christ wasn’t raised, then all we are doing is making wise vesicles, fooling ourselves and wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves and there would be nothing any more.  It all shall be finished and without any prospects. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration, like we can enjoy the quotes from special humans or other religious figures, for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot.

The Women at the Sepulchre (The Angel at the Tomb of Christ) – 1805, Benjamin West (1738–1820)

“12  Now if Christ is preached, that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 and if Christ be not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up, if so it be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised; 17 and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of those who slept. 21 For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; 23 but every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-23 KJ21)

With the ignominious death of their master, his disciples were utterly confused and afraid for their own lives. There is no possibility that they could have continued as teachers of the Nazarene’s doctrines, and even less that others could have been persuaded to follow them, in those circumstances. The people who had seen and hear about Jesus and his miracles would have joked about him and his followers which would have been fooled all the way long.

A physical body, not a ghost, returned to life

When Jesus appeared to his closest friends he proofed to them that he was not a ghost, while his Father is Ghost. They could see the marks of his wounds.

“5 And as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke unto you when He was yet in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”” (Luke 24:5-7 KJ21)

Stigmata, visual signs of his torture. – Groß St. Martin, An Groß St. Martin in Cologne – Photo Frank Vincentz

“19 And He said unto them, “What things?” And they said unto Him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he who should have redeemed Israel. And beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company, who were early at the sepulcher, made us astonished. 23 And when they found not his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the sepulcher and found it even so as the women had said, but him they saw not.” 25 Then He said unto them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:19-27 KJ21)

“36  And as they thus spoke, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them and said unto them, “Peace be unto you.” 37 But they were terrified and afraid, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said unto them, “Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me to have.” 40 And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, “Have ye here any meat?” 42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate before them. 44 And He said unto them, “These are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, 46 and said unto them, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.”” (Luke 24:36-49 KJ21)

John his doubts and fears immediately gave way to an amazed faith when he had entered the empty tomb. The collapsed grave clothes yielded no possible interpretation except that the physical body of the crucified Christ had returned to life, in such a remarkable form that it could simply pass through the linen wrappings and enter henceforth into the power of an endless life, like Jesus had foretold should happen! Spirit does not die and therefore cannot be “resurrected”, but they had met and spend many hours with the man from Nazareth.

Pilate was given assurance that Jesus died by the centurion (Mark 15:43-45). The savage spear thrust into his side by the soldier (John 19:34) made certain of his death, “and forthwith came there out blood and water,” evidencing complete collapse of the heart cavity.

Body not taken away

The disciples were hiding in fear of their lives and nothing could have been further from their thoughts than them trying to take away the body of Christ. Furthermore, the tomb had been sealed, a great stone rolled in front of it, and a watch of Roman soldiers set to guard it (Matthew 27:62-66). What is interesting about the witness of the disciples is that it is never presented as conclusive, or even as important. The reason for this is that there was no need for a human witness to the empty tomb at the time at which the gospels were written, because the witness of the whole population of Jerusalem – not to mention pilgrims from all over the known world – was that the tomb was empty. The inhabitants form Jerusalem could witness themselves what happened to the place where Jesus was been buried. In case the grave was not empty and it was not enough clear that the apostles had hidden the body they could not have made so many converts.

Several looked for Jesus, who was crucified, but could not find him in the grave. The angels had told the wives that he was risen and that they had  to go quickly and tell his disciples that Jesus was risen from the dead. They told them that they would see him. When they and the apostles were going, some of the guard came into the city and reported unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of money to the soldiers to say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while they slept.  So they took the money and did as they were taught.

This story was current among Jews from the earliest times, and we have independent evidence of this. For example, Justin quotes a debate in which his opponent refers to Jesus as:

“One Galilean deceiver, whom we crucified, but his disciples stole him by night from the tomb… and now deceive them by asserting that he has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven” (Justin Martyr: Dialogue Against Trypho,108 [c.AD150]).

The story does, in fact, persist to the present day.

Judea in 30 AD was a province subject to revolt and terrorism. It was no place for soldiers to sleep in the open: any soldiers who were not alert were likely to be killed by Zealots. It is thus unlikely that my guard would go to sleep, and inconceivable that they would sleep so soundly that a group of men large enough to carry away a dead body could roll aside the stone over the grave mouth (this itself would be a noisy operation) without at least one of the guard waking up.

More significant still is the condition of the disciples. Before the resurrection they were broken men, afraid and in hiding. Afterwards they were bold preachers of the gospel, who were prepared to turn the world upside down in order to preach the risen Christ. Not only that, but they were almost all put to death for their faith (probably John was the only disciple to die a natural death, and even he was exiled). None of them ever denied their faith in the risen Christ. It would take a group of several men to remove a body from a grave; if the body of Jesus had been stolen all of the men in the group would have known that the resurrection never took place, and at least one of them would have been expected to break down and confess in the face of certain and unpleasant death. If one of the disciples had confessed to stealing the body, we would certainly have known it, because the Roman and Jewish authorities would have ensured that it was reported. That it was not reported shows that it never happened, and that the disciples did not steal the body.

The important point about this explanation is that it would be unnecessary if the body of Jesus was still safely in the tomb. There is only one conclusion that can be drawn: The tomb was empty.

“5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear ye not, for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and behold, He goeth before you into Galilee. There shall ye see Him. Lo, I have told you.” 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “All hail.” And they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, “Be not afraid. Go tell My brethren to go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” 11  Now when they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and reported unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money unto the soldiers, 13 saying, “Say ye, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and secure you.” 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this account is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” (Matthew 28:5-15 KJ21)

Anyone who wished to find out for themselves could go down to see it; to do so would take only a very short time. Yet Jerusalem was the cradle of the infant church; thousands of people were converted there very soon after the crucifixion.

Believe in Christ Jesus

We may not forget that even in the family of Jesus there where who doubted about Jesus his task. The gospels tell us that James nor any of Jesus’ younger brothers believed in him during his lifetime. It would be very strange that the early church would generate fictitious stories concerning the unbelief of Jesus’ family and they would not have reacted against those stories. We must imagine the grieve the children of Joseph and Mary had with their parents and how they would react if uncertain events happened or unjust stories were told. Though with everything that happened James and his brothers did become active Christian believers following Jesus’ death. James was considered an apostle and eventually rose to the position of leadership of the Jerusalem church. According to the first century Jewish historian Josephus, James was martyred for his faith in Christ in the late 60s CE.

We only can conclude that the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.  There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ.  But we have to wait our turn: Christ is first, then those with him at his Coming,” (1 Corinthians 15:12-23 )

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Please do read more about this matter in: The Resurrection of Jesus: A fact of History!

Preceding articles:

After the Sabbath after Passover, the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Hebraic Roots Bible Book of The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2

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Please do find additional literature:

1. The Seed Of The Woman Bruised
2. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
3. The wrong hero
4. A god between many gods
5. History of the acceptance of a three-in-one God
6. Preexistence in the Divine purpose and Trinity
7. Altered to fit a Trinity
8. Attributes to God
9. Hashem השם, Hebrew for “the Name”
10. A Jewish Theocracy
11. Promise of Comforter
12. Promises, God’s
13. God does not change
14. God’s salvation
15. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously
16. A promise given in the Garden of Eden
17. Written to recognise the Promised One
18. Christ begotten through the power of the Holy Spirit
19. Do not be afraid. Good news because a Saviour has been born
20. About a man who changed history of humankind
21. Who was Jesus?
22. No Other Name (But Jesus)
23. Yahushua, Yehoshua, Yeshua, Jehoshua of Jeshua > Lord or Yahuwah, Yeshua or Yahushua + Jezus, Yeshua, Yahushua
24. The Beginning of the life of Jesus Christ
25. Jesus begotten Son of God #4 Promised Prophet and Saviour
26. Jesus begotten Son of God #6 Anointed Son of God, Adam and Abraham
27. Jesus begotten Son of God #10 Coming down spirit or flesh seed of Eve
28. Jesus begotten Son of God #11 Existence and Genesis Raising up
29. Jesus begotten Son of God #13 Pre-existence excluding virginal birth of the Only One Transposed
30. Jesus begotten Son of God #16 Prophet to be heard
31. Jesus begotten Son of God #17 Adam, Eve, Mary and Christianity’s central figure
32. Jesus begotten Son of God #18 Believing in inhuman or human person
33. Jesus begotten Son of God #19 Compromising fact
34. Jesus begotten Son of God #20 Before and After
35. Man’s plans prevailed by God’s purpose
36. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
37. Christmas, Saturnalia and the birth of Jesus
38. On the Nature of Christ
39. Jesus spitting image of his father
40. Yeshua a man with a special personality
41. A man with an outstanding personality
42. On the Nature of Christ
43. Mission son of God perceived as failure
44. 2 Corinthians 5:19 – God in Christ
45. How do trinitarians equate divine nature
46. Self inflicted misery #3 A man given to suffer for us
47. The meek one riding on an ass
48. Jesus and His God
49. Was Jesus Religious
50. How is it that Christ pleased God so perfectly?
51. For the Will of Him who is greater than Jesus
52. Slave for people and God
53. Apple of Gods eye
54. Servant of his Father
55. What did Jesus sing?
56. What Jesus sang
57. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
58. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
59. A Messiah to die
60. Dying or not
61. Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross
62. Impaled until death overtook him
63. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
64. Crucifixion for suffering
65. Why 20 Nations Are Defending the Crucifix in Europe
66. In the death of Christ, the son of God, is glorification
67. Grave, tomb, sepulchre – graf, begraafplaats, rustplaats, sepulcrum
68. Decomposition, decay – vergaan, afsterven, ontbinding
69. Self inflicted misery #6 Paying by death
70. Jesus three days in hell
71. Jesus and the fallen angels in hell
72. Ressurection of Jesus Christ
73. Jesus is risen
74. Risen With Him
75. Immortality, eternality – onsterfelijkheid, eeuwigheid
76. The redemption of man by Christ Jesus
77. One Mediator between God and man
78. Christ having glory
79. Christ’s coming
80. Our relationship with God, Jesus and each other
81. God demonstrates his own love
82. 1 Corinthians 15 Hope in action
83. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
84. Secret or public return of Jesus
85. Certainty in a troubled world
86. Concerning gospelfaith
87. Breathing to teach
88. Why believing the Bible
89. Let us become nothing, and Christ everything

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Related articles

• William Lane Craig’s case for the resurrection of Jesus (winteryknight.wordpress.com)
  Dr. Craig’s famous minimal facts case for the resurrection has been posted at the Christian Apologetics Alliance. He presents 4 facts admitted by the majority of New Testament historians, and then he supplies multiple pieces of evidence for each fact.
• The Jesus of Faith a myth? (proudfootz.wordpress.com) + Historical Jesus vs the Jesus of Faith vs the Mythical Jesus
  the term ‘historical Jesus’ as Ehrman will be using it is in contrast to the ‘Jesus of Faith’, that is that when Ehrman is describing an ‘historical Jesus’ he does not mean a Jesus as accepted by most christians: the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, capable of performing miracles, uttering true prophecies, or raising others or himself from the dead, or really appearing as a spirit or some such thing to real humans after a resurrection. The sort of Jesus Ehrman is proposing to establish the real existence of is a mortal man like any other who is born, lives his life, and eventually dies and stays dead.
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  most or (unlikely) all of them think Jesus was merely a mortal man like any other.
  +
  it may well be that virtually all the experts believe Jesus really existed, but that doesn’t mean they believe in an ‘historical Jesus’ as Ehrman defines it. This is I think a major difficulty for Ehrman’s thesis because on the one hand he wants to stack the deck in favor of the historical existence of Jesus by citing the united front of ‘all New testament scholars’, but to do so he has to include the many, many people – scholars and laymen alike – who are convinced on the evidence that Jesus was a real miracle-worker who could raise the dead, raise himself from the dead, and was if not a god in his own right the son of a god. For most people Jesus was not a failed prophet, a street-corner rabble-rouser, or a social reformer: Jesus was Lord and Savior, the long-promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, Son of God reigning even now in Heaven, coming soon to judge the living and the dead.
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  It’s safe to say that a great number of teachers in theological seminaries and divinity schools (and I think many in ‘secular’ colleges and universities) believe that Jesus not only existed, but worked miracles, rose from the dead, and was the son of a god, and communes with believers from his seat in Heaven. Up until now Ehrman has downplayed this fact.
• Understanding the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (christianity.answers.com)
  The Bible teaches that the resurrection of Jesus was an actual historical event. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all record the resurrection as true. These same accounts also record many other miracles performed by Jesus during his life. Although many have offered alternative explanations for the resurrection, few are plausible and all contradict the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life.
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  Some have suggested that perhaps Jesus wasn’t really dead and was able to walk out of his tomb after a few days of rest. The greatest difficulty with this opinion is that it fails to account for the thorough nature of Roman crucifixion. Roman soldiers performed thousands of crucifixions every year. They were experts at using crucifixion to kill people. It is simply not plausible that a man could have lived through a Roman crucifixion and had the energy and ability to break out of a sealed tomb a few days later.
• Jesus Freaks (live-your-best-life.me)
  What about being called a Jesus Freak though? Would it embarrass you or make you feel politically incorrect? What actions would it take to make you a Jesus Freak? Would you be considered for one if you are just a nice person or maybe someone who doesn’t hang out with the partiers of the crowd? Do you have to go to church for someone to think you are a Jesus Freak? What if, are you ready for this, you read your Bible in public? Certainly that qualifies you for that title. Is this a label you would wear in secret or would you wear it proudly?
• The Meaning and Purpose of Our Existence. (revivehope.wordpress.com)
  The New Testament is the fulfillment of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system (the forgiveness of sin), and promises of the Old Testament. The New Testament also prophesies our future and warns us to be spiritually prepared, warning others, and spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
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  God sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth to show His tremendous love for us, teaching us and demonstrating God’s power and might over all through various miracles, healings, and even raising people from the dead. He sent His only begotten (to cause) Son to die on our behalf (the penalty/consequence for sin is the shedding of blood) and rose from the dead to demonstrate His love for us and His power over sin and death.

Hebraic Roots Bible Book of The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2

This weekend we remember the day that the apostles were together, for celebrating Shavu’ot (weeks), or Feast of Weeks in commemoration of the Spring harvest and the giving of the Law unto Moses at Mt. Sinai. They were hiding afraid all together in one place because they were afraid for what the people might do against the followers of Christ Jesus now he was not there any more.

The Pentecost Mosaic, in the center is the dove of the Holy Spirit with the twelve apostles below. This is one of the oldest mosaics in the church dating from 1125 AD. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They knew how much Jeshua (Jesus) did find the Torah so important that it should be taken as the most important book to follow. And now at the Feast of Weeks they were there together to commemorate the giving of the Law to Moses and to read together those Holy Writings.

Pentecost recognizes the writing of the Law upon our hearts as it is written:

But this shall be thecovenant that I will cut with the houseof Israel: After those days, declares Yahweh, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. (HBRV Jer 31:33)

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. they new that those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires and are victims of those desires but also of those ideas and connections with the world (Romans 8:5-6). As such the disciples were still too connected with the world and not yet liberated by the Power of God, the Holy Spirit.

This was soon to be changed by the promise of the prophet Jeshua becoming reality. In his name the grace of God’s Power came over them and gave them incredible forces to reach people and to bring them to the only One God Jehovah in the name of Christ. Gods Law was totally placed in the hearts of the disciples and them was given the power to come out for it.

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1 And in the fulfilling of the day of Shavuot, they were all with one mind
in the same place.
2 And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven, as a groaning spirit along by a violent wind!
And it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And tongues as of fire appeared to them, being distributed, and it sat on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave ability to them to speak.

5 And Jews were living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation of those under the heaven.
6 And when that sound occurred, all the people gathered and were perplexed because they were hearing each man among them who were speaking in their own language.
7 And all were amazed and marveled, saying to one another,
Behold, we can’t grasp this, are not all these, those speaking, Galileans?
8 And how do we hear each in our own language in which we were born,
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those living in Mesopotamia, both Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the regions of Libya over against Cyrene, and the temporarily residing Romans, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabians; in our own languages we hear them speaking the great wonders of Yahweh?

12 And all were amazed and puzzled, saying to one another, What could this be?
13 But ridiculing, others said, They are full of sweet wine.
14 But standing up with the Eleven, Peter lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, Men, Jews, and all those living in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words:
15 For these are not drunk, as you imagine, for it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which has been spoken by the prophet Joel, 17 “And it shall be” in the last days, Yahweh says, “I will pour from My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy;” “and your young men shall see visions,” “and your old men shall dream dreams;” 18 “and also I will pour out My Spirit on My servants and hand maids in those days,” and they shall prophesy.
19 “And I will give wonders in the heaven above,” and miraculous signs “on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the “coming of the great and glorious day of Yahweh.”
21 “And it shall be that everyone who shall call on the name of Yahweh will be saved.” (Joel 2:28-32)

22 Men, Sons of Israel, hear these words: Yahshua the Nazarene, a Man from Elohim, having been approved among you by works of power and wonders and miraculous signs, which Yahweh did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know, 23 This man, who was set apart was for this, by the foreknowledge and will of Elohim, you delivered into the
hands of the wicked and you crucified and killed.
24 But Yahweh loosed the cords of Sheol and raised Him because it was not possible that He be held in Sheol.
25 For David said as to Him, “I always foresaw my Adonai before Me, because He is at My right hand, that I not be moved.
26 For this reason My heart rejoiced, and My tongue was glad; and My flesh also will dwell on hope, 27 because You will not leave My soul in Sheol, nor will You give Your pious one  to see corruption. 28 You have revealed the road of life to me. You will fill me with gladness with your presence. (Psalm 16:8-11)

29 Men, brothers, let me speak boldly with you to say to you as to the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us until this day.
30 For he was a prophet, and he had known that oaths that Elohim had sworn to him, that Of the fruit of your loins I shall establish a king upon your throne (Psalm 132:11)
31 foreseeing, he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, “that His soul was not left in sheol, nor did His corpse see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10)
32 This Yahshua, Yahweh raised up, of which we all are witnesses. 33 Then being exalted to the right of Yahweh, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He
poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says, “Yahweh said to my Adonai, Sit at My right hand 35 until I place those who are enemies to You as a footstool for Your feet.” (Psalm 110:1)
36 Then assuredly, let all the house of Israel acknowledge that Yahweh made known this same Yahshua whom you crucified, He is both Yahweh and Messiah.
37 And hearing, they were touched in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men, our brothers, What shall we do?
38 And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, each of you in the name of the Yahshua Yahweh for the forgiveness of sins, that you may receive the gift of the Spirit of Holiness.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Master our Elohim shall call.
40 And with many other words he earnestly testified and exhorted, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.

41 And some of them readily received his words and believed and were baptized. And there were added in that day about three thousand souls.
42 And they were continuing steadfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came to every soul, and signs and many mighty deeds occurred by the hands of the Apostles in Jerusalem.

44 And all the believers were echad and had all things common.
45 And they sold possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46 And continuing steadfastly with one mind day by day in the sanctuary, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food in gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 they were praising Yahweh while finding favor before all the people. And everyday our Master would add to those who lived among the congregation.

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Preceding: Hebraic Roots Bible Book of The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 1

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Related articles from like mined people:

1. Pope Francis I on the Holy Spirit
2. Montanus considered himself to be the Paraclete: Sancta Claus is not God
3. Every Christian should take care to die to the Torah, so that he can live for YHVH/JHWH the Elohim Jehovah God. Sin in us should be crucified with the Messiah. > Breathing to teach
4. A Great Gift commemorated
   That night he stressed that they had to be in union with him and his Father like he was with his Father, so that the world could be convinced that Jehovah God had sent him who was taking the bread of life.
5. Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union
   Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised into {Or in; also in verse 15} the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13 NIV) asked Paul already at the torn municipality of Corinth.
   +
   Jesus also warned us to be careful not to follow the will of men but the Will of God. And that is what we should carry in our hearts and should try to do. God did not give any dogma‘s. Those were given by human institutions. We should be aware that we should not be members of a Church of men, but of a Church of Christ as some want to call it, or better of a Church of God.
   
6. Our hope– The anchor of the soul
   The hope of the Gospel is absolutely certain for two reasons: the first is that God always keeps His promises. The second is that God swore with an oath to fulfil the promises – he swore by Himself because there is none greater than Him.
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   When we consider God’s promises, we think of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle says (2 Corinthians 1: 20) “All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” The letter to the Hebrews we are reading says much about Jesus, who is the heir of all things, spoken of in the Prophets, the express image of God, exalted now at God’s right hand, to be a faithful high priest, a Mediator. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Not from everlasting to everlasting, like God, as many who claim to be his followers say: that is one of the false doctrines which we are warned against in this letter).
7. Timely Growth
   We all have ways we can grow; matzah is there to flatten us out and remind us that this growth might not fit neatly into our schedule.  Which is why I am excited, because after spring comes summer and with summer comes … camp a time for growth for so many of our children!
8. Is it wise to annul the Pentecostweekend
   There are the Christians with Pentecost, the first and second communions and the sacrament of conformation by the Roman Catholics, special Biblestudy weekends by Biblestudents and protestant groups as well as by many Jewish groups who also celebrate the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai. For several protestants and Jews the weekend is used to commemorate the first harvested fruits. Shavuot, Shavuos  or Shabhuʿoth as the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost is also called, was in the old times the commemoration of the first day on which individuals could bring the Bikkurim (first fruits) to the Temple in Jerusalem (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3).

From groups with other ideas than us and like-minded brethren:

Related readings on Ascension:

1. “Made Subject to Futility”
2. Mountaintop Experiences
3. Mourning for the Ascension of Christ
4. On Christ’s Ascension
5. The Spirit of God and the Word of God #3

Related readings on Pentecost:

1. EnCampMent on Shavuot
   Shavuot, the holiday commemorating our national memory of the Revelation of the Torah at Sinai. In the words of Rashi, it was there at Sinai that we encamped at the foot of the mountain as “one nation with one heart.”
   
2. Revealing Jewish Camp
   In the Midrash we learn, “There are three ways to acquire Torah, with fire, with water, and with wilderness” (Midrash Numbers Rabbah 1:1). This Midrash could be understood to mean that we acquire Torah through passion (fire), immersion (water), and through a long trek in unknown land (the wilderness). Shavuot coming means that the end of school is close at hand. And with the end of school, the camp season is around the corner. This Midrash seems to be lived out at Jewish camp.
3. Revelation and Sustaining Our Community
   ” Why are we talking about the matter of Shmita at Sinai?” Which is to say that the entire Torah is given at Sinai, why is this Torah portion outlining an ancient technique of creating a sustainable agriculture introduced as the laws that God “spoke to Moses in Mount Sinai”? It seems strange to single this law out. And maybe even more strange in that the Torah was given in Diaspora and this law was only going to be applicable in the Land of Israel.
4. Return To Eden
   In many ways Shmini Atzeret is a completion of the Sukkot holiday. But what is Simchat Torah? When I was young I understood it simply to be the day that we celebrate the completion of the liturgical reading of the Torah. Would it not make more sense to celebrate the reading about the creation of the world on Rosh HaShanah? Of even on Shavuot the time we received the Torah? Why do we start reading the Torah on Simchat Torah?
5. Wheeled Conveyances
   Today is a national holiday in France in honor of Pentecost. I’d heard of Whit Sunday, the English version, but had somehow missed out on Pentecost.
6. Following Jesus: An Amazing Adventure!
   Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, the day Christians traditionally celebrate the birthday of the Church. It was on this day nearly 2000 years ago that Jesus completed his mission on earth with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
7. Binitarians
   “Often our heads become stumbling blocks to our hearts. We cognitively admit that the Holy Spirit is a Person in the triune Godhead, but we live as functional binitarians. Comfortable with Father and Son, we are not quite sure how to interact with the Spirit….” —Dick Brogden
8. Tuning-in to the Holy Spirit
   Today’s readings show us that this event radically transformed the scared disciples into courageous witnesses to the murderous Jews. St. John places emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace to the disciples in Jesus’ words: “Peace be with you.” How can we as Christians become so powerfully transformed that we become transforming witnesses to others and abide in Christ’s own peace? How can we have this powerful transforming experience?
   +
   God’s Spirit is with us from the moment of baptism with the same power that we see in the Pentecost event. But why aren’t we transformed like the disciples on Pentecost? Why aren’t we on fire with the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is with us but we cannot experience His power until we learn how to dispose ourselves properly and tune-in to His frequency. Today’s readings show us ways of tuning-in to the Holy Spirit.
9. Pentecost: So What? Now What?
   After preaching about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit yesterday morning a woman came to speak to me. She told me that she was a missionary to part of Outer Mongolia! Well that got my attention and respect and so I asked her to tell me about the Church where she serves. She told me a lot of things but to be honest I didn’t pay much attention after she told me one statistic because I was so blown away by it. She said that in 1990 there were three known Christians where she served, now there are an estimated 50,000. Even if there has been a miscalculation or overestimate that is still an incredible figure.
   +
   On Ascension Day Jesus didn’t just send his disciples out to join Him in mission, instead he told them to return to Jerusalem and await the promised Holy Spirit. I wonder if Jesus was teaching them this lesson? That they couldn’t do what He had called them to do in their strength and with their own resources, they needed to be filled with and then learn to rely on, the Holy Sprit.
   Well Pentecost has come and gone but its implications face us everyday and never more so than we face something we are called to do that seems so daunting as to be all but impossible. Whenever we feel like that, whenever we feel inadequate or incapable of doing what God has called us to do, we need to hear afresh the choice and invitation the Angel gave Zerubbabel
10. Pope Francis’ Pentecost Homily.
    Newness always makes us a bit fearful, because we feel more secure if we have everything under control, if we are the ones who build, programme and plan our lives in accordance with our own ideas, our own comfort, our own preferences. This is also the case when it comes to God. Often we follow him, we accept him, but only up to a certain point. It is hard to abandon ourselves to him with complete trust, allowing the Holy Spirit to be the soul and guide of our lives in our every decision. We fear that God may force us to strike out on new paths and leave behind our all too narrow, closed and selfish horizons in order to become open to his own. Yet throughout the history of salvation, whenever God reveals himself, he brings newness and change, and demands our complete trust
11. He Still Speaks…
    I was reminded in different ways how this Earth is not our forever home, and that we are all stewards and wanderers here…stopping for just a brief moment next to eternity. (Even though, as another friend pointed out, we will return with Jesus some day, this planet in its current state is not our ultimate home…)
    +
    God still speaks through His Holy Spirit, just as He did on that first Pentecost… He loves us all so much… I hope all my family in Christ had a beautifully blessed Pentecost Sunday. And may this new week include many opportunities for us to hear His voice in the way we’ve been created.
12. Monday in Whitsun-Week.
    Consider that light came into the world through the operation of the Holy Spirit.

Related articles

• Pentecost (learningwithlittlesaints.wordpress.com)
  God chooses and prepares leaders to accomplish His plan.
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  Pentecost took place 10 days after Jesus’ Ascension and 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection. Pentecost means the fiftieth. Pentecost was a Jewish festival, at that time it was called the Feast of Weeks. Many Jews had come to Jerusalem to celebrate. Now, Pentecost would be known in the Christian faith as the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. Once they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were able to preach the Gospel to people and many Christians were baptized. For that reason, Pentecost is also called the birthday of the Church.
• Today’s Bible Reading (acts 2:1-11) (prayers4reparation.wordpress.com)
  All were filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
  Staying in Jerusalem were religious Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered, all excited because each heard them speaking in his own language.
• Pentecost (frstephensmuts.wordpress.com)
  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
• Speak My Language (thoughtfulbeliever.wordpress.com)
  One of the pitfalls that many organizations and leaders encounter is that they forget they have to speak the language of the people.  It is very easy when you are part of organization to fall into using your own lingo and endless number of acronyms.  If another person is part of the organization then they understand completely what you are communicating but if the person is an outsider than the communication falls apart.  The connection is then lost outside the organization so if you are in business, you lose a sell; if you are a nonprofit organization, you lose a potential new member.  There is nothing that is more frustrating than people talking and you cannot understand a word that is being said.
  +
  If we are not speaking in the language of the people, then our message will not be received.  If people do not understand us, then they will become frustrated and ignore us.  After all, don’t we all want others to speak our language?
• Father Callan’s Commentary on Acts 2:1-11 (stjoeofoblog.wordpress.com)
  The days of the Pentecost. The word days is singular in the Greek. Taken in the plural, as in the Vulgate, it means the period of fifty days from the Pasch to Pentecost; in the singular it signifies the fiftieth day after the Pasch, or the day of Pentecost itself. Pentecost means fiftieth (day ) . It was one of the three great feasts which all males among the Jews were obliged to celebrate in Jerusalem. It lasted but one day, on which they offered to God bread made from the grain of the new harvest and some sacrifices. Cf. Ex 23:16; Lev 23:15; Num33:26; Deut 16:9.
• A Rushing Mighty Wind (my-faith-and-fitness.com)
  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  ³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Pentecost Preaching (brentkuhlman.wordpress.com)
  This event is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy too.  Joel 2 to be precise.  “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”  And now it’s happening.  So when the last days begin?
  +
  The Holy Spirit is miraculously bestowed – manifested in the power of the wind and fire so that His church and His pastors are equipped and prepared to be a witness to Jesus, the Savior of the world, in word (Acts 2:14-36, 38-40) and deed (Acts 2:42-47).  So that in the preached Gospel, Holy Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper the forgiveness or salvation that Jesus won for the world is bestowed to died-for sinners like you and me!  That you believe that not only did Jesus die for the world but that He died For You!
• Acts for today! (livingmoreabundantly4christ.com)
  The Spirit of God was promised to God’s sons and daughters and that promise was first fulfilled on the day of Pentecost! He has not reneged or removed that promise. The Holy Spirit is necessary and available to every follower of Christ today! It is through God’s Spirit that we are wooed to Christ and it is by that same Spirit we will move and operate in our giftings as we serve Him. The same giftings and blessing that those men and women received on the day of Pentecost are the same giftings and blessing that we can receive today!

After the Sabbath after Passover, the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Resurrection of Jesus – Biblical illustration of Gospel of Matthew Chapter 17 by Jim Padgett,

 

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“1  and when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 and very early in the morning, the first [day] of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun: 3 and they said among themselves, who shall roll away for us the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” (Mark 16:1-3 Webster)

“the first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.” (John 20:1 Webster)

“and if this shall come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.” (Matthew 28:14 Webster)

“1  now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them. 2 and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 and they entered in, and found not the body of the lord Jesus. 4 and it came to pass, as they were much perplexed at this, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 and as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said to them, why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 he is not here, but is risen. remember how he spoke to you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 saying, the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 and they remembered his words, 9 and returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.” (Luke 24:1-9 Webster)

“39 but he answered and said to them, an evil and adulterous generation seeketh for a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly: so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth {sheol/hell}. ” (Matthew 12:39-40 Webster)

“23 him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of god, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 whom god hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be held by it. 25 for David speaketh concerning him, I saw the lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption: 28 thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 men, brethren, let me freely speak to you concerning the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us to this day. 30 therefore being a prophet, and knowing that god had sworn to him with an oath, that from the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 he seeing this before, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. 32 this Jesus hath god raised up, of which we all are witnesses. 33 therefore being by the right hand of god exalted, and having received from the father the promise of the holy spirit, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 for David did not ascend into the heavens, but he saith himself, the LORD said to my lord, sit thou on my right hand, 35 until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that god hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:23-36 Webster)

“3 concerning his son Jesus Christ our lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. 4 and declared [to be] the son of god, with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” (Romans 1:3-4 Webster)

“1  moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also ye have received, and in which ye stand; 2 by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached to you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 for I delivered to you first of all, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 and that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve: 6 after that he was seen by above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 after that he was seen by James; then by all the apostles. 8 and last of all he was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 for I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of god.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-9 Webster)

“3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. 4 so they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. 5 and he stooping down, saw the linen cloths lying; yet he went not in. 6 then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen cloths lying; 7 and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 then went in also that other disciple who came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. 9 for as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” (John 20:3-9 Webster)

“11  but Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept she stooped down [to look] into the sepulcher, 12 and seeth two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 and they say to her, woman, why weepest thou? she saith to them, because they have taken away my lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 and when she had thus said, she turned herself about, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith to her, woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? she, supposing him to be the gardener, saith to him, sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith to her, Mary. she turned herself, and saith to him, Rabboni, which is to say, master. 17 Jesus saith to her, touch me not: for I have not yet ascended to my father: but go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my father and your father, and [to] my god and your god. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the lord, and [that] he had spoken these things to her.” (John 20:11-18 Webster)

“28  ye have heard that I said to you, I go away, and come [again] to you. if ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go to the father: for my father is greater than I. 29 and now I have told you before it cometh to pass, that when it hath come to pass, ye may believe. 30 hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 but that the world may know that I love the father; and as the father gave me commandment, even so I do. arise, let us go hence.” (John 14:28-31 Webster)

“25 these things have I spoken to you in proverbs: but the time cometh when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly concerning the father. 26 at that day ye will ask in my name: and I say not to you, that I will pray the father for you: 27 for the father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came from god.
28  I came forth from the father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the father.” (John 16:25-28 Webster)

“13 and no man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the son of man who is in heaven. 14 and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up: 15 that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:13-15 Webster)

“15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. 16 they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17  sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 as thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.” (John 17:15-19 Webster)

“19  then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith to them, peace [be] to you. 20 and when he had so said, he showed to them [his] hands and his side. then were the disciples glad when they saw the lord. 21 then said Jesus to them again, peace [be] to you: as [my] father hath sent me, even so I send you.” (John 20:19-21 Webster)

“1  the spirit of the lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to publish good tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our god; to comfort all that mourn; 3 to appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 Webster)

“search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39 Webster)

“the LORD thy god will raise up to thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like to me; to him ye shall hearken.” (Deuteronomy 18:15 Webster)

“18 and Jesus came, and spoke to them, saying, all power is given to me in heaven and upon earth. 19 go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit. 20 teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the world. amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 Webster)

“1  thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 and the things that thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2 Webster)

“hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13 Webster)

“24 but Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 the other disciples therefore said to him, we have seen the lord. but he said to them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26  and after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, peace [be] to you. 27 then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. 28 and Thomas answered and said to him, my lord and my god. 29 Jesus saith to him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.” (John 20:24-29 Webster)

“(for we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (2 Corinthians 5:7 Webster)

“8 whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
10  concerning which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] to you: 11 searching what, or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things which are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, with the holy spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:8-12 Webster)

“and when she had thus said, she turned herself about, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.” (John 20:14 Webster)

“and as they were thus speaking, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith to them, peace [be] to you.” (Luke 24:36 Webster)

“43 and he took [it], and ate before them. 44 and he said to them, these [are] the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. 45 then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 and ye are witnesses of these things. 49 and behold, I send the promise of my father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye are endued with power from on high.
50  and he led them out as far as to Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 and it came to pass, while he was blessing them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 and they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing god. amen.” (Luke 24:43-53 Webster)

“19  so then after the lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of god. 20 and they went forth, and preached every where, the lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. amen.” (Mark 16:19-20 Webster)

“30 moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31  what shall we then say to these things? if god [is] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 who will lay any thing to the charge of god’s elect? [it is] god that justifieth: 34 who [is] he that condemneth? [it is] Christ that died, or rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of god, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 as it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 but in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. 38 for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of god which is in Christ Jesus our lord.” (Romans 8:30-39 Webster)

*

Preceding:

Death of Christ on the day of preparation

Imprisonment and execution of Jesus Christ

For the Will of Him who is greater than Jesus

 On the first day for matzah

Servant for the truth of God

The Anointed One and the first day of No Fermentation

In other languages:

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Na de sabbat na Pesach, de verrijzenis van Jezus Christus

French version / Version Français: Après le sabbat après la Pesach ou Pâque, la résurrection de Jésus-Christ

German version / Deutsch: Nach der Sabbat nach dem Passahfest, die Auferstehung von Jesus Christus

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Please also do find:

1. Servant of his Father
2. Slave for people and God
3. Jesus begotten Son of God #18 Believing in inhuman or human person
4. The Seed Of The Woman Bruised
5. Self inflicted misery #3 A man given to suffer for us
6. Jesus begotten Son of God #20 Before and After
7. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
8. On the Nature of Christ
9. Jesus begotten Son of God #4 Promised Prophet and Saviour
10. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
11. The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread
12. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
13. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
14. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
15. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
16. 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
17. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
18. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
19. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
20. High Holidays not only for Israel
21. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
22. Timely Growth
23. A Messiah to die
24. Impaled until death overtook him
25. Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross
26. Why 20 Nations Are Defending the Crucifix in Europe
27. Christ having glory
28. Kingdom Visions of a Man, Throne and Great crowd
29. Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #3 as a Christian
30. Self inflicted misery #6 Paying by death

31. How are the dead?

32. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
33. The Soul confronted with Death
34. How is it that Christ pleased God so perfectly?
35. A Living Faith #8 Change
36. Let me keeep to “first importance” things
37. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
38. A Great Gift commemorated
39. Proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation

40. Jesus is risen

41. Risen With Him

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Related articles

• The Significance of the Resurrection – Jesus Arose Where He Died (darrellcreswell.wordpress.com)
  Death is an all encompassing word, powerful by definition, feared by most, yet totally incapacitated by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Blood of Christ revives our spirit, restores our inheritance, and renews our life. In Christ our rebirth is a great resuscitation that overcomes and redefines death; opening the pathway to an eternity with our Redeemer.
• The Resurrection of Jesus X 4 (thisisrealmedia.com)
  There is no greater story than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is the story that means the most to all Christians.  It is the story of a wonderful redeemer, who loved mankind enough to die for us.
• The Power of His Resurrection (zionsgate.wordpress.com)
  We would all have loved to be there on the road to Emmaus that day, walking with the resurrected Jesus himself as he detailed the different prophecies that concerned his death and resurrection. Still, the apostles and other New Testament writers do a good job of filling us in. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies and types of Jesus’ suffering and death and resurrection as payment for the sins of the world, and the New Testament points those out.
• The Glory of Easter Part 2 (thepuritaninprada.wordpress.com)
  “The happy ending of the Resurrection is so enormous that it swallows up even the sorrow of the Cross.” – Tim Keller
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  “The Resurrection is not a consolation for suffering, the Resurrection is not even a removal of suffering, the Resurrection swallows suffering.” –  Tim Keller – The Hope of Glory
  +

  Christ swallowed our suffering and it became a part of him and made him greater. And this is the Glory of the Cross, it shows that everything that you have ever been through will only make you greater in the end.  It means all your sorrows, pains, heartbreaks, disappointments, injustices, suffering, agony will somehow only make you greater in the end through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That’s a defeat!

• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (jlue.wordpress.com)
  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
• -Re: Easter and The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (answersforthefaith.com)
  On my Apologetica page I have posted links to two timely short but excellent articles and one video on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and Easter:

  <-On Easter and The Resurrection of Jesus >

  Then on my Bible Q& A page I have listed a number of key questions and answers for the Easter season:

  <-Easter Questions and Answers>

• Holy Trifecta: Good Friday, Passover, Resurrection Sunday (rightistblog.wordpress.com)
  This weekend, Christians around the world will gather to remember the death and rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Over two thousand years ago, Christ died on the cross at Calvary as the payment for the sins of all people.  He was placed in the tomb, and three days later, conquered death and rose from the dead!  This weekend, as we gather with our families and loved ones, let us not forget what Christ’s triumph over death means: everlasting life for all those who believe.
• When Was Jesus Crucified? (verse4psalm37.wordpress.com)
  I’m convinced that Christ was in the tomb three days and three nights.  To begin with, a day on the Hebrew calendar is from sundown to sundown (Genesis 1: 5), while a day on the Gregorian calendar is from midnight to midnight.  So the Last Supper/Passover meal was held after sundown (Tuesday on the Gregorian calendar; Wednesday on the Hebrew calendar.)   Jesus died on the cross at 3 p.m.  Wednesday.  He was placed in the tomb before sundown because the following day was a special Sabbath, the first day of the  Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Therefore, Christ was in the grave Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  He arose from the dead before dawn on the first day of the week (Sunday).  (For a timeline, click on http://www.centuryone.com).
• Even Resurrection Pauses For Sabbath Rest (godspace.wordpress.com)
  Even resurrection pauses for Sabbath rest, in the Episcopal Relief and Development Lenten guide this morning, that today, for the Jews is indeed the sabbath day. This full day of Jesus time in the grave is the day into which all their hope and longing for the future is poured. A day to look forward with anticipation to the day when God does indeed make all things news.
• “The Resurrection” (bradneel610.wordpress.com)
  Jesus really did die on the cross for our sins, was buried, and three days later rose.

  I’m so thankful that my hope and joy does not rest in an Easter bunny. But a risen King.

• Pesach

  I imagine that the death of Jesus was still sad in heaven even though they knew the whole plan. Suffering is sorrowful. I don’t really know what was happening while Jesus was dead so I won’t try to guess here.